The magical gems in the streetlamps went into slumber as dawn’s rays illuminated the noble district. Adam and Quintella, following Robert, emerged onto a broad avenue from the residential area.
Glowing ’open’ signs hung on luxurious facades. Through the windows, he saw golden carpets stretch beneath marble tables polished to a sparkle. The first customers, dressed in elegant suits or dresses, drank steaming liquids from porcelain cups. Slices of caramelised tarts, whose sweet scents made Quintella’s mouth water just imagining them, accompanied the soft murmur of conversations he couldn’t hear.
He counted more cafes on his way, but also a variety of different shops. One was filled with grimoires bound in leather or scaled covers. Another, bearing the Crystal Quill Consortium’s emblem, displayed finely enchanted blades and spears.
The more he walked, the more he frowned. "How long is this avenue?" He finally asked as the shops gave way to hotels. Their gardens unfurled in a mix of vibrant grass, flowers, and shrubs pruned into majestic representations of winged lions, or blood-freezing manticores, and other powerful magical beasts he didn’t recognise. It was as if they were silently competing to awe potential customers the most.
"Pretty long," Robert answered simply. "Every shop belongs to a wealthy house or a guild, but I don’t recommend you visit them."
Quintella’s bright eyes instantly dimmed, and Adam’s frown deepened. "Why?"
"Well, the prices are..." Robert yanked his collar forward with a nervous jerk. "Something you’ll discover on your own."
Before Adam could ask another question, he gestured toward a hotel. Two employees flanked the entrance, their bodies tensing beneath their navy suits at the prospect of new customers.
"I can get you two a room until you recover your land," Robert added, his voice barely a whisper as he nodded at the two employees. "Which I hope won’t take a month."
"Welcome to the Aether Quill hotel, dear customer!" The two men clapped in unison, their eyes darting for luggage they should carry. Upon not seeing any, one of them gestured inside with a trained smile and an elegant bow. "Please follow me to the counter."
A moment later, they crossed a grand lounge of marble columns and indoor fountains shaped like elusive mermaids. A robust man straightened behind a polished timber counter. Though it appeared laden with history, the scent was fresh enough to feel new to Adam.
The man passed a hand through his white hair. Yet, his smile froze on Quintella, who was perched on Adam’s back. Then, as if he hadn’t noticed the breach of noble etiquette, he turned toward Robert.
"Welcome, sir." He rubbed his gloved hands as if he already knew what these unusual customers needed. "Would you want me to book our Pearl Horizon room for three nights for you? The windows face the rising sun and offer a clear view of the gardens."
Robert shook his head. "The cheapest room for two weeks, meals included." He reached for his inner pocket, retrieving his branch guild master’s crystalline card. "With the usual discount, of course."
The moment the employee saw the card, his expression hardened for a split second. Then, the process shifted from warm words to brief exchanges. In less than two minutes, he confirmed the authenticity of Robert’s card, proceeded with the blood registry check, then quoted the price.
"A hundred and fifty thousand Prestige." He barely controlled his tongue not to click. Instead, he begrudgingly whispered to himself. "They should remove this discount for guild members."
The price made Robert gasp. His hand twitched as he shook the employee’s hand, his voice cracking. "Put the room under Adam and Quintella’s name."
With a nod, the employee engraved the two names on a golden card, then handed it to Adam. "The lounge, gardens, and pool are free to access. You can contact the kitchens anytime, but I must remind you that alcohol isn’t included. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me." He bowed, his voice carrying the tone of someone who felt swindled. "I wish you a wonderful stay, sirs, lady."
Amusingly, Robert answered with the same tone. "Thank you for your service." He turned toward Adam, sweat pearling on his forehead. He spoke as if he wanted to escape this money-devouring hotel. "Do you want to rest, or should we meet Brielle before she buries her head in stacks of parchments?"
Adam’s features tensed. He glared at the two men’s hands. Then it hit him. He hadn’t seen Robert pay—because Prestige wasn’t exchanged like coins or even sect points. It was tied to one’s blood registry. Automatic. Instant.
The details eluded him, but a simple handshake and verbal agreement seemed enough. He shook his head. With the capital’s surreal security standards, there had to be more. Perhaps a record in the blood registry...
His eyes widened. So that was why the guards at Port Vaelora waived the entrance fee. Why they glared after he disembarked. Of course. They could see his Prestige balance, right through the blood registry.
But something else made his veins twitch on his forehead. A hundred and fifty thousand?! That was a whole fifteen percent of what he had requested of Robert for his tier eight enchanted coat!
"Ignorance is truly a sin." He hissed through gritted teeth, remembering Alkemia Al-Nur’s over-inflated prices. Brineheart was the same, just magnified a hundred and fifty thousand times.
He glared at Robert with the intensity of the basilisk, his fists clenched. Robert’s poverty was a blessing in disguise... because very few ever took advantage of him without paying the price.
"Lead the way to Brielle’s shop."
His snarl made Robert frown. Did the cheap room disappoint Adam? Better not ask.
An icy shiver ran down his spine as he sped toward the hotel’s entrance, each step echoing like a countdown to judgment for something he hadn’t done... But surely would have with enough funds. "Her shop is not far."
With a slightly embarrassed sigh, Adam gave Quintella the golden card and followed Robert.
Now was the time for real business.
AN: The prestige system is a bit long to explain, but it still has the most obvious feature. I’ll introduce it soon, but I really didn’t want to write two Chapters of info dumps and preferred to show how it worked through interactions. (In case it annoyed you^^)