The following week passed in a blur of activity. Each day, children arrived at Larena's office, almost shaking with curiosity and nervousness. They all went through Nova's teleportation, whisked away to the growing sanctuary at the inn.

The room at the inn filled quickly with tiny bodies and wide, uncertain eyes. When one room wasn't enough, they hired another, along with another caretaker. Annelie did a great job of finding potential workers for their new location, so far having found over twenty.

Morning sunlight warmed the cobblestones as Nova stood before the imposing cathedral. The white marble gleamed in the morning light, making the massive structure seem to glow against the clear blue sky. The scent of incense drifted through the air, covering most of the smell from the surrounding lower district.

'I hope to god they've managed to prepare the housing by now,' Nova thought, shifting his weight impatiently. 'I'm sure Sar would use her personal fortune to do it if she had to.'

He'd been waiting outside the grand entrance for nearly fifteen minutes. A cathedral attendant had hurried inside to fetch the bishop, promising a swift return. Or, at least that's what he thought he was doing.

The massive oak doors creaked open. Instead of the expected stranger, a familiar face appeared in the doorway.

"Apologies, Nova," Sar said, stepping into the sunlight. Her gray hair was pulled back in its usual severe bun, and her church robes billowed around her as she descended the cathedral steps. "These guys were so incompetent I had to come here myself to see things done properly."

"Sar," Nova replied, unable to hide his relief. "I much prefer dealing with you, so that's quite alright. Is the place ready?"

Sar's lips curved into a rare smile. "Absolutely! And I think you'll be positively surprised."

The tight knot of tension between Nova's shoulders loosened slightly. "Sounds good. Are we going there now?"

"Yes." Sar glanced down at Nova's small form. "Would you allow me to carry you?"

"To fly?" Nova's eyebrows rose. "That won't be necessary."

'I didn't spend this week doing nothing, after all. Annelie taught me exactly how to absorb beast powers.'

Nova tensed his back muscles, focusing his essence. The fabric of his shirt rippled as transparent wings emerged from his shoulder blades. They unfurled with a soft whisper, stretching barely a meter wide. They gleamed beautifully in the light, refracting it into a small rainbow across the cathedral steps.

"Those tiny things will let you fly?"

"Don't underestimate them," Nova replied, enjoying her reaction. "They're wings of a sylph."

"Oh, among the materials I handed you?" Sar's eyes narrowed with renewed interest. "You might even be faster than me, then."

Nova flexed the wings slightly, feeling the air currents respond to his control. "It wouldn't surprise me."

The wings didn't just allow him to fly. They also gave him incredible control of the wind in his surroundings. A single flap could send wind at near hurricane level in any direction.

"Lead the way," Nova said, gesturing skyward.

Sar nodded briefly. Without visible effort, she began to rise from the ground. No wings supported her ascent—just a subtle shimmer of essence around her form as she lifted higher.

'Huh, I never thought they would figure out magical flight in this world,' Nova thought, watching her technique with interest. 'But maybe it's a magical object.'

When Sar reached a height of several meters, Nova followed. His transparent wings beat once, generating far more lift than their size suggested possible. The ground fell away beneath him as he soared upward.

Together they rose above the cathedral spires. The city of Collport spread below them—a maze of streets and buildings nestled against the sparkling blue sea. People moved like ants along the thoroughfares, unaware of the figures passing overhead.

Sar pointed toward the upper district, where grand mansions and manicured gardens lined wide avenues. A silent signal passed between them, and they surged forward through the clear morning air.

The wind rushed past Nova's face as they flew, carrying the mingled scents of the city—sea salt, cooking fires, fresh bread from the bakeries below. His wings barely moved, yet he kept pace with Sar effortlessly. The sylph essence seemed to understand his intent, adjusting to each subtle shift in the air currents.

They approached the edge of the upper district. Sar began to descend, angling toward a large complex surrounded by tall stone walls. As they dropped lower, Nova recognized the architectural style of an academy—multiple buildings arranged around a central plaza, with wide paths connecting them.

'Oh! That place would be perfect!'

The academy complex consisted of six distinct buildings. The main structure dominated the center, distinguished by a grand staircase leading to imposing double doors. A clock tower rose from its center, with what appeared to be an office directly below—the headmaster's office, Nova assumed.

The surrounding buildings varied in size and design. Two larger structures had the unmistakable look of dormitories, with rows of windows and multiple entrances. The remaining buildings housed what must have been classrooms, a library, and a large dining hall.

"What do you think?" Sar asked, hovering a hundred meters above the central plaza.

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Nova circled once, taking in the full scope of the property. "I would be lying if I said I didn't like it. It looks amazing."

Sar's shoulders relaxed visibly. "That's good. I wasn't sure who to put as the owner, but I can put your name if you want."

"No, it's probably best to use someone else," Nova replied, already planning the logistics. "Larena Hargrave, for example. I think I'll make her the official headmaster."

"Sure, I'll have it arranged." Sar nodded, brushing a stray strand of gray hair back into her severe bun. "You can start using it right now if you want."

"Excellent." Nova's gaze swept across the empty academy grounds. "Did you have to chase the former occupants out?"

"They were very eager to leave once they saw the gold." Sar's lips curved up slightly. "But I'm not sure what happens to the students."

Nova felt a slight worry for the displaced scholars. 'A necessary sacrifice, I suppose.'

"Well, they'll live. Thank you, Sar."

"I didn't only do it because of the contract, you know." Something in Sar's voice had softened. "I'm very in favor of what you're doing."

"I appreciate that." Nova met her gaze directly, studying the sincerity in her expression. "We had an issue with one of the 'Hands of Justice' earlier, but it's taken care of."

