That morning, the air in Orario's Mid-Western Sector still held the remnants of last night's dew when the heavy footsteps of a squad of workers broke the silence.
Venti, who had just finished stretching his muscles in the front yard of the old church, smiled broadly seeing their arrival. From behind the thin mist, dozens of dwarves, humans, and thick-muscled beastmen walked in procession carrying rolls of parchment, measuring tools, and wheelbarrows filled with basic materials. They wore dark brown work uniforms bearing the emblem of three hammers—the crest of the Goibniu Familia.
The old blacksmith god apparently wasn't playing around with his promise last night. The best architects and foremen of Orario had arrived right as the sun peeked from behind the city walls.
"Good morning, Lord Venti!" exclaimed a dwarf with a thick red beard who appeared to be the head foreman. He tipped his hard hat as a sign of respect. "Lord Goibniu sent us. We are ready to tear down and rebuild this place according to your request."
"A bright morning to begin a masterpiece!" replied Venti cheerfully, stepping toward the foreman. "Thank you for coming so early. Your work ethic is truly commendable."
Venti swept his gaze toward the old church behind him. The dull building with a leaky roof and weathered stone walls would soon be nothing but a memory. Last night, upon returning from the Tower of Babel and the Guild, Venti had discussed things with Alfia in the living room. He told the woman that the renovation process by the Goibniu Familia would begin the next day. Of course, the sound of hammers and saws had the strong potential to disturb the rest of the pregnant Meteria. And if Meteria was disturbed, Alfia would surely flatten all the Goibniu Familia workers without hesitation. Because of that, Venti had arranged a very specific construction strategy.
"Well then, Mr. Foreman," Venti reached into his cloak and pulled out a thick roll of parchment containing detailed blueprint designs. "Let's discuss the workflow."
The foreman and several senior architects of the Goibniu Familia immediately gathered around, observing the parchment Venti unrolled on an empty wooden barrel.
"This is the final design," said Venti, his finger tracing the precise lines on the paper. "I want you to prioritize the construction of the main Mansion first in the empty lot right behind this church. Once the Mansion is built and habitable, we will move there. Only then can you totally renovate this abandoned church in the front yard."
The foreman stroked his beard, nodding slowly, digesting the logistical sequence. "Makes sense. Building the new headquarters before tearing down the old residence so you don't have to sleep on the street. Then, what about the design itself, Sir?"
Venti smiled enigmatically. "See for yourself."
When the architects and foreman lowered their heads and truly examined the three-dimensional sketches and architectural details drawn by Venti, a long silence suddenly enveloped the hard-working group. Their eyes widened, and their breath caught in their throats.
As craftsmen from the best architect Familia in Orario, they had seen and built magnificent villas belonging to wealthy gods, nobles' castles, to sturdy Guild headquarters. However, the design presented on this parchment existed in an entirely different dimension of aesthetics. This was not just a building; this was poetry carved in the form of space and matter.
The complex presented a harmonious blend between the luxury of secular buildings and the sanctity of sacred buildings, tied together by a perfectly arranged natural landscape.
In the background of the design stood the main Mansion. The building was designed in a highly elegant and formal European Classical style. A two-story structure with perfect symmetry, featuring a facade planned to be coated in light cream with regular rows of tall windows. The ground floor and the first floor featured rows of classic arched windows, while the second floor had rectangular windows with an intricate stone balustrade. There was a spacious central balcony on the first floor, right above the grand main entrance. In front of the mansion, there was a vast, neat lawn with precisely cut stone pathways.
However, what stole the architects' attention the most was the renovation design for the abandoned church located in the foreground—the dull building currently standing right before them.
The abandoned church would be transformed into an intimate focal point radiating majesty. Venti redesigned its exterior with Neo-Gothic architecture. The once-weathered building would be turned into a small basilica of warm cream sandstone, designed to have a well-maintained texture yet with an aesthetic touch to blend with nature.
