Inner City, City of Rivana, Kingdom of Astralia
The inner city presented a stark contrast to the dirt-soaked streets they had traversed so far. Immaculate pavement lined with beautiful strips of green stretched ahead as the carriage made its way through the district of the rich and famous. Well-dressed people were lounging in the many small ornamental parks along the way, or perused the opulent wares displayed at merchant stalls while a visible presence of the city guard assured peace and order in this part of the city.
The stark contrast upset Aiden. Sure, poor and rich people existed in every part of the known world at all times. But this was different, here there wasn't the typical transition between socioeconomic groups. In Rivana, there were just the rich and the abandoned.
Gazing out of the carriage window, he observed the city's elite going about their day, their opulent homes passing by one after another. Soon, they arrived at a large city square. A large park was surrounded by what Aiden easily identified as temples of worship. Men and women, though mostly men, in white tunics with colourful strips of varying widths crossing their chests, were praising their deities' good deeds while occasionally mocking others. The vast majority of the clergy donned tunics with golden strips.
"The ones with golden strips belong to the Church of Veridania, Master," Bennett explained, noticing Aiden's focus on the clergy. "She is the goddess of fertility and harvest, the matron deity of Rivana."
As their carriage got stuck in traffic, Aiden's attention was drawn to a nearby commotion, where a large group of priests and priestesses had gathered around a confrontation. An elderly, stern-looking priestess of Veridania was berating an equally ancient looking dark-skinned man who was protectively standing in front of a young woman with cascading red hair, both wearing simple black togas.
"Velus, hand over your disciple. Our goddess demands that she faces punishment!" the woman said, her shrill, imperious voice intended for their audience as much as for the man.
"I will not," the old man replied. Despite not raising his voice, the words rang out through their spectators and with surprise Aiden immediately recognized the usage of the man's aura as it amplified the voice beyond its natural limitations.
The woman stared at the old man with zealous anger in her eyes. "She has desecrated the holy chambers of our temple, you cannot save her from punishment, not this time!"
"And punishment she will face, High Priestess Amara," Velus said, remaining calm. "Just not from your people."
"Oh, is that the truth?" Amara laughed bitterly. "And what punishment will the Mages Guild deem sufficient this time? A mere slap on her backside? Latrine duty? Enough is enough, Velus! The brat needs to be punished properly."
A murmur of assent rose from the surrounding crowd as fists were raised in the young woman's direction and someone spat at her feet. Her face contorted in rage and Velus had to hold her in place, trying to stop her from doing something rash.
"Calm yourself, Arabella. Don't make this worse than it already is," he murmured, speaking softly enough that most people wouldn't have been able to hear his words. Steeling herself with visible effort, Arabella relaxed, looking defiantly at the hostile crowd.
"I can assure you that she will face appropriate punishment, you have my word" Velus said, brushing off his disciple's incredulous look.
Aiden couldn't hear the remainder of the confrontation between the High Priestess and Velus, as the carriage finally cleared the traffic and continued on its way. Turning to Eve, he couldn't help but ask, "the animosity between the churches and the mages, is it always like this?"
"Hm, they have always squabbled for importance in Rivana. It has gotten worse since Camara took over," Eve spat the Baron's name out in disgust. "But they usually keep their fights behind closed doors. I have never seen them confront each other so publicly." She frowned for a moment before she shrugged, ending the conversation.
Aiden nodded, realising that there was more to the situation than was obvious at first glance. Returning to observing the passing city, he quickly realised that the street that they were now following was circling the hill with the unfinished manor house. Being so close now, he was able to confirm what Bennett had told him earlier. Despite being only half-finished, the building already showed signs of neglect, with small patches of damage here and there where the weather had eaten away at the unfinished brickwork.
The road eventually led them to another large city square, not dissimilar to the one with the temples they had passed earlier. Some of the new buildings Aiden recognized. One large industrial looking building, that emanated the harsh smell of chemical ingredients, had a sign with a half-filled phial attached to its facade, the ancient crest of the alchemists guild. He also identified other signs, like the book and feather of the Scribes Guild and the three gold bars that the merchants were using as their symbol. The most imposing building of the square stood at its centre - surrounded by a luscious park, a large winding tower was throwing imposing shadows over the rest of the buildings.
Constructed from a material resembling the white marble once popular in the Everlasting Empire, the tower was by far the grandest building Aiden had seen so far in Rivana. Its beauty and craftsmanship far exceeded that of its neighbours, leaving him in awe and wonder at the remarkable engineering and magic that must have gone into its creation. It was evident that this tower held great significance in the city, and he couldn't help but wonder about the secrets it might hold within its walls.
"This is the Crafter's Square," Eve said, seemingly misinterpreting his curious gaze and answering a question he already knew the answer to.
It did however give him the opportunity to ask more questions. "I figured as much. The plaza we went through earlier, it was the church's square?" he asked.
"The Square of Worship, yes. There is a third one, the Square of Commerce, where you can find most of the more prestigious shops of Rivana," she confirmed, pointing to the manor house on the hill before continuing. "They are placed around the hill, Worship in the south-west, which is why we got to it first, Crafter's in the east and Commerce in the north. If you follow this road you will eventually go through all of them."
