Tello walked forward, still deep in conversation with Gila, when a thunderous bang cut through the air. The ground trembled beneath them as debris, concrete and shattered wood rained down just steps away.
"The house!" Gila screamed, bolting toward the fire now engulfing the building.
Tello stood frozen, his mind spiraling into countless thoughts. Had the royal guards found them? Had they planted something? Or was this... something else? He tried to move forward but couldn't, all he could feel was his arms tremble.
Stephen.
The thought struck like a spear to the chest.
"Dad!" Gila cried, standing just a few feet from the blaze. But the flames roared too high. They kept her back, the smoke stinging her eyes. "Dad, please! Please come out, not like this!"
Tello snapped back to his senses and rushed to her, pulling her close and cradling her head against his chest. Together, they collapsed to the ground.
"I'm sorry," Gila sobbed, her voice trembling. "I shouldn't have yelled. I should've listened, tried to understand. I just... please come back. I want to tell you that. Please don't leave me like this."
"I'm sorry," Tello whispered, but his thoughts were still spiraling. Just as things were beginning to make sense, everything had gone to hell. "Goddamnit!"
"What are you two shouting about?" came a voice from behind.
Tello turned instantly.
Floating behind them, unharmed, was Stephen. His blond hair windswept, blue eyes squinting in confusion. Rumm hovered beside him, holding them up with a spell.
"The house exploded..." Tello blinked. "I thought you were—"
"Dad!" Gila launched into Rumm's arms, wrapping him in a hug tighter than anything she'd given him in years.
Rumm stood stiff for a moment. His hands hovered behind her head, unsure if he was allowed to hold her back. But then he gave in, gently returning the embrace.
"I'm sorry," Gila whispered. "For shutting you out. For refusing to talk about Mom. I love her too... I do. But I'm not ready yet..."
"Don't be sorry," Rumm said gently. "I'm the one who should apologize. I tried to honor her memory by forcing it on you… but when do you think you might be ready?"
"Not now, Dad!" Gila screamed.
"Of course," he said, still holding her close "...next month, maybe next year—"
"DAD!"
"Later, got it."
Tello got up and approached Stephen. "You alright?"
Stephen floated down as Rumm released the spell, landing on shaky feet. "Yeah. I'm okay. I'm more worried about you. Were you crying?"
"Of course I was!" Tello said, shoving him lightly. "I thought you were dead, idiot."
Stephen glanced at him. "But I'm not."
Tello rolled his eyes, wiping away the last tear. "Yeah, yeah. I can see that now."
Stephen stood there for a moment. Ever since he'd come to this world, life had only gotten better. He'd made his first real friend... and that friend had cried at the thought of losing him. His chest tightened, his nose stinging in tandem.
It was hard to hide how happy he felt.
"What even happened?" Gila asked, stepping away from Rumm and glancing back to the wreckage.
"This boy right here blew up the house," Rumm muttered, then coughed. "I managed to get him out in time with my magic."
"Don't make it sound like I did it on purpose," Stephen said, frowning. "I don't even know what happened."
"Your spirit hates your guts," Rumm said. "Your path was blocked a long time ago, maybe even before you were born."
"Wait, what?" Gila muttered, stepping forward. "Isn't that impossible? You'd have to do something really bad for the spirits to reject you before you've even used magic."
"Well, what did you do?" Rumm asked, turning to Stephen.
"I don't know," Stephen said. "This was my first time using magic."
Rumm shrugged. "In that case, give up on the path of a mage. Stick to being a merchant. That's the only road left open to you now."
"That's a bummer," Stephen murmured, staring down at his hand. "Still... maybe the system knows something about it."
Tello nudged him, then whispered. "What about the land?"
"Oh... right." Stephen turned back to Rumm. "Seeing as you and your daughter are on speaking terms again, it's time to uphold your part of the agreement."
"That wasn't the full deal..." Rumm looked at him for a long second, then let out a sigh. "I'll get the documents tomorrow. It'll be yours."
"Let's go!" Stephen and Tello shouted at once.
"I'm a good consultant, if you ever need one," Gila added, adjusting her glasses. "Though, I guess I should ask what kind of business you're into first."
"A brothel," Stephen replied.
The air fell silent, filled only by the pop of burning wood.
Rumm slowly pinched the bridge of his nose. "My late wife's property... turned into a whorehouse."
He began to walk away, murmuring absently to himself as he shuffled toward the house.
"All the opportunities I turned down... and I gave it away for free. For a brothel." He chuckled bitterly. "This is what happens when you don't ask questions... this is exactly what happens..."
"Is he going to be okay?" Tello asked.
"He'll be fine," Gila said, then looked to Stephen. "Now, you. I want to hear more about this brothel. You do know the Love Supreme is one minute away from here, right?"
