City of Desire [Kingdom Building]

Chapter 263: Grand Ritual of Kama Rakalis I

“Let’s go,” I said to the driver as I took the last look at the ship sailing through the river toward the Owlspring.
 
I had booked the whole ship to take them; the cost is slightly expensive, seeing the ship, I had booked, but it will be a comfortable journey for them.
 
Carla will receive them, once they reach the city.
 
She had been there for three days and will come back a day after tomorrow. She had been regularly making the trips to the merchant state, overseeing the progress of three brothels, while the city’s business keeps me busy.
 
Soon, the carriage reached the establishment, where there were few carriages in front of it. 
 
Loading and unloading stuff, mostly furniture.
 
Today is the day the girls will make a debut and we are making the changes in the establishment for it. The seatings aren’t enough to support the new girls. So, instead of adding more chairs and tables, I am changing the whole furniture.
 
It is expensive, but the establishment could afford it. Especially now, when more girls will bring more money.
 
“The girls aren’t happy with smaller shifts,” said Margaux as we entered inside. 
 
Caena had already told me about it; many girls had pleaded with her, to have the establishment run at maximum capacity or increase the capacity enough so that their hours would remain the same. 
 
Till yesterday, the girls used to work for nine to twelve hours, but now it would be six hours.
 
Which is less than half of a normal brothel. Even in the red fragrance next street, the girls work for twelve to sixteen hours, and their workday isn’t consistent. 
 
Everything there is dependent on the demand.
 
If there is enough demand, they will wake up even a sleeping girl and make her serve patrons. Which is the case for almost all the brothels.
 
Norman tried to copy the velvet garden, but couldn’t copy them with its originality. If he had, along with the resources and connections he had, the Red Fragrance would have been the best brothel in Greltheaven.
 
“Six hours are good. It will stop the burnout while giving them ample time to rest and pursue their interests,” I replied, to which Margaux smiled mirthlessly.
 
Our hourly rate is high enough that fewer hours won’t affect their lifestyle. Not to mention, the gifts, which the establishment doesn’t touch.
 
“I had told those silly girls that, but the girls are thinking nothing other than money, they will be losing, by working short hours,” she said, with her smile turning mirthful. 
 
Seeing that, I too smiled.
 
Both of us understood how great the opportunity this is for the girls. If they use their time wisely, in a few months, they will be able to earn more money in fewer hours.
 
“How are your studies going? I heard quite good things about you from Mage Aldridge,” I said, and her smile turned small, but more genuine.
 
“They are going well,” she replied, with joy lighting up in her eyes.
 
Aldridge rarely praises anyone, but he praised Margaux. She could become one of the first people to cast the spell and the time might come sooner than I had imagined.
 
There is barely any change on the first floor aside from a few art pieces. It is a restaurant; I do not need to make any changes here.
 
“You can take a leave, you know. Others will be able to handle the work, even if you went out and took a break of a week or two,” I said, and she nearly stopped.
 
I don’t usually interfere in the personal lives of the girls, but I decided to say the words. In case this is what is holding her back from meeting her daughter.
 
“I know and I will take it soon,” she replied softly.
 
The second floor has changed completely, from artwork to furniture, everything is different. 
 
It looks good, but I am more impressed with how they have added 35% more sitting, but one could barely notice that. The tables seemed the same size and the space between them seemed the same, despite not being there.
 
“The designers have done a good job,” said Margaux, sounding as impressed as I am feeling.
 
We went to the third floor, where big changes happened, before going to the top floor. 
 
There are no changes on the top floor aside from a single painting. I do not plan to change anything; I wouldn’t have even changed the painting, but it is one Margaux brought from Owlspring last week, and it is very good.
 
Hun!
 
I was talking with Margaux when I saw Caena coming with Barb. Like earlier, she was looking happy. So much so that it seemed like, she was having a hard time keeping her expressions straight.
 
I am also happy, to see how everything is going. I hope the debut goes great as well.
…
 
Caena
 
I am happy, tremendously happy. 
 
Last night, I was able to see the central charm of the grand ritual that I had been imprinting on the establishment for a year.
 
The resources I spent just to practice that single charm make my eyes water whenever I think about it and that would have been the tip of the iceberg if the miracle hadn’t happened last night.
 
