Winter had come to Faerûn.
For Waterdeep in the North, wind and snow were old friends, nothing the locals had reason to fear. The city's maritime climate meant winter rarely brought snow deep enough to bury houses, but the damp cold that seeped into the bones was even harder to endure.
At this time every year, the Miko family spent extra money on charcoal, keeping the boiler roaring so hot steam flowed through every pipe beneath the floors and kept the house as warm as spring.
Too much warmth was not good either. Livia's body could not remain in a hot, dry environment for extended periods, so the servants placed basins of water throughout the rooms, set bundles of cooling herbs in bottles on her nightstand, and opened the corridor windows to keep fresh air circulating.
Livia had moved her desk beside the window. Bent over her work in the gentle, pale daylight, she filled sheet after sheet with small, carefully formed characters arranged in orderly but hurried lines. Her quill scratched steadily across the paper. Ink stained her fingers, and the side of her wrist had developed a callus from rubbing against the desk. Her lowered eyelids trembled faintly, while her long lashes cast delicate shadows beneath her eyes like the marks of a cat's paw.
Adventurers along the Sword Coast had brought astonishing news. An island in the Cimarine Isles had risen into the sky, adding a new flying enclave to Faerûn. Countless people wished to reach it, but very few knew the way. According to rumor, only those who had been chosen were permitted to travel to Skylrael.
Livia longed to earn that privilege as soon as possible. She was only one step away from accumulating enough Candle Flames to advance. Tonight would be her final push.
She breathed against the windowpane. A thin layer of frost had formed across the glass, blurring the scenery outside.
A pebble struck the window frame.
Livia froze, then raised her head. After struggling to pull down the latch, she pushed the window open and looked into the courtyard. Zim stood below, smiling brightly as he waved up at her.
The Miko family was well mannered. Although they remained wary and distant toward this young man of uncertain origins, they would never rudely turn a guest away.
Livia climbed onto the desk on her knees and leaned half her body out of the window. She smiled when she saw her friend, then deliberately sighed and shook her head as though she disapproved of her reckless visitor.
To the elders of the Miko family, this was practically a warning sign. Young romances often began with precisely this kind of behavior, and they had no intention of carelessly entrusting their precious daughter to a stranger whose family and background were both unknown.
They met in the reception room fifteen minutes later. With the butler and several maids discreetly watching them, the atmosphere was painfully restrained.
Zim disliked such surroundings. The first time he had met Livia in person, they had been able to talk to their hearts' content.
Their meeting had been entirely accidental.
After acquiring a small amount of magical ability, Zim had stopped limiting himself to the impoverished residents and criminal gangs of the Dock Ward. Instead, he turned his attention toward the wealthy communities of the North Ward. With nimble hands and a little magic, he successfully completed several jobs without being caught by the City Watch.
Waterdeep, however, was no place for a reckless amateur. Even a legendary thief might disappear without leaving so much as a bone behind. The reason was simple, the city concealed far too many dangerous individuals.
Zim had intended to retire after one final job, only to break into the Miko estate. More precisely, he had climbed directly into Livia's bedroom while she was secretly reading by candlelight late at night.
Their first meeting had therefore been rather comical.
Livia had also finally learned what Zim truly did for a living, despite all his previous evasions. It was certainly not respectable work.
She told him that such dirty business damaged the Tower's reputation.
Zim merely smiled. "A sheltered young lady like you wouldn't understand how hard life is for people like us."
"Many poor people still support themselves with honest trades," Livia argued. "The money they earn is clean."
"The people you call poor already live in happy, comfortable homes compared with mine."
Livia sighed deeply and decided to help her impoverished friend from the Dream World. From that day onward, Zim became a frequent visitor to the Miko estate, although he refused to accept financial assistance from her.
"I'll find a way to survive. Just lend me a few books. I'll return them when I'm finished."
That was how the strange friendship between a thief and a wealthy young lady began.
They hid letters inside books and communicated through codes.
Once Livia advanced to become a Tower apprentice, she intended to depart for Skylrael immediately. Her family would never approve, so she planned to simply leave without warning. Zim had agreed to accompany her, making him an accomplice in her escape.
Zim began telling her about something he had recently encountered.
"I met a new sorcerer. He claims to be descended from Elminster Aumar."
"Which Elminster?"
Livia became so excited that she nearly knocked over her teacup, completely forgetting the dignity expected of a young lady.
"How many Elminsters do you think there are in Faerûn, on Toril, or anywhere else in this world?" Zim curled his lip. "Don't get excited too quickly, though. The man I met is terrible. He can handle a few cantrips reasonably well, but even a 1st-level spell might blow up in his face."
