Alaric’s small mind was blown to smithereens.

A towering structure of pristine white stone rose high into the air, challenging the mountain for dominion over the skies. As it reached the clouds, the tower split into three spires forming an ominous trident pointing towards the sky.

Crystalline windows dotted the spires in neat spirals, some open while others remained closed. Normally, someone would be interested in the inside of this illustrious building but Alaric was more interested in the design of these windows.

Every inch of the window sills was covered in beautiful clear gems while intricate designs ran along the framing of the windows.

Rising from the two minor spires were white flags, one with a symbol of a quill and an ink pot similar to the one on Garin’s cape while the other sported a majestic shield with a wand standing in the middle of it, the flag of the Valerian empire.

Alaric had only seen this sigil a few times before but this was the first time he was catching a glimpse of its intricate details.

Atop the middle and tallest tower, an orb of pure white light pulsed with strong magic, “Is that an aether crystal?”

“Yup. It's one of the largest ones you’ll ever see. It powers a millitary-grade barrier that keeps demons and unauthorized people away from the Tower. It does some other things but I’m not allowed to say,” Garin explained.

The armoured rider noticed Alaric’s expression and chuckled lightly, “You’ll be alright.”

The Tower, as it so happened, was only the beginning of the wonders this place held. Dotting the skies were flying creatures of all shapes and sizes.

Owls, ravens, crows and other smalling flying critters fitted with small bags to carry mail and small deliveries darted left and right either entering the Tower’s numerous windows or flying out.

Griffins carried riders wearing plate armour much similar to Gavin’s and, on occasion, much more opulent.

The chilling wind seemed to vanish the instant the stingray had flown through the transparent barrier put up by the pulsing orb of aether at the top of the tower.

Alaric’s eyes widened when he saw a creature covered in brick red scales with spikes running along its spine. Its powerful forelimbs extended outwards to form two majestic batlike wings. Cables of steel muscle rippled under its gleaming red scales.

The creature’s head was menacing enough to send shivers down anyone who saw it. Rows of razor-sharp teeth, a harrowing presence and a characteristic pulse of aether that indicated its affinity to Fire Magic.

Fitted on its back was an impressive saddle holding a two passengers and two small, yet fine bags.

“Is that a wyvern?” Finn gasped.

“Yup. One of a few in existence,” Garin answered.

There were a few stingrays as well, albeit of different colours. Out of all of them, Alaric surmised that Garin’s azure guardian was by far the largest and most beautiful.

On the ground far below, carriages drawn by a variety of creatures made their way to the tower’s vicinity. The ground below was featured clean paved streets and buildings made of similar white stone.

Further down still, carriages continued to ferry in more children that were now of age and coming for their Appraisal Ceremony. This day wasn’t important for Alaric and his friends alone. This was a day known across the entire Valerian continent.

It was a day when new warriors would be born.

Citizens of the small town bustled all around, going about their errands and staying clear of the multitude of beasts and carriages that brought children from all over the Eastern region of the Valerian continent.

“An entire village curved into the side of a mountain,” Alaric mused.

“More like a city if you ask me,” Finn muttered under his breath.

Aiden chuckled loudly from behind, “A city is much bigger than this.”

“Have you been to one?” Finn turned around.

Aiden shrugged, “It didn’t interest me.”

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Alaric’s mind had already drifted away from the conversation. Something still rattled him about this place.

“Why do they need such a large Aether crystal though? I thought that’s something we’d find at the Academy,” he wondered.

“Oh?! You’re this ignorant and yet you have hopes of joining the Guardian Academy? I pity you, phony genius,” Aiden mused from his seat behind.

The armoured man seated at the front smirked, “Then you don’t mind explaining then, right Aiden?”

“Naturally. I’d be more than happy to impart my vast wisdom…”

Alaric found himself stunned by the words considering Aiden had never struck him as a bookworm. If anything he was bound to be the best with a sword amongst the three teenagers they’d found on SwiftWind’s back.

The callouses on his hands were proof of that.

“…The Tower of Seekers doesn’t just serve as some place for teenagers to get appraised. It’s also the place where Masters of Guardians with affinities to revelations reside. Powerful Seekers have the ability to divine the future. Once in a while, they even manage to produce an Oracle which is the highest honour for a Seeker. Because of this, they are also entrusted with gathering and preserving knowledge of the kingdom. You’d do well to conduct yourself in an appropriate manner,” he explained.

“Thank you for the heads-up,” Alaric replied, then went silent once more.

