The morning in Veridia felt subtly different from the days that had come before it. In the main courtyard of the Auric Spire, the atmosphere felt unusually heavy. The Stormhold carriages were arranged in a perfect straight line, flanked on either side by Valorian Knights in their gold and purple armor, mounted on their warhorses. Everything was in order; the entourage was ready for departure.
Drengen Sihar, who had remained in Veridia to protect Selena Stormhold, was finally reunited with his partner, Darina. The Sihar couple was looking happy and overjoyed. Despite their genuine attempt to look normal and professional, their joy at being together again was noticed by everyone.
However, the opposite emotion was playing out between Lorian and Selena. Lorian hadn't realized exactly when the girl had become so important to him, but the weight in his chest was undeniable. Both maintained stoic expressions, yet those close to them could easily guess the emotional turmoil that was hidden beneath their expressionless masks.
Kaelen, Jax, and the other Throne Guards- who had trained alongside the Drengen Sihar until this day- gave them an official salute as a farewell gesture. Drengen returned the salute with equal discipline, and the pride on Darina's face was unmistakable.
On Lorian's signal, Eldred Alsnow respectfully stepped forward and offered Lady Serana the Aurelian Star-Flower. It was an incredibly rare, golden-petaled herb found only on the sun-drenched peaks of the Dragon-Teeth Mountains. World-renowned for curing 'Traveler's Fatigue', it was the ultimate gift for a noble facing a long, exhausting journey.
Lady Serana Stormhold gracefully accepted the gift. Following her, every other person of importance in the Valorian entourage received a gift suited to their status. Yet, as the line moved on, it became clear that one person had been ignored- Selena Stormhold, as she stood empty-handed.
Most of the onlookers felt a wave of awkwardness at this glaring 'oversight'. To skip the daughter of the house seemed like a great diplomatic blunder; some might even consider it an insult. But Selena didn't flinch, and Lorian didn't apologize. Rather, a smile played on both of their lips. Only those who knew them best understood the truth, and they appreciated the thoughtfulness of Lorian.
As the carriages finally rolled out of the Great Gate and the sound of hooves faded, the air in Auric Spire changed instantly. The festivity was over, and Veridia was back in business.
Lorian took a deep breath and headed back inside. He had a mountain of tasks ahead of him, the most pressing being the testing of Vespera Thal. The day before, he had been surprised by Admiral Vorlag Vane's reaction to her. He'd expected the Admiral to be sceptical, dismissing the Elf girl. However, Lorian realized Vorlag was an open-minded man who cared more about results than bloodlines. Instead of getting his ego hurt, he was rather genuinely intrigued by Vespera's claims of naval innovation.
"If she's even half as good as she says," excited Vorlag had told Lorian that day, "the Throne Navy would get a decisive edge over all other naval powers on the West Coast. Our Navy would be unmatched not only in Azure Bay but also in the entire Pearl Sea!"
Vorlag had personally taken charge of the trials, but he had offered one important piece of advice- Vespera must hide her race for the time being. After all, sailors were a superstitious, hard-headed breed. If they saw a demi-human giving orders or commanding their vessels, they might mutiny before the sails were even unfurled. Therefore, Vorlag suggested that she would rather join the fleet as a human specialist. Once she had proven herself and earned the crew's respect through success, Vorlag himself would reveal her true identity. The Admiral knew that, ultimately, success was the only thing that could drown out prejudice.
As Lorian walked through the hallway, his mind inevitably drifted back to the treasury. He had spent a staggering amount of gold over the last few weeks. He knew that even the deepest well runs dry if the bucket is dipped too often. The coming years were not going to be peaceful; war was looming on the horizon, and war was the most expensive business in existence.
If he didn't prepare now, the costs would eventually fall on the backs of the common people. He had seen it happen in history books and in his old life; when the High Lords played at war for personal glory, it was the poor who died of hunger. He knew that nationality and loyalty were effective motivators, but only as long as bellies were full. An empty stomach makes a man stop thinking about the future and start worrying only about tomorrow. If the people believed they were starving because their Lord was chasing glory or personal interest, they would eventually revolt. Lorian would not allow that. He needed a surplus so vast that the city could survive even a prolonged siege without breaking.
But he couldn't simply tell the High Council he was preparing for a prolonged bloodbath, both literal as well as economic. They were merchants; they worshipped the status quo because the status quo was profitable. Peace allowed for trade, and trade allowed for luxury.
He called an urgent meeting at the Onyx Gallery for the following day. To ensure he wasn't caught off guard by the veteran council members, he summoned Gravil and Rylan Fartom for an immediate audit of the inventory and treasury. Gravil would act as his guide, while Rylan would compile the detailed reports that would form the basis of tomorrow's meeting.
While waiting for the father-son duo to arrive, Lorian returned to his private study. It was time to use one of his earned rewards. He summoned the Market Fluctuation scroll secured in the Potion of Preservation. As he consumed the scroll, it dissolved into a shimmering golden light. A golden semi-transparent window materialized in the air, displaying a chart that stopped Lorian's heart for a beat.
Market Fluctuation Chart-
Heavy Iron Shackles: ↑ Sharp Increase
Martyr's Weave: ↑ Extreme Increase
Purple Silk: ↓ Massive Crash
Refined Lamp Oil: ↑ Sharp Increase
Silver-Grade Oats: ↑ Sharp Increase
Valorian Silver-Wax: ↓ Massive Crash
Vow-Stones: ↓ Moderate Decrease
Lorian was stunned. The list was oddly specific, as if it were pointing toward a singular, looming event. He couldn't fully grasp the meaning yet, but he committed every detail to memory before the window vanished.
Throughout the inventory inspection, his concentration wavered. A strange unsettling worry was encroaching on his peace of mind. Finally, he realized he couldn't solve this riddle alone. He sent the data separately to his two most trusted information dealers- Anya Vespera and Grisel Gabon, asking them to investigate the movements behind these prices and what such fluctuations could signify.
By giving them the same task separately, he hoped to gain two different perspectives. A secret meeting was arranged for the three of them early the next morning at one of Anya's safehouses. Only after that would he and Anya attend the high-stakes meeting at the Onyx Gallery.