The 1.000 year Great Sage ---> COMPLETED STORY

Seya became silent. He was thinking that a big Inn with a lot of rooms could receive many customers but the owner of such an establishment must have a lot of experience. There's no one in his lands like that, except the actual owner of the Inn in that Capital. And he was needed there. There were more things to be taken care that were more urgent but as soon as the new Inn was built, the sooner it could receive visitors.

The Baron seemed to have read Seya's mind.

- We can also build one later, I believe there are things more urgent.

Seya was thinking of what the Baron just said. Build one later. Having a person responsible to take care of the new Inn could be saved for later. Or not. Someone with experience. With years of dealing with customers. Suddenly, Seya got up and he began to walk back and forth.

While Seya was still thinking, the maid Mary and Milady Margaret came with tea and cakes. They started to serve their guests but Seya was in deep thought, he didn't even notice. Then, he remembered something.

- Baron, if I recall correctly, the owner of the Inn as an older son that is already married, correct?

- Yes, Milord. That couple as already a daughter with 6 years old. She is a student at the school and one of my wife's students.

- That's it!

Seya immediately opened a Gateway to the Inn. The owner, an old and big man was looking in surprise from the other side.

- Good morning Innkeeper. Can you cross this Gateway, please? I need to ask you a few things.

- Of course, Milord.

After the Innkeeper entered the room, Seya closed the Gateway and pointed a seat for him. At that moment, Seya realized that the tea, cakes, and biscuits were already served. He invited the Innkeeper to join them. Then Seya stayed silent for a while, thinking.

Everyone was wondering what was on Seya's head. Except for Princess Heiji. She was just smiling. She was used to Seya's brainstorms.

- I have a situation that needs your expertise and advice. I know that in your Inn works you, your wife, some employees and your son and his wife, correct?

- That's correct Milord. My son has been working there since he learned how to talk. He was practically raised behind the Inn counter.

- Perfect. So, if needed, he and his wife could take care of the Inn for you and your wife, correct?

The Innkeeper smiled.

- Sometimes he does just that. My wife likes to have me at our house from time to time. She likes to be spoiled by me. Ahahahah!

- I have a proposition for your family then. I'm going to build a new Inn in a village near the sea. I need someone there to take care of the business. I was thinking that it could be you and your wife or your son and his wife.

I will help with anything needed, of course. That includes building the Inn and the house for the new owners and money for the first expenses. The payment for receiving that new business will be just hard work. The owners will have to work and live there to pay for it. Just that. Maybe it's better if you talk to your family and decide which couple will accept my offer.

The Innkeeper dropped a cookie that he had on his hand, right before going into his mouth.

- … that's… too good to be true… but if it's an order from Milord, we will obey.

- Not an order, it's a request. If your family doesn't accept, it's all good, I will look for someone else. I think it's a good offer. And with the Gateway Crystal, any village is not far anymore.

The Innkeeper looked worried.

- You see, Milord, I was hoping that my son took over the business in this Capital when I can't or when I die.

- He can still do that. Plus, the new Inn. I think it's doable. He can go by Gateway to the new Inn in the morning, take care of some things there and return to your Inn here after lunch. Or you can. I think it's perfectly possible for a couple to run two Inns, because of the Gateway.

- I was thinking of making it exactly like yours. An exact copy. Later on, we can increase it, if more people want to stay there and more space or rooms are needed.

The Baron interrupted them, there was a small detail that Seya was forgetting, manpower!

- Milord, the construction will take a while. The workers are still building more houses. But if Milord wishes, they can stop that work and start with the new Inn.

- That won't be necessary. I can make the new Inn all by myself using Earth Magic.

- Oh, like Milord did with the first Watermill?

- No, even better. I can make an exact replica of the Inn in this Capital.

Hina was silent up until that point, but hearing that, she shouted.

- You can do that? That would be amazing!

Ryn was slowly raising her head from over her arms.

- That's just… ridiculous…

The Innkeeper was happily smiling at Seya and at the Baron.

- If the new Inn will be like mine, my wife or my son will just fell like they are at home!

- I think so too. Well, let me just open a Gateway so that you can go back and talk with your family. As soon as you give me an answer, I'll take care of the rest.

