After the group finished eating, a trio of young sages showed up to give them a tour. Their leader, a boy around Theo's height with big bushy eyebrows, introduced himself as Novice Oren.
"This is my first time meeting anyone from Earth! I'm honored to be at your service!" he declared, clapping his hands so loudly the sound echoed around the hall.
Theo grinned back. Kind of a relief to know most sages weren't anything like Cay.
Sam and the others tagged along for the tour, even though they'd already gotten a good look around earlier. "Why not, this place is neat," was how Sam explained her decision.
The young sages led them up and down the halls, showing them empty meditation halls, libraries with scrolls stacked inside hexagonal shelves, indoor farms where mushrooms grew in trays of compost, and even peeked into a busy kitchen where dozens of sages labored over steaming pots.
A peek was all they got before the bitter, medicinal smell of the steam proved overwhelming. As the backed away, Ryan made an ostentatious show out of coughing and hacking.
"What exactly were they cooking there?" Theo asked once they were clear of the fumes.
"Oh, those were our potion makers," Oren said. "I heard that was Dedicate Cayelci's specialty when he was here. Seemed like he had an amazing talent for it."
"So he's famous, huh?" said a rapt Fia.
"You could put it that way. I mean, my specialty's totally different and even I've heard about him. He's only the youngest ever sage at Mount Neym to make Dedicate rank, after all."
"Yeah, about that." Theo realized he might have the chance to get some answers. "So, um, you're a Novice and he's a Dedicate and there's the Elder…."
Oren's bushy eyebrows rose toward the diamond on his forehead before a big grin crossed his face. "Oh yeah, you wouldn't know. Those are our ranks. We Novices are in training and haven't made our vows yet. Dedicates and up get to wear white, and when you become a Master, you can leave the temple and travel Tielos. That's what I'm aiming for!"
"Doesn't that mean Cay's a Master? Since he's traveling with us?" Sam asked.
"Hm...I dunno much since it was a while ago." Oren folded his hands behind his head. "But it sounds like he left before he could take the Master exam. Don't know if he's technically even allowed back here? Maybe that's why he's staying in your skycraft."
"Oren, quit gossiping," snapped one of the other sages, a taller girl. "Anyway, let's get on our way."
As they continued walking, Theo couldn't stop mulling over what Oren had said. He tried to piece it together with what he'd seen that night on the deck and what Zenith had told him about Eulyn. If he'd joined the crew at the same time as Eulyn, had she run away too? But Cay had also accused Amaro of seducing her….
And why the hell was Theo wondering, anyway? Like any of this was his business.
He forgot all about it when they reached their next destination – a garden terrace. Despite the icy air, the plants grew dense and green. Beans tangled around poles, little star-shaped fruits dangled from trellis vines, and huge clusters of lettuce-like leaves spread across the ground.
Even standing at the terrace entrance, Theo could feel the Levia pulsing from the greenery. It was like another layer on top of the mountain's deep drumbeat; a gentle song, perhaps.
"This place must have really strong Levia, huh?" he said to Oren. "I can see why you guys decided to live here."
"Actually, it's not naturally like this." Oren rubbed his close-shaved head. "That Levia you're feeling, it's all built up from centuries of sages living and working here."
"That can happen?" Amazed, Theo rested his hand on the rock wall and let its power thrum through him. "It feels like the Levia's part of the mountain itself."
If enough people with strong Levia gathered in one place for long enough, could they actually restore Levia to the land? It must take painstaking work, hundreds and hundreds of years, but...but if more of Tielos could be like this….
Then maybe the Fortresses didn't have to be the only hope out there.
Theo kept these thoughts inside, though. After all, he was still new to this world and didn't understand everything about it yet. Which, come to think of it, might be another reason the Star core had rejected him.
Back in the halls, they headed up several flights of stairs. A new spring entered Oren's step, and more than once Theo noticed him throwing Zenith starry-eyed glances over his shoulder.
Zenith being Zenith, he caught on. "Is something the matter?"
"Ah!" Oren jumped like he'd stepped on a rattlesnake. "Oh, uh, sorry about that...it's just, you're the first homunculus I've ever met."
