The entrance to the bathhouse was marked by a hulking, rustic wooden arch, complete with a pair of swinging doors that looked like they belonged in some frontier outpost. A slim, humming device was bolted to one side of the fence, and Trella coolly tapped his room card on it twice. A crisp beep sounded, and Trella grinned. “Let’s head in, I can’t wait to get your verdict on the finished site.”

  Lux pushed open the swinging doors and nearly lost himself in the sight beyond. Greenery everywhere! Vines coiled up wooden slats, steam billowed from clear pools, and sunlight filtered through the leaves, making the whole place look enchanted.

  A main stone path ran straight as an arrow from the entrance to a wooden building at the back, but smaller paths branched off here and there, trailing away to what had to be the private bathhouses. Lux tried to imagine what it would be like, slipping into one of those quiet, hidden pools.

  On either side of the main walkway, massive outdoor pools waited, their edges lined with smooth grey stones. Steam rose off the water in thick, dreamy waves, blurring the fence of leafy green behind them. A perfect backdrop to the crystal-clear water.

  Lux caught sight of a few residents lounging in one of the largest pools, expressions so blissful he felt the urge to join them immediately. But he hadn’t forgotten about the waterfall showers, the prospect of washing beneath one of those had been lingering in his mind all morning.

  He wandered along the main path, the stone beneath his shoes echoing faintly, and made for the large wooden building at the far end. The walls were mostly open, just sturdy pillars holding up a flat roof. Three sides exposed to the garden, folding screens stacked neatly nearby in case the weather turned. Lux wondered how the place would look fully closed up, for now, it felt airy and relaxed.

  He climbed three broad wooden steps into the building. Immediately, warmth wrapped around him, it was noticeably hotter under the roof than outside. The centrepiece was impossible to miss, a sunken pool lined with stone, water bubbling so clear it sparkled. Steam clouded the air, softening the outlines of everything within.

  Something moved at the bottom of the pool. Lux leaned over, blinking through the haze, and spotted a huge brown shell creeping slowly over the tiles.

  Bubbles streamed up from beneath it, popping loudly at the surface. He stared in amazement. “Is that one of the Hot Crystal Shell Snails?” Without thinking, Lux knelt next to the pool and dipped his hand into the water. Instantly, heat enveloped his fingers, he grinned, struck by how much this felt like the hot pools in Winter Pines.

  “Yes, Novgar of the Blue Boulder Tribe dropped them off last night. Today’s the first time we’ve had truly warm water here at the bathhouse.” Trella mirrored Lux, testing the water with his own hand. “Those snails are something else, aren’t they? The water’s always perfect.” Lux nodded so hard his hair nearly flopped into the pool, completely agreeing with Trella’s assessment. The snails really were incredible.

  Now that he had checked the temperature of the water, Lux wanted to see the showers properly. He wiped the water off on his pants, then strode across to the back wall where thick wooden timbers formed a boundary. Two doors were set into the wood, offering a way through to the other side. “Are the shower waterfalls up and running?” he asked.

  Trella nodded, and Lux ducked through the door marked for males. Instantly, the sound of rushing water drew him on, it was coming from all along the back wall. He grinned at the sight, a line of individual waterfalls leapt from a stone wall, tumbling behind wooden partitions covered in dense green vines. The air felt fresh, the plant life made the water seem wilder, as if the whole shower had been plucked from the heart of a forest.

  Lux couldn’t help himself, he swung open one of the compartments. There, just inside, were huge, smooth rocks, so big you could sprawl out on them if you wanted. Wooden shelves lined the wall, perfect to keep clothes away from the inevitable spray.

  Past the rocks, a small creek ran along the floor, carrying the water from the falls out of sight. Lux looked around, half expecting to find himself outdoors, the only reminder that he wasn’t was the wooden roof and partitions overhead.

