Chapter 704: Brunch (1/2)

Chapter 704 Brunch

Ilea appeared in her home at noon on the next day. A cool breeze came in from the balcony door when she opened it with her space manipulation. She smiled and walked out, seeing the signs of exposure on the stone floor. A quick cleanse from her ash returned the platform to its former glory, perhaps even a bit of it sanded off. Or ashed off in this case.

The skies were clear, far into the eastern ocean. She rested her elbows on the railings and checked the few messages from her training.

‘ding’ ‘Minor Earth Manipulation reaches lvl 2’

‘ding’ ‘Minor Ice Manipulation reaches lvl 2’

‘ding’ ‘Earth Magic Resistance reaches 3rd lvl 7’

‘ding’ ‘Fear Resistance reaches 2nd lvl 2’

‘ding’ ‘Soul Magic Resistance reaches 2nd lvl 19’

‘ding’ ‘Wood Magic Resistance reaches 3rd lvl 4’

She put her remaining fifteen stat points into vitality and summoned herself a meal. When’s the last time I slept? the thought came to her when she saw her bed and bookshelves up in her room. She’s barely been here in months. In a way the Meadow’s domain felt more like home than this place did at this point. The initial idea of the house was supposed to be a quiet retreat near the ocean. It still was that but with her power and abilities, Ilea could pretty much experience the same calm in the middle of an arcane storm. Granted the loud impacts would be slightly annoying.

Just too much stuff to do. But I’ll get some sleep again soon, she said to herself, not quite believing the words as she enjoyed the food. Sleeping had always been such a joy, she wouldn’t have thought herself capable of sidelining the important hobby for anything. But here she was, training resistances with three and four marks instead. Like I’m some kind of pro kick-boxer. Ah well, I did get those hot spring baths in the last few days, and the tournament was somewhat enjoyable. Should probably move the library into the Soul Forge though, then I can take breaks in front of a hearth instead of half a continent away.

She blinked up into her bedroom and spread out her ash, storing every book inside her domain. Now it looks downright abandoned, she thought, looking at the sight. Kind of surprising that nobody ever broke in so far. Not like it’s too far away from Ravenhall. A quick flight. She raised her brows, realizing that not everyone had wings or her flight speed. Let alone the fact that most humans didn’t just go into the wilderness. Adventurers only, and they would more likely understand not to fuck with someone who had their house in this location.

Not like there’s a lot of treasure anyway. Maybe I should design a dungeon or something. Or take one over as the monster at the end of it. Hmm, not really my style. And the people who’d break in would be pitifully weak.

Fighting incomprehensible creatures in other realms still appealed way more to her than such a stationary thing. She considered it as a potential retirement plan in a few thousand years. Ilea appeared above her home and spread her wings, quickly checking the cats in the nearby cavern. All grown up now.

She couldn’t see all of them either. Moved out, definitely. Into a nice cave a few miles away. Her ashen wings moved, the slightly cindered form shot up towards the cliff’s edge. It was a little late for breakfast, but she decided to get brunch instead. Somehow the lack of sleeping had to be compensated after all.

Ilea landed near the restaurant she liked to have breakfast in. The terrace was somewhat busy, not reserved for her alone when she was out of town. She waited a few seconds until two squads of Shadow Guards confronted her, two of them quickly confirming that she was in fact Lilith.

“Can you inform the Head Administrator that I’m having brunch over there?” she asked one of the mages that looked at her for a little longer than the others, her hand pointing at the establishment.

The woman’s eyes opened wide and she nodded immediately, bowing her head as her face turned red. She left with the others, her movements a little delayed.

Telepathy. So very useful. Three marks just confuses people, a higher level just makes them cocky. But get into someone’s head with your voice and the stories all suddenly ring true.

A few seconds later, she sat down at one of the small tables on the terrace. She chose a spot at one of the corners, the view of the mountain range quite enjoyable. Ilea wondered for a moment if she should teleport her brunch north to Scipio’s location but decided to remain. It would take several hours for the location in her house to be available again.

The waitress was new, Ilea’s casual clothes and Monstrous preventing her from seeming like some kind of three mark monster. A welcome detail, only marred slightly by the patrons that had seen her land, or even her short interaction with nine Shadowguards.

The woman made larger and larger eyes as the order went on and on, slowly nodding as she wrote everything down on a small notepad. She did a double take when she was done, looking at Ilea before she looked down at the notepad again. “Are you… excuse me… are you Lady Lilith?”

“Yes,” she answered.

“I thought you’d be… scarier,” the woman said with a slightly nervous smile. “Thanks for the work you provide.”

“I don’t provide any work. I just paid gold to someone at some point. Say thanks to whoever manages this place,” Ilea answered.

“I eh… will. Thanks, I’ll have your order here as fast as possible.”

“No rush. I’ve got time,” she answered and watched the woman rush off. Still weird. Not like I did anything other than find a shit ton of gold in some Taleen ruin.

She sighed and leaned back on the comfortable chair, ignoring the creaking noise of the steel as she subtly reinforced it with some ash.

Now that I see it… they replaced all the chairs. Her eyes squinted at nobody in particular. Must be a coincidence.

Claire stepped out from the stairwell and glanced around, her eyes falling on Ilea before she smiled. Her black hair was open for once, flowing slightly in the wind. She wore a neat black vest and loose black pants with a dozen hidden pockets. A few rings glinted in the sunlight before she vanished and appeared behind one of the chairs. “There you are,” she said and sat down, facing the sun.

“You sound downright elated,” Ilea mused. “Good news?”

Claire closed her eyes as she leaned back in the chair, a sigh leaving her before she opened her eyes. “Yes. I finally have a good reason to leave my office for a nice brunch and some sunlight.”

“Almost sounds like you’re blaming me for you being a workaholic,” Ilea said.

Claire waved her off. “Just been a while. Important work is important work. I’m delegating more and more, but with the…” she said and looked around. “Project. You know.”

Ilea established a telepathic connection. “This is probably safer,” she said.

“Useful. Yes. The materials for the teleportation circles are coming along nicely, as are the contracts, the pricing, personnel, and preparations near Ravenhall and in Morhill. Can’t wait to get this thing going. We’ll have to expand Morhill in no time. We predict it to become an even larger hub of adventurers than even Virilya,” she said when the tea arrived.

Not quite coffee, not quite like any tea Ilea had back on earth. Weird herb water instead of weird bean water. Can’t have everything, I suppose, she thought and sipped on it before she bit into a croissant. Keyla and Popi took her off hand comments very seriously, testing various creations based on her layman knowledge of cooking and baking. Some of their creations had apparently spread through the city already.

“It’ll be nice to have the gates around,” Ilea mused. Talking with a full mouth wasn’t an issue anymore either with telepathy, a benefit she hadn’t really considered before.

“Not like you need them. But even for the Shadow’s Hand it should increase our efficiency ten fold if not more,” Claire said.

“A ten times higher chance to die fighting,” Ilea said in a dry tone.