Mage And Wolf
Chapter 118

Chapter 118: Chapter 118

Touring a whole city is exhausting.

Especially when it involves shopping with Lelou. We are currently teaching the others the joy that is crepes, taking a short break before someone breaks down crying.

We’ve seen all the major sights, even toured the residential areas, visiting unused suites in each zone to give the newcomers an idea what their options are. All that’s left is a quick bit of shopping to ’make sure the merchants are bringing in quality goods’ as Lelou put it.

"The villas up here are fit for royalty" Vinnie sighs. "It feels like betraying my Sect upbringing to live somewhere so luxurious, but the energy is so dense, as high as the Inner Sect area of Sacred Thunder."

"There’s bachelor apartments on this floor over in the west wing, should we head there next? See what it has for amenities?" I suggest, curious myself how the area designed to appeal to cultivators not interested in material objects has been developed.

Even a single week away at this point is enough to greatly change sections of the city as they fill up. New businesses by new residents are a daily occurrence, so you never know what might have opened.

The Northwestern edge of the city, where all the small cultivators apartments are reminds me very much of the inside of a sect, except for the variety of uniforms. Everyone is in cultivators garb, every store sells cultivation or combat related items, even the restaurants specialize in magical beast meat.

There’s a clothing store that catches my eye. It’s full of beautiful dresses in the style Elder Song made for me. They’ve even got a male equivalent, just as flowing and beautiful, but in a different cut that better emphasizes their stature instead of hinting at cleavage.

"We’re going in" I declare, allowing no argument.

Everyone spreads out for a moment Kel’Mira gravitating towards a rack of white themed dresses with pastel colored accents.

We are still gathering beautiful outfits with help from the attendants when Vinnie and Paul come out in matching outfits, bearing their Sect’s Blue and Grey color scheme. They manage to look noble and refined, instead of like the mercenaries they entered as.

"Fashion show time ladies?" Vinnie asks.

"We’ve finished our shopping" Paul laughs.

I’ve got about a dozen outfits picked. Black is the theme of course. Black sash and robe over colored dresses, beautifully patterned ones that fade to black at the cuffs, and the opposite, black fading to dyed and embroidered patterns at the cuffs and hem.

Kel’Mira is apprehensive at first, like Hui’Jin she spent a long time in nothing but clergy robes, even though the rules don’t demand it of junior Priestesses outside the actual cathedral or while on church business.

But the happy atmosphere is infectious, and she’s soon dragged into the spirit of things, picking three of the dozen dresses she tried on.

I do not get off nearly so lucky. Fancy cultivators dresses turn into a selection of ball gowns, all asymmetric to leave my left chest and arm bare, showing off the majority of the Death God’s mark. The parade of dresses becomes sleeveless martial arts uniforms with armored mesh bodysuits underneath and soft soled cloth boots that tie up to the knee.

The sleeveless design and mostly mesh armor shows off both my marks, which everyone has declared really should be seen more often and not hidden away behind flowing sleeves and narrow collars.

It feels like I’ve gone through half the store before we are finally done dressing me up. 6 ball gowns are sent to my room and dozens of beautiful robes, dresses, waist shashes and accessories including hair accessories from a nearby shop make their way into my storage rings. Even one of the sleeveless martial arts uniforms that makes me feel like a ninja.

I treat the others to their new wardrobes, as they didn’t go nearly as overboard, and the store will likely give me a discount. After haggling, the total is two grade 3 monster cores, a grade 4 regeneration pill and ten level 1 Qi Gathering pills. Including having everything enchanted for self repair at the stores in house enchanting circle.

It seems Karl got a good deal on whatever he bought here, the permanent circles cost him nothing but a few hours time. Nobody but mages or very skilled mystic cultivators can use them though.

"Don’t you think you over paid a bit?" Lelou asks "A grade 4 regeneration pill is worth thousands of grade 1 stones."

