Early morning.
Clouds and mist filled the sky, with countless little creatures resembling tiny clouds tumbling through them.
They were playing and frolicking.
Suddenly, as though sensing something, the creatures either plunged into the clouds or flew off into the distance, squeaking.
Several seconds later.
An enormous Third-Ring Airship burst through the clouds.
"Cloud Beasts, a special kind of magic beast. They only gather in greater numbers where the elements are abundant. I only ever saw a few in Elemental Mysteries territory."
On the airship's deck, Ian watched the little creatures with wonder.
"That's only natural. The higher a wizard academy's rank, the more magical resources and territory it commands. Even a little of that power leaking out attracts plenty of supernatural creatures."
Beside him, Edith held Ian's arm with one hand, then pointed beneath the clouds a short distance away.
"That's Thousand Tower City, the central city of Gray Tower Territory."
Not just Ian, but the other wizards on deck also turned to look at the distant city.
It was a magnificent, sprawling city.
Ian took it in at a glance.
It stretched for at least several dozen kilometers, with buildings packed together like scales on a fish and magical fluctuations surging everywhere.
At the same time, hundreds of hundred-meter-tall Wizard Towers stood throughout the wizard district of this enormous city.
The sight was especially imposing and awe-inspiring.
At that moment, Ian, Gabriel, Quentin, and the circle of wizards nearby all gaped.
The latter were wizards from other academies whom their airship had picked up along the way.
Meanwhile, a short distance away.
The Gray Tower wizards stood with their arms folded, exchanging glances.
An indescribable pride shone in their eyes.
This was their territory.
"These wizards really haven't seen much of the world. Imagine how stunned they'll be