The Flying Emporium

Still dancing around, stupidly laughing and singing- if the off key sounds could be called as such- to himself, Severin was caught off-guard when suddenly the door to his room flew open and two equally small people came rushing inside.

Visibly upset to a degree where they didn’t even have the mind to pay attention to the compromising position they caught Severin in, they instead asked “What’s going on?” and “What’s happening? Why didn’t you answer?”

“The alarm?!,” Bandur specified with urgency in his voice when his boss didn’t immediately answer.

Only then did he understand. The high alert notification didn’t go out only to him, but everyone connected to the System.

Thinking about it, it made sense. Unlike the fact that the corresponding all-clear seemingly didn’t as well.

Severin didn’t let the System’s surely malicious oversight ruin his mood.

He motioned the two further inside his room and assured them that everything was in order and briefly explained to them what he had been up to, why they were now pretty much broke, and how in return they were no longer doomed to be floating around at the same location in the middle of nowhere.

Still too agitated himself, though purely in a positive sense, Severin didn’t pause to give them the opportunity to ask questions themselves or even to process the information he gave them and kept rattling on and on about how the idea came about in the first place. How he never believed these crystals could actually lift a whole mountain, much less a massive one like his, no matter how many of them he attached to its outer surface, but that since the thing was already floating to begin with, in his mind, there was no need to, anyway.

Instead, he figured that as long as he didn’t plan on changing altitude, all he needed to do was overcome the air resistance; surely a comparatively easy task.

He also revealed that he never counted on the System’s assistance, but admitted that it was a more than welcome surprise. One that made him confident they wouldn’t suddenly fall out of the sky.

Towards the end of his rambling, Severin’s two [Employees] had considerably loosened up. More than that, their frowns had been replaced by huge grins similar to the one Severin knew he was wearing himself. Especially Emily.

But though Bandur wasn’t any less excited, even showing as much, as the oldest in the room it fell to him to reign in everyone’s excitement and be the voice of reason.

Not disregarding all the possibilities and opportunities that just presented themselves, he also understood that suddenly taking off just like that and without restraint could, and probably would, lead to many different kinds of trouble.

Severin wasn’t oblivious to that fact either. But hearing someone else point it out loud had a different weight to it and made him become more serious again.

“Why? I don’t see what’s the problem? Isn’t it great that we can go wherever we want? Everyone likes what we are selling!” Only Emily didn’t quite understand; as well a child her age shouldn’t.

“Well, first, we don’t actually know the specifications of this whole setup. Its speed. Its maneuverability. Things like that. Though admittedly I don’t think we are in any imminent danger, not with the System officially adopting my makeshift installation and all that, that still doesn’t mean we can just take off and expect things to work out. That being said, the main kind of problem we are going to face is probably…”

“…political in nature.” Bandur recognized. “Not everyone will take kindly to a massive, heavily manned, flying fortress invading their airspace.

Unless our boss here intends to stay where we are or somewhere within Hanvia, that is. In which case, he wouldn’t have gone through all this trouble in the first place, I don’t think.” Severin and the dwarf exchanged a quick look before Bandur continued.

“And with that, I suspect we have touched upon what I understand to be the main issue. Hanvia and their interests.

Severin has just signed a contract with them, and though us leaving won’t be in direct violation, I can only suspect how people will react to this. It might very well incite some angry voices who feel, or at least pretend to feel, taken advantage of. They will claim we were being disingenuous. That we are leaving right after we got what we wanted. And with the [King’s] dear daughter as our de facto hostage, at that. At least that’s how one might frame it. It is the perfect pretext for all kinds of …” He didn’t finish the sentence.

“So, I guess you are saying we should take things slow. Probably better to take the initiative and inform Jasmin ourselves. And the Society. Probably better to stay within the Mountains for the time being.”

“I would say so. Take our time. Let people get accustomed to the fact that they won’t be able to find us around here any longer. Especially those that set out from here to venture deeper into the mountains and expect us to be their ticket back to Malcos. I don’t know what exactly your plans are, but maybe head over to the west for now. To where the Golden in The Mountains comes from. Stay in the vicinity, so to speak; stay in neutral territory.

Also, should be good for business, and with the funds running low…”

“Right. Sounds good. Best case, of course, would be if we could establish another portal station right around here, but I doubt that’s gonna happen.

But either way, I think there is one more thing we should discuss first. Not sure whether you saw the notification, but I got a level up. For my main class. It came with another choice for a sub-class.”

..

For the remainder of the night, the three people discussed the alleged pross and cons of each of the many available class choices. To no end.

Before they knew it, the sun was rising again, and the mountaintop became lively, and so, instead of rushing a big decision, all three, all with dark rims under their eyes and determined to continue the conversation the following night, readied themselves for another busy day of work.

Severin's self-imposed first order of business that day was to inform the few parties to whom he felt he owed an explanation of the impending changes.

With much apprehension Severin stepped outside and approached the [Princess] who, during the last few weeks, had already become one of his café’s regulars.