Sar's eyebrows rose with interest. "Oh? Morten is the one responsible for this city, right? He's quite competent."

"He is indeed," Nova acknowledged, remembering how he had seen through their plans. He had been forced to take action. "I managed to knock some sense into him. He won't be an issue in the future."

"I take it you've used your rewards to grow in power, then? I know him as one of the greatest fighters in the kingdom."

"I have." Nova flexed his fingers and remembered the fight. The spot where Morten's sword had cut him tingled. "The fight was over quickly, but he did get a good hit in. Then a contract took care of the rest."

"Well done."

"Yeah, thanks." Nova's attention returned to the academy below. "Do you mind if I look around?"

"Knock yourself out." Sar began to drift higher. "I should be heading back, though. I had to push a few things back to get this in order, so work is piling up."

"Well, you're free of most of your contract," Nova reminded her. "Enjoy the freedom."

A genuine smile crossed Sar's face. "I will. Good luck with everything."

"Thanks."

Sar turned gracefully in the air and flew back toward the distant cathedral spire. Nova watched her shrinking figure for a moment before descending toward the academy grounds.

His transparent wings slowed his descent, allowing him to land gently on the great stairs leading to the main building. The stone was warm beneath his feet, heated by the morning sun. A peaceful silence hung over the empty academy.

'I'll need to create a barrier around this place, preferably before I leave,' Nova thought, surveying the grounds. 'But with my current power, I should be able to make something decent. At least temporarily.'

He approached the main doors, finding them unlocked. The hinges creaked slightly as he pushed them open, revealing the interior.

A spacious entrance hall greeted him. Sunlight streamed through tall windows, illuminating white marble floors that gleamed like fresh snow. Two curved staircases led to the upper floor, polished to a high shine. Directly ahead, the ground floor opened into what appeared to be a large lecture hall.

'This place will do nicely. The lecture halls won't be useful for a while, but eventually... We can start the Soul Power production in full. And then the king will learn to fear.'

He climbed to the second floor, exploring a series of smaller classrooms and service areas. Toilets, broom closets, and magical elevators lined the corridors. Enchanted light fixtures hung from the ceiling, brightening as he approached, then dimming as he passed.

The third floor housed office spaces—smaller rooms where teachers would have prepared their lessons and graded students' work. At the center stood the headmaster's office, grand compared to the others, with a large desk facing tall windows that overlooked the academy grounds.

'I hope Larena won't mind this one as much,' Nova thought, running his fingertips along the polished desk. 'She might feel like she's just a fake headmaster at first, but I believe she will fill the role well. She's competent, strong, and has the children's best interests at heart.'

He moved to the window, gazing out at the other buildings. The central plaza below provided ample space for children to play. Even if all two thousand escaped their buildings at once, they wouldn't feel crowded in that open area.

'I'll have to think of a name for this place later,' he considered. 'Or... The New Garden does sound pretty good. I'll discuss it with Annelie.'

Satisfied with his inspection of the main building, Nova returned to the entrance hall and stepped outside. The midday sun cast short shadows across the central plaza as he walked to its center, studying the layout.

A large circular road encircled the plaza, with paths branching out to each building like spokes on a wheel. The design created a natural focal point—the perfect location for a protective barrier.

'No one but employees should be able to enter or leave,' Nova decided, standing in the center of the circular road. 'I don't want the children to escape, at least not without supervision. It should be strong enough to stop anyone weaker than Larena... Speaking of, I might need to give her some more power as well. She shouldn't have to fight, but if she does...'

Nova pushed those thoughts aside, focusing entirely on the task at hand. He closed his eyes, drawing deep into his core.

[Fragment of Nova Gorton equipped.]

Essence flowed down through his body into the ground beneath his feet. It spread outward like ripples in a pond, expanding in all directions. The invisible energy formed, creating intricate patterns of runes, circles, and connecting lines.

Nova adjusted the formation continuously, making improvements as new ideas occurred to him. Anyone bearing a specific essence signature could enter freely from any direction. Warning systems would activate if someone attempted to leave through an entrance without permission, tried to climb over the walls, or attempted to break in from outside.

The barrier would focus its defensive energy wherever an attack occurred, similar to the focused barrier Nova had used against Morten. This efficiency would make it far more powerful than a standard shield of equal strength. Small amounts of liquid and solids could pass through, ensuring rain would fall and sewage would flow normally.

No one would be able to teleport into the academy without a receiving formation inside the barrier. Shadow stepping would also be blocked, though Nova doubted anyone else had mastered that technique in this world.

'I think that's all. At least for now. Finish!'

The formation locked into place with a pulse of energy that Nova felt rather than saw. A shimmering dome appeared briefly around the entire academy before fading to invisibility, conforming perfectly to the walls and entrances.

[You have created the skill: New Garden Barrier (Grandmaster 100%) {Tier 10}]

[A great barrier that will protect against great attacks, preventing anyone except marked individuals from entering or leaving. It is fitted with alarm systems, anti-spatial capabilities, and will let simple forms of non-living material through.]

'Sounds good,' Nova thought, feeling a deep satisfaction at the completion of the barrier. 'I guess I've decided on the New Garden name...'

A sudden dimness made Nova look up. The sky had darkened considerably while he worked on the barrier. The sun now hung low on the horizon, painting the clouds in shades of orange and pink.

'Shit. That divine focus really takes it out of me,' he realized, feeling a heaviness in his limbs. 'But hey, maybe Annelie has found some suitable metal by now. I wouldn't mind getting even stronger.'

Nova stretched his transparent wings and launched himself into the air once more. As he gained altitude, he glanced back at what was now the New Garden—their sanctuary and base of operations. Now, all that remained was bringing all the children from the gardens to their new home.

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