I'm sitting in one of the plush chairs in the mansion's common area, relaxing after the lectures. The kids are still in class. They mentioned earlier that Elowen invited them over for dinner tonight. Apparently they made plans to explore the city with her after classes end so they can prepare for the graduation ball, then head to her estate to eat.
I told them to have fun and not stay out too late after dark. They're responsible kids, but still. It's a big city they don't know well.
Speaking of the ball, I should probably prepare too. I look down at what I'm wearing. Casual shirt, comfortable pants, boots. These won't cut it for a formal event.
I look around the room. Eldrin is reading something. Liora and Sylphaeris are having tea. Seraphina and Lucien are talking quietly. Vesper is sprawled on the sofa looking half-asleep.
[Wright] "So, the ball is tomorrow. What's everyone wearing?"
[Seraphina] "Oh, I have an exquisite collection of gowns. Several, in fact, each more elegant than the last."
[Lucien] "I have formal attire as well."
[Seraphina] "Your 'formal attire' is so thoroughly antiquated it belongs in a museum. Which ruins did you excavate it from?"
[Lucien] "It's traditional ceremonial wear. There's nothing wrong with it."
[Seraphina] "It has dust on the shoulders."
[Lucien] "That's... I've been doing fieldwork. I'll clean it."
[Seraphina] "You'll replace it. We're going shopping."
They're bickering. As usual.
[Eldrin] "I shall wear my ceremonial robes, as befits my position as village chief."
[Liora] "My formal shrine maiden garments will be appropriate."
[Sylphaeris] "I don't need to prepare anything. Watch this!"
Her dress shifts. The fabric dissolves and reforms, transforming from her usual flowing white and green outfit into a beautiful pale green gown that looks woven from light and wind itself.
[Wright] "That suits your color scheme. It looks really good."
[Sylphaeris] "Pretty, right? Being a spirit has its perks!"
[Vesper] "I'm wearing this."
Everyone turns to look at her.
[Vesper] "It's just a ball. Why does everyone care so much? Dresses are uncomfortable and I'd have to change."
[Liora] "Vesper, you should honor the occasion properly."
[Seraphina] "After that absolutely magnificent lecture, you'll be surrounded by admirers and scholars. You simply cannot appear as though you've just stumbled from your nap."
[Eldrin] "I must insist you represent our people with appropriate dignity."
[Vesper] "This is unfair. I didn't sign up for this."
[Wright] "Seems like most people have clothes to wear. I'll need to buy some."
[Liora] "I'll come with you. And I'm bringing Vesper along so she can find something suitable."
[Vesper] "Shopping sounds like work."
[Liora] "You're coming with us."
[Seraphina] "I shall accompany you as well! One can never possess too many exquisite gowns. And I'm bringing Lucien to finally replace that disaster he calls formal wear."
[Lucien] "My clothes are fine. They just need to be cleaned."
[Seraphina] "They need to be burned."
[Sylphaeris] "Ooh, I'm coming too! This should be fun."
Looks like we're going shopping. Eldrin keeps handing me the surplus from the crop sales, and I never did spend the gold from the dungeon. At this point, my Storage is basically a vault.
---
We leave the mansion and step out onto the academy grounds. The main entrance has a transportation station, a circular platform with glowing runes carved into its surface.
[Liora] "We can use the transit network to reach the city center."
[Wright] "Transit network?"
[Eldrin] "Arcanis has established magical transportation throughout the capital. It's quite efficient."
We step onto the platform. Eldrin taps a rune and the platform glows brighter. There's a brief sensation of movement, like being lifted by a gentle wind, and then we're standing on a different platform in a busy plaza.
The city of Arcanis spreads out before us. Up close, the arcane engineering is even more impressive than it looked from the air. The floating towers I saw earlier rise from various points in the city, their bases surrounded by shimmering fields of magic. Some rotate slowly on invisible axes. The crystalline structures catch and refract sunlight, creating rainbows that shift and dance across building facades.
The streets are wide and paved with stones that have intricate glowing runes worked into them. I recognize some of the patterns from the magical barriers I saw when we flew in. The wards protecting the city must extend underground as well.
