Normally, Magisteria's laws forbade horseback riding within the city—only horse-drawn carriages were permitted to maintain order. But with the war effort underway, certain streets had been designated for military use, all leading directly to the city's heart: the Beacon of Knowledge.
This made the ride quick for Cassian and Lumine. As they approached, Lumine's gaze lifted to the sky, her breath catching. The tower's pearlescent pillar stretched so high that even craning her neck back, she couldn't glimpse its gilded peak.
"It never gets old," she murmured, awestruck. At its base, the structure seemed almost modest compared to its impossible height—yet still spanned half a kilometer wide. Rumors claimed its foundations plunged just as deep into the earth as its spire reached into the clouds, though no one could say for certain.
Cassian doubted even Katherine could explain the tower's mysteries. No one truly understood what transpired within those walls. Aside from Katherine and a handful of others he'd met, Cassian never encountered the same resident twice—as if the tower cycled through occupants like seasons.
"Indeed," Cassian agreed, finally tearing his gaze from the impossible heights. His attention shifted to the kitten peering curiously from Lumine's saddlebag, its wide eyes taking in the bustling city—likely its first exposure to proper civilization.
"And where exactly does your Lady Katherine reside in that place?" Lumine asked, nodding toward the monolithic structure.
Cassian frowned. He'd tried locating her quarters before by memorizing the garden view from her window, but matching it from the outside proved impossible. The layout defied logic—sometimes even the night sky visible from her chamber seemed altered. He'd stopped wondering whether the vistas were real or elaborate illusions.
The only concrete detail Cassian knew was that Lady Katherine's lab occupied one of the tower's subterranean levels—something she'd mentioned in passing. As for navigating the place, the process was deceptively simple: step into one of the mana-powered elevators, and it would deliver him directly to her residential floor. Neither he nor Katherine herself seemed to know who—or what—might occupy the other chambers on that level. The only familiar faces were in the antechamber where Lucy and the other attendants worked.
"Dunno exactly where," Cassian admitted as he secured their horses at the carriage drivers' station. "Somewhere in there. You ever been inside yourself?"
The first time, one of the attendants had escorted him, but after receiving his tower badge, Cassian could come and go as needed.
"Yeah, but only the ground and first floors," Lumine said, carefully extracting the kitten from its pouch. "Just administrative areas for paperwork." She absently stroked the cat's head as she added, "People say tower workers rarely leave the place. Most citizens don't know anyone who works there—just a few high-level mages or elite warriors. You're actually the first person I've met who knows someone inside."
Cassian paused, surprised. He'd assumed tower residents were ordinary city folk who simply worked odd hours. But now that Lumine mentioned it, he realized he'd never encountered any outside the tower either. "Huh. That is strange when you think about it."
"Yeah, it's strange," Lumine agreed. "So far, Grand Mage Yuliresio is the only tower mage who's actively involved in the war. Others contribute by crafting weapons and gear, but none have joined the fighting directly."
As they entered the tower grounds in the evening light, the area buzzed with activity. Citizens strolled through the manicured gardens, while workers streamed in and out of the main entrances. Cassian guided Lumine toward a smaller side entrance leading directly to the mana elevators.
"There might be a reason for their neutrality," Cassian mused. "I heard the current Tower Master was quite the fighter in his youth—even clashed with ninth-circle warriors."
"My sister thinks it's because this is a place of knowledge, not war," Lumine said as the elevator began its descent. After the initial unease passed, she released her grip on the railing, having adjusted to the magical lift's peculiar sensation. "So...what's Lady Katherine like? Anything I should be careful about?"
Cassian paused. His first instinct was to mention Katherine's notorious attention to detail - how she'd once demanded everything be arranged with exacting precision. But lately, she'd grown more relaxed about such things. He suspected his massage treatments - and their more intimate encounters - had eased both her physical tension and her perfectionism.
"Just be yourself," he finally said. "A proper bow when you greet her, otherwise act normally." He had no concerns about Lumine offending Katherine - her natural demeanor was perfectly respectful.
Lumine had once been nobility from a now-fallen kingdom, though she'd been too young to remember that life. Since her sister brought her to the city, she'd lived mostly as a normal civilian - albeit with better advantages thanks to Cassandra's care.
Standing outside Katherine's door, Lumine held the kitten a little closer for comfort. It wasn't every day one met a Ven Dyke princess - whose family's power rivaled the two strongest human empires.
Ravees' surprised face greeted them as she asked, "What are you doing here?"
"Hi, nice to meet you too, Miss Ravees," Cassian said with a smile, then turned to give the surprised guard a grin. "This is my friend Lumine. Lumine, this is my lady's current bodyguard, Miss Ravees." He added casually, "She's a sixth-circle warrior, like your sister."
Before Ravees could reply, Katherine's voice floated from inside. "Ravees? Who's at the door?"
Cassian turned to see her emerge from the washroom, towel-drying her damp hair. She paused mid-motion, eyebrows lifting slightly when she spotted him.
"Cassian?" Her tone carried mild surprise - and justifiable confusion, given she'd only sent him off that morning. "What brings you back so soon?"
"My lady," Cassian said with a respectful bow, which Lumine immediately mirrored, dipping her head slightly lower in deference to the princess. Katherine stood framed in the doorway, her silk bathrobe clinging to her damp skin, the scent of floral soap still lingering around her. Her gaze flicked over them—lingering a beat too long on Lumine, 'She's pretty—what's she doing with him?' A flicker of jealousy sparked in her eyes, quickly masked as she regained her composure. Cassian spoke, "My friend Lumine and I have a favor to ask of you, my lady."