At noon on September 26, in the Gallop River Banquet Hall of Night-Kirin City, square tables around the hall had been arranged as buffet stations, while dozens of round tables were clustered toward the back. A broad open space had been left at the front, where a barbarian choir and dance troupe sang and danced.
This was a welcome luncheon Landen had held for the newly arrived mages and knights. Since last month, forty High-Ranks and more than a hundred mid-ranks had arrived from the Imperial Capital, Dragon Tooth City, the Holy City, and Gallop Family branches across the realm.
Among them were mages and knights sent as support by the Imperial Capital School, the Tower of Purity, and great families such as the White-Owl and Red-Dragon families. There were also collateral branches of local families such as the Gallops, Elks, Bristle-Wolves, and Frost-Wolves, who had come to try their luck.
The arrival of dozens of Archmages and High-Rank knights had instantly accelerated Night-Kirin City's construction. Several grand residences and separate estates had been built in the southern part of the city, and an Archmage Tower had been expanded. A small commercial district had sprung up around the High-Ranks' residences.
In the Banquet Hall, Hark Gallop and Redbird weaved back and forth between the tables, repeatedly raising their cups in toast with the Archmages, Great Knights, and High Priests of the various families.
Since the High-Ranks were dining in another, smaller restaurant, the most distinguished guest in the grand Banquet Hall was Count Kempins Bristle-Wolf of the Northwest Territory. He had gathered here with Jeo Mormont, the newly appointed Viscount of White Tree City, and the nobles of the Northwest Territory to celebrate the territory's reclamation of White Tree City.
After making the rounds with his toasts, Hark finally returned