Proofread by Thomas F
"It's settled, don't you think?" I asked Caena, looking at the core of my legacy and Vanis Tavern's revolving around it.
It may have become a subject around a month ago; it took over a month to settle fully. Usually it takes a long time, at least a year or more, but here it had happened in little over a month.
"It happened. Sooner than we had thought," she replied. Looking at both of the cores.
"Let's do it, then," I said, and a moment later, mist came out of the Tavern's core.
It didn't fly toward the holder planet, like it did a few days earlier when I harvested the essence to give it to Ralis Thorn.
Instead, it moved toward my core before seeping inside. Immediately, I focused on it.
This is extremely important and dangerous. If it worked, it would help me tremendously.
What I am trying to do is simple. I am trying to capture the essence of emotion at Vanis's Tavern and make it my own. So, I could turn it into Grade IV essence.
It's not as safe or straightforward as it looked. It's so dangerous that no master legacy does this.
The mist isn't just emotion essence, but it is also part of the core and thus contains the vision.
It is why I had only pulled the mist that aligned with mine, and his core, having part of my core also helps, but it doesn't fully diminish the dangers.
I didn't want my core to absorb this mist. No, I just want it to turn into Grade IV essence.
Caena's spell began to work, and my own mist mixed with it. Then came the power of the core, and slowly things began to change.
A minute passed and then another. A total of eleven minutes passed when the mist turned into Grade IV.
"It worked," said Caena. I smiled as well.
Grade IV essence is far more expensive than Grade III. That is why I will try to convert it as much as possible into Grade IV
Though I won't be able to do it for more than 40% of the mist from Tavern, as I said, it's dangerous, and I wouldn't have done it if it would not help me so much.
I need Grade IV essence, but I also need Grades I to III. For my alchemist, plants and other essential items, but taking them from my legacy is too inefficient.
It is why I will exchange Grade IV with Grade I to Grade III. The exchange value is enormous. It is also much cheaper for me to do that than to take it from my legacy.
There are more common legacies than thrones on the continent.
I turned away from the mist and looked at the thing inside the core. A rhombus-shaped artifact called Lumenweaver's core.
The trinket artifact I got from Lord of Inam.
It is an inefficient artifact. If it had not been, it would have been a very powerful defensive artifact. The constructs of light it creates are powerful.
"It is taking longer than it should have," I said. It had been in the core for nearly a week. It should have been more than enough to bond with the legacy.
"Some artifacts take time, much less the flawed one like this," she replied.
I haven't thought about what to do with it and have refrained from considering it. I want it to bond with the legacy, then I will be able to utilize its full power, and afterward, I will consider what I will do with it.
Soon, I closed my core and looked at Vanis Tavern, which was fully dismantled.
Every part will be used in a new legacy.
We are not yet finished with the design; it's taking longer than I had thought. Nevertheless, we have started reconstruction since we have decided on enough things.
I need the Tavern ready in six months. So, I could close the Velvet Garden for its reconstruction.
Vanis and Mariha had already arrived in the morning, along with all their staff. All of them will be trained here with my staff.
If we like some, we might even consider admitting them into the initiation programme.
A few minutes passed as I discussed a few things with Caena, when the door opened. Margaux came in with Eudo, along with Mariha and Vanis.
Carla is not here, she has gone to Navr. However, Navr isn't the purpose of her visit.
"Lord Silver," they greeted, and I nodded. "Lord Lindgren, Lady Baelir, please take a seat." I offered.
"Thank you, my lord," they replied and sat down in front of me; the others also took their seats.
"How was the journey?" I asked. "Good, we had slept our way through it," he replied. It made me smile. The river route is relaxing; one could easily drift off to sleep while traveling through it.
"Have you brought all your people?" I asked. "From cleaners to managers, every one of them," replied Mariha. I had asked them to bring everyone.
Seventy percent of her staff have returned, and they are also recruiting new personnel to meet their quotas. Vanis had already recruited 30% of the people from his quota, and the rest will come within a month.
Mariha is recruiting mainly from Nezhar. So, it will take some time for those people to come.
This is another reason I had asked them to recruit. I want people from other parts of the continent and the world. People who grew up in different environments and have different experiences.
