Kaiden eyed the tome with intrigue and a hint of greed. He would accept the offer—if the terms were right. He wasn’t going to be a pushover like before.
Gotta get better, he told himself.
Out loud, he said, "Let’s hear your offer, and I might need to add a few requirements of my own before I agree to anything."
Marigold raised a brow, then smirked. "Sounds like we’re in business then. Let’s wait until we get to the estate before we go over any details."
"Estate?" Kaiden asked. "I thought we were going to the Perennial Petal."
Marigold shook her head. "I never once said you’d be working for the Petal. I said you’d be working for me. I believe Zinnia tried to get you to agree to the same thing."
"I see," Kaiden said, recalling his conversation with Zinnia. She had tried to get him for herself, explicitly asking him to swear not to work for anyone else.
Too bad, Zinnia, he thought. Your sister sounds a lot more reasonable to me.
Marigold continued, "There are things I keep separate from the Petal. I don’t own the whole thing."
"You don’t?" Kaiden asked, surprised.
She shook her head. "As you know, there are five branches here in Jadari."
Kaiden nodded. He had learned that much before.
"Each branch is run by a different sister. I run the central branch here in the capital, and Zinnia runs the southern branch. We’ve divided Jadari into five sections, each controlled by one of the branches. Camp Thorne’s area falls under central territory, but that dungeon you were in was near the southern tip of my region. It wasn’t far for Zinnia to get there while I was handling other business."
So that’s how that works, Kaiden thought, nodding along as she spoke.
Marigold continued, "The central branch is the headquarters and the largest of them all, with the others operating under it. While I am the leader, I’m not the owner. That’s my father and he hasn’t relinquished ownership yet."
She leaned back slightly, her tone making it clear that this was all she intended to say on the subject.
"And that’s all you need to know."
"Okay," Kaiden said, deciding not to pry further. He had no interest in that part of their business anyway.
Marigold said, "We should be arriving soon anyhow."
She peeked through the curtain, making Kaiden instinctively want to do the same, but he restrained himself. A moment later, she let the fabric fall back into place.
"We’re actually pulling in now," she added.
Moments later, the carriage came to a smooth halt. The door swung open as the driver gave a small bow. "Mistress," he said respectfully.
Marigold stepped out first, and Kaiden followed right after.
The moment he stepped outside, he was stunned by the sheer extravagance of the estate.
The manor before him was massive, built from smooth, pale stone with tall windows and a sloping dark roof. The size alone made it clear this was a place of wealth and influence. A broad pathway of polished stone led from the carriage to the grand entrance, flanked by lush hedges and carefully maintained flower beds. Towering iron gates stood behind them, now open, but clearly meant to keep out unwanted guests.
The grounds stretched far beyond what Kaiden could see from where he stood. A large courtyard sprawled before the manor, with decorative fountains bubbling softly and neatly trimmed trees lining the walkways. Smaller buildings surrounded the main estate, likely housing staff, storage, or other operations.
Kaiden took it all in, trying not to let his reaction show. He had expected something impressive, but this was on another level.
A man wearing a brown suit gave a polite bow as soon as Marigold and Kaiden approached. He was middle-aged, with neatly combed dark hair beginning to gray at the temples. His posture was straight, his manner refined, and his sharp eyes missed nothing despite his reserved demeanor.
"Welcome back, Mistress," he said smoothly.
"Thank you, Aldric," Marigold replied.
As they got closer, Aldric stepped to the grand double doors and pulled one open for them. Marigold and Kaiden stepped through into the estate, where warmth and quiet luxury greeted them.
Marigold turned to Aldric. "Show my guest to the study. I’ll join him in a moment—I need to freshen up."
"Yes, Mistress," Aldric replied with a small nod. He then turned to Kaiden and gestured forward. "If you’ll follow me, please."
"Right," Kaiden said, trailing after him.
Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
As they walked, he took in the interior of the estate.
The entrance hall was vast but not gaudy, designed with an air of authority rather than excess. The polished wooden floors gleamed under the soft light of wall sconces, their glow casting a welcoming but controlled atmosphere. The walls were lined with framed paintings, many of them landscapes and portraits of individuals Kaiden didn’t recognize. A few statues stood on decorative pedestals, adding to the feeling that this was a place of both wealth and significance.
A wide staircase curved up to the second floor, its railing made of dark wood with an elegant but functional design. The hallways branching from the entrance were spacious, the doors along them made of fine, sturdy oak.
Aldric led Kaiden down one of these halls, their footsteps muffled by thick rugs that ran along the center of the floor. There was no unnecessary decoration, no overwhelming display of riches—just a quiet, calculated refinement that told Kaiden everything here was intentional.
Finally, Aldric stopped at a door and pushed it open.
"The study," he announced, stepping aside for Kaiden to enter.
Kaiden entered the study and was surprised by its simplicity.
Rather than a lavish display of wealth, the room was practical—more of an office than a traditional study. Tall bookshelves lined the walls, filled with neatly arranged books. A large wooden desk sat at the far end, its surface organized with parchment, ledgers, and open books. Quills and inkwells were placed within reach, along with a brass lamp casting a steady glow.
