Selica rests her head at a nearby headrest while she processes the new revelation she has gathered. The idea of golems (Selica has initially considered both Machilic, the Sand Hounds, and the Faith Crawler as golems) can naturally have sentience still baffles her. She has read thousands of books in her life, and nothing from what she’s read has prepared her for a surprise like this.

The gears in her mind begin to spur as the ceaseless curiosity which has been fueling her love for magic has finally found a new facet to focus on. The last time this happened was when she was 13 and it was all about interstellar magecraft. It was the first time in her life that she voluntarily spent most of her time outside of her room just to study the stars all day and night long. It took her weeks before her desire finally waned and was satisfied with what she had learned about it.

She watches as Machilic slowly walks back towards the pedestal with a confident gait, readying himself to begin the meeting. The hall’s doors are slowly closing as everybody else is being ushered in before the meeting begins. Selica’s face is put on a knot as she tries to reconcile that the mechanical body walking towards the pedestal is in fact as much “human” as she is than a golem following commands. It’s difficult for sure, but hopefully as this meeting goes on she’ll have an easier time with it.

Once Machilic reaches the pedestal, he raises both his hands and the clamoring hall immediately goes silent.

“Ladies and Gentlemen!” Machilic begins his speech. “Welcome to the first ever Hameza District meeting party! As you may already know by now I am Machilic, the supervisor of our little district, and I would like to welcome each and everyone of you to Magecraft City as formal residents of the city!” Small claps begin in between the listening masses. ”For those who have been familiar with the happenings with previous districts, you may have noticed that our welcoming party is rather expeditious compared to previous district parties. But with all things considered, being unique and different is slowly becoming a trademark of our little district.” Machilic continues as murmurs begin to brew amongst the crowd.

“From the discovery of the district up until now, the Hameza district has been riddled with mystery ordinary mages have failed to answer. Mages who have allowed their studies to conquer their lives and ignore everything else they deemed unnecessary. That is why seeing such a refreshing group of mages in front of me gives me hope, not only to solve the lingering mysteries of the district itself, but to give our city a good...kick to reality.” He smiles at everyone as he raises a red glass of wine. “That’s why I implore you my neighbors, my new friends: show the city of mages that there is more to being a mages than learning magic.”

Selica was expecting a more reserved cheer from the crowd, but instead she is greeted by a familiar howling approval instead. It’s the same type of joyous chorus she has heard in Heroes’ Hill, the genuine carefree enjoyment from heroes returning from their adventure eagerly waiting to tell their tale.

Hearing it actually made Selica tear up. Not because she misses her home and wants to return, but despite being in a different place circumstances has made it possible for her to still keep in touch with her hometown.

She quickly wipes off her tears as the crowd of people begins to grow in revelry. People talking in high spirits as they chow through the foods in the platters. Once food disappears, the platters are immediately sent to the backdoors and return full with food again after a couple of minutes. Indeed, it was less of a meeting and more of a party.

But despite the celebration, Selica can still see some mages seemingly unfazed by all the happiness happening. People she thinks still hold the grudge from what happened during the test.

“Looks like not everyone is happy.” Gallian too notices the disgruntled mages.

“I honestly don’t blame them.” Ashlin also responds, “I, too, am not really feeling this party with what happened during the test still unaddressed.”

“You think they’ll sweep it under the rug?” It’s only been a few weeks at most according to them, Selica thinks, so they may still be trying to finalize the case regarding what happened during the test.

“To be honest, I’m not putting it past them.” Gallian comments as she goes to one platter to get some food. “I’m getting some food.”

“Oh! Do they have crackrocks?” Ashlin and Gallian leave Selica for a bit to get some food, leaving Selica on her lonesome. As the designated person to save their space, Selica has not much to do but look around the ongoing party.

“Those two seem to be getting along well?” To think, both Gallian and Ashlin were at each other’s throats just a few weeks ago, and now they’re so chummy with one another as if they’ve been friends their entire life.

Selica looks around the party until she focuses back at Machilic, who she caughts looking intently at the disgruntled mages as well. Though he faintly keeps conversation to those who speak up to him, every opportunity he gets he uses it to look at the reactions to those who are still unsatisfied.

“H-hello miss.” Suddenly a faint tug pulls Selica’s shirt from behind. She spins around and sees a familiar kid. It was Gregor. His once grime covered hair is now cleaned and shows a brownish tuft of hair and fair complexion. If Selica didn’t meet Gregor during the test, she would think that this child would have never done any labor at all.

“Gregor!” She hugs the child tightly and he reciprocates the same. She still remembers how he valiantly tried to protect her during her seemingly last moments after fighting Dimas. “How are you?

“I’ve been okay. Great even.” He gives her one of the most genuine smiles she’s ever seen. “After the test I was sent to some weird dimension and had to talk to this strange M person before being sent back to the city.” ”Right, I feel like everyone had the same experience.” Selica confirms with a thoughtful nod. “Were you alone the whole time?”

