Our options for decorating are limited with such short notice, but the servants dive into the task with gusto. The house, always clean, is scrubbed from top to bottom until it gleams. Cushions are brushed and sprayed with faint perfume. A gust of wind banishes the dust along the ceiling and hidden away in high corners. Even the skulls are polished, the bones so white they appear to glow.

The welcoming room is rearranged, the couches pushed close to the walls to make room for the decorative tables used in Rolly’s summoning. More tables are set up out back along the manicured grass the precedes the garden, white cloths thrown over the longer tables and glass vases all that’s needed to bring out the charm of the surrounding blooms, the scene lit by the warm glow of the fire affinity gems embedded in the black stone arch overhead. Gajin distracts himself from the unpleasant tasks ahead of him by creating unique arrangements for each table.

One of our greatest concerns when leaving for the north was preserving the garden. Many of the flowers, especially those brought from the elven continent, still not sure how Kierra got her hands on those, are sensitive children that require precise environmental conditions to thrive. They wouldn’t have survived the winter without Kierra’s magic to support them. The second option was to keep the temperature regulated in our absence. As far as I know, that can only be accomplished through artifacts.

Artifacts are items that allow someone to use magic independent of their skill or power. All that’s needed to activate them is a sliver of mana. And, as Geneva has demonstrated, some artifacts don’t even need that, working in perpetuity if constructed properly.

Technically, an artifact can be made from anything. All things can retain mana. What separates high-quality materials and from low-quality ones are how quickly they absorb ambient mana and how slowly that mana dissipates back into that sea of ambient man. A blade of grass will shed mana as quickly as it’s poured in. In general, the more durable the material, the longer it can retain mana. For iron, the rate is slow but not remarkable. Silver, however, is a great material and is popular amongst enchanters.

The most valuable material for artifacts are those that can absorb ambient mana, meaning it doesn’t have to be powered by a caster, and retains it perfectly. There are only two. Xanderium and affinity stones.

It’s hard to say which of the two is the more vulnerable. Xanderium, otherwise known as mana ore, is a strong metal that can be forged into powerful weapons. It can also retain mana of every affinity, meaning there its uses are truly infinite.

Affinity stones are have much less variance in use. They can only absorb and retain mana of one type. That means that someone has to have a matching affinity to activate the artifact containing them. However, their deposits are more numerous, supposedly, they retain more mana than any other material relative to their size, and they absorb ambient mana at a faster rate than any other material.

They’re all precious but some are more precious than others. Stones of the four basic affinities are have the most deposits throughout the world. There are even plenty within Harvest. They are costly, but can still be purchased with gold.

A stone of the greater affinities is far more precious. Mental affinity stone deposits are property of the crown. Physical affinity stones are reserved for healers. Null affinity stones can’t be bought with gold, not even the Guiness family’s sizeable wealth. Celestial stones? If there weren’t the smallest slivers in the testing rooms of the capital, I’d think they were myths.

Enchanting is a relatively new practice in Harvest, making slow progress despite its popularity. While it has infinite applications, studying it is a trial. Enchanting uses an entirely different set of variables that can only be learned through trial and error.

There is a popular saying in the magic community. Magic is boring and it’s best that way. When magic isn’t boring, it’s dangerous. Adjusting spell variables one stroke at a time to find its enchanting counterpart is very boring, until it isn’t. Then it’s usually explosive.

Despite its infancy in Harvest, enchanting seems to be prolific throughout the realms. Knowledge of it is valuable, incredibly so, according to my succubi. Which is why the Grimoires, with their limited contracts, couldn’t compel it from their thralls. Not so for me. Geneva surrendered the entirety of herself to our contract, including everything in that powerful mind of hers.

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

In her usual pattern of overwhelming competence, Geneva is a proficient enchanted. Creating a simple artifact to maintain a pleasant temperature for the garden is well within her capabilities. All she needed was the affinity stones, obtained through the long reach of the Guiness Company.

A few stone boxes that give off heat could have done the job but my elementals have an appreciation for dramatics. Or, at the very least, the grandiose. As a result, what could have been simple tools turned into large, black stone arches that crisscross over the garden. Wholly unnecessary for their function but quite artistic.

Kierra softened the hard stone by growing vines along the arches. The view of the garden lit by a full moon and scarlet light from the affinity stones is a picture worthy of any painter’s brush. I’m sure the guests will be impressed.