  “Trella, these waterfall showers are amazing! I’m going to try it now!” Lux barely gave Trella time to answer before he shooed him out the door and started stripping off. The warmth of the water and steady pressure of the falls was glorious. He lost all sense of time as the water poured over him, washing away every scrap of dirt and fatigue. This was hands down the most luxurious shower he had ever experienced.

  By the time he finally stepped out of the bathhouse, Lux was floating. He had a fresh set of clothes on, and his skin practically glowed with cleanliness. But it wasn’t only the shower lifting his mood, the Temporary Apartment Complex was shaping up better than he’d hoped. Lux was convinced, tourists would love it here in Silver City. Honestly, if he could, he’d want to move into one of these apartments himself!

  He was still caught up in his own thoughts when he spotted Trella waiting outside the bathhouse with Beauty. “Lux, should we go see the farms now?”

  “There are changes at the farming area too?” Lux was already halfway onto Beauty’s back before Trella could reply. He wanted to see what else was new.

  By the time they reached the farms, Lux’s hair was completely mussed up from the ride. He took a moment to smooth it down. Beauty nudged at him and gave a little whine. Lux blinked, wondering if he had forgotten something. Was there something he was meant to do after riding the wolf?

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  Trella seemed to know what was on Lux’s mind, he fed his own wolf a piece of monster meat. “Oh, I see what you’re after.” Lux pulled out some meat from his pouch and handed it over to Beauty. Once the wolf was satisfied, Lux turned his attention to the land around him.

  The farming area had changed dramatically. Once, it was just a patch of unused ground, but now rows and rows of planting beds stretched across the field, neat as you please. Small green sprouts poked up evenly from the dirt, and every few acres, a small wooden house stood on its own plot.

  Lux guessed there were more than a hundred acres already planted, with the seedlings just starting to take off. “Isn’t this too much for Twiggs to manage?” He couldn’t help worrying about the workload piling up on Twiggs’ shoulders.

  “Twiggs isn’t managing these farms,” Trella explained, “though he and Ruby did help with the initial setup for irrigation. This is the section you set aside for the workers. The crops here will grow at a normal rate, and most of the farmers are permanent residents, so you won’t have to worry about the crops being left unattended when the month is up.”

  Finally, Lux could see the results of all the farm planning. Even if he left, Silver City and its new residents would continue to grow. He let the satisfaction settle over him. When the time came to hand things back to Silver, he knew he wouldn’t have any regrets.

  “Trella, you’ve done an amazing job bringing the map I created of Silver City to life.” Lux knew his praise wasn’t enough, already searching for words to add more.

  Trella didn’t give him the chance to get the next sentence out. “Speaking of the map you made, there’s not much in the way of entertainment. I’m only bringing this up because it’s the only complaint I keep hearing from the workers.”

  Lux frowned, feeling the absence in his own city design like a pebble in his shoe. Entertainment. How could he have forgotten? He racked his brain, running over what he’d seen in Mystic Beau.

  Dungeons and the arena where Novgar fought. That was it. Not exactly much of a selection, and definitely not appealing to everyone. “Trella, what sort of entertainment do ordinary Mystians like?” He tried to picture it, recalling the bathhouse and park at the temporary apartments, but those were exclusive perks. Silver City needed something for everyone.

  Trella’s face went slack, eyes distant, then squinted up in thought. “Frog racing is popular. And dancing. Drinking, too. Any of those would work.” Then his expression brightened, a wild spark in his eyes.

  “Arena Cafés! Hire people to act as Champions. Those places are always packed!” Trella’s hands flew up as he spoke, voice rising with excitement. “Lux! You actually have a true Champion right here in Silver City! If Novgar of the Bluehill Boulder Tribe made surprise appearances, the Arena Café would be even more of a hit!” Trella puffed up his chest, eyes going distant as if he was already at the grand opening. “I’ll get started on the café right away!”

  “Hold up, Trella.” Lux couldn’t help the laugh that escaped him. Trella’s enthusiasm was catching. “The Arena Café can wait. Can you show me the rest of the changes you made to Silver City first?”

