"Are we there yet?" I ask for the umpteenth time.

Mooching books off of Martha, playing with Alwi, and watching the scenery outside could only entertain me for so long… More precisely, for about four hours. Especially since the blanket of snow had turned everything quite uniform and boring in the world.

Snow is nice, I prefer cold over warm since I can always just wear an extra layer, contrary to taking off my skin so as not to get cooked alive. Although magic can solve both… But warm food just hits differently in the winter.

"Yes." Martha replies.

"Really?"

"No." She sighs. "It's at least another few minutes."

"You've been saying that for an hour now." I whine, shamelessly acting like a real brat.

Val is asleep, Alwi is perched atop the carriage, and I've already combed through even my Status, so I'm bored out of my mind.

Elyssia

Age: 13

Celestial Elf

Mana: 14413/14420

Free Points: 51

+1612/hour (-466)

Might: 60

Intelligence: 1565

Mana: 1442

Speed: 630

Focus: 1643(+478)

Willpower: 1612

Endurance: 386

Dexterity: 377

Fortitude: 234

General Skills:

Savant lvl 97

Identify lvl 93

Dodging lvl 104

Pain Tolerance lvl 48

Premonition lvl 111

Survival lvl 66

Maintained Magic lvl 93

Martial Instinct lvl 86

Divided Attention lvl 51

I. Class: Nature's Partner in the Dance - Arcane 127

Arcane Mastery lvl 116

Action for Reaction lvl 107

Mana Perception lvl 114

Focal Mana Trance lvl 105

Ethereal Stage lvl 88

Etherinity's Spark lvl 32

II. Class: Shadowbrand Artisan - Dark lvl 53

Umbral Script lvl 49

Shapeless Lines lvl 47 Art of the Heart lvl 48

Merciless Scrutiny lvl 45

Shaded Embrace lvl 23

Depthless Dark lvl 12

III. Class: *Locked*

Just recently, I managed to nab Depthless Dark. The Skill is basically what I've been doing with my inscriptions – putting them on my body like accessories and deploying them when necessary – but this one allows me to hide some of them in my shadow. It still requires my touch, but I'm liking it.

And it's totally not depthless.

That aside, I'm happy with it. Unlike Survival… That one has been doing absolutely nothing for the past months besides driving me crazy. I like seeing those numbers rise, and that one might not be long for this world.

Although it sure as hell is crucial when out in the Wilds.

"When are we"-

"By the Gods Elyssia!" Martha bares her teeth. "If you're so bored, then go run a little outside or something. Just leave me be already."

Well, well, well… Someone is grumpy.

"Fine." I raise my hands and back off. I'll be the bigger person.

Don't know what her problem is anyway. Maybe she shouldn't've skipped lunch, but who knows…

I unceremoniously open the carriage door – even though we're currently still traveling quite fast – and jump leisurely. Style points matter, regardless of the audience. Before my feet can even land, an explosion carries me further up.

Needless to say, the few escorts provided by the Imperial Army and the Fist don't seem to appreciate my little stunt.

But I feel like flying a little, so to the skies I take. The weather is chilly, but thankfully, I'm literally turning myself into a trail of fire, so that's not exactly an issue. I've learned how to be gentle with my clothing and prevent it from burning to crisps, as well as the mythical art of taking it easy.

I've always thought flying at full speed is the best; however, slowly cruising does have its advantages.

Like watching the frozen river in the distance. Or the snow-covered forest we're passing through. Or the sprawling lake on the horizon…

"What did I expect, really?" I mutter.

I've been staring at this same vista from the window of our carriage for hours, if not days, now. Switching to a bird's eye perspective isn't gonna make the lands burst with colors.

It does make me pity those who have never seen the world from above, though.

Not to mention, from above, I can see the city before anyone else. On the water's bank sits the magical city of Mytralis, the jewel, the Giant's Tear. It's home to almost the entire nation's population, while the rest of the land is a massive backyard for experiments.