"How could one of Elminster's descendants be so incompetent?"
"According to the rumors, Elminster of Shadowdale is a shameless womanizer who left children everywhere he went. Who knows how many bloodlines he scattered across the world? In any case, the fellow I met leads a rather miserable life."
Zim made a subtle hand gesture, indicating that the sorcerer was one of his criminal associates.
Livia frowned. She had learned a little about the underworld from Zim, and her voice held both displeasure and concern.
"You haven't started taking jobs for gold again, have you?"
"I spend every day staring at the goddess Waukeen and drooling."
Zim smiled lazily, then noticed that the butler's expression was becoming increasingly hostile.
"I should leave. Good night."
"Yes, good night," Livia replied nervously, her heart skipping a beat.
Zim waved farewell.
The servants all thought he was a strange young man. Who wished someone good night first thing in the morning?
At lunch, Livia's older brother Andrei unexpectedly returned home to eat with the family.
The atmosphere around the table was harmonious, but Andrei brought troubling news.
"A type of contract has recently begun circulating through the city's underground markets. The sellers claim that anyone who signs one will receive limitless knowledge."
Their father, Jeremy Miko, immediately declared, "It is obviously another criminal trick, perhaps even the work of devils. Nothing like that will be permitted inside this house."
Voices of agreement rose around the table.
Livia smiled sweetly without revealing the slightest flaw. Andrei nevertheless gave her a concerned, meaningful look.
Her mother spoke softly. "That Mr. Zim appears to have been visiting rather often lately. Livvy, what do you think of the boy?"
"Not much."
"Oh?"
Her mother's smile became peculiar.
"I truly don't think much of him," Livvy repeated. "Don't misunderstand. He comes here to discuss the jewelry business with Father. We barely know each other."
Although the jewelry was stolen, Zim had indeed used that excuse when he began formally visiting the Miko estate.
"A family cannot prosper without the efforts of future generations," her mother remarked casually. "Perhaps you should become acquainted with some boys from other families."
"I'm very tired, Mother."
Livia's smile did not falter in the slightest.
That evening, Livia went to sleep early. She had already accumulated all the knowledge required to kindle her next Candle Flame.
In the Dream World, Livia stood before the Tower on the silver-cast road and lit the final candle.
The great doors swung open.
Blessed by her fellow travelers, she stepped into the divine realm.
Inside the Tower was an empty hexagonal gallery. An illusory sun floated high within the central air shaft.
Livia looked around.
"Mr. Skyl?"
The High Tower King slowly descended.
Livia trembled as she spoke. "Greetings, great one. I am Livia Miko. I followed your guidance and kindled the Lights Inside the Skull. I wish to become an agent of your will..."
The king within the illusory sun gently raised one hand.
White flames ignited around Livia.
Bathed in their radiance, she felt as though she had been submerged in a warm spring. From the furthest ends of her nerves to the deepest memories within her soul, every part of her experienced indescribable comfort. It was a complete transformation, like being born anew from the womb of the world.
The flames gradually contracted and condensed into a book before her.
The Wizard's Practical Guide.
"You made it."
Skyl opened a door in the gallery wall and greeted the astonished, overjoyed Livia.
"Mr. Skyl, it's been so long!"
"Your timing is fortunate. Had you arrived one day later, I would already have departed on a long journey. Since you have accepted the High Tower King as your patron, we are now companions."
Skyl stopped beside the air shaft and gently ran one hand along the railing, his posture relaxed and unhurried.
"Livia Miko."
"Yes."
Livia straightened her back.
"You are now a newcomer to the Tower, and Skylrael awaits your arrival. That does not mean you have become a member of the Covenant. You must continue working, pass the trials, and enter a higher hall of scholarship, where you will interact with more exceptional elite mages. For now, all you possess is this copy of The Wizard's Practical Guide. Once you enter the Covenant, you will receive a private study, effectively a demiplane of your own."
Livia listened in a daze and could do little more than nod repeatedly.
"Now that you possess the Guide, you will no longer need to enter the Dream World to collect Candle Flames. Like the contracts, it can draw them in directly. You will learn what Candle Flames can be used for once you reach Skylrael."
Skyl gave her a warm smile.
"That will be all. The Guide can answer any questions you may have. I will see you in Skylrael."
"...Of course!"
Livia awoke with a start.
At some point, a thick notebook had appeared in her arms. She stroked it lovingly, unwilling to let it go.
Moonlight covered the world like frost.
A small pebble struck the window frame.
Zim was already waiting for her.
That night, they began their flight to the new world.
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