...They appeared embraced in a stone hall with no doors or windows. Finia's face was buried in Dyan's shoulder, and she sobbed like a small child.
"Did you see the same thing I did?" she asked, without lifting her head.
Dyan held her with the same tenderness of before, with the patience of someone who knows the weight of her tears.
"Yes. Didn't you want to remember it?"
She looked into his eyes, her own wet.
"You saved me back then. It's still an important moment for me, even though I didn't remember it in such detail... that hurt."
"You saved yourself," he corrected gently. "You were brave when no one else was. I just did my part." His fingers gently ran through the girl's curly hair. "You're still as sweet as you were back then: sometimes mischievous, sometimes childish, other times with a wisdom that doesn't match your age. Brave, kind... much more than I was when I was your age."
"Thank you." She smiled, though she knew deep down that she owed him so much of what she was. "Thank you for everything, Dad." She dried her tears and finally looked around.
The hall was built entirely of stone. There were no doors, just walls covered in runes and arcane glyphs that flickered with a pale, fragile light, like stars on the verge of fading.
"What is this place?" she asked, noticing the huge mana stone that floated above an altar in the center. "Is it what I think it is?"
"An altar, like the one in the Scabia tower," Dyan replied, walking toward the center. "This basement was hidden, sealed with space-time magic. It took a long time to decipher the inscriptions to open it. Edictus left it here with a purpose... I think he wanted to create a new mana center. Not just any one, but one that would change the rules, one that wouldn't depend on Scabia. One that would be like Glavendell... a home."
The stone pulsed, releasing a wave of energy that traveled along the walls and disappeared among the stones.
"You knew him better," Finia pointed out. "I don't see any other reason for him to have kept it here. In a way, he wanted to found a new Tower." She rested her fingers on the shiny surface. "This stone is tied to space-time magic... it's like a guide, a lighthouse."
Finia tilted her head, fascinated.
Dyan continued. "An anchor point... like the coin I sent you. But this isn't a common anchor. I would say it's a point of convergence: anyone who knows the formula can return here without needing an object. And leaving from here to an anchor is much easier because of the stone's influence." He smiled with reverence. "It's an immense work. A masterpiece worthy of an archmage like Edictus." His voice broke, though he tried to hide it. "Look at that inscription."
Finia read the first line. "Scabia? So it's possible...?"
"It seems so. Maybe our idea of traveling from one point in the kingdom to another is closer than we thought. Edictus was ahead of us."
Finia's eyes shone with enthusiasm. "If this works... it would be a revolution. It's a shame it's not complete."
"That's what we're here for." Dyan arched an eyebrow. "How could two archmages not be able to finish what Edictus started?"
"It would be a disgrace if we couldn't," Finia replied, planting her hands on her hips with a defiant air. "How exciting! It's been centuries since I've done real manual work."
Dyan suddenly took her hand. "That will have to wait. It's late; we need to rest."
She pouted, though she ended up laughing. "How can you get me excited about something like that and then send me to sleep?"
"Children need to sleep well to grow."
"You're wicked. Did you know I can hold a grudge?" she replied with a mischievous smile.
"Of course. I know you too well, you little rascal." He prepared to conjure their return.
"If you let me sleep in your bed, maybe I'll forgive you."
Dyan burst out laughing. "You always get your way. Do what you want."
The Archmage spoke a few words, and they both vanished in a silver trail. The hall was left empty, save for the mana stone, which continued to exhale arcane pulses like an inevitable underground river, even though no one was watching.
Upon reappearing in the house, Finia ran toward the stairs. "First one there gets it!"
Dyan watched her disappear amid laughter. For an instant, he thought he saw the six-year-old Finia running through the Tower with a loaf of bread in her hand.
"Brat... just you wait." He went up after her in long strides.
The bedroom door closed with a mischievous bang. "Don't come in! I'm going to put on my nightshirt," she shouted from inside, with giggles and the sound of drawers.
Dyan leaned on the doorframe, sighing. "You bandit... making your master wait in his own room."
"You can come in now."
Upon opening, he found her tunic and petticoat thrown on the floor, along with her belt. Finia was sitting on the edge of the bed, holding out a comb to him as if it were a scepter.
"This is your punishment for being late."
Dyan picked up the clothes on his way, shaking his head, and took the comb. "You're not six years old anymore, Finia Valoreth."
"I'll always be your girl," she replied, her chest puffed out with pride. "Won't I?"
He folded the clothes and left them aside. Finia smiled, knowing she had won. "You're a cheat, did you know that?"
She turned to offer him the cascade of her wavy hair. "It's my privilege. A daughter should be whimsical once in a while."
Dyan sat beside her and began to comb her hair with great care, as if untangling threads of crystal. "You're right. Sometimes you should be whimsical, mischievous... even selfish. If it comes honestly from your heart, a father couldn't refuse his little girl's wishes."
"Dad... it doesn't hurt anymore, and there's no sadness. Can I keep this peace forever?"
The comb stopped. Dyan wrapped his arms around her and held her close to his chest. "You can. No matter where you go or what you do. As long as you don't harm anyone, or yourself, seek to be happy. If you're happy, I will be too."
"Thank you, Dad. I've been happy by your side."
He tightened his embrace, his eyes full of tears. They both knew there had been bitterness, wounds, and stumbles, but happiness was the sum of all they had lived, not the cracks that marked it.
"Thank you, Finia. Everything is because of you."
She looked down, her chest tight with emotion. She knew the time to leave would soon come, and every word, every gesture, every hug, was becoming her greatest treasure.