He turned, looking at the office filled with parchments and some small trinkets before looking out of the window. "Good work, Magi. Heaven looks like it belongs at the heart of the district now."
Magi bowed his head slightly, "As long as you don’t forget your promise."
Orion slightly smiled, "Don’t worry, I won’t forget what I promised you. You just need to ask for it."
Magi nodded his head as Orion turned while lifting a hand in a lazy wave as he headed for the stairs, "I’ll come back later for the protection fees. Keep it ready, haha."
"Just kill me already," Magi nearly cried out.
"Now how can I do that to my dear debt collector?" Orion laughingly replied back over his shoulder.
Edgar followed, chuckling under his breath. Behind them, Magi exhaled, the sound turning into a low, helpless laugh.
He sank back into his chair, scooped Luna into the crook of his arm, and reclaimed his bottle.
The rabbit settled like a tiny, judgmental scarf as he stared at the map again, pins, routes, cities.
"Every city, huh?" he murmured to Luna, lifting the mug in a toast to impossible timetables and a ridiculous boss. "Alright, little lady. Let’s build an empire."
Luna’s ears flicked like a rubber stamp of approval. Magi took a gulp of his wine and set the mug down because calm was fleeting in this line of work. He once again picked up his quill and began drafting plans.
***
The two of them, Orion and Edgar, took the broad stair down from the third floor, voices and clinking glassware from the shop below rising to meet them.
At the foot of the stairs, sunlight cut a bright stripe across the entry, and beyond the doors the carriage lane gleamed like a ribbon.
Lucan was slumped on the driver’s bench, a random hat over his face, reins looped lazily around one wrist. A soft snore leaked out from his mouth.
Edgar came to stand beside the wheel, arms crossed, wearing the exact expression of a man trying not to laugh. "Exemplary vigilance I must say," he murmured, then rapped the carriage rail with two knuckles.
Lucan jerked upright, hat flying. "I was resting my eyes—!"
"On duty," Edgar said, deadpan. "In broad daylight."
Lucan cleared his throat and attempted dignity. "I was keeping watch from my dreams." He blinked at Orion, caught the young master’s helpless shake of the head, and surrendered with a sheepish grin. "Alright, alright. Back to work."
They boarded the carriage as it rolled toward the Second Ring, wheels humming, city smell shifting from the spice-and-smoke of the Fourth Ring market to the lilac gardens and slate fountains of the noble districts.
By the time the high, ironwood gates of Helstorm Estate came into view, the sun had climbed to the top of their heads.
The moment the carriage stopped outside the mansion, Orion stepped down. "Uncle Edgar, Brother Lucan," he said, turning to them both, "I’ll skip drills for now. Picked up a few things at the academy I need to read before I start breaking bones again."
Edgar’s eyes softened with approval. "That’s good as well. That’s the diligence someone who aspires for great things should have." He thumped Lucan on the shoulder. "You, on the other hand, nap when we’re not in public at least."
Lucan raised a hand in solemn oath. "I will dream responsibly."
Edgar just helplessly shook his head at his words.
Orion entered the mansion doors and headed inside. A maid bowed as he passed the gallery, another whisked aside a vase taller than a grown man. He reached his room and closed the door.
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