Chapter 6 Part 8
“Excuse me, may I come in?”
A head with hair resembling a cloud peeked through the curtain-covered door. It was Popetcherian, wearing the round glasses he had on when they first met.
“Please, come in,” Elia welcomed him. She had convinced him to take off those glasses at the banquet, but now he wore them again, suggesting he felt comfortable that way.
‘What a waste of such a face,’ she thought. Many ladies seemed to take an interest in Popetcherian that day, but he was probably oblivious to it.
“I’m so inspired to be working in such a grand place!” Popetcherian exclaimed, excitedly surveying the salon where his works would be displayed, unaware of Elia’s thoughts.
Elia extended her hand towards the exuberant man. “I look forward to working with you.”
“Likewise, I am honored… to serve you!” Popetcherian, who had been about to shake hands with a smiling face, suddenly recoiled in shock.
“What’s with the formal tone?” Elia wondered. She glanced around, thinking someone else might have entered, but there was only Aksion.
‘Maybe he’s just too excited,’ she concluded, then remembered something she had forgotten. “Did you bring the jewelry?”
“Oh, yes, here it is,” Popetcherian said, setting down his bag, which contained various sapphian-crafted items like jewelry and sculptures.
“The unfinished pieces will be ready in two days.”
“Excellent. This should be more than sufficient.”
The sapphian pieces would be placed in enchanted glass cases throughout the salon.
“We also need some unenchanted pieces, for display purposes,” Elia added. Even custom-made products needed comparisons.
Popetcherian, anticipating this, pulled out another bag containing small sculptures.
“These should serve well for display.”
“Animal figures?” Elia inquired.
He revealed intricately crafted sculptures of squirrels, rabbits, and deer. The figures glowed with a sky-blue hue, matching Popetcherian’s magic.
“Watch closely,” he said confidently, casting a spell. The sculptures floated into the air, accompanied by stored music. The deer and baby bear danced, while the squirrels and chipmunks scurried up the railing.
“Amazing, they look alive,” Elia marveled.
“They’re connected pieces of sapphian with intricate movement spells on each joint,” Popetcherian explained, smiling proudly as he beckoned the deer. When Elia gently touched it, the deer nuzzled her finger, its movements lifelike despite the lack of warmth.
“Truly remarkable. You wouldn’t find such sculptures anywhere else on the continent,” Elia praised, leaving Popetcherian beaming with pride.
“This commission actually came from Lord Aksion,” Popetcherian revealed.
“Aksion?” Elia’s eyes widened.
“Yes, without his ideas for the design and magical techniques, I couldn’t have made these precise moving pieces.”
Elia looked at Aksion, who handed her a small, running wolf sculpture.
“I wanted to give you a gift to celebrate your first shop,” he said.
The sculpture gleamed silver in Elia’s palm.
“This is…”
Aksion possessed two types of power: holy power inherited from his family and the power of darkness. Due to his rampant dark magic, he hadn’t been able to use his holy power, which was also a form of magic.
‘So, you can use your holy power now,’ she thought. Though his powers were opposites and it was still challenging to wield them effectively, this was a significant improvement compared to before she turned back time.
“I feel like I keep receiving,” she reflected, yet she didn’t want to let go of the wolf. She cradled the sculpture close.
“Thank you so much,” she said. Even though it was just a sculpture, the warmth of Aksion’s power made it feel alive.
* * *
The day of the salon’s opening arrived.
“Fortunately, I received replies from both of them,” Elia thought with relief. Both Fioni Sevrance and Ibarena Leviche had responded positively.
“I was worried about Ibarena,” she mused. Although sapphian artifacts were rare, they alone wouldn’t be enough to entice someone as skilled as her.
So, Elia added an enticing proposal, a deal attractive enough to sway Ibarena.
By afternoon, the main street was bustling with nobles excited about the opening of Elia’s salon.
“There’s still no news.”
“When will it open?”
Some had reserved their spots since morning, but the large curtain shrouding the building remained in place well into the afternoon.
“Isn’t it today?” they wondered.
As the sun began to set, the curtain fell, revealing a dazzling crystal facade. The exterior, entrance, and decorations were all made of variously colored crystals.
“It’s stunning, like capturing a sunset.”
The salon, opening at twilight, was bathed in a radiant red glow. The crowd was mesmerized, forgetting the long wait.
“Who got invited inside?”
“There’s no word even in social circles. The secrecy is impressive.”
Speculations buzzed among the nobles about who would gain entry.
Two carriages arrived shortly after. Amidst the crowd’s anticipation, Fioni from the Spirit Family and Lady Ibarena from the Magic Tower emerged.
“The Spirit Family’s young lady!”
“And the administrator from the Magic Tower.”
The nobles murmured in awe. Fioni, with her short green hair and golden eyes, looked like a small fairy, while the tall red-haired lady in a violet dress was as vivid as a blazing flame.
After a brief exchange, the two were escorted inside.
The nobles, surprised by the exclusivity, commented.
“I expected a bigger crowd, but only two guests?”
“Still, they’re not ordinary guests.”
“True, only someone of their caliber could enter. It’s a shame.”
Both Sevrance and the Magic Tower administrator were powerful figures, not commonly seen at ordinary parties. Such individuals, who secured high positions through their own merits and not just family power, were rare.
Even after the guests entered, the nobles continued discussing Elia’s salon.
Inside, Elia, the salon owner, greeted her guests.
Underneath the chandelier, Elia welcomed them warmly.
“Welcome, Lady Ibarena. Lady Fioni Sevrance.”
Fioni smiled brightly. “The interior is even more impressive than I imagined. Oh, and congratulations on your marriage, though it’s late.”
“Thank you.”
“I heard about the salon. I don’t enjoy socializing, but information is important.”
Fioni’s hair fluttered in the wind. Despite being indoors with no open windows, the breeze indicated the presence of her wind spirit.
“I have more to show you beyond the crafted items.”
“What is it?”
“Please take your time browsing first. Once you’ve decided, you can place an order, and it will be completed within a month.”
Fioni nodded at Elia’s explanation.
Ibarena was already inspecting the displayed sapphian artifacts. She approached the animal sculptures and opened the glass cover. Reacting to her touch, the pieces floated with accompanying string music.
“The craftsmanship and magic skills are impressive. Did someone expelled from the Magic Tower create this?”
Ibarena’s sharp gaze examined the pieces thoroughly. There was no malice; she hadn’t been the one to expel Popetcherian. The decision had come from the tower’s lord and elders.
