Chapter 66: Imperial academy
"My people and guests, it is an honor to present to you the first imperial academy, a place where the kingdom's brightest will be nurtured. I personally raised these walls stone by stone, I wanted a place where those diamonds in the rough will shine regardless of their circumstances." Olivia stated and the people cheered.
"To the parents, I hope you educate your little treasure before setting them off to be taught in this school. Here, no one is inherently better unless it is because of their own abilities and hard work." Silence ensued right after this cautionary warning.
"As soon as they put on that uniform and register as a student, they are all just that. Students who are here to better themselves." She then showed a radiant smile and opened her arms. "Please Join me in opening our very first general boarding school where all talent is precious."
The ceremony went ahead as a large ribbon on the gates is cut in half with a large looking scissors. The crowd entered the imperial school for the first time.
Behind the majestic large metal gates is an entirely different world. The ground that should be covered in snow has glistening cobweb stone concrete slightly warm to the touch melting all the snow and disposing the water through the metal drains.
There is open space then a green garden with neatly trimmed trees, tables and chairs covered with large beautiful umbrellas to shelter from the weather.
As soon as the gates closed it was as it the raging snow outside stopped falling. The entire school is enveloped in a subtle warmth that only people who have been inside the Haunted city would recognize.
All the buildings are designed in a peculiar architectural structure that makes them beautiful and imposing. One glance and it is obvious only magic would be able to pull something like this off without the construction spanning over several generations.
The crowd is invited into a large hall where several tables are arranged according to status and the grand duke took over the opening ceremony. Olivia took the time to grant those who desired an opportunity to toast with her.
Everyone is served quality food. The true North has achieved food security and it shows. Olivia had wanted to use this opportunity to advertise her new spirit wine and spirit food that will be served in hotels and resorts across the kingdom.
The soul space has grown an abundant amount of spirit food including meat from the animals she raised in her space. Spirit food is incredibly delicious as if injected with magic which is the case.
It also heals some ailments and strengthens the body. Mortals benefit greatly when consuming spirit food which is why Olivia will use their desperation for longevity, health and strength to make a fortune.
The spirit wine is very potent so only very small glasses were served in the tables. The spirit food is given in small portions as well making many people frustrated.
The level of wealth and prosperity in this place is quite glaring, comparing it to themselves only makes them depressed.
Hotels were prepared in the three large cities that are managed by the several dukes. Inside the hotels, spirit food and spirit drinks including wine costs several coins but it is all worth it.
Those who spent coins on the spirit food felt relief from their ailments and this made them want to bring more money next time. That's right, the true North will become a tourist destination where people can visit several resorts and play several games.
Olivia thought food is not enough excuse for people to visit. What if she transformed a few mountains into tourist attractions with all sorts of fun places?
Olivia being a nature's 'friend' was able to locate and create ideal habitat for exotic animals in the true North. Olivia is waiting for the population of all these exotic animals to recover after the night king and his army had polluted most of the land here.
The first resort is already finished. After settling the matter of the tar road, the schools and the three new cities, Olivia had made hotels on five locations including the main road and the three cities.
Upon seeing that those luxurious things at her five hotels are mostly available for the kingdom's people for free, Olivia decided to come up with new ways to charge people for lodging. Hotels will amaze visitors at best, however the locals will find it common.
Therefore an overly expensive resort was thought out. The building looks like it is sculpted from ice. When people first saw it they thought it is a giant iceberg. It is really like a crude large mountain made out of ice
The gates of the school opened and the surroundings became like that of a fantasy world. The ground has a white path that looks to be made from shaped blue ice the trees nearby seem to be glass like but has colorful fruits hanging on the branches.
This made it so the ice place has other colors. There is green grass that looks soft and unrealistic where the crystal trees seems to have sprouted from the ground littering the grass with fallen beautiful crystal leaves.
In fact these are real trees and real fruits but I can make them look crystal while the fruits remained the same color. The power to control trees is a playful talent sometimes.
As for the mountain ice building? She simply carved a building into a mountain and with the power to control earth made the building look like it is coming out from underneath an iceberg.
It is a large structure that was meant to encompass an entire mountain. Indoor heated pools, bubbling water pools, bars, massage centers, game rooms. There are also fighting matches where weapons are not allowed so they have to use their fists.
Then there's the spirit food and drinks in the hotel. There are several more exotic places to see inside the building.
There is a place that has a pool with deep ice fishes. They are here so people can stand and watch the various fishes swim around in the glass as if they are swimming around them.
This resort was the main attraction and after introducing it to the guests, they were escorted to the various guests to the hotels leaving them with a sense of wonder. This was my ultimate reason behind the farce for the l school opening.
Again she left the rest of the work to her council members. Namely the group led by Faith. They were responsible for hiring and ensuring smooth running of the business in all the hotels and resort just as they are responsible for businesses under the imperial family in the harbors.