Past the white walls and countless gnarly towers stretch towards Solaire, displaying the fierce competition between many houses. Every discovery and achievement grants them the right to build higher and stand above the rest.

An odd incentive, in my opinion, although forcing your rivals to look up to you must be quite the prize.

As we travel a little closer, I finally manage to make out a number of other convoys making their way towards the white hedgehog. Both lines of carriages and broad barges carry the dignitaries in lavish ways as if wasting money was a must.

Compared to them, we look like common merchants.

Although the actual Valerian delegation only arrives tomorrow. Something about arriving late, higher standing, and social hierarchy… Not really my cup of tea.

"Will Martha completely flip out if I keep bugging her?" I'm both curious and frightened of the idea.

With that said, to avoid being confused with an intruder, I land back on top of our ride.

"We're almost there." I say, purely to entertain myself.

***

When we were at the foot of the white walls brimming with mana, I began to despair. But soon after, all my worries crumbled to dust following Martha's revelation. As part of the Imperial delegation, we were eligible for priority passage.

As were about two dozen other carriages transporting dignitaries from all over the continent. To top it off, flight was forbidden within Mythralis.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

Still, we made it pretty quickly and rattled on, passing in the shadows of one towering structure after the other.

"This is the ultimate wiener measuring contest." Val is finally up and of the same mind as me. "So, what's today's agenda?"

Martha looks down from her book and checks her pocketwatch. "The banquet lasts two days, starting today, late in the afternoon."

"Sightseeing and food?" The brute translates.

"Sightseeing and food." I second the motion.

"No, you don't." Our nanny ruins the fun. "Call me whatever you want, but I'm not risking an international incident for the sake of your entertainment."

She did just say something mean, didn't she? Why would there be any trouble when we go around, stuff ourselves immobile and- Anyway, it's prejudiced!

"No, kill me then! I refuse to sit idle for another day!" I throw a tantrum as a last resort.

A surprise escapade could also work. Martha simply can't go all out in such with so many civilians around. Yes, I'll use her teachings of scummy warfare against her…

"Once we're settled in, I'll accompany you for a short round trip." She finally finished her read. "We still need to get you some formal wear, after all."

Uh, I don't like that. I'm good in a shirt and pants, in case something wants to burn down the city. However unlikely that might be…

Looking out the window to thwart my boredom, a certain pattern becomes obvious. The larger towers are mainly towards the city's heart. They are most likely the oldest ones. The discoloration and cracks on the stone often tell tales about each family and their achievements.

Fresh stones show recent success for a number of towers, while many others seem ancient and almost forgotten. Likely the families with nothing to show in recent years, if not decades. The layers also display other facets, like the dynasty's wealth at the time, the architectural trend, or the taste of the owner.

Like observing a tree's rings…

Minutes pass like this as I get lost in deciphering the decades of history before my eyes. Then we finally come to a permanent halt. Not in front of any of the towers, or a castle, or a fortress for that matter…

It was a simple inn.

"Is this because we're basically peasants?" I ask, not even trying to mask my disappointment.

"Yeah. Just because we're with them, doesn't mean we're equal to them." Martha sighs, likely well accustomed to the treatment already. "But I've grown fond of this place already. They've been good to us for eighteen years now."

By the Abyss, how long has the Fist been sending kids to the Academy to advertise war? Putting it that way makes it sound bad, even though I'm quite enjoying it myself… But what's next? Martha will turn out to be Magnus' ancient crush…

"Anything but that." I shudder.

"What?" The hag in question catches my mumbling while crawling out of the carriage.

"Nothing. Can we check out the exhibition first?" I deftly pick a new topic. "I wanna look around while we can."

"Just two hours."

That's all I needed to hear.

***

To convince Martha of how much we've matured and our reliable intelligence, we even restrained ourselves when it came to trying out the local cuisine. Mainly because she refused to pay the bill after learning about our winnings in the Den.