The main entrance consisted of two large wooden doors framed by a pointed arch. These doors were decorated with complex metal carvings forming motifs of a golden harp and plant vines. Above it, there were three main windows. The two smaller side windows showed floral patterns and geometric ornaments in blue, green, and yellow. While the large round window (rosette) in the upper center was its crown, designed to display a central harp surrounded by lilies in an arrangement of richly colored stained glass. Its roof was gabled with matching stone tiles and carving details at its peak.
"Incredible..." murmured one of the elf architects from the Goibniu Familia, his fingers nearly touching the drawing of the stained glass window tremblingly. "The balance between the Gothic structure and the softness of nature around it... this is a breathing design. Turning this rickety church into a building this beautiful... you are truly a visionary."
Venti nodded proudly. He didn't stop there. His finger shifted to point at the area around the buildings.
"The garden around this church must be lush and varied," explained Venti enthusiastically. "I want dense clumps of flowering plants. Lavender, delphinium, and purple asters. Shrub roses, carnations, and yellow and pink lilies. Then ground cover plants with small blue flowers and thick green foliage near the carved stone benches. Everything must look natural yet orderly."
The foreman swallowed hard, his eyes now fixed on the water element to the right of the church. "And this... you want a pond and a small natural waterfall?"
"Exactly!" Venti snapped his fingers. "A large pond with a clear small waterfall. At its right end, build a cascading waterfall flowing from stacked natural rock formations. The edge of the pond must be lined with irregular natural stones to create a soft transition with the grass. The water surface must be calm enough to reflect the image of the mansion and the sky."
The exterior design alone was enough to make the Goibniu craftsmen's blood boil with enthusiasm. This was a dream project that would record their names in the architectural history of Orario.
However, Venti was not finished. He flipped the parchment over, revealing a far more complex and massive underground floor plan.
"And this," Venti's voice turned slightly lower and more serious, "is the heart of our Familia's defense and main facilities."
The dwarf foreman's eyes immediately bulged seeing the thickness of the protective walls and support structures on the plan.
Venti deliberately placed the training area, armory, and core Familia facilities underground. Besides ensuring the sounds of magic explosions and weapons wouldn't disturb Meteria's and Alfia's peace above while adventurers trained, this underground structure was designed to withstand large-scale attacks.
The basement was designed as a giant Gothic-style hall made of magically reinforced cream-colored brick arrangements. This room had a distinctive vaulted ceiling, supported by rows of large stone pillars with intricate ornamental carvings. The floor was made of polished marble with a geometric mosaic pattern shaped like an eight-pointed star in its center.
The walls were not left bare, but decorated with stone relief carvings depicting mythological creatures. The main lighting didn't rely on glowing magic, but on rows of elegant torches mounted on the walls and giant iron chandeliers that provided a warm yet mysterious nuance. At the end of the hall, there was a large wrought-iron gate as the main access.
"This basement will connect directly to the church and the Mansion through a secret passage," explained Venti, tapping the floor plan with satisfaction. "The structure must be strong enough to withstand physical impacts from top-tier adventurers training inside. Make sure you use the best shock-absorbing materials and foundation-strengthening magic from your workshop."
The dwarf foreman fell silent for quite a long time. He looked at Venti, then at the blueprint in his hands, before finally grinning widely, revealing a row of teeth. His eyes flashed with the fiery spirit of a craftsman who had found a true challenge.
"Lord Goibniu was right," the foreman's laugh boomed. "This isn't a roof-patching project. This is a crazy masterpiece. Creating a marble-lined Gothic hall underground while simultaneously making a paradise garden above it?"
"Is it too difficult for the Goibniu Familia?" Venti baited with a playful smile.
"Difficult? Don't joke, Lord Venti!" exclaimed the foreman, slamming the wooden barrel table enthusiastically. "This actually ignites our pride! We will use a protective layer of liquid Mithril for the underground foundation and magical insulators for its waterways. We will build you the most beautiful fortress this city has ever seen!"
The other architects and builders cheered along. Their work ethic was perfectly ignited. The design Venti provided was very unique, combining technical complexity with heavenly aesthetics they had never worked on before.
