Trails Through Daybreak officially announced for Summer 2024 in the west!
Giliath demands your power stones!
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Along with Naoto, it seemed that everyone had begun to enter a busy time in their lives. Relentlessly, the sands of time began to churn, waiting for no one to come and try to stop it.
Hours soon turned into days, days became weeks, while weeks eventually turned into months.
Back In Liberl.
Estelle and Joshua, together with Schera's guidance, progressed their worldly knowledge of their surroundings to help better themselves in becoming bracers. While their actual exam is still a bit off, the two turned fourteen years of age. They returned to Rolent together with Cassius, proceeding to live the rest of their childhood in blissful ignorance. Estelle also chose to progress her staff training against her father during this time.
As for Schera, she remained in Grancel City, and started to teach another aspiring Bracer, who was none other than Angelica. She was already used to the physical demand a bracer requires, so Schera started to teach Angelica a bracer's knowledge, as she did for Estelle and Joshua. Angelica soon found her time spent more at the guild, studying and helping Elnan with his paperwork.
As for Agate, his time spent in Grancel City, after handling some requests with Cassius's guidance, also came to a close. Instead of taking an airship, the fiery red haired guy started his journey toward Zeiss on foot with only but a rutsack and his sword to his body, to see where his next adventure awaits him.
For Tita, she was quick to return to Zeiss, and reminisce the time she had spent with her newfound friends back in the capital. This, in turn, only got her mother more riled up than usual. Her mother would often turn her anger toward one of the leading disciples of the Epstein Foundation, Professor Russell. Yet little did the two know at the time would Tita get acquainted with a person her mother would eventually come to hate the most.
And as for Kloe, she was now now absent from Grancel Castle entirely. She made way north of Zeiss, at Leiston Fortress no less. There, she would continue her combat training together with Julia, awaiting the day she would start attending Jenis Royal Academy along with Naoto.
Regarding Grancel Castle's latest arrival, Jayna, she was quick to realize that the crown prince has indeed left, but she also saw that the castle's personnel weren't in disarray, acting as if everyone was already used to this situation. Naoto would definitely have a surprise waiting for him once he returned to the castle, and that was Jayna. Decked out with a suit and briefcase, Hilda, the head maid, was quickly notified of Jayna's arrival, as she came based on the recommendation of Leiston Fortress. From there, Jayna entered a harsh training regime, not only as a maid, but handling matters of the castle. Seeing Hilda do it all effortlessly, Jayna became respectful of her.
As Jayna became busy in the castle, she eventually found the private quarters completely vacated. Angelica would pop in every so often, but there was no Kloe, no Ennea, or Renne. Ennea returned to Ouroboros, only to find that Duvalie was absent, and was partaking a training excursion of sorts.
Renne though...
Renne had left the capital city altogether.
Somewhere of the calm waters of Valleria Lake, to the north stood one of the five big cities that encircled the lands of Liberl. Bose was to the north, Ruan to the west, Zeiss to the south, Rolent to the east, with Grancel City resting near the center of Liberl to where the heart of Valleria Lake was. Yet while Bose was bustling with activity thanks to being the largest trading city in all of Liberl, toward the south stood a large tower. It was beyond the city itself, and stood more closer to the lake. One would tread carefully reaching this tower as the path that reached it was littered with monsters, but it served as a good training ground should one pursue the tower.
And yet this tower served another purpose entirely. While it was known for attracting monsters, this place was known as a Gate, one of four Gates to be exact. Unbeknownst to many, this tower, along with three others, held a terrible secret. It was the second barrier that kept one of the seven Sept-Terrions sealed away, the Shining Ring.
Only by activating all four towers when the time was right would the seal to these Gates be undone.
But to most, people just saw this tower as a relic of the past, considering that this tower was first erect during the Great Collapse. Its foundations had stood all the way back to where Liberl was first formed over a millennium ago. Liberl's citizens knew well not to approach this place.
But that didn't seem to bother the two figures who could now be seen standing in front of this large tower that seemed to be solely made out of amber. Each tower also was named after the four basic elements of the land. Earth was the favorable element here. Should one try to fight the monsters lurking within, most if not all is solely composed out of energy of the earth element, so using attacks geared for earth served little purpose here.
As for the two figures though, one seemed to be a small child who seemed no more than eight or nine years old. Yet one would think to approach this small child, as despite being a child, she currently had a large scythe equipped on her body, moving it around with ease as if it belonged to her.
"So this is one of the four Tetracyclic Towers huh?", The small child said, marveling the sight before her.
"Yes. We have been tasked to scout each one out. They have not seen the light of day to many, so it is likely there are challenging monsters inside. Are you sure you are up for this though? It hasn't been long since you've become an Enforcer, even if you have me around.", The second figure said, looking down at the purple haired girl. Yet as this person asked that, the purple haired girl only tilted her head.
"But of course. I am not that small and feeble child you used to know back on the ship. I spent a lot of effort to become an Enforcer like you guys. I wonder, could you even keep up with my pace? Hehe.", The girl said as she giggled. She was of course Renne. No longer residing in the castle thanks to Naoto's absence, she had found time to wander to where she was given a mission for by Ouroboros.
"Fair enough. I could use this time to judge and see how much you have improved. Bleublanc, Walter, and Luciola should be approaching the other three towers as we speak to scope them out. With any luck we'll have the towers secure to proceed the Gospel Plan.", The second figure responded.
"Hmm, is this really the best for us, though? We should be grateful for Big Brother leaving the country so we can do as we please here. But considering he is one of us, I doubt he would hinder the plan. What do you think, Big Brother Loewe? Oh, wait, you go by Lorence now, right?", Renne asked revealing a playful grin as she observed the figure of a man before her who was mostly covered away by a helmet and an eye shield.
"Call me whatever you like. His Highness's absence is definitely a boon for us. But if I'm speaking honest, I'm more surprised you didn't take him with you to this place, only to call me instead.", Lorence said, looking down at Renne.
"Well, Big Brother has some unfinished business to take care of. Remember that knight lady? Seems Big Brother's following a similar path as she once did. I'm curious to see if he will be able to get the toy he wants, just like how I got Pater-Mater.", Renne said with a smile.
"Knight Lady? You must be referring to the Seventh Anguis then...Even I would reconsider going up against her. I do know much about that Divine Knight business either. Perhaps should there be a chance, I ought to discuss it with the Professor.", Lorence said, musing to himself as he took the time to draw out his sword. It was Kernviter, a Divergent Weapon granted by the Grandmaster the same time Naoto received his. Naoto received Verbrannteis, McBurn Anbar, while Lorence Kernviter. They were weapons that defied the laws of this world, each one powerful in their own right.
"Well, we can only focus on what is now before us. I do wish I could bring Pater-Mater inside, but I fear the tower would crumble if I did that.", Renne said, shaking her head as she observed the Amberl Tower.
"Understood. Let us make way for the top.", Lorence responded. Sure enough Renne and Lorence soon entered the tower with growing interest to what laid before them...