Aiden nodded in thanks and looked back out of the carriage window, returning to observe the ongoings on the Crafter's Square. They slowly made their way through the thick traffic, as unloading wagons were slowing them down significantly. The vibrant atmosphere of the place brought a smile on Aiden's face, as people in colourful robes were eagerly hurrying between buildings. It reminded him of his younger days, he had spent most of his time in the empire's guilds, learning as much and about as many subjects as he could. He felt a sense of loss as they finally exited the Crafter's Square and Bennett assured them that the end of their journey was close, and he was right.
They soon turned away from the hill, leaving the Crafter's Square behind, and entered the beautifully ornate parkways of the residential district. Mansions of the city's wealthiest residents lined the streets, each one a testament to the opulence and grandeur of their owners. The carriage journeyed on, the park-size gardens creating a delightful space between the magnificent homes. After a few more minutes, the carriage came to a halt, and Aiden knew they had reached their destination. The portly guard, Colby, poked his head into the cabin after a brief knock.
"Master Silver," he addressed Aiden, "we have arrived at your family's estate."
Stepping out of the carriage, Aiden and the rest of the group took in their new temporary home for the first time. A lush garden sprawled before them, adorned with ornate gazebos, playful fountains and endless fields of flowers that were as colourful as they were exotic. The elegant mansion, its white sandstone structure contrasted by the beautifully crafted red tiled roof, stood proudly in the centre of it. Two intricate towers flanked the two-storey building's entrance, giving the building the look of a small castle. If it wasn't for the magnificent tower that they had seen earlier in the day, it would have undoubtedly been the grandest building in the city, Aiden thought.
Two guards, dressed in gleaming armour and bearing the crest of the Black Swan merchant company, joined them at the carriage and assisted Colby and Wilton in unloading their belongings. Aiden couldn't help but notice that these guards were far better equipped than his own, and their military appearance stood in stark contrast to the untrained look of Colby and Wilton, who seemed more like ordinary townsfolk.
A slender man, impeccably dressed in a tailor-made suit, hurriedly approached them from down the cobblestone pathway that led to the house. Aiden estimated him to be in his forties, his slicked-back hair and carefully styled moustache giving him an air of sophistication.
"Master Silver," he said, slightly out of breath, "it is a pleasure to finally meet you. Although, it has to be said that we had expected you sooner."
"We were delayed, bandits attacked us on our way here, Mr…?" Aiden replied.
The man reddened briefly, extending his sweaty hand for Aiden to shake. "My apologies, Master Silver. I'm Vincent Russo, the head merchant of the Rivana branch of Black Swan. Your father must've mentioned me, no?"
Aiden shook Vincent's hand, discreetly wiping his own on his pants afterward. "Ah, yes, now that you mention it," he lied smoothly, bringing a smile to the merchant's face. "I'm looking forward to working with you, Mr. Russo. Please come by in the next few days, and we can go over the business together."
The smile faltered briefly, replaced by an ugly scowl that Vincent quickly masked. "I was not aware that you were going to be involved in the business side..." he started, but seeing the stern look Aiden gave him, he sighed and continued, "Of course, Master Silver. I'll prepare the documents at once."
The man nodded to Aiden and Bennett, who had joined them, before hurrying off into the city.
"I don't like this one," the old man grumbled, his gaze following Vincent's departing figure.
Aiden chuckled, giving his ally a playful pat on the back. "You don't like anyone," he retorted. "But you're right, I didn't like the guy either."
Leaving the guards to finish unpacking the carriage, they strolled through the beautiful garden and entered the house. Inside, they found themselves in a foyer adorned with surprisingly tasteful decor, a grand staircase serving as the centrepiece. A line of maids in uniform stood before the stairs, while a stern-looking woman with greying blonde hair stepped forward, offering a curtsy before Aiden.
"Master Silver, welcome to the Silver estate," she said, giving him a professional yet warm smile. "The house staff is at your service. I'm Anita, the housekeeper. If you ever have any wishes or tasks that can't be immediately accomplished by the staff, please feel free to consult me, and I'll do my best to see your every wish fulfilled."
Aiden regarded the older woman with a genuine smile. "Thank you, Anita. I'm looking forward to working with you." he said. "Can you give me and my companions a tour of the house? It seems quite expansive."
"Certainly, please follow me." Anita gave the rest of the staff a nod and they dispersed in various directions.
"Your family bought this place almost a decade ago. After the… end of the last duke, some of his supporters were dispossessed and it became available. It has been thoroughly renovated and modernised since then. I'm proud to say that this estate has no equal in all of Rivana," she said, guiding them through an assortment of smaller rooms.
Surprisingly, Aiden had felt Eve's emotion stir when the housekeeper had mentioned the old duke and his supporters. Normally, unless he specifically focused on her, the young woman was barely perceivable through his aura senses, it was what had made him curious about her when they had first met. This time however, her emotions had rolled off of her for a few moments before she had managed to compose herself. He glanced at her, noticing how stiff she looked, her lips in a thin line as she tried to show as little emotion as possible. He knew they would have to discuss her origin and her obvious disdain for Baron Camara eventually, but he understood the importance of gaining her trust first to avoid permanently damaging their relationship.
