The Eye of Magnus slowly revolved around the Silver Tree's main trunk. Profound runes of creation shimmered across its surface with a faint blue-green light. Its stately, unhurried orbit gave no indication of the tremendous power it was producing.
There were many ways to make an object rise into the air. Americans had a simple saying, with enough horsepower, anything could fly. Given sufficient thrust, even a manhole cover could be launched out of the solar system.
That was not merely a figure of speech. During an American underground nuclear test in the 1950s, an error in the yield calculations caused the explosion to release fifty thousand times more energy than expected. The resulting shock wave blasted the steel cover off the test shaft at an initial velocity of seventy kilometers per second, six times the speed required to escape the sun's gravitational pull.
However, the amount of energy required to lift an entire island was astronomical. Magnetic levitation or antigravity would naturally be far more economical and efficient.
Pandora, the world depicted in Avatar, possessed countless floating mountains because a unique native mineral exhibited antigravitational properties. It was a natural wonder born from the cosmic forces of the universe.
Spellcasters used their intellect to command the Weave and thereby manipulate the universe, allowing them to create equally magnificent wonders. These were miracles wrought by civilization. Flying enclaves represented the pinnacle of magical civilization precisely because their construction required centuries of accumulated knowledge and a society capable of producing figures like Ioulaum.
Skyl had considered several possible methods of building his flying enclave. He could infuse the island with elemental earth and transform its stone into an antigravitational material, or he could create a levitation device similar to the one Ultron had used in Avengers: Age of Ultron.
In the end, however, he chose the simplest and fastest solution. Using the Eye of Magnus, he made [Yturn's Levitation] permanent across the entire island.
The disadvantage was obvious. If the supply of magical energy ever stopped, the island would inevitably fall. That was how the flying enclaves of the ancient Netherese Empire had met their end.
With the Silver Tree present, however, the enclave could continue drawing an abundant supply of magical energy even if the Weave itself were destroyed. The Silver Roots constituted an entirely separate Weave. Even if the Silver Roots were torn apart as well, the Eye of Magnus could serve as a concealed reserve power source, providing more than enough energy to keep the flying enclave operating normally.
If the enclave somehow lost power despite those two layers of protection, Skyl could only shrug and let the chips fall where they may.
Under the watchful eyes of his companions, Skyl stood atop the mountain with the bearing of a god. He merely pointed toward the sky, and the ground beneath his feet began rising naturally.
In reality, the levitation spell he had made permanent beforehand was doing all the work. Pointing toward the heavens was nothing more than striking a dramatic pose. The effect was clearly worthwhile, however, because at least one tiefling spectator could not help showing an expression of wonder and admiration.
The other spectator, Stan, merely smiled knowingly.
Skyl lowered his hand. The island would need approximately six standard days to reach a stable altitude in the stratosphere. Of course, he could also control the floating island and guide it completely beyond Toril.
Under the laws governing the D&D multiverse, whenever an object left a gaseous environment, its own gravity carried a mass of air along with it, forming an air envelope around its surface. An island of this size could maintain an atmosphere capable of supporting normal breathing for several months. Furthermore, its flourishing forests could produce enough oxygen to create a self-sustaining cycle.
From another perspective, Skyl had effectively acquired a planet of his own.
Stan patted Skyl on the shoulder and smiled.
"I think it's time to give this island a name. This place has already become legendary. We can't have visitors arriving without knowing what to call it."
"The name Netheril is rather inspiring. It essentially means Nether's land, so perhaps we should call this place Skylrael. Or maybe Skyl's Enclave? No, Skylrael sounds better."
Skyl made no attempt to conceal his possessiveness toward the floating island. He was its sole god and supreme king. That fact shone as clearly as the sun and required neither excuses nor concealment.
Every visitor needed to understand that the ground beneath their feet had an owner. Before causing trouble, they would be wise to consider whether they possessed the strength to face him.
