09-10-2026, 02:09 AM
(This post was last modified: 09-10-2026, 02:09 AM by Rachel Shale.)
Rachel nodded at Adrian's statement. She wasn't surprised this man was an investor and he was checking on his investment. She hoped he was pleased with what he saw. The place was coming together quite nicely. It still had a lot of work to go and that likely wouldn't change anytime soon. It was ongoing, but the place was more habitable now. After all, Rachel was staying here.
Real-estate and entrepreneurship was a common hobby among those who were wealthy. Property could be a big money maker. As far as she knew though, Belizna wasn't meant to make profit. Rachel might be wrong about that, but she didn't know for sure. Maybe Adrian just believed in the mission that Natalie had laid out, or maybe Rachel was completely wrong about Belizna's money making potential. Emily was the entrepreneur in the Shale family. It wasn't a skill that Rachel had.
Friend. The way Adrian said friend was odd - as if the word was unfamiliar. Rachel wasn't sure what it was about it that drew her attention, but she did wonder about it. There was something there - something Rachel didn't understand. She supposed it didn't matter so much - as long as they all got along anyways.
Rachel sat down at the table as the conversation turned to her. She wrapped her hands around her cup. Adrian was an investor. He knew why this place was being built. It was reasonable to believe that Natalie trusted him. She had no reason to answer his question anyway but truthfully. Emily also didn't hide and Nox's protection took away any worries about the Atharim. Rachel didn't hesitate to answer.
"I am," she said, beaming. "I also work for Natalie - helping her with whatever she needs." She turned and pointed to another wing of the castle. "Room is that way. Bright sign on the door that says 'Rachel Shale'" She turned back to face Adrian. "Here to work and learn - and I'm already learning."
Adrian was an investor and she really hoped she could show him that his investment was already doing something. She tried to find it - that calm place where the magic came to her - a look of intense concentration on her face. And it just wasn't there. "Damn it!" she said, and took a few deep breaths and closed her eyes. She thought of floating in the river - surrendering to the current. She felt it fill her and lifted her right hand. She opened her eyes and pulled a thread of fire, causing a small flame to hover over her hand before she let it go and dropped the magic. "Not very impressive, I know. But I only found out I could do it last month. I'm just starting and it's progress."
Real-estate and entrepreneurship was a common hobby among those who were wealthy. Property could be a big money maker. As far as she knew though, Belizna wasn't meant to make profit. Rachel might be wrong about that, but she didn't know for sure. Maybe Adrian just believed in the mission that Natalie had laid out, or maybe Rachel was completely wrong about Belizna's money making potential. Emily was the entrepreneur in the Shale family. It wasn't a skill that Rachel had.
Friend. The way Adrian said friend was odd - as if the word was unfamiliar. Rachel wasn't sure what it was about it that drew her attention, but she did wonder about it. There was something there - something Rachel didn't understand. She supposed it didn't matter so much - as long as they all got along anyways.
Rachel sat down at the table as the conversation turned to her. She wrapped her hands around her cup. Adrian was an investor. He knew why this place was being built. It was reasonable to believe that Natalie trusted him. She had no reason to answer his question anyway but truthfully. Emily also didn't hide and Nox's protection took away any worries about the Atharim. Rachel didn't hesitate to answer.
"I am," she said, beaming. "I also work for Natalie - helping her with whatever she needs." She turned and pointed to another wing of the castle. "Room is that way. Bright sign on the door that says 'Rachel Shale'" She turned back to face Adrian. "Here to work and learn - and I'm already learning."
Adrian was an investor and she really hoped she could show him that his investment was already doing something. She tried to find it - that calm place where the magic came to her - a look of intense concentration on her face. And it just wasn't there. "Damn it!" she said, and took a few deep breaths and closed her eyes. She thought of floating in the river - surrendering to the current. She felt it fill her and lifted her right hand. She opened her eyes and pulled a thread of fire, causing a small flame to hover over her hand before she let it go and dropped the magic. "Not very impressive, I know. But I only found out I could do it last month. I'm just starting and it's progress."