Master’s Temper
Will and Kurosawa arrived in Guidon four days later. Kurosawa stayed in Will's casino and Will returned to his cottage.
"Master, I'm back," Will said happily. In the past three years, Will had grown to enjoy the small secluded cottage.
Elder Thaddeus rose from his rocking chair and smiled murderously at Will. Elder Thaddeus' body began to radiate heat. The temperature in the room rose sharply. Each step Elder Thaddeus took toward Will made him feel one closer to death.
"You didn't write me once when you went off to war?" Elder Thaddeus said angrily.
It was at that point, Will's knees began to shake on their own.
"You stop in Guidon one night before going to the castle, and you didn't drop in and say hello," Elder Thaddeus yelled.
Will's knees stopped shaking and collapsed to the ground.
"Have you lost respect for your master? Do I not deserve face?" Elder Thaddeus asked aggressively.
Will's clothes were drenched in sweat. It looked like he had gotten out of a lake. The heat made Will's body burn and dry. The moisture in the room vanished. Will's lips cracked open and started bleeding. Even worse, his skin burned and blistered. The gentle touch of his clothing caused him stinging pain. Will's skin changed from white to tan and bronze. Will had never felt such pain. It was right to call his master a demon monster.
"I'm sorry," was all Will could struggle to save.
"You're damn right you're sorry!" Elder Thaddeus shouted.
Will's clothes began to burn off as if a cinder lit them on fire.
"I…am…sorry," Will struggled to say. Just opening his mouth was torturous, because the heat would creep in.
Will passed out, only to be woken again to the same pain. Again, Elder Thaddeus yelled at him.
A protective array covered the cottage. Vanessa had tried to answer only to be stopped.
The Headmasters detected the array, but only a fool would mess angry Thaddeus.
For two days, Elder Thaddeus tortured Will reviving him with recovery potions.
By the second day, Will stopped apologizing and begged for mercy countless times. By the second night, Will developed a mental demon and stopped begging. Now, he only asks for death.
"Have you learned your lesson," Elder Thaddeus asked.
"Yes, I will always give master face!" Will cried for mercy.
"Very well, my anger has subsided," Elder Thaddeus said.
"Now for your punishment, let me think…" Elder Thaddeus rubbed his chin.
Inside Will's head, he screamed, 'What punishment? Haven't you punished me already? How much more can I endure?'
"The Mage Academy wants you to spend two years under my tutelage. I shall make it three! What do you think?" Elder Thaddeus asked.
"Master is wise, how can I challenge master's intellect?" Will said.
"Your training shall start in Friendship Valley, that war set us behind at least a year!" Elder Thaddeus said.
"I look forward to it," Will lied.
Will dropped his limp body to the second-floor loft. It had been three days since he last slept.
Will slept for 14 hours and dreamt one nightmare after another. When he awoke, there was a glass of water near the bed.
Will tiptoed downstairs so as not to wake his master.
"Are you scared to wake me this afternoon?" Elder Thaddeus said eating ginger chicken, vegetables, and rice, paired with white fruit wine.
"I wanted to be a respectful guest," Will said.
"Good, you have learned a lesson. That pleases me," Elder Thaddeus said.
"Thank you," Will bowed respectfully.
"Good, good," Elder Thaddeus said, passing Will a plate of food.
Both men ate silently.
"Will pack your things we'll travel to Death Valley tonight," Elder Thaddeus said.
"Yes master," Will said realizing that his new fiefdom would be his new classroom.
After lunch, Will walked to his inn to visit Vanessa and Kurosawa.
When Vanessa saw Will she ran up to him.
"Boss Will, I'm happy to see you! I went to the cottage to pay respects, but I was blocked," she said.
"Ahem, yes, Elder Thaddeus was checking my progress," Will lied.
"I'm sure you did well," Vanessa said.
"Yes, I am alive… just barely," Will mumbled that last bit.
"You are funny Boss Will, alive. Don't worry Elderly Thaddeus would never hurt you," Vanessa laughed.
Will coughed.
"Is he here?" Will asked.
"Yes, he arrived two weeks ago. He's a hard worker, he barely sleeps. He worked at each store and earned good remarks from each of the store owners. I understand why you chose him as your third Senior Clerk," Vanessa good.
"Tell me about the former Marquis' bank. How has it faired?" Will asked curiously.