The floating street lamps are spheres of contained light that drift along set paths, brightening and dimming based on the ambient light. Some of the buildings have sections that rotate slowly, their walls shimmering like water.
People on the streets wear robes in various colors, many embroidered with symbols I recognize from the students and Supreme Mage. The symbols shimmer and shift as the wearers move, like living enchantments woven into the fabric itself.
[Sylphaeris] "This city is so vibrant!"
[Vesper] "It's impressive. Everything here runs on magic."
[Eldrin] "Selenith has always been at the forefront of magical innovation. Arcanis is the jewel of their nation."
We start walking. People are everywhere. Elves, humans, dwarves, even a few other races I don't recognize. Students in academy robes mix with merchants, craftspeople, and visiting scholars.
Street performers are scattered throughout the plaza. One is creating illusions that dance in the air. Dragons made of light that chase each other in circles. Another is juggling balls of fire and ice simultaneously, never letting them touch. A third is playing a stringed instrument that produces notes which materialize as visible ripples in the air.
[Sylphaeris] "Oh! Look at that one!"
She points to a performer who's making flowers bloom from thin air, each one a different color and species, arranging them into a floating bouquet that shifts and rearranges itself.
[Liora] "Beautiful. The control required for such delicate magic is remarkable."
We continue walking. Every corner reveals something new. A shop selling enchanted jewelry that glows softly. A bookstore with volumes floating in the window display, pages turning themselves to show illustrations. A corner vendor selling crystallized mana in different colors, each one pulsing with a different type of energy.
The smell of fresh bread hits us from half a block away.
[Liora] "There's a bakery nearby. Shall we stop?"
We follow the scent to a bakery with wide windows showing rows of bread and pastries inside. The bakery is warm and smells incredible. Loaves of bread displayed in neat rows, some still steaming. Pastries filled with fruit, sweet rolls topped with glazed honey, flatbreads with herbs baked into them.
The baker, a cheerful dwarf woman, greets us.
[Baker] "Welcome! Fresh out of the oven, everything you see. What can I get you?"
[Liora] "That bread has a beautiful glow to it. What kind is it?"
She points to a braided loaf that shimmers slightly.
[Baker] "Ah, sun-touched wheat. It's bread baked with grain blessed by light magic. Stays warm long after it's out of the oven, and the sweetness comes through naturally, no honey needed."
[Liora] "I'll take two loaves."
[Wright] "I'll get one of those fruit pastries."
We end up buying more than we planned. The bread is too good to resist. We continue walking while eating, the pastries warm and sweet.
A few blocks down, I spot a magic tool shop. Vesper's already noticed it too. Her eyes are locked on the display window.
[Vesper] "That shop. I want to check it out."
We cross over. The shop is packed with magical artifacts and tools. Display cases show enchanted measuring instruments, portable light sources, what looks like a compass. Shelves filled with crystals of different sizes and colors, each one pulsing with its own internal light.
Vesper is immediately drawn to a section displaying miniaturized enchantment arrays.
[Vesper] "Hm. The compression ratio on this heat regulation array is pretty good."
The shopkeeper, an elderly elf with spectacles perched on his nose, perks up.
[Shopkeeper] "You have a good eye! That's one of our custom designs. Are you an artificer?"
[Vesper] "Yeah."
[Shopkeeper] "Then you might be interested in our workshop materials section."
He leads her to the back. The rest of us follow. Drawers full of crystals, metal wires, enchanted inks, and blank runestones. Vesper picks up a crystal and examines it closely.
[Vesper] "Good clarity. What's the mana conductivity rating?"
[Shopkeeper] "Eight-point-four. We source them from the eastern mines."
[Vesper] "I'll take ten."
She ends up buying an entire bag of materials. I've rarely seen her this engaged, except when food is involved.
We leave the magic shop and continue down the main street. We come across a large intersection where multiple streets meet. In the center is a massive fountain, but instead of water, it displays images. Scenes from Selenith's history play out in flowing magical energy. Battles, celebrations, the founding of the academy, the crowning of Supreme Mages throughout the ages.
A small crowd has gathered to watch. Children point excitedly at the images while their parents explain what they're seeing.
