Proofread by Thomas F
Remus Silver
"Happy Birthday, Dear Andrea!" People wished as she blew out the candles on the big cake.
The party is on the rooftop. It could easily hold thousands, but there are only a little more than a hundred people here.
The girls of the Velvet Garden, her friends and colleagues from the tower and office, it is a myriad group of guests.
"Happy Birthday, Andrea." I wished her. "Thank you, Master Silver," she thanked.
"This is a small gift from me," I said, handing a palm-sized wrapped package. "You didn't have to," she replied, but I smiled.
I walked away soon after. Many people were waiting to talk to the birthday girl.
I mingled with the people I knew before stopping in front of Eva. She had arrived not long ago; I was surprised at that. I wouldn't have blamed her if she had stayed in Namdar.
"Thank you for the weapon, it would help us a lot," I said as I stopped in front of her.
"It's at least I could do for this wonderful city and you," she replied, looking directly into my eyes.
For a moment, nobody spoke; we just kept looking into each other's eyes.
"Why did you come back? You could have stayed in Namdar, where it is safe." I asked. She smiled, but didn't answer immediately. Instead, she turned toward the city.
Even now, during the curfew, with more than half of the population having left. It was still lit up beautifully.
"I love this city. Most importantly, I have confidence in your ability. I know, you will not let this city fall," she replied with her eyes serious, holding a confidence that I do not feel.
Our chances are only around 20%, which is not much, but also a lot given the horde that will come at us.
That is why I am considering sending the children away. Not only my siblings, but thousands of other children as well. The ships are already ready for it.
Tomorrow, I have to make a decision, or I won't be able to move all the children to safety.
"Thank you," I replied.
Her words mean a lot when everybody is doubting our survival, including myself. I need to defend the city and its people, no matter the cost.
She didn't say anything, but took her hand into mine and pressed it for a moment, before letting go.
'Master Silver, please come quickly!'
I opened my mouth to say something when Danielle's voice rang in my mind. She seemed serious, and I had even sensed a fear in her voice.
I activated Eyes of Master and saw what was happening.
Immediately, anger exploded in my heart, and Blitz Steps roared into life. I could feel eyes on me and the questions coming toward me, but I ignored them all.
I moved as fast as I could. Taking the stairs. Instead of the elevator, it would be faster.
That bastard shouldn't have done that; he will pay for it.
…
Simar Wells
"You should never touch it with naked skin; always use the mage hand to harvest the lakil berries."
Bazdin's variation of the mage hand is best for harvesting fruits like lakil berries. It is gentle and uses less mana," I informed the three people beside me.
Many had left, but some remained. So I'm teaching them.
With many employees leaving, the workload had increased. I had to work over twelve hours; these people are also putting in extra shifts.
It is not just harvesting, but also the care of the plants, among other things.
We have wards and spells, but these plants are delicate and very expensive. One needs to be very careful in dealing with them.
"Dimal, you go first," I said, and a man in his early twenties came forward and cast a mage hand.
The hand, made of mana, moves toward the berries and delicately plucks the purple berry covered in a light mist.
Hun!
I opened my mouth to praise him when I sensed a presence appearing beside me. I turned and looked, only to see a half-elf in his late thirties.
"As I live and breathe, Simar Wells," said Vanalys, Adran's dog. "Vanalys," I said, and nodded at Delin beside him.
"I heard you had started working in a legacy. Didn't expect it would be Velvet Garden," he said in his usual sardonic manner. "It pays well," I replied, keeping my mind calm.
He never liked me, and the feeling is mutual. He would have been even worse than Adran if he had that level of power.
"Right, you would need money. I am surprised that you haven't started whoring yourself in this brothel." He said, grinning. "You should know that well," I replied cooly, and the grin on his face froze immediately.
"You bitch!" he cursed, coming forward. "It's enough, Vanalys," said Delin, trying to hold him back.
"Fuck off, Vanalys. Go back to your master!" I replied when he didn't move.
I felt his staff lighting up, and my wand appeared in my hand, but he broke the spell, and I relaxed as well.
"Soon, you will regret it," he said and turned before walking away.
I know he is angry and, like Adran, he is worse when he is angry, but I felt relieved seeing him leave.
"Nimir, it's your turn," I said a few seconds later to the second person. They are curious, but they don't need to know my business.
