After turning past the stone steps inside the castle's fortress, Sylutia made her way through the tower. The occasional windows offered glimpses of the clear blue sky outside and the vast golden wheat fields below.
A gentle breeze stirred the pleasant surroundings. No wonder this was the safest city in the heart of the Woodland.
The wind slipped through the chalk-white stone, carrying a dry scent and a few grains of dust. The higher Sylutia climbed, the quieter it became. By now, the clamor of training from the bottom of the tower had faded, leaving only the rushing wind.
A few minutes later, she reached a massive door at the top of the tower and knocked on its ring.
The pitted cast-iron ring struck the door with a heavy echo.
Before long, a burly arm pulled the door open, revealing the hall inside.
A knight clad in full-coverage white-and-gold armor sat at the head of the hall. His armor resembled white ivory, its edges lined with gold trim that ran around the inner borders, like a work of art made to royal specifications. Yet it also carried an air of authority.
As Sylutia stepped into the hall, it felt as though she had entered a palace. The entire room was under the knight's control, held within the domain he had spread out. Fortunately, he meant no harm; he had merely cut the area off from the outside world and placed it under his protection.
After a simple greeting, the girl followed the knight's gesture and took a seat at the far end of the long table. She sat with her legs together like a well-behaved student, her gaze tinged with curiosity as she looked toward the knight at the head of the table.
"Heh, I told you this girl was