[Seraphina] "Magnificent. The preservation of history through magical artistry. I could watch this for hours."
[Lucien] "The detail is impressive. Look at the architectural accuracy in that scene of the old palace."
[Seraphina] "Of course you'd notice the buildings."
[Lucien] "It's important. Architecture tells us as much about a culture as any written record."
[Seraphina] "I suppose that's true. Though I prefer wine as a historical record."
We continue walking, eventually coming across a row of street vendors. The variety is impressive. Fresh produce, preserved goods, skewered meats cooking over magical flames, sweet drinks in colorful bottles.
Liora immediately gravitates toward a vegetable stand.
[Liora] "These vegetables are beautiful. Were they grown nearby?"
[Vendor] "Aye, just beyond the city walls. Harvested this very morning. We bless them lightly with magic, helps the flavor shine and keeps them good for you."
[Liora] "I'll take some of these, and those greens over there."
Seraphina, meanwhile, has found a vendor selling wines and spirits. Her eyes light up.
[Seraphina] "Oh my, is this from the southern vineyards? The bouquet is exquisite!"
[Wine Vendor] "Indeed! One of our finest vintages. Would you like to sample?"
[Seraphina] "I would be delighted."
She tries a small glass and her expression becomes rapturous.
[Seraphina] "I must have three bottles. No, five."
[Lucien] "We're leaving in a couple of days. That's excessive."
[Seraphina] "Which is precisely why I must acquire it now! One cannot find vintages of this caliber just anywhere. You wouldn't understand."
We wander through the market area. Vendors calling out their wares, the smell of cooking food fills the air, the whole area buzzes with energy. I see a vendor selling what looks like candied fruit on sticks, another with freshly grilled fish, one with steaming bowls of soup that smell incredible.
[Sylphaeris] "This place is wonderful! So much life and energy!"
I notice a produce stall with vegetables I don't recognize. They're odd-looking. Some are deep purple with silver veins running through them, others are bright orange but shaped like spirals. A root vegetable pulses with a faint glow.
I walk over.
[Wright] "What are these?"
The vendor, a middle-aged human man with weathered hands, looks up and smiles.
[Vendor] "Those are Moonveil tubers. They're grown in soil enriched with night-blooming flowers. Very nutritious, and they have a sweet, earthy flavor when roasted."
[Wright] "And these?"
I point to the spiral ones.
[Vendor] "Spiral roots. They grow in a corkscrew shape naturally. Good in stews. We used to grow them back home."
[Wright] "Back home?"
[Vendor] "Aldencrest. My family had a farm there before... well, before everything happened."
The mention of Aldencrest catches my attention.
[Wright] "You're a refugee?"
[Vendor] "That's right. We packed up what we could and came here about a few weeks ago. Selenith has been wonderful, truly. We've found better lives here than we ever had back home."
[Wright] "Better lives?"
[Vendor] "Oh yes. The Supreme Mage's government has programs to help refugees establish themselves. They gave us land to farm, helped us get permits to sell at the markets, even provided initial supplies. Back in Aldencrest, we paid taxes to nobles who never helped us with anything. Here, the government supports its people."
He gestures to his stall with obvious pride.
[Vendor] "It's a shame we had to leave our home, but honestly? We're doing better than we ever did under Aldencrest's rule. My children can attend the local school here. My wife and I got training in magical agriculture techniques. We've built something good here."
[Wright] "That's... that's really good to hear."
[Vendor] "Selenith isn't perfect, but they treat people fairly. That's more than I can say for where we came from."
I buy some of the Moonveil tubers and Spiral roots, more to support him than anything else. He packs them carefully and thanks me warmly.
Eventually, we make our way to the shopping district. The buildings here are more refined, with elegant displays in the windows. We pass several shops before Liora points to one.
[Liora] "That one looks good."
It's a high-end shop with elegant displays in the windows. Mannequins dressed in formal wear that looks expensive and well-made.
We head inside.
---
The shop is spacious and well-lit. Racks of formal clothing line the walls, organized by style and color. A well-dressed attendant approaches us immediately.
[Attendant] "Welcome! Are you looking for anything specific today?"
[Wright] "Formal wear. For a ball."
[Attendant] "Excellent! Right this way."