The hardest part of the grand ritual I am trying to create is a central charm. It is level above the rest. I thought it might take me months or even years of constant practice before I gained the expertise to craft it. 
 
It was supposed to be yet another practice session, but as I started, I got the feeling that today was different. I took the risk and used the real resources, and to my greatest shock, I had succeeded.
 
It was pure dumb luck.
 
The central charm is so difficult that I couldn’t craft it again. I do not have enough skills to do it.
 
The central piece is the last piece of grand ritual, that had remained. I finished with the rest three and a half weeks ago.
 
When I first started on grand ritual, I thought it would take years to achieve it, but with a constant supply of resources, practice, and finally permission to tap into the 1% of emotions absorbed by the establishment had changed everything.
 
My current average is eleven charms a day, and that is with the responsibilities I have, which gives me a limited time.
 
I am going to imprint this piece and complete the grand ritual.
 
I wish my mother had been here, she would have been proud of me.
 
Creating the charms had been the easiest part of the grand ritual; the hardest way to design it. Unlike the ritual that had been cast on Remus, the grand ritual I created didn’t have a concrete design.
 
It is more conceptual, and, through it, one needs to design it. 
 
My mother had achieved it when she was twenty-nine years old. Youngest in our coven in thousands of years. I may not compare to her, but if not for her record, I would be the youngest to achieve that in two thousand years.
 
“It looks good, doesn’t it? It didn’t feel like we have placed more chairs and tables at all,” said Barb and I couldn’t help, but nod.
 
It had been a few minutes since they had finished, and it looked like, two floors had been transformed. 
 
“Let’s look at preparations; it is only three hours before we open,” I said to Barb and both of us moved; there were a lot of things for me to do and I need everything to go perfect today.
 
I need patrons satisfied and feeling lust, and a plan to wear a dress that leans on the scandalous side.
 
Since I have become a madam, I have been choosing to wear clothes on the conservative side, but today is important and I will need to harness more emotions than I had needed to charge the central charm.
 
I feel like, I didn’t need to wear a scandalous dress and all. More than half of the patrons lust after me; I will get more than enough emotions from them to charge the central charm.
 
Still, I couldn’t take any risks, especially not today.
 
Soon, the three hours passed, and there were only ten minutes before the gates opened. 
 
“Are your floors ready?” I asked four people in front of me. There is Stavad, Barb, Danielle, and Cath. Ashton is responsible for the restaurant, Barb for the top floor, Danielle for the third, and Cath for the second.
 
“Yes,” they all answered in unison.
 
“Take charge of your floor,” I ordered, and they all walked toward their floor, aside from Stavad, who was on his floor.
 
I looked around and saw the tables were perfectly set and servers were waiting for guests to arrive. 
 
I looked at the clock, before turning to the mirror surface by the door, and saw myself. Eudo had really done a wonderful job and also Elese; the dress I am wearing had been personally made by her.
 
The gown is shimmering black with a deep v-neckline. The same v form on the back, exposing nearly all my backside.
 
It is not as scandalous as I used to wear, but pretty close.
 
My make-up is seductive as well; I had asked Eudo to make it more inviting, and he had done a wonderful job. 
 
Soon, the ten minutes passed, and it was time to open the gates.
 
…
 
“Open the gates,” I said with Reaching Voice, a new skill in my Madam Class. It had a range of three hundred meters; it let my voice reach the person far, without raising my voice.
 
The only condition is that I need to see them.
 
The guards heard me and opened the gates. In less than five seconds, the first carriage entered. 
 
I didn’t stay on the first floor and strode upstairs before the gates fully opened.
 
Four hours have passed since the establishment opened, and it was full. The gates have been closed once more and there is not a single place, that is empty on all three floors. 
 
The surprising thing is that the establishment's gates closed a minute earlier than yesterday, despite the number of girls increasing.
 
“Mr. Koml, I hope you are having a good time,” I said, walking toward the man in his fifties who had been ogling me secretly. “I am, but if you join me, I will have the greatest time,” he replied suggestively.
 
To that, I smiled seductively as touched his and harnessed the lust he was feeling for me.
 
“I may not be able to join you, but Hilhan here will do,” I said as the green-haired woman appeared beside me.  
 
