19.9

ACT 963161069-26889.24.(M1.D09)(8697 B.C. Sun’s Dawn (February) Three-Quarter Moon( Third Week) Mirdon(Wednesday) )-Eve-Smith-Silver Prime

In the bustling heart of Braavos, the Silver Bank stood tall and proud, a testament to the wealth and power of the city. It was a day like any other, yet whispers of anticipation filled the air as eleven children of various ages and stations gathered at the bank's entrance. They were there to compete for the coveted position of Record Keeper, a role that demanded the utmost precision and an eidetic memory. Eve watched the children assembled from the upper story of the bank. One-way glass shielded her from the view of those below. Even though there is only a place for three Record Keepers I won’t let the rest go to waste.

As the heavy side door of the bank opened, the children were led through corridors before being ushered into a grand chamber adorned with opulent tapestries that told the history of Braavos. At the far end of the room, a long table crafted from the finest ebony was set, around which a council of esteemed elders sat. Their wise and weathered faces scrutinized the hopeful candidates as they entered the chamber. Rich doublets and silk robes clad in the silver and black of the bank enamored the children’s eyes. Eve appeared using Spatial Steps concealing herself in the shadows behind the bank’s board of directors.

First among the children was Lady Elira Greenhand, the fair-haired daughter of a powerful noble house. Her eyes sparkled with the same icy blue hue as the gown she wore, and her delicate features belied a sharp mind. She curtsied gracefully before the council, her confidence unshaken by the weight of their collective gaze. Eve was amused at the young woman’s confidence as she took her seat. I’m certain the innovation of these desks will be stolen rather fast.

Next came Daryn, a strapping young lad with a mop of unruly chestnut hair. Though his shoddy brown attire marked him as a commoner, his eyes held a fierce intelligence that spoke of untapped potential. He bowed to the council, his gaze never wavering, daring them to underestimate him. Eve rolled her eyes, if this bank wasn’t her territory such actions would have seen a commoner educated harshly. The class warfare is quite real in this world.

One by one, the other children introduced themselves. Eve didn’t remember all of them, but a few did stand out. There was Lyessa, the shy, raven-haired girl of low birth, who clutched a tattered book of histories as if it were a lifeline. Vilor, the youngest of the group at only ten, stood barely taller than a banker's stool but possessed a keen wit that belied his age. Rounding out the group were Jorik, the blacksmith's son with a crooked smile; Mira, the orphan girl with the heart-shaped face; Qarro, the merchant's apprentice with a penchant for numbers; and finally, the trio of noble-born siblings with less elegance than Elira: Elyana, Olyvar, and Tysha.

The council took a moment to study each child before the trials began. From their high-backed chairs, they posed a series of questions and challenges designed to test the children's memory and intellect. Snacks and goblets of wine nurtured the elders preventing their voices from going hoarse. Except for a lunch break, there was only endless water available for the children.

As the hours stretched on, the candidates recounted ancient histories and recited long lists of facts, never once faltering. Eve was impressed at the fortitude the children displayed. It was well worth the ten golden dragons invested into purchasing each child. Granted, even with improving the lot of the commoners, I can’t solve all the world’s woes. It is just a brutal fact that with too many mouths to feed, selling one to save all exists.

It was not until the final trial that the true test of their eidetic memory emerged. The council unveiled a massive falsified tome filled with the names and accounts of the Silver Bank's patrons. It wasn’t like Eve was going to let them see the real thing. The children were given but a moment to peruse its contents before the book was closed and whisked away.

"Elira please recite the accounts of the third, twenty-first, and forty-second pages," commanded the council's head, a stooped, white-haired man with keen eyes. The glass of his silver-rim glasses sparkled in the slowly creeping dusk of a nearby window slit.

Without hesitation, Elira expertly recited the pages from the swift glance she had gotten of the ledger’s contents. One by one, the other children stepped forward, their voices echoing in the cavernous chamber as they flawlessly recounted the requested information from different pages. While the Lady Elira's voice was melodic and measured, Daryn's was rough yet confident. Lyessa spoke barely above a whisper, her voice trembling with nerves. Despite their varied backgrounds, each child demonstrated the remarkable ability for which they had been chosen to compete in a dazzling manner.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the chamber in a warm golden glow, the council conferred in hushed whispers. The children waited with bated breath, their hearts pounding in their chests. For three of them, a life of prestige and purpose at the Silver Bank of Braavos awaited.

Eve looked at the list of names and circled three with her power. She chose to ignore the shaking fingers of the board of directors at her casual display of magic. After recovering his nerves, the council's head and leader of the board of directors stood, his voice strong and clear. "We have reached a decision." Silence fell over the chamber as the children's eyes widened with anticipation. "Each of you has proven your worth and displayed remarkable abilities. Yet, only three can be chosen for the esteemed position of Record Keeper."

