Harven Tower.

"Are you sure?" Val asks at the foot of the soaring structure. "Alwi doesn't seem agitated or anything."

That's true. Valka's little birdie is also a spirit and has a strong connection to mana, arguably stronger than even me. Still, I'd rather be wrong than idle. And even if it's something else, I think it's worth investigating.

"I trust your nose, so you trust my mana sense." I say, because simply answering yes would be a lie.

We're fortunate to have stumbled across this voice of mana during these two days of celebration, otherwise, I don't know how we'd get in. To welcome onlookers, investors, and fellow academics, the tower's gates stand wide open, inviting us in.

A private exhibition, open to the public.

"Best put on your best resting bitch face, Eli. That's your specialty." Val fixes her posture before we enter.

Whether we're welcomed as noble brats depends only on our demeanor; the clothes and looks are in order.

"No, wait!" I raise my hands. We've forgotten something crucial. "I'm not human, I can't be a noble, not in Valeria."

"So that means…" Val's lips curl into a smile as she visibly catches on. "You're my servant."

Yeah, that really is the case. I'm starting to doubt that whisper of mana is worth all this… But the Abyss damn it, we're already here.

"After you, my lady." I bow my head and swallow my pride.

It's only acting, Eli. Val only plays a role, it will get into her head, but bear with it for now.

To my great surprise, Valka's demeanor does a complete turn. All emotions evaporate from her visage, turning into a regal mask of a pretty face and nothing else. Her back straightens, her posture lithe yet powerful, and she holds her arms gently in front of herself.

As a warrior, Val has immense control over her body, and he imitation of a strict noble is simply flawless.

She steps with certainty and purpose as if every soul present were hers to command. Eyes inadvertently fall onto her, curiously observing the noble beauty walking in their midst. For our age, we're powerful enough to belong to the upper class, yet I fear the lack of guards might give away our play.

I can only attempt to mimic Val's performance, relying on my agility and experience in dancing to borrow a trace of noble elegance. People do part in our path, allowing us through and into the tower without any hiccups.

Unlike the main fair, this location is a lot more restrained. It's clear the ground floor holds no special facilities, and I've already noticed a pair of guards at the staircase. Down here is only what they want us the see.

With that said, I could spend a few hours here, looking around.

Hadron crystal carved into a fine art of the Flow across the ceiling, depicting Solarie and gentle winds… some top-shelf true eyecandy. The lines themselves are the source of mana, illuminating the hall constantly and controlling the temperature.

It's excessive but super cool.

And then there's a model of the Stardust Cannon. I remember how much I wanted to get my hands on one of those… And now it's here, and I'm merely a maid.

Despite my yearning to explore, Val merely strides past the displays, throwing aloof glances left and right. Mainly because she understands almost nothing about any of these items. Probably everyone with a smidgen of influence is currently in the ballroom, wasting their time so we stand out. A lot.

"Excuse me, young miss, may I be of assistance?" A man about Mom's age approaches us, showing a surprisingly honest visage.

"Perhaps." Val almost whispers. "My maid here, you see, is quite fond of magic. So I entertained her pleas and stopped by for a quick tour." She glances at me like a pet. "Albeit, I must admit, I was hoping to discover a little more about the subject of your tower's exhibition. That sand…"

Her terminology is a bit lacking, but she has learned to bullshit from the best. Pair that with a basic lack of care, and she genuinely does sound like the matter is of no concern to her.

"How generous of you. Your servant is truly fortunate." The man smiles.

"Oh, she doesn't even know." Val flashes me that very same smile, spiced with some mockery in her eyes.

"About your request…" The mage's smile falters as he looks for the appropriate words. "It is a very delicate matter. Results are still volatile, and no visitors are allowed up there."

So it is above us. I'm certain there are also at least two levels below us, but this narrows it down.

Val crosses her arms, dragging her eyes across the scene. "So this is all we are meant to judge your tower's grandeur by… Unfortunate." She sighs. "In that case-"

"Wait!" The man interrupts, visibly sweating. "Some of the floors… I might be able to get authorization to tour some of the floors. Just give me a moment." He was about to run off before asking one more thing. "If I may, young lady, who might you be?"

Nice, we have this in the bag.

But Val lets the question go unanswered for an uncomfortable amount of time. Only then do I remember her knowledge about geography, and noble houses in general, is abysmal.

At least she can improvise. "If you're so curious, then visit the most recently arrived Skywhale and make your inquiry."

"The Valerian delegate…" The man pales. "An honor." He doesn't linger around any longer and disappears before his face can turn any whiter.

This little farce has drawn even more attention in our way, but we cannot show any cracks. Things are going better than I expected, and we cannot waste this opportunity.

Help. Nobody.

I can still hear the voice.