"Since it closed, it's been ransacked twice and defaced several times. When the run on the bank happened, the city became riotous. The military was called to maintain order. That's when the city calmed down. But, when the messenger bird from his majesty came the next day, the riots happened again.
Our bank was much more orderly. You were right to serve tea and pastries while customers waited. Eventually, we paid out over a million in withdrawals and earned two million in deposits the next week. The bank saw a 67% increase in new customers," Vanessa said.
"Oh that number is higher than in Yorkshire," Will was impressed.
"Sir, the Merchant Guild is waiting to learn what you plan to build. They are anxious to know if you plan to build an auction house?" Vanessa asked.
"No, I only want one auction house per county," Will said.
"Sir, the bank is in the center district next to the administrative building. We could turn it into a warehouse or use it for your secret project," Vanessa suggested.
"Secret project? Yes, that's it, thank you, Vanessa! Reach out to Bradley and Rupert and tell them they may remodel that place however they see fit. Follow their orders and guard that property with your life," Will said.
"Yes, Boss Will," Vanessa said.
"Alright send for Kurosawa and Miles," Will ordered
Soon Vanessa, Miles, Kurosawa, and Will set at a four-person table. Vanessa set across from Will, and Kurosawa and Miles set across from each other. After tea was poured, Will introduced Miles to Kurosawa Sato.
"Kurosawa, Miles is my Senior Clerk in Gadreel. Miles, Kurosawa is my city manager. I hope both of you get along," Will said.
Both of them introduced themselves and bowed to each other. We'll leave tonight. Wait for us outside the Mage Academy. Bring your luggage and items. If you need money ask Vanessa, any questions?" Will asked.
Neither Miles nor Kurosawa spoke.
"Meet at the 21st bell. Vanessa send me the ledgers and a piece of paper. I need you to mail a letter by the bird to the Dwarven King" Will said.
Vanessa's eyes grew to the size of saucers at Will's request. To think her boss had such connections.
In less than an hour, the accounts were examined. All of Will's businesses had recouped some of the financial losses. The accounts were still a long way from where they were pre-war, but accounts were on a positive trend. The regent's infrastructure policy would be the push, that returned to his business back to coin-producing machines.
What surprised Will the most, was the game Mancala had become a popular fad for young children. The alabaster, glass, and onyx marbles were collected and traded. Will was astonished, by the popularity. Noble children in particular were devout fans of the game.
Will ordered Vanessa to auction one pearl and mithril marble in Guidon and Yorkshire. He also to Vanessa to sell the marbles independently from the game. Will planned to use these kids to rob their parents.
The other new game backgammon had moderate success but never took off. The old games reversi, checkers, Go, chess, and playing cards did well. The military in particular likes playing cards. The Knight Academy, Mage Academy, and Royal Academy each cultivated their student to a specific game. But, the number one game remained reversi.
After reviewing the ledgers, Will invited the Dwarven king to send dwarves to prospect for metal, but not mine.
After he finished, order Elizabeth to pay for supply wagons every two weeks to Friendship Valley. Then he wrote letters to Bradley, Rupert, and Elizabeth.
Finishing his work, Will returned to the cottage.
"Disciple greets master," Will said bowing after entering the cottage.
"He-he, a little discipline and you've turned into a model disciple," Elder Thaddeus jeered.
'You shall pay for my humiliation,' Will thought, subconsciously clenching his fist.
"Send away your carriage, and bring your employees here, let's hurry, I'm tired of waiting," Elder Thaddeus said.
Instructed his drive to return to Yorkshire. To lead the transport caravan with Micheal and Ms. Park and the rest household staff to his new abode in a month-time.
Will led Miles and Kurosawa to the cottage. Where they saw Elder Thaddeus cast the spell [Gate].
"Master you're a dual caster? Fire and Air?" Due to shaking, Will stayed rooted in place.
"Hurry up and move through, Archimedes and Nisha are expecting us.
The spacial gate was hugged and swallowed the house. Now the alcove was empty, except for the imprint of where the cottage used to stand.
After the cottage disappeared, Elder Thaddeus walked the spacing gate. Miles and Kurosawa were nervous, but neither wanted to lose face in front of Will. They prayed silently and walked through. Will was also nervous, but he didn't want to lose face to his subordinates so he walked through confidently.