"Welcome to the city of Ars, a city that has been slowly transformed by our hands. The four towers surrounding the city all belong to Uruk. As for the platform floating in the sky, that's the Mage Tower, and it's where we're heading."
Kaelen looked proudly at the massive floating platform. It had been given to them by Gilgamesh, who had told them it was a temporary place for them to learn magic. A sacred place, a unique site where magic would naturally and progressively flourish.
Sylphy gazed at the enormous tower with a mixture of excitement and wonder. She had never seen anything so incredible in her life. In just a few seconds, numerous questions flooded her mind.
How does that thing float?
How many mages are there in that place?
Are all of them mages under Gilgamesh's command?
As the ship passed through the clouds, they saw numerous ships unloading what appeared to be large crates of food, books, and many other items.
"Who are they?" Sylphy asked when she noticed a group of children who seemed afraid of their surroundings.
"Ah, them?" Kaelen looked toward the port, where dozens of large ships were unloading not only goods but also young children, elderly individuals with magic staffs, and teenagers who appeared to be excited by the sights.
"They are new recruits for the Mage Tower. These children were trained before coming here to learn magic, as they were once slaves. As for the elderly and the young, they have joined the Mage Tower to enhance their powers and explore magic that is forbidden in other places." Kaelen explained with pride. He, a simple mage of Saint class, had become an Emperor after being integrated into this tower.
It didn't take a genius to understand that this place was unimaginable for any mage, an incredibly prestigious place where one could live and die solely for magic. Both he and everyone else who had come here were here to learn about magic and, above all, to seek new opportunities in their lives.
The elderly became teachers, the children became apprentices who spent their days casting unnamed magic and depleting their mana reserves. Those who were formerly slaves would be educated in other basic doctrines while enjoying the rest of the day playing.
"How many people are here?" Sylphy would have wished for Rudeus to be in this place, but those thoughts were slowly erased as she remembered her father's words, where he said that everyone had an adventure waiting for them and that there were amazing things in every corner of the world.
"No more than fifteen thousand. You should know that most adult mages are in buildings or libraries, learning magic, while others are in training chambers, and the rest are simply teaching the younger ones." Kaelen replied as he disembarked from the ship along with the knights and the body of the woman who had been a Human God's Apostle.
Sylphy had so many questions, but she limited herself to asking the most basic ones, so she continued, "Are they all mages?"
Kaelen smiled and shook his head, "No, of course not. There are cooks, tutors, masters of other doctrines, and guardians to protect the younger children."
As they arrived at the floating platform known simply as the Mage Tower, interesting things were about to begin for them, and even more astonishing things were happening elsewhere.
...
City of Roa, several months later.
Gilgamesh stood atop a mountain overlooking a massive construction that was nearing completion on its exterior. This structure was a fortress hidden amidst towering mountains.
This place would be where most people would be relocated before the magical eruption, which was estimated to occur in about a year, perhaps sooner according to Gilgamesh's calculations.
In the area, there were mages, mercenaries, and knights, along with workers who were diligently following the construction plans as Gilgamesh had instructed.
"Why does this structure look so strange?" Rudeus asked. Since the last time he had spoken with Gilgamesh, he had become somewhat reserved in his behavior, both towards Gilgamesh and Eris.
"Don't be silly. This structure is a dome that surrounds what's inside. Even though it may look basic from the outside, inside that place is an incredible area where everyone would wish to live for the rest of their lives." Eris replied, dressed in much lighter clothing.
"I still think it's just a strange-looking ball. Do you know why they're building this in the middle of nowhere?" Rudeus didn't understand why so much effort was being put into constructing this place in such a hidden and remote location.
"I have no idea, but there must be an explanation for it," Eris said as she glanced at Gilgamesh, who was unusually silent.
In the distance, Gilgamesh frowned as he watched a heavily armored woman carrying large wooden crates while engaging in a stamina race with a man in the same location. That woman was Amy, one of the Spirits summoned by Gilgamesh and one of the most troublesome among the nine Spirits he had brought to this world.
"Medusa, have you analyzed a way to prevent the mana explosion from damaging the surroundings of this place?" Gilgamesh asked as he considered the various possibilities.
"My lord, if you were to ask Flora to use her magic to reinforce the structure and then somehow create a barrier to contain magical attacks, we could potentially mitigate the final waves of damage." Medusa replied with her indifferent voice.
Gilgamesh sighed and said, "In the best-case scenario, I'll deflect that energy with my best attack. Perhaps I can maintain the state of half of Fittoa if I do it that way."
"That is also a plausible idea within the realm of possibilities, master." Medusa replied with a hint of amusement in her voice.
"Gilgamesh, can we go inside and take a look?" Eris approached slowly, attempting to catch Gilgamesh's attention as he was conversing with his Spirit.
"Of course, let me give you a tour," Gilgamesh nodded as he descended the main stairs leading to the entrance of the fortress.