The heart of the Tower was a place outside of time.
Its construction had been designed in such a way that no matter which floor one entered it from, we would always end up in the same place.
As a result, on the upper floors where monsters and other threats roamed, the heart of the Tower was always the safest place.
The farther one moved away from it, the more frequent the monsters became.
Of course, monsters were absent from the first floor.
Or at least, they were supposed to be.
The recent attacks on merchants suggested otherwise.
I thought back to the monster in the forest.
A shiver ran down my spine.
Once we arrived near the immense white marble wall stretching several kilometers above our heads, the carriage came to a stop.
A man in armor approached and stuck his head through the carriage window, examining us closely. Then he went toward the front of the carriage and seemed to speak with Doran.
Shortly afterward, the carriage began moving again.
The atmosphere seemed to change. The moment we passed through the gate, I shivered.
Curious, I stuck my head through the carriage window.
Before me, a vast city stretched out beneath my eyes.
Towers with pointed rooftops rose toward the sky while large buildings with enormous glass roofs seemed filled with the most exotic plants.
Oil street lamps lined both sides of the paved road along which our carriage rattled.
In the streets, countless carriages and coaches moved through the city. Trees, bushes, and countless other plants were impossible to ignore, omnipresent throughout the urban landscape.
Our carriage took an incline and began climbing toward what seemed to be the center of the metropolis.
The farther we advanced, the more villas replaced ordinary residences. Golden decorations seemed omnipresent across the glass structures and verandas.
The passersby wore magnificent suits, and the coaches disappeared, leaving only luxurious carriages.
After around fifteen minutes, the carriage stopped before a large white marble building.
Doran appeared at the carriage window and opened the door.
"We've arrived."
Lise was the first to step down. I followed right behind her.
The moment my feet touched the ground, a strange sensation ran through me.
Like an invisible pressure. It wasn't unpleasant, rather reassuring.
The air here was different.
Purer.
Doran, noticing the uncertainty on my face, spoke to me.
"Strange, isn't it?"
"..."
"The heart of the Tower is filled with mages. They even say some magicians and enchanters live here."
"Enchanters?"
"They're only rumors after all. But because of this overwhelming presence of mages, the place is saturated with ether. Some people even come here just to cure certain illnesses."
"I see."
Every breath seemed to fill my lungs with a cold energy that was difficult to describe.
I slowly raised my eyes toward the building before us.
Massive.
The white marble columns supporting the entrance were so wide that it would have taken four men to wrap their arms around one. Golden engravings ran along the stone all the way up to the roof, depicting scenes unfamiliar to me.
A man in a suit appeared to be holding a wand-shaped object aimed at his own skull.
A young girl hidden behind a mask was crying while holding some kind of rectangular object.
A magnificent landscape containing two black suns.
And at the center of that immense facade, a symbol had been engraved in gold.
An eye.
My stomach tightened for some unknown reason.
That eye made me uncomfortable.
[I hate this place.]
You've never been here.
[Exactly.]
Lise approached me.
"Young master, this is the Reception Pavilion of the noble bloodlines. We will stay here until tomorrow's opening ceremony."
I absentmindedly nodded.
My gaze had stopped on the other carriages parked in front of the building.
They were all more luxurious than the last, nothing like ours.
Some were entirely black with silver borders.
Others were covered in golden engravings.
One of them even seemed to have been carved from some sort of dark red wood.
Heavily armed guards surrounded every vehicle.
Instinctively, I lowered my eyes toward my own clothes.
Even though they were of good quality, they suddenly seemed terribly ordinary.
I frowned.
Then looked away.
An arrogant voice suddenly rang out nearby.
"Move this carriage, it's blocking the way."
I slightly turned my head.
A young man was stepping out of an enormous white carriage surrounded by servants. His silver hair was perfectly slicked back, and his long black coat seemed embroidered with genuine orichalc threads.
Three young women accompanied him, each wearing a refined personal maid uniform.
He was probably around my age. But unlike me, he seemed perfectly in his place here.
His gaze briefly swept across our group before stopping on Doran.
Then on me.
One second passed.
Then two.
His expression subtly changed.
As though he was trying to determine which category to place me in. At least, that was the impression I got.
I clenched my teeth, trying to act as though nothing was wrong.
Eventually, he looked away disinterestedly.
"Provincials…"
Doran slightly lowered his head.
"Please forgive our delay."
The noble lightly scoffed before continuing on his way without even replying.
The servants immediately followed after him.
I watched him walk away.
[What a show-off.]
I couldn't see Lena, but I could clearly imagine her sticking her tongue out. The thought made me smile.
Lise discreetly moved closer to me.
"Don't pay attention to him, sir."
She hesitated for a few seconds before continuing in a quieter voice.
"Here… many nobles enjoy looking down on those from the outer territories."
"I see."
"But young master Sebastian often said that their arrogance mostly hid their fear."
I slightly turned my head toward her.
"Sebastian really said that?"
She smiled softly.
"Yes."
A small laugh escaped me despite myself.
That really did sound like him.
Doran then invited us to enter the building.
The immense white doors opened in an almost unreal silence.
The interior was even grander than the exterior.
The main hall resembled a cathedral. An enormous chandelier literally floated in the air at the center of the vaulted ceiling. No chain seemed to support it.
Long banners representing different noble families descended from the upper floors.
Curved staircases ran along the walls up toward the balconies.
The hall was filled with crowds of people.
The conversations around us slowed slightly as we entered.
I could feel people observing us.
Evaluating our clothes.
Our guards.
The way we walked.
I hated it.
A woman dressed in a perfectly fitted black and white uniform approached us with a professional and fake smile.
"Welcome to the Tower Reception Pavilion. May I know your identity?"
Doran stepped forward.
"House Britain. Western Territory."
The woman's gaze immediately shifted toward me.
"The representative?"
I nodded.
"Kael."
For a fraction of a second, something crossed her eyes.
It was almost too subtle to notice, but her eyebrow twitched and her expression changed slightly.
Then her smile instantly returned.
"We were informed of your arrival. Your apartments have already been prepared."
She gestured toward several servants who immediately approached to take our belongings.
"If you would please follow me."
We crossed the hall beneath the gazes of the other nobles who continued chatting cheerfully among themselves.
I kept my eyes forward as much as possible.
But the farther we walked, the heavier the pressure on my shoulders became.
As though something was watching me.
I slowed slightly.
[Kael?]
"…Don't you feel it?"
[Yes.]
Her voice was serious.
[Someone is watching us.]
I discreetly scanned the surroundings.
Nobles.
Servants.
Guards.
Nothing immediately stood out to me.
Then I saw it.
At the very top of the hall.
On one of the balconies of the highest floor.
A silhouette entirely dressed in black stood motionless between two columns.
Its face was hidden behind a smooth white mask.
But despite the distance, I knew it was looking at me.