City of Desire: Chapter 1082 Basin (Patreon)

Proofread by Thomas F

“…Mar Irab’s vessel might have passed, but his spirit is with the tribe and will remain till the end of time,” the shaman declared, and the floating wooden totem shone before settling on the ground.

The funeral of those who died in war had been held yesterday, and we erected Irab’s stone as well, but this is his real funeral at his tribe's compound.

He was the leader of his tribe; there were many rituals regarding it.

I came on the first day, and this is the last.

Now, it's over.

“I am sorry for your loss, Mrs. Irab. It pains me every day that I wasn’t able to save your husband,” I said to the woman as I stopped in front of her.

She was a tall, middle-aged orc woman, very capable, leading the tribe in her husband’s absence.

Even after his death, her control didn’t lessen.

It is also because of her tacit support. I don’t usually do that, but the woman is capable, and her husband made a great sacrifice for the city.

Though the main reason is that the probable candidate is not enough.

We want someone good. Considering around 80% of this tribe's members are in the army, and they are letting women join in, thanks to this woman.

So, it’s in our favor that she stays powerful in the tribe.

“You don’t have to apologize, Lord Silver. It was a kind of death he desired. He died in war, protecting his home, which he came to love.” I smiled, remembering the man talking about wanting a glorious death in war.

“And please receive the thanks from our tribe for naming the central square of Panar after him.”

I smiled at that.

“Of course, the dominion shouldn’t forget the bravery and sacrifice of such a man.” Irab was not without flaws, but he was a great warrior who died protecting the dominion.

We never forget that.

I talked to her and other family members, including his five children. Four of them are in the army, with one already a captain.

A few minutes later, I walked toward my carriage with Valentina and others.

I stepped into it with Valentina and Trik.

“Krema, I think he will be the best choice,” I said, looking at Trik. It is his replacement as master of rites and ceremonies; he had been handling his primary responsibilities.

Now that he was Vice-Governor, he could no longer support both.

He had asked me over a year ago to have someone take over these responsibilities, but I wanted someone capable for this position, and besides, Trik was handling them well.

“He is a stickler, but he had mellowed his ways a little and had been studying for it.”

“Aren’t they all?” quipped Valentina, making us all laugh.

A year ago, I let it slip that I was searching for a replacement for Trik, and it would be from the Orcs. Every shaman vied for it.

Many hired tutors to learn the job's intricacies.

“He will be good; his personality suits this job,” I said. It is a master of rites, ceremonies, and protocol. It is less religious stuff, more official focus on state ceremonies and protocol.

Usually, this responsibility is given to a high-ranking member of the church, but I will not do that.

“Though it will not make many happy. Especially small and medium tribes,” stated Trik. Valentina nodded.

Trik belongs to a large tribe, and so does Krema. Shamans of medium and small tribes hoped to get that responsibility, but I chose capability over politics.

“The ascension of Vihra and Axseer should blunt those complaints,” I said, and they nodded.

Vihra is from a medium-sized tribe, while Axseer is from a small one.

One will be responsible for the city, and the other will be promoted to the highest-ranking orc officer in the army.

“When are you planning to inform Graham of his new responsibilities, my lord?” asked Trik.

Grahan Silver, the distant cousin. He had been working for me for a few years. He is loyal and hardworking. For over a year, he had been working under Trik.

“Soon,”

I shifted Hendriks to Norke as its governor. Leaving the merchant town in the Mirador Hold without a leader.

Grahan had done well, proved his worth. The merchant town will be his reward, the biggest responsibility he's ever had.

“Fulton agreed!” Valentina called out suddenly.

Fulton, the academy, has been negotiating in the city. They were nearly ready before the war, but sent the team to negotiate right after it.

“They are now regretting that they didn’t agree before the war; they would have gotten more benefit than just land,” she continued with a smile.

We removed all the benefits aside from land.

It might seem counterproductive, seeing we need academies more than ever.

It is not, seeing that they need us just as much. Thr Dominion is growing, and many people are coming. Families will bring children, and after the confidence in war, more will come.

Many who were hesitant earlier have been contacting my agents in the network.

It isn’t just people; it's soldiers and professionals like blacksmiths, enchanters, and even alchemists. All of them now could see a future here.

So, the academies will come, even if we didn’t offer free land, but it will make things much simpler.

If they want more benefits, they could build academies in the other cities of the dominion.

They are still offering a lot of benefits.

“What about the other three?” I asked. There are four that are nearly ready, while many others are inquiring about it.

“By next month, we will have them wrapped up.” Hearing that, I felt relieved.

The population is growing rapidly. This increases the need for academies in the city and across the whole dominion.

“It was really wise of you to focus on school and apprenticeships from the beginning,” said Valentina, and I couldn’t help but smile at that.

It is one of my proudest accomplishments. It started as education for all children before evolving into something else.

Now, every middle school here has an academy element. We teach them all the basic subjects, along with the crafts and trades they want to pursue.