"Excellent!" Venti patted the foreman's shoulder. "Please begin surveying the land for the Mansion in the back area."
The foreman immediately turned and shouted instructions in a loud voice. The Goibniu Familia squad moved quickly like a perfectly coordinated machine. The earthworkers began to measure the land contours and stabilize the foundation in the empty area behind the church, while the porters unloaded materials from the wheelbarrows.
The sounds of hammer strikes, clinking iron, and shouted instructions began to fill the yard. These workers were very efficient, but the noise of large-scale construction was still unavoidable.
Venti simply closed his eyes for a moment and gave a soundless "command" to the air around him. A gentle gust of wind was created, wrapping the entire outer walls of the old church like an invisible soundproof dome. The layer of wind deflected and dampened the noisy sound waves from outside, ensuring absolute silence was maintained inside the room where Meteria slept.
Venti observed the construction process with a feeling of relief. He imagined what this place would look like in the coming weeks. A safe home for Meteria to go through her pregnancy, sturdy training facilities for Hedin and Hogni, and a vast flowering garden for Dina and Vena to play in.
The wooden door of the church opened with a soft creak.
Alfia stepped out. The silver-haired woman wore a comfortable, simple long dress, a thick knitted shawl wrapped around her shoulders to ward off the morning chill. Her face looked as cold and flat as usual, staring straight at the group of workers driving iron pegs in the distance.
"I thought this place would be noisy with the sound of hammers today," said Alfia, crossing her arms over her chest. "But Meteria hasn't even woken up from her sleep inside. Did you muffle the sound waves with your wind?"
"Just a little trick," Venti smiled casually. "After all, a peaceful home begins with a quiet morning, right?"
Alfia snorted softly, although the tension in her shoulders seemed to loosen a bit. She leaned her back against the wall near Venti, her eyes constantly watching the workers.
"So," Alfia broke the silence, "when is that gang you talked about arriving?"
"Dina and Vena, two elves I saved in the Far East. As well as Hedin and Hogni, two other elves who are no less talented," answered Venti, his tone turning softer. "Considering the distance and their travel route, I estimate the four of them won't arrive in Orario for about another week."
Alfia shifted her gaze from the workers, looking back at the cramped and dusty old church behind them, then at the expanse of land that had just begun to be excavated.
"One week," repeated Alfia in a flat tone. "You realize that the Mansion back there won't be finished in just seven days, right? Where are you going to put four extra elves in this cramped church? The capacity for proper beds is already full."
"Ah, about that!" Venti laughed lightly, rubbing the back of his neck without feeling guilty. "We can ask Goibniu to lend us a few tents to set up in the side yard temporarily."
Alfia snorted loudly, giving a sharp evaluating look. "Whatever you say. As long as they know the rules."
"Don't worry, I will teach them some manners," Venti replied with a wide smile.
"Just make sure they don't make a ruckus near Meteria's room," Alfia cut in coldly, her voice holding an undeniable threat. "If they disturb my sister's rest time, whether they are elves or whoever, I will throw them all into the gutter out front."
Venti only answered that deadly threat with a free laugh. He knew exactly that Alfia always spoke with thorns, but her actions always aimed to protect what was left of her family.
The east wind blew softly, scattering a few dry leaves in the yard. The physical headquarters construction of the Barbatos Familia had begun perfectly.
Venti closed his eyes, letting the gust of morning wind sweep his face gently. In one week, their new residents would arrive, and the basic foundation of this complex would surely have started to take shape at the hands of the Goibniu Familia. He would use this one week to the best of his ability to prepare for their welcome.
The pieces of the Barbatos Familia were moving toward the same point. And Venti would ensure, when they all finally gathered under one roof, Orario would witness the birth of an unforgettable storm.
------------------------------
"Like my work? Catch up to Chapter 62 over on my Patreon!"
P - Gem_Blanks
Thank you so much for your support — you make all of this worthwhile.)