The Third Level

Three Tiers

Year 250 of the Imperial Calendar.

Iliya was already sixty years old this year.

Over her long life, she had borne many titles—mage, Dean, Primordial Spellcaster, inheritor of magic, founder of the towers, and more.

Mages praised and glorified her with all manner of words, while her enemies cursed and reviled her.

But Iliya knew that she was still herself.

Everything she had done had been for that original wish and dream.

For it, she had given up and sacrificed much.

She had even remained unmarried to this day, always alone.

"Was it a dream?"

She raised a hand and wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes.

The Iliya in the mirror remained young and beautiful, as though time had never left even the slightest trace upon her.

"It really was... a wonderful dream."

Iliya murmured, draped herself in her noble and magnificent mage's robe, and walked out of the Mage Tower.

Outside, many mages were already waiting.

At the forefront stood Tuckerau.

He looked middle-aged, his temples streaked with gray, while the wisdom in his eyes had only grown more unfathomable.

A faint smile appeared on his face. "Congratulations, Iliya. You've finally broken through and become a Magus!"

"Yes. The plan can proceed."

Iliya answered in her sweet voice. The staff in her hand glowed, forming a map of the continent.

Then, the mountains and rivers on the continent became somewhat illusory, leaving only points of light emerging one after another, scattered like the brilliant stars of the night sky.

"Every point of light is a Mage Tower. This is the result of our years of painstaking effort. Now, the time for harvest has finally come."

Iliya's eyes were filled with excitement as well.

The first step in establishing the Magic Net was finally about