"It's beautiful..." Cassian whispered, his eyes locked on the vast city sprawling beneath him. From the air, the city looked larger than Scarlet Castle, though smaller than the, Scarlet City. Still, it was impressive and breathtaking in its own right. At the heart of the city stood a towering structure, its spire so tall it pierced the clouds.
From the ship's deck, Cassian could see the top of the tower breaking through the clouds, its sharp, golden tip gleaming in the sunlight like a beacon calling out to distant travelers.
The tower itself was a unique sight. It didn't have the typical rigid shape of most towers. Instead, it seemed as though a massive cloth had been draped over a long pole and bound to the ground with large, invisible nails. Its base was wide and sprawling, tapering dramatically as it rose toward the sky, giving it an appearance more akin to an enormous tent than a traditional tower.
The wider, lower portion stretched out like fabric held down at various points, while the upper half grew narrower and sleeker, resembling a long pole wrapped in that same cloth. This gave the structure an odd but captivating silhouette—one that seemed to challenge gravity as it stretched upward into the heavens.
The entire tower was painted a brilliant white, which shimmered under the sunlight, making it visible for miles around. The contrast between its expansive base and its needle-like peak added to its grandeur. As Cassian continued to marvel at the structure, Katherine, standing beside him on the deck, smiled. She seemed just as awed by the view.
"This city is older than both our kingdom and empire," she said, her voice filled with admiration. "There's a legend that the founder built it during a time when knowledge seekers were hunted. This place became a sanctuary, a stronghold where they could pursue knowledge freely.
That tower was constructed as a beacon, meant to be seen from miles away, guiding any wandering seekers here to safety and wisdom."
Cassian nodded as he took in the cityscape spread out before him. There were numerous structures scattered across the vast expanse, though none came close to the height of the white tower—not even its towering base. Yet, some of the estates were far more sprawling, stretching out over large areas, some even divided by rivers running through their centers.
Cassian guessed that the largest of these were likely the universities, given their size and grandeur.
The city itself was circular in shape, surrounded by tall, imposing walls. Numerous ships flew in neat, orderly lines above these walls, entering and exiting through the four massive gates, which allowed passage both in the air and on the ground.
Not all the ships were airborne, though; many had docked on the nearby mountains, where there seemed to be a small population living among the rugged peaks. The buildings clustered around the city walls extended outward for kilometers, hinting at the city's vastness and influence.
Turning his gaze away from the walls, Cassian looked beyond the city. In the distance, beyond the mountains that formed a natural barrier, he caught glimpses of something shimmering—a surface that glowed with a blue, reflective sheen. It was the sea. Though his view was obstructed by the mountains, the faint glimmer of the water was enough to stir excitement within him.
This was his first time seeing such an immense body of water, and the thought of it filled him with awe.
It didn't seem like Cassian would get a chance to visit the sea anytime soon. They needed to settle in first, and the thought of where they would stay crossed his mind. Unsure of their accommodations, he turned to Katherine, who had her mage hat on, and asked, "My lady, where are we going to stay in the city?"
Katherine smiled broadly, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Take a guess," she teased, then pointed toward the city. "It's the biggest structure in sight."
Cassian's eyes widened in surprise as he stared at the towering structure in the city's center. Seeing his shock, Katherine chuckled. "Yes," she confirmed, "we're going to stay in the Beacon of Knowledge."
The only thing Cassian could think of that deserved the name "Beacon of Knowledge" was the massive white tower at the center of the city. He hadn't even considered that they might actually stay there, but the idea excited him. Even though he had lived in a grand castle before, each new place held its own mysteries and discoveries, and Cassian couldn't wait to explore what this one had in store.
As his mind wandered, thinking about the future, he suddenly felt a light tap on his shoulder. Cassian glanced over but saw no one. Then, another tap came on his other shoulder, and this time, he found his friend Julius, smiling at him. "Enjoying the view?" the blue-haired man asked.
Cassian nodded, then turned to Katherine, who seemed amused by the playful exchange. She looked at Julius and said with a smile, "Mr. Raseac, how are you doing these days?"
Julius's smile faded as he looked between Katherine and Cassian in surprise, repeating the motion a few times before finally speaking in a shocked tone. "So, you really are a servant... and not just any servant, but to the eldest princess of the dukedom?"
Cassian nodded, still wearing an amused smile, while Katherine, matching his expression, replied, "Yes, he is. And thank you for sparring with him these past few days."
Julius shook his head, still processing the revelation but no longer as shocked. "No need to thank me, my lady. I enjoyed our little sparring sessions—it kept me from getting bored."
Katherine nodded, then asked, "So, are you coming back from your family?"
Julius had shaken off his surprise by now, his gaze shifting toward the city. There was still some time before they could enter, as their ship was waiting in line with others to dock at the nearby mountains. Without a permit, they couldn't fly directly into the city.
"I am, and you?" he answered with a smile.
"Me too..." Katherine replied casually.
Julius, clearly amused, raised an eyebrow. "They let you leave without any nagging?"
Katherine smirked, matching his amusement. "What do you think?"
As Cassian listened to their conversation, it felt like Julius and Katherine were old friends. He didn't interrupt, allowing them to continue chatting.
"How's my friend doing?" Katherine asked with a chuckle.
"She came back here before me, and she's the reason my family let me come in the first place," Julius replied.
Cassian felt a pang of frustration. He didn't know what they were talking about or who they were referring to, and it made him uneasy. He hoped they would eventually notice his presence and fill him in, so he waited patiently.
"That's a surprise!" Katherine exclaimed, her smile bright with excitement. "I was hoping she'd be here; I really need her help with some research I'm doing."
"So that's why you're here," Julius said, his tone understanding but with a hint of a smile. "I'm afraid she might not be able to help, though, as she's busy with her own research."
Katherine's expression shifted to surprise. "Oh, is she?"
Julius seemed to grasp the weight of her question and nodded, a proud smile on his face. "She is."
Cassian, however, felt left out and increasingly frustrated. He mentally cursed, 'Fuck, I'm here too…'