Thirty-first floor of the Arlen Magic Tower.
Though it was already night and the tower had automatically shut down, barring entry and exit, Lucian was a Grand Archanist and naturally unaffected by any of that. He brought Natasha along, jumping from his demiplane, the "Atomic Universe," to his own study on the thirty-third floor, then stepped onto the lift.
The tower at night was extraordinarily quiet. Walking along the silvery-grey corridors, their footsteps echoed loudly, lending the empty silence an eerie atmosphere.
Lucian and Natasha had just entered the section where the "Sky Broadcasting Station" was located when a great white wolf came bounding out. Spotting Lucian, it let out a whimper, dropped flat to the ground, and wagged its tail in a show of eagerness.
"Good evening, Evans… Your Excellency, and good evening, Your Majesty."
Hearing her sweet, familiar voice, Natasha said with a touch of pleasant surprise: "You're the Nightingale? I love your broadcasting. Wait — aren't you Louise? Louise, the musician who went missing in Altor?"
From that delicate face she vaguely recognized and the trademark white wolf, she put together the identity of Altor's newly emerged musician.
"She is indeed the musician Louise," Lucian said with a smile, introducing her to Natasha, "but she has another alias I'm sure you've heard of as well — Mercury, the Magic Apprentice Mercury."
Natasha's mouth opened; she wanted to say something but in the end could only shake her head with a self-deprecating laugh. "The Altor
Before she had met Lucian, she had already learned of the Magic Apprentice Mercury through the intelligence operatives guarding Sylvia, but she never could have guessed that Mercury was also a musician — and had also fled to Arlen!
This was hardly an Altor Mages' Association. It was more like an Altor "Study Abroad" Training Program, Lucian muttered silently to himself.
Louise smiled softly. "Because there's such an outstanding example in a Grand Musician who is also a Grand Archanist. Your Majesty, are you here to visit the station?"
Natasha first cast a smiling glance at Lucian — indeed, quite the example — then laughed brightly and warmly: "Because I adore both your voice and Skylark's broadcasting style, I asked Lucian to bring me along to listen in quietly. I never expected to run right into you. Your real voice is even lovelier than what comes through the Arcane radio."
"That's because the radio and the broadcast quality still can't achieve full clarity," Lucian put in a word on the station's behalf.
Louise, now a third-circle mage, wore a sweet but polite smile. "I'm honored by Your Majesty's fondness, but 'Voice of Mysteries' is about to begin. Please forgive me for rudely taking my leave. Your Excellency,
"No, it is I who was rude. I've taken up your time." Natasha watched Louise enter the "Voice of Mysteries" broadcast room, her mood cheerful. "Meeting the Nightingale right as I arrive — it seems my bad luck is starting to turn."
She was referring to the laboratory disaster that morning, and how she had finally surpassed Lucian in rank. She had been able to surprise him and enjoy the pleasure of dominating him, only to be dominated in return.
"I haven't seen you this polite and gracious in ages," Lucian quipped as he led Natasha past the "Voice of Mysteries" broadcast room door and toward the conference room at the bottom of the tower.
Natasha shot Lucian a playful glance. "My politeness and grace are reserved for ladies only. Heh heh. You'll get your 'chance' someday."
The two chatted and laughed as they walked on. Behind them, Louise in the broadcast room let out a soft sigh. "Her Majesty and His Excellency Evans met so long ago. They must have been a couple back in Altor… and now they've finally overcome every obstacle to be together. How enviable…"
She had clearly noticed that both Lucian and Natasha wore a ring on the left ring finger — Natasha's in particular was a famous piece of dreamlike jewelry, the Holm Crown Ring "Element."
…………
Pushing open the conference room doors, all the Archanists inside, Samantha among them, rose to their feet. They saluted with right hands to their foreheads: "Your Excellency, you are the truth of Element. You wield the scepter of Space-Time."
"No need to go to all that trouble — a simple 'Your Excellency' will do. Everyone's time is precious," Lucian offered with a touch of humor, then gestured toward Natasha beside him. "This is my fiancée, Natasha, Queen of the Holm Kingdom."
Every Archanist, men and women alike, visibly brightened. This was first-hand news — His Excellency Evans had just confirmed his betrothal to the Queen! At the same time, they silently marveled at Natasha's beauty and bearing. Having seen every type of female mage, encountering such a spirited, valiant lady all at once was quite breathtaking — especially since Natasha was already exceptional in her own right.
Samantha blinked, her gaze flickering for a moment, before a sincere smile appeared on her face. "I only just learned of your engagement. Wishing you both eternal happiness."
Natasha paused, then smiled. "You're Skylark? Your voice is even more beautiful than a real skylark's. I'm a devoted listener of yours. You're even more elegant than I imagined."
"I'm honored," Samantha replied, her expression settling back to its usual neutrality. She looked at Lucian. "Your Excellency, it is indeed the Church's broadcasting station. It's called 'Voice of Redemption.'"
As she spoke, the low murmur of discussion among the Archanists gradually died down. The sound within the Magic Circle came through clearly to Lucian and Natasha's ears: "We believe there must exist a principle that all races and all professions accept — it is the virtue of love, mercy, tolerance, honesty, and courage. It is the Holy Light favored by the Lord. It grants peace to our souls and shields us from the corruption of this sinful world. Those who violate such universal principles — evil mages, dark knights, and the like — are depraved, brutal, and vicious. They shall be destroyed…"
"…We are brothers and sisters, embracing one another, reciting the Lord's holy name, receiving the salvation of our souls. This time, we have invited believers from all walks of life to tell you what faith is, and what virtues like love and mercy truly mean."
"…I am a believer from the slums. There, falling ill or being injured often means death. Several months ago, I suffered such a grave illness. Yet I survived, because my neighbors, the priests of the slums, filled with the virtues of love and mercy, treated me and cared for me without asking for any compensation. My body gradually recovered, and during that time, my soul found a peace it had never known before…"
"…I used to be anxious and impatient, plagued by all manner of negative emotions. But through the priests' guidance and my own increasingly heartfelt repentance, I found stillness. I experienced a tranquility I had never known — a harbor and a home for the soul…"
……
"Next up on the program: 'The Cruel Magic You Didn't Know About.' During the recent Londt War, evil mages used live human sacrifices to summon abyssal demons — cruelty beyond measure. What exactly were the details? Allow me to reconstruct it all for you…"
One Archanist couldn't help but laugh. "The Church is shamelessly copying our show format!"