Cloud Marsh Wetland, Storm Tower.
Albin Sia and the wizards accompanying her from the Hand of the Jungle and the Hand of Summoning stepped off their wizard aircraft alongside the Sun-Ring clone of the Starfield Sea Environmental Directorate's deputy director. The moment they boarded Storm Tower's floating spire, wreathed in lightning and storms, the tower's wizards gave them a warm welcome.
As the leading Academy in the Upper Wizard Land closest to the Starfield Sea and the Heaven River Coast, Storm Tower had been chosen as the forward base for tackling Magic Winter and preventing the Cold Sky River's breach from widening and affecting the entire Heaven River.
Storm Tower itself had moved for this purpose. To accommodate the plan from above, it flew toward the Heaven River Coast's Wizard Land every day, buying up vast tracts of land along the way.
The deputy director, a witch, shook hands with one of Storm Tower's Fourth-Ring Wizards. "Tower Master, only a few days ago, I heard you'd run into several Wizard Academies and individual wizards whose towers refused to sell their land or relocate. Yet the latest report says Storm Tower's relocation is going smoothly and you'll reach the designated site within six months."
Old Tower Master Suss smiled.
"Welcome, Deputy Director."
"Storm Tower will fully cooperate with every plan the Starfield Sea has made."
"After all, I have deep ties to the Starfield Sea myself. Seeing what's happening along the Heaven River Coast brings back memories. I went through something similar when I was young and even took first place in a competition like this. But every victory comes at a price."
Old Tower Master Suss looked back fondly. "I was just one face in the crowd then. Now I can look down on them all."
"As for those wizards