As the Weber family hastily made their way through the night, they finally arrived at their destination in the industrial district of the city. Standing before them was a small, charming two-story stone house, adorned with a few simple decorations that added to its allure.

William took a step forward and knocked on the door, his family standing a few paces behind him. Moments later, they heard a rumbling from within, followed by an angry voice emanating from the second-floor window. "Who's there?" the man demanded.

In response, William spoke loud enough to reach the man above. "William, who still owes you fourteen silvers from our last round of cards, where you definitely did not cheat."

Surprised, the man at the window exclaimed, "William? What are you doing out there? Wait a moment, I am coming downstairs."

They didn't have to wait long before the door swung open, revealing a middle-aged man with a bald head and a prominent nose, clad in a simple sleeping gown. He ushered them inside hurriedly, closing the door behind them.

Immediately, the man inquired, "William, what the hell are you doing here?"

With a conflicted expression, William greeted the man, gripping his hand in a warm shake. "Marcus, good to see you too!" William began. "It's a bit complicated but I can give you a quick summary. We arrived in town this afternoon to celebrate our son's graduation from the academy, completely unaware of the revolution that's unfolding in the empire. All we want is to avoid getting involved and wait for this mess to blow over. You know that my wife, Anna, is an official commander of the empire, and we're hoping she can stay out of the upcoming battle. We were wondering if we could stay with you for a while. I would owe you one for this."

Marcus's face displayed a myriad of conflicting emotions as he sat down at the kitchen table, deep in thought. The implications of harboring a family tied to the empire during these turbulent times weighed heavily on him.

As the Webers settled into Marcus's home, a blonde middle-aged lady descended the stairs. Donned in simple linen pants and a shirt that seemed a size too large for her, she exuded an air of warmth and seriousness.

William, still standing, greeted her with a smile. "Oh, Celine, we didn't mean to disturb your sleep."

Celine responded with a welcoming handshake, her own smile lighting up the room. "Too late for that, William. But it's good to see you anyway."

Gesturing to the family, she invited them to sit at the table while she busied herself brewing some tea. As the aroma of the brewing beverage filled the air, Celine posed a question to the Webers. "Did anyone follow you here? And when you arrived in the city, did you show your true identification to the guards at the gates?"

This time, Anna spoke up, her tone calm and composed. "Yes, we did show our true identifications, which is precisely why we find ourselves in this predicament. We checked into the 'Lucky Fox' and stayed until nightfall before making our escape. There was a man in a black coat and a hat who seemed to be watching us, but we managed to elude his notice."

Celine, her smile ever-present, reassured them. "Good, then it shouldn't be too much of a problem."

As the water simmered on the stove, Celine continued her preparations, pouring the tea and placing the cups gently on the table. The Webers couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude for her hospitality and understanding.

The blonde lady served the tea and settled herself at the table, her curiosity piqued. "What exactly do you know about the revolution?" she inquired. Her gaze swept from William to Lando, finally resting on Anna.

Anna and the lady locked eyes for a brief moment before Anna offered her response. "Actually, just the rumors that have been circulating for the past two months. Vincent Underwood and his allies are attempting to overthrow his brother and establish a republic in place of the imperial rule."

The lady, already aware of the answer, probed further. Her elbows rested on the table, a cup of tea cradled in her hands. Anna, undeterred, continued to share what she knew. She explained that the new republic aimed to eradicate the influence of nobles, centralizing power in the capital, where the government would enact uniform laws across the empire. One notable law would supposedly bring equality between magicians and common people, preventing any abuse of magical powers and creating new opportunities for the latter.

As Anna spoke, she glanced toward the inquiring lady, but the lady merely motioned for her to continue. Anna concluded, "That's what the rumors suggest, at least. I don't have much more information."

Celine, taking a long sip of her tea, now turned the conversation toward Anna's personal perspective. "And what's your opinion on all of this?" she asked, her voice laced with genuine interest.

Anna's irritation grew slightly, her eyes narrowing as she pondered the question. After a brief silence, she answered with a touch of defiance, "I don't really care who is making the laws or whether this empire becomes a republic."

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Pausing again, Anna observed the lady's reaction, but finding none, she continued. "I also don't care if commoners gain the same rights as magicians. The only thing I care about right now is the safety of my family. That's why we are here," she declared, her face reflecting the seriousness of her words. "To avoid getting entangled in this political mess."

Celine, deep in thought, sighed softly before responding to the woman with raven black hair. "Alright. You all can stay here until this is over. We are happy to host you all." With a barely audible exhale, she added, "It must have been a long day. Should I show you to your rooms already?"

William, his face beaming with gratitude, spoke on behalf of his family. "Thank you! That would be very generous of you."

