Along the Heaven River Coast.
In a mortal border town belonging to the Tidal Grand Wizard Tower, Wizard Anlier, dressed in a travel-worn gray robe, passed through the town gate. Under the curious stares of the mortal vendors hawking their wares, he crossed the main street and hurried toward the town's largest building, a structure of red and gold brick: the Textile Workers' Guild.
Anlier pushed open the guild doors. Inside, two First-Class Wizard Apprentices with Magic Pressure of 800 saw him, and their faces lit up with delight.
The two apprentices hurried to the entrance.
"Teacher, you're here!"
"Thank goodness!"
Anlier nodded. "Where are Zane and Blackwood?"
The two apprentices exchanged a glance. Fear crept over their faces. "Zane and Blackwood were killed by wizards from the White Ice Tower."
"They were killed by Black Wizards," Anlier corrected them. "Under Wizard Law, the White Ice Tower and the Tidal Grand Wizard Tower are both allies of the White Wizard Association."
"There's been no declaration of war and there's no evidence, so the White Ice Tower wasn't responsible. Besides, if White Wizards attacked us, wouldn't we have to settle it in wizard court? No. Black Wizards attacked us!"
The two apprentices hurriedly bowed and admitted their mistake. They then explained that no matter how often they tried to leave the town, they could never get far. Somehow, they always ended up back inside it.
"I know," Anlier said. "Black Wizards set up an Illusory Court Scene outside town. I've removed it. We're leaving now, as quickly as possible, before they realize I've destroyed it."
Both apprentices immediately declared that they would fight their way out alongside their teacher.
Anlier nodded.
He led the two of them out of the Textile Workers' Guild in a hurry.
One of the apprentices, a