Chapter 116: Princess

Seventon, also known as the "City of Seven Towers." It is named after the seven high towers within the city that contain magical power, but these seven high towers are not the only magical high towers in the city; rather, these seven towers represent the seven groups from which Netheril originated.

Among them, the Giles Tower, where the Nether Family resides, is the most magnificent and spectacular.

Although the Empire is named Netheril, due to certain unspeakable reasons, the Nether Family, and even the power represented by the Giles Tower, is not the strongest; one could even say it is the weakest.

The seven high towers divide the "City of Seven Towers," Seventon, into two; the northern part facing the sea is the Old City District where various factions are located, and the seven high towers are situated there, while south of the Old City District is the New City District.

The Seven Towers factions represent the vast majority of Netheril's lords, Arcanists, Mages, and even Temple clergy.

Wherever there are people, there is strife and cooperation; the Seven Towers factions are neither incompatible as fire and water nor are they intimate, and they are in need of a place to balance one another.

Thus, the Empire came into existence.

In fact, the New City District is the core of Netheril; the Lord Council, Arcane Union, Temple, Elf Embassy, and so on are all in this area.

The Old City District.

The Giles Tower stands on the edge of the city, adjacent to the Narrow Sea in the north; beneath the high tower is a vast complex of silver-white buildings with a unified style, with several low Mage Towers distributed among them.

Although these Mage Towers are relatively low compared to the Giles Tower, they stand out like a crane in a flock of chickens compared to ordinary buildings. And in the very center of all the buildings is a palace in the style of the Elf.

Its exterior is elegant, the decorations are extraordinary, and faint magical radiance flickers within.

At this moment, in the palace reception hall, a woman with a heroic temperament and extraordinary appearance is sitting in the main seat, gazing at the white-haired old man below.

Although the seating is divided into primary and secondary, there is not a hint of arrogance in the eyes of the superior; instead, there is a sense of admiration, "Teacher, is Gustav still unwilling to agree?"

The old man sighed and said helplessly, "The Scroll of Nether has already caused them to lose their way; they simply do not believe anything I say."

A flash of hesitation crossed the superior's eyes, but she quickly became firm again, "I don't need them; I can do it myself. The totem Olong brought back last time was very inspiring to me, and I have decided to test it during this year's Moon Festival."

"No! Xiya!" The old man's expression suddenly turned somewhat terrified, "You must not offend the gods!"

Hearing her teacher use such a tone, Xiya felt a bit curious, "Teacher, could it be that you—"

"It is not me; it is a student of a friend of mine."

Mentioning this person, the old man was filled with emotion, "To think that back then, he became a Great Arcanist at a young age with a bright future, yet because he offended the gods, he was banished and has since become a taboo."

"Teacher, are you talking about—"

"It is him; come to think of it, that Totem Pole you obtained should be his."

A look of surprise appeared on Xiya's face, "Teacher, isn't it rumored that he died during Other Plane exploration?"

"How could that be? It's just that very few people knew about it back then; only my old friend knew, and even I only found out in recent years. Do not spread this around, do you understand?"

"But Teacher, didn't that person not die? Why won't you let me try?"

"A fate worse than death, and wasting a hundred years—are you willing?" The old man continued to persuade, "Ordinary people still have tempers when offended, let alone gods?"

Listening to her teacher's constant dissuasion, Xiya was very disappointed, "If that is the case, then is a mortal's Ascension to Godhood not offending the gods?"

"I cannot judge that either; after all, apart from what the Elf themselves say, none of us know the consequences of a mortal's Ascension to Godhood, and even the so-called Ascension Ritual could be a scam."

Having said this, the old man sighed again, "Xiya, I think you should act with caution. You are the most talented of all my students, and I do not wish for you to have any accidents."

"Teacher, please rest assured; I know the gravity of the situation. I have never trusted the Elf; everything is out of my own heart."

Xiya's tone was exceptionally firm, and as she spoke, the magical radiance within the palace echoed with her, as if acknowledging her choice.

Seeing Xiya's determined attitude, the old man stopped trying to persuade her; he rose from his seat, grasped the staff floating to his side, squeezed it, and said:

"Since that is the case, I will go to Gustav's place one more time; I hope to win their support. Do not forget that Netheril only has you as its sole remaining bloodline; remember to act with caution."

After speaking, his figure gradually faded and finally disappeared completely.

After the teacher left, Xiya immediately leaned back against her seat powerlessly and whispered to herself, "But I have long been unable to continue my bloodline due to a laboratory accident! And there is the family curse; if the gods will not help me, then I will become a god myself!"

By the end, her voice grew low, and the light in the reception hall suddenly dimmed.

……

The Empire's Nan Jing, Savile Territory.

The time had reached the end of the month. During this period, Xia Duo was so busy he was practically overwhelmed: Study Group exchanges, Q&A sessions for Ordinary Apprentices, physical training, borrowing books to replenish his reserves, researching 1st Circle Spells, and so on.

Every day, he was either busy or on his way to being busy.

The Arcane Garden's orchard, the Library Layer's Spell Laboratory, the Transcription Room, the dormitory, the cafeteria—he basically just cycled through these "four points and one line" without stopping.

Today was the day Donald applied for his assessment. In fact, Donald could have applied for the assessment long before today, but for some reason, he had dragged it out until now.

And tomorrow was the last full moon of the year (the end or beginning of the month is the full moon); this was the last grand festival of the year, marking the arrival of winter and a day for people to pay respects to the dead.

On this day, even Ordinary Apprentices could get a day off to go home and pay respects to deceased relatives.

Compared to going home as an Ordinary Apprentice, going home as an Official Apprentice could make one's family even more gratified.

"Donald, do you have the confidence to pass?"

In the Public Level, outside the Apprentice Examination Room, a worker from the Arcane Garden asked this, envy showing in his eyes. Out of the twenty-some Ordinary Apprentices in the Arcane Garden, only Donald had applied for the assessment today.

Thinking of his relationship with Xia Duo, as well as his constant questioning over these past few days, the worker was lost in thought.

At this moment, although Donald was still a bit nervous, he did not show a hint of it in front of the worker, saying with unusual confidence, "No problem, my mastery of 【Mending】 is already very proficient!"

"Then I congratulate you in advance on passing the assessment!"

"Thank you, I'm going in."

Once the door to the Examination Room closed, no one knew what would happen inside, but all the workers who had followed him looked at the door expectantly, hoping for a good result.

After all, this would also be the result for them!

(End of chapter)