”Not really, I was accompanied by a beautiful human lady and the merchant-looking guy talking a while ago.” Gregor points out the guy who was arguing with Machilic a while ago, who is also a part of the dissatisfied mages not enjoying the party right now. “He’s really nice, I promise. He’s just a bit frazzled on how the city seems to be handling the test’s aftermath.”

”Yeah, he’s not the only one.” The more Selica looks around, the more she realizes the actual number of mages unsatisfied with what is happening. She realizes some of those who are “enjoying” the party are simply showing a face to the public, but a quick turn around will show how unhappy they are with the entire predicament.

If things continue as it is, sooner or later things will boil over into a huge mess.

Selica sighs and returns back to Gregor, who is busy eating a piece of meat stuck on a stick. “I’m surprised you decided to be part of the city despite all that happened.” ”Y-yes.” Gregor fumbles a bit, “I was planning to leave, but despite Sir Dimas...desperation during the test inspired me to settle into the city as he said my talent is best nourished here.”

“Ehh, don’t give the man too much credit.” Selica side-eyed Gregor. She feels like her little friend is still enraptured by Dimas' rose-scented speech and his manipulation is still at work with him. It will take a while until he can finally shake off his influence. “You’re the one the survived, and decided to stay here. Not him.” Then again, Selica can feel a bias against the old mage as she was still angry at him, so she’s not completely out of his influence either.

“I-I guess so.” Gregor scratches his head. “Anyways, I’m glad you decided to stay as well!” ”Believe me it was a tough choice as well.” Selica sighs heavily. She then looks up towards her friends who are busy hoarding food on the nearby platter and smiles. “But there are people around me that convinced me otherwise.”

After a few minutes, Gallian and Ashlin return with a wide assortment of food with three plates between them. From small meat strips to large pie slices, the variety of food Selica’s friends brought is astounding.

“Oh hey Gregor!” Gallian claps the young boy in the back. “Delighted to see you! Come, let’s eat!”

“Y-yes thank you!” Gregor meekly pulls a pie slice from the jenga-esque tower of food the girls brought, hoping not to create a chain reaction of cascading food afterwards.

Selica pulls some food as well, this time she chooses some grilled pork meat and starts munching it. The flavoring of the meat reminds her of a blazing fire slowly cooking the meat from within. Every bite Selica can taste a smoky flavor at every tendon she eats.

“Oh hey Selica!” Ashlin perks up after taking a few bites from what Selica assumes to be a pasta-kind of food. She watches Ashlin fiddled with something from her pocket and pulls out a book. “We got you something!” Selica’s eyes widened the moment she saw a book being given to her. She quickly nabs the book off her friend’s hand and stares at its cover.

But the moment she does, her eyes dulls.

“Scribing Tricks for the Bibliophile in You.” Selica reads the title of the book and has never felt so uninspired by it. She doesn’t understand it either; she loves books of all kinds, yet reading this one seems to put a damper on her usual eagerness.

“Do you not like it?” Ashlin notices her face so Selica quickly switches it into a smile. ”N-no! I love it, thank you!” Selica forces herself to smile so as not to disappoint her friends. She didn’t know she would ever find a book she would not enjoy the moment she read its title. ”You don’t look happy though.” Gallian comments as she slurps through her seafood-based pasta. “You can be honest with us, you know.”

“I-it’s not that-!” Selica suddenly becomes flustered as if she’s cornered by her friends. “I really appreciate the gift, truly. It’s just that the book in question is a bit...dull.” Selica finally admits with her own words.

”Eh? But I thought you’re a Book Savant?” Ashlin asks with curious eyes. Instead of being disappointed by Selica’s reaction she seems more curious than anything.

“Yes I am. But I guess me being a Book Savant just came naturally while I was reading and scribing spells on my own.” Selica fidgets, “I never really learned how to officially do it...and I wasn’t really planning to.” She can faintly recall the different basics of bibliomancy her parents bought for her collecting dust in her room right now. Selica realized early on that she’s motivated to be a Book Savant not by the art itself but because of her curiosity of learning magic of all kinds. She would rather spend more time dabbling in different magic rather than nurturing the basics of bibliomancy itself.

But again, instead of being disappointed, both Ashlin and Gallian seemed to rather have sighed a relief instead. “Then that means we got you the perfect gift then.” Ashlin smiles.

“W-why?” Selica is now just utterly confused by her friends’ reactions.

“We were honestly dreading that you will find our book something you’ve already read before. But seeing at it’s something you’ve actively avoided instead makes it a substantial gift.” Gallian gives Selica a cheeky stink eye. “You wouldn’t abandon a book gifted by your friend, right?” She impishly smiles.

“Indeed, it’s also for your own good Sel.” Ashlin added, “Learning the basics of your own magic is paramount for every mage.” ”Ughhhh.” Selica groans the loudest she has ever had. Is this what having friends feel like? She thinks to herself as she reads the cover again. Just reading the cover makes her eyes sleepy. But with both of her friends expecting her to read it, she doesn’t seem to have any choice.

