The Flying Emporium

As way too often in recent times for Severin, the night was one of only little sleep. Today, however, this did not inherently dampen his mood like it usually would.

After all, this would be the last time this would be an issue. After today, a lot would be taken off his plate, allowing Severin to enjoy a much more hands off approach of running a business.

His stress would be reduced and his free-time increased; this kind of trade-off was exactly to his liking.

Once outside and able to carefully survey the new buildings in broad daylight, his mood only further improved.

Everything turned out exactly as he had imagined. If not better. His focus lay exclusively on the would-be inn.

Despite its towering, almost intimidating size that was large enough to welcome dozens if not hundreds of guests, from the outside, it still gave off an inviting air.

Yet on the inside it wouldn’t feel too cramped even at the busiest of times; the many corners made for comfy retreats that allowed people to withdraw from curious glances. If they wished to do so. If they didn’t, there would still be more than enough opportunities to mingle amongst the people.

Already before its official opening, with no guest ever having stepped a foot inside, Severin knew he had achieved his goal. To create a place to celebrate and let loose after a big score, to unwind and lick one’s wounds after an exhausting battle, or just a place to forge new plans for the next grand adventure.

A place to eat, to drink, to socialize, and to sleep. Some kind of home for people who wouldn’t settle.

Severin was very content, but there was little time for him to indulge in the moment. Soon, his inspection tour was cut short.

At the time, Mylana had been the only one to know about Severin’s plans, or at least about their short-term realization.

And so, the Emporium’s patrons were not the only ones who had many burning questions when they saw the overnight changes; Severin’s employees too demanded answers, and unlike from the outsiders, from those he couldn’t hide.

“What happened to our rooms?” were Sabina’s and old Krill’s main concerns.

Not because they were displeased or because they didn’t care about the other, more impressive changes, but because, unlike the others, these two were not used to their surroundings changing over night and without their notice.

Even all the magic they had witnessed ever since moving onto this mountain could have prepared them for this.

Both of them were startled to their cores and demanded answers.

The other two had their own worries, with their main point of contention being the kitchen; for very different reasons.

For the dwarf, the kitchen didn’t just represent his workplace, but also his retreat and safe-place.

Waking up and finding it gone, without prior consultation or even just a head’s up, left him not just anxious, but angry.

Even finding out that the kitchen wasn’t actually gone but simply assimilated into the new building did little to alleviate Bandur’s worries.

In the end, Severin had to spend much time explaining and assuring that nothing would change for Bandur; apart from maybe his workload.

Still, Bandur wasn’t easily convinced. The prospect of having people other than Severin ordering him around and traipsing in or around his kitchen was one that had the usually calm dwarf fuming in apprehension.

It took Severin many apologies and insurances that he had nothing to worry about; and even then, the dwarf didn’t seem entirely convinced.

Emily, with her worries pertaining only to the food itself, was much easier to placate.

Learning that, no, the kitchen wasn’t gone, and yes, she could still have her meals and snacks as usual, was all she needed to know to be happy and content.

“Well, none of this really does explain anything,” Sabina, of all people, finally remarked, unpleased with Severin’s continuous effort to skirt her questions and concerns. “You are opening a new inn? Great. But who exactly will manage it? What about all the other changes? And most importantly:

While I get that, apparently, no one else but Krill and me is interested or even surprised by this tiny detail, but how the fuck did any of those things even happen in the first place?”

Everyone seemed surprised by her outburst, not least of which Sabina herself.

All eyes turned towards her, but no one said a word. Until after several seconds of uncomfortable silence, she herself added,

“I mean, since all of us are here, I think this is a great opportunity for you to give us some answers. You owe us some answers.”

Even old Krill, who wasn’t nearly as confrontational as the woman, nodded in agreement; he wasn’t the youngest anymore and the fact that the room he went to sleep in had, overnight, doubled in size, still creeped him out.

Ahem, Mylana, the only one who seemed entirely unfazed by all of this and who apparently had no questions or concerns herself, cleared her throat.

“Technically speaking, not everyone is here.”

Again a brief silence, with everyone looking around and at each other.

And then not just Sabina erupted into another torrent of questions.

“What do you mean, everyone is here?”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“Did you already hire people?”

“Well, kinda,” Severin admitted.

“Kinda? What kinda answer is that?”

“So far, I only really hired one person. And unlike you, he is already at work,” he tried to deflect.

