January 11, Year 10030 of the Atrelin calendar.
Outside the Mage Tower, the early spring air was bitterly cold. Inside, fragrant warmth filled the rooms.
Roland slept until he woke naturally. The moment he opened his eyes, he felt a warm, soft body nestled against him like a cat.
"Hm?"
Puzzled, Roland lifted the covers and discovered that the person beneath them was Atali.
(!!! Some text was deleted. I'm disheartened and out of inspiration, so I won't replace it. Use your imaginations.)
Atali was too embarrassed to leave the bedroom with him, so Roland had breakfast alone. He had barely taken a few bites when the Tower Spirit's notification sounded overhead.
"Esteemed Roland, the Council requests that all members assemble on the twentieth floor at eight o'clock for a meeting. Please be punctual..."
"A meeting this early?"
Roland put a piece of soft white bread into his mouth, feeling somewhat puzzled.
Although the announcement sounded perfectly routine, he sensed something unusual behind it.
Soon afterward, Roland arrived on the twentieth floor of the Mage Tower and saw several familiar faces.
"Morella, you're here too?"
The arrival of this Council member assigned to the West Lainer Mage Tower, along with the other High Mages, strengthened a certain suspicion in his mind.
Sure enough, the subsequent arrival of Gallo and the others confirmed his guess.
All the High Mages from West Lainer had rushed over during the night using Mass Teleportation.
As more people arrived, the meeting hall gradually grew lively.
Everyone greeted old friends and colleagues they knew, only to discover that some people were missing.
Blaise, for instance.
As well as several people who had once served in the Battle Mage ranks.
"And Lord Pollas!"
"From the looks of it, Grand Mage Pollas must have taken some people