"Skylrael," Doric repeated softly, savoring the sound of the name. "It sounds a little like the name of an elven kingdom. I hope this place will remain peaceful."
"Next comes the city itself." Stan rubbed his brow. "We need help, and we need residents. A city without people is nothing more than an architectural model."
"We can take our time," Skyl replied.
He felt no urgency. That was the confidence granted by longevity. He could sit and watch a civilization rise from savagery, flourish through its golden age, and ultimately collapse. An epic spanning tens of thousands of years would pass before his eyes like drifting smoke.
The travelers climbing the mountainside gradually reached the summit.
The first thing they saw was the Silver Tree. Its radiance was so brilliant and pure that the sight immediately engraved itself upon their memories.
The island's master was also standing at the summit. Skyl and his two companions had merely happened to be admiring the scenery near the cliff when they unexpectedly encountered their visitors.
"Your Excellency, guided by Oghma, we meet again," Ulen said, taking the initiative to bow his head toward Skyl.
Stan watched the exchange with an amused smile. Oghma was one of the identities he used, so naturally he found the situation entertaining.
The representatives from Candlekeep explained why they had come.
After considering their proposal for a moment, Skyl gave his answer.
"My city welcomes all. There is no need for you to pay money in pursuit of knowledge."
"What do you mean?" the First Reader asked, his voice trembling slightly.
He did not lower his guard. After all, nothing was more expensive than something offered for free.
"Anyone who joins the Tower Covenant will receive access to an enormous collection of magical knowledge at no cost, provided that they possess the ability to enter the Tower."
"So anyone seeking this knowledge must enter your service?" Bookwyrm asked after regaining his composure.
He was clearly dissatisfied with that condition.
Skyl could easily guess what the Candlekeep scholars were thinking. They considered themselves members of a prestigious and independent institution, far too distinguished to bow their heads before another master.
"There is another option," Skyl said. "You can exchange Candle Flames for knowledge."
Once again, he employed a perfectly open and irresistible strategy.
"The choice is yours. Will you remain in Skylrael and join the Tower, or will you come as visitors and exchange the flames of your wisdom for true knowledge?"
"How do we obtain Candle Flames?"
"Candle Flames are Lights Inside the Skull, inspiration condensed into a tangible form. You accumulate them through study, labor, and practical experience. There are two methods of transforming inspiration into Candle Flames. You may enter the Dream World and undergo soul elevation, or you may sign a Candle Flames trade contract and allow the contract to extract them."
The warlock produced a contractual agreement and revealed a professionally polished smile.
"This is far too important a decision to make immediately. Please allow us more time to consider it."
Bookwyrm turned around and saw the Avowed whispering among themselves. Their expressions revealed that many of them were already wavering.
His heart sank as an ominous premonition came over him.
...
Inside the Dream World, a Candlekeep scholar described what he had witnessed in Skylrael to Zim and Livia.
"I chose to settle the matter permanently by joining the Tower. Once I became a member, I gained access to a practically limitless amount of knowledge. Exchanging Candle Flames for individual pieces of information would have required far more time and effort."
"I thought all of you were devoted to Candlekeep," Zim joked. "You changed allegiances that easily? No one tried to make trouble for you?"
"I certainly paid a price, but compared with what I stand to gain in the future, it was insignificant. You don't understand Skylrael's true greatness. The Silver Tree represents an entirely new system of spellcasting, a magnificent future unrestricted by spell slots!"
Livia imagined the city in the sky. To a little sparrow like her, such a vast and beautiful heaven was almost beyond comprehension.
"I've made up my mind," she said softly. "Someday, I'm definitely going to Skylrael."
"Of course." The Candlekeep scholar nodded happily. "Skylrael needs a larger population. The more people who live there, the more Candle Flames they will produce, and the more brilliantly the Silver Tree will flourish. Honestly, you really need to see that tree for yourselves. Its magnificence is enough to bring tears to your eyes."
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