“Big sis will be a better mage? Really?” Gregor speaks as he continues to eat the smoked meat he’s been having.

“Yes, if she reads that book she’ll become better than ever.” Ashlin smiles at Gregor as she pats his brown tuft hair. Ashlin sneaks an impish stare at Selica as she flusters over Gregor’s innocent reaction. ”I can’t wait!” Gregor gleams vibrantly at the annoyed Selica.

Damn you Ashlin for using Gregor against me. Selica sighs heavily and keeps the book, already thinking on how to dispose of it when her friends are not looking.

As the party continues, the atmosphere of the hall slowly descends from its rowdy beginnings into a more casual ambiance. The once excited mages are now just socializing with each other and having a few laughs at each other. The hall has also begun playing a soothing melody, a somber enrapturing tune to fill out the growing stillness of the party. The platters once overflowing full of food have now been replaced by a more delectable assortment of desserts, pastries, and even hot beverages.

Without any magical pretense, one can assume that this welcoming party is akin to a socialite ball of the higher echelon of society.

But the ever festering rot from before continues to malignantly spread. More and more mages begin to showcase their concern on how the party seems to be brushing off the malpractice the city did with their test. Sure most mages agree that despite all that they still agreed to become the city’s citizens despite that, but most of them clarifies that they only did so under the pretense that the accident will be immediately addressed. But as the party continues to go on, more and more new residents are starting to clamor and visibly show their unrest.

Until finally, a spark has been lit. ”Hey!” A shout pierces through the crowd, silencing the crowd. Selica, who has been forced by either herself and her friends to read at least the first chapter of the book, quickly looks around and sees one of the disgruntled mages. He appeared to be one of the more stereotypical looking mages in Selica’s eyes with his short pointed hat and a frivolously decorated cloak on top of his deep maroon clothes. “Don’t you think a small party like this is going to make us forget what happened to us.” His anger is pointed directly at Machilic, who at the time has just finished conversing with some older mages.

“Hmm?” Machilic slowly spins around and faces the mage, his confidence emanating as a weapon towards the mage. “Whatever do you mean, good sir?” His voice tasted like armed venom ready to strike.

The mage was caught off-guard at first, probably not used to the social standoff he has put himself into. “Y-you think we’ll just happily forget what happened during the test? Me and the rest of us here are waiting for your solution, and our patience is wearing thin.” The mage gained more confidence as the others behind him followed suit and rallied under his cause.

But instead of answering, Machilic simply placed his hand underneath his chin and closed his eyes for a bit. At first the mage was going to shout back and call him out by mocking him, but even Selica can see that Machilic is either in deep thought or is doing something mentally.

After a few moments, he opens his eyes with a smile. “Brushing it off? Of course not! You might be mistaking me now for me in my previous life, my good sir. Let me reiterate, all my skills and experience from my past up until now are only meant to serve the greater people.”

He opens his hands in a gorgeous display. “The feast we are having is simply a precursor for the party’s main event. You see, the city’s council have been very grateful for each and everyone one of you for deciding to still be a resident of Magecraft City despite the accident prior today, and as a way of gratitude for it they are willing to offer everyone two things. First is this feast, a celebration of your conquest over insurmountable odds.” He snaps his fingers and slowly the large door slowly opens revealing six Silencers carrying chains all connected to a person in the middle veiled over with some kind of silken cloth. All the chains are connected at the person’s arms and are slowly being dragged towards the hall’s pedestal.

“What’s happening?” Ashlin quickly stands up and tries to discern the sudden development. “Is-is that who I think it is?” Selica tries to focus her eyes and sees more details on the chained person. After a brief look at its body, she can confirm the prisoner is a girl. She can also see faint silver hair underneath the cloth and when she tries to feel with her magical senses, she can feel a great amount of nullifying effect emanating from both the chains and the iron cuffs the woman is wearing.

“No way, they wouldn’t.” Selica suddenly turns pale, she too already has her own assumptions on who this person is. She looks around her and the other mages have also come to their own conclusion, but accepting said conclusion is a different manner as everyone seems shock on the current twist of events.

Once the prisoner and the Silencers reach the pedestal. They placed the chains at the very edges of the platform making sure it’s nice and taut, forcing the prisoner to kneel on the ground. While they are fixing the prisoner placement, Machilic and Silencer’s commander from a while ago slowly walks towards the pedestal.

Machilic places himself beside the prisoner. “As I have said earlier, in our lovely district of Hameza, trust is earned. So today let me earn said trust by offering you the one thing you’ve collectively been yearning for. Justice.” He pulls out the veil and shows a familiar silver haired woman flinching from having her veil removed. An eerie beauty chained up like a war criminal.

Selica was right, the veiled woman is Threshold. Everyone is in utter shock on what is happening and the mage who was clamoring just a moment ago is utterly speechless.

“And the second gift the council is offering the lovely residents of Hameza is a choice. The choice to determine the punishment of the one person who has wronged every single one of you. Ladies and Gentlemen, as the supervisor of our district my first order of business is opening a district vote to decide the fate of Threshold.”