Three cities look completely different from each other. They were designed by the dukes and minor lords of each territory and were completed in a short amount of time thanks to Olivia's assistance.
What delighted her is that rapid speed with which each city filled up with businesses. This is because the people living in the kingdom are diverse mixed in with foreigners who have many ideas from across the narrow seas.
The next few days when the visitors traveled the kingdom they marveled at the items and services being sold in all the cities. It is an entirely different experience than any of the seven kingdoms not to mention Olivia's own businesses which has been separated for all the council members.
Since many of the visitors came from the north and the north is relatively wealthy, many items were sold but the north has also been suffering from prolonged wars with the Iron born and may need some time to recover.
The plan was to improve relationships with the people of the North. They can come and visit anytime to spend their money.
There is a person who didn't come through and his absence is glaring but no one said anything. Olivia understood it as his way of retaliating for her non response to his summon when the dragon queen came through.
The event took an entire week. By the time they left all were looking to send their children to the school entrance exam when the time comes. The important thing is that children will learn even battle tactics, politics, business and science.
They don't have to swear of marriage and change their names too as long as they qualify to study here they can enter.
Of course outsiders have to pay a high price unless the school decides their talent cam not be missed.
This even was between the two northern countries.
"Mama.. mama.. I can paddle faster." Olivia is riding the same 'bike' as the one Rogo has and they are paddling on the side path to the main road. Because of the powerful railings even if there's an accident with a carriage in the road, it won't affect passersby on the side walk.
"Let's see whose faster..." Olivia is not even bothered with the bustling road as she plays with her son. She is in the disguise she had when she was in the dragon stone town.
This is the face she uses when playing outside because her appearance is too striking Ro go may not be able to make genuine friends if they knew he is the first prince.
They traveled to the nearby village that makes rice wine and wheat flour for distribution in the kingdom businesses. It is mid day and may people are already outside either on the fields or in the factories where many small folk work to earn coins.
Factories are distributed evenly across the dukes territories to ensure all the locals who live in the cities have a way to make a living.
The adults go to work while children go to school. How well they do in school will determine the work place they are able to qualify for in the future.
In this kingdom there is no oppression for girls and women can hold as much power as men. Olivia wanted to ensure the system in the south with all their religion doesn't reach here.
When it comes to the old gods, their rules are not oppressive in nature which is why Olivia made the entire kingdom worship the old gods. They are not forced of course but no one is allowed to force others to follow their chosen religion.
Weddings and other ceremonies are performed using whichever religions people involved believe in. Other churches are not accepted in the kingdom but people are not forced to follow the old gods.
There is no abusive rules like the ones where a lord has the right to bed the bride first. This is oppressive and cruel. It ignores human rights.
Olivia and her son wondered into an opening with small plants and a frozen lake. They started filling their baskets with fruits from nearby trees and then rode their bikes back home.
On the way there is a small market with stalls for aspiring sellers to sell their items grown in their fields and rivers. These rivers were made to transport fresh water all around the kingdom.
It was one of the major projects because warm stones needed to be inserted on the river walls to stop the water from freezing.
Unlike before, access to this water is not easy and the water is accessible in taps indoors or in local taps. These pipes were molded with warm stone materials to allow water not to freeze the pipes.
It was exhausting for Olivia hired people to do it. These local villagers are allowed to fish in certain areas with large lakes and rivers also meticulously made with effort to accommodate living things.
It is true that this large kingdom was made with great effort and it was all worth It for Olivia to make a home for herself.
The people here are mostly those looking to male extra coins to buy their children nice things including the uniform from the kingdom's various schools as the schools are about to open.
"Uncle Finch." Rogo called out to the big guy walking away with cooking ingredients. Olivia as 'Molly' paddled to the man.
"Finch, you're enjoying your stay?" Olivia asked as they all went to the same direction.
"Molly, Rogo, it's good to see you. Molly I have mossed staying with you. Why don't you let me visit you sometime? I will cook good meals for you?" Finch, a big man seems to be very aggrieved.
"Rogo and I will go to the resort for a while. How about joining us? You are so powerful maybe you can help bring us luggage and protect us from danger?" She asked with a smile. She likes this big guy too but he doesn't know she is Olivia and she is worried that may change the way he interact with her."
He looked troubled "I have earned coins here but they are definitely not enough to visit that place."
"Don't worry I am going there to inspect the quality of the services and all the expenses will be paid for by madam Faith." Olivia assured.
"Is it okay to bring more people?" He asked. After she finished curing him he was well enough to apply for a position in the city guardian building and given his disposition he got the post.
Now he lives inside the Haunted city in a luxurious one bedroom apartment alone. He usually plays with Rogo and Molly on his days off. His life is several times better than before.
"Alright then. If you're sure I will come with you as long as it won't put you in too much danger." He really wants to go.