  Trella snapped back to attention, face smoothing into professionalism again. “Right, sorry. There’s not much else to see at these farms.” He gestured around, but the new crops were all just green shoots and brown earth for now. “It’ll be a while before the crops grow in. Let’s head over to the Winery. Twiggs and the manager have made some changes.”

  Lux swung himself onto Beaty’s sturdy back, mind already spinning with a list for Silver City’s next phase.

  They shot across the farms towards the winery, wind in his hair. As soon as they arrived, Lux saw the difference. The Icebreath flower field looked buried under fresh snow, even from a distance, a shiver ran down his spine.

  Twiggs and a woman were out in the field. She was projecting snow from her hands as they strolled through the frozen rows. Twiggs spotted Lux and started waving. “Lux! Welcome back!”

  Twiggs turned to the woman, exchanged a word, and then they both hurried over. “Lux, I figured out why the Frozen North Glacial Bees were so lazy! They hate warm weather! Vera arrived today to help keep the bees cool, and look at them now!”

  Lux followed Twiggs’ gesture. Large bees zipped from flower to flower, the purple petals shaking as they landed and soared off again. The sight made Lux’s heart skip, then race. “Twiggs, does this mean we can increase the production of the Ice wine?”

  Twiggs was already nodding, a grin spreading on his face. Lux grinned back, feeling the thrill of momentum. “That’s fantastic!” He turned to Trella, thoughts tumbling over each other. “This means we can speed up finishing the insides of the apartment building!”

  The good news just kept coming. Twiggs grabbed Lux’s arm, tugging him towards a large cellar door set into the ground by the winery. “We could finally order the aging wine barrels.” He tugged open the doors and started down inside, leading the way into the chilly air below.

  Lux expected shadow and gloom beyond the stairwell, but small stones set into the walls greeted him with pools of gentle light. Step by step, the glow guided him downward, until he stood before a cavernous chamber carved right from the earth itself, the ceiling curving high overhead.

  Bricks formed orderly walls, and the space was filled with neat rows of wooden racks, curved shelves, every inch crafted for efficiency. A portion of the racks already held heavy barrels, their rounded bellies stacked with precision. At the far end, large elevator doors gleamed dully in the soft light.

  “We managed to make peach, plum, and cherry wine. In a week they’ll be ready for sale, thanks to the aging barrels.” Twiggs strode easily along one row, stopping by a cluster of barrels fitted with shiny spouts. With practiced hands, he produced a cup from his pouch and twisted the tap. A pale pink liquid flowed smoothly, filling the cup to the brim.

  “This is peach wine.” Twiggs offered the cup to Lux. The soft rush of peachy sweetness mixed with the faint tang of fermentation as Lux brought it to his lips. The flavour was light, sweet and clean, a vibrant splash across his tongue. He swallowed and grinned. “How much can we get per barrel?”

  Twiggs nodded, “Not as much as we could if we bottle the wine ourselves. If we sell by the barrel, it’s 2 gold. Bottled, we make an extra 1 gold per barrel.” Lux eyed the shelves once more, with roughly 100 barrels lining the racks, selling at 3 gold each would net him 300 gold. A solid sum, although nothing compared to the Ice wine, but this product wasn’t locked behind rare yields. The regular wine could flow as fast as Lux could expand the operation.

  “Production capacity?” Lux asked, curiosity sharpening his focus.

  Twiggs tapped one barrel thoughtfully. “These were just a test run. If we can get a steady supplier, we can produce around 300 barrels per day.” Nine hundred gold, a day. More than respectable, especially for a winery of this size. And, unlike waiting for large bulk payments, this would provide a steady daily income.

  Factories. The word echoed in Lux’s mind as he glanced at the sturdy racks and the glowing stones set deep in the walls. They needed to diversify. He made a mental note to add factories, Silver City needed more products to sell.