And she even dared chide us about the harmful, addictive side of gambling…

At last, we have arrived at the exhibition venue, found in the heart of the city, independent of all the towers. The place feels like a market rather than an academic institution, selling ideas instead of carpets and stuff.

Countless exhibits under diverse management, all advertising their own results and discussing business… The vast majority of people present are human, with a few dwarfs and gnomes here and there, no beastmen or elves whatsoever.

We begin the round tour by checking on a booth experimenting with turning mushrooms into meat. According to basic magical theory, this should be a fool's errand. One is nature mana, while the other is life.

Although this begs the question… When herbivores consume plants, how do they convert them into flesh? Do they strip the man of its properties before their bodies absorb it or is it simply expelled?

"Want a sample?" I'm offered free jerky.

How naive of me…

I chew and chew, and groan and almost puke. The fake meat we've enthusiastically tried turns out to be a major disappointment. It tastes like lemon peel mixed with grass and something swampy…

"Holy…" I gather myself while Val is vehemently wiping her tongue. "Advertise this as a beast repellent, and it'll surely sell." I give my compliments to the chef.

"I haven't considered that line of thought… Would you like to discuss the idea?" The man's eyes light up.

He's hopeless.

We move on to a much larger stage.

"In the past months, we, the Harven Tower, have achieved great breakthroughs in the realm of magic." The stunning woman takes the podium. Beautiful people are like aesthetically served dishes, and it always works. "We're on the verge of cracking the secrets of earth magic and unveiling the truth behind its nature.

Just what nonsense is she talking about? Maybe another bogus theory on, like the one about earthquakes.

"To uncover these secrets, we needed to look a little closer." The lady shows us a handful of dirt. "We needed to look much, much closer… To discover the minute building blocks unseen to the naked eye. Discovering their nature and the enigmatic forces working in the background proves to be a monumental challenge… But we're making great progress."

Right in front of our eyes, she ejects pure arcane mana from her body, an element common amongst researchers. And a moment later, that very arcane mana goes through a shift that makes my jaw drop. The mana loses its translucence and even gains substance in the form of sand…

It has turned into earth mana.

"Impossible…" My mind goes numb.

Everyone said research regarding the truth behind mana is still ages away from fruition. They never searched, never doubted their concept, and restrained themselves to using what they were granted… And now you're telling me, in mere months, they've scratched the surface?

The binding forces are still off; that much is obvious, but I know what arcane mana taking on a defined nature looks like.

"Eli, was that…" Martha mutters by my side.

"Yes."

There's no denying it.

"Let's move on. I'm sure there's more to see around here." Martha nudges us, but I can barely hear or feel anything.

It feels like watching a piece of me being taken right in front of my eyes. This is what makes me special, my style, my uniqueness, my everything… If the people here crack the microscopic wall and peer deeper, then it's all over. My Blessing will be pointless.

Even walking in the crowd feels like swimming in a turbulent sea.

We watch advanced golems, boasting a mind-bogglingly complex string matrix, to respond to different situations. A mere imitation of the soul and the will residing within it, yet adequate for simple commands. Be that Haul! or Kill!.

Another subject of research turns out to be crossbreeding exotic beasts. It's somewhat akin to chimera research, except the mixing and matching part is left up to nature. People can only pick the ingredients as they call the animals.

The near-perfect nose of a Scavenger Wolf, combined with the speed and endurance of a Blue Mountain Hound… The offspring is the optimal hunting partner, and similar experiments could lead to the birth of many special companions.

"Uh, there's a light show over there!" Val vigorously drags me along.

"I fear this is all we had time for, kids." The time is up and Martha reverts into party pooper mode. "We'll have plenty of time to keep exploring tomorrow in the morning, but it's time we got you something… suitable to wear."

"Can't we just buy something off the display and be done with it?" I ask.