He turned to Hilhan while I moved to greet other patrons. Harnessing strands of lust from them. Not all felt lust for me. Some had eyes for those who were sitting next to them, and some didn’t find me their type.
 
Some didn’t have an interest in the women at all.
 
Still, more than half of them, are feeling the lust for me and I am harnessing it, before putting it into the charm along with emotions from the establishment.
 
I have started since the first guest arrived, and till now, I have harnessed five to six regular charms worth of lust, but the central piece isn’t even half-filled.
 
I went to the top floor and talked to the patrons and Barb, who is amazing at handling the patrons. Her presence also increased the client's liquor bill, which is great, as the establishment, earns the most through the liquor. 
 
I stayed on the top floor for a while, before going to Remus.
 
“It is looking good,” he said, sounding quite pleased.
 
I didn’t say anything other than smile; there was no need for me to say anything. Everything is clear as day to him, in this little watching room.
 
“Well, I will be sleeping early; I have a lot of things to do tomorrow before I leave the city,” he said and got up from his chair.
 
“Good night, Master Silver,” I said, and he smiled before leaving the small room.
 
I watched him leave before going back to the top floor. I stayed there for a few minutes before walking to the third floor and then the second floor; the floor with the most girls.
 
The new girls are doing well, and it is not surprising.
 
Unlike the other girls, this batch of girls had the most comprehensive training yet. They were also the first batch to be completely trained in a circle, with envious facilities.
 
Unlike us, they didn’t receive their training in cramped spaces, which would become their place of work every evening.
 
I looked at all the new girls. Especially the girl in the wheelchair.
 
I got worried about her when, in the first half an hour, nobody sat at her table. I shouldn’t have been. I should have had more faith in our training and the patrons we serve.
 
Now she is talking with a handsome man in his mid-thirties, and they seem to be having a deep conversation.
 
He is not the first man, who sat with her. 
 
‘It seemed like Remus was right again,’ I thought and moved to greet the guests.
 
I wanted to keep her third shift because of her condition, which might repel some clients, but Remus put her in the second, our most productive shift.
 
The first shift is twelve to five in the day, the second is six to twelve in the night, and the third is twelve to six nights to morning. 
 
He was right.
 
Yes, some patrons left seeing her, and some complained, but it didn’t affect the business. In a few days, they will get used to her and we will have no problems, aside from a few complaints.
 
Hours passed, and it was two and a half.
 
The establishment is still filled. Though not as much as before, from two, the people would start to leave and by five, it would be empty.
 
“I hope, you had a great time with us, Mr. Fustalis,” I said to the leaving patron. “I had a great time, Miss. Caena,” replied the man, with a smile, before leaving, with his friend.
 
Half an hour passed when suddenly a smile appeared on my face.
 
“Danielle, I am leaving,” I informed her. Usually, I leave the charge at two and a half am, but I stayed a little late tonight.
 
I talked to Danielle for a few minutes before taking the elevator to the basement.
 
Click!
 
I opened the door and went inside my suit.
 
I have a suit in the establishment, and it is the one, I used the most. I live in a circle, barely two days a week; most of my time is spent here.
 
I sat down on the chair and closed my eyes for a second, before taking out more charms from my purse.
 
The center charms.
 
The charm is different from all the charms; I had created. First, it is the size of my palm, second, it is made wholly of magical material; there is not a single mundane thing in it.
 
When one looks at it; the first thing they would notice is thirteen gems. There are twelve gems; all of them are different, but each one of them is expensive.
 
As for the blood-red ruby in the center.
 
It is not ruby, but a blood gem formed from the master silvers' blood.
 
All of them are carefully wrapped in delicate and colorful vines, petals, and leaves; they look like a piece of art.
 
I admired it for a minute, before closing my eyes and concentrating my craft on the ritual.
 
“Eraente,” I said gently and put the last piece of grand ritual Kama Rakalis in its place.
 
The charm flared brightly, and I felt the heat on my hand for several seconds, before the sensation disappeared, along with the charm.
 
“Success,” I said with a smile. 
 
I had some fear that the final piece wouldn’t be clicked, but it did. There seemed to be no problem with it.
 
Hun!
 
I was happily congratulating myself when suddenly I sensed something, and my eyes widened in fear.
 
“Eslaynde,” I said immediately, and a realm establishment appeared in front of me.
 
