"What are your intentions with my establishment?" I asked the most important question.
It surprised her, but she quickly controlled her expressions.
I could have started with the other questions, but I started with the most important ones. I have been thinking about the moment; I realized her class, and it made me realize other things.
Her strange behavior isn't strange now.
Since the day she arrived here, she was wandering around the establishment. Then the spa and now the project.
It was clear she was doing something, but no one could find out what; even now, I don't know what she did or is trying to do since she is still making around, but I want to find out.
There is a reason witch is a restricted class and while there are misconceptions and stereotypes about it, there is also a genuine reason.
The class is dangerous.
She did not say anything, even after a minute, and I was about to ask her again when a smile appeared on her face, and she looked at me with those deep black eyes.
"You know, you are the luckiest person I have ever met in my life," she said, surprising me with her words.
Now, I wanted to laugh.
I am the unluckiest one, especially in the past year; I found myself in a string of dangerous incidents, where I was barely able to survive every time.
"Do you know the chances of success with the type of ritual done to bond you with the establishment?" she asked.
"Yes, it is less than 1%," I replied.
The moment I came to know what had happened to me, I tried to find out everything I could about it; every aspect of it. From the ritual to the class that performed it.
She smiled at my answer.
"It is 0.2% to be exact and even when it worked; it only worked, partially, about 10% to 20% of its power. It is enough to affect the class of the target," she said, and I nodded.
The few witches and experts I had talked to had said the same things.
"To you, on the other hand; it had worked completely. At 100%," she said and now, I am shocked.
Because I had asked this question to the old witch I had talked to, and she laughed in my face. Saying it is near impossible. The chances of that happening, is more than a million in one.
"And it made me lucky because?" I asked, and she nodded.
"Because at hundred 100% success of such a ritual. The bonded item gains the abilities and what yours has gained is considered rarest of them all," she said slowly and looked at me.
"I have no idea," I said plainly and smiled again. "It is emotion absorption," she answered, and my eyes went wide.
Saying I am shocked would be an understatement. I am beyond it because there is only one thing that absorbs the emotions.
"Legacy," I said, and she laughed loudly, before stopping suddenly feeling my intense gaze. "Legacy is something that is on a different level." She said, with her gaze turning somber.
"Even the weakest legacies absorb 98% of all emotions people release and could hold it, without any leakage,"
"While the establishment could only absorb around 3%, of which 99% get leaked out," she said.
I couldn't help but frown upon hearing that. It is nothing.
"Then why did you say I am lucky?" I asked. "Because emotion absorption is extremely helpful," she said. "You are already enjoying the effects brought out from it," she added a moment later.
I was about to shake my head when I suddenly stopped and begin to recall some things which I found strange.
There are many, but one of them I had noticed before Caena had come to the establishment.
When I was making changes, more than after the establishment opened Architect Lloyd had come to me and asked me if someone had cast an area-wide reinforcement-type spell.
He said, the ground is firmer, and the walls are stronger than they should be.
"Can these emotions affect the strength of walls and the grounds?" I asked. To that, she smiled.
"It affects everything," she replied.
It is not just strengthening; a lot of clients had said, the ambiance of the establishment is great. The drinks tasted better here, and the music was more melodious. I thought; it is because of my preparations, but it seemed like there was something more.
There are many other things, including the feeling, which seemed to be getting stronger over time.
"Will this emotion absorption increase over time?" I asked, and she looked at me before slowly nodding.
"Yes, and so will the ability to hold it, but no matter how much it increases; it would never reach even 1% of the legacy," she replied.
I sighed, hearing that, but nodded. Thinking about what she had told me. I do not completely believe every word that came out of her mouth, but know, the majority of it is the truth.
"So, once again, what is your intention with my establishment? Most importantly, what do you do when you roam around?" I asked, adding another question to my original question.
I could somehow guess a little, but I put that aside.
"The answer to your first question is simple and you would have guessed it already," she is looking at me.
"We witches are the oldest of casters. Our magic works through laws and emotions, and your establishment has it."
I smiled hearing that and become cautious. I had already been cautious, but now I become even more.
With witches, every word spoken to them is a pact and I am not going to promise her anything. Especially about the emotions she wants to harvest from my establishment.
"The answer to your second question is I am casting ritual enchantments to it. I had spent every crown I earned for that."
"It is the reason drinks tasted a little better; treatments in the spa work better. I am also connecting to the establishment with the project," she replied, and I am shocked to hear that.
I thought she was trying to steal the harnessed emotions and not this. Though, from what I know, stealing is impossible.
