The Perks of Servis

Servis wakes in the morning, and does their usual routine. They stretch, and give praise to the Storm, the Sea, and the Nature. They perform all their actions, with their idol in hand. Then, as usual, they head to the school, to make sure nobody has burned it down in the night.
 
The bulletin board and dropbox were a genius idea. Notes posted in public to encourage the students. Notes discouraging the students are left there as well, as reminders that there are those who hope they fail, and that these voices are the ones to struggle against. But the dropbox was for offerings and requests from Servis. They flip through them, ignoring most, shifting the ones to read later into a pack, but one letter stood out.
 
The seal of Servis's mother was stamped into the wax. They stand there, staring for a moment, before sliding a finger in and opening the letter. Inside was a summons, from a solicitor who managed their family's business interests. They wanted to meet at an address in the south ward, today. With a heavy sigh, they start walking.
 
The address was a run down warehouse, near the docks but not on the water. The solicitor stood out here, wearing their impractical clothes, and a heavy jacket to keep the cold away. Servis, bare armed, did not mind the chill on their skin, and approached. They spoke, as the man explained how well Servis's family has been doing lately, and praised the decisions made on Servis's behalf in the South Sea. Servis did not care. Gold was a means to an end, nothing more to them. The man sees the annoyance on Servis's face, and speeds up what he is here to discuss.
 
Servis will be receiving an increased line of credit. One of the ships that Servis has a stake in had discovered a wreck, filled with jewels and precious metals. The sea had been calm, and the light just right, for the crew to look down and spot the glint. Servis recognized this for what it was. A blessing from Lucetius, for the deal with Black Jonah. "Service has it's perks."
 
Servis asks why they met here, if this was simply an increase in what they can pull from their trust, then a letter would suffice. The solicitor pointed to the building behind him. He explained that the deed to the property was also found in a waterproof container, nobody had claimed the property, allowing them to argue salvage rights, that the trust had no idea how they would utilize the building, and wanted to see if Servis wanted them to liquidate it, since they were in the city. Servis smiled, and told the little man that they would keep the building. And utilize their funds as they see fit here. The man nodded, and they filled out the paperwork to officially transfer the deed to Servis.
 
Servis takes a walk through the warehouse, the solicitor gone. They see the shambles of the abandoned complex. A former guildhall, it seemed, with an open floor plan, and space for improvement. They saw the open space in the entrance, with rotting wood floors. They imagined removing the wood, and replacing it with sand from the sea, a classroom, for educating and nourishing the mind, body, and soul. A lecturer table, where Servis and others can teach the students.
 
They move to the back, a room with a stove build into a wall. The stones were loose, and the floor a mess. Servis saw the room, designed for meals for a guild, and pictured students learning how to cook in this space, a proper kitchen. Students cooking for each other, culture building. Servis moves through the kitchen, and upstairs.
 
Servis finds the guildmaster's room, the bed rotten, curtains stolen, a hole in the roof allowing snow to drift in. They see their bed here, a new, large bed, with room to stretch, and for multiple lovers. They see pillows lain about for lounging, and a place for a fire to warm the room. In one corner, a shrine to Servis's three deities, Lucetius, Rhodenna, and Eosphorus. Opposite to that, they picture a bath. They missed the baths of Vodacce, and wished to be able to share the cultural experience. A large bath, heated, with room for four, or eight Nita's, or just Servis and Nel. Servis chuckles, and heads to the roof.
 
Servis finds the roof, where it hasn't collapsed, to be an unused space. Servis pictured a garden, tended to by a proper gardener, and the children. Food grown to serve to the students, spices and other flavors they have never experienced. They pictured a natural garden, with minimal interference, to bring nature into this inhospitable city. Maybe a greenhouse, to keep the plants growing year round. Servis smiled, mouth watering, and went to work to prepare their new home.