My eyes immediately went to the twelve hundred and thirty-two enchantments. It is very hard to miss those dots.
 
They are blazing, like an afternoon sun compared to them. The other charms are shining like a star. 
 
There is no change in them.
 
As for the reason for their blaze, it is quite simple. These freaking enchantments are sucking the emotions from the core and the core is sucking them from the establishment.
 
People produce a lot of emotions, but the establishment's core absorbs less than 5% of them and can retain, even less than that.
 
Now the sudden and uncontrolled absorption had started sucking the emotions from it. It is not liking it and in self-preservation; it begins to absorb emotions around the establishment.
 
I am shocked. I had not expected this would happen.
 
It should have slowly accepted the emotions from the core and not so suddenly, but it is doing that, and I couldn’t do anything else.
 
I am scared for the core.
 
It is the core of the establishment and the speed with which the grand ritual absorbs the emotions, making me feel like it might destroy the core, and there is nothing I can do to stop it.
 
Once the final imprinting started, even Remus wouldn’t be able to stop it.
 
The only thing I could do here is watch how the core is sucking every stray emotion present in the establishment.
 
Minutes passed and the appetite for the grand ritual didn’t seem to have been lessened at all. Instead, it seemed to have increased even further, forcing its core to expand its range, till it covered the whole plot of establishment.
 
It covered exactly the range that the witch had used to bind Remus to it.
 
Hun!
 
I was watching with bated breath when suddenly; I noticed something.
 
“The other charms are also pulling power,” I said as I looked at the other enchantments. 
 
There are thousands of other charms, and they are also absorbing the emotions. Using the opportunity, that grand ritual had opened for them.
 
What they are absorbing is much less than the grand ritual, but it is still increasing their power. This means their effects will also be going to get stronger as well.
 
A few more minutes passed, and the appetite of the grand ritual increased further, that even the size of the core had started to shrink, while it now expanded its range underground and started to absorb the emotions from the building and soil itself.
 
They had a lot of emotions stored in them and now this grand ritual absorbing it all.
 
I only hope it spares the core. If it is consumed or destroyed; then everything is over; even the grand ritual, will only work for a few days at most before disappearing.
 
If the core remains; it can be used in perpetuity. If the establishment ever turned into a legacy; this grand ritual will show its real power. 
 
Minutes passed, and I genuinely feared that it would be such the core itself, seeing every bit of emotions present in, around, and underground of the establishment had absorbed; that now only the core had remained.
 
Hun!
 
I was thinking that when suddenly, the grand ritual begins to slow down its absorptions before stopping.
 
Seeing that relief flooded my heart.
 
The grand ritual had sucked so much emotion that it had reduced the size of the core to the fourth. 
 
Buzz!
 
I was looking at the core when the grand ritual buzzed, and for a moment, I felt a terror before I realized it wasn’t trying to absorb the emotions again.
 
No, instead of all the charms seemed to be moving toward the central charm, before merging with it. It is happening very fast, and within seconds, all the charms merge into a single point.
 
The point blazed for a second, giving me another stare before the blaze began to fade and it revealed itself.
 
A twelve-pointed star made of runes.
 
Gasp!
 
A gasp of shock couldn’t help but come out of my mouth as I saw the twelve-pointed star. 
 
The same star, I had seen in the tome of grand ritual.
 
Though it is more basic than what I had seen in the tome. I could still recognize those runes, which felt clear, but when one tried memorizing them, they turned hazy.
 
Only after fully understanding the grand ritual is one able to see those runes in their realm form.
 
All the enchantments are dots, but only the grand ritual is in the shape of the star; I could already imagine the things it would be able to do, just seeing it.
 
I wanted to use it immediately, but seeing the state of the core, I decided against it.
 
The size of the core had shrunken by a fourth and I could even see the faint instability in it. It would be a big mistake to stress it further. 
 
It might collapse.
 
I won't do anything until it stabilizes fully, including imprinting any new charms on it.
 
I looked at it for a couple of minutes before finally deactivating the spell and returning to the real world. 
 
Unexpected things have happened, but no permanent harm has been done.
 
However, one thing is clear, I will need to keep an eye on it for any irregularity and check the power of the grand ritual as soon as the core has stabilized.
 
I never know when I might need to use it.

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