Every time I catch a glimpse of them as I survey the property, I understand Gajin’s sadness. Despite the fantastical nature of magic and its ability to bring imagination to life, there are few magical wonders in this world worthy of admiration. Not the acts of mass destruction praised in tales of heroes, but the truly mind-blowing spectacles that changes how someone sees the world. This is the rare time magic hasn’t been applied for destruction, but my house created something amazing. Now, because of ignorant hostilities, we have to tear it all down.

Dwelling on the thought makes me angry so I push it from my mind. There will be plenty of time for vengeance and pettiness tomorrow. Tonight, there can only be goodwill. Hopefully, the fun I have in the next few hours will fortify me for weeks of endless horseshit and power-jockeying.

The first to return from their errands is Alana. Hers were the least intensive, a quick trip to the Bronze Form to invite her hallmates that I suppose can be considered our friends. Three of the four.

I like Marthe, the firebrand fire caster with a grudge against every member of the upper class. Somewhat. Being a noble, our interactions aren’t always cordial.

The brothers, Michael and Gabriel, shrank in my estimation after rejecting the invitation to join our team for the qualifiers but I suppose everyone can’t be expected to have the unwavering loyalty of my future saint. I won’t hold it against them, as I know what it is to be a mouse amongst giants. And Alana thinks well of them, which is reason enough.

Of course, the last of her hallmates, Abel, absolutely isn’t invited. The brown-noser who is happy to define his life by the noble ass his lips are puckered too hasn’t liked me since the day we met and the feeling is mutual. I gave the man a chance, for which I was rewarded with mockery and disdain.

Jokes on him now. He can rot in his undeserved notions of superiority while the rest of us have a good time.

She pauses when she notices the changed front room, letting out a small sound before she drops onto one of the couches. I settle in next to her. “How’d it go?”

“Good,” she mutters while kicking off her boots. “Marthe didn’t want anything to do with it until I mentioned there would be free food but I wouldn’t hold out any hope. The brothers were a lot more hesitant.”

“Took some convincing, huh?”

“Lou, you’re offering the best food and drink in the kingdom. No one should have to be convinced. I extended the offer. They can show up if they please. Gabriel was interested. I think he’s worried about Abel’s being their only connection here. Michael was petrified but I don’t know if he’s worried about you, your reputation, or being sociable. He's a shy boy.” She sighs. “Besides, the people I ran into outside the dorm were more interesting.”

“Oh?”

“Mm. For some reason, your favorite pirate was lurking about.”

“That is interesting.” I forgot to invite the pirate-son. An unintentional slight. After his and Geneva’s…date, haha, he makes for decent company. The reasons why don’t bear dwelling on, but the results are hard to argue with. “Did you invite him?”

“I did. Figured it was that kind of night.” She looks at me with a question in her eyes.

“You figured correctly. He should add to the ambiance.”

“Him and all his friends.”

“His what?”

“I told him we needed a crowd and he offered to invite acolytes from Graywatch. So, a bunch of pirates and smugglers will grace our home tonight. And William. I also figured that if the brothers warranted an invitation, so does he.”

“Good thinking. You’re getting into the spirit of things.”

“Yeah.” She leans toward me, laying her head on my shoulder. I put an arm around her waist and pull her closer. “What are we doing, Lou?”

“I hope we’re having a good time before it all goes to the Abyss.”

“A good time isn’t going to change the fact that you’re a wanted woman.”

“Shh.” I press a finger against her lips. “Tomorrow, Alana. Our problems aren’t going anywhere.” I sigh as she sits up, her hard gaze demanding more. “After the debacle in the north, I was really looking forward to coming home. I wanted to relax. Sip some Herbie. Wrestle Kii. Pamper you.”

I chuckle as she flushes. “What’s happening in the north is madness, sweetie. Despite my confident demeanor, I’m a bit worried about possibly facing dragons.”

She snorts. “I remember when a prince was enough to practically kill you with fear.”

“No need to exaggerate.”

“Am I?”

She squirms as I poke her side. “The point, my bride to be, is that I want a little bit of that fantasy. I know it won’t solve any of our problems but, for a few more hours, I want to pretend. Can you do that? For me?”

“…yeah, ok.” She leans forward and gently kisses me. “I can’t imagine a few hours will make much of a difference. One night of senseless fun it is. Even the knights feast before a campaign.”

I hope our future isn’t that grim, but I don’t argue with her.