After finishing their tea, Celine graciously showed the Webers to their respective rooms, ensuring their comfort and providing a sanctuary from the chaos outside.

Marcus and Celine themselves retired to their bedroom, where Marcus couldn't help but voice his curiosity. "You know, if they were aligned with the duke, they wouldn't seek refuge here. And they made it clear they want no part in this conflict. So why did you ask them all those questions, my love?"

Celine, lying beside her husband, responded without hesitation, "You're right. But in times like these, it's better to be cautious."

In another bedroom down the hallway, a similar conversation unfolded between William and Anna. William's shock was evident as he reacted to Anna's suspicions. "What! You think Marcus and Celine are part of the revolution?"

Anna, though uncertain, expressed her belief that it was highly unlikely. She reassured William, acknowledging their friends' reluctance to involve them in their cause. Anna made it clear to Marcus and Celine that they wished to distance themselves from the turmoil, primarily concerned with their own well-being. She trusted that their hosts would respect their wishes and provide them shelter for the time being, as they had no better alternative.

William, weary from the events of the day, expressed his hope for a swift resolution to the ongoing conflict. He acknowledged that staying with revolutionaries was not ideal but understood that it was their best option. Exhausted, he conceded, "You're right. This is our best option for now. I just hope this mess will be over soon."

Anna reassured her husband, offering comfort through a gentle kiss, as they both sought solace in the fleeting moments of joy that remained.

The days passed slowly for the Weber family as they remained confined to their home to avoid trouble in the midst of the revolution. This was especially true for Lando, who found solace in his training as a mage. Immersed in his studies, Lando made significant progress towards reaching the next stage of his magical journey. However, his endeavors to form his elemental core proved to be more challenging than he had anticipated.

Ordinary apprentices could fasten this process by attempting to simultaneously absorb an elemental core in its gaseous state to stimulate the mana in their own bodies as the mana in the cores already had the desired state. Unfortunately, this option was not available to Lando. Despite his tireless efforts, he found himself at a bottleneck, longing for a break from his rigorous training schedule.

Desiring a diversion, Lando decided to go for a walk one afternoon. Although it was not the wisest choice, as the guards at the city gates were familiar with his face, he knew he would be relatively unidentified in the city. The magical academy he attended was located on the other side of town, and students were rarely permitted to leave the campus, resulting in Lando's limited knowledge of the city he had called home for nearly four years.

Reluctantly, his parents had allowed him to venture out, albeit with a slight change in appearance. Lando purposefully disheveled his hair and donned a pair of old black pants and a worn-out white shirt adorned with permanent stains. These clothes were usually reserved for his work of dissecting beast corpses, and he believed that one set of ruined attire was sufficient.

Driven by a new idea he got during his training sessions that sparked his curiosity, Lando decided to test his abilities. Instead of relying on momentum to phase into objects, he attempted to push his body forward using only his space magic. Aware of the potential dangers of becoming trapped in solid objects like a wall or the ground, he was cautious in his approach.

Though it took some time, Lando ultimately mastered this new technique through a combination of his existing skill set. Finally ready for the ultimate test, he stood on the ground floor and allowed himself to sink into the floor. With determination, he pushed himself forward underground for a short distance before resurfacing exactly where he intended. Overjoyed with his success, he exclaimed out loud in celebration, "Yes!"

As Lando reflected on the experience of being underground, he realized that he could rely solely on the feeling of the space around him in most cases. Though moving without the use of his other senses was slightly disconcerting, he understood that it would become more natural with practice.

However, as Lando contemplated the practical applications of his newfound skill, his thoughts took a darker turn. He began to consider the potential for criminal activities, such as infiltrating buildings undetected, assassinating individuals, or robbing unsuspecting victims. Yet, he quickly recognized the limitations and risks involved, particularly not knowing what awaited him upon phasing into a room. Acknowledging the potential defenses against his magic, such as enchantments guarding important vaults, he decided to focus on his training accordingly.

‘I have never heard of a rogue space magician running around in the empire, so it couldn´t be that easy I guess` he pondered to himself slightly dampening his criminal thoughts.

Nonetheless, content with his discovery, Lando eagerly searched for a suitable location to further test his abilities. Spotting an empty area without any people around through his window, he phased into the ground and pushed forward with his space magic. Moments later, he reappeared behind a parked carriage over a hundred meters away from his home. Relieved that no one seemed to have noticed his sudden appearance, he assessed his limit to be around 150 meters, sufficient for most purposes.

Fueled by excitement and a sense of adventure, Lando ventured into the industrial district, eager to explore the city he had called home for the past four years but had never truly seen. Unbeknownst to him, trouble awaited both him and his family later that day, threatening to disrupt their newfound stability and thrusting them into the heart of the perilous circumstances unfolding around them.