"Eli, I don't know how much longer I can keep this up." Val whispers. "Be fast!"

I'm fully aware. With every lie, navigating the conversations becomes a bit more strenuous. She can only keep up the act for so long, and I need to look through as much as possible in that short timeframe. Defenses, traps, facilities, and the chance of a trapped spirit…

I might only have a few minutes.

It takes even less for the poor fellow to crawl back, this time with someone more composed in tow. A colleague of his, no doubt, dressed slightly more lavishly, about twice as old, and greeting us with a professional attitude.

"I apologize for the delays and would like to once more welcome the young miss in our humble tower of wisdom." He bows his head respectfully. "I've heard you show great interest in our research and would love to become more invested. Am I right?"

Val replied swiftly, still controlling her act. "Indeed, that is, if it's truly worth my attention."

"I can assure you-"

Val gracefully raises a hand. "Forgive me, but it is proof I'm looking for, not promises. I found the demonstration somewhat lacking."

That's my bestie, she lies like a true professional.

"Shall we?" Val pushes her luck a little further.

Her control over the conversation is firm, and her insistence leaves the two men little choice. Hesitation is written all over their faces, forced to choose between conceivable funding and a potential security risk. Although that's just a semblance...

Principles and resources occupy the top two spots when it comes to the craft and experiments. It's an eternal truth that my professors shared with us proudly to keep in mind. They shape the path to results. In the end, though, money sits firmly on the top spot.

"Very well, please follow after me." And my intuition is proven correct almost immediately.

And we do. Through the shelves of junk displayed to the public and sold at exorbitant prices, all the way to the staircase. The two guards placed at the path leading up both stand aside to give way to their superior and place their hands against the wall.

This is where Mana Perception comes in. What inscriptions run deep through the walls, I can't make out, but there's clearly a faint mana signal under their palm. On our way up, I also discover a number of other sensors, preventive mechanisms, and even deadly traps across various steps. All of them are built firmly into the tower.

I'm not delusional, this is simply beyond my abilities. Not to mention merely the two men stationed below could whoop our asses in no time. Forcing our way in is out of the question, and dealing with the protective magic promises no better odds.

"Tell me, what led you to such incredible breakthroughs?" Valka tries squeezing some more information out of our guides.

We arrive on the first floor, which seems more like an office rather than a laboratory, so we keep climbing. Compared to the entrance to the staircase, this area is far more leisurely guarded. Not a single soul, and only a few cleverly placed sensors.

"At first, it was merely rumors about a child in our mighty neighboring Empire." The elderly man explains. And I feel like I know who he's referring to. "However, it was a coincidental discovery that led to true progress in our research. We stumbled across something incredible."

Goodness, I wonder what that incredible thing that lets us experiment with mana could be… This basically settles one of our objectives, but we're still not done here.

Stolen story; please report.

Val keeps talking while I don't let my eyes rest. "I understand the secrecy. Any competitors?"

"Bah, I highly doubt it." The man leads us further up. "Our edge is… insurmountable." He smiles secretively. If only he knew what's sitting on Val's shoulder. "We're now entering the mana laboratories, but will only tour the first two floors as the third is strictly off limits."

Something immediately catches my eye… Equipment imbued with layers of mana and inscribed so thoroughly that I can't make head or tail of it fills the floor. Everything is top-notch, and even beyond the tools we're given in the Academy.

But exactly because of this, no inscriptions are guarding the starcase or any doorway. The amount of ambient mana would render them dysfunctional otherwise. This is optimal. Yet reaching up here is what's causing a major headache.

My eyes get drawn to the windows, offering a great view over the street and likely allowing plenty of light during the day. Of course, things aren't that easy… On the windowframe and lock, there are faint lines of the Flow, completely impossible to crack the conventional way.

Force it open, try to meddle with the magic, shatter the glass… Half the city will know right away.

My eyes meet Valka's, and I nod towards the window. "Well, can you show us around here? What is it that makes your tower stand out? And how could my family aid your cause?" She reads my thoughts right away.

"But of course!" The man's eyes light up. The fish is finally caught on his hook.

Proudly, he introduces a plethora of machines and measuring devices – most of them foreign, even to me, let alone Val. We walk along, nod, and keep him chatty.

Then, all of a sudden, my mistress decides to show surprising interest in a mirror that reads a magical presence. A device in the corner, boring but fairly secluded.

This is my mark.

I back away slightly and pick up a piece of tissue from a desk. No mana shenanigans or anything, I merely open the window to a crack and stuff the paper into the latch. This way, it won't be able to close properly.

A simple solution to a complicated problem.

With my task done, I swiftly return to Valka's side. "Miss, the time…" I gently remark as if reminding her of something important.

"Hush, you mongrel!" The man snaps at me. "Know your damn place and speak only when spoken to!"