She grabs us both by our collars so we can't escape. She saw through me from the start…

"It won't take more than an hour, and you'll look perfect." She drags us away.

"But I already do!" I state the obvious.

"And what about you? Don't you need a dress?" Val asks, hoping our mentor hates formal events as much as her pupils.

"I already have one." Martha chuckles vainly. "And for your information, I look fabulous in a dress."

"Lies!" I flail. "Nobody likes that stuff, restrictive, and impractical rags. And especially not the events when you wear them!"

Before I can further protest, however, a massive shadow is cast over us, moving much faster than any cloud, followed by a few reverberating growls and a deep, echoing whistle. My eyes are immediately drawn to the sky, discovering the only creature my mind can think of.

"Skywhale…" I mutter.

Three pairs of flippers carry the gigantic blueish body through the sky. Its belly is white, brimming with air magic, while its two pair of orange eyes like humongous ambers observe the world from above. The whale's side and face are covered in armor, clearly human-made, however, the gleaming horn rising from the beast's forehead is clearly a gift of nature.

On the creature's back, an entire estate.

"Three of them." Val can't even close her mouth. "Ours?"

"No, their banner is brown and green." Martha sighs, shaking her head. "When it comes to a grand entrance, no one can match the Federation."

Well, yeah. I can't think of anything that tops three flying fortresses descending from the sky. They could pack an army on each of those backs and invade literally any city on the continent.

I might need to revalue how necessary the magic wieners around Sereban are… Maybe they're not complete overkill.

"Can we look as they land?" I ask without any ulterior motives whatsoever.

"No, you need dresses."

The hag is relentless and shows no mercy. For about a minute, she drags us across the city like two unruly dogs before arriving at a certain shop. Lacy edges, nasuetingly pink everything, and corsets… This is hell of Aelion.

When we barge in, a few customers are already present and discussing business, but Martha cares little about the nobodies.

"Alberto! It's urgent!" She yells for half the city to hear.

From the backrooms rushes forth a halfling like his life depends on it. Well dressed, with scissors and pins in his pockets, pieces of cloth hanging around his neck, and about five different belts around his chest, he looks like a walking wardrobe.

"Who- Ah, you!" She welcomes Martha with wide-open arms. "I hoped to see you this year, again. The usual?"

"Yes." Martha sighs.

"Double the price?" Alberto raises an eyebrow, already guiding us into the shop.

"Yes."

"Ah, perfect." He laughs. Knowing Martha and the Fist's generous budget, we must be quite a source of revenue. After all, who else would buy their wear at the last minute? "For the two ladies, I assume. What color?"

"Blue." "Green." Val and I don't need to ponder much on it.

The tiny man guides us to two stools where we take a seat.

"No! Stand on them!" He throws his arms up. "Younglings nowadays… Now let me see."

He makes several rounds around us, lifting our arms and asking us to assume different poses. While I understand I'm not in the product category, it still weirds me out to get examined this thoroughly.

"Hm, yes. I can see those colors fit perfectly…" He twirls his well-groomed mustache. "The white one is a tad-bit girthy, will need a corset."

"It's muscle!" Val says in outrage. "And I'm not wearing anything I can't move in."

Alberto promptly ignores her. "As for the elf, I'll make something more sleek and elegant." Oh, he knows what he's talking about. Elegant indeed. "She's quite flat, so the dress might require some extra embroidery.

Gods above I swear I'll skin this rat alive and burn this damned shop to the ground. If it means war, then so be it.

Just as my ire reaches unseen heights and I'm about to unleash carnage, a voice reaches my ear.

It hurts. It hurts…

I snap my head around, looking for the source.

Dark, hurts.

"You heard that?" I ask Val, who looks at me like I've lost my mind. "The voice, can't you hear it?" I hiss while the adults talk business.

"Don't make things… up." Her eyes widen. She reaches for her shoulder, pulling Alwi closer and baring her teeth. "Are you sure?"

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