She leads us to a section with various formal outfits. I start looking through the options while Sylphaeris offers commentary.
[Sylphaeris] "Too stiff! That one looks boring. Try the dark blue one, it's prettier."
I pull out a dark blue formal robe with silver embroidery. It's nice, but when I try it on, it feels restrictive.
[Wright] "This is uncomfortable."
[Sylphaeris] "Next! Come on, there has to be something good here."
Meanwhile, Liora has cornered Vesper and is holding up an elegant gown.
[Vesper] "No."
[Liora] "This would suit you beautifully."
[Vesper] "I already said no."
[Liora] "Just try it on."
[Vesper] "There's too much fabric. I'll trip over it."
[Liora] "You won't trip. Please cooperate."
On the other side of the shop, Seraphina is forcing Lucien to try on different formal wear.
[Seraphina] "This is magnificent! Far superior to that ancient relic you've been hoarding."
[Lucien] "My current clothes are adequate. They just need cleaning."
[Seraphina] "They need to be replaced. Try this robe."
I try on several more outfits. They're all well-made, but they all feel wrong. Too stiff, too heavy, too restrictive.
The attendant notices my frustration.
[Attendant] "Perhaps our ready-made garments aren't quite what you're looking for. We do offer custom tailoring services. I could have something made specifically for you using our lightweight enchanted fabrics."
[Wright] "Lightweight enchanted fabrics?"
[Attendant] "Yes. We have materials treated with feather-weight enchantments. They maintain their structure and appearance but feel almost weightless when worn. Much more comfortable for extended wear."
That sounds promising.
[Wright] "Could you make something in a style similar to what I'm wearing now, but formal? And can you add those moving runes I see on the students' robes?"
I gesture to a passing student visible through the shop window, their robe embroidered with symbols that shimmer and shift.
[Attendant] "Living enchantments? Certainly. We can weave those into the fabric. They're quite popular for formal occasions."
[Wright] "How long would it take?"
[Attendant] "Normally, custom work takes a week. But if you need it sooner?"
[Wright] "The ball is tomorrow evening. Could it be ready by tomorrow afternoon?"
The attendant considers for a moment.
[Attendant] "It's possible, but it would require a rush order. An additional fee for the expedited service."
Well, money is made to be spent.
[Wright] "That's fine. Let's do it."
[Attendant] "Wonderful. Let me take your measurements."
She produces a measuring tape that glows faintly. Probably enchanted for accuracy. She takes measurements of my shoulders, chest, waist, arm length, and inseam, all while asking questions about color preferences and style details.
[Attendant] "I'm thinking deep gray as the base color, with subtle silver threading for the living enchantments. A tailored cut that allows for movement. Does that sound acceptable?"
[Wright] "That sounds perfect."
[Attendant] "Excellent. Your garments will be ready tomorrow afternoon. You can pick them up here, or we can have them delivered to your residence."
[Wright] "That'll be great. I'm staying at the Magic Academy."
She gives me a receipt with the total cost. It's more than I'd usually spend on clothes, but considering it's custom-made with enchantments, it seems reasonable.
I give her the details for the delivery. Afterwards, I watch as Liora finally convinces Vesper to try on a dress. It's a simple design in deep blue, elegant without being overly elaborate.
Vesper walks out of the changing room looking uncomfortable.
[Vesper] "This is ridiculous."
[Liora] "You look lovely."
[Vesper] "I look like I'm being strangled by cloth."
[Liora] "You look elegant and refined. We're getting it."
[Vesper] "Under protest."
Seraphina has also succeeded in getting Lucien into new formal wear. He's wearing a well-tailored outfit in dark colors that looks good on him.
[Seraphina] "Finally! You look presentable!"
[Lucien] "It's fine. A bit tight around the shoulders."
[Seraphina] "That's because it fits properly. You're used to wearing things two sizes too large."
We finish our purchases and leave the shop. The sun is starting to get lower in the sky, casting warm golden light over the city.
[Wright] "Anyone hungry?"
[Sylphaeris] "Always!"
We make our way back toward the market district where the food vendors are. The evening crowd is starting to gather, and the smells of cooking food are even stronger than before.