Chapter Summaries

Free City held a memorial for the war dead, and Annan later expanded the flying city with a second Arcane Power Core. On January 10, 1003, Free City rose into the sky and began its journey home.

• The Heroic Spirit honored the fallen at a memorial before the new Obelisk, while Annan, Olmedo, and Idelia laid flowers.
• Annan and Olmedo discussed the missing Council Chairman as they walked through the cemetery.
• Annan used a Mage Hand to place a hair clip in a little girl's hair, making her believe the fallen Heroic Spirits had accepted her gift.
• A merchant from Wilhelm delivered a Medium Arcane Power Core and told Annan that invitations to the Elf Calendar's new millennium celebration were being sent out.
• Annan installed the second Arcane Power Core, expanding Free City's reach by five hundred meters, and left Reynaldo and the officials in Gem Bay to care for the residents.
• On January 10, Saint Laurent Calendar Year 1003, Free City rose into the sky to head home.

Annan brought Free City homeward after the war, stopping in the Violet Oldlands before heading for the New Royal Capital. As life aboard the growing city continued, Evelyn taught Barr how to turn gossip and entertainment into newspaper stories, using Annan as an example.

• Lord Ulmit welcomed Annan and Free City in the Violet Oldlands and said he would wait for Annan to help reclaim the land.
• Free City left the Oldlands for the New Royal Capital, while Annan cared for the vacant Princess and tried to send Cathy back to school.
• Evelyn took Barr around Free City to learn what people wanted from his Entertainment Newspaper.
• Evelyn brought Barr to Annan's Study and demonstrated how to turn his ordinary actions into sensational gossip headlines.
• Barr left to think about Evelyn's lesson, and Annan accused her of being a bad influence.

Vitalig worked to restore the Kingdom and asked Annan to take a group of young people to study in Free City. After returning with them, Ingrid showed them the city’s buildings and public facilities.

• Vitalig addressed officials’ hostility toward Free City and planned to train a new generation to serve the Kingdom.
• Annan visited Vitalig, agreed to pass through the North to help settle the Rebels, and accepted Vitalig’s request to take young people to Free City.
• Annan signed trade agreements and brought Vitalig’s young people back to Free City.
• Annan entrusted the group to Ingrid, who showed them the Mansions and explained how Free City’s residents maintained its public facilities.
• The young people admired Free City’s clean amenities and read slogans credited to Annan and Olmedo.

Free City returned to the Northern Frontier, where Annan and its longtime residents revisited the ruins of Star-Moon Bay. After the Hellfire Legion secured the area, Annan prepared to continue to Breeze City as another figure spotted Free City approaching.

• Free City traveled north, and Olmedo warned Annan that Ratfolk and demons had devastated the Northern Frontier.
• A messenger reported that the McKennan Ratfolk were gathering to launch another offensive, while Olmedo estimated Free City had five days before enemies could respond.
• Free City passed Glacier Harbor and reached Star-Moon Bay, where the Hellfire Legion and Disciplinary Legion cleared nearby Ratfolk.
• Annan and the longtime residents found Star-Moon Bay reduced to ruins, and Annan told Olmedo they would go to Breeze City.
• A lone hunter killed a Ratfolk and harvested its meat before noticing Free City growing larger in the sky.

Annan and Olmedo found Agawar’s hidden safe house in the ruins of Breeze City, where a projection of the Council Chairman revealed a gift meant for Annan. They recovered the Tower Spirit’s Last Spiritual Essence and left to have Dunbelly examine it.

• Olmedo and Annan entered Breeze City with the legions and learned that Agawar had visited the Great Pit at the Council Chairman’s suggestion.
• Aga led Annan and Olmedo to Agawar’s hidden safe house through a high-level Void Spell.
• A dormant Projection Spell showed the Council Chairman greeting Olmedo early for her birthday and revealing that the Ashen Coal was the Tower Spirit’s Last Spiritual Essence, prepared for Annan.
• Annan had Aga collect the Spiritual Essence and several chests, then memorized the safe house’s location before they left.
• Annan placed the Spiritual Essence in a Wooden Box and decided to take it to the Mushroom House for Dunbelly to examine.

Luoxi reunited with Krian near Breeze City and offered to ask Annan to let him return, while Annan struggled with a failed gunpowder experiment and learned that Snow Mountain Fortress might contain abandoned weapons and valuables. Annan agreed to join Tasia and Brino Jana on their dangerous visit to the fortress, surprising them.

