XXI—Zanna Caelestinius of Lucia

While there were half a dozen Lucian and Florencian mages manipulating the loadstone, Zanna had only one confidant at her side.

General October.

Emperor Justin had brought no one, probably as a show of trust. Zanna trusted Albion—even if their countries had been at war for centuries. Even if his direct family members had been responsible for many of the deaths of Lucian nobility, or even royalty.

But this war must end.

The mages were infusing the loadstone with magic.

“We are nearly ready,” one of the Florencian mages said., then he began murmuring with his countrymen as well as with the Lucian mages also performing the magical manipulations required to produce the barrier.

“Can we be certain that this whole event will not go awry?” Albion asked quietly.

They were on the roof, watching the mages infuse the big stone with magic.

Zanna looked at him and shook her head. “But we must try.”

Everything had been prepared, the various gate chambers open. Many distractions had been prepared, from music and a grand nightly feast, to the most lavishly manicured gardens where shows of entertainment had been prepared, including a fully casted play featuring a different story every night!

Some months past, ships had been sailed to Lagoon for no other purpose than to be prepared for pleasure sailing. There were cabins bedecked in all the luxurious amenities a lord or lady could ask for.

This idea of theirs was either ingenious, or incredibly foolhardy. But only time would tell whether or not their scheme would work.

“Which of your nobles are loyal to our cause?”

Albion glanced at her. “With them, I never know what is true and what is feigned. Few of the nobility wish to scathe the emperor’s goodwill toward them.”

“I understand the situation well. It is the same among the Lucians.”

“It is ready!” one of the mages called. He then spoke to October quietly for a moment.

The general then approached the empress and emperor. “The barrier is ready to be activated on your say so.”

Zanna glanced at Albion. “Shall we begin?”

Looking at her for what seemed like a long time, he finally nodded. “May the gods be on the side of this endeavor of ours,” he said. “Or else the devils will have their way with us both.”

“Indeed,” Zanna said.

October gave the signal, and the mages infused the big loadstone with an activation magic. It then exploded with bright light as a magical barrier was formed in the sky, at first only appearing to be a twisted wad of bright magic that emanated out of the top of the loadstone.

It shot forth into the sky.

With perfect timing, the midnight fireworks exploded, casting the House of Gates in every color as they plumed over the House and the grounds, both on the Lucian side and the Florencian side.

While everything was bright, the barrier hit a stopping point and then mushroomed out over the House of Gates, spreading far enough to encompass the gardens and even the carriages on the roads leading up into the grounds.

All was sealed, cut off from the rest of the world.

Both for the Lucians and the Florencians.

No one would leave.

Would not be allowed to leave.

Until this…

Was finished!