Met by a collective and angry stare-down, Severin turned away his gaze. His attitude and voice became much more demure as he answered, “Some time today, the first batch of people will arrive to help us with all sorts of tasks. Taking orders, delivering food, restocking shelves. Those kinds of things. Even with the new inn open for business, I expect all of us to be much less busy.”

Bandur noticed the special emphasis Severin put on the word all. The implications were twofold.

One, Severin didn’t just hire regular staff, but also new [Employees] as only those could help with the crafting tasks.

And two, someone was going to meddle with his kitchen, after all.

The internal struggle on Bandur’s face was evident to any who paid attention.

“You mention the inn again,” the dwarf started. “Just who will take charge of that, pray tell? You? One of the new people? Surely you-”

“Why don’t you greet them yourself,” Severin interrupted.

He was expecting several people this day, so he was constantly scanning his minimap.

What he didn’t expect, however, was to see these two. Not today, and certainly not so early in the morning.

Without waiting and grateful for this sudden distraction, Severin took several fast steps towards the door.

He halted and looked towards Krill and Sabina.

“I will answer any of your questions. Soon. Real soon, it seems. Just bear with me a little longer,” he said. Without waiting for a reply, he then hasted outside.

Only to find not two, but three people approaching the Emporium, carrying what looked like heavy luggage.

Even at a distance, one could hear Nel’s excited shouts.

“And you’re really not lying?! We’re staying here where all the adventurers are? And look! That building, it’s soo huge. I’m sure that wasn’t there last time!”

“That’s the inn,” Severin explained.

“Ah, Sev-?” the boy, in his excitement looking everywhere but ahead, hadn’t even noticed Severin’s approach.

Then, only belatedly, the penny dropped.

“Whaa~?! This is the inn? Our inn?”

Milly and the dwarf who accompanied the mother-son duo seemed equally surprised

“Are you serious?” they couldn’t believe it either and directly skipped the pleasantries.

The two adults put down the luggage they were carrying. Only now Severin recognized that the big piece was actually a wooden sign bearing Milly’s name; her old shop sign.

“All of this? You can’t be- If I had known…”

The dwarf, on the other hand seemed much less enthused.

“I’m not so sure about this anymore. Just look at this place. It doesn’t suit you. It doesn’t have the same character… I bet they don’t even serve real booze. Only that fancy swill you’ll have to pay for in whole gold coins. Pah.

And the food and the rooms won’t be any better. It is not a place for the likes of us. An honest working dwarf could never…

Not to mention the portal fees…,” the more he talked, the quieter he became. It was clear where his thoughts were.

While Milly’s last doubts dissolved right in front of their eyes, the dwarf was obviously concerned about not being able to see his elven crush anymore.

Now looking at him, Severin even suspected that the night before the man hadn’t been quite as drunk as it first appeared.

“We’ll figure something out,” Severin offered with a chuckle; all of a sudden he had become a lot more sympathetic to Gorik, the ever grumpy dwarf. Severin, of course, didn’t comment on this observation and instead said,

“But to be honest, I didn’t think I would see you again so soon.”

“Neither did I,” Milly admitted, but without ever taking her eyes off her new home and workplace; in her distraction, the answer turned out rather terse.

“So I take it then he received it well,” Severin followed up.

“Yeah he- Oh, you mean that?!” she abruptly turned around when she realized what Severin was referring to. Then checked that Nel wasn’t paying them any attention before replying, “He doesn’t know yet.”

“Huh?” Severin asked; the ears of the dwarf next to them suddenly perked up.

“I didn’t want something like that to influence his decision. And he probably wouldn’t believe me, anyway. So after you left, I just asked him what he thought about moving. About starting anew up here.

Well. Turns out that even I had underestimated his obsession for anything Adventurers. The moment I mentioned the possibility of running an inn in this kind of place, there was no stopping him anymore.

But tell me. Didn’t you say there was so inn, yet?” Milly squinted her eyes at Severin.

“Yet.” The single word and a meaningful smile was all the answer she received, before Severin in turn asked,

“But if that’s what you assumed, then why are you already here?”

For a moment the woman was tempted to not let Severin off the hook this easily. But knowing what she now knew, she reconsidered; this matter was better addresses later and in private.

“Gorik here thought it was too good an opportunity to pass by,” she finally admitted truthfully. “Together with Nel, who was already going crazy anyway, he convinced me to come here as soon as possible and hold you to your word.”

Hmpf, came the snort from her side.