"Alright get your things in order we will find you in three days." She left with Rogo after entering the Haunted city.
Olivia is not just going to relax in the resort but to install the new magic games that would have needed electricity.
There's a horse race which doesn't need magic since they are almost magically strong and fast on their own. This race is in the gambling den. People bet on the horses.
There are humans riding the horses which results in them getting sick during the race because of how fast the horses are on the race track. As a result most losses will be because of the human rider than the horse itself.
There is a large area made to be very warm with an artificial sun crystal made from the sun kiss and indestructible glass. This is where people can wear swim suites and relax with drinks in long chairs.
The true northern people are not conservative people and can wear swimming shorts and beautifully designed breast cups.
There is also several large screens showing the race in the gambling den for the average bet players who didn't get tickets to go see the horses in person.
A large deep underground area is dug up and a fairly like land is constructed and furnished and painted with bright colors. Olivia got real fishes from the deep seas whose colors are glistening in the dark and the colors are beautiful to look at.
This place will be the underground palace for adventurous visitors. The deep sea palace has magic lights and spells to prevent to water from coming into the castle.
This is a tourist attraction spot where people will experience living under the ocean alongside fishes and 'dangerous' creatures. But all the life form in this place have been tamed by Olivia even in her absence they would not harm humans and even their future offspring will be under the same influence unless they are defending themselves.
This place is made to have under deep sea treasures. It is not the actual treasures but glowing pictures that show the items found. These pictures have the items inside, all the person has to do is to will the items to appear in the real world.
The cards are so the things found can be carried out the sea with ease. After all these may include an entire mansion.
Olivia has made several of these pictures and hid them in several locations that can not be traced even by the resort staff. When a person is lucky enough to locate these pictures, they will belong to the one who was the first to hold them.
This is to ensure only those brave enough to venture into the dangers will claim the price. If a the same card is in someone else's hand it will stop 'glowing' and everyone will know this is not something they obtained themselves.
The dangers in the 'hunt' for treasure are all magical. Quicksand, the animals in the deep sea that will swallow you whole. Although as soon as a person is sunk or swallowed, they are 'teleported' to the resort.
Many more dangers exist such as school of fish that envelopes a swimmer dragging them deeper into the darkness.
Sharks, sea weeds and man eating plants. Some creatures are so creepy and large it makes people shit themselves at the sight. The treasures found in the sea are of great value and therefore true bravery is required.
Someone may have been a normal worker and claim a magic item worth thens of thousands of gold coins. Such things may include a castle, a magic jewelry or even a box full of silver coins, gold coins, many things that will make people wealthy in an instant.
When the news about this place is released many people wanted to try their luck. The problem is the large price for entry.
With this place, Olivia knows her efforts are bound to pay off. Putting items inside a card and allowing the car to recognize its owner is a genius idea.
The castle in the deep sea sells supplies hunters will need on their journey and provide lodging. There is a restaurant and the surroundings are broadcast in the large screen fir advertisement in the resort.
Olivia knows when people see the enchanting beauty of the deep sea castle they will be attracted.
The hunting journey may be recorded and broadcasted with the permission of all the participants. This will provide entertainment for the resort guests who are willing to pay.
Humans may appear to have been swallowed or may have a stone fall on them during the hunt which is why they wear items that will teleport them to the resort when they are about to die. It is very thrilling and blood pumping. Many people will surely pay to watch such reality shows.
Monitoring crystals are placed all over the hunting grounds to capture the human hunters so there is no need to others to follow behind swimmers to record. These artifacts will detect the human signal and nature their movements.
The surroundings are dark but the crystals will transmit a clear picture of all that is happening without lighting the way for the hunters. The picture is clear and makes for quality TV.
The next tourist attractions spot is a place various animals in the nearby mountain. This mountain has been cleaned up and set to allow for touring.
The place has a path for carriers to drag luggage and climbers to hike using various equipment sold in the resort.
Here people will watch many animals in their natural habitat and experience the vast forest life with a group hired to cook and guard them. This place may not attract as much attention because humans in this world hunt for a living.
However, Olivia has released many 'special' animals from her space into this mountain making it an enchanted forest.
A horse with wings and fluffy looking fur, birds with wind power, bears with roars that make the ground tremble, snakes with crystal scales shining bright in the snow, there are stags with flames enveloping their bodies as they run in the forest. Because the environment is enchanted these dangerous animals do not harm the mountain or each other.
This forest may have beautiful plants. Every corner is filled with fantasy creatures that look and do wonders humans can not imagine.
When some animals from Olivia's soul space look mesmerizing she puts them on this mountain. Even the river here has beautiful fishes as it is diluted with spirit water.
There are runes to keep the animals from wondering outside the mountains because even the fence may not hold them if they wanted to revolt. All the people will definitely want to see this place.
Below the mountain there is a city that will receive more business than others.
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