In a world where everything seems perfectly logical and pragmatic. The thought of anything existing outside of the realm of what one already knows seems impractical.
That is how Melinda Morrison sees life.
The very life where she has shared nearly e...
As the train doors opened and we stepped onto the platform, a breath of fresh, crisp mountain air greeted us. The sun bathed the landscape in golden light, revealing sweeping vistas of jagged peaks and dense forests that framed the valley below. The excitement among the ladies of the Opal Emporium was palpable.
"Welcome to Emerald Mirror Resort: Serenity Cove, ladies of the Opal Emporium!" Euadne, the wife of Chancellor Jodis, called out with exuberance. Her smile was infectious, and a delighted laugh escaped her lips as she approached, her arms outstretched in greeting.
Around me, the women began chattering excitedly.
"Is this really Aurisia?"
"The air is so crisp, it feels different here!"
"I've only read about this place in the newspapers!"
"My ears keep popping—is that normal?"
"It's the elevation—can't you see the mountains surrounding us?"
Their excitement at experiencing Aurisia, now a nation-state after the empire's conquest, was hard to contain. I turned slightly and noticed Archduchess Gaiane standing quietly, her gaze wandering over the landscape with a hint of nostalgia. Once a princess of this very land before her marriage to Prince Enos, she had returned not just as a member of the Opal Emporium, but to a home that had changed in more ways than one.
I had felt it important for her to join us on this retreat, not only because she had seemed melancholic in recent weeks, but also because I wanted her insight. Aurisia was her birthplace, and with plans to establish an Emerald Mirror Resort here, I needed her approval. It was essential that the resort honored the culture, respected the land, and stayed authentic, even after the empire's consolidation.
As the staff unloaded the ladies' luggage and transferred it to the waiting Tempus Verge vehicles, I made my way to Euadne, offering her a light hug in greeting. She had arrived several days before us to ensure everything was ready for the retreat. I had placed a great deal of trust in her, as the Global Director of Emerald Mirror Resorts—a title Lavania and I had given her after she proved her keen eye for detail as a manager at Kladena. Over time, she had risen to oversee the brand's rapid expansion, and no one else came to mind when I thought of who could manage the opening of each new branch.
"Judging by your smile, I take it the hotel is ready for its grand opening soon?" I asked a hint of pride in my voice.
Euadne beamed. "It's perfect! The staff training is complete, the menus are set, and the excursions are all planned. I'll admit, I was a little nervous with the deadline of the retreat, but everything came together."
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