“You’re welcome. As you can already tell, Seekers are not known for their abilities with swords. They do, however, have great magical capabilities. It explains all the guards they have. This place is like a fort,” Aiden continued.

[This boy talks too much,] the female voice in his head asked.

‘Tell me about it,’ Alaric groaned internally.

Garin guided his Guardian to the courtyard of the colossal tower right in front of the large wyvern. The view was perfect enough for him to catch a glimpse of the people who had come riding upon the majestic guardian.

A girl dressed in fine white clothes stepped down. A thin rapier rested in a sheath at her side and her porcelain face remained as still and expressionless as a doll.

A man dressed in gold armour got down not too long after her. The man’s armour and sword were equally impressive, shining a little too bright for Alaric’s liking and pulsing with a few too many enchantments.

“Damn!” Finn whispered.

The sandy-haired boy had completely forgotten that they were supposed to dismount. Alaric looked at his clothes which were perhaps the most expensive clothes he’d ever worn… and yet, now he noticed that they too, were faded third-rate clothes that couldn’t match the opulence of the flashy pair that arrived on the wyvern.

“A noble,” Darla noted.

Alaric nodded, “Never seen one before today.”

He stood and walked off the floating stingray, trying his best to dispel thoughts of inferiority towards the pair. It wasn’t like all that equipment was going to make them better at combat.

They would obviously have some boost in their power because of the enchantments and a sword was definitely going to have trouble cutting through all that armour should a fight break out but in the end, that didn’t change one’s skill-level… right?

‘Damn it!’ the boy breathed.

“Where does someone even get such equipment?” Alaric mumbled.

Garin briefly noticed Alaric’s fascination with the equipment. He’d been working on getting one of the girls out of malfunctioning harness when he answered in a low tone, “You would need the backing of a very powerful House. Equipment like that can only come from a few blacksmiths… and it’s never cheap.

Join the Elite Guard and rise through the ranks. There are only a handful of other ways I can think of.”

Knitting his brows, he continued working on getting the girl free. Somehow, she had gotten her waistlong black hair caught up in the locks and Garin was struggling to get her out without clipping as much as a strand of her hair.

The girl in question had turned red as a tomato as everyone’s attention turned to her.

Alaric let his eyes wonder. He saw many children his age. Some had come with their parents, some had come with escorts and bodyguards. A few had come on their own.

There were tall ones, short ones, muscular ones, lean ones and they came in all manner of clothes as well. As his eyes wandered, they stumbled upon the girl in who’d arrived on the wyvern.

She’d arrived with an escort. A knight whose Guardian was probably the powerful wyvern. He also noticed that she wore at least three rings, each pulsing with abnormal amounts of mana.

When Alaric tried gleaning more, he realised there was more to her clothes than just their opulent quality. Multiple waves of aether rippled through the very fabric of her high-end clothes.

‘Why does she even need a bodyguard with all that gear?’ the boy thought to himself as he shifted his attention to the rest of his surroundings.

[So her clothes are more attractive than her face?] his guardian whispered into his ear.

[When it comes to looks, Darla and Sister Marla have got her beat. I don’t think any amount of ointments can help her with that,] Alaric responded with a mental chuckle.

“Alaric, are you even listening?” Darla snapped her fingers in front of the boy’s face.

“What? Did I miss something?” Alaric snapped back to the present.

“You see one noble and you start daydreaming,” she sighed.

“I was… thinking…” Alaric gave the girl a tight-lipped smile.

She narrowed her eyes at him, “About what?”

The boy swallowed, “How you would look in better equipment.”

Darla blinked rapidly and her face turned the slightest shade of pink, “Oh… Well, we might never know. Garin has left. He says we should follow the rest of the Aspirants to the main hall of the tower where the appraisal will be held. He has something to sort out with the Council of the Tower but he says he’ll be back before we’re done with appraisal.”

“Aspirants?” Alaric wondered.

Finn put his hand around his best friend and answered, “It’s what their calling us. Aspirants… children who aspire to be something.”

“Okay. Is there anything else we should know?” he asked.

“Yes. He also said this place is heavily guarded this time of year. Not everyone who comes to be appraised is an upstanding citizen of Valeria. Nobles come with their guards who can get violent very quickly, so try to stay out of their way,” she explained.

[Alia…]

[Keep your charms near. This place might be protected from demons… but today, it’s open to all sorts of people for as long as they are escorting some kid, so stay on your guard,] Alia’s voice filtered into his mind.

Alaric relayed the guardian’s words to his friends and together, they made for the tower.