This will prevent Velvet Garden from stagnating, like many legacies often do.
"They are here to learn, but most importantly. They are here to experience the culture of the Velvet Garden. How it operates, what its red lines are, and many other things," I said.
They may be people with decades of experience working in legacy, but they are not perfect.
Many are problematic.
That will not do; while my legacy may be a fraction younger than theirs, my staff is outstanding. If they were not, they would not have been working in legacy.
"They will. We have made that clear to them," replied Vanis. I heard his speech, which he gave in the grounds of the Tavern, before leaving for the Greltheaven.
"Good. If you have any questions or reservations about it, don't hesitate to speak," I said.
If there are concerns, I would solve them. I want it to go as smoothly as possible. The future of the legacies is riding on it.
"We do not, my lord. You had already allayed the concerns we had," replied Vanis. I looked at Mariha, who also shook her head.
"Though I have a request, Lord Silver," she said after a moment of silence. "Yes, Lady Baelir," I replied.
"I was hoping. You would allow me more than one family member in the legacy. A few of my children and grandchildren are very talented; they used to help me run my legacy," she requested.
Hearing that, smiles appeared on Margaux and Caena's faces, while Eudo slightly shook his head.
"Only one member of the family is allowed in Legacy's business, Lady Baelir, and it will not change," I replied firmly.
Family complicates things. I don't want that; even my siblings have no power in the legacy. They are only allowed to come here once a month and must make a reservation at least a few days in advance.
The woman opened her mouth, but closed it a moment later.
"Everyone had gathered; we shouldn't keep them waiting for long," said Caena, breaking the silence. "We shouldn't," I replied and got up.
Soon, I was out of my office with them following behind me.
A few seconds later, I stepped into the hall, which was filled with people. There are not many of them; just sixty-eight. The actual staff is less than fifty.
That is the staff of both legacies.
The rest were the ones that Vanis has hired. Many of them had worked in legacies, but others have come from diverse backgrounds.
Velvet Garden is a massive legacy. Compared to us, Vanis Tavern and Mariha's Inn were a lot smaller. Their staff is also small.
I could see everyone. Vanis's granddaughter, Mariha's grandson, Nilman Croft, the manager of Tavern, and many other familiar and unfamiliar faces.
They are all looking at me with nervous anticipation. I would be too. Here, their jobs are on the line —the jobs that provide them with an excellent salary and numerous privileges.
Most importantly, safety.
"First of all, let me start by saying. Welcome to Velvet Garden," I said, and many smiled, but some seemed to have become even more nervous.
"You will be here for the next six months. You will work here, you will learn. Not only the rules that run the legacy, but also its culture."
"The things that make Velvet Garden what it is,"
I paused and looked at their serious faces; they know what is at stake if they don't do well.
"I hope you all will learn everything with your heart. Become good enough that I might think about keeping you in Velvet Garden instead of sending you back to the Tavern," I finished. Immediately, the faces lit up.
Working in the new Vanis Tavern would be great, but Velvet Garden would be game-changing.
I could see the ambition rising in the eyes of many, not only in Vanis's people, but also in Mariha's. They are the ones I am most interested in.
They are the ones, people might say, who come from not-so-respectable backgrounds.
Just like Mariha, these people are from the worst part of the city. Many among them have been thieves and criminals.
According to Mariha, none of them had committed serious crimes.
There had been few who did that, but her kingdom asked her to fire those people when it turned into a legacy, and didn't let her hire the worst of the bunch.
Still, I will be cautious and keep an eye on these people.
"This is Madam Cath Arga; she will inform you of your duties and schedule," said Caena. Looking at Cath, she will be responsible for training these people.
Cath stepped forward and began to address them, while I walked out.
These people will not be the only ones learning. Vanis and Mariha will learn.
They will be running an enormous legacy. They need to gain experience, and there is no better place than Velvet Garden.
They will work with Grade II's and, like trainees, they will gain experience in various departments.
Unlike their staff, they will not be here all six months. They will make trips to Inam several times a month to see the progress of the legacy.
Speaking of which, there is a design meeting in the evening, with the architect of Tavern with Amellus joining in.
Eighty percent of the design is finished; it is the last twenty percent that remains. Thankfully, we have time, as we have agreed on enough to start construction.