• Luoxi and Sirdan found Krian near Breeze City, and Krian explained that he had returned to kill Ratfolk and rebuild his home.
• Krian told Luoxi, Femi, and Sirdan that his northward journey had left him alone, and Luoxi promised to ask Annan to let him return.
• Annan berated Michael over a failed alchemy experiment, then learned that residue still made the Revolving Musket unsafe for rapid firing.
• Dunbelly confirmed that the gray charcoal was connected to the Mage Tower, and Annan gave it to Lilith to absorb.
• Tasia and Brino Jana asked Annan to visit Snow Mountain Fortress, and he agreed after hearing that abandoned weapons and valuables might remain there.

Annan welcomed Krian back to Free City, while Brino Jana, Tasia, and Illymoyas went treasure hunting in the Snow Mountains. After Lilith prepared a protective Rune from the Spiritual Essence, Free City began its return journey, but Annan found the adventuring party had not come back.

• Annan reluctantly let Brino Jana, Tasia, and Illymoyas leave for the Snow Mountains and gave them four days to return.
• Femi and Luoxi brought Krian back to Free City, and Annan welcomed him home.
• Krian chose to join Femi's Hellfire Legion and later went with him to hunt Ratfolk near Breeze City and Ossulund Territory.
• Lilith woke and told Annan that the Spiritual Essence contained a protective Rune, which she began preparing.
• Free City set off from the Northern Frontier and returned to the ruins of Breeze City, where Annan discovered Illymoyas and the others were still missing.

Annan recalled Tasia, Illymoyas, and Brino Jana from the ruins beneath Snow Mountain Fortress after Demons pursued them, learning that Brino Jana had encountered a woman sealed in ice. Free City departed the Northern Frontier, while the awakened woman sensed a familiar presence where Brino Jana vanished.

• Annan summoned Tasia back after Demons drove her group into ancient ruins, and she arrived with a deep leg wound.
• Annan accidentally summoned a Noble whose Sapphire Illymoyas had taken, returned it, and used one of her Dragon Scales to summon her instead.
• Brino Jana continued into a narrowing fissure after Illymoyas vanished, then found an underground cavern with an Iceberg, a sealed woman, and kneeling Demons reduced to lifeless husks.
• The ice-sealed woman opened her eyes as Brino Jana was summoned away, and Brino Jana told Annan she had nearly become the woman's nourishment.
• Annan found no one who knew about the ruins or the woman, ordered preparations to leave, and returned Illymoyas's Sapphire as Free City departed the Northern Frontier.
• The woman in the Iceberg sensed a familiar presence where Brino Jana had disappeared.

Annan prepared Free City to welcome the Elven Envoy Delegation and learned more about the Snow Mountains’ history. After Free City returned to Gem Bay, the Shelter Rune warmed the city and brought its greenery back to life, and the Elven delegation arrived as preparations neared completion.

• Elder Tadel told Annan that the Elven Royal Court would send a final delegation to discuss an alliance, and she described the Snow Mountains’ history when Annan asked about them.
• Annan arranged for Lilith to engrave the Shelter Rune and for Dade to obtain Ancient Oak Seeds to make Free City feel welcoming to the Elves.
• Tadel told Annan that three unfamiliar Elven Elders would lead the delegation as a final assessment.
• On January 17, Free City returned to Gem Bay, and Lilith activated the Shelter Rune, warming the city and reviving its plants.
• Dade planted Ancient Oak Seeds as flowers bloomed across Free City, and the Elven Envoy Delegation arrived.

Annan welcomed the Elven Envoy Delegation to Free City and took its three Elf Elders on a tour of the city. The tour ended abruptly when the High Elf Elf Elder sensed evil magic coming from the Succubus Massage Parlor.

• News of Free City’s alliance with the elves drew attention from powers across the world, and Annan asked the Stuen Ratfolk for minerals in return for helping them pursue an alliance.
• Annan, Idelia, and others greeted the Elven Envoy Delegation after it crossed the Obiris Strait, and Annan agreed to show the three Elf Elders around Free City.
• Annan and Idelia guided the Elf Elders past the Crystal Lair, Mage Tower, Mushroom House, park, Theater, and Gladiator Arena, where the Wood Elf Elf Elder suggested changing the sport’s rules.
• Lily briefly joined the group during the tour, and the Wood Elf Elf Elder watched her with interest.
• As the group approached Coastal Street, the High Elf Elf Elder sensed evil power from the Succubus Massage Parlor, and all three Elf Elders turned toward it in disgust.

