Volume 3 Chapter 2 Ivory Tower
"There are several organizations we should try to form alliances with."
François spoke as Eleonora scanned a pile of parchment spread out before her.
"I thought I had most of it under control."
"The local lords and officials are loyal, and the army has always followed Your Majesty. On top of that, we also have sorcerers."
At the word "sorcerers," Eleonora's mind flashed to someone familiar—Théodore, a young sorcerer she'd met back at the academy. She recalled the remarkable technique he used.
"The spell he used to locate people... it was incredible. Even from far away, they could track someone's location."
"Yes, their skills are valuable to the nation. But..." François hesitated. "They're not exactly cooperative, even when we ask politely."
He unrolled a map on the table and marked a spot with a brass pin.
"This here is the Apple Wisdom Society. It's a community of skilled sorcerers. If we can gain their support, we'll have more influence over the sorcerers in the Naroppa region."
"Are there other groups like that?"
"There are, but this one is the largest. Most of the others are offshoots. Once a sorcerer becomes accomplished in the Society, they usually train their own disciples."
"Controlling the water sources also means controlling the rivers... Good. Send a messenger."
* * *
The sun rose high above a sprawling village. The clear sky lit the rooftops as villagers began their morning routines.
Unlike a normal village, these residents belonged to noble bloodlines and held a natural talent for sorcery. This was the Apple Wisdom Society—a secluded place where gifted minds lived self-sufficiently, each lost in their own research. Young students came here to train, eager to unlock the secrets of magic. The outside world held little interest for them.
John Paul, the messenger dispatched by the Empire, quickly realized how different this place was.
"So, the Empire of Loriengita is under new rule?"
"No, that would be the Holy Maro Empire."
"They're different countries?"
"Well... the old Loriengita Empire collapsed. With permission from the former royal family, Her Majesty founded a new state."
"What?! The Loriengita Empire collapsed?!"
That was as much as John Paul could understand in the moment. He pushed down his unease—especially the creeping suspicion that these sorcerers might still be in touch with the outside world—and got to the point.
"Her Majesty has summoned you. Please accept this letter."
The elderly man who took the envelope was known only as the Wise Man, a figure whose name even the highest scholars revered. Stroking his long beard, he read its contents with a quiet nod.
"I understand. I will go."
"We're relieved to hear that," John Paul replied. "This mission may go smoothly after all."
That evening, the old man called his three closest disciples.
One studied alchemy. The other two specialized in water and earth sorcery. All three gathered quietly as their master showed them the letter.
"We will all go to the imperial capital."
"Master," asked the female disciple, the water sorcerer, "what does the Empire want from us?"
"They probably want us to prepare for war," she added bitterly. "We're nothing more than tools to them."
The alchemist nodded. "Or maybe they want us to turn dirt into gold and fix their treasury problems."
The old man shook his head.
"No. The letter asks that we help establish a school in the capital, Caesaria. They want us to send people to assist."
"A school? Just for nobles?"
"No. Nobles will study sorcery, military tactics, and etiquette. Commoners will learn reading, writing, and arithmetic. The rest will be decided at a later meeting."
"But Master," the earth sorcerer said, "we have research to do. Why agree to something like this?"
The old man said nothing. He simply pointed to a line near the end of the letter.
The three disciples leaned in and squinted.
"In addition, each instructor from the Apple Wisdom Society will receive 2,000 gold coins annually, plus food and household support staff."
* * *
When the four members of the Society finally arrived in Caesaria, they were stunned.
The capital was alive with color and movement—humans, elves, and dwarves all walked the same streets in harmony.
"It's more lively than I imagined," said one disciple.
"And the carriage they sent was well-built," added another.
The palace came into view. Unlike traditional castles, this one was newly built, simple, and unadorned. No flashy decorations, no marble statues—just benches and smooth stone floors. It looked more like an administrative hall than a royal palace.
"Her Majesty will be with you shortly," said the soldier escorting them.
The guest room, at least, was impressive. It had windows crafted from dwarven glass, intricate elven carvings, and rare paintings from artists across the continent.
It seemed the Empress placed importance only where it mattered—and avoided anything unnecessary.
As they speculated about her, the door opened.
"Thank you for coming," said a young woman as she entered with a soft smile. "It would have been proper for me to visit you... but my advisors stopped me."
If they hadn't known she was the Empress, they might have mistaken her for a famous actress. Her presence was radiant, almost magnetic.
"So—what did you think of Caesaria?"
"It's a lively and well-kept city," replied the old man.
"That's thanks to the citizens' hard work. I'm proud of them," Eleonora said, glancing out the window before turning back to the main topic.
"Our plan is to build five schools in Caesaria. But for that, we need qualified teachers. I would like the Apple Wisdom Society's help."
"Forgive the question," the alchemist said, "but... this isn't a military matter?"
"You don't want us turning things into gold either?" asked the female sorcerer.
Eleonora looked upward for a brief moment before answering calmly.
"No. It's unnecessary. More than that—it's dangerous."
The earth sorcerer, silent until now, raised his voice in surprise.
"Then... we're just in the way!?"
Eleonora responded without flinching.
"Think of it this way: the army moves at the pace of its slowest member. If even one person can't keep up, everyone suffers. But if you plan around someone too slow, the entire strategy breaks down."
Her words struck deep. The researchers had spent so much time studying that their physical strength had long since declined.
"A commander cannot base battle plans on the abilities of one gifted individual. If that person disappears, the entire strategy fails. War is fought with ordinary soldiers trained to their limit—not with miracles."
"And what about alchemy?" the alchemist asked. "Surely gold is still useful?"
Eleonora didn't hesitate.
"Gold has value because it's rare and controlled. But if you flood the market by turning dirt into gold... the value crashes. The economy collapses. Merchants everywhere would be ruined."
The room fell silent. The old man and his disciples understood her logic. Still, the mood was heavy.
"Then why is education so important to the throne?" one disciple asked.
"Because an educated citizen is more precious than any coin," Eleonora said. "Governing a country devours human resources. And yet, no matter how many skilled people we have, it's never enough."
She stood and extended her hand toward the old man.
"You all are the ones who shape such valuable minds. Could you send more out into the world? Not for war... but for peace."
The old man nodded and took her hand without hesitation.
Notes:
• François - The fourth son of Baron Lanramoncie of the Loriengita Empire. The one who join the tournament before.
• Théodore - Male. A young sorcerer Eleonora met at the academy. He specializes in sorcery for locating people. His appearance is not described, but he is remembered for his remarkable abilities. His relationship with Eleonora is one of admiration and respect.
• John Paul - Male. Dorothea's grandson. A skilled escort and fighter, he is agile and capable of catching thrown knives with ease. He assists in the escape, showing bravery and loyalty to the royal family.
• John - A man who follows Eleonora, previously worked in security in Japan before being reincarnated. His connection to Eleonora is that he and his group have been following her to hunt and defeat bandits.
• Caesaria - The imperial capital of the Holy Maro Empire. It is a vibrant city with a mix of humans, elves, and dwarves. The city is lively and well-maintained, with sturdy carriages and a new, simply decorated palace. It is the planned location for five new schools.
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!