"Take the potions, study diligently.
If you encounter any confusion,"
Leo turned his gaze toward Elarielle.
"You may seek guidance from Lady Elarielle at any time."
"From this day forward, the Dalton Academy is officially established. Lady Elarielle shall serve as its Dean, guiding all who seek mastery in magic, combat arts, and life skills—helping them uncover the true essence of power."
Elarielle started slightly, then accepted with graceful composure.
"I shall give my utmost, and not fail the trust you have placed in me."
Her eyes softened as she looked toward the young men and women, flushed with excitement.
"If you have questions, come to me beneath the World Tree at any time."
"Yes, Lady Elarielle!"
...
Leo nodded with satisfaction, then looked down at Lilith, who clutched his arm, eyes sparkling.
"Are you ready, Lilith? Our journey begins now."
"I’ve been ready for ages! Let’s go already!"
She hopped in delight.
"But... can I bring along some of Ms. Timan’s cakes? Just in case I don’t like the food outside, I mean..."
"Hahaha..."
Leo could not deny his daughter’s sweet tooth.
With a flick of his will, cakes floated out from Ms. Timan’s cupboards, and he clasped Lilith’s small hand.
Before the watching eyes of their companions, space rippled like water around them—their figures blurred, then vanished, leaving only the awed townsfolk and Elarielle’s thoughtful gaze beneath the World Tree.
...
Northern Continent, outskirts of Dalton Town.
Across the wild plains, space churned like boiling water.
Blazing teleportation lights ripped open the sky.
Magnificent arcane airships tore through the clouds, prows carved with monstrous totems.
Huge goblin rotorcraft sputtered smoke, descending with thunderous clamor.
Squadrons of griffon riders circled down, whipping up dust storms.
Noble carriages drawn by rare magical beasts appeared from hastily constructed portals, gilded and ostentatious.
In mere moments, this barren land—once forgotten by all—became a crossroads where the most powerful and infamous factions of the continent gathered.
Royal spies, mage tower observers, temple paladins, mercenary guild leaders, members of secret orders—
all cast wary glances at one another, while greed thickened the very air.
Their gazes, however, inevitably turned skyward—toward the majestic city of Dalton, its vast walls gleaming, and above, the radiant floating citadel bathed in holy light like a myth reborn.
"By the goddess... what is that?!"
"A Sky City... the legendary Sky City—it really exists!"
"This radiance... this mana fluctuation... my crystals can’t even measure it!"
"Look at those walls—that’s... Sunfine Gold, from the records of ancient texts?!"
"And that tree in the sky—is that the elves’ Sacred Light Tree?! Impossible!"
"Could this be... the awakening of some ancient ruin?!"
Exclamations and muttered disbelief rang out in waves.
These worldly elites, usually composed and calculating, now gaped like peasants seeing a city for the first time.
They stared, trembling between greed, envy, and a creeping dread.
"Who rules this place?!"
"Technically, this land is under Blackrock City’s jurisdiction..."
"Where are their representatives? Bring them out!"
A flame-robed elder—emissary of the Royal Mage Tower—snapped impatiently.
Soon, four Blackrock soldiers, pale with fear, arrived carrying a plump, drunken noble in silk pajamas.
This was none other than Count Blackrock, lord of the city, clearly dragged straight from his bed or banquet hall.
Still half-dazed, he stammered, "M-my lords... w-what is it you require...?"
"Silence! Look up!"
The flame mage barked.
Count Blackrock lifted his gaze.
The moment his bleary eyes landed on the radiant floating citadel, his jaw dropped so wide an egg could fit.
He rubbed furiously at his eyes, pinched his thigh hard—
"Ah! It hurts! N-not a dream?!"
His jowls quivered, voice squealing.
He stumbled forward, staring at the massive gates, where engraved letters gleamed:
Dalton Town.
His eyes bulged to near bursting.
"Impossible! This is insane! Absolutely impossible! Just the other day—I collected taxes there! That miserable place was so poor even the rats had left!"
"The tallest building was Mayor Leo Grey’s shabby three-story house! How—how did it... overnight—fly into the sky?!"
"And become this... this..."
Words failed him. At last he croaked:
"...this blinding monstrosity! I must still be drunk on last night’s rice wine!"
His babbling, absurd as it sounded, only convinced the assembled powers further.
Clearly, neither Dalton nor Blackrock City could have achieved such a miracle.
This must, therefore, be unclaimed.
"Useless fool."
The flame mage swept his sleeve, a wave of heat tossing the count like a ragdoll.
The onlookers’ eyes burned hotter with greed.
"So... the townsfolk stumbled on some ancient super-ruin?!"
"No wonder—we wondered how such phenomena could appear here. The aura earlier must have been the ruin’s awakening!"
"Could this mean... the inheritance of an Eternal Magus lies within?"
At those words, faces grew sharper, hungrier.
If the city was unclaimed, then possession belonged to whoever seized it first.
Even scraps of such a citadel would be treasures beyond imagination.
For the great powers, a feast of meat.
For the lesser factions, even the bones and broth would be wealth untold.
And should one claim a true inheritance...
"Tsk, tsk... not merely Eternal Magus—perhaps even the legacy of a being beyond them."
"A being beyond Eternal Magus... do such exist...?"
"Who knows? But such a divine city, left in the hands of northern peasants? It’s an insult to creation!"
"They don’t deserve it."
"..."