Chereads / Sol Invictus / Chapter 13 - Chapter 13: Happy 14th

Chapter 13 - Chapter 13: Happy 14th

Group: "Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday dear Nullthara! Happy Birthday to you!"

Anera: "Happy 14th. Sadly, today you will have to leave the temple. I'm going to miss you so much. It has been a pleasure to watch you grow up."

Anera with a beaming smile, then pulls out a leather patch with the symbol of Cognitios embroidered on it.

"Take this too. It should help you be a little safer considering your racial situation."

Nullthara brings up a weak smile.

Nullthara: "Ya, thanks. I appreciate your immense concern for me. I feel sooo loved."

Alexander walks up, giving Nullthara a smack on the back.

Alexander: (English) "Wow, gotta love that teenage angst. Come on Grey's Anatomy, just take the damn patch."

Nullthara: "Fine. I just hate her ignorant sappy personality."

Grabbing the patch she fails to put on her best smile. 

Anera: (Common) "You are so cute with your secret language."

Alexander: "Thank you so much. May I have one of those as well. I don't think I could live here anymore without my best friend."

Anera: "Awe, you're so sweet. Of course Alexander I'll go get one for you."

Anera quickly darts away while Nullthara pretends to swoon.

Nullthara: (English) "Yes Alexander you're sooo sweet. If you keep this up all the ladies will fall for you. Hahaha!"

Alexander lowers his voice as deep as he can.

Alexander: "Come on Nullthara, it's time to live Fast and Furious cause we're family."

"I'll be back in a second, I need to go get the map of the city we made and our money."

When Alexander returns, Anera stands by Nullthara who tosses the second leather patch at him.

Anera: (Common) "I hope you both have great lives. Please visit at some point."

Alexander: "Bye Ms. Anera, have many more long years."

Walking out of the temple the duo breath in deep, free at last. 

"Firstly let's head over to Genmar's, call in a favor, get a house, buy some half-elves, and pick up my gold."

After years of walking to Mound of Potions the two half-elves don't get a second look by most of the residents. Genmar is standing behind the counter when they enter. 

Alexander: "Hey Genmar, we're here to turn in our resignations."

Genmar: "Ah, if it isn't the berry maker himself. So today must be the big day when you go independent, congratulations. Don't worry, no need to ask, I've had your money prepared for this day. In total you now have 3600 gold pieces to your name. How are you going to use it, or store it?"

Alexander: "Who says there's no honor among thieves? Sweet in total I now have 3601 gold and 25 silver, pretty big jump in cash. Um, I would like some help from you Genmar. A favor if you will. Can you take us on a trip to buy some slaves to work for us, also could you help us find a nice house?"

Genmar: "Sure, I haven't been out in the city in a while. It'll be nice to stretch my legs. The slave market is not to far from the central docks. Is there any particular housing area that you might be looking at?

Nullthara: "I was thinking of perhaps my old home."

Alexander: "Really? Are you sure?"

Nullthara: "It's not a problem. It will be nice to live in my old house if it's available. Plus a double homicide occurred so it should cost less, at most it'll be a little rundown."

Genmar: "Ok let's swing by the city's real-estate guild to see if the house is available, then to the slave market. Why would you want slaves at your age?"

Alexander: "Isn't it obvious, to do things for us. I can feed them with the spell you taught me, so the upkeep for them will be practicaly free."

Genmar: "I love your use of the spell I taught you, so practical. Let's get a move on shall we."

The further north the trio walks the nicer homes become. Mostly wooden or cobblestone homes with plaster start changing to cut stone walls with colored paint. The clothes of people looked cleaner with brighter colors. With the increasing wealth slaves becoming more prevalent and non-humans less so. As they begin to enter the second wealthiest sector of the city, Alexander spots a familiar sight that is engraved in his memorie. The grandiose temple that he passed the day he was born, approaches him as he walks forward.

Alexander: "Genmar, what's that building?"

Genmar: "Ah, that's the Octa Grandia. The largest and wealthiest temple of the Eight, besides the one in Cormeum. To be honest being even related to the church on Insula Malefici is a boon, you two are lucky. I'm also pretty lucky, although druids don't worship the Eight, those that can manipulate nature as druids are beloved due to our abilities to help with crops and what not. Come on, we are almost there."

Two blocks south of the Octa Grandia, Genmar points to the real-estate guild. A three story building made of cut stones painted white and gold with red clay roofing, stands before the trio. Walking through the door they see multiple clerks with awaiting customers. Standing in lines for an hour they finally reach a human male clerk.

Clerk: "Hello, how may I help you today?"

Nullthara: "Hello sir. I would like to ask if the Petros house is still unoccupied?"

Clerk: "Sadly yes, after all these years it has only sold once, immediately it was resold two months later. Not many can afford the cost of the taxes nor its upfront cost, also homes where murdershave taken place usually don't sell."

Nullthara: "So, what is the cost?"

Clerk: "It is a 30ft by 40ft two story cut stone house, with actual glass windows. It has a full kitchen with an oven too. A fireplace in all five rooms, the bottom room being the laundry and bathing room. An open 30ft by 30ft backyard, it is currently up to code with a full set of basic furnishing for every room."

Nullthara: "What about the original owners belongings."

Clerk: "If memory serves, all those items went on a sale for a pretty decent price. Now then, the total for the house would normally be 3000 gold, but due to the double homicide and lack of sale, it is 2600 gold. The property tax is only 50 gold a year, with the first year being tax free." 

Genmar and Nullthara look at Alexander who replies with a nod.

Genmar: "I think we have a deal!"

Clerk: "Great! You have no idea how much selling this house will boost my repertoire."

At these words Nullthara grits her teeth. Seeing this Alexander speaks up.

Alexander: "Yes, congrats. Now Genmar, are we going to send the money from your place?"

Genmar: "No, of course not, I brought all your funding in my bag of holding. Clerk, we will pay upfront."

Clerk: "That is even better. Let me go grab the bill of sale along with the key, and copies of the deed for the house."

As the clerk rushes off with a skip in his step.

Alexander: "Hey, Nullthara are you ok?"

Nullthara: "Ya, I think I will be, at least once this damn deal is done."

Alexander: "Ok." (English) "We can kill all those that bought your family's possessions if you want."

Nullthara: "Haha. No need to rush it. If your plan comes to fruition, most of the people in this city will be on spikes."

Alexander: "True, patience is a virtue."

The clerk eventually returns with all the needed documents for legal purchase of the house.

Clerk: (Common) "All I need are the owners signatures on our documents and your copies, along with the 2600 gold. Then the house is yours. So, who is signing?"

Alexander: "Genmar come, pay the man. Nullthara, I'll sign after you."

While Genmar starts to take out 2600 gold coins, people are surprised when Nullthara signs first. The clerks' eyes widen when the Petros name is written on the papers.

Nullthara: "That's right, little man. I, Nullthara Petros, have reclaimed what is mine by right."

Alexander quickly adds his name to the certificates taking their copies along with the key.

Alexander: "Come on you two. We have more things to do than just buying a house."