Annan showed the newly arrived Elven Elders around Free City, where the High Elf Elder insulted a Succubus and nearly sparked a dispute. The delegation agreed to stay for a week, and Tadel explained that sending unfamiliar Elves could help build support for an alliance at the Elven Royal Court.

• Annan brought the Elven Elders to the Succubus Massage Parlor, where a former acquaintance mistook him for Martin.
• The High Elf Elder called the Succubi filthy, and Annan demanded that he apologize to a citizen of Free City.
• Elena pretended to cry, prompting a human customer to scold the High Elf Elder until Annan calmed the situation.
• Annan showed the Elven Elders Coastal Street, and the High Elf Elder agreed to stay in Free City for a week.
• Annan told Tadel about the day’s near-dispute, and Tadel said unfamiliar envoys could help persuade the Elven Royal Court to support the alliance.

The three Elven elders explored Free City to judge its people and living conditions. Feioliya discovered that Annan had settled refugees in the Outskirts and that Tree Sprites helped workers gather timber, while Kailanzhuo was arrested after disguising himself as a beggar.

• Ellie visited the Theater and judged Annan a womanizer after seeing posters for his films.
• Feioliya explored the Outskirts and found that residents had warm clothes, food, work, and new homes provided by Annan.
• Feioliya learned that House-Elves had helped workers gather timber and that Tree Sprites trusted the humans who cut down dead trees and planted more.
• Kailanzhuo disguised himself as a beggar on Coastal Street, but Guards arrested him and took him to Prison.

Annan tried to grow closer to Ellie by taking her to Magic Films, but their outing was interrupted when a woman attacked the noble Olaya over his abuses. Ellie challenged Annan’s strict stance on the law, and the chapter ended as they reached the Prison and she noticed Kailanzhuo among the arriving Guards.

• Annan took Ellie to see When Freedom Knocks after she lost interest in The Mage Tower's Fall, and she declined his offer to meet the real Chris and his son.
• Annan and Ellie went outside the Theater and learned that a young woman had attacked Olaya, a noble she blamed for her parents’ deaths and her brother’s murder.
• Ellie argued that the young woman’s revenge was natural, and Annan offered to consider reducing her sentence if Olaya forgave her.
• Annan healed Olaya after discovering he was alive, and Olaya agreed to forgive the attacker and compensate her.
• Annan escorted the young woman and Olaya to the Prison, where Ellie spotted Kailanzhuo arriving with another group of Guards.

Kailanzhuo was arrested for begging and endured a day in Free City's Prison rather than reveal his identity. Annan escorted Ellie back to the Embassy, where Feiolia questioned him about their day and Ellie said the missing High Elf Elder was wandering around the city.

• Annan explained that Free City had no beggars because refugees from the Montablinlock Duchy kept arriving, while Kailanzhuo stayed silent.
• Alan and the guards searched Kailanzhuo, confirmed he was a man, and detained him for three days and ten hours of community service for begging.
• Kailanzhuo's cellmates proposed an escape plan, but he refused to join them; the three were caught that night and had their sentences doubled.
• Annan escorted Ellie to the Embassy, where Feiolia asked whether they had spent the whole day together and Annan praised Ellie.
• Ellie said the High Elf Elder was probably wandering around the city.

Annan learned that the Elven Elders considered him and Free City promising allies, then discovered a Tender Sprout growing from his palm after eating a companion acorn. He went to the Embassy for answers, where the Elves saw another sprout growing from his tongue.

• Annan told the Free City officials about the assassination attempt and warned them to stay alert around the Elven delegation.
• Dade warned Annan not to let the Elves see the Otherworld Tree, and the delegation later praised the officials after visiting the City Lord's Mansion.
• Ellie, Feiolia, and Kailanzhuo compared their findings and rated Annan a gifted leader with the potential to become Legendary.
• Abby brought companion acorns to Dade, and Annan ate one before noticing a Tender Sprout growing from his palm.
• Annan heard officials discussing a Wood Elf whose footsteps made plants grow and hurried to the Embassy for help.
• As Annan greeted the Elves during their blessing of the World Tree, they saw a Tender Sprout growing from his tongue.

Annan and the Elven elders began preliminary alliance negotiations, exposing disagreements over Elven privileges and access to the Royal Court as well as divisions within Elven society. The delegation left Free City with a favorable impression, and Ellie invited Annan to the Elf Calendar celebration in two months.