It is my domain, and she will need my permission. She is a witch, and this is the law. Still, it is kind of shocking, especially when she said she is spending every crown she is earning.
Which is kind of a lot, considering she is among the top three earners.
"And you are doing that with the goodness of your heart?" I asked, and she laughed.
A good, humorous laugh that even put a smile on my face.
The laugh disappeared a couple of seconds later and her eyes turned somber as she looked directly into my eyes.
"No, Master Silver; I want the emotions your establishment is absorbing. It is every witch's dream."
"I will give my everything for that, willing to work tiredly for years, till I gain enough of your trust, that you will give me permission to use it," she said with unwavering gaze.
I smiled at that.
"I hope you will give me the list of all the ritual enchantment you have placed in and around my establishment," I said, and she smoothly opened her bag and removed the diary before handing it to me.
I took the diary from her and open it and within a minute, a surprise appeared on my face and the more I read, the bigger surprise would become.
She had cast forty-six ritual enchantments. From drinks to spa treatments to food dishes to reinforcement of my establishment, like strengthening its material and other things.
She had even imprinted the sexual positions in it.
'How was she able to do it, without gaining my permission?' I asked myself. She needs permission to do it; it is the law.
It didn't take me a second to realize the answer to my question.
I had given it to her and did its strongest form. The contract we had signed had allotted the girls certain privileges and one of the clauses I had written, gives her permission to do what she was doing.
My intention was different but through it. She has permission.
It seemed like I will need to make some changes in the contracts of the girls.
I finished reading the enchantments and put down the diary before closing my eyes. There is a burning excitement in my heart.
She had opened big doors for me; the things I could do with her help. I might not have a legacy, but with her help, I can make my establishment the second-best thing to the legacy.
I opened my eyes and turned back to the diary. She has done a good job, but she could do it better with data.
I have stacks of data. From what drinks we sell the most to what sort of positions clients prefer. Imprinting those with ritual enchantments will bring a bigger effect.
First, I need to know one thing.
"Did you need to experience those to complete the ritual?" I asked. "Not necessarily, but If I did it with me as a medium. The chance of success is over 80%, while with others, it is only 20%," she replied.
I nodded at that before turning back to the diary and writing down a few things in it.
I feel like she is telling the truth about the ritual enchantment, but the feeling is not enough. I will have to test it and I have an idea of how I will do it.
"How long will it take you to make these ritual enchantments?" I asked as pushed the diary toward her.
There are six ritual enchantments I want to imprint; they are different, and any effect related to them would be noticeable to me. It will help me know whether she is telling the truth or not.
"If I have the materials ready, then I will need three to four days to create them," she replied, looking at the list.
"Give me the list of materials," I said to her, and she begin to write down the list and a few minutes later, she finished and pushed it toward me.
I look at the list and couldn't help but be surprised by it. 90% of things are mundane materials, 10% of them are magical in nature and that is what cost the most.
From what I could see, they will be easily found in the city, and I won't even have to be secretive about buying them, considering the Drev is using them to practice and create a new fusion menu, which we are going to use from next month.
I didn't say anything to Carla about her giving him permission to practice with magical materials, but I still fear he might burn down the kitchen and even my establishment.
"You will have these by evening," I said. "Ok," she said.
A few minutes later, she had after we discussed the six ritual enchantments, while I closed my eyes and slumped on the chair.
There are many things I wanted to ask her, but it is not time. Just as it is not time to give her a ritual that bonded me to the establishment. I need to know things, and truly trust her before I could do it.
Click!
I was thinking when the door opened from Carla's side and she walked in.
"What was that about?" she asked as she took a seat in front of me. "Something secrets," I replied. She glared at me but didn't peruse further.
"I come to invite you for lunch downstairs. He is creating great fusion dishes," she said, looking at my reaction.
"I just hope, he didn't burn down my kitchen," I said. "He will not, I am taking every precaution for it," she replied.
There was a comfortable silence for a few seconds before I placed something on the table and slid it toward her.
Seeing that, her eye widened in shock.
"This is for you," I said as I placed it in front of her.
"Is this?" she asked with a shaking voice. "Yes, an iles bag and it is yours," I said with a smile.
She touched it with the shaking hand before pulling it back. "I can't take it. It is better if we sell it and use that money on the establishment," she said, to which I shook my head.
"There is no need for it," I spoke.
Yes, I could sell it, but Carla needs this. It makes a lot of things easier, and it is a symbol.
She looked at me for a couple of seconds before finally stretching her hands toward it. She took it with her hand carefully and pushed it inside before turning to me.
"Thank you," she said, with tears welling up in her eyes.