Chapter 392: Reception
On the night of April 2nd, Year 16 of the Magic Calendar, the residents of the High Tower territory celebrated what they called the Victory Festival.
Through the Magic Net “Fantasia,” Ace helped every Wizard Apprentice strengthen their bodies and souls. This elevated the festive mood to its peak—after all, nothing brings more joy than personal empowerment.
Afterward, Ace manifested his Mental Imagery World. Amid, Tus, and the rest of their group stepped into Nightlight City for the first time.
Stepping onto the cool bluestone pavements, they gazed at a sky ablaze with fireworks. The city brimmed with a joyous atmosphere and the rich aroma of food, leaving the newcomers marveling at the sights.
“This city pulses with life,” Amid, the handsome bald man in white robes, said excitedly to his companions.
Hovering in mid-air, Ace pointed to Amid’s group and addressed Betty and the others. “Those are members of the Torch-Bearer Alliance. I just finalized an agreement with their Grand Leader, Nicholas, on behalf of the High Tower. We are officially allies!
“The Alliance is a veteran supernatural faction that relies on zero divine bloodline. They focus on mechanical symbiosis and external mechas. Their Grand Leader matches the power of a 3-Ring Wizard, and they boast four Grand Scholars on par with 1-Ring and 2-Ring Wizards. That bald man in white is one of those Grand Scholars.”
Arno, Daina, and Betty had heard of the Torch-Bearer Alliance before. They looked delighted upon hearing about the newly formed alliance. Betty’s eyes sparkled especially bright when Ace mentioned their focus on supernatural mechanics.
“Lord Ace, does the entire Torch-Bearer Alliance study supernatural mechanics?” Betty asked eagerly.
Ace smiled, noting how Betty’s twintails floated uncontrollably in the air due to her surging magic. “They certainly do,” he replied.
Standing on her silver mechanical disc, Betty bounced in excitement, briefly losing her composure. Her father, Leon—a newly promoted Formal Wizard—quickly grabbed her arm. “You are the rotating chair,” he hissed under his breath. “You cannot lose your manners in front of Lord Ace.”
Betty flushed pink. She curtsied formally to Ace and the surrounding wizards. “Please forgive my outburst, Lord Ace. I wish to handle the liaison duties with the Torch-Bearer Alliance. I hope you will grant me this task.”
Ace laughed, his tone gentle. “Since you volunteered, how could I refuse?”
His expression and voice quickly grew serious. The Mental Imagery World conjured a badge that drifted down into Betty’s hands.
“Betty, from this day forward, wear this badge. I appoint you as the High Tower’s plenipotentiary ambassador to the Torch-Bearer Alliance. You will negotiate the specific terms of our cooperation with Grand Scholar Amid.”
Cupping the dreamlike badge in her hands, Betty glanced at Amid’s shiny bald head reflecting the fireworks, and nodded firmly.
Eddie, an Advanced Wizard Apprentice working in the Magic Department, received a mission in his grimoire just before Amid landed. His task: host the bald, white-robed handsome man and his entourage from the Torch-Bearer Alliance.
Riding his Gargoyle, Eddie felt a surge of adrenaline. This task offered the highest points he had ever seen, and marked the first time the High Tower territory officially hosted an external faction. He scrutinized the brief instructions, nerves pulled taut.
“Give them a tour of Nightlight City? I can handle this. I’ve got this!”
Taking a deep breath, Eddie steered his Gargoyle toward the white-robed man, its heavy stone footsteps echoing down the street.
Amid and his group were busy admiring the surroundings when the heavy thudding drew their attention to Eddie.
“Is that a mechanical device?” Amid muttered. “It looks like a statue. Did they hide the internal mechanics inside?”
The Gargoyle ground to a halt before them. Eddie vaulted nimbly from its broad shoulders, landed on his feet, and straightened his clothes. He doffed his magic top hat, bowed slightly to the group, and opened his mouth to speak.
Boom!
Betty crashed down on her silver mechanical disc, shattering the bluestone pavement into a crater and kicking up a cloud of dust. Eddie jumped in fright, swallowing his words as Betty slowly floated upward from the smoke.
Betty stepped off the silver disc and floated onto an intact section of pavement. Wearing beautiful crystal high heels and a pristine lady’s dress, she pinched the hem of her skirt and curtsied perfectly to the visitors.
She snapped her fingers and murmured an incantation, her lips moving rapidly as magic gathered around her. The mana pulsed in a steady rhythm, forming a glowing sphere at her fingertips. With a point of her delicate hand, the sphere shattered, showering the crater in magic. Within seconds, the pit vanished, leaving the pavement fully restored.
Amid’s pupils shrank. The Torch-Bearer Alliance possessed no such restorative ability. This city truly lived up to its title as the City of Magic.
Betty smiled and presented her dreamlike badge. “I apologize for the dramatic entrance. I am Betty, a member of the High Tower Magic Council, appointed by Lord Ace as the plenipotentiary ambassador to discuss cooperation between the High Tower and the Torch-Bearer Alliance.”
Amid instinctively rubbed his bald head. He swept his white robe back, stepped forward, and extended his right hand. “I am Grand Scholar Amid of the Torch-Bearer Alliance, the plenipotentiary envoy appointed by His Excellency Nicholas,” he said sincerely.
Betty stared at Amid long enough to make him uncomfortable before speaking. “This might sound rude, but I belong to the Mechanical Alchemy School—a branch of alchemy among the High Tower wizards. Our paths share many similarities. Do you want to fight?”
Amid stared blankly. He noticed the silver mechanical disc behind Betty and suddenly understood. The disc dissolved into Activated liquid metal, enveloping Betty in a single breath. The petite, twintailed lady transformed instantly into a towering, imposing mechanical warrior. Metal wings unfurled from her back, whipping up sharp gusts of air that stung Amid’s face.
Amid reflexively tapped his wrist, and a mechanical suit quickly encased his body.
Betty’s voice, pitched and amplified through her armor, rang out. “I didn’t expect you to develop activated liquid metal as well! Our research really does share some common ground. Let’s test our strength, baldy!”
Eddie’s temples throbbed. His breath hitched, and his heart hammered in his chest. He sprinted between the two armored figures, panting heavily.
“Don’t fight! Please don’t fight! Lord Ace ordered a reception! We are in the city center—a battle here would cause a disaster!”
Eddie’s final warning seemed to work. Betty’s towering mechanical form melted back into silver liquid metal, reforming into a floating disc within seconds. Betty stood atop it in her crystal heels and rose slowly into the air, sounding disappointed.
“You, whatever your name is, have a point. This isn’t the right place to fight. Let’s do this another day, baldy. You, take them to the High Tower Castle to rest. We’ll handle everything else tomorrow.”
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