"Well, why do you guys need the satellite network of the Magic Tower?"
After the vivid confrontation, Marianne was shocked to witness how the scary Young Master Henrik change from a heartless, demanding aristocrat into a bubbly young man who cheerfully treated them to the best dishes of his hotpot restaurant. Marianne loved the pork belly slices and she kept refilling Alistair's and her own bowl.
Seeing that Henrik was curious about how the Moon Saint's scanning power works, Marianne pondered a while before explaining.
"When the Demon Spirit ran rampant, it left behind its magic remnants after using magic to blast open its enchanted chains. I collected these magic remnants with my purifying power. Using my clairvoyance skills, I am able to spiritually connect to different locations using a certain vector, and therefore sense if these locations contain magic that resonates and identifies with the Demon Spirit's."
"Vectors?"
"Yes. So, for Auglarus, we used the main church as the core of my spell. From the main church, I was able to connect with locations that hold the same significance and symbolic nature of the main church, such as local churches, nunneries and such. For Clomodor, which does not believe in the Moon Spirit, the closest and densest equivalent to Auglarus' church would be the Magic Tower and its subsidiaries. After all, the strongest belief which is in magic and science was perpetuated through these locations."
"I see. Mister Yurian really had it thought out. As expected from the heir of the Omkaran house indeed. Ah, I do hope that you will forgive me for all the harsh words just now. Half of it are simply meant for agitation, and I must admit it worked a tad too well."
"Yes…" Sylvester strangled his laughter into a cough, "It worked a tad too well, indeed."
Marianne gave him a death glare before gracefully forgiving Henrik.
After the long lunch, Henrik told them to stay two nights as he arranged for the permits to use Clomodor's magic gateways and for the covert mission to enter the Magic Tower. He was going to pretend he was visiting his businesses in the City Central, and Marianne and her friends would be his employees.
"Yurian, where are you heading?"
"Ah, I was thinking of fetching the luggage."
"We will all come along. Sir Quille, where are the carriages parked?"
"Hmm, its right beside the kitchen areas towards the left of the shop's back. Should I—"
"Nah, its okay Henrik, I'll lead them there."
"Thanks Sylvester. Just go to the receptionist for your room keys then. We don't provide hostel services, but you can use my private rooms for the nights."
The four of them walked down the stairs and made their way towards the stables. Alistair lagged behind the group, and when Yurian and Sylvester walked out the restaurant, he quickly pulled Marianne into a blind corner and hugged her gently.
"!!!"
"…Alistair?"
Alistair released Marianne from his hold and looked into her bright eyes. Her face was flushed, and her lips trembled. His heart beat faster, and he did not understand why he felt the urge to embrace his best friend and team mate at this moment, but he felt as if he would suffocate if he did not give form to the overwhelming feelings he felt when she stood up bravely in front of Henrik Quille and the quiet sense of achievement in his heart when he saw that she had grown up.
"Marianne…I just wanted to let you know: I am very proud of you. You did a good job in front of Sir Quille, and I am very, very proud of you."
"T-thank you, Alistair."
They smiled at each other tenderly, and for the moment, the world was theirs alone.