• Ellie removed the plants that had sprouted on Annan after he ate a Companion Acorn, and Kailanzhuo announced that preliminary alliance talks would begin the next day.
• Olmedo, Idelia, and Annan met the three Elven elders to discuss trade, cultural exchange, cooperation, intelligence sharing, and each side’s rights.
• Kailanzhuo demanded special legal privileges for Elves, while Feiolia sought permission for Elves to settle and hold public office and Ellie asked Free City to plant more trees; Olmedo rejected the special privileges but agreed to the other requests.
• Olmedo requested that Free City citizens be allowed to visit the Elven Royal Court, while Idelia proposed founding an Academy; the Elves accepted the Academy proposal but refused access to the Royal Court.
• Olmedo challenged the Elves to explain why they wanted an alliance, prompting the chapter to reveal that the Royal Court was divided between an old guard seeking to preserve its Rules and a younger faction pushing for change.
• The delegation departed after the talks ended without a full agreement, and Ellie told Annan to meet her at the Elf Calendar celebration in two months.

After the Elven Envoy Delegation departed, Annan discussed how to sell Free City products at the Elf Calendar Celebration and visited Dunbelly to inspect his Knight Golem. The prototype had grown to 3.2 meters after Dunbelly added more modules, though Annan's visit ended with a joke about an oversized, inedible apple pie.

• Annan arranged a merchant ship and a Free City fleet escort for the Elven Envoy Delegation as they returned home.
• Feiolia asked Annan how he trusted nobles who had done terrible things, and he said people could change when given a better environment and a chance to start over.
• After the delegation left, Olmedo explained that the Elf Calendar Celebration would bring representatives of major powers to the Elven Royal Court in two months.
• Annan considered selling Free City's products to other races at the Celebration and suggested making custom versions for them.
• Annan visited Dunbelly in the Laboratory and learned that the Knight Golem Type One Prototype had grown to 3.2 meters after Dunbelly added modules.

Annan and Dunbelly examined the Knight Golem Model One and weighed its power against its severe Magic Power limits and high operating costs. Annan arranged a test of a Cleaning Rune for the Revolving Musket and began considering whether a Rune Seed could eventually let Golems operate around Free City.

• Annan inspected the Knight Golem Model One and asked Dunbelly how it was powered.
• Dunbelly explained the Golem’s short operating time, its vulnerability to Anti-Magic Fields, and the high cost of stronger Goblin Magic Crystals.
• Dunbelly showed Annan a Cleaning Rune that could prevent a Revolving Musket’s barrel from clogging, and Annan arranged for Copperbeard to bring a musket for testing.
• Annan researched Golems and learned from Lilith that a Mage Tower with Magic-Gathering Runes could sustain them around Free City.
• Lilith suggested that Annan buy a Rune Seed, and Annan decided to ask Dumbledore first.

Annan planned to build and sell impressive female security golems to push Free City's development, while buying a magic-gathering Rune for the Mage Tower. After several women refused to serve as models, he settled on the Princess as the best fit.

• Annan explained to Dunbelly that automation could free people from basic jobs, then proposed selling security golems to other factions.
• Dunbelly suggested making the security golems female, and Annan set out to find a model and a Wilhelm merchant.
• Annan bought a magic-gathering Rune seed from the Wilhelm merchant and gave it to Lilith to nurture.
• Olmedo and Lady Deepwinter declined to be models, and Annan considered but rejected other possible candidates.
• Annan saw the Princess beneath the Otherworld Tree and decided that she suited the golem model best.

Annan and Dumbledore built and tested Guardian Type One, a Princess-inspired Golem designed to patrol and protect civilians. After proving it could operate longer than expected, Annan planned to sell it to Vitalig and promote Golem production, then declared he would stop handling official business.

• Annan and Dumbledore chose the name Guardian and set the specifications for a two-meter Golem modeled after the Princess.
• The Mushroom House assembled Guardian Type One, and Dumbledore tested its strength, movement, and combat abilities.
• Annan took the Guardian through Free City, where Alan advertised it to the crowds as it patrolled for seventy minutes.
• Annan asked Olmedo to contact the Rikaner Kingdom with an offer to sell a Guardian to Vitalig before marketing Golems at a celebration.
• Annan argued that factories could produce Golems far faster than people could train Elites, then announced he would stop handling official business.