“Ark City used a teleportation formation that required untold amounts of gemstones,” said Gaius. “And you’ve been monitoring Heritage and the Intersection, without finding any sign of them there. How did they power it up again?”

“They didn’t,” Nexus replied. “They tunnelled through the Great Divide.”

Gaius tried to get up, but Isabelle’s hands were holding him down gently. After a few failed attempts, he gave up and continued to let his body sink into the fluffy clouds that doubled as his bed. Whatever pain his nerves were sensing had been somehow overwritten by the great softness beneath his back and legs.

Shaking himself slightly, Gaius said, “Did you just say they tunnelled through the Great Divide?”

“Yes,” Nexus replied. “As it turned out, Ark City also had some Locomotives sitting around—”

“Locomotives?” Gaius asked. “What’s that?”

“Oh, the general catch-all term that refers to flying artefacts capable of transporting large numbers of people over long distances. The new name for things like the Unity,” Nexus replied. “Personally, I’m of the opinion that ‘ships’ work as well, but I suppose they wanted to differentiate between ships that move on water and ships that fly through the air.”

“There must have been an incident created by this mess-up, for this change in terminology,” Gaius mused. “Right, back to the main topic. So, Ark City has those uh, Locomotives. That’s not unexpected. I’m quite sure that mere possession of flying ships doesn’t equate to passage through the Great Divide, however.”

“Details about how they left through the Great Divide are still sketchy at present, however. That is natural, since the refugees of Ark City appeared in the Five Lands nine days ago,” said Nexus.

“Nine days…which translates to three days in Cybral.” Gaius narrowed his eyes. Back then, he recalled sensing the birth of the Demon Sovereign, all the way in Cybral. He’d thought that it was an isolated event, something that was bound to happen, but from the timing, it probably had something to do with the refugees of Ark City.

It didn’t take long for him to come up with a suitable inference. “Which Constellation was brought along when Ark City escaped from the Last Star's siege?”

Nexus stood up abruptly. “How did you know about that?”

The others were all reacting similarly, and Gaius stifled any desire to smile. “It’s a very long story. I would prefer to narrate it to you guys when Xanadu’s present, but the Chanter of Innocents’ assistance in my matters for the past year…the past three years has something to do with it.”

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“What’s with that?” Isabelle asked.

“Again, long story.” Gaius raised his hand to his cheek and patted her hand lightly, before withdrawing it. “I’ll tell everyone about it tomorrow. Nexus, can I have more details about Ark City?”

“By your will. First, Ark City and the Republic have entered a state of technological and cultural osmosis, but the former has no intention in integrating with the Republic. Rather, it is building a city, the first of its kind, capable of…”

Gaius smiled. The artificial intelligence hadn’t changed all that much. Nexus was still as trustworthy as ever, even keeping track of news and things in the past three years without his prompting. Nodding every so often, Gaius continued to listen to the artificial intelligence’s words.

The rate in which technology, or rather, artificing, advanced at was rather impressive. Floating ships, capable of carrying thousands of soldiers, seemed rather tame in comparison to floating cities that also doubled as fortresses. Of course, the fact that the new Ark City was going to float over to the Great Divide was another thing that Gaius looked favourably upon, but nothing could beat the idea of floating cities.

“What are you thinking about?” Nexus asked, having finished the explanation.

“I’m wondering if I should build a small floating house,” Gaius replied. “Wouldn’t it be fun?”

“And, pray tell, why would that be?”

“Huh?” Gaius thought for a moment. “Isn’t that very idea fun? One night, you’re sleeping above Elinaris, but when you wake up, you’re above Sephira…isn’t that fun?”

“I sometimes do not understand you, my master.”

“Never told you to,” Gaius replied. “Right?”

“True.” Nexus pondered for a few seconds. “That should be about it, then.”

“Not yet,” said Gaius. “Casualties. Those sustained when Ark City left the Wildlands. How many were there? Who were they?”

“Most of their Lords. A few Paragons.” Isabelle spoke, from outside his field of vision. “It was on the news. A ceremony was held on the day they returned, but Ark City is open to any and all for the next month, for people to pay their respects to the fallen.”

Gaius exhaled slowly. “How are the other nations treating Ark City? I speak with reference to Xanadu’s words, the rise of the Demon Sovereign.”

“No discontent so far.” Isabelle’s words carried a hint of warning.

“So far, eh?” Gaius shook his head, before glancing at La-Ti and Nakama. Both of them weren’t moving, and their breathing was that of an asleep person.

Gaius paused at that point. How did Nakama manage to give a sculpture the ability to breath in the first place? Should I let her take over my duties as La-Ti’s teacher? She is, after all far more skilled than me. That’s actually quite a good idea, I guess. Might help her to mature faster.

“Gaius?”

“Sorry. I was thinking about some things,” Gaius replied, a yawn leaking out at the end of his sentence. “You should get them to bed. It’s late at night. You too.”

“My hands and legs are numb,” Isabelle replied. “Can we all just stay here tonight? Nakama and I are still wondering if this is all just a dream. We don’t want to enter your room tomorrow, only to see that you never woke up.”

“I—” Gaius sighed. “Very well. But at least make yourself comfortable.”

A yawn forced its way out of his mouth. “Looks like I’m still too tired from my return here. Isabelle, I’ll go ahead and sleep fir—”

“Gaius?!”