A week quickly passed by and it was the time of the celebration.
Jude hosted this party to make sure everyone knew that the Phantom was dealt with. Obviously, he didn’t tell them about the true identity of the Phantom or the complications behind the event.
Most of the wealthy merchants and nobles in Scalize were invited. Even in this crowded trading town, nobles were a rare sight to see. There were around two to three normal Noble Families and no other High Noble Clans except for Jude’s households. Merchants were the majority as it was the main focus of Scalize.
"We are here today to tell the people of Scalize." Jude stood up and started his speech. "That the lurking danger of the mysterious murderer was taken care of.
It was no killer. It was a ghost! A haunting spirit came back to cause mayhem.
But rest assured that our friend was here."
Jude pointed his hand at Siderius. "Siderius Satterblade, the White Witch, has taken care of the problem.
He was the first to recognize the ghost and he was the one who got rid of it.
I hosted this banquet as a thanks to him. And also an apology to all of you, my friends.
The phantom has done enough damage and I know you must have felt very scared.
But it’s all in the past now.
We are here to celebrate. To a new era of Scalize. An era of peace and coins."
"Peace and coins!" The guests held their cups up and shouted.
"Peace and coins..." Siderius whispered.
During the banquet, Jude introduced him to a few friends of his. Most of them he had known since the day Jude was still a fisherman. Now all of them had become wealthy merchants with dedicated trading items of their own.
Some dealt in clothes and fabric. Some dealt in foods and drinks. Some dealt in exotic material. And many more.
These people would be useful to Siderius once the time came so he developed a friendly connection with them.
The banquet went deep into the night and the guests had split themselves up into groups. Dancing, singing, playing cards.
Siderius sat at the same table as Caterina and Jude.
Jude whispered to a soldier. "Bring it to me."
"You really have a way with words, Baron." Siderius held the cup of alcohol in his hand. The liquor shimmered on the brim. His other hand hung freely, the alcohol escaped the pores on his finger and poured to the ground without anyone noticing.
"Argh. I just say the truth." Jude said. "My men is bringing the deed. It is my gift to you."
Jude nodded. "The deed of Santa Roberto. I have ordered my men to take a look there. It is as you said. That place is infested with dead.
I assume all of the disfigured creatures are your handiwork?"
"My men have cleaned that place up and taken care of the families of the dead..."
The soldier from before returned and placed a box onto the table. Jude slid the box in front of Siderius.
"Everyone knows what happened in that monastery already. That place is either going to be abandoned or demolished. No one will dare to live in a place with such a horrific event."
Siderius opened the box. Inside was a long piece of parchment.
"THE TREE OF WOE ABOVE AS MY WITNESS.
GRANTED BY THE POWER OF MOTHER GODDESSES OF ELDORIA.
WITH THE ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THE ROYAL COURT.
I, Jude Fisher, Baron of Scalize, rightful ruler of Santa Roberto, hereby announce the ownership of the land, the sky, the structure, the people and every living being of the monastery to belong to Siderius Satterblade, the High Noble of Eldoria.
Know that I, and my wives, my ancestors and all my descendants have given, conceded, and confirmed before Mother Goddesses that Santa Roberto shall be owned by Siderius Satterblade from now on and all the time that comes after. NOTHING SHALL BE RETAINED FOR ME AND MY HEIRS.
I, Baron of Scalize, and my heirs shall forever warrant the ownership to Siderius Satterblade against all men and women.
If anyone in the future, which Mother Goddesses forbid, attempts to break or diminish my donation, I curse thee to endure the wrath of the Mother Goddesses and forever be damned by the Mother Trees.
In testimony, I have placed my Baron seal on this deed as a proof of my donation and the signature of Siderius Satterblade as the agreement of accepting my donation."
"So.. this is your secret gift for me?" Siderius said. The latest_epɪ_sodes are on_the 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵•𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮•𝓷𝓮𝓽
Jude nodded. "No one was going to use it anyway. I figure I’ll give it to you."
Siderius rolled his eyes and thought about it. The monastery could become a really good base of operation for the Guild of Xander. He could also have an actual place to call home instead of living in the woods at all times.
But there were precautions that he needed to take prior to actually making use of it that way.
Siderius grabbed the quilt and put his name in. He didn’t put in Snow, but his actual name Siderius Satterblade.
The name Snow was still attached to a crime back in Mucktown. The crime was local and didn’t reach to Scalize or the other town. Siderius knew that because he wasn’t wanted in Scalize nor anyone heard about the crime before.
Jude then grabbed the seal of the Baron of Scalize and stamped it onto the deed.
"From now on, you are officially the owner of Santa Roberto."
"Much appreciated, Jude."
Siderius rolled the deed then tucked it into his satchel.
"What are you going to do now?" Siderius said.
"Not much actually. I will just spend my remaining time with Caterina. I still haven’t thanked you for stabilizing her mana core."
Siderius shook his head. "It wasn’t anything to be thankful for. What I did was simply a temporary method. She will soon turn back to her manic state.
The mana core is her mind. And her mind isn’t whole. Caterina has a maximum of six months in this state. After that..."
Jude’s expression turned grim. "Can you reinstate that spell?"
Siderius shook his head again. "It’s a one time spell. The only way to cure her is to mend her spirit."
Jude clenched his fist tightly. "If you know any way to do that, tell me now. I will pay you anything."
"I wish I know, Jude. But unfortunately, I don’t.
If you really want to look for a way, I suggest looking in Everia. They have a thing called Spirit Art, which might be able to heal her spirit."
"Everia..." Jude mumbled.