Once they finish school, we shift them into apprenticeships, for which the dominion pays the master.

So when they reach fifteen, they immediately get the classes of their profession and good skills. We helped them to reach Lv. 10 before shifting the low and average among them to different parts of the dominion.

As for the best, we train them further, with the best among them working in the artisan garden.

It’s not cheap; the infrastructure, resources, and training take a lot of money, but thankfully, I didn’t skimp, and now the benefits have started pouring in.

Many of those children are moving across the dominion. Helping with shortages of tradesmen and craftsmen.

With more time, the benefits would become even bigger. Especially after the academies are built. They will multiply the effect of it.

Minutes passed as the carriage reached a massive area, covered in mist, with tight security around it.

The carriage passed through it, revealing the massive area, with the legacy at the center, which was fully covered in mist. We are not showing the legacy or the garden around it.

There is a mist fence around the massive garden, hiding everything that is happening inside.

It will remain as such until the opening, which is now only nine days away.

Today, I came here to see one of the most important pieces fall into place.We am the only ones; I could see a group of people, all important.

Carla, Marguaux, the Barons, and a few others.

Thousands are looking from the college, the artisan garden, and other buildings within the park.

“Lord Silver,” greeted Amellus as I stepped out of the carriage. “I Hope, everything is ready?” I asked as I walked with him.

“It is.” He looked confident, but a faint nervousness flickered in his eyes.

“We await your command to begin,” he added, and I smiled before reaching the group. I nodded at the greetings, then looked ahead.

“Never in my dreams did I think this would be possible. Only you could do something like this, my lord,” said Baron Husk, the crafty fox.

He gave me Lauryl, and I offered many important responsibilities in exchange, as I had promised, but the man declined them all.

Until I offered him a position in the legacy six months ago. He would work under Caena to help manage the legacy.

“Once the water filled it, it would be even more amazing,” added Locke.

I didn’t say anything and looked at the park, filled with a misty garden. Every plant is mist-grown, even the grass, all of which makes it look like a piece of heaven, and soon it will become even more heavenly.

“Architect Amellus, begin,” I ordered.

“It’s a go!” he said.

For a few seconds, there was nothing, then we heard loud sounds across the park before the water finally burst from all sides, filling the basin.

Yes, the thousand acre park is a basin.

Not purely a basin, but a hybrid kind. My first plan was to make a canal park, but I changed it after reviewing the plans. Now, it is a hybrid between a canal and a basin.

The water began to fill, and a real visual of the park started to appear.

Tens of islands connected by bridges. They are small ones only five acres, while others are as others big as twenty-five, and house the college, artisan garden, alchemist garden, and a few other things.

The bridges are arches through which boats will pass.

The entire park could be accessed by the bridges as well as the boats.

It took a little over half an hour before it finally stopped. Now, there is crystal-clear water everywhere, surrounding the beautiful islands.

Most would be accessible to the public aside from those housing the college, alchemist’s garden, silk house, and other things.

“Beautiful,” gasped Margaux. It is indeed, but we are far from done.

“My lord,” said Amellus.

I nodded, and I reached for my authority as master of Velvet Garden. A moment later, faint colorful mist appeared in the water.

Plants will not be the only things consuming the mist. No, there will be other things.

It took me a few seconds to spread the mist into all the water covering the basin, and I nodded at Amellus.

“Release the fishes!” he ordered, and his people across the parks opened the tanks and released the fishes.

A few minutes later, we could see beautiful fish of all kinds swimming throughout the water.

“I thought it could not be more beautiful, but I was wrong,” said Valentina, sighing. “That is an understatement, my lady. This is like a piece from heaven that was plucked out,” added Baron Rose.

I didn’t say anything and took Carla’s hand into mine and squeezed.

“You did incredible work,” I said to her. More than half of the fish came from legacies across the world. It was not easy to get them from the masters.

“It wasn’t just me,” she answered and I laughed.

Yes, old man Vanis and Jenna had played a massive part in getting these fish and the other animals and things.

We have got many fish from Legacys, but we also brought other fish of the highest quality. We choose each one carefully to create a complete ecosystem.

These fish will not only look beautiful but also be part of the menu at Legacy.

Just like many other animals we have brought.

“People are going to be blown away by the beauty of this basin,” said Locke, looking across the park. “You have made something incredible, Amellus.”

“It was a team effort. Chief, and besides, we only enacted the vision of Lord Silver.”

He is far underestimating his contribution. I only had the idea; he and his team brought it to life.

“It looks great, except for one thing. Where is the bridge leading to the legacy?” asked Locke as he turned to the massive tower covered thickly in mist.

The question immediately caught the eyes of nearly everyone. There are bridges connected to every island aside from the legacy, which is standing in the middle.

“You wouldn’t be planning to send people to it through the underground, right? That would be a real shame.”

Amellus and I laughed at that.

“There would be a bridge, and it’s going to take everyone’s breath away!”