Nix opened one eye and then promptly shut it. Someone had opened the blinds next to his bed, he grabbed a pillow to cover his face and drifted back to sleep. Nearly an hourter he woke once again, he could hear the clinking of dishesing from the galley below. "Sleepy..." He mumbled to himself as he slowly descended the stairs to the second-floor galley. A woman was washing dishes in the sink, her faded red hair was tied up in a ponytail while she made her way through a tall stack of tes.


    Hyai looked up when he stepped into the room. She gave him an apologetic smile, "sorry if I was too loud."


    Nix shook his head and hugged her from behind, his chin resting on her shoulder. Hyai always smelled like cinnamon to him. "You always work so hard," he mumbled into her neck making herugh.


    They stood like that for a long moment before Nix released her and moved next to the other sink. "You wash, I''ll rinse and dry."


    Hyai nodded at him, she pushed a stray lock of hair out of her face with a suds covered hand. "Thank you, Nix."


    An hourter Nix escorted her back to her Inn, they stopped short when it came into view. The entire Inn was surrounded by a soft golden glow. Nix frowned when he saw it, "the hell is this?"


    Hyai nudged him gently and pointed toward the dock shops, all of them were surrounded by the same glow. "It''s everywhere Nix."


    /Inferno: Nix: Where you at Semmi?


    /Inferno: Semmi: Having some breakfast. Why?


    /Inferno: Nix: Something odd is going on with the town.


    /Inferno: Semmi: We''ll be there in a sec.


    Nix and Hyai walked down to the storefronts together, Nansu, Chael, K, Fajii, and Nova were standing in a circle staring at the dock shops.


    Nix smiled at his shopkeeper. Nova had moved into the second floor of his Tailor shop. "Any idea when this started?"


    Nova nodded her head, she was wearing a blue work uniform that Nix had made for her. "It was 0700 sir. I was organizing today''s product lines when I received a message telling me to exit the shop."


    "It''s not just the dock shops either." Semmi''s freshly washed face smiled at the group, her hair was still wet from a morning bath. She managed to roust both Wind and Pon to apany her. "Every building in Glory, including the Temples. Even the shoreline is covered with that golden haze."


    "The forums say anything?" Nix knew that Semmi read the forums daily, she knew just about everything that was going on in Colonial.


    "Not yet but I don''t need the forums to guess. We were given the Golden Settlement Expansion award, this has to be it." Semmi was looking through the forums for any reference to Golden Settlement Expansion.


    Nix walked closer to his shop and examined it closer. "There''s a progress bar here, a bit under four hours and it will beplete."


    Nova frowned at his words, she kept all her things on the second floor. "I''m going to head to Jenzi to pick up some supplies then, I''ll be back before it finishes."


    [Whisper: Sne to Nix] Inferno was very impressive yesterday. Resolute is looking forward to working with you guys again soon.


    [Whisper: Nix to Sne] We feel the same way. You may pick up the Earth Pearl tomorrow at noon.


    [Whisper: Sne to Nix] Any idea how we can construct an Earth Temple?


    [Whisper: Nix to Sne] Find an earth-based elemental I guess.


    [Whisper: Sne to Nix] Want to share anything about the Scorched Earth Temple?


    [Whisper: Nix to Sne] Do you really need one? You''ll be able to make all the Earth Mages you want with the Earth Pearl.


    [Whisper: Sne to Nix] We could establish some sort of sharing, limited use of our Earth Pearl for the Temple details?


    [Whisper: Nix to Sne] Pass.


    The group sat on the dock and started talking amongst themselves. Nix took the opportunity to take out his letter from Morgan Bolo.


    Greetings Inferno Member,


    On behalf of the Sea Farer faction, I would like to thank you for your valiant effort in capturing and detaining Shidai Oruk. We would like to invite you to visit us in Shangri. Shangri is located in a remote mountainousnd on the Western Continent of Jhabi. Shangri is located in an instance, so it is impossible to ess without the invitation you have been given. You must be carrying this invitation on your person. We look forward to seeing you.


    Morgan Bolo


    He finished reading the letter and took out the Sangri Invitation. It was a t circr stone, carefully engraved with a sea frigate. He noticed Semmi watching him, "so we all got these invites?"


    Semmi nodded. "Even nonbatants like Hyai and Nansu."


    He nced at Hyai who looking somewhat pensive. "Feel like taking a trip?"


    Hyai nodded when K nudged her with an elbow. "I''m not up for any kind of real fight Nix."


    "I am." Nix smiled innocently, "I seemed to remember two charred corpsesying on the street in front of your Inn back in Cyphix."


    Semmi brought up her hud and opened up the world map. "Soon as the upgrade finishes, we could take the entire fleet. Make it a low key guild event."


    [Whisper: Nix to Darsi] Did you receive an invitation to Shangri?


    [Whisper: Darsi to Nix] We all did, no idea what it is.


    [Whisper: Nix to Darsi] Can you take a three-day trip with inferno?


    [Whisper: Darsi to Nix] Sure, we regrly work ahead so we can take a few days off here and there.


    [Whisper: Nix to Darsi] Have everyone who is interestede to the dock today at 1500.


    [Whisper: Darsi to Nix] Will do. Thanks, Trip-7.


    **************


    The hours passed slowly, the group sat on the docks talking, as time went by more and more members of Inferno arrived.


    [Golden Settlement Expansion has beenplied with: Glory]


    All one-story buildings are now two stories.


    All two-story buildings are now three stories.


    Individual building managers may now allocate the bonus floor space.


    Glory Ind has been expanded outward by 30 percent.


    Nix whistled and started walking toward his shop. He brought up the building menu allocated the second floor for business and the top-level as living space. By the time he arrived at the front door, he had already finished. The first floor was exactly the same, so he took the stairs up to the second floor. It was a wide-open space with disy tables and lots of windows, he didn''t bother to go up any further. He had given the top floor to Nora. "I''m going to have to do to way more crafting."


    He walked slowly toward the Inn, the Kindled Spirit''s first floor was dining and the second floor had been lodging. He found himself curious about what Hyai would do with the extra space. He found her leaning against the bar, studying the hud menu.


    Hyai''s pretty face showed her excitement. She looked up at him and shook her head. "I''m not sure what I should do."


    Nix leaned over her shoulder. "Well, the top floor is lodging no matter what right?"


    Hyai nodded and allocated lodging on the third floor. "The first floor is dining for sure." She paused for a moment, "the thing is I need more dining and more rooms."


    "Lots of space on the second floor since there no kitchen. Can you split it?"


    Hyai started trying different options, a smile growing steadily on her face. " I can split it! I can add six more rooms and still double my existing dining space."


    Nix pped his hands together. "My work here is done!" He waited until she was finished and then walked with her up to the second floor.


    /Guildchat: Jun Li: Guild event today, we are taking the fleet to Jhabi. This is designated as a nonbat event.


    /Guildchat: Semmi: All officers need to attend. There are several governing decisions regarding Glory that need to be made.


    Nix frowned and continued to follow Hyai as she went up to the third floor. "Did Bane get that promotion at the Provost Office?"


    Hyai shook her head. "They brought someone in from Wisteria and promoted her instead."


    "Do you mind if I offer him a job here?" Nix opened the door to his room, nothing had changed.


    "Not a bit."