New House

Rose couldn't find the supporters in just one day, so the familia decided to take care of other matters rather than go into the dungeon.

Nico and Leo went to a local clearing to train via sparring, meanwhile, Cassian and Hecate went house hunting.

Their current budget was 16 million Valis. More than enough for a downpayment for a nice estate, and the rest they could pay later on in installments.

They were in the lower Northwestern district right now and Hecate had already visited 3 different estates. Each one was good, but had low future development potential due to their space being already almost fully utilized. The estate they were visiting right now had the most amount of free land out of the options, so it was their best bet.

Hecate had apparently asked around for information regarding all the estates Cassian had brought to her and narrowed it down to 4 that she thought were the best. She decided to see the other 3 first just in case, but her heart was already set on the fourth because it apparently had a menagerie on its land, that was not in use anymore.

She planned to fill it with her favorite animals, which included dogs, polecats, and lions of all things. She also did not plan to cage them, so they'd practically be wandering all over the place. Cassian was worried at first but then remembered exactly what his profession was. He felt a bit weird when he realized he could kill a lion with his bare hands and not even break a sweat now.

He went through all the other issues of that plan with Hecate too, but found all of them to be a nonproblem. The estate was encircled with especially tall and sturdy walls, so their getting out was not an issue, therefore the rest of Orario would not be concerned. And since Hecate was practically invulnerable, Cassian was not worried about suddenly losing his patron deity because a lion mauled her.

'I'm still amazed at the sheer size of Orario. A medieval city that could house hundreds of villas and mansions with large lands. It's certainly a sight to see. The only way this is made possible is through a massive supply of magic stones to keep the city running. I guess that's why Magic Stones practically became a second currency here and will never drop in price due to the city never having enough of it.' Cassian pondered as he kept looking around.

The value stability of magic stones was even higher than Valis. Even if the city for some impossible reason stopped being the primary purchaser of magic stones, the rest of the world would still be ravenous for it.

"I still have one question regarding the animals though." Cassian asked as he walked alongside Hecate.

"I'm listening."

"I can understand dogs, polecats, deer, and so on, but what about lions? They aren't exactly friendly house kittens. You're safe from them, but won't they just kill the other animals?"

"Ah, you're worried about that. No, they will not. As you know, while our arcanum is sealed, we still maintain a connection to our domains. That's how Freya can see into souls… Which I practically have to block every couple of minutes, when I'm with you, by the way." Hecate gave Cassian an annoyed look, to which he could only respond by sheepishly rubbing the back of his head.

"… It's not my fault she's gone nuts over my soul. Hell, you even said that you'd be the same were I not part of your familia already." He found words to fire back, which made Hecate blush in embarrassment.

"Cough, cough, anyway. As I was saying, we maintain our connection with our domains and things strongly associated with us. That includes animals. Not all deities, but some, who are strongly associated with certain animals, have a connection with those animals. This connection manifests as strong affection, understanding, and Instinctual loyalty from those animals, so yes, I can turn those ferocious lions into the friendliest of house kittens." She spoke with a smug smile.

"Huh, that's pretty cool. I've always wanted to pet and cuddle with big cats. Maybe I can now?"

"You most certainly can! You're my captain and bear my Falna, so I'm sure they'll love you too."

"Well, I'm looking forward to it. Hey, wait, lions aren't exactly sold in stores, so how are you going to even get them?" He spoke, confused.

Hecate turned to him and gave him a beaming smile.

"… You're going to use me as an errand boy, aren't you?"

Hecate didn't answer him, instead, she started humming happily while making her way towards the estate.

Cassian could only sigh and follow her.

--- At the Estate ---

"Welcome, welcome! It is nice to finally receive you Lady Hecate, Mr. Cassian. I am Alaric, the agent responsible for the sale of this fine estate."

"Thank you for meeting us, Alaric," Hecate replied graciously. "We appreciate your time."

"Not at all, my lady. It's an honor to assist a goddess and her familia." Alaric produced a key from his pocket and unlocked the gate with a practiced motion. "Shall we begin the tour?"

They entered the grounds, the gravel path crunching softly underfoot. The estate was even more impressive up close. Lush gardens stretched out on either side, filled with a variety of flowers and herbs that filled the air with a pleasant fragrance. Mature trees provided ample shade, and stone benches were strategically placed for quiet contemplation.

"The previous owner was an avid botanist," Alaric explained. "You'll find that the gardens contain both common and rare plants from all over the continent."

Hecate paused to admire a cluster of moon lilies, their pale petals glowing softly even in daylight. "It's beautiful," she remarked. "The tranquility here is palpable."

Cassian surveyed the area with a more practical eye. "Are the grounds completely enclosed? Security is a concern for us."

"Indeed, sir," Alaric confirmed. "The entire property is surrounded by a sturdy wall, and the gate is the only entrance. It's quite secure, and there's plenty of space for any additional protections you might wish to install."

They continued toward the main building—a grand mansion constructed of white marble, with tall windows and ornate carvings decorating the facade. The roof was tiled in deep blue, and several chimneys hinted at numerous fireplaces within.