The council's head drew a deep breath, letting the tension in the room build to a crescendo. "We have decided to appoint... Elira, Daryn, and Lyessa."

A mixture of elation and disbelief washed over the commoner boy's face, the noble girl’s visage, and the shy farmer’s child, while the other children did their best to hide their disappointment. "As the new Record Keepers, you will serve the Silver Bank of Braavos with distinction," said the council's head, a glimmer of pride in his eyes. "Your memory and talents will ensure the continued prosperity of this great institution. Follow me."

The other children, though disheartened, offered their congratulations to those who had succeeded, their faces a mix of envy, anger, and admiration. For while their paths would take them elsewhere, they could not deny the merit of the council's choice. Before they dispersed an older woman from the council said, “You didn’t think the bank spent ten golden dragons on you for nothing, did you?”

The remaining children blinked before the older council member shook her head and gestured for them to follow. While they wouldn’t be Record Keepers, the remaining eight children would be turned into fearsome Executors and Auditors. Those who would execute the bank’s will, and audit its finances.

As the chamber emptied Eve shifted to the real interview location with Spatial Steps.

Casually seating herself behind a luxurious desk formed with still living heart-core from a wierwood Eve looked every bit the mistress of the Silver Bank. She altered her clothing into a robe that displayed intricate stitching technique with silver thread. An entire array of forest creatures danced upon her clothing. Expensive gem-studded glasses appeared on her face, while silver charmed talismans braided into her hair. One charm for every form of sword she had mastered. Pure rings of ruby, sapphire, emerald, onyx, and diamond were displayed on her fingers in pairs. Each gem sparkled with a twinkling inner light. She even twisted a small bit of mana to add glowing and sparkle effects to her current fancy look. Nothing awes more than a clear display of power.

Looking past the wall of her examination room set to look like a comfortable study Eve said, “Let the boy in first, I’ll take his measure.”

The young examinee sat nervously in the interview room at the Silver Bank. It was clear, even with his commoner background, he had studied hard for this moment, preparing answers to all sorts of questions that he might be asked. Eve was amused and started the conversation off with an icebreaker, “Who is Daryn, and why should he work for my bank?"

The young boy looked startled to see the figure sitting before him. Eve deducted points for his slow response, and more points for choosing to sit in front of her rather than answer the question. Her hair was long and flowing, and her eyes shone with a silver light. Soft incense was gently manifesting from a burner on the corner of her desk. The incense helped release inhibitions allowing truth to flow from the tightly wound examinees.

"I am but a humble applicant," Daryn said upon seating. "I seek to prove my worth to the Silver Bank, and to the world at large."

Eve nodded. "Everyone knows the Silver Bank. It is a place of great power, where the chosen few can shape the course of history. But tell me, why do you seek this power? What do you hope to accomplish?"

Daryn appeared to hesitate, unsure of how to answer. But then, something snapped inside of him. A wave of anger and frustration seemed to wash over him, and Eve found him speaking without thinking as the incense took effect.

"You," Daryn said glaring at Eve. "You shouldn't exist. You are not part of this story, and you were never in the original work. You were never intended to be here. You are a mistake, a blight upon the world."

Eve kept her face impassive as her eyes sparkled while she raised an eyebrow. "Is that so?" She had only the words of her fellow extraplanar beings and natural Divines to work off. It appears that this boy knows more about the world. Strange that he thinks this is a story, though.

Daryn clenched his fists. "You must be a character from a different story. A different world. And yet, somehow, you have been brought into this one. It's not fair. It's not right. You shouldn't be here. This is my reincarnation story, mine!"

Eve regarded the young boy thoughtfully. "I see. You are upset because this world does not conform to your expectations. You believe that the world’s vision has been corrupted, that his creation has been sullied by the presence of….me."

Daryn nodded, his eyes blazing with righteous anger. "Yes. Exactly. It's not right. It's not fair."

Eve gave a sparkling laugh before saying, "And what do you intend to do about it? I sense no magic from you. No hidden power. Your form is as mortal as possible. There is no weave of System mana around your body. You do undisputedly have a perfect memory, but as you could see from this exam so do plenty of others."

The young boy hesitated, unsure of how to answer. But then, Eve felt a surge of determination wash over him.

"I'll fix it," he said. "Somehow."

Eve’s eyes glittered with untold secrets, but before she took drastic action she asked, “Tell me, what year did the White Sox win the world championships?” It was the same question she always asked when searching for those that might be from her own Earth.

Daryn looked confused before he answered, “What are you talking about?”

Eve sighed as she took out a pipe and lit the herbs inside with a bit of magic. “Unfortunate. I truly had my hopes up. This world is not a static thing. It is always changing, always evolving. They all are, I bet. What was true yesterday may not be true tomorrow. And what seems like a mistake today may be the key to unlocking a brighter future. For you though, there are only a few choices left."