"That's exactly why we're building it here," Stephen said. "We'll be stealing their customers from under their noses."
"That's the dumbest idea I've ever heard," she said flatly. "Not just from a business perspective, but safety too. Verre isn't just a brothel owner, she's a major player in this city's economy. She pulls more strings than you can imagine."
Stephen glanced at Tello and Tello glanced back.
"We're aware," Tello said.
"And you still want to go ahead with it?" Gila asked, stunned. "You're putting a target on your backs and that's if your business doesn't flop first."
"Don't worry," Stephen said with a grin. "It'll take off just fine."
"And how exactly do you know that?"
"Because I'm armed with ideas this city's never seen before, and by my side is the world's greatest architect."
"There's so much we need to start working on," Tello said, eyes on the plot of land. Then, he turned. "Mr. Valless! Can we start on the site today?"
"Do whatever you want..." Rumm muttered, his arm outstretched. A gust of wind burst from his palm toward the burning house, though it only made the flames worse.
"Okay!" Tello said, and turned back to the plot. "We need to get the ground workers here, and we also need to clean the plot first. Then we have to start shipping the wood and furniture, we also need to get the permit for the brothel..."
"Is this normal?" Gila said, now closer to Stephen.
"He gets really fired up when it comes to construction," Stephen said, just as Darla trotted up and nudged her head against his back. He turned and smiled, gently rubbing her snout. "Hey girl... I'm sorry. Did the flames hurt you?"
"Is he... talking to a horse?" Gila muttered, now closer to Tello.
"Yeah, that's normal for him," Tello said. "You'll get used to it."
"You two are both weird," she muttered, then looked out at the empty lot. "Do you have anyone to help with permits or hire ground workers?"
"We were going to do it ourselves," Tello said.
"That obviously won't work." Gila folded her arms. "Commoners need at least six month's notice to get clearance. And if you start without it, you'll be fined and prosecuted."
"Crap," Tello muttered. "Is that really how it works?"
"Yeah. You need to request an audience with the king, explain your business plan, and get his approval. Only then can you legally start building."
"...We have to go to the castle?" Tello looked at Stephen in disbelief.
"Is there any other way?" Stephen asked.
"Not unless you know a Count who can do it for you," Gila said, eyeing them skeptically. "Which I doubt."
"I thought we just needed a permit from the Count in charge of the town."
"That's how it usually works. If you're building in here in Worthstad, for example, you'd go to Count Weller." Gila adjusted her glasses. "But things changed. Word is, the Count wasn't paying his taxes properly. So the royal family stepped in. Now, any project bigger than a vendor shop needs royal approval."
"Damn that Count," Tello groaned, clenching his fists. "Well... what do we do now, Stephen?"
Stephen paused for a second, in thought. They could return to Traver, he probably had enough clout to push a permit through. But asking him again would be a pain. Their only other option was finding another noble, which also came with its own baggage.
"...Maybe we go back to Traver," he said. "Annoying, but I might be able to talk him into it."
"Oh, I can help you get the permit," Gila offered casually and the both of them turned to her.
"How?" Tello asked, narrowing his eyes.
"I have my ways," she said, pushing up her glasses with a smirk. "But it'll cost you."
"How much?" Stephen asked.
"A managerial position at your brothel. Full salary, tax free of course. Oh, and I want to oversee the construction as project manager. I've never seen a brothel get built before."
"That's it?" Tello asked, genuinely surprised.
"Yep. This sounds fun."
Stephen folded his arms. He didn't really know her well, but her terms didn't sound shady, just... quirky. But then again, eventually he'd need a trustworthy manager who would control the business while he was gone.
And maybe, she is that person.
"Alright," he said, "When can you get the permit?"
"Tomorrow," Gila grinned.
"Liar," Tello said. "Didn't you just say it takes six months?"
"That's if you go the official route," she said, turning and strolling off. "I'll be back tomorrow with the permit. You can start construction then."
They both watched her leave, and after a moment. Tello perked up.
"I'm gonna finish my final draft," he said, jogging off. Then he stopped and turned. "What about you?"
Stephen glanced down at his palm. "Dunno, I'll probably—"
"You do that!" Tello shouted, already halfway gone. "Maybe I should go for an infinity room! Or an ascending layout! or maybe even a spiral tunnel—!"
Darla neighed and nudged Stephen again, and he smiled.
"Yeah, he's a nut alright." He reached into his pocket and pulled out two sugar cubes he'd pocketed earlier.
"THE ILLUSION OF INFINITE ROOMS!" Tello screamed from across the lot, bent over with a pencil in hand like he'd just discovered the secret to life.
Stephen chuckled as Darla nibbled the sugar from his hand. "Definitely a nut."