The next morning, I woke up earlier than usual.
The decision had already been made. There was no reason to postpone anything.
The Arcane City was the next step.
After getting ready, I went down to the main hall of the mansion. The smell of freshly baked bread already filled the room. Liriel was near the table organizing a few things while Elara helped set the plates.
Lyannis was sitting in a chair, spinning a spoon between her fingers as if she were bored.
Rai'kanna appeared shortly after, still yawning, while Vespera entered through the side door that led to the garden.
It seemed everyone already knew what we were going to do that day.
"Are we going to the guild?" Elara asked.
I nodded as I sat down.
"We need to find out how to enter the Arcane City."
Liriel placed a cup of tea in front of me.
"It's better to resolve that first. It wouldn't make sense to travel there without knowing if we'll be able to get in."
Lyannis rested her chin on her hand.
"I've heard some stories about that place."
Rai'kanna took a piece of bread.
"Good stories or bad?"
Lyannis shrugged.
"Depends on who tells them."
No one else commented. We finished breakfast in silence, each of us apparently thinking about the same thing.
The Arcane City was famous across the continent.
But it was also known for being extremely selective.
After finishing, we left the mansion and walked through the streets of Vailor.
The city was busy as usual. Merchants were already setting up their stalls, adventurers walked toward the guild, and some caravans were beginning to leave the city gates.
It was a normal morning.
But to me, it felt like the beginning of something new.
We walked for a few minutes until we reached the Adventurers' Guild building.
The place was crowded.
Some groups were talking near the mission board, while others were discussing the results of recent jobs. As soon as we entered, a few people quickly glanced in our direction.
This had already become normal after the battle against the Fourth General.
I ignored the looks and walked straight to the main counter.
The clerk there recognized us immediately.
"Good morning, Takumi."
I nodded politely.
"Good morning."
She seemed curious.
"How can I help you?"
I rested my arms on the counter.
"I need some information."
"About what?"
I took a deep breath before answering.
"The Arcane City."
For a moment, her expression changed.
It didn't seem like surprise.
It seemed… cautious.
She remained silent for a few seconds before answering.
"I understand."
Lyannis tilted her head slightly.
"That sounds serious."
The clerk picked up a small record book and opened a few pages.
"The Arcane City doesn't work like other cities."
Elara crossed her arms.
"What do you mean?"
The woman explained calmly.
"The entrance is not free."
Rai'kanna stopped chewing the bread she was still holding.
"So there is some kind of authorization?"
The clerk nodded.
"Yes."
She turned a few more pages in the record.
"Anyone who wants to enter needs approval."
I looked at her attentively.
"Approval from whom?"
She answered without hesitation.
"From the Master of Mages."
Liriel immediately showed interest.
"The leader of the city?"
"Exactly."
Lyannis rested her elbows on the counter.
"And who is he?"
The clerk slowly closed the record book.
"His name is Aurelius Valemorth."
That name seemed to carry weight.
Even without knowing him, I felt he was not an ordinary person.
"Is he the ruler of the city?" I asked.
"Not exactly."
The woman explained calmly.
"The Arcane City is governed by a council of mages. But Aurelius is considered the most powerful among them."
Elara seemed thoughtful.
"So he decides who can enter."
"Yes."
Rai'kanna scratched her head.
"That sounds inconvenient."
Lyannis laughed.
"Or exclusive."
I turned my attention back to the clerk.
"Is there a way to request this approval?"
She nodded.
"The guild can send a request."
Liriel spoke immediately.
"A letter?"
"Exactly."
The clerk pulled a clean scroll and placed it on the counter.
"You need to explain the reason for your visit."
I looked at the scroll for a few seconds.
It seemed simple.
But I knew this was not just a formality.
If Aurelius Valemorth refused, the entire trip would end before it even began.
I picked up the quill on the counter.
As I thought about what to write, I felt the girls' gazes on me.
I took a deep breath and began.
I wrote my name.
Briefly explained who I was.
Mentioned the battle against the Fourth General.
And finally, I wrote the real reason for the visit.
To learn advanced mana control.
When I finished, I handed the scroll to the clerk.
She read it quickly and nodded.
"Seems appropriate."
Rai'kanna crossed her arms.
"And now?"
The woman rolled up the scroll and placed a guild seal on it.
"Now we send the letter."
Lyannis tilted her head.
"And how long will it take?"
The clerk thought for a few seconds.
"It depends."
Elara raised an eyebrow.
"Depends on what?"
"Aurelius Valemorth."
Silence returned.
The woman continued.
"He may respond in a few days."
She paused briefly.
"Or it could take weeks."
Rai'kanna let out a sigh.
"Mages…"
Lyannis laughed.
"At least now we're officially in line."
The clerk stored the scroll with other documents.
"The letter will be sent today."
I nodded.
"Thank you."
After that, we stepped away from the counter.
We left the guild and returned to the busy streets of Vailor.
For a few moments, no one spoke.
Until Lyannis finally broke the silence.
"So now we wait."
Rai'kanna put her hands behind her head.
"I don't really like this part."
Elara seemed calm.
"We can use the time productively."
Liriel agreed.
"There are still many missions available."
I looked at all of them.
It was true.
Waiting didn't mean doing nothing.
Aurelius Valemorth's response could take days.
Maybe weeks.
But one thing was certain.
At some point, that letter would be answered.
And when that happened…
Our path to the Arcane City would finally begin.
For now, all we could do was wait.