Andrei set foot on the summit for the first time. Rather than the grim, cold stronghold of some pagan cult he had imagined, the plateau before him resembled a vast, empty wilderness. It felt like a world still emerging from primordial chaos, with creation not yet complete. Many of the buildings did not even have names and could only be identified by pointing at them.
The place was clearly in the midst of an enormous construction project. Spellcasters possessed extraordinary productive power, and nowhere was that more apparent than in the forceful way they reshaped nature.
To an outsider, these mysterious people merely stood in place and chanted a few incantations, causing walls and towers to rise from the earth.
In reality, building a city atop a flying enclave was an extremely complicated undertaking.
Because a flying enclave was an enclosed environment with limited natural resources, its residents could not simply gather abundant construction materials from the surrounding countryside as people on the surface did. There were no quarries or logging camps here.
Everything required by the construction sites had to be brought in through portals.
When they needed earth and stone, they opened a portal to the Elemental Plane of Earth and either placed an order with the local earth elementals or mined the materials themselves.
The Elemental Plane of Earth was an endless solid world filled with rock, soil, and mineral veins. There was no weak, empty expanse called a sky, only countless varieties of stone and an infinite network of tunnels and caverns. No matter which direction one dug, one would never reach open air.
The Silver Tree's roots had spread into the Elemental Plane of Earth, allowing Skylrael's mages to open planar portals there with ease and establish a secure foothold. They usually cast the 5th-level spell [Transmute Rock: Rock to Mud], transforming enormous quantities of stone into flowing mud before pouring it through a portal onto the flying enclave.
What followed was not all that different from children building castles on a beach. The mages shaped the mud into whatever forms they desired, then used [Transmute Rock: Mud to Rock] to turn the loose material into solid stone. Just like that, they had a sturdy and dependable building.
The structures on the summit possessed a distinctive style. Nearly all of them were towers, covered galleries, or flat-roofed houses. Several homes and towers were usually clustered together to form fan-shaped neighborhoods, with broad thoroughfares left between each district.
Almost every building had an exterior of white marble. The point of each fan-shaped neighborhood faced the Silver Tree at the center. Their colors were consistent and their proportions remarkably precise, producing a sense of harmony and comfort. There was clearly a comprehensive urban plan behind everything.
Skyl would have called himself a veteran Cities: Skylines player.
The towers usually stood at the outer corners of each neighborhood and were linked by low covered galleries, forming partially enclosed walls.
The courtyards inside served as communal spaces. They contained lawns, gardens, ponds, short-range teleportation chambers similar to the Floo Network, public dining halls operated by magical servants, communal baths, laundry rooms, ordinary waste-processing facilities, hazardous waste-disposal sites, speaking platforms, and many other amenities.
Compared to the primitive, ramshackle shelters occupied by the kobolds at the foot of the mountain, the summit was truly impressive.
Livia lived with her companions in a four-story tower.
"This is the house they've assigned me for now," she said. "But I'm planning to build a wizard's tower of my own. My application for a plot of land has already been approved."
"This is a pretty nice place. Living on the summit certainly has its advantages."
Andrei stood on the balcony outside a third-floor bedroom and gazed toward the Silver Tree. In the distance, he could see a dragon coiled among its roots.
"They're eventually going to build an advanced school of magic around the Silver Tree," Livia explained. "They'll invite extremely powerful professors to teach there. Supposedly, only master-level spellcasters will be qualified to study at the school. Beginners like me can only settle around the outskirts."
Andrei asked the question that truly concerned him. "Are these mages working voluntarily? Are they being paid?"
"Um... the work is voluntary, but they aren't paid."
The moment Livia saw Andrei raise an eyebrow, she knew what he was about to say. Children raised in merchant families always carried a set of scales in their hearts, carefully weighing the returns offered by every action.
"Listen to me first, Andrei. No one is forcing us to work. Skylrael will be our home from now on. The neighborhood we're standing in was deliberately built by the other mages to serve as housing for newcomers. It was a gift. As children of the Silver Tree and seekers of knowledge from the Tower of Tomes, we never hesitate to share."