"She's one too!" Ryan swept his arms at the still-glamoured Avia.
But Oren only had eyes on Zenith. "And, and, and, if I'm not wrong, it looks like you're a knight? That's amazing! I never thought I'd get to meet a knight in real life!"
"I am Sir Zenith of Miria, sworn in the service of Prince Darian," Zenith said, sweeping out his cape. Theo could've sworn the stars in Oren's eyes sparkled even brighter.
"Being like a knight who protects the weak!" Oren went on enthusing. "That's my life's dream! When I become a Master, I'm going to travel Tielos fighting monsters and brigands!"
"There he goes again," sighed his female companion.
Zenith, on the other hand, nodded solemnly. "That is the mindset required of a knight. Your sword is not for your own self, but for the sake of others."
Oren seemed practically ready to faint in delight. If the girl hadn't started dragging him away, he might've stared star-struck at Zenith for an eternity.
His energy came back full force by the time the group entered the next hall. He practically skipped toward the door at the far end, forcing Theo to work to keep up. As they came closer, he heard shouts and clangs from behind the door. When Oren opened it, he revealed a long, narrow training hall where sages were sparring with staves.
Oren spun toward the group, grinning from ear to ear. "This is my specialty! I use my Levia to fight!"
When Theo's Levia twinged, he looked closer and saw silvery light glowing around the staves, leaving trails as they swung through the air. These sages were dressed lighter than the ones Theo had seen so far, in tunics and pants instead of robes.
"I'm one of the best Novices with a staff, if I do say so myself." Oren puffed out his chest. "But of course, I'd love to learn how to use a sword!"
"Enough bragging, get on with the tour." His female companion tugged him away by the ear.
The tour ended just in time for dinner. After finishing the hearty stew and brown bread, Theo leaned back in his seat, feeling exhausted but satisfied.
But before he could get too comfortable, a bushy-browed boy popped up across the table. "Sir Zenith! Might I have the honor of offering you my hospitality?"
Zenith blinked. "Hospitality?" Theo blurted.
"It's a tradition! We don't have guest quarters, so individual sages offer our cells to visitors. Shall I lead the way, Sir Zenith?"
A few more blinks, then Zenith said mildly, "Thank you for the kind offer. However, it isn't necessary."
When Oren made a face very much like a kicked puppy, it took all of Theo's self-control to stuff down a giggle. "I – I know a Novice's cell isn't very big, but – "
"The size is not the issue," Zenith said. "It's simply that as a homunculus, I do not need to sleep at night. I intended to report back to my liege." He bowed his head. "Apologies."
"Oh…." Oren's bronze cheeks flushed scarlet. "I'm sorry, I should have known…."
"But if it's all right with you, would you be open to hosting Theo?" When Zenith rested his hand on Theo's shoulder, Theo almost jumped out of his skin. The warm smile Zenith turned on him didn't help things either.
"Oh. Uh." Oren blinked rapidly. It wasn't hard to guess what was running through his head; some scrawny wizard had to be a significant step down from his knight idol.
But before Theo could tell him it was okay, Oren clasped his hands and lowered into the sage bow. "It would be my honor! Would you like me to show you to the baths first or shall I take you to my cell?"
Theo couldn't help but smile. Though he hadn't known Oren for very long, he already liked him quite a lot. "Whatever's more convenient for you."
"Actually, I would like to make use of the baths after I report to my liege," Zenith spoke up. "So if you don't mind waiting…."
Wasn't he full of surprises today! And here Theo hadn't even known Zenith needed to bathe in the first place.
"Of course, Sir Zenith! We'll wait for you at the baths, then. Come on, Theo!" Already striding away, Oren waved at Theo.
Theo quickly hopped to his feet, though paused to throw Zenith a glance. "Uh...see you?" he said, which earned a sharp nod in response.
With that, Theo started after Oren. It was only after they'd left the dining hall that the realization hit him like a semi truck: he was going to take a bath with Zenith.
It was a minor miracle steam didn't come shooting out of his ears.