For a moment, Valka's face is overwhelmed with rage, but she manages to calm the storm before the researcher's eyes return. She was about tear his spine out and shove it up his ass – which I appreciate greatly – but now is not the time.

My friend throws me a contemptuous glance. "Indeed, her training seems to be inadequate…" She sighs. "Yet she speaks the truth, duty calls. Expect my response soon, I see a lot of potential in what you're working to accomplish here."

"Of course!"

Poor bastard seems so relieved and proud that I almost feel bad for him. We've wasted a good portion of his night, all for empty promises and lies…

I'm starting to think those Class options about deception and trickery aren't a simple coincidence.

We say our farewells on the way down, along with discussing finances and further support from Valeria. In truth, we could've most likely disabled the man and made our way up to accomplish our objective. This was a great opportunity… But the risks are far too great.

"I look forward to meeting again, young lady." He smiles as we leave, yet my ears also pick up on what he whispers next. "Check the inscriptions and make sure to keep an eye on them!"

Hehe, maybe he isn't as gullible as it first seemed.

We return straight to the ballroom, where social mingling is still in full swing. The topic brought up by our dear host has stirred up great interest in the topic of the Abandoned World.

And yet, I doubt anyone is interested in those faraway lands merely due to pure curiosity. Profit, land, power, resources… There's a lot on the table, and everyone wants a share of the pie.

"There you are!" Martha finds us first. "Tell me nobody died and you haven't broken any laws yet!"

Does impersonating a noble count? Not if it goes undiscovered, I guess…

"No." Val and I answer simultaneously.

"Uh-hum…" Martha knows us too well. "His Majesty wants to see you."

"Us? Why?" I ask, really not a fan of the request.

"No, little devil, it is you he wants to see." The hag turns serious. "Right here, you have nothing to worry about, but also no right to refuse. C'mon, I'll accompany you."

I silently comply. There's no room for whining or playing bratty when one wrong move could result in capital punishment. Sure, if anyone were to try anything funny with such a massive audience and top-notch security around, consequences would be unavoidable.

But I simply dread even looking into that man's eyes.

We navigate between tables and groups discussing matters far above my peasant understanding. Val sticks close to me, and Martha is leading the way, until we arrive to the table in the colors of Valeria.

"You Highness…" I step forth and curtsy, keeping my head bowed until I'm told otherwise.

Even without looking, I feel a cold, oppressive gaze fall onto me. "At last, the girl who controls the elements." I find the voice both pleasant and unbearable. "Share with me, do you think the research they pursue here into the arcane holds any promise? You must've seen it, their results with earth magic…"

How does he even know that, or know about me? And this question, especially after my little tour with Val… It can't be a coincidence.

Lying pops up in my head as an option, but then I remember Mom's words about twisting the truth.

I take a deep breath and answer, keeping my head low. "It's hard to tell, Your Highness, since the results are easy to fabricate." A truth. "I cannot imagine a researcher conveniently stumbling across such a profound discovery." Another truth. "We can only hope it's true, alas, I can't see it coming to fruition."

My final conclusion could also be interpreted as the truth. If things go according to my plans, we really have nothing to worry about. People, especially those constantly surrounded by opportunistic elements, tend to learn how to discern the truth.

So it's better to tell the truth.

"Could you not aid them, perhaps?" Kastor asks, as if he knew only about my abilities but not their limits.

"I'm afraid that is impossible." Martha chimes in to the rescue. "For years, we've tried to extract even the smallest detail, without any success. It seems the Blessing would rather kill her before she could share her secrets."

"Unfortunate." The prince sighs, all part of the theatrical plays I hate with burning passion. "Nevertheless, I commend you, Elyssia, for your quick thinking and great results in our beloved Academy." He waves me off. "Look out for yourself. The negotiations might get a little… heated."

"Thank you, Your Highness." I bow a little deeper and flee as gracefully as the rules of etiquette allow.

He's definitely onto something. I really hoped neither I nor Val warranted any special attention, but either I was wrong, or this bastard has the sharpest intuition on the continent.

For now, at least, the crisis has been averted. All things are going according to plan. Now we just need to wait for tomorrow night's show. The grand finale to this unexpected outing of ours.

***

The next day we spent cooped up in our rooms. The festivities stretched long into the night, and we ate enough to last for days. We were feeling a little lazy.

But more importantly, it was likely that we were being watched. Not just by the prince's men, but also the employees of the Harven Tower. Doing nothing meant making no mistakes and not giving away any of our intentions.

Martha did find our behavior odd, but we merely blamed it on the sudden change of plans. I'd still rather spend what time I have outside the Academy with my family, rather than around the greatest inventions of the continent.

The two choices aren't even comparable.

