"So where are you guys from?" Adam walked with his hands clasped behind his head, showing the twins around the South Ward. Currently, they were still in the market area near the harbor.
The twins were curiously looking around. Atiel seemed much more lively, while Daneli put on an aloof outward appearance. However, the curiosity and wonder in his eyes could barely be hidden.
Hearing Adam's question, Atiel replied cheerfully, "My brother and I are from the Baja High Forest!"
"Oh?" Adam was intrigued. "You mean the Baja High Forest that is home to countless elven tribes and myriad magical beasts?!"
"Huhu, that is exactly where we're from!" Seeing Adam's bright eyes, Atiel replied with pride.
Adam didn't think that Berger's visitors would be from beyond the Murky Mountains. So he was very surprised. He couldn't help but ask, "Have you guys been to the Acadian Empire?"
He had heard that the Empire was a land of opportunities, especially for those who walked on the path of Magic. There were countless organizations and institutes for higher magical studies situated there.
Adam couldn't wait to go there, but right now he couldn't. He first had to graduate from the academy after all. The Clover Academy required its students to complete five years before they could graduate, and Adam had only just been promoted to the third year.
Seeing that look of yearning on Adam's face, Daneli scoffed. "Hmph, what's so good about the Empire?"
"Oho?" Adam raised his eyebrows. "So you've been there then."
"I haven't!" Daneli crossed his hands and raised his chin. "But how can something built by humans possibly outshine the glory of Mother Nature!"
Adam rolled his eyes. "Is that so? But you seem to be enjoying Moon City quite a lot from what I can tell."
"R-Rubish!" Daneli's face turned red. "Don't spout nonsense!"
"Ah? Who's spouting nonsense? I wonder…" Adam began picking his ear with his pinky finger, an action that seemed to annoy Daneli even more.
Seeing them banter with one another, Atiel couldn't help but giggle. She thought to herself, Although this Adam is brutish, he's quite funny.
After a long tour of the market, Adam took them to the entrance of the academy.
Pointing at the white marble arch covered in wines, Adam introduced with pride, "That's the entrance to the famous Clover Academy, the number one school of magic in the entire Southern Federation!"
"Ohh!" Atiel looked with shining eyes, and even Daneli was a little moved. They'd heard about this academy from their Teacher. It was comparable to most third-grade and even some second-grade magic institutions in the Empire.
"Let's go in." Daneli started walking toward the entrance.
"Ah, don't bother." Adam pulled him back. "The guardian formation won't let you take a step in."
"What? Why?" Daneli frowned.
"Only students and faculty members can enter the campus," Adam patiently explained, "tomorrow, I'll get two guest tokens for you both. Then, I can take you inside."
Daneli grumbled, "That's so stupid."
Adam shrugged as he started to walk in the other direction. "It is what it is. The academy takes the safety of its students very seriously."
Suddenly Atiel pointed at a magnificent tall tower in the distance that was located within the academy compounds. The tower was so tall that its height was comparable to the royal palace in the North Ward.
"What is that? It's so big!"
Following Ateli's gaze, Adam smiled. "That's the Savant Tower, the greatest collection of knowledge in the Southern Federation."
"Whoa!" The twins were instantly fascinated. Actually, any Magus would be when they heard the term 'greatest collection of knowledge.'
"Can we go there now?!" Atiel asked excitedly.
"I'm afraid not," Adam smiled apologetically. "Visiting times are almost about to end. Plus, like I said, you guys don't have the guest token to enter the campus."
The twins' mood instantly turned sour.
"Can't go here! Can't go there! How annoying!" Daneli spoke in displeasure. He was not accustomed to such strict rules and regulations back in his tribe.
Elves were a species that had a very high affinity for freedom. They preferred to be unrestricted, rather than be restrained by law and order.
Liberty, after all, was the greatest virtue in elven culture.
Adam assured them. "Don't worry, tomorrow I'll get the guest tokens for you guys. And by the day after, you'll be able to visit the Tower."
"Day after?" Hearing this, Atiel's shoulders slouched even more.
Seeing this, Adam's lips twitched. These guys…
He cleared his throat and spoke, "Anyway, let me make it up to you guys. I'll take you to this place I know. It'll give you the perfect view of the city." He looked into the horizon and urged. "Hurry, we'll make it on time if we leave now!"
With that, he turned around and started running.
"W-Wait!" Daneli reached out to him, but Adam had already left. Left with no other choice, the twins had to follow him. They didn't know the way around the city after all.
After more than ten minutes of running, Adam had led them to a small mound in the southeast direction of the South Ward. There, he climbed a huge tree located at the top of the mound. The twins followed Adam and climbed to one of the highest branches.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" Daneli was exasperated, if it wasn't for them not knowing their way around the city, they would have never followed Adam here.
"Brother, look!" Atiel pulled his sleeve while pointing in a certain direction.
"What—" Daneli's words got stuck in his throat when he gazed at the breathtaking view of the city from where they currently were.
The whole of Moon City was visible to them. The lights inside houses and the ones on the streets were slowly lighting up as night fell.
"Beautiful!" Daneli muttered in awe. This was a scene he would have never witnessed in the forest.
As the Aurei River was dyed with the yellowish-red hue of the setting sun, Adam beckoned them to sit beside him. He then took out a wine gourd and three cups from his earring.
After pouring wine into the cups, he offered it to the twins. "Here, try some. I brewed this myself."
As the three of them began drinking wine, the sun had completely set. The twin moons, Selene and Luna, bathed the night sky with beauty and splendor.
The Lunar Bridge came to life!
"Wow!" The twins were mesmerized as they saw the bridge light up like the stars in the sky.
As he sipped the wine from the glass, Adam smiled.
"Welcome to Moon City."