22 Defence Tower I

Triss led them through a massive metal gate. As it groaned open, a few Novitcius mages, clad in identical dark robes, emerged to greet them with silent, respectful nods.

The stone path beneath their feet was ancient, dimly illuminated by flickering fluorescent lights whose sagging wires traced lazy lines in the dim air.

Aurelia and Friederich walked at Triss's heels, while the three Novitcius drifted behind them like shadows.

When they arrived in the empty courtyard, a strange vessel stood out, its modern form so out of place it disrupted the eerie stillness of the ancient tower. Aurelia's eyes widened in recognition — a spacecraft from Luna Base.

A question formed on her lips, too pressing to ignore. "Why is a DebrisX spacecraft here?" Aurelia asked, her gaze locked on her father's company logo emblazoned on the side of the craft.

"They made an earthfall a few days ago," Triss explained, clasping her hands together. "They've been helping us set up the defence tower ever since."

As they approached the main building, one man stood out from the small group of technicians. He was tall and noticeably overweight, likely in his fifties, with dark eyes and short, dark hair swept to the side. His peculiar orange jumpsuit stuck out like a sore thumb, but he waved at them with a casual, disarming smirk.

Once within earshot, he greeted them with a boisterous, "Hello there, folks!"

Then, his eyes fell upon Aurelia, and his jaw dropped. "Princess Aurelia?!" he blurted, hastily covering his mouth.

"Indeed, she is. And you are?" Friederich questioned, stepping sceptically between them as he noted the man's proximity to the princess.

"Beg your pardon! How rude of me," the man proclaimed, letting out a hearty, wild laugh. "I'm David McDonald, employee number 5897L. Been a coordinator with DebrisX for ten years now."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, David," Aurelia replied, her voice softening into a regal tone. "Thank you for your years of service to my father's company."

David nodded vigorously. "The pleasure's all mine, Princess! And you must be her prime guardian, Friederich Eir Regis." He began to bow, but Friederich motioned for him to stop.

"There's no need for formalities. This isn't a diplomatic mission," Friederich said bluntly.

"Right, right," David chuckled. "By the way, Triss here has been a great help! I actually broke my arm during our landing, but she used her…" He trailed off, struggling to recall the term.

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"Iasis," Triss supplied calmly.

"Yes! That's it! Magic is incredible!" David exclaimed.

He could almost hear Jack laughing at him, a ghostly echo of all the hours they'd wasted arguing about the arcane. Jack had been right all along.

"Well, David, thank you for helping with the lighting set-up," Triss said, her voice carrying a note of genuine appreciation for his work.

"Don't mention it! It's the least I can do. You did fix my arm, after all. Might as well put it to good use!" He checked the time on his bulky wrist device. "Ah, I've got to run! I bid you farewell, m'lady, sirs, and madams!" With a final wave, he faded into the distance.

"What a nice uncle," Aurelia murmured, watching the gleeful man return to his craft, where scattered supplies hinted at ongoing repairs.

Soon, Aurelia, Friederich, and Triss arrived at the dining hall, where they received their rations: a simple loaf of bread and a bowl of pulled beef soup. The meal was bland, but Aurelia didn't complain. She was grateful for the sustenance and the roof over her head.

Triss recounted her story as they ate. She had been stationed here for six months, honing her arcane abilities while assisting nearby villages, treating wounds and diseases.

The once-abandoned defence tower had essentially become a makeshift hospital.

"We aren't the warmongering class, so this is the least we Renaissance mages can offer," she said in her ever-divine voice. "Which is why the gods protect us from malicious titans."

Friederich remained silent, but a different justification formed in his mind. It's because this castle is in the middle of nowhere, next to a haunted forest. There's no strategic advantage in attacking it. Lastly, it appears abandoned.

"I know you feel differently," Triss admitted sheepishly, her green eyes averting his. "I'm terribly sorry for sensing your thoughts. It's an innate arcane trait of mine… one I sometimes struggle to control."

"Wait, you're a clairvoyant?" Aurelia asked, intrigued. It was rare for a Novitcius to develop such abilities.

"Yes… I have Proleptis, but I can't control it well. It happens randomly, like just now," Triss explained, a hint of shame in her voice.

"I'm terribly sorry. I didn't mean to offend you or your beliefs," Friederich apologised with a slow nod.

"No need, Sir Prime Guardian. It's not your fault for pondering, it's my fault for prying."

Aurelia shot Friederich a cunning glance. "Don't think anything perverted around her, or she'll sense it," she whispered teasingly.

A deep red flushed his cheeks. "Of course not! Why would I?!" he blurted, thoroughly embarrassed as the girls chuckled in response.

As night fell, a profound silence enveloped the garrison. Yet, one elven man remained awake, training alone in the northern grounds. The two halves of the shattered moon shimmered through drifting clouds, casting a serene, silver light perfect for focus and discipline.

Friederich conjured his light swords, summoning and dismissing them in succession.

He started with a few, gradually increasing to twelve at once, their ethereal glow a stark contrast to the surrounding darkness. He practised tirelessly, refining his footwork and fencing techniques until his body was drenched in sweat, his coat clinging to his lean, sculpted physique.

He paused, breathing heavily, and looked at his hands.

"Let's try to exalt," he murmured, his mind already visualising the next, more difficult form.

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