He had just started casting when I saw Madam Alva coming toward me, the trainees, and Janas, the head guard of this floor.
"What happened?" she asked as she stopped beside me. "Nothing, I was just meeting an old acquaintance," I replied with a smile.
I don't want to worry her. They had already told me to take a leave, if I wanted to, due to Adran, but I had declined.
When I had left him, I had promised myself that I would not let him dictate my life ever again. So, even when I wanted to go back to my apartment and curl up on my bed with a soft blanket, I did not.
"Call me if you need anything," she said. "Ok," I replied. A moment later, she walked away and focused back on teaching.
A few minutes passed, and a shudder spread through my body. The bad feeling spread into my heart. I stopped and turned, only to be frozen, seeing his face.
He is coming toward me, and when I see him looking at me, a big smile appears across his face.
I felt my knees weakening. I wanted to collapse, but I didn't let myself. I had promised myself that I would never be weak in front of that man again.
I will not.
…
Danielle Vought
I stepped out of the elevator behind me.
A minute ago, the man came and said something in private. That froze him for a moment before the man got up and walked toward the elevator.
A few seconds ago, I received the answer from Alva.
The man named Vanalys had found Simar and had a few words with her before walking away angrily.
I don't have a bad feeling about it, but I want to inform Madam Caena immediately. However, they are at the party, and I don't want to disturb them.
Besides, handling him is my responsibility.
"Mr. Bryndon, just a few floors down is a casino. I had emptied a section for you; you can gamble undisturbed," I said, and this time, used the skill Enticing Offer.
My skills are powerful in the legacy, but his eyes didn't move away from Simar.
They seemed to be locked on her.
We reached near her when a figure appeared beside me. It had made me relieved.
'He does not have good intentions,' stated Stena, as she appeared beside me. I didn't call the madam's, but I called her, our head of security.
'Let's hope nothing happens, but if it does, remain close to her.' I said to her, and she nodded and disappeared.
Finally, we reached Simar and came to a stop.
"Simar," said Adran, with a voice full of longing, but not the good kind.
…
Adran Bryndon
"Simar," I said as I looked at her.
She seemed to have regained that fire in her eyes. That took me years to crush. It's now burning even brighter, making me desire her even more.
"Adran," she replied coolly. I could feel the anger and hate in her eyes.
She developed it over the years, but whenever I call her name, it would break. This time, it is much greater, but I would break her just as I have so many times.
"I have been thinking about you," I said, and it's not a lie. After some time, I lost interest in women. She was the one who had kept my interest for years.
I had even thought about her a couple of times in the past few months.
"I have not," she replied, and I grinned before taking her hand. She tried to pull back, but I was too fast.
"Let go," she said with a glare, making me grin even wider. Feeling her resistance, I want her more. I am going fuck her in this brothel.
"I had missed you, Simar, and you will be coming back with me," I said. "I will not!" she replied.
"You should let her go, Mr. Adran," said the woman appearing beside me. She looks good enough to fuck and even feels powerful, but still an ant in front of me.
"Piss off," I warned.
Instead of walking away, the ant moved her hand toward me. It irritated me.
Slap!
I slapped the insolent bitch, throwing her away with a bloodied mouth. This will teach her a lesson not to interrupt the powerful.
"You shouldn't have done that," said Simar, and saw her pointing her wand at him.
I laughed, though, a moment later. I stopped, surprised to see a large wooden lance with thorns covering it.
It's a Grade IV spell; the spell only a High Mage could cast.
I could see my men being surprised as I am. I had spent countless resources on her, and she had failed to advance; it was one of the reasons I had thrown her away.
The lance appeared in front of me in an instant and seemed to clash against me when I caught it.
Great Blitz. Boar's Strength.
Crack!
I cracked the spells apart before snatching her wand away from her and throwing it away.
"Good, you have become High-Mage. Now, you won't be a disgrace to a company." I said. I am pleased with her advancement.
Green mages are very useful. They are versatile and could also do healing magic, which is their greatest use.
"I would rather die than join your company again," she said. "We will see," I replied, and pulled her toward the exit, that is where the rooms are.
I could see others watching us, and I grinned. I am thrilled; they are being entertained.
Hun!
I was looking at them when a young man appeared in front of me, blocking the way, with the storm raging in his eyes.