I nodded in response to his statement. The man wouldn’t have sought me out here above the city, if he didn’t believe it was needed.

That didn’t stop my current tasking, though. I had already mentally modified the spell so that it could raise not only the town but the terraced hills around it. It would take the majority of the mana available from my tower, and half of my own to complete. In any other circumstances, I would feel wary enough to double my defensive wards before this undertaking. Yet, with Alred by my side, I was confident he would rise to my defense should there be any need.

I closed my eyes and stretched my legs before beginning my casting. The time I had spent yesterday without trousers, still felt as though a freeing dream, and it made my desire to return to my tower all the greater. A wizard should be able to wear a robe without such concerns, but that wasn’t meant to be.

Within the space of several breaths, my spellwork had been cast, and the grounds below us began to rise.

I could see the startled people looking about in surprise, though they looked tiny from my vantage. Another moment was spent ensuring the spellwork was working properly, and all I needed to do was maintain the flow of mana before I turned my attention back to Alred.

My former apprentice looked little different from when I had last seen him, though the robe he wore was of a more fanciful design. It was a thick robe of dark blue with a very nice golden embroidery. He also wore a silver necklace with abundant quartz crystals shaped into the designs of tiny petals and flowers, a druidic design that gave me the assumption it was a gift from his wife.

Taking my look as a signal to continue our conversation, Baron Froom began, “Did you know that the mages in Sena City are fighting in the streets?”

My brows furrowed.

That was an odd thing to happen. If two mages had a feud, they would normally go outside of the city. A group would normally take any grievance to their leadership to sort. More unusual than the behavior was that he brought it to my attention. If mages were fighting in the streets, then what did it have to do with me? “Oh?”

“Yes, apparently revealing the nature of several fourth and fifth tier classes allowed many to tier up before they were mature enough to handle their new power. Even those that didn’t use the information you provided on those classes were offered a new mage class upon third and fourth-tier so long as they studied your spell tome.”

That made more sense now.

Many people simply weren’t suited for power at a young age. It wasn’t that they weren’t capable of learning and advancing in their craft, but that they wouldn’t know how to conduct themselves afterward. If my efforts to prepare Sena to combat the Pestilence had led to this, it would make sense for Alred to bring it to my attention. Yet even more surprising to me than infighting was the news of a new class. “What are the new classes?”

“Hydra-bane Mage and Pestilence Guard Magus,” Alred said with a contained smile that didn’t meet his eyes.

“I see,” it was interesting that the soul scroll system had recognized the shift in course of magic study to this extent. At another time I may have taken the opportunity to study what the limits were to such, but I had more than enough research already on my plate to fuel my desires for decades. Still, I made a mental note to look into it further in the future. Perhaps I could prepare a course of study that would grant mages a research assistant class that came with skills to better aid me. “What would you have me do?”

Alred shook his head, “There’s nothing to be done. Just be aware that it is happening, and that the nobility in Sena City treat it as though you are inciting malcontent.”

I snorted and then chuckled. First, the crown accuses me of colluding with the Seafolk, and now inciting mages? Would I be taken to trial for every possible ill the kingdom faces? It was preposterous.

Alred, though, didn’t like that I found it amusing, “This is no laughing matter, Nemon. My assistants are in Sena City securing portals to evacuate the rings, and now they need to hide themselves from not just guards, but unruly mages as well.”

I withheld my sigh and didn’t bother to explain my thoughts. Now was not the time nor the place. “I apologize if my actions have led to disruption of your plans. This, however, surely isn’t what you desire to speak of.”

Alred didn’t answer immediately, instead, his gaze focused on the slowly lifting city. I could tell he was deep in thought and didn’t press the issue. I watched with him for a time, the breeze carrying with it the smells of fruit trees, vegetables, and herbs from the terraces along the hills.

“Did you know that the mountains stir?” Alred asked after a moment.

“The mountains stir?” I inquired. Mountains stirring could mean many things, and I wasn’t about to guess. I doubted he meant the mountains themselves, though there was no doubt he meant the western peaks closest to his lands.

“Inside the western mountains are monsters I have never seen in numbers I haven’t seen before. Ants larger than horses, with thick shells. They crawl across the ground like a carpet. Each a fourth-tier monster by itself. The wyverns and harpies take flight eastward.”

That was surprising.

If that was the case, then it made much more sense why few had ever seen the other side of the mountains. Yet, I couldn’t help but wonder, “And the Pestilence?”

Alred sighed, “The Pestilence eat them as we would ripe grapes.”

That was disappointing.

And unnerving. It didn’t leave much to my imagination to know what would happen to the kingdom of Sena when the Pestilence arrives here. I looked at the city below as it was almost finished rising. We floated now much closer to the parapets of the castle towers than before. A sobering realization that made my current efforts seem futile. Even if this plateau saved the city of Eiston rather than just delay the hydra, how many others would still fall?

I didn’t speak in response, and Alred gave me time to take in the news and consider it fully before he broached another topic. “I would like to invite you to travel to my new home on the crystal planes soon. I have already sent an assistant towards your tower to construct a gate and gift you the methods we’re using to create more.”

He paused for a moment as I nodded. My eyes were still on the city below us and the news he brought of the Pestilence already in the Western mountains. That the threat was so close was a pressure and an urgency that made my tasks all the more important. Certainly, I was interested in seeing the place where humanity was retreating to, and even more assuredly interested in securing my own method of escape should I require it.

“And,” Alred said in a softer, pained voice. A voice that cracked in speaking that one word. It immediately brought my attention back to the man. Instead of seeing the proud mage that had stood beside me only moments ago, I saw a weathered, old man barely holding himself together. His face was wracked with pain and tears streaked down his face. “And Natali is dying. She and I both know it. What am I to do without her?”