Alaric led them up the stone steps to the massive double doors, which he opened to reveal a spacious foyer. The interior was just as impressive as the exterior. High ceilings adorned with chandeliers, polished wooden floors, and a sweeping staircase greeted them.

"As you can see, the estate offers ample living space," Alaric said, gesturing around. "There are 80 bedrooms, big and small, multiple common areas, a library, a dining hall, and even a ballroom."

Cassian raised an eyebrow. "A ballroom?"

Alaric chuckled. "Yes, though it could easily be converted into a training hall or whatever suits your needs."

Hecate wandered over to a large window that overlooked the rear grounds. "What about the facilities outside?"

"An excellent question," Alaric replied. "Please, follow me."

They exited through a side door onto a stone terrace that led to the back of the estate. Here, the property truly shone. A large courtyard paved with smooth stones was surrounded by covered walkways. Beyond it lay various outbuildings.

"To your left is the guest house," Alaric pointed out. "Straight ahead, you'll find the stables and carriage house. And over here," he gestured to a sizeable open area, "is an ideal spot for training exercises. The previous owner had a keen interest in fencing and archery."

Cassian walked over to the training grounds. The area was flat and well-maintained, with several practice dummies and targets still in place. "This would be perfect for our needs," he noted. "Plenty of space for drills and sparring."

Alaric also showed them the menagerie. It was quite big. Could easily house well over a hundred animals. The place would likely need to be redesigned into a more open habitat since Hecate did not plan to keep her animals caged, but it still provided the groundwork necessary for it. She was more than satisfied with it.

They continued the tour, exploring the various rooms of the mansion. The library was stocked with shelves stretching from floor to ceiling, though most were empty, ready to be filled with tomes and scrolls. The bedrooms were spacious, each with large windows and ample storage.

Cassian glanced at Hecate. "What do you think?"

She took a moment before replying, her gaze thoughtful. "It exceeds our requirements in many ways. The space, the facilities, it's more than suitable."

Alaric clasped his hands together. "I'm delighted to hear that. If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to ask."

"The price. It was said to be negotiable, but in the ballpark of 70 million, correct? We do not have that amount currently, however, we can do a downpayment and settle on a payment plan." Hecate asked.

"Ah no, that was the old price, so you do not need to worry about it. You can purchase it for 10 million Valis. An incredible deal, correct?" Alaric said with a wide smile.

"Excuse me? That is an extremely low amount for an estate such as this. Why is it being sold for 10 million? Is something wrong with it?" She asked now suspicious.

"Oh no, no, normally a place like this would be valued at 120 million Valis, however, it is a bit old and in need of renovations, so it decreased to 70 million. However, beyond that, I can assure you that there is nothing wrong with it."

Cassian looked at Hecate, and she shook her head, indicating he was not lying.

"Then why?"

"I'm afraid, I can't answer that. For personal reasons, the current selling price is 10 million Valis. Perhaps, the owner is in need of quick money and decided to make it irresistible?"

'He's hiding something. He worded that in a way, that it would not set off a god's lie detector.' Making a quick gesture with his hand, he moved it in Alaric's gaze.

'Axii'

The man's eyes went a bit unfocused and his head started to sway. Axii may not currently be very useful against adventurers, but for normal people, it was enough for simple manipulations.

"Tell me the reason why it is only 10 million."

"Ahhh, the… that… I was contacted by… by Lady Heith. She paid for the estate fully with 70 million Valis, and… and told me to "sell" it to Sir Cassian for 10 million. In exchange for this, I could keep that 10 million for myself." Alaric answered with a bit of struggle and glazed-over eyes.

Hecate watched the exchange with great intrigue. This was the first time she was looking at Axii in action. It sort of reminded her of Charm, but also quite different.

"Lady Heith?"

"Heith Velvet."

"Isn't that a member of Freya familia?" Cassian asked with narrowed eyes.

"She is, sir"

"Ugh, it's her." Hecate covered her face with her hands and groaned. "That witch, set this all up for you. I guess she considers it her 'Gift' to you or something."

"Huh, I… wasn't expecting that. Well, it works in our favor right?" Cassian was actually quite glad. Saving 60 million was a fraud.

"But… I don't want to owe her a favor." Hecate whined. She knew this was an amazing prospect, but was reluctant to owe Freya anything.

"Uh, well, we can pretend to not know anything, right? She did this secretly, so it's reasonable, she wasn't expecting anything in return."

"Ugh, yeah, I guess you're right. Let's get this over with."

"Forget about what just happened." Cassian commanded Alaric and dispelled Axii.

"Ughh, ahh, what? What happened?" Alaric asked confused.

"You suddenly got dizzy and almost fell. I had to catch you. Are you okay now?"

"Ah, yes, yes I am. Thank you. Uh, where were we?"

"We agreed to buy the place."

"Ah, excellent! Let's finalize it then."

Over the next half an hour, Alaric and Hecate went over the contract. Meanwhile, Cassian had a strange thought.

'Does this make Freya my sugar mommy?'