Proofread by Thomas F
Porcia Vellakos
I looked out at the turquoise waves crashing against the hilly coast. It's such a beautiful and calming scene.
"This is the one thing I am going to miss the most," I said as I looked at the vast sea and greenery of the island; the place I am going has none of it.
"Are we really doing this?" asked Garina.
It's not the first time she has asked me this question. It was difficult to make this decision, but many factors had forced me to consider it.
It had been over one and a half years since the legacy Tranquill Bathhouse disappeared from the island.
The economy of the entire Vethe Island depended on Tranquill Bathhouse's legacy; it is what pulled people to it, including me, but as it disappeared.
Nobles left, so did businesses, and then people.
Even the Lord of Tranquill Bathhouse had left and become a mercenary, swearing revenge on Silver.
Silver had taken his legacy, but also the artifact. The kingdom tried to hide the facts and suppress the information that the prince himself was here. Despite that, they lost the legacy and the artifact.
It had made the kingdom lose a lot of face. Even the citizens laugh at the incident in private.
"Yes," I replied.
I am selling the brothel today, and a week later, we will leave this place for Greltheaven. Though we are not directly going to Greltheaven.
Given the enmity the kingdom possesses toward it, they will definitely stop us and even arrest us.
It is why only two people besides me know our destination.
"It's an enormous risk. We are going to a completely different continent, a place we have never even stepped in before and only heard about," she said, and it's not the first time she voiced her reservations.
"We didn't have to leave; the business is not as good as before, but it's still profitable."
I sighed, hearing the fear in her voice.
She is not the only one scared about this decision; I am as well, but I am still doing it.
Here, I am just a whore and will always be a whore. It will not change, but Greltheaven, it might. It is the place that might make me more than a whore.
It is a place that whores built, and they are the leaders of it.
I know, the grass would not be as green on the other side as it seemed from a distance, but it would still be much better than here, where I could do nothing but be a whore.
I can only do this business, as I am barred from anything else. I want more than that for these girls and myself.
So, when Barb's letter came half a year ago, inviting me to Greltheaven, I gave it some thought. It became a serious thought when she offered a partnership."
I bought information about Greltheaven and even asked many clients who had gone to Zenid and Greltheaven.
It took me months to make a final decision about it, but I did.
"You know, Greltheaven has a law that Velvet Garden could take whores from any brothel," she said. I am not surprised that she scrutinized her own information.
I had asked Barb about it and requested an exception from Velvet Garden.
She declined but stated that Velvet Garden has a rule against taking on more than 10% of the staff from any brothel.
"You are good enough to be selected by Velvet Garden," I replied, and she rolled her eyes, but I could see a spark of hope light up for a moment.
"Maybe I'll just go and leave you all alone," she said back, and I laughed.
She laughed as well.
We were laughing when I heard footsteps behind me. "They have arrived," informed Albyna.
I nodded and turned a few minutes later. I walked into my office, where three people were already waiting.
"I have read the document; everything is in order." Said the old half-elf and put an agreement in front of me. He is my lawyer, and the document is a sales agreement.
I took the document and began to read it.
I have been screwed before, and since then, I have read every document. I may not fully understand the legal language, but I can tell when someone is trying to screw me over.
They did not hurry me and waited patiently until I finished reading.
Once that was done, I picked up a quill.
When I moved to sign it, my hand shook. If I sign it, there is no going back.
A moment later, my quill scratched against the paper. I signed several more times before finally feeling the agreement activate.
The lawyers shook my hand and walked out. I now have two weeks to leave this place.
"Gather the girls," I said after a minute of silence.
They nodded and walked out of my office, while I remained seated alone.
I don't know whether it is the right decision to leave it all and go to a completely new place where things operate with different rules.
I might regret it, but I have to do it. I refuse to die being just another whore.
I want to be something more than that.
A few minutes later, a knock rang out, and I got up from my seat and walked outside into the hall. It is usually filled with girls and clients, but currently, only girls are present.
I kept the brothel closed for the day; it will open in the evening.
I looked at the girls, and all of them were looking at me. Many are excited; a few are nervous.
"As you all have guessed by now, I have sold the brothel." There was barely any change in their expressions; they had already guessed, given that we were leaving the island.
"In a week, we will leave this island for a new beginning and a brighter future."
Any other people would have cheered, but not these girls. Other than mild excitement, there was barely any change on their faces.
The excitement is not because of hope for a bright future, but the new place we will move to, the scenery, and the new people.
For a whore, every place is the same; nothing changes for them. They only have one goal: to save enough. So, they will live with a roof over their heads in old age.
Many don't wait even for that.
"It will be a daunting journey to the city, but it will be worth it for what awaits us there," I finished, and a few clapped.
"Girls, big farewell to your regulars and inform them of our new city. So, they could come to you when they visit," instructed Garina.
I don't feel good lying to them about their destination, but I don't have a choice.
It's too risky to tell them the actual destination; I am already taking an enormous risk by going to Greltheaven. It's just a secret for a few more days.
…
Barb Utsa
"Faster, but keep yourself guarded," I said to the teen girl attacking me with a rapier in rapid strikes.
I defended when, suddenly, she breathed out fire. It was yellow and hot. I immediately braced my shield against it, but a moment later I felt a rapier coming at me from the left.
I defended with my blade before smashing my shield against her head hard.
She flung away.
"The speed is good, but it's useless if you can't protect yourself from the enemy's counterattacks!" I instructed.
"Then I will just have to be even faster!" replied Keela, and wiped the blood off her lips before kicking up from the ground and coming at me.
The young girl is fast, too fast for her level; she also has a very good fighting instinct, but she is impulsive and does not have patience.
Kind of like Lola, but unlike Lola, the cost of a mistake for her would be death.
So, I am training them hard as they do not have the advantage that even common soldiers have. Most of them trained at an early age, and combat class was their first class.
It is one among their many disadvantages.
Already one of them is dead; I don't want more of them to die. I love these girls; I could not bear to lose them.
The training lasted for two more hours before I finally stopped.
The healer, who is always present, quickly heals their injuries before they leave to freshen up, while I sat down on the bench, watching the sea, in Gailhorn.
"They are improving fast, and their teamwork has become quite dangerous," Yora commented as she sat beside me.
"It is," I replied.
I may train them individually, but most of the training hours are spent in group fighting. The special army expert trains them in it.
We have decided it's the best path for them, given the bond they share with each other.
Many of them might not have known each other years ago, but they all experienced the same things. That created a bond greater than one formed through shared years.
It is also very suitable for their power, making them very dangerous.
"They can be better," I said, and Yora laughed. "The training helps with the foundations, but real improvement only happens in one place," she replied.
The battlefield!
With how things are going, they will get that chance.
They are yearning for it, especially those who didn't fight in the last battle against the undead.
I wish they wouldn't be so excited. Battle isn't something they should forward to.
"Oh, one more thing, there is a message for you from Velvet Garden. It states, 'Your friend left the island." Hearing that, a smile appeared on my face.
Porcia is coming to Greltheaven, bringing all her girls.
She impressed me on the island, and I wanted her in Greltheaven. This is a better place for her brothel, not some island that lost its gem.
Her brothel would be a great addition to Greltheaven. It has that quality that few possess.
She is also one of the few madams who treat her girls well.
It is why I didn't hesitate to extend her a partnership offer. It's not a simple decision, given that the brothel she wants here is going to be very expensive.
Already, the expenses have piled up. I had already started construction based on the designs she sent.
Still, it is worth it. I know it will do well, and it will also help Velvet Garden. There are a few girls in there who will be suitable for Velvet Garden.