"So you're all one big family?" Andrei asked sarcastically. "Do you honestly believe anything in this world is free?"
"The knowledge of the Tower of Tomes is free."
"And yet I've heard that everything here must be purchased with a form of currency called Candle Flames."
Andrei deliberately twisted what he had heard. Strongpaw had not actually said that. He had merely explained that Candle Flames could be used to purchase things or offered to the Silver Tree.
"Candle Flames are a form of power originating from the soul."
Livia was no longer the ignorant girl who knew nothing about magic. Since receiving The Wizard's Practical Guide, she had thrown herself into her studies and rapidly expanded her knowledge.
"The High Tower King kindled Himself with Candle Flames, then used that fire to kindle us, allowing us to ascend and walk the path of enlightenment. In the future, we will use our flames to kindle others so that they, too, can gain the knowledge and power needed to change their lives."
"So this is missionary work. You've become a priestess." Andrei's voice hardened. "You still haven't answered my question. Are Candle Flames a currency or not? It seems obvious to me that the High Tower King wants you to collect them so He can use them for some secret purpose."
"They are, and they aren't."
Andrei laughed in exasperation. His sister was clearly trying to argue her way around the truth.
"Andrei, Candle Flames can certainly be compared to gold and silver, but they're a gold mine extracted from people's minds. They can only be used as currency when trading knowledge and Memory Stones. To me, they're a consumable resource. As I continue bathing in their light, I will one day draw closer to the High Tower King, become His disciple, and share in His eternity."
"Everything you're saying is becoming more ridiculous by the second. Only gods and fiends are eternal. When someone promises eternity to a mortal, it is a lie!" Andrei shouted, fury filling his chest. "This High Tower King is nothing but an evil god, and this entire organization is a malicious cult! Livvy, forget all of this immediately and come home with me."
Livia said nothing. Her face turned cold as she stared at her brother with sharp, piercing eyes.
Andrei Miko raised one hand and clenched it into a fist. In the end, however, he released a long sigh, lowered his arm, and strode away, leaving Livia behind with tears silently running down her cheeks.
His stomach churning with suppressed anger, Andrei stormed aimlessly through the streets. He intended to find that tiefling, the devil's accomplice, and demand answers from her. He wanted to know how to break the magic placed upon his sister and how they could escape this accursed city.
"Hello there, young man."
An elderly mage seemed to appear out of nowhere and warmly caught Andrei by the arm.
"You have quite a few doubts troubling you, don't you?"
"I do, sir, and I'll speak plainly. This is no place for decent people. It twists good people until they become completely unreasonable, and I refuse to remain in such an environment. I'm going back to the surface immediately. Please tell me how to leave, should you know the way."
"Who did you just visit?"
"What business is that of yours?"
Andrei glared at him. The old mage's lips moved as he casually waved one hand. A soft voice then whispered beside Andrei's ear, sounding almost like one of his own thoughts.
You can trust the man standing before you.
Andrei froze for a moment, then took a deep breath.
"To tell you the truth, I went to see my own sister, Livia. But the people here have completely brainwashed her. She sincerely worships an evil god called the High Tower King. I'm trying to find some way to save her and help her escape this nightmare."
Elminster was always eager to aid a troubled young man, so he immediately offered some advice.
"Young man, you don't even understand your opponent. How can you expect her to believe you when all you have are empty accusations? You need evidence, something proving that this flying enclave is evil. Only then will you have a chance of convincing her."
"That makes sense, but I'm afraid I'm alone here."
"Don't worry. You have me now. How about this? I'll return with you, and we'll gather a few trustworthy companions. Tonight, we'll quietly investigate the Silver Tree. I have a feeling that you'll find the answers you need there."
"All right!"
Andrei immediately found the proposal tempting.
That night, the stars shone brightly overhead.
The dragon resting beneath the Silver Tree suddenly raised its head and opened its cold draconic eyes. It stared across the lake, where nothing appeared to be present. Only the faint scent of human flesh and the briny odor of the sea drifted on the wind.
The dragon watched the empty shore for several moments, then released a deep, mocking snort.
"Reveal yourselves, skulking invisible creatures. Otherwise, my breath shall tear you apart."
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