The morning sun bathed the sanctuary in soft gold as Felix stood at the main entrance, watching workers make their final touches. Two months of focused effort had paid off. The estate was complete.
The walls, made from polished spiritstone and reinforced with layered formations, gave off a quiet hum of power. The main building rose with modest elegance, combining function with clean structure. Wide pathways connected the central sanctum to various wings, including the talisman workshop, cultivation terrace, spiritual herb garden, and a small archive wing for material research.
But the most striking addition stood near the estate's outer edge: the Grand Shop.
Rin walked up beside him, holding a checklist. "Everything's done. Workers left at dawn. Formation masters confirmed the sealing layers are working."
Felix nodded. "How's the security formation around the vaults?"
"Triple-layered, just as you requested. Jehn even added a gravity lock for extra safety. Only those with your spiritual mark can enter."
"Good. I don't want any surprises."
The Grand Shop stood three stories tall, with wide windows of mana-treated glass. A large crest above the entrance bore his name—Felix Mavis—and beneath it, Mystic Well Sanctum.
The first floor had display counters lined with reinforced glass, filled with sample talismans, spirit inks, alloy pieces, and detailed charts showing array combinations. Small formations were carved directly into the flooring for demonstration. The walls were painted a neutral gray with soft light-imbued lines that pulsed gently, giving the room a tranquil atmosphere.
The second floor was reserved for private buyers and high-tier commissions. Enclosed rooms lined the hallway, each equipped with warded talisman readers and spiritual resonance chambers to verify the authenticity and signature of items.
The third floor was more modest than grand—a compact auction hall with tiered seating, thick soundproofing, and a central warded platform where talismans could be safely demonstrated. The platform had runes etched along its rim and a crystal-infused dome to contain dangerous outbursts.
Rin walked through it with him, inspecting each level.
"You're really planning to hold auctions here?"
Felix nodded. "Eventually. Not yet. But I want the foundation ready. I'll also invite others—beast part dealers, ink specialists, formation designers. Everyone in the talisman trade."
"You think they'll come all the way to Eastwell?"
"They already sent letters. The Mystic Flame Talisman made waves. They're watching. If I provide a place worth their time, they'll come."
After inspecting the Grand Shop, they moved to the sanctuary's inner sanctum, passing by the meditation garden and a quiet pool lined with spirit-enhancing flora. A quiet wind flowed through the sanctum—drawn from the leyline beneath. His sanctuary drew strength from it now.
In the forge hall, Felix stood beside Jehn, who examined the energy stability readings.
"Structure's holding. Wind buffering layers are stable. This place will last."
"You did excellent work," Felix said.
Jehn gave a low nod. "You gave us an opportunity. Not many commissions come with that. Most want showpieces."
Felix walked him back toward the courtyard, where Rin waited with documents.
"The payments have all been finalized," she said, handing over a record. "Total came to 12,000 gold, less 4,000 gold you paid at the start, including the leyline foundation and upper-tier formation arrays."
Felix reached into his storage pouch and withdrew a sealed contract.
"I already deposited the funds. The recent batch of Mystic Flame Talismans sold through the capital auction house brought in 28,800 gold."
Rin blinked. "You sold all sixty?"
"They were gone within the hour. Apparently, two factions started bidding against each other and it escalated. Even the guild representative tried to secure the last batch."
"That explains the letter with the golden seal."
Felix nodded. "They requested an exclusive batch."
Jehn chuckled. "You've earned the status, Adept Felix. Talisman craftsmen of your level aren't common. It's no surprise the Guild is taking notice. Even seasoned mercenary groups lower their tone when addressing someone of your rank."
"Speaking of which," Rin added, flipping a page on her clipboard, "Taskmaster Roddak stopped by while you were reviewing the archive wing. He didn't want to interrupt, but he left his congratulations. He said, and I quote, 'Tell Adept Mavis that Eastwell now stands taller with this beacon of craftsmanship.'"
Felix gave a small, thoughtful smile. "He always had a way with words."
"And respect," Rin said quietly.
The auction itself had drawn a crowd of merchants, cultivators, and representatives from nearby factions. Though Felix hadn't attended personally, he received detailed notes from the auctioneer. The Mystic Flame Talismans were introduced with caution—their dual-layered formation and energy surge capacity raised curiosity.
As soon as the bidding started, it became chaos. A representative from the Iron Talon Mercenaries placed the opening bid at 200 gold per talisman. Within seconds, the Green Veil Syndicate pushed it to 300, then 400. The bidding leaped with every talisman group. By the end, the last ten talismans sold for nearly 600 gold each.
Even the auction master wrote a note: Please inform Master Mavis that this was among the fiercest auctions we've handled this quarter. Should more be provided, we are willing to reserve an entire evening event in his name.
The afternoon passed in calm review. Felix finalized internal arrangements and assigned Rin to become his first official attendant. She had already been handling logistics, deliveries, and scheduling with quiet competence.
As she accepted the role formally, Felix handed her a talisman-bound seal.
"You're part of this now. Let's build it properly."
Later that evening, he lit a lantern and walked through each room, absorbing the weight of it all. He passed the meditation chamber, the vault, the ink storage hall, and the personal study. Each space whispered of possibility.
Rin joined him at the rear balcony, where the stars shimmered.
"You finally built a place that reflects you."
"It's not just for me," Felix said. "It's a foundation for what comes next."
She looked at the estate below. "It really suits you."
The wind shifted, carrying the scent of ink, stone, and fire. The Mystic Well Sanctum stood tall, quiet, and alive.