Fabio and Sophie walked among the stone buildings, admiring the magnificence of the city.

"By the way, do you know what kingdom we're in?"

After hearing Fabio's question, Sophie looked up at the sky. For some reason, Fabio felt as if she were reciting the answer.

"Hmm, if I'm not mistaken, we're in the kingdom of Monterra, in a viscounty."

"...Monterra?"

"Yup."

As they continued walking, Fabio visualized a rough map of the world, based on what Victor had told them when they were younger.

The known continent was divided into four territories: north, east, south, and west, each of which housed a small human kingdom.

In its center was the desert where they had lived, surrounded by an extensive forest, both forming a large cross that separated the borders.

At the top of the map was the sea, infested with dangerous monsters, much like many of the land territories.

Monterra was the kingdom of the east.

Like all the others, it had a noble regime, where mages held power. The king himself, said to be the best mage of each generation, granted different titles of nobility to his peers, along with the management of certain parts of the kingdom.

As Monterra was surrounded by an impregnable mountain range to the east, whose mountains resembled a single wall reaching up to the sky, an everfrost wasteland to the north near the kingdom of Finisterre, and uninhabitable lands on its other borders, the kingdom had stopped expanding, reaching a territorial equilibrium.

But, instead, it had become filled with intense internal disputes.

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The news that used to arrive at Victor's magical communicator about their conflicts were many and extensive.

And now they found themselves in one of the viscounties managed by mage nobility.

"...And I suppose the viscount is Lily's father."

"Indeed."

It seemed that the other nobles had already noticed Lily's anomaly and had her in their sights.

With some luck, that would also set them free.

...

The two walked under the orange light of the sunset.

The clouds gleamed with an intense red, as if they were embers trying to escape the confines of the sky.

Fabio felt as if he were once again in the desert.

During their walk, they saw some of the butterflies that Sophie had scattered. They fluttered silently, waiting to detect any irregularity in the mana of the air.

Sometimes they would encounter the inhabitants of the city. Everyone greeted them warmly, smiling with their purple eyes.

"...Excuse me."

Fabio felt a tug on his sleeve and saw a child holding two hot bagels.

"These are for you."

Fabio took one of them hesitantly, but took a bite.

It was delicious.

The child smiled at his reaction, making Fabio feel a warmth he had never imagined in his desert village, overwhelming even the fear he felt of Lily's mana.

After handing the other bagel to Sophie, the boy ran back to a bakery, where those who seemed to be his parents awaited him happily.

It seemed that all the inhabitants lived a happy life.

Perhaps Lily's mental control wasn't so bad after all...

Before dinner time, the sun had already set. Sophie walked toward the mansion, ignoring Fabio, who had no choice but to follow her in silence.

When they arrived, they saw a boy and a girl in their familiar black and white suits.

"Dinner is ready."

The boy took their coats, and the girl, who seemed to be Sophie's assigned servant, accompanied them both to the dining room.

Sitting in one of the chairs was Lily.