Chapter 201

“What do you want?” Griel Anvolt asked.

“Nothing much, just the ownership of the brothel in question and all of its workers.” Tempest wasn’t interested in the workers of the brothel but the ownership of her sisters. She didn’t know what will happen to her sisters once the Magus Alliance Council Members take action and Tempest can’t leave their fate to chance. Therefore, she directly asked for the right to manage all the brothel’s personnel.

“That is easy enough.” The Magus Alliance Council Members immediately agree. Tempest’s request was very easy for them to fulfill.

“Okay then.” Tempest turned towards her teammate, “You guys want anything?”

Bei Ting Mao and Li Ming were about to refuse when Graden spoke up. “Ancestor negotiated an apprenticeship deal with Valstein Yoresteven. With my affinities, I would never measure up to the strenuous requirements placed by a master craftsman. Nonetheless, observing a master's work would allow me to gain insight into the crafting process, insight that I might be able to adapt to my alchemy. I would appreciate it if my teammates and I could study with Master Craftsman Valstein Yoresteven.”

The Magus Alliance Council Member glanced at each other then turned towards Valstein Yoresteven for a response. It was ultimately his choice if he wished to fulfill Graden’s wish or not.

“Miretta, I can see why you value this descendant of your over the others. A polite little boy with neither the pride or arrogance you see in those entitled rich brats everyone wants to shove into my forge. He would benefit your kingdom greatly. Pity your shortsighted daughter and power hungry granddaughters. I’ll take you all on, but as I’ve said before, I’m quite strict with my students.” Valstein Yoresteven magnanimously offered to take on Tempest’s teammates.

“Thank you.” Graden waited for the other two to express their gratitude, and when they failed to do so, he smacked both Bei Ting Mao and Li Ming in the side.

They mumbled their gratitude all the while wondering what Graden was up to.

Starm looked at Graden. Graden looked at Starm.

Starm looked at Valstein Yoresteven, who turned his head away as if he was afraid to meet Starm’s ever changing eyes.

Starm will go where he wants to go. It was settled just like that.

Fenix and her sisters graciously bowed out, citing the need to stand by their mother.

With that, the terms and conditions of the Spiritual Oath Contract were settled.

The ceremony for the Spiritual Oath Contract itself was anticlimactic and a bit of a disappointment to Tempest.

For something as binding as the Spiritual Oath Contract, Tempest expected clouds to gather, thunder rumbling, rain drizzling and lightning to strike the contract thereby giving the contract an official seal of approval by the spirits.

Barring a worldly phenomenon, Tempest thought as least the Magus Alliance Council Members would consult their guilds and make a fanfare production out of the whole thing, announcing to the world the terms of the contract so their guilds would be held liable if someone breaks. They can’t plead ignorance should they be put on trial.

That didn’t happen either.

What did happen was everyone present, Tempest included, signed a pre written contract with their blood and it disappeared into the great beyond.

“Ummm… did anything happened?” Tempest asked, feeling let down by the dramatic build up. She should have figured. In the movies, all the businesses sit down on the negotiation table and hash out points after points, wording after wording and after they are done, they shake hands and go their separate ways. Rarely does the movie shows what happens afterward, as in how the contract was put into effect.

“You don’t feel it?” Griel Anvolt asked.

“I wouldn’t be asking if I didn’t feel anything.” Tempest retorted with impudences, not putting the Magus Alliance Council Member in her eyes. With Cardis right next to her, she has nothing to be afraid of.

Griel Anvolt would have taken exception to her attitude except her nonchalant combined with the previous question made him cautious in dealing with the little brat.

“It is standard practice for all new recruits to sign a guild entry form with their blood, binding them to the guild. Once the contract is signed, they gained all the information related to contracts and treaties made under the guild name and they must abide by the treaties or contract or the spirits cuts off their cultivation.

“The guild leader, Elders or authorized representative of the guild are allowed to make a contract under the guild name and it becomes effective for 90 days. During the 90 day trial period, for the contract to become a permanent binding contract on all guild members, the guild leader and more than a quarter of the Elders have to agree with the terms of the contract or it becomes invalid. The collateral must be returned during a reasonable amount of time - reasonable is determined by the spirits - or the penalty in the contract comes into effect. How is it that you aren’t bound by the terms of the contract you signed?” Griel Anvolt asks the last question cautiously.

“I can answer your question Magus Alliance Council Member.” Kataigida stepped in, “Tempest never signed the guild entry formed as she entered the guild through personal recommendation. She is my Resonance Bond Holder after all and I am Cardis’ Successor. Some allowances were made. All of Tempest’s actions would be reflected in me.”

“I see.” Griel Anvolt replied, not bothering to hide his unease. All the experienced mages understood Griel Anvolt’s feelings.

They’ve all heard rumors Cardis received a True Daughter of Storm as his Successor. Since guild contracts and treaties are enforced by the spirits then all the liabilities and obligations of the guild are nothing but a piece of blank paper in the eyes of a True Child of the Spirits. Trying to force a fanatically overly doting mother who put their child on a pedestal to punish their child because others made a promise on their behalf that may or may not be beneficial to the child is almost impossible.

You can’t reason with a mother who thinks their child can do no wrong and substitute the word mother for spirits and you have a True Child of the Spirits.

Therefore, any contracts and treaties are not binding on a True Child of the Spirits.

The Governing Board of the Magus Alliances knows this. They allowed the exception to remain because it is hard enough for a True Child of the Spirits to live to adulthood much less cultivate into a powerful mage and one who does isn’t someone they want to alienate.

“I see that you do understand.” Griel Anvolt can feel the chilling smile on him even though the veil Kataigida was wearing when she made the comment.

Griel Anvolt made a note to tell his guild not to mess with Cardis’ Successor or her Resonance Bond Holder.

“Just tell me if the terms of the contract are binding on them or not? I want my brothel, Kataigida.”

“It is binding on them Tempest. If you mess up on your part then effects are rebounded on me. Please keep that in mind.”

“Okay.” Back then when Fenix and her sisters mentioned the Domain Management Guild, they set everyone who saw them on edge. Tempest was so unnerved she had to use Graden as a shield.

Tempest and Kataigida’s grin was scarier than the Arosis sisters’ grin back then and it unsettled even the powerful and experienced mages present.

They all threw flimsy excuses and fled the area.

Cardis, Valstein Yoresteven, Kataigida, and Kain Gourd held in their laughter until the last of them left the vicinity before bursting into a laughing fit.