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Eldric's footsteps echoed softly on the marble floors as he entered the Bank of Ulderi, his presence commanding attention. The high, vaulted ceilings and enchanted runes inscribed on every surface whispered of both wealth and power, the very air thick with the promise of security and discretion.
He was immediately greeted by an attendant—tall, poised, and impeccably dressed. Her sharp eyes studied him as he approached, but her face betrayed no surprise at the powerful aura he radiated. "Welcome to the Bank of Ulderi, sir," she said smoothly, offering a polite nod. "How may we assist you today?"
Eldric's voice was low, but carried with authority. "I wish to make a substantial deposit. Three thousand gold bars, two thousand diamonds, and five thousand rubies. And I would like to convert these into the local currency, Zor."
The attendant's eyes flickered with the slightest hint of surprise at such an impressive sum, but she masked it quickly. "Certainly, sir. Please follow me," she replied, her voice steady. "We'll begin the process in our secure vaulting chamber."
She led him down a polished corridor to a large, private room adorned with enchanted vaults. At the far end stood a heavy obsidian desk, and behind it, a crystal orb glowing with soft light. Eldric took a seat, watching as the attendant activated the orb with a simple flick of her wrist, causing intricate runes to appear in the air.
"First, we'll assess your deposit," she said as the orb pulsed with magical energy. "Once we have the total, we'll begin the conversion to Zor."
Eldric's lips curled slightly. "I'd like to skip the assessment part," he said with a calm confidence. "I'll simply make the deposit now."
With that, Eldric reached into the folds of his cloak and, with a silent thought, activated his personal storage dimension. The air around him shimmered slightly, the faintest trace of arcane magic rippling through the room. In the blink of an eye, three thousand solid gold bars appeared on the polished floor with a resounding thud.
The attendant gasped, her eyes wide in disbelief, and instinctively took a step back. The gold bars piled high in front of Eldric, each glistening with the light of the room's enchanted fixtures. But the spectacle didn't end there. From the same dimension, two thousand sparkling diamonds followed, their facets catching the light as they floated effortlessly into place beside the gold. Then, five thousand rubies, each a perfect, fiery red gemstone, cascaded down like a glittering waterfall to join their counterparts.
The attendant stood frozen for a moment, her mouth agape. "What… what sorcery is this?" she exclaimed, staring at the towering pile of wealth before her. "This—this cannot be real! It's as though the money… appeared out of thin air!"
Eldric remained unfazed, watching her reaction with mild amusement. "It's simply a matter of having access to the right tools," he said, his tone casual, though there was a slight edge of confidence in his voice. "I've made arrangements to store and retrieve wealth as I see fit."
The attendant, still in shock, recovered her composure, though her voice trembled slightly as she spoke. "I've… I've never seen anything like this before," she muttered, slowly regaining her professional demeanor. "This amount of wealth... it's more than most kings could ever dream of having."
Eldric's eyes gleamed with the faintest hint of acknowledgement. "Consider it a reflection of my resources," he said. "I trust that your bank can handle this? I would like to convert some of it into Zor as quickly as possible."
The attendant quickly nodded, though her hands shook slightly as she reached for the enchanted ledger to begin processing the conversion. "Of course, sir. I will ensure that this is done with the utmost care. You'll receive the full amount as you desire in Zor, and the transaction will be handled in complete confidentiality."
As she worked, Eldric took a moment to survey the room. The weight of his wealth, stored not only in physical form but within the vast expanse of his personal pocket dimension, was something few could truly comprehend. For most, such riches were a distant dream. For him, they were a mere tool to use at will.
The attendant continued her work, her voice slightly strained as she spoke. "Your deposit is so vast that it will take several moments to complete the conversion, but rest assured, everything will be handled to your satisfaction."
Eldric nodded, unfazed by the delay. "I trust you'll ensure everything is kept secure," he said, his tone icy with quiet authority. "And once the Zor is prepared, I'll be needing a vault as well—one that offers maximum security. Preferably something discreet."
"Absolutely, sir," she replied quickly, her professional tone returning. "We offer vaults with the highest-tier security measures, and I'll make sure your request for discretion is honored."
As she worked, Eldric leaned back in his chair, a tiny grin playing at the corner of his lips. The amount of wealth he had just deposited was incomprehensible to most, yet to him, it was nothing more than a fraction of his true resources. After all, he had more pocket money than most kings—and far more control over it than anyone could ever imagine.
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The attendant, now having processed the large deposit, paused for a moment, glancing down at her ledger. "Sir, there's just one last step. I'll need an official identification before we proceed with issuing your Zor. The bank requires verification for such transactions."
Eldric gave a small, dismissive wave of his hand, his expression unchanging. "You see. I've had a misfortune of losing my previous documents in an accident," he explained, his voice casual but firm. "So I might need you to help create new ones for me, if you would be so kind. Obviously not free I know, so you can take the appropriate amount of payment required out of my account."
The attendant blinked, a bit startled by the admission. "Lost your documents, sir? That's… unfortunate." She recovered quickly, her professional composure returning. "I'll need some basic details to generate the new records."
Eldric's gaze remained steady, and he leaned in slightly, his voice lowering in a tone of subtle command. "My name is Eldric Greymane," he said, his lips curling into a faint, satisfied smile. "I'm a mage from the north, though I've been traveling for some time. I was, unfortunately, involved in a bit of an accident that left me without any identification nor with my personal belongings."
She scribbled down the name quickly, the quill moving with practiced speed. "Eldric Greymane, mage from the north… And your occupation? Any other notable details to add?"
Eldric stroked his beard thoughtfully. "A mage of some renown. I've visited many cities during my travels, offering my services in exchange for the means to continue my work. I'd say that should suffice."
The attendant nodded as she wrote down the details. "And will you be establishing residence here in Ulderi, sir?"
"Yes," Eldric replied, glancing at her with a small, knowing smile. "I believe I shall make this city my new home. A fresh start, after everything that's happened."
The attendant paused briefly, considering his words. Then, she nodded decisively. "Understood. You'll be listed as a noble mage of considerable means, which should grant you proper status and facilitate the Zor conversion."
Eldric nodded in approval, a rare glimmer of satisfaction in his eyes. "Excellent. I trust you can make this process as quick as possible?"
"Of course, sir," she replied. "I'll finalize the paperwork and prepare your identification. It won't take long."
A few minutes later, the attendant slid the newly created identification card across the counter to Eldric. The card was finely crafted, with silver edges and a deep, embossed seal that marked it as official. The name "Eldric Greymane" and his title as a "Mage of Renown" were printed clearly, making it seem as legitimate as any noble's credentials.
Eldric picked up the card and examined it, his finger tracing the embossed letters. Satisfied with the result, he tucked it into his cloak. "Well done, lass. I'll be expecting the Zor to be issued promptly, along with any other services the bank may offer."
The attendant, still slightly in awe of the wealth she had witnessed, gave a quick nod. "Yes, sir. I'll take care of everything for you immediately."
Eldric smiled faintly, the confidence in his posture radiating. "I trust that this will be handled discreetly. I'll be in town for a while, and I don't wish for my affairs to be unnecessarily public. By the way, quite rude of me I know but could I know your name?"
"Of course, sir. My name is Zanda, You can be rest assured, your transaction will remain private." The attendant's voice was steady now, her earlier uncertainty replaced by a professional composure.
With a final nod at her, Eldric turned to leave, his mind already focused on his next steps. As he made his way toward the door, he couldn't help but think to himself that, despite not having an ID at first, he had managed to navigate this new world with ease. After all, it was all just a matter of knowing how to play the game.
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