The way to the tower seemed to stretch on forever, the moon hanging high in the sky, casting its silvery glow on the path ahead.
They had been walking for quite some time, and the tower, with its immense size, looked deceptively distant.
The streets were illuminated by passing cars, their headlights creating fleeting shadows that danced across the road. Stoplights changed colors rhythmically, creating a mesmerizing dance of illumination.
Leonardo walked in sync with Elara and Anna, like dancers in a choreographed routine.
Elara's floral dress billowed gracefully in the breeze, and Anna, with her long, wavy brown hair, occasionally tucked it behind her ear to keep it from her face. Leonardo, on the other hand, struggled slightly in his new suit, a gift from Tour Guide Milah. He thought to himself that the girls' poise must have been taught at the tower, their elegance and grace evident with every step.
Most shops and stores were closed, as it was close to 1 a.m, and the night was deep. The once-frequent trains in the sky had become scarce, their purple glow dimming as if they, too, were winding down for the night.
The city's activity was slowing, and Leonardo couldn't help but ask, "How do most of the things here float?"
"Rasvian energy," Anna responded flatly, used to Leonardo's myriad questions. She seemed to be warming up to him, though it wasn't immediately obvious.
"Rasvian energy is everything; even we are made of fundamental elements of the energy," Elara interjected passionately, her eyes shining with fervor.
Leonardo gazed at the city's dimming lights, realizing he was truly in a new world, vastly different from the small one he was used to. It was an expansive, ever-growing universe. He frowned.
He missed Ronald dearly, thinking of him almost every second. He'd find him someday, but for now, he had a new mission as a Tour Guide Practical Officer, a role specifically created for him by Milah.
His current task was to guide these two girls on their adventure, possibly his only way home.
As his thoughts raced, he noticed a large chunk of the town suspended in the sky. Even at this late hour, it shone brightly, contrasting with the darkened streets below. Trains of various colors—green, red, blue, yellow—moved through the sky, their lights painting the night with vibrant hues.
"Why is that part still bright?" he asked, pointing to the floating town.
"Oh, the District is run by the Sage, which is why it remains illuminated," Anna explained.
"Sage..." Leonardo drew out the word, realizing just how diverse and complex this world was. He couldn't wait to meet and interact with its inhabitants.
He may know things, he will get—
"Oh, don't think too much about the Sage or—" Anna started, but before she could finish, a powerful shock ran through Leonardo's body. It felt as if lightning had struck him.
He collapsed, his body convulsing as it tried to adapt to the sudden jolt.
"And that's why," Anna said with a laugh, "you're strong. Looks like it wasn't that powerful, so you weren't planning any harm towards him."
"Anna!" Elara shouted.
"What? He's not going to die," Anna sighed. "We're just going to be an hour late," she added, giggling.
[Adaptive evolution taking effect]
[Minimal resistance to mind control / and shock]. [No more addition to this effect]
Leonardo's body, aided by his resistance, began to recover.
"Oh, you're stronger than you look," Anna said, genuinely surprised.
Shaking his head, Leonardo asked, "Ah, what was that?" He placed his palm on his forehead, trying to steady himself.
"That's amazing," Elara said, watching as his suit regenerated, wrapping around his body in folds.
"Don't think of the Sage anymore. His control over Rasvian energy is that powerful," Elara said sorrowfully.
Anna continued, "Anyone in the city or the countless 'stars' you call them, who harbors ill will against him will receive a shock or worse, death."
Leonardo was stunned. This world—no, this museum—was not to be trifled with. "Thinking ill of someone could result in death!" he thought, sweat dripping from his temple.
Across the road, people started giggling. "Don't think of the Sage anymore!" someone shouted.
Laughter could be heard as they walked past. The number of cars on the road decreased, the stoplights still functioning.
Suddenly, a purple light passed by them, shining brightly.
"Ah, that's its last trip to the other Districts," Anna said, looking upward.
"What?" Leonardo asked.
"All the District experience day and night differently," she explained.
[Liturgy of the Hours]
"How is that possible?" he asked, shocked by the response.
"Ask the Sages," she replied flatly.
"Uh, I'd rather not," he said dryly, prompting both Anna and Elara to burst out laughing.
Despite the considerable distance, the tower was only a 30-minute walk away. Anna pulled out her phone from her back pocket, and Leonardo eyed it curiously.
"I just realized, the Era of Insurgence was actually a romance... yuck," she said to Elara.
"Told you so! Why'd you think Elliot wanted to capture the kingdom? Not because of his burning fury and rage," Elara said dramatically, then continued, "He just really liked Angelica. I really didn't see any similarities, though."
"Ha! Elliot and Ruby would have undoubtedly worked. I mean, they came from the same kingdom, and she saved him—" Anna paused, "seven... times?"
"Seven."
"Right."
"I'll look for any more Eras that focus on action."
Anna noticed Leonardo's gaze. "You've never seen a phone?"
"No," he replied flatly.
Her expression portrayed disbelief and shock of the highest order. She leaned back, fumbling for a stable position.
"Well, my friend, you've come to the right place," she said with absolute confidence. She breathed deeply, preparing to explain.
Elara sighed, "A phone is a small, handheld device that allows people to communicate with each other over long distances. I use it to talk to my friends in different Districts."
Leonardo listened intently, each word sending waves of confusion and astonishment through him. "i have no idea what district means, i'm not going to ask her"
the text remains silent.
Anna continued, "Imagine a tiny box that can send and receive voices through invisible waves in the air—not using Rasvian energy, but like a magical tool. It has buttons or a smooth surface you can touch to dial numbers and navigate menus. When you speak into it, your voice is converted into signals that travel through wires or the air to reach the person you're calling, no matter how far away they are."
"No matter how far," Leonardo mused, realizing how revolutionary this device was compared to letters or town criers. He beamed at the newfound communication method.
"Modern phones, called smartphones, can also do many other things, like sending written messages, capturing photos—"
"Capturing photos?" he asked.
"Yeah, let me show you," Anna said, pulling up the camera app and taking a picture of the tower as they reached the skyway hub. Another train, this one yellow, appeared to replace the one that left.
Its magnificence was noticeable from below, the tower rising until clouds obscured its top.
"It's time to enter the [Right Star]," she said, They began by going to the counter and paying the amount of draws needed [75 each person].