The last step of the celestial staircase groaned softly beneath Achlys' boots.
He exhaled long and slow, lifting his head to behold the place that legends called the heaven on Earth.
The Inner City of Libertatis stretched out before him—
a kingdom built atop the sky, suspended by the colossal living roots of the Tree of Hesperia.
Pillars of white-gold stone spiraled upward like frozen thunderbolts. Crystal bridges arched between floating platforms. Towers of glass, feather-woven vines, and glowing runes shimmered under the morning light.
Below them, the Outer City—a sprawling cluster of small homes and merchant districts—was a distant patchwork of color, half-hidden behind drifting clouds.
The division between the outer and inner city wasn't just the levels, it was the Pegaluves that housed them. The rich and nobles carried the inner part, above the clouds, while the civilians of lower traits resided in the outer part, below all those clouds and stairs.
Cryo whistled.
"…We're really high up."
"Yeah," Achlys murmured. "Feels like we're standing on the sun."
They walked forward, awe lingering in their eyes, until two armored Pegaluves approached—guardians of the great entrance gate.
One had massive red wings, each feather sharp as a blade. Standing nearly twice Cryo's height, he gazed at Achlys with a smirk.
"Well, well… a human at a place like this?" he taunted. "You must have a death wish. Welcome to your funeral!"
"Hey!"
His partner—an orange-haired Pegaluve with softer blue-white wings—jabbed him sharply with an elbow.
"You can't talk like that! Even if he's human, he's still a visitor."
Red-Wings scoffed. "Yeah, yeah…"
The kinder guard bowed slightly. "Please forgive him. He doesn't hate you. He's simply… surprised."
Cryo raised a brow. "Surprised? Most Pegaluves tried to kill us before saying hello."
The orange-haired guard laughed. "We aren't like the upper nobles. And truth is…" He puffed out his chest proudly. "We're actually half-human. Our ancestors intermarried. We grew up hearing stories about your people."
Achlys' expression softened. "Really…?"
"In fact," the guard went on with genuine warmth, "I admire humans. You fight even knowing there are gods walking above your heads. You never kneel. You never surrender."
Achlys felt something warm flicker inside him. He bowed his head. "Thank you… That means more than you know."
"But," the guard added, voice lowering, "do be careful. Inside the city… most Pegaluves despise humans."
"Yeah." Red-Wings cracked his knuckles. "They're pretty racist about it. Good luck."
He and his partner pushed the enormous sky-glass doors open. Light spilled through the entrance like a waterfall.
"See you guys later!" Achlys waved.
The guards smiled as the young human and his phoenix companion stepped into the heart of Libertatis.
Cryo clenched a fist. "I'll protect you no matter what, Achlys."
Achlys snorted, patting his head. "Yeah, yeah. I know."
.............................................................................
They wandered through beautifully paved streets lined with floating lanterns. Pegaluves in robes of silk-cloud threads passed by, some flying overhead, others walking with their hands behind their backs—shoulders stiff, chins raised.
Achlys paused. "Cryo… doesn't it feel warm here? Like… unnaturally warm?"
Cryo inhaled deeply, feeling the mana currents in the air.
"…High-grade environmental magic. Strong enough to stabilize an entire floating city."
"So it makes the climate livable at this altitude?"
"Yes. It's called—"
Schwing.
Cryo abruptly yanked Achlys backward. A spear of radiant crystal slammed into the pavement where Achlys' face had been a second ago.
"Ambush!" Cryo growled. "Ice Wall!"
A fortress of frozen azure rose instantly around them.
Dozens of Pegaluves swooped down from the rooftops, wings gleaming with spell-enhanced light.
"Tsk. So it starts again."
Cryo thrust his hands forward.
"Ice Spears!"
Hundreds of frozen javelins shot upward in a dazzling barrage. The Pegaluves twisted and dodged with aerial grace—too fast to hit.
Cryo smirked. "Not fast enough."
He clenched his fist.
"Burst!"
Every spear exploded mid-air, shattering into a storm of needle-shard fragments.
Shrieks echoed as Pegaluves were torn by the sudden blast, wings pierced, and bodies spiraling out of control.
Dust settled. Bodies dropped.
Cryo huffed. "You're not the only ones who can use surprise attacks."
Achlys covered his ears, trembling. The screams—the falling bodies—the sound of ruptured wings—It all pulled at the edges of his mind.