- Thank you, Milord. I think I can give my answer to Milord, later this day.

- Perfect….||…Gateway open…||…

When the Innkeeper went through the Gateway, they all could see on the other side his wife and son, curiously waiting. The Innkeeper gave a big smile and a deep bow before Seya closed the Gateway.

- Ok, that's taken care. Or not. I forgot one thing. Ryn, remember that hill near the ocean?

- Do you mean our place? Of course.

- That place is really a hill near one of my villages. That was the main reason why I asked the King of Rohan for that portion of the Empire lands, actually. I was thinking of making the new Inn at the top of that hill. I will make a beautiful Inn in there, full of commodities for our holidays.

Ryn looked so sad!

- But… we will lose our place! More people will go there!

- I think we can't be selfish about that. That location is too beautiful for not showing it to more people. Don't worry, I'm going to make a more amazing one for you. I have some crazy plans. You will just love it. Or not, I'm not sure. Heheheh!

- Ok. But I'll have you hold to that promise.

- Ok, dear Ryn. Baron, I have a question. At the far East of these lands, when the land gets near the Dwarfs Kingdom, there's a huge mountain with caves and houses on the slope. That mountain is also connected to the rest of the mountains range by a smaller hill at the back. There are people living there?

- Actually, that mountain is also a part of Milord's lands. It was conquered at the same time as the rest of the lands nearby.

That mountain was mined many centuries ago by the Dwarfs but they left it when all the ore ended. It's filled with tunnels, caves, rooms and complete houses inside. It's all abandoned. The Empire conquered it with no opposition what so ever. But they didn't gain anything, the Dwarfs didn't leave a single piece of ore inside.

But after that hill in the back, it's truly the border with the Dwarfs. When the Empire tried to continue their conquest, the Dwarfs fiercely stopped them there.

- I will talk with the Dwarf's King, then. I need to ask him if the Dwarfs want it back or if I can use it. I have some ideas for that mountain.

- Does Milord think that they want a mountain with no ore inside?

- I don't think so. But I'll ask, nevertheless. I don't meet with old King Barunger for some time.

Princess Heiji placed one finger on her chin, she remembered one thing.

- Ah, I've met him this year! He was at the Palace talking with my father! He gave me a sword as a gift. He made it himself, just for me. It's my best weapon!

- Yeah, that old King is the best Blacksmith in the world.

Ryn was looking at Seya, there was a story behind it, for sure!

- Do you know the Dwarf's King? How?

- I had a disagreement with the Dwarfs some years ago for trespassing. Some of them wanted my head, so I robbed his crown from his head when we were in the middle of the throne room. I had a big bar fight with all the Dwarfs in there. The King just laughed off my daring deed and we became good friends. I started to call him Gramps as a joke and the worst thing is that it stuck and he treats me like his grandson!

- Ahahahah! He told me that story when we met! He was hoping to see you, but you were far away, traveling.

Ryn was shaking her head, trying to wake up.

- That's just… do you know every Royal family in the world??

Seya just shrugged his shoulders.

- Yes.

- Including the BeastKind King? Or the King of the LizardKind?

- Yes. Well, in fact, the LizardKind don't have a King. They have a conclave of ten Clan Chiefs. They gather once a year for discussion of the past year and the present year. I was at the previous two gatherings. In fact, the next is in a few months and I must go there, I was invited last year. I'm the only outsider allowed at those gatherings.

Along with the discussion, there's also a fighting tournament and I must defend my title as a champion.

- Argh! You're impossible! How do you know them? I bet there's a crazy story in there!

- That's a conversation for other time. I can't disclosure all my secrets at once! I must keep you interested!

Princess Arys was surprised.

- You are a champion of the LizardKind? That's strange, they normally don't deal with outsiders.

- That's not true, actually. They are very friendly, despite their scary appearance. They are powerful and honorable warriors. They don't deal with outsiders because of the language barrier. And because they don't tolerate the cold, they can't cross the Dwarfs High Mountains. But they are good hosts if you ever want to visit them.

Princess Arys tilted her head sideways, she was puzzled.

- But no one understands them, and they don't speak our language!

