As Vilkar approached the Merchant Circle building, he couldn't help but be impressed by its grandeur. The imposing structure was built with marble columns and adorned with intricate carvings on its façade. The tall, arched windows on each floor allowed natural light to stream in, and the roof was topped with a dome that glittered in the sun. The entrance to the building was framed by two imposing statues of merchants, each holding a sack of gold coins.

Vilkar never had a reason why to visit it or go past it as most of the buildings around serve in some capacity to either explorers or merchants, Vilkar was nither.

As he walked closer to the building, Vilkar noticed the large double doors made of heavy oak. The doors were flanked by two guards dressed in ceremonial armor, each holding a long spear. Above the entrance, a banner with the emblem of the Merchant Circle fluttered in the breeze. Vilkar took a deep breath and stepped inside.

The interior of the building was just as impressive as the outside. The walls were lined with ornate tapestries depicting scenes of prosperous trade, and the floors were made of polished marble. The sound of footsteps echoed in the grand hall as Vilkar made his way toward the reception desk.

When he looked up he could see an empty space that lead to the ceiling of the building with a glass dome. From his point of view, each floor was filled with offices where people of all kinds were talking, laughing and some even crying.

The receptionist was a young man with dark hair and bright eyes, dressed in a neat business suit. He greeted him with a smile and asked how he could assist him.

After a few seconds of silence Arthur spoke, "Alright sir, please wait a moment, I will be back with the application."

Vilkar then waited while Arthur went for the papers, he waited about a minute before he could see Arthur walking back.

"Here it is sir. After finishing the application please call for attendant which will bring it back for confirmation. You can do it in our lounge, there you can also order something to drink while you wait." Arthur handed him a paper which Vilkar took and walked to the lounge which was on his left side.

The whole lounge gave a different feeling than the rest of the building. When he stepped in he could feel as sounds from the outside were silenced and replaced by a calming tone of the music.

Air was filled with some kind of incense, 'Is that magic that I smell?' Vilkar thought as he tried to identify from where it originated.

After taking his seat he put the application before him and looked it over. Firstly he wrote his name, the date of his birth, and a few other pieces of information about him.

When he got to the part about the trading company that he wanted to start he wrote the name that would represent it.

"Name of would-be company: Golden Hand

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

"Main purpose of the company: To make a profit." 'strange...' Vilkar thought, 'It should be obvious.'

"Type of inventory that would be sold, and/or bought, Type of mission that would be ordered, What type of mercenaries would be preferred..." Vilkar read the questions on the application.

"While those questions are related to the business but why are they asking it in the application... Wait!" Vilkar stared into the paper more intently, looking for something hidden.

After a moment he could see faint light hidden in the paper. It gave off a similar feeling as the ring gave, one which had the enchantment to detect lies, "Well that's interesting." Vilkar mumbled under his breath as he heard someone walking up to him, and some type of pressure rising in his chest.

When he looked to his left he saw a woman wearing a black skirt and white shirt and grey apron, "Would you like to drink something, sir?"

"Black tea thank you," Vilkar said calmly but when he watched the woman walk away he felt as if the pressure that he felt disappeared. While she moved he was able to see something under her neck for split second.

It looked like a connection that would be used in human size doll, "Is she... Yes, it is an artificial being." Vilkar confirmed it as he concentrated on her and was able to see how magic was running through it.

Vilkar read about them on the internet and from what he knew they were extremely pricy if one didn't know how to make them.

To create one they would need to be able to do two opposing types of magic. Firstly they would need to create the body, but for it to be used it needed to be made of special materials. Body creation would require a high level of reality magic, as they would take ingredients from the dungeon and change their properties so they could be even used.

Then it was time to create a mind for it. Even the most basic of artificial minds needed a great number of magic stones and everyone would need to be engraved with runic magic. Then it needed to be molded with soul magic.

The whole process could be successful only if one type of energy was used, and so the whole process from start to end would be done by one person. There weren't many people that could wield reality and soul magic to such a degree as mastering two opposite align types of magic was extremely complicated.

'She should be guarding this building against threats.' Vilkar thought as he calmed himself. He understood why there was that strange incense in the air. It had calming effects on the minds that would breathe it in.

The artificial being had one major flaw. Their very presence was unnerving to people around it as contradictory elements that they were filled with created a vortex, that could not be seen but could be felt.

Vilkar returned to the application that he needed to finish. When she returned with his tea he was once again filled with pressure but now it wasn't as strong as the first time.

He wondered why he never heard that there was an artificial being in one of Merchant Circle buildings, especially when he clearly felt her presence. But when he saw her walk up to other people and saw that they did not react he wondered why was it so.

The only thing that came to his mind was that his magical senses were heightened as it was known that magic wielders were more affected by their presence.

Vilkar drank his tea while he finished the application and called for the attendant whom he gave the papers.

Then he waited for it to be processed and he would be called to one of the offices. There he would either be denied or granted his license after paying the fee.

Just as he finished the tea he saw the same attendant coming closer to him and asking him to follow. Vilkar did as he was told and walked right behind the attendant who led him into one of the offices on the second floor.

While he saw the stairs that would surely lead them there attendant took him to the elevator. There he enjoyed a few seconds of old-style music until he arrived on the second floor.

There he stood before the glass see-through door, behind which he saw a man sitting behind a wooden desk.

"Please go in sir." The attendant spoke while he opened the door for Vilkar.