Chapter 344: Influence of the Rich (1/2)

“This is another one from you!” Cless exclaimed, pointing at one of the paintings. One of many.

Claire was working on her desk, a small enchantment active to blend out the talk between Cless and Ilea.

“It’s beautiful. Do I really look that cool?” Ilea asked, crouching down to see the painting better. It was her, fighting a Blue Reaper, blood and ash divided by a streak of blue lightning. Drawn with what looked like oil. She had seen Cless draw before and knew that there was no oil involved.

Magical oil creator? She mused, “And this one is from Ravenhall?”

She pointed at a bigger painting, the destroyed middle section of the back then only wall. The massive demonic monster flying above.

I wonder what they did with the corpse and all the bones. “And these are Kyrian.” Ilea said, the man’s armor apparently changing to a more sleek design, less protrusions and spikes but thicker. More sturdy. The beasts he was fighting in the pictures ranged from Taleen Guardians to Spirits of Winter to unknown canine monsters. The painting Cless had finished just the week prior showed him in some sort of castle ruin, the man flying and surrounded by cold winds and snow as he looked down onto the structure.

Ilea tried to memorize as much of the surroundings as possible. “And how’s school going?”

The girl rolled her eyes, “They don’t call it school here, Ilea. This isn’t England.”

“Well, how are your studies going then.” Ilea humored her.

“It’s going well. I’m learning about a variety of monsters living in the wild, magic and magic theory. I don’t understand some of the words but William says I’m smarter than half the class.” She said and smiled to herself, looking to the floor.

“That’s great. You should be proud of that and not embarrassed. Just don’t flaunt it.” Ilea replied and chuckled, “You’re going to be a great mage some day, I’m sure of it.”

The scrying ability itself already brought more information on Kyrian and herself than anybody else could have provided. “I’ll talk to Claire for a while, thanks again.” Ilea said and patted the girl’s head.

She beamed with pride and nodded, “I will paint more then!”

Ilea smiled in return and stood up, walking over to the busy woman. The enchantment shimmered when she passed it. “Quite the wonder child, isn’t she?”

Claire stopped her work and looked up, “She is indeed.”

“How is she doing in regards to her past?” Ilea asked.

The woman shook her head lightly, “As well as you could expect. She understands that this is a different world, accepts the existence of magic and monsters but I suppose you have the fictional creations in her realm to thank for that. Television and the like. Fascinating really.” She paused, “She misses her parents, her class mates from school. Her home. The painting helps, as well as learning about the world and different things. I do think however that she will try to get back at one point or another. She’s from England. The same realm as you?”

A chair of ash formed, Ilea sitting down with a light grating sound. “Probably. At least I know the name. With different realms there could just as well be different dimensions, unlimited possibilities and all so I can’t say for sure.”

The woman rolled her eyes, “Well, you’re not wrong there. Too much we don’t know.” She scratched her head, “With all the things you’ve told us. The world keeps getting bigger. I remember when Vihal was my main concern.”

“Well, we do what we can.” Ilea said, “I’m optimistic though, for Ravenhall and the Hand at least.”

“There are too many things happening at the same time, too many factors. Yet I doubt you came to your conclusion with data analysis.” Claire said and smirked.

“If you call my gut feeling data analysis. Then yes.” She paused, “Thanks for keeping all the paintings. It’s good to know Kyrian should be alive. Out there, somewhere.”

Claire grunted, “We just don’t know where at all. I do hope the key will help Christopher along. So far it’s been rather fruitless.”

“Hopefully. Iana Birch will join him soon. She will work for me here in Ravenhall. For the healing org as well as on the key and other things. A capable enchantress.” Ilea explained, “Her father, Balduur Birch might be interested in the Morhill deal.”

“You talked to him? I’ve heard of the man before but the general consensus is to leave him alone.”

Ilea nodded, “He’s stubborn and has his views. I believe he’s a good man, just burnt and used too many times. He wanted to discuss some things so I suggested you visiting him. He agreed. I don’t know much about the political situation as well as the long term plans and dangers involved. I think he trusts me to an extent. Enough at least to talk to you.”

“Another thing added to the list of tasks. Well I can’t complain, the money and gear you provided will go a long way already. Having another capable smith and enchantress to cooperate with is always welcome. I’ll visit this week. Village of Indur if I remember correctly?” Claire said.

“Supercomputer brain?” Ilea asked, chuckling.

“Cless mentioned computers too from time to time. Magical really, to project moving people onto a box.”

“Well, the robotics of the Taleen is quite a bit more advanced I think. A different thing of course and likely made with magic and enchantments but incredible nonetheless.” Ilea said, “I don’t know much about how computers actually work. Not sure if it would work in Elos at all. With all the magic around.”

“Your enchanters could figure it out perhaps. For now, let’s focus on the teleportation gate.” Claire said. “I have your contracts ready by the way, for all the new things you requested.” She added, summoning a stack of papers. “Do read through and sign with your mana. If you have questions or changes, do let me know. Oh and Ilea, I’ve invested where I could but Ravenhall is mostly bought up by now. From now on you would be buying from the Hand or the city itself and I doubt that makes much sense in general. I suggest investing a part of the money into other cities or in the empire.”

“Of course, you did that already anyway with a part of it, didn’t you?” Ilea asked.

She nodded, “Yes, but only a small part. The opportunities early on were… enormous Ilea. Even ten gold coins would have brought anybody a lot of wealth, if they knew where Ravenhall was headed. You were at the right place, at the right time. With a ton of gold.” The woman smirked. “You made us rich.”

Twoglasses and a bottle of wine weresummoned, “I’m not sure if I ever properly thanked you. We’re friends, more that that perhaps. Of all the things you’ve done for me, protecting me and my mother will never be forgotten. Yet helping out so much with my job, the early recommendation to Sulivhaan and Dagon as well as all the gold you brought in. It all led me here, led us here. So thank you, for all of it, Ilea.” She opened the bottle and poured.

“You said it, Claire.” Ilea said, smirking herself and taking the glass. “We’re friends. Plus, if I didn’t have you, my gold would probably still be sitting inside my necklace.” She laughed.

The glasses met in a light clink, the dark red liquid inside moving. “I don’t want to think about all the people who do that. So much gold… just sitting around.” Claire said and shuddered. She downed the glass with a single gulp.

“I decided to invest most into Riverwatch.” Claire spoke again, “With the war, I supposed the empire wasn’t the best option. And I know you have history there. If they could shake off the elven attacks and handled the influx of refugees, I thought to take the risk. Should I focus on that city again with the gold planned for foreign investments?”

Ilea nodded, “You would know best anyway. How did the city develop anyway? Last time I was there I went and took care of a bandit gang led by some bitch from the west.”

Claire grinned, “I did think the descriptions matched. So it was you. Well, more jobs for the Hand came in in the coming months, some quite similar to what you had done. They still have some open but the city is still there, still more than capable to pay for mercenaries and likely one of the more stable settlements in the area. The reports I received two weeks ago from my contacts there also inform me that your share of the city has grown.”