At Starlight Torch Tower, Kano finished brunch in the dining hall. Instead of going downstairs, he took an elevator closed to the public.
The elevator scanned Kano's red Mage Emblem and rose silently and smoothly to the top floor of Starlight Torch Tower.
Except when it was used for other purposes on the king's birthday, this place normally served as the Mage Guild's observatory.
"Have last night's astronomical data been compiled?" It was noon. The equipment, especially the observation lenses, had already been cleaned and maintained, while another team was calculating and drawing last night's Star Chart.
"Master Kano, you're here." A thin-haired man approached and handed Kano a blue-backed Star Chart. "I was just about to report to you. Last night's Star Chart deviated from normal conditions by at least five points. We suspect there may be a problem with the instruments, and they need inspection."
Kano did not agree immediately. He took the data, examined it carefully, and asked, "How was the weather yesterday?"
"Excellent, like most winter days. The cloud cover was thin, and visibility was very good."
"Give me a chronological chart of planetary positions. Mm, one comparing last night with the same period."
"Yes, please wait."
The chart showed that around two in the morning, the celestial patterns had begun to deviate from their trajectories for the same period, and the degree of deviation had continued to increase.
"I'll take this chart. The instruments should be fine."
Kano turned to leave in a hurry. Before he could go, the person in charge could not help asking, "Master, then what caused this deviation?"
"Transmutation Dust Flow!"
Transmutation Dust carrying celestial bodies drifted through the void. Usually, it was merely tugged back and forth by the gravity and magnetic fields of those celestial bodies; on an astronomical