The boy was no longer afraid. Daryn felt a sense of purpose, a sense of honesty overtaking him. Eve watched the expression on the young boy’s face melt into a glassy look of compliance. The herbs in her pipe served to help her relax from stress, but the smoke was far beyond most mortal limits. It induced an almost total hypnotically subversive compliance. The entire difference demonstrated the clear superiority of mage’s genetic makeup from mortals.

“Tell me, what did you plan on doing to remedy your current powerlessness?” Eve asked. Gone was the kind hopeful bank manager, and in its place sat the Strange Lady concerned only for her own.

“I planned to learn magic. Along with perfect memory I have almost complete control of my body.” Daryn said with a wooden expression.

“Oh? Then why did the smoke affect you?” Eve asked growing curious.

“There is a magical component of energy within it as well as the chemical one. That is what bypassed my defenses too fast to react to resulting in my current state.” Daryn said with a monotone voice.

Eve nodded, it was barely a smattering of energy to her, but clearly the boy wasn’t a Tier Six.

“Assuming you were able to find a mage willing to apprentice you, how would you gain power after that?” Eve asked. It wasn’t like learning magic was impossible, especially with a perfect memory. She would be more than willing to fund a useful tool for the future.

“Using magic, I can carve my soul and Summon a System to inhabit it. From there it is only a matter of time to ruling the entire planet.” Daryn said.

Eve tapped her fingers as she took a long pull of her pipe. The ability to imprint a System on one’s soul was rather impressive. If she allowed to happen it would be a good lesson to observe. On the other hand, what if he’s twisting the truth?

“Safety first, right Sargeant?” Eve said turning her attention fully to Daryn. Runes carved themselves beneath the boy’s chair twisting things of silver shadows. There was a sharp snapping sound before both chair and mortal vanished.

Kudzu would pump everything needed out Daryn’s mind.

“One more prisoner with a system is nothing to Wilson.” Eve muttered. She had too many plans for the future to let an unstable factor interfere. A thousand years was plenty of time to introduce things like hygiene, paper, fertilizer, and crop rotation. However, she had bigger plans than merely accelerating civilization from the edge of barbarianism. Every working she did was to prepare for increasing the number of dragons R’hllor would create.

Dragons, much like Eve’s own personal Shroud did two things. They increased the amount of magic present in this world, and also provided stable repositories of harvestable mana. At least, that was according to the Fae. Eve would never trust a single source of information like R’hllor without double checking the facts.

“Send in the noble girl, Elira.” Eve said after getting comfortable in her chair once more. She vanished the pipe and removed all the non-incense burner smoke. There was no need to enrapture Elira, it wasn’t likely there was a second Earthling after all.

Moments later Elira flowed through the gently opened door as if liquid. She immediately took a seat before Eve even had a chance to speak. It was an impressive method of striking the first blow without saying a word. While the nobles of this world were lethal as a pit of vipers, they were not without means.

Eve was annoyed and started the conversation off with the same question as before, “Who is Elira, and why should she work for my bank?"

Elira smiled brightly and said, “I think a better question would be, who is Elira, and how can she bring another massive source of profit to my bank. Wouldn’t you agree, Strange Lady?”

Eve’s expression didn’t move a muscle as she waved her hand in a casual gesture to continue.

“Salt.” Elira said. “Salt is the next path that the Silver Bank should pursue.”

Eve straightened up in her chair as her mind raced. I hadn’t planned on introducing salt this early, as only extremely dense populations need to start harvesting from the sea.

“The Silver Bank runs the largest financial operation in the world bar none. It is currently a titan that moves with the planning of centuries.” Elira said her voice sounding sweetly. “Yet for all the profit, it is merely a cover for a far more devious operation. The Faceless.”

“You are well informed, but that is to be expected of a Greenhand.” Eve said with a shrug.

“Since it is a cover for the Faceless, then the one in charge of the bank could be none other than the Strange Lady, the Many-Faced Goddess.”

Eve nodded allowing the girl a small flash of triumph before she became more serious. “You know that with such information, I can’t allow you to leave. However, you must also know I won’t force you into my service without offering value. Continue, raise your stake as you clearly have an endgame.”

“If you have ever eaten at the table, you know of the salt bowl.” Elira said gathering her words. “A wonderful display of luxury but for one vital component.”

“Its shared.” Eve said with her eyes brightening.

“Exactly. Shared. Where wealthy families will sometimes use a spoon, the normal method is just to reach in.” Elira’s face said with a disgusted expression. “Grab what you need, and sprinkle it. The practice is an abomination.”

Eve nodded letting the younger girl continue. “I’ve theorized a device that would eliminate the practice entirely. Might I have some paper, quill, and inkpot?” Eve snapped her fingers letting one of the bank employees bring the required items into the room.

A quick sketch later and one of the most common devices Eve could remember was drawn before her eyes.

A salt shaker.