Chapter 191
The group made their way into Demor’s manor. True to Ethan’s words, many of the enchantments in the mansion seemed to be focused on containing things in the basement. Alice ignored those as Demor showed the group upstairs.
“There are some rooms available here for all of you,” he said, nodding at them. “The two rooms closest to the stars are for Immortal Ethan and Allira – I had time to prepare for your arrival, and since I know many of your hobbies, I set them up in advance. Allira, you will find a variety of instruments in the room with black paint.” Allira didn’t say a word to Demor in response. It looked like she was still debating whether she wanted to punch him. Her facial expression had transitioned out of the near-murderous rage from earlier, but she still looked irritable. Demor ignored her irritable expression.
“Ethan, your room is the one with the dark green paint. I have procured a set of books you will likely find interesting, as well as some rather interesting enchanted items. If you try training your organic and kinetic magic with them, you will get some interesting results.” Immortal Demor grinned turned towards Jonathan. “I was not aware that a third Immortal would be coming, so I apologize in not having a room set up for you. You’re Immortal Jonathan, yes? Ruler of Superbia? I believe you specialize in farming?”
Jonathan gazed at Demor, as if debating whether or not he actually wanted to answer. Finally, he nodded, although his expression looked slightly stiff. Alice realized that Demor’s little speech hadn’t exactly made Jonathan into a fanatical supporter of the man either. After all, Jonathan was practically the epitome of a non-combatant Immortal. The man basically only had raw stats to go off of when it came to a fight. He was capable of handling stray bandits or monsters, but not high level [Assassin].
“Well, if you wish, you may use my gardens as you wish. Please stay away from the potted plants, though. I have been trying to raise plants that grow monster cores as a type of fruit. I doubt that it will work, but leave them be anyway. As for your room, you may use the dark brown room at the end of this hallway for now. I will prepare something a bit more specialized for you later.” Allira glanced at the potted plants, and Alice found herself wondering if the potted plants in the hallway would soon find themselves ‘accidentally’ eaten by a giant shadowy maw. She also found herself more than a little curious about Demor’s actions. Surely Demor wasn’t dumb. He had reached Immortality, after all. It would be hard to reach Immortality if one was stupid. What did he gain from antagonizing Allira and possibly Jonathan like this? His actions were… odd. Or perhaps he simply had an abrasive personality, and that hadn’t changed after he became an Immortal?
Heedless of Alice’s thoughts, Demor’s voice continued ringing through the hall. “As for the rest of you, I have not prepared specific rooms to suit your tastes, but you may choose from any of the other rooms in this hall. There are more than enough of them, and they will suit your needs well enough.” With that, Demor gave the group one final nod, before he turned towards Alice. “As for you… you may contact me after dinner. I should be set up by then. I intend to show you the process of artifact creation, step by step. Please wait until after dinner, though. I am still in the midst of preparing a batch of materials that will be helpful for you. Dinner is already in the cookpot, and it will be done in an hour or two.”
With that, the group broke up. Alice saw Allira deposit her things in her room, before almost immediately exiting again – likely, she was off to hand over the request for aid that Fendrallia’s capital had requested they deliver.
Alice picked one of the other rooms in the hallway. Cecilia chose a room right next to her. Jonathan’s family organized themselves into other rooms, although Alice noticed that the youngest girl, Mimi, didn’t get a room of her own. Instead, Jonathan’s wife dragged her into Jonathan’s room, along with her own luggage.
When Alice entered her own room, she didn’t think much of it at first. It seemed just like an ordinary, if somewhat spacious, room. However, there was a certain… lack of abnormalities in the room. Every other room that Alice had slept in over the past year had clearly been under the influence of the System. There were always little signs of perks being used here and there. Corners that were too clean for ordinary human hands to have cleaned them. Beds that were a bit too comfortable for the materials they were made of. Other, subtle oddities that weren’t obvious at first, but started to stick out like sore thumbs once one paid attention to them.