Alwina made sure we were kept entertained, and any spare time was used to rehearse our grand plan.

Finally, it night fell onto the city, and it was time for us to depart once more.

"Same thing as yesterday?" I ask Martha while she helps us dress.

"Mostly." She nods. "Although yesterday was simply the appetizer. The true deals are made today."

"Uh, yeah, I'd be fine with some appetizers." Val chuckles, trying to act like she isn't wearing boots instead of her heels.

"And there'll be fireworks as well. One of four places they're annually wasted across the world…" Martha adds, grabbing my friend by her ear. "How many times have I told you, huh?"

The rest of the preparations go just like yesterday; however, instead of riding the boat of light, today we get into simple carriages and ride towards the venue like everyone else. To me, the mood feels the same, the music is the same, and the guests haven't turned into monstrosities either.

At least the food is still great…

Now we just need an opportunity to slip away. And before we can overeat, the clinking of glass interrupts the sea of pleasantries once more. Another speech, as if anyone actually cares…

Of course, Val and I don't waste this chance and dip like true professionals.

"So we climb?" Val peels the heels of her feet, standing at the foot of the tower. She sheds her corset and rips her delicate skirt apart.

Modesty be damned I guess…

"Well, you will..." I huff. "There's no way I can scale a wall that smooth. But wait a little!"

"For what?"

As if timed in agreement with the universe, the first wailing spark climbs up through the air. It fizzles out for a moment before bursting into a colorful play of fire and light. Fireworks are just fancy explosion magic, but they definitely deserve the awe.

"Go!" I tell Val and climb onto her back, right next to the brave Alwina, riding along to save her kin.

It is a magic tower we're trying to break into. Using magic to trick the security would be like playing with fire. Our only hope is that people are too busy looking at the sky instead of oogling the boring stone wall we're trying to scale.

Or at least Val is, but I'll consider it a team effort.

Her fingers dig into cracks and crevices I can't even make out, pulling our combined weight up impressively. I mean, flying would be a lot more elegant, faster, and definitely cooler… But fire isn't exactly the most subtle of elements.

We face our first massive hurdle before even reaching the second floor.

"Stop!" I hiss, my eyes on a ring of mana running around the tower. Because, of course, there are security measures on the outside.

I was naive. But I'm not stupid. Birds must be taken into consideration when it comes to sensory inscriptions of this type. Size, and distance…

"Val, leap away from the wall!" I offer the only solution I can come up with, my eyes of an outstandingly massive ball shooting up towards the sky.

She doesn't question my words. If there's something I can't do, it is her job to solve it, and vice versa. Now we sail through the air, reaching the top of our flight curve and beginning to lose altitude a moment later.

"Eli!" Val growls, but I wait.

Only when the shriek of the firework goes silent do I clap my hands and propel ourselves upward with a loud bang of wind. The gales wash over the streets without much I can do, but the sound of my magic gets drowned out by the magnificent bang of a fiery skyflower booming.

Val adeptly latches back onto the wall and continues her climb, soon reaching the fourth floor and the window that decides it all. Was my meddling discovered or not…

I tap the window gently, and it slides open.

"Fuck yes!" I whisper and climb through.

We're in. Whether or not this was the difficult part, I can't yet tell, but it's already behind us, and that's all that matters. What's more concerning is that we're not alone.

"What are you-" Before the young woman in white coat can raise her voice, I force the air around her to turn static.

Val lunges at her, wrapping her fingers around her throat, forcing her to the ground in one fell swoop. A bit brutal against a mere civilian, but we have no choice. Instead of letting my friend strangle the poor researcher a moment longer, and leaving her even a second to do something we might all regret, I put her to sleep with an arc of electricity.

"That was close…" I whisper with my heart beating in my throat.

For a second time, we failed to consider a significant factor in our heist. If not for our honed instincts, our hesitance could've cost us dearly. Still, time is not on our side, so we move on with absolute caution.

Hurt. Cold…

Okay, okay, we're moving already.

With silent steps, we climb the stairs, finding no more surprises in our path until we reach the sixth level. There, a locked door stands in the way of our progress.

"Can you?" Val looks at me rightfully.

But I'm no proper burglar. "No way. Mimicking the shape and matching the manasignal without missing a beat is like trying to have lunch while the food is on the other side of the continent."

"So we're fucked?" She summarises our situation.

Yet before the despair and helplessness could truly set in, Alwi jumps off the brute's shoulder and sticks her head into the lock. The moment a signal of mana enters the hole, a mana pulse is sent out that either gets transmitted through the proper key's shape and wavelength or… Dooms us basically.

However, before either of us can scream or panic, the door clicks open.

"Hoot!" The owlet ruffles its gleaming feathers and declares victoriously.

"How the hell…"

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.