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Chapter 56: Overtime

Yesterday, we wrapped the scenes of Aragorn and the hobbits making their way towards Rivendell, with Frodo barely hanging on. Today, it\'s Firfel\'s big debut as Arwen.

The effects team\'s working overtime to amp up Firfel\'s natural charm for the camera. Not that she needs much help in that department.

When we get to Arwen\'s reunion with Aragorn, I decide to dial up the intimacy.

"Let me handle this," Firfel says, her hand finding mine with a tenderness that feels all too real.

I meet her gaze, letting Aragorn\'s centuries of longing seep into my expression. With a nod towards Kurt, I murmur, "He\'s yours."

Firfel smiles, and before she can react, I lean in and plant a quick kiss on her lips. "Go," I whisper.

The surprise in Firfel\'s eyes is genuine, but she doesn\'t miss a beat. She nods, then mounts her horse, Kurt in tow, and gallops off.

"Cut!" I call out, fighting to keep the grin off my face. That little improvisation should add some nice spice to the scene.

Next up, we\'ve got the Black Riders chasing Arwen. As the crew resets, I catch Firfel giving me a look that says we\'ll be having words later. But there\'s a hint of a smile there too.

This scene\'s going to be a challenge to film, but after that last take, I\'m feeling pretty good about our chances.

After hours of grueling work, we finally wrapped the chase scene. Now it\'s time to tackle Rivendell. The set\'s just been completed in a secluded part of Green Forest - another chunk of land I\'ve acquired for the project.

Most of the elven architecture is just for show, facades propped up against the forest backdrop. We\'ve filled in the gaps with magical illusions, creating a seamless blend of practical effects and arcane trickery.

As I review the footage, I can\'t help but feel a swell of pride. It\'s not CGI, but somehow, it looks even better than what I remember from my past life. There\'s a tangibility to it, a sense of wonder that feels truly magical.

The ethereal glow of the buildings, the way the light dances through the illusory trees - it\'s breathtaking. And the best part? It\'s real. Well, as real as anything gets in this world of magic and monsters.

Looking at the playback, I can already imagine how audiences will react. This isn\'t just a movie set - it\'s a doorway to another world. And we\'re the ones who built it.

Changing the topic, today\'s shoot was... interesting. The Council of Elrond scene is pivotal, and most of the cast nailed it.

George, though? Let\'s just say his Gimli leaves something to be desired. But hey, Gimli\'s supposed to be a bit rough around the edges, so maybe George\'s lack of finesse is actually a stroke of genius. After a few takes and some not-so-subtle coaching, we managed to get it in the can.

With filming wrapped for the day, I decided to sneak back to the capital. There\'s been something nagging at the back of my mind - "Harry Potter". It should\'ve hit the shelves about a week ago, and I\'m itching to see how it\'s doing.

I throw on a hood before heading out. Being recognized as Michael from "The Demonfather" would throw a wrench in my plans. Instead of heading straight to Hellfire Stories - they think I\'m off filming in the boonies - I make my way to one of the bookstores I bought to distribute our publications.

As I push open the door, the bell chimes and the receptionist greets me with a cheerful, "Welcome!" I nod back, making a beeline for the shelves. My eyes scan the spines, looking for that telltale title.

I scan the fantasy section, my eyes darting from spine to spine. Nothing. I double-check, triple-check, but the result\'s the same. No "Harry Potter" in sight.

"Weird," I mutter, stroking my chin. "It should be out by now. What gives?"

A knot forms in my stomach. Did something go wrong with the publication? As I\'m lost in thought, the demoness at the reception desk pipes up.

"Having trouble finding something, mister?"

I turn, nodding. "Yeah, actually. I\'m looking for a book called \'Harry Potter\'."

"Harry Potter?" she echoes, and for a moment, my heart sinks.

But then she continues, "Oh, you\'re out of luck today. That one sold out a few hours ago."

"Sold out?" I repeat, not quite believing my ears.

She nods enthusiastically. "It\'s become insanely popular. Book lovers all over the city are clamoring for it-"

Before she can finish, the door chimes and another demon bursts in. "Book lady! Any restock on Harry Potter yet?"

The receptionist shakes her head. "Not until tomorrow, I\'m afraid."

The newcomer groans. "I\'ve been waiting since yesterday!"

As the receptionist and the new customer chat about restocking, my mind races. Out of stock? This isn\'t just good news - it\'s fantastic.

"Harry Potter" didn\'t just make it to publication, it\'s flying off the shelves. A smile tugs at my lips as I slip out of the store, unnoticed in the commotion.

The book\'s popularity seems to have spread by word of mouth. I didn\'t focus much on marketing, too wrapped up in the "Lord of the Rings" production. But somehow, it\'s found its audience anyway.

As I walk down the street, my grin widens. This is just the beginning. If the first book is this successful without a major push, imagine what we could do with a proper marketing campaign for the sequels.

In my past life, I knew "Harry Potter" was a phenomenon. But to see it happening again, in this world, with my own hands... it\'s something else entirely.

I make a mental note to check in with Hellfire Stories soon. We need to ramp up production, maybe even start planning for book two.

***

(Grigori POV)

"Move it, you lazy demons! We don\'t have time to slack off!" I bellow at my workers as we churn out copy after copy of "Harry Potter". It\'s been days of this madness, and I\'m about ready to tear my horns out.

When we first released the book, I didn\'t think much of it. "Relax," I told my team. "We don\'t need to bust our tails for the exiled prince\'s little pet project. It\'ll never catch on."

Oh, how wrong I was.

First day? A trickle of sales. Second day? A bit better, but nothing to write home about. I was feeling pretty smug about my prediction.

Then the third day hit. Hundreds of copies, flying off the shelves. I chalked it up to a fluke, a lucky break.

But the fourth day? Thousands. And it just kept climbing from there.

Now we can\'t keep the damn thing in stock, and I\'m cracking the whip to keep up with demand. Just as we\'re hitting our stride, Marbas from distribution bursts in, demanding more copies.

"Can\'t you see we\'re working our tails off here?" I snap, stress making my voice crack.

As Marbas slinks out, I can\'t help but wonder: what\'s the deal with this book? Is it really that good? Or has the whole city gone mad?

One thing\'s for sure - I never thought I\'d be losing sleep over some human boy wizard. Thanks a lot, Your Ex-Highness.

As I\'m about to get back to overseeing the printing, another interruption comes in the form of a messenger from Hellfire Stories headquarters.

"Mr. Grigori," the young demon pants, clearly out of breath. "I\'ve got urgent news from the main office."

I barely suppress a groan. "What now? We\'re already working at full capacity here!"

The messenger swallows hard. "They... they want to double the print run. Effective immediately."

For a moment, I\'m sure I\'ve misheard. "Double? Are they out of their minds?"

But the messenger just nods, looking as bewildered as I feel. "They say pre-orders for the next shipment are through the roof. We need to meet demand or... or we\'ll lose sales to copycats."

I slump against the nearest printing press, my mind reeling. Double the output? With what resources? What staff?

But then a thought hits me. If demand is this high, if we\'re doubling production... that means our profit shares will skyrocket too.

Suddenly, I\'m filled with a new energy. I straighten up, clapping my hands to get everyone\'s attention.

"Listen up, you ink-stained imps! We\'ve got a new target. Double production, starting now! Anyone who can\'t keep up can kiss their bonus goodbye!"