"That is true, but the Elder in the back room is missing an eye and a leg. Nothing less could repair his injuries, the rest of the price just paid for the raw materials he used"

"See guys, I told you she’s secretly a big softie" Lelou laughs.

"Note to self, if you have what someone desperately needs, money is irrelevant" Vinnie chuckles.

"No wonder he sent someone to fetch you matching hair accessories" Paul nods.

"So, it literally cost you an arm and a leg?" Karl laughs, walking up behind us.

"Yes, but not mine, so it’s all good. How’s the day going Karl?"

"Good, Mister Tang the tailor whose shop you raided is a friend of mine, I came to invite you all, plus him and his son to dinner at The Forbidden Treasure."

"Boy, we’re closing early" The old man’s voice comes from the back "Now find me new pants, all mine have been altered to have one leg."

"The Forbidden Treasure?" Kel’Mira asks.

"Possibly the finest restaurant on the planet at the moment. We brought in mystic cooks from across the Empire to staff it. There’s an exclusive resort of the same name run by our local dual cultivation sect next to it."

"How exclusive?" Paul asks with a smirk and Kel’Mira gives him a dirty look.

"The Dragon Council booked it for an entire week, ending just a few days ago" Lelou laughs. "Reservations are more precious than gold at this point."

"The Elven Wine almost made them move their headquarters until I agreed to send them regular orders with the merchant caravans" Karl chuckles. "It can only be made on planets with certain energy signatures, and ours is one of them. Made anywhere else it spoils immediately."

"No wonder we’re in no shortage of staff. They’re afraid that disruptions will lead to a trade shortage and supply chain issues."

We’re joined at the elevator by Neisa and a black robed Priest.

"This is Kal’Merl my new assistant and right hand" Karl introduces the black robed Priest to everyone. He seems friendly, his aging face marked with laugh lines and his grey eyes not showing any sign of malice.

"Thank you for the invitation" The priest bows to us formally.

"And this is Neisa, Head of Curriculum at the University and Dorm supervisor for the North Ladies Dorm." He introduces the Blue robed stout woman.

"Greetings everyone, it’s a pleasure to see you again, and welcome to Arcana, newcomers."

We’re escorted to the private room and a round of appetizers are out before the first course is even officially seated in the restaurant. Conversation is light, talking of the university, first impressions of the city and mostly of the food. Half of our table hasn’t been here before, and it’s safe to say they’re suitably impressed.

"We’ve discussed it over dinner, and tomorrow we will be getting rooms in the northwest quadrant. The rental postings have 3 single suites side by side, letting us live close, but in privacy." Paul announces as we sip coffee and wait on dessert.

"It seems perfect, but there are a few things I don’t understand." Kel’Mira frowns "There is an optional Earth Golem helper, but the rooms are self cleaning, so what does it do? And what is the optional dining hall enchantment?"

"The dining hall enchantment is simple. Just like the ones in the underground base, it can make an assortment of foodstuffs at your command, using mana from Mana Stones, or Monster Cores as most planets call them." Karl explains.

"The Earth Golem Helper is more of a luxury. It will fetch anything you need, or perform simple tasks. It is programmed as a maid, a masseuse or a personal secretary. It can give you wake up calls, take messages, bring your breakfast, pick out your clothes, run your bath. All the little things that make life easier"

"So you’re saying I can wake up to breakfast in bed, fresh coffee and follow it up with a warm oil massage any time I want?" Vinnie asks excited "Just for the purchase fee and mana cost?"

"Exactly. And scented oils are available from the dining hall enchantment, should you desire. More luxurious ones may be purchased from the shops." Lelou adds. "May I recommend the Eldorian Silver leaf oil for the young lady?"

Kel’Mira sighs "That has to be one of the greatest scents in the world"

We all head up to the second floor after dinner, except Kal’Merl and Neisa, who are living in the Temple and University respectively.

"Everyone have a good night, I’ve got to make sure Hui’Jin is ready for her first day of classes tomorrow, and Karl, we can talk about how to deal with the Fallen City of Sioux Falls after she makes it to class."