The carriages stopped at the fountain and the servants came out of the mansion and began offloading the crates.
"The commission is considered over but before you go, someone wants to see you… I mean you guys" Arnold said with a smile as he looked at Blake before turning to the rest of the team.
"Hello!"
When they heard the sweet familiar voice, everyone turned to the entrance, and before them was Tessie who was in a full-length black gown with flower designs embroidered all over it.
Her black polished curled hair, with the light makeup on her face, and the golden chain necklace with a sparkling sapphire on her neck gave her oval face an irresistible glow that kept them staring at her.
'Damn!' This was the only word that came across their mind as they watched her walk down the stairs.
"Why are you guys like that?" Tessie couldn't help but ask when she noticed the guys weren't moving.
Seeing such an opportunity Blake didn't need a wake-up call. "Because you're stunning."
"I have some matters to deal with." Arnold quickly excused himself when he saw Tessie turning beet red.
"Thank you..." Tessie said as she subconsciously lowered her head.
"How have you been and how is alchemy going?" Blake quickly brought up a topic before things became awkward.
"Well, that is the reason for the crates filled with herbs and ingredients for alchemy. So, am about to get started." Tessie's reply left the trio burning with envy.
They all practiced forgemastery, but unlike Tessie who could get carriage loads of the resources whenever she needed them, they had to work for every dim they used to purchase materials for their specializations.
[You know, a lot of noble families are still open to recruiting you in case acquiring resources is your major problem.] The system said when it saw Blake's reaction.
"What about you guys, how has your lives as adventurers been?" Immediately she asked the question, a dejected look could be seen on their faces.
"You wouldn't believe it…" Brian said as they shook their heads.
…
In a secret room on the top floor of the Winchester, Oliver and Gabriela Winchester were watching their daughter and the three young adventurers with one of the many arrays in the mansion.
Oliver was a gentleman in his late 40's and was of an average height of 5'10 feet. He was wearing a simple buzz cut and a disconnected goatee. His small turned-up nose and gentle smile were a carbon copy of Tessie's.
Beside him was Gabriela who was an old version of her daughter, but unlike Tessie who always wore a smile, Gabriela wore a stern look on her face.
"He isn't shy, unlike someone I know..." Gabriela said as she looked at her husband with a smirk.
Back when they were the same age as Blake and Tessie, the situation was reversed. Oliver was the shy one, while Gabriela was the one making moves. It was odd because a guy as charming as Oliver was meant to be the player type and that made Gabriela wonder what was wrong.
"Although he isn't as charming as me, I must say he isn't bad at all." Oliver quickly changed the topic, but that made his wife's smirk broaden.
"She got the attention of the magic school's rank 1. I am glad that she got my keen eyes." Gabriela had a proud smile on her face.
"Not everyone is meant to be as manipulative as. As for me, I am happy that our little flower finally has friends." Oliver said with a smile on his face as he watched the 4 teens chatting by the fountain.
"Sir, from the intel I gathered from those in the association and from my short conversation with them, I have confirmed that the rumors about them being involved in the slums incident were true." Arnold had excused himself from the teens and had arrived at the secret room to give a report on his findings.
"That makes things more interesting. Not only are they as strong as the reports say, but they are also equally reliable." Oliver paused for a moment before making a decision. "Keep an eye on them, especially on him..." Oliver said pointing at Blake.
"Yes, Master." Arnold bowed and exited the room.
Unknown to the trio a new noble family had joined the long list of those interested in them.
…
"Who could have thought so much could happen in few days…" Tessie was stunned when the guys recounted their experience.
"The crates have offloaded, it's time to go." Arnold returned to the fountain shortly after his report.
"Uncle Arnold, can't give us a little bit more time?" Tessie looked straight into the butler's eyes with her puppy face.
"Sorry, young mistress but these are orders from your mother..." Arnold said with an unflinching expression, but deep down he was sad that he couldn't fulfill her little wish.
"Sorry that you guys couldn't stay longer. Remember to stay safe." Tessie said in a dejected tone before leaving the trio.
With the crates completely offloaded, the commission was officially considered complete and with no other thing to do, the trio hopped into the carriage and left the Winchester manor.
…
The week quickly passed by without them getting more commissions nor applying for missions. They used these few days to increase their forgemastery knowledge, especially no they had more than enough gold coins.
Although they were busy with forgemastery, they hadn't slacked one bit in their cultivation because at the moment they had more than enough beast cores gotten from the school and the adventurers association to last them 2 straight weeks if they decided to be lazy.
"I think it is time we apply for commissions..." Blake said as he took a sip of his vegetable beef soup.
"Same thoughts here…" Castiel said.
"At this moment I am having second thoughts over the decision of not joining any noble family. Practicing forgemastery is damn expensive!" Brian helplessly sighed when he thought about the number of gold coins that had turned scrap metal.