A few chairs were set across from the desk. The only thing that stood out was a map pinned to one of the bookshelves, covered with notes and markings.
The air smelled of parchment and ink, giving the space a quiet, focused atmosphere. It was a place meant for work, not excess.
Kaiden took a seat at the desk, waiting for Marigold to return. It wasn’t long before she walked in, taking her place behind the desk with a composed air.
"Sorry for the wait," she said. "Can I get you anything before we begin? I've got plenty of refreshments."
"Appreciated, but not necessary," Kaiden replied. "I'm ready to get to it."
Marigold smiled. "Very well. Now, before I give you my terms, what requirements do you have?"
Kaiden hesitated. He hadn't actually thought of anything—he had only said that earlier to avoid seeming like a pushover. Plus, he had wanted to hear her offer first.
"I’d prefer to hear your terms first," he said.
Marigold chuckled, then her demeanor shifted, becoming all business. "For starters, we’ll provide the class tome, an instructor, and rights to all creations made while at the estate, which will become your primary workplace during your training time for the remainder of your service with the Jadari Army’s Dungeoneer Corps."
"So anything made on my own time, you have no claim to?" Kaiden clarified.
"That’s correct," Marigold confirmed.
It sounded reasonable enough. He wasn’t allowed to keep anything from dungeons while serving in the Corps anyway, so this wasn’t much different—except here, he could create things on his own time and would have access to a tome and an instructor for free. That alone was a huge deal.
But the part about training stuck in his mind.
"I'll be missing a lot of important military training while in your care, and I don’t want to fall behind," Kaiden said. "I also want a personal instructor to train me in combat."
Marigold leaned back, considering his request. She didn’t answer immediately.
"A private instructor isn’t cheap, and those are hours you could be spending on work," she finally said.
Kaiden held her gaze. "It’ll be protecting your investment. Dungeons are dangerous, and I could die at any time."
She stared at him for a moment, then countered, "I’ll provide you an instructor, but that will not be part of your work time. You’ll be expected to put in a full day’s work no matter how long your combat training goes for."
"Done," Kaiden said.
"Anything else?" Marigold asked.
"Perhaps," Kaiden said. "Your terms aren't finished yet, right?"
"Correct," she replied, her tone crisp and professional. She continued, "For five years after you have completed your military contract, we retain the first right of refusal to employ you full-time, either under my personal business interests or within the Perennial Petal. Should no agreement be reached, you will be restricted from entering into employment or partnership with any other organization, entity, or individual for the same duration as a Spell Scribe."
Kaiden frowned slightly. He hadn't expected a clause like this. It wasn’t outright unfair, but it was certainly restrictive. If he enjoyed working for Marigold, then it wouldn't matter. But if he didn't, he’d have to wait five years before he could take his skills elsewhere.
A thought crossed his mind. "Wait a second. Does that include working for myself—starting my own business?"
Marigold tsked softly, as if he had found an unintended loophole. "It does not. You may establish and operate an independent business, but you are prohibited from accepting outside funding or entering into any form of partnership for the duration of the restriction period."
Kaiden nodded slowly. "I understand."
He was getting ahead of himself. He didn’t even know if he wanted to be a Spell Scribe after the military. Right now, the idea of being a civilian dungeon diver sounded a lot more appealing. But, after considering it a little longer, he decided it was an acceptable condition.
Still, there was one more thing.
"I want a permanent discount on merchandise," he blurted out.
Marigold barely hesitated. "That’s acceptable. We already have membership cards for preferred patrons. I’ll arrange for one to be issued to you."
Kaiden felt satisfied with that. "Any other conditions?"
"Lastly," Marigold said, "is the matter of payment."
Right. Kaiden had almost forgotten the most important part.
They went back and forth a few times, negotiating terms, but in the end, Kaiden agreed to what was, frankly, a paltry amount compared to what Marigold really could offer.
He would effectively be doubling his military salary—not an extravagant sum, but more than fair. He was technically working for Marigold part-time while making a full-time income. Granted, it was a military full-time income, but that was still better than what a large percentage of the population earned.
The real money would come after his military service.
Marigold had shared an estimated salary for a trained Spell Scribe, and the number alone had made Kaiden’s eyeballs feel like they were about to turn into gold coins.
"Do we have a deal?" Marigold finally asked.
"We do," Kaiden said.
They shook hands, sealing the agreement.
A notification popped up in his vision:
You have entered into a contract with Marigold Petal.
Focusing on the notification, he pulled up the full details of the contract. He gave it a quick scan, ensuring that everything they had agreed on was properly listed.
Satisfied, he let the screen fade from his sight.
"Now," Marigold said, leaning back slightly, "it's time to become a Spell Scribe."
A tome materialized in her hand. She placed it on the desk and slid it toward him.
Kaiden placed a sweaty palm on the tome, feeling the smooth cover under his fingers. Taking a steady breath, he pushed a small amount of mana into it.
A notification appeared in his vision:
Requirements met for noncombat class: Spell Scribe.
Do you want to adopt this class? Adopting this class will consume the tome.
Do you wish to proceed?
Kaiden held his breath and mentally said, yes.
