Nix made a face at her. "That's awesome as h.e.l.l."

/Inferno: Nix: I'm going to turn this quest in. We don't need another guildhall, so I'm electing for a City Center.

/Inferno: Semmi: I think that's smart.

/Inferno: Jun Li: We'll set up a tent city close by. Let's get out of Nix's hair.

/Inferno: Bali: Nix, we've put down the last of the blighted wildlife. There's not much left.

/Inferno: Nix: Thanks. Good work.

**************

It was Nix's first time coming to Scarlett's office. The Clan Leader of t.i.tania sat behind a desk, quietly sipping a steaming cup of something while she hummed to herself. There was a look of peace and contentment that hadn't been there when Nix first met her.

"Clan Leader Scarlett?"

The woman smiled when she saw who her visitor was. "Just Scarlett is fine, Nix; you're part of our family."

Nix handed her the broken Chaos crystal. "Quest turn-in, The Nighthag of Thornwood Keep."

Scarlett examined the broken crystal before setting it down. "Well done. Depending on what option you choose, additional benefits are available."

"We are choosing City Center."

Scarlett clapped her hands in surprise. "That is a great choice for Ionova!"

/Inferno: Mina: I have Nebs here.

/Inferno: Nix: Great. Did you bribe her?

/Inferno: Mina: I had to bring Gideon also.

/Inferno: Nix: Okay.

"This comes with an option to move the town to a number of different locations with the Keep functioning as the central activity hub." Scarlett nodded her head in approval.

You have completed the [Nighthag of Thornwood Keep] quest. Thornwood Keep is now the property of the Inferno Guild. It will act as the City Center of Ionova. Please read through all the available options before you start the process.

"Thanks, Scarlett."

"With the City Center option, you'll be seeing a lot more of us." Scarlett stood up and walked around the desk for a hug.

"Hmm?" Nix gave her an awkward smile. "How so?"

"It has a portal to Free Trader City."

Nix waved and walked out the door. The last thing he wanted was portal access to Free Trader City.

****************

"Don't look at it that way, Nix." Nebs was the one who set-up Loki's layout for Nix; she was a city planner in real life. "This isn't a privately owned city like Loki."

Gideon nodded in agreement. "You have to encourage traffic to and from Free-Trader City. This will bring in more settlers and more trade."

Fajii was listening to the conversation from the kitchen island. "I can bring in a dozen Scorched Earth Temple acolytes to handle the increased need for security."

Nebs pointed to the layout she liked best. "This uses the Keep as the actual center of the city. The bottom level of the Keep will turn into a large congregation of different shops and stores. The top-level has more of the same and an auction house."

Nix rotated the hud, so he wasn't looking at it upsidedown. "The gate platform to Free Trader city is on the bottom level of the Keep?"

Nebs smiled and nodded her head. The short-haired cleric was surprisingly knowledgable about quite a few things. "This becomes a port city; more importantly, the City Center Keep comes with a wall."

Nix let out a long breath. "That's one less thing, I suppose."

Nebs laughed at the sour expression on his face. "Do it little by little, have the population slowly migrate to the new construction."

"Fine. I'll rely on you then, Nebs."

************

An hour later, Nix was sitting down with Fajii, enjoying the meal that the Aquarion had prepared. "Guess I didn't realize that you cook."

Fajii favored him with a smile, "Hyai has been teaching us a few easy meals."

Nix covered a yawn and leaned back in his chair. "Where'd everyone go?"

"Mina took them all back to Haven." Fajii ran a hand through her streaked hair. "Everyone was tired, Nix; we were doing quests for days."

"Maybe it's easier to shuttle back and forth every day to Haven rather than put up a Tent City."

Fajii grabbed his hand and pulled him to his feet, her hands circling his waist when she stepped into his embrace. Her hair was pulled back, emphasizing her vertical irises. "I look different than when we first became friends."

Nix shook his head. "Nope, still the same."

Fajii's dark nose wrinkled slightly. "I had white hair and blue eyes Nix; my skin had a blueish tinge." She held up her arm as if to show him; she was nearly as dark as Ronnie.

Nix shrugged. "I don't look at you with my eyes."

She raised up on her tiptoes and kissed him. "You always say things that make me feel nice."

Nix followed her into the bedroom, and took a moment to stow his armor in the trunk while she got ready for bed.

"Going to head out to the Oberton farm tomorrow. Want to come?"

"Yes." Fajii walked by him a moment later wearing pajamas that Nix made for her. "Sleeping in tomorrow?"

Nix nodded and climbed into bed next to her. "Sounds like a perfect plan."