Anita, oblivious to Eve's inner turmoil, had continued on and the group entered the next room. Sunlight poured through giant windows, casting cascading rays of golden light onto the polished wooden furniture, illuminated the intricate decor. Dominated by a beautifully crafted dinner table, the dining room wouldn't have been misplaced in a king's castle.
"The dining room can be transformed into an additional ballroom, if necessary," Anita was saying, but Aiden's mind was elsewhere.
On the wall behind the head of the table hang multiple paintings of the Silver family. His, or the former Aiden's, own grinning portrait was on the far left. It was at least half a decade old, probably made when he was in his mid-teens, and was missing the red pigments that had invaded the eyes when Arcanus's soul had taken over, but it was unmistakably him. To the right of his painting was Marcus's portrait. The family resemblance was obvious, they had the same fair skin, grey eyes and jet black hair that were present in all male members of the Silver family. However, there were also clear differences. Aiden's older brother looked more mature, his soldier's haircut and slight stubble giving him a seriousness that wasn't present in Aiden's likeness. He was also noticeably wider than his younger brother, bulking muscles visible under his richly adorned clothing. In the centre of the five paintings was Egon, Aiden's father and patriarch of the family. A perpetual frown, framed by severe eyebrows, created a stern countenance that would otherwise be considered handsome by most people. The man's robust frame hinted at a once-active life that was now mostly spent behind desks.
To the right of the male members of the family were the two women. Madelyn's painting hung next to her husbands. The elegant woman was the opposite to her husband in many ways. She was so thin that she was looking almost fragile. Her long, platinum blonde hair framed an elegant, noble face featuring a nose that was slightly too big and deep blue eyes shadowed by thin eyebrows. Their daughter, Aiden's older sister Charlotte, was a combination of her parents. Her eyes were blue in colour, like Madelyn's, but much lighter and not far off from the grey of her father's. Equally, her hair wasn't black like Egon's but of much darker blonde than her mother's and, while still slender, she had curves in the right places, unlike her mother.
"May we continue?" Aiden was torn from his thoughts as Anita tried to gain his attention, he nodded at her and the group continued the tour through the mansion.
After continuing through many rooms and meeting various members of the house staff, they finally reached the living quarters on the second floor of the mansion. Upon entering the master bedroom, an opulent room with a large king-sized bed and windows overlooking the entirety of the estate's rear garden, the housekeeper pulled Aiden aside.
"Master Silver, if you allow me the impertinence…" she said, fidgeting nervously, "may I know about the situation between yourself and miss Eve? Shall we prepare the room for two?"
Although the housekeeper had intended to speak quietly, Eve's rapidly reddening face made it evident that she had overheard the question. Aiden couldn't help but burst out laughing before responding, "No, Eve is a valued friend. Please treat her like a member of my household and let her choose her own room."
Eve gave him a thankful look and Anita, with a mixture of relief and embarrassment, said, "as you wish, Master Silver."
The final room they were shown was situated in one of the mansion's two towers. As they stepped into the circular space, Aiden couldn't help but be captivated by the rich decor of the private study. However, what truly held his attention was the breathtaking view from the windows. The tower offered a vantage point over the majority of the north-eastern part of the city, the only obstruction being the large hill at the centre.
"It's stunning," Aiden whispered in awe.
Eve, who had remained elusive to his aura senses this time, had silently approached him, gazing out of the window alongside him. Her voice carried a tinge of bitterness as she said, "Because you cannot see the outer city."
Hours later, Aiden found himself back in his new study, poring over the limited documents they had managed to get a hold of so far. Although Anita had offered him a different room, he preferred the relative isolation of the tower, enjoying the solitude it provided compared to the more accessible rooms on the lower floors of the mansion. Bennett and Eve had left earlier to unpack their belongings, and so far only Eve had returned to the study, lounging on one of the chairs, her feet resting on Aiden's large desk.
"What are you looking at?" she inquired, breaking the silence.
"Contracts, inventory ledgers, anything that Vincent Russo hasn't taken with him," Aiden replied with a tired sigh. "Unfortunately, it's not much."
"You think he is hiding something?" Eve asked.
"Maybe. This branch of the family business has been operating independently for most of the past decade, and even if he's not hiding anything..." Aiden trailed off, running his fingers through his hair. "I still need to familiarise myself with the business."
"Sounds thrilling," she quipped, rolling her eyes. "I didn't like that Vincent guy."
"Interesting," Aiden remarked, smirking at the young woman, "Bennett said the same."
"Well, I guess he can't be that bad then," she said, sticking out her tongue at him.
They both burst into laughter, enjoying the camaraderie, until a knock on the door interrupted their mirth. A housemaid peeked in, "Master Aiden, a letter from the Baron has arrived," she said, handing over the sealed envelope before quickly leaving the room. Aiden broke the seal and read the letter, his expression turning into a frown.
"What does he want?" Eve asked, her voice strained as Aiden finished reading the letter.
"He's inviting me to dinner with his family," he replied, the unease evident in his tone.