A vast Magic Net covered the entire empire. Information flowed across it, energy surged within it, and the once scattered, isolated Human Civilization had never been connected so closely or so efficiently. Even events occurring in distant foreign lands could instantly cross mountains and rivers to reach everyone.
Tower Keeper Green sat in his workspace, wearing a loose shirt. Double-layered reinforced windows kept out the howling cold wind beyond the tower, while the heating system inside made the room as warm as an afternoon at the turn of spring and summer. The not-so-large room was quite quiet; apart from the occasional hum or clatter of machinery, the only sound was the sizzle of food warming on a nearby heating plate.
Above the small Magic Net Terminal before Green, a freckled young man appeared in a Holographic Projection, speaking excitedly. "...The Neural Network course is really interesting. Mr. Magnan is actually a very interesting teacher too. His voice is loud, but I recently realized he isn't nearly as old-fashioned as the other teachers..."
"You've settled in over there, right?" Green could not suppress his smile. "Is everything expensive in the imperial capital? Do you have enough money?"
"You ask that every time—there's more than enough, so don't worry," Storm said helplessly from the Holographic Projection. "The academy district has shops and cafeterias specifically open to students and teachers. Things are even cheaper than in the countryside. And I found some odd jobs that won't interfere with my studies. I help out in the school laboratories and earn three pounds a week."
"Oh... that's good..." Green nodded. He could not truly imagine life at the academy, nor did he understand what kind of "job" it was to help in the school laboratories. Yet from his eldest son's delighted expression and description, he