- They can communicate now. At least the Clan Chiefs can and some of their warriors. I gave them one Magic Crystal for each of them, able to translate their thoughts directly into our heads, two years ago. Those Magic Crystals have an Ancient Dragonoid Magic to do just that. In fact, I want to go to their next gathering to give more Magic Crystals with that same Magic.

Ryn was pulling her own hair.

- You did what? You…Argh! This guy is impossible! More Ancient Dragonoid Magic? How do you know how to do that?

- I studied a lot and I learned.

Ryn couldn't take any more, she started to bang her head on the table, while mumbling. The others were speechless. The Baron was peaceful, he was becoming used to surprises from Seya. Princess Heiji was smiling and nodding in agreement. And Myra Calcym was looking at Seya with a very serious expression, since the beginning of the meeting.

- You know, my father, the Administrator Calcym, he also administers the lands of a Marquess. I'm used to seeing him doing all sorts of meetings and choosing the best options for the lands that he is in charge. I think I can tell when someone is doing a good job on that matter. Seya, you really surprised me today. Well done, really, well done.

- Thank you, Myra. At least someone that understands the work that I've done in here. Much better than one crazy girl that just bangs her head!

- How could I not bang my head? Seya, you're my age, a student like me, but when I see and hear some of the things that you have done or are doing in here, I lose myself! Why can't you be just a normal carefree boy? Why?

- Because of a promise I made to the Goddess, many years ago, that's why. And I was never a carefree boy, or a carefree child, or a carefree baby. I was always worrying about something, trying to improve something or helping others. That's the way I am. I can't help it.

Ryn made a gentle smile.

- … I also like that side of you. Despite some times I almost faint because of the crazy things you do…

Princess Arys rolled her eyes.

- Love birds alert! I'm getting fed up with you two, always with the mellow talk, and the hugging, and the eyes… Argh!

Duncan was smiling.

- Well, I think it's only natural in a couple.

Princess Heiji pointed at Duncan, it was so funny the look on Arys when she heard Duncan saying that!

- Yeah, watch and learn, RabbitKind girl, watch and learn! It seems Duncan here is a romantic at heart! So you need to properly adjust yourself!

Princess Arys had her face all red, and while looking at Duncan, she was thinking about what Heiji said.

- …yeah…

- Well, Baron, if there's no more, I think we can end this for now. I want to take my friends on a tour over the Capital and the other villages.

- Certainly Milord. I'll use my time to gather some more recent reports.

Seya opened his Compressed Dimension, a big one this time, and he made that huge Dark Magic do several passages near one of the walls of the meeting room. Every time it passed, a new Magic Knight appeared. Very quickly there were 50 Magic Knights standing in lines, like a squadron formation. In front of each of them on the floor, was a Control Box.

- I leave here more of these guys. If the Baron doesn't mind when getting new reports from the other villages, can you please send 5 of these for each village? The Control Box for each of them is at their front, on the floor.

Make sure that the guards practice with them. In a few days, I will allow visits from the Royal Kingdom. The guards of each village can use these Knights to help them patrol the villages and to do security.

- Of course, Milord, leave it to me.

With that new way of using his Compressed Dimension, Seya's friends were with their mouth wide open, speechless. Except for the Princess, she was looking in amusement at everyone.

Ryn was pulling her hair again.

- This guy… again, and again, and again…Argh! Baron, I don't understand why these crazy Magic's from Seya don't surprise you!

- In here, anything is surprising because there are not many people that can use Magic. And the ones that can, they only use a little, so we don't have a term of comparison. But this is not a normal thing in the Royal Kingdom?

- No, everything that this guy does is not normal. Definitely.

- I understand now. That's why all your faces were so full of surprising looks during our conversation.

- Of course! Creating a house and a Watermill to grind flour, all that just following a detailed drawing? And it was entirely made with wood and rock using Earth Magic? Not even the Royal Mages can do that! And now he wants to make a complete Inn, an exact copy of another Inn? Ouch, my head hurts again… why is the floor spinning?

Hina quickly grabbed Ryn's hands.

- Breathe, Ryn! Breathe with me! Aaa…fuuu…Aaa… fuuu…

- Let's see if Ryn faints or not with my next trick! I have one more thing to do in front of the house, can we all go there? I need help to test that thing.