Library of Rain

It had been two days since Rain decided to buy her way into House Estom. Two days of negotiating, bribing, signing legal documents, and other practices pulled straight out of Arkit. If it hadn’t been for Mr. Markson working things out on her side, Rain didn’t know if she would have been able to get this far.

But here she was, standing before a lavish mansion in the Crown Ring. The mansion was six stories tall and even had a greenhouse attached to one side. Rain hoped it was full of flowers.

Mr. Markson placed his hand on her back and gave her a slight push forward. Today was the last signing where Mr. Markson and Rain would finalize their agreement with the Estoms. When everything was finished, Mr. Markson would leave this place, and Rain would remain.

After gathering herself for this final push, Rain marched to the front door. Statues of self-important-looking people lined the way. Before Rain reached the front door, its double doors opened, and a line of servants welcomed Rain and Mr. Markson. One servant wearing drab monochrome clothes with only a dab of green trim led them toward the lounge where the final signing would occur.

Nothing about this place would suggest that the inhabitants were in a desperate financial situation due to having their lands quarantined. Everywhere Rain looked, there were decorations more expensive than the last. Delicate wood carvings and panels showed the Estom's status as lords of a forest island.

The lounge was a large room with space for performing music or duels. To one side, there was a table with two couches around it. Three elaborately dressed blonds sat at one side of the table. Lord and Lady Estom sat together while their son sat to one side, ignored.

Lord Estom had greedy eyes and a smile that said he would be your best friend as long as you had something he wanted. Lady Estom was as cold and beautiful as the statues outside. The son whose name Rain couldn’t remember was as unremarkable as his reputation.

They sat across from the Estoms.

“Welcome back, Markson. Everything is prepared. Are things ready on your side?” said Lord Estom.

“Yes, the money will be brought by as soon as everything is signed.”

The terms of the contract were simple. The Estoms would be provided with a large amount of money - Rain was forced to give up almost a quarter of her stolen treasure - In exchange, the Estoms would adopt Rain and give her all the rights and privileges that a young lady of House Estom was due. The contract was written on an enchanted scroll that would hold the participants to the deal. Rain hadn’t heard of such contracts before, and from what she understood, they had limitations on what they could do, but Mr. Markson promised her it would ensure she wasn’t locked into a room or kicked out once the Estoms got what they wanted. Rain still planned to research how they worked right after antiskill barriers.

A servant entered carrying a tray with an intricate document and placed it between the two parties on the table.

“Feel free to look over it again before signing.” Lord Estom said with a languid wave of his hand.

Mr. Markson read the document, then nodded at Rain.

“Very well, everything looks to be in order. Shall we seal the contract?” Mr. Markson asked, offering the contract back to Lord Estom.

Lord Estom took the contract and kissed it, then handed it off to his wife. Lady Estom also kissed the contract before passing it back to Mr. Markson, who kissed it before handing it to Rain. Rain looked at the contract for a moment before kissing it as well. She felt something drain out of her, similar to when she used her skills, and the words on the contract began to glow to her eyes.

“Very well, the contract is sealed. You can have your people bring in the payment.” Lord Estom said, looking at Mr. Markson.

Mr. Markson nodded and stood to finish his part in all this, leaving Rain alone with the Estoms.

Lord Estom looked at Rain for the first time today and gave her a smile. Rain recognized it as the same fake smile his paintings in the manor bore. “I’m happy to have you as part of the family, dear. I hope you feel welcome.”

Rain could easily see the color of his lie.

Lady Estom also took this time to acknowledge Rain. “you said your name was Rain, correct? Well, it won't do for a member of House Estom to bear a commoner's name. We’ll change your name to Raina.”

Rain was not okay with that. Her name had meaning; it was the first thing she chose for herself. She wouldn’t give it up for a meaningless jumble of sounds, even if it was only slightly different.

“Thank you, but my name is Rain.”

Lady Estom’s face made the slightest change in expression at Rain's refusal to change her name. Rain was honestly impressed that someone could express so much contempt with such a small change. Lady Estom was clearly a master at what she did.

“You can call yourself whatever you want, Raina. Now, if you will all excuse me, I have things to do.”

That said, Lady Estom stood up, her every movement full of grace, and left the room.

“I must also supervise the unloading of the payment.” and like that, Lord Estom was up and out to play with his new money, leaving Rain sitting there with no idea what to do.

The son gave Rain a disinterested look. “I’m happy to have you as a little sister, I suppose.”

For the first time that day, Rain was caught off guard because despite the detached tone it was said in, the colors of his words were vibrant and true.

The boy, her brother, got up and looked around. He groaned. “It looks like I’ll have to show you where your room is.”

Rain didn’t even need her skills to know that was a lie. There were servants all over the place; all she would have to do is ask one of them, and they would be more than capable of showing her to her new room. Still, Rain didn’t say anything.

The boy led her up four flights of stairs and down a hall into one of the manor’s wings. The door to her room was massive, made of fine dark wood. Rain was a little concerned to see a keyhole under the doorknob.

The boy, she really needed to remember his name, motioned to the door. “This is your room.” then he pointed to the door directly across the hall. “that’s my room, so don’t bother me.”

Again, that last part was a lie. Still, out of respect for him, Rain didn’t say anything. She just thanked him and went into her new room.

Calling it a room was an understatement. It was more of a small house itself. Just inside the door was a greeting area similar to the lounge she had just left with a table and chairs. A large window in the back overlooked the greenhouse below, much to Rain's delight. To each side of the room was a door. Looking behind one, Rain found a large washroom. On the other side was the actual bedroom.

The center of the room was a massive bed that looked softer than a cloud to Rain. It made her feel more tired just looking at it. A fireplace was set into the connecting wall to heat the sitting room and the bedroom. The bedroom had soft, light-blue carpet contrasting the dark wood and black stone of the walls and ceiling.

Rain opened a wardrobe on one side of the room, excited to see what colorful clothes lay within, only to be disappointed to find it empty. She would probably have to provide her own clothes. Only a little disappointed, Rain opened an unassuming door at one side of the room.

Inside was a small room with an unimpressive bed and chest. Rain guessed that it was where a personal servant was supposed to live. Closing the door, Rain looked around one more time. This was her new home.