"What… should I do…?"
A hand clamped onto his shoulder.
Achlys spun—
No footsteps. No sound. No presence.
The man standing behind him was cloaked, his face hidden beneath a hood. Only his eyes gleamed through the shadows—two crimson rubies burning cold.
"It is quite busy, isn't it, child of man?" His voice was calm, ancient.
Achlys stiffened.
"…Who are you?"
The man walked past him, cloak fluttering. "Tell Bellona… do not ignore the world's cries this time."
Achlys' heart dropped.
"You—you know Bellona?!"
He turned to confront him—but in the blink of an eye, the stranger vanished. Only a shimmering shield-like glyph remained etched into the floor.
Far above, on a rooftop, the cloaked figure watched Achlys.
"The Order of Swords…" he murmured. "He is in control—for now."
A beam of light erupted beneath his feet, and he vanished into the sky.
Achlys shielded his eyes from the glare, staring in confusion and fear at the empty rooftop.
.............................................................................
Back in the wooden cabin in Loipetras, Mariola swirled lightly in her chair, staring at the sky outside her window—blue, bright, and innocent.
"Why did those two leave…?" she whispered. "Achlys… Tiabishi… Where are you now?"
She hugged herself. "Should I have gone with them? Should I… go after them now?"
The door slammed open so hard the hinges screeched.
Saria and Persephone limped inside—covered in bandages, clothes torn, limbs bruised and splinted.
Persephone poked her left arm. "Oi… is it just me or is m' arm healin'?"
"Say it again," Saria growled, "and I'll break the other one."
Mariola nearly fainted. "W-What happened to you two?!"
Before she could speak, the door burst open again.
"Yo! Achlys's mother!" Nox leapt on the table and waved casually while crouching barefoot. "What's up?"
Mariola sighed deeply. "You look tired. Maybe you should try sleeping somewhere, not on my furniture."
"Maybe you should try being nicer, lady." Nox grinned. "Anyway, nice table."
"Get off my table, you black-magic maniac."
Nox laughed. "Heh. Good nickname."
Saria dropped into a chair. "Mariola. You want to see Achlys again, right?"
Mariola nodded quickly.
"Persephone is going to search for him," Saria continued. "You should go with her."
Mariola's eyes sparkled like those of a child.
"Really? Can I really go?"
She grabbed Persephone's hand.
"Let's go, Persephone!"
"What—? OI, woman—wait—HEY—!"
Persephone flailed helplessly as Mariola dragged her straight out of the house.
Nox burst into laughter. "Oh gods, they're hilarious."
Saria sighed as she checked the window—people outside were fighting, stealing, smashing goods in the streets.
"This town isn't safe anymore. I had some friends of mine do some background work… Loipetras is falling apart."
She stood and unsheathed her blade. "Let's fix it."
Nox summoned a black-magic battle axe. "Heh. Let's tear this city apart."
"By our hands," Saria said.
.............................................................................
Back in the Eternal Darkness forest, the Demon Princess tossed a massive sword onto the ground before Tiabishi.
"Pick it up."
Tiabishi struggled.
"By the Light God—this thing weighs a mountain!"
The princess smirked. "Didn't know elves had humor."
Tiabishi glared sideways at her. "Why?"
"Why what?"
"Why are you doing all this?"
The princess shrugged, stretching casually.
"I'm bored. Thought training you might be fun."
Tiabishi frowned. "…That's it?"
"And," the princess added slyly, "it'll help you protect that boyfriend of yours."
Tiabishi's eye twitched.
"Do not mention him with your filthy mouth."
"Make me, stupid elf."
Tiabishi charged with a furious roar.
The princess raised a finger—blocking the entire strike effortlessly. "You're slow. Too soft. Is that all you got?"
Tiabishi grit her teeth, stepped back, and swung again—this time channeling magic. The blade split several towering trees behind the princess.
"Oh? A sprinkle of magic. Nice."
Tiabishi didn't stop. She dashed again. Again. Again.
The forest trembled from their escalating fight. From the shadows, two figures appeared—the Demon King and Dobrota.
The king gasped.
"Good heavens! The princess finally made a friend! The sun must've risen from the west today!"
Dobrota sighed. "Why doesn't he ever get excited when something good happens to me…?"
"What was that?" the king asked.
"…Nothing."