"At last… we've reached the capital of the Human Kingdom," Lysandra said.
An enormous command throne stood within a vast enclosed chamber. Beneath this was a smaller throne, set lower down and therefore far less imposing. There sat Lysandra, her short, wavy white hair framing her face. Both of her hands rested inside a soft control recess, while her green eyes were fixed on a circular console before her.
This was the command deck of the Flying Island.
The island was operated like a ship from this chamber; its course and speed were determined here. Through the cushioned control interface enveloping her hands, Lysandra guided its movement. The object she was watching was a magical mirror, an artefact that was activated by voice commands. When needed, it could display any part of the vessel, allowing full surveillance of its surroundings.
What appeared in the mirror now were towering spires and a royal palace sprawling across a vast area.
Within that palace lived the ruler who governed the kingdom closest to the Meleket Forest, where the elves resided, along with his family. They had learned this information from a man they had captured, interrogated, erased the memories of, and then released.
The palace itself was magnificent, yet what truly drew Lysandra's attention was the massive capital city surrounding it.
The city had been built between two rivers, with artificial waterways flowing through its districts. Its urban planning was remarkably sophisticated, which is an important detail that revealed careful, deliberate design. This suggested that the kingdom's level of education was higher than expected. Or at the very least, its people were highly skilled in city planning.
Seated on the large throne behind and above her, Areth was observing the same view. He too had access to the island's control systems, yet his focus remained on the oval mirror before him.
"What do you think…?" he asked without lifting his head. "Do you think they have men capable of posing a threat to us?"
Lysandra remained silent for a moment, thinking. Then, still gazing at the city, she replied,
"I doubt it… but caution is always wise. They seem wealthy and prosperous. Which means they must have intelligent and capable individuals."
As her words echoed through the command deck, a low-frequency hum continued to fill the space, rising from deep within the Flying Island. Beneath the floor, the massive crystalline Mana Core pulsed at regular intervals. Each vibration sent a living, heartbeat-like rhythm throughout the chamber.
At last, Areth raised his head. His golden eyes shifted from the capital's reflection in the mirror to Lysandra.
"But in the end, the worst-case scenario didn't happen. The beings of this world are weaker than we expected."
His words lingered briefly in the air. Though his tone was calm, a restrained caution lay beneath it.
Lysandra tilted her head slightly.
"For now," she corrected. "What we've seen is only the surface. Power is not always measured by a kingdom's people."
Areth turned back to the mirror. As his fingers slowly traced the armrest of his throne, he magnified the image. Now the central plaza was clearly visible, along with the surrounding buildings and towers. Intricate rune patterns were carved into their white stone walls.
"Look at those structures. They weren't built just for decoration." he said.
Lysandra focused.
"Magical focal points…"
"Yes," Areth confirmed. "Defense, communication, and likely suppression systems. From the outside, they look like ordinary buildings, but…"
He left the sentence unfinished.
A new image appeared in the mirror.
In the northern sector of the city lay a vast, isolated district. Thick walls surrounded it, and the structures inside were built with near-extravagant elegance.
Lysandra's eyes narrowed.
"What is that place?"
"Probably the kingdom's true source of power," Areth said quietly. "The Royal Academy."
A brief silence followed.
The flow of mana through the island's metallic veins murmured softly. The crystal core vibrated more strongly for a moment, as if listening.
Lysandra took a deep breath.
"The Royal Academy…" she murmured, unease in her voice.
Without looking away from the mirror, she continued,
"If it's truly what we think it is, they're not just gathering noble children… but the most talented youths in the entire country."
Areth nodded slowly.
"Yes. And they're shaping them according to their own ideals from an early age. At least, that would be the logical approach."
The image zoomed in further.
At the academy's center rose a tower taller than all the others. At its peak was a translucent dome, barely visible in daylight. Inside it, streams of mana flowed like delicate threads.
Lysandra frowned.
"That dome… it's unnatural."
"It is. A mana-concentrating barrier. It provides protection and conceals the magical research within." Areth said firmly.
He paused.
"They're most likely conducting forbidden experiments as well."
The atmosphere in the command deck grew heavier.
Lysandra leaned back slightly into her control seat.
"Humans… are more ambitious than I thought."
"They have to be, to survive," Areth replied. "Elves, dwarves, monsters, ancient beings… The same rule applies in every world; the strong survive and continue their lineage, while the weak perish."
Without taking his eyes off the mirror, he added,
"They've gathered power in their own way. But if we can see them, that means their barriers aren't that advanced."
Silence reigned once more.
The Flying Island slowly circled above the capital. Below, people went about their daily lives, unaware of the massive shadow drifting across the sky.
At last, Lysandra spoke.
"So, what do we do now?"
A faint, dangerous smile curved the corner of Areth's lips.
"Information first. We'll need to abduct someone for Selene's research."
He extended his hand toward the mirror. Pale golden mana flowed from his fingers and seeped into the glass. The image shifted.
Now, the academy's inner courtyard appeared.
Students. Instructors. Patrolling guards.
All of them, perfectly clear.
"And it won't be that difficult."