The main square of Cheonghae had been completely transformed overnight.

  Above the huge crowd littering the area, jade-and-gold paper lanterns swung back and forth, and delicate sakura petals floated through the evening air, even though it wasn’t the right season.

  The smell of spiced meats, fermented kimchi, and sweet rice cakes drifted across the square, mixing with incense and a salty breeze carried from afar.

  I leaned back in my seat at one of the raised tables for guests, watching the Monarch step onto the central stage. His royal hanbok glimmered with gold thread that caught the lantern glow, and everyone fell silent when he lifted his hands.

  “People of Goryeo,” his voice boomed across the square without a trace of magic—just the natural power of an 8th Ascension being. “Today marks a new chapter in our nation’s history.”

  Standing beside him was Ha-Yun, glowing in a set of deep crimson ceremonial robes stitched with silver cranes. The slender crown on her dark hair was a work of art, made of silver branches and jade leaves. It looked similar to the Monarch’s crown, symbolising her status as heir. Her brother was on the other side of their father, smiling proudly at her.

  “My daughter, First Princess Jin Ha-Yun, has shown power beyond measure. The Mountain Gods have blessed her path during birth, and she's lived up to that to this day. As you must have seen, Ao'kai, the Green Scaled King, even flew over to drop her here.” The Monarch’s voice rose. “Considering all her achievements, and also for the betterment of Goryeo, I've decided to crown her as the Crown Princess. Jin Ha-Yun shall inherit the throne one day and become the very first Empress of Goryeo!”

  The crowd went wild, though I saw some stiff faces among the older nobles. Most of the crowd seemed all in, swept up by the excitement of something new.

  “He’s laying it on a bit thick,” Solara muttered next to me, her wings folded neatly behind her. She was dressed up too, wearing a local gown that matched her flames—amber silk fading to deep crimson near the hem.

  “Hey, at least the food’s good,” Lilian mumbled through a mouthful of spiced beef, already on her third plate. She swapped her usual maid attire for fancy blue robes trimmed in silver that really brought out her own coloring, though she’d refused to give up her maid headdress, formal event or not.

  I clapped along with everyone else as the Monarch went on, listing Ha-Yun’s achievements at Waybound and all the mountain spirits who’d blessed her. The whole square felt electric—musicians on drums and flutes, dancers twirling among the lower tables with fans and ribbons, kids running around with sparklers in hand.

  “What’s this called again, young master?” Lilian asked, stacking even more food from the middle platter.

  “Uh, Galbi, I think—slow-cooked beef ribs,” I said, grabbing some myself. “Sweet but spicy sauce.”

  She popped another piece in her mouth, chewing like she was in heaven. Solara and I couldn't help but laugh at her love for food. What could she not eat?

  “My, my… how uncivilized.” A snooty voice cut into our conversation.

  I looked up to find a chubby man in fancy blue silk robes standing nearby. His thin mustache twitched while he stared at Lilian with open disgust.

  “Foreigners ought to learn proper dining manners before showing up at a royal event. Such disrespect. Eating like dogs,” he went on, talking to his friends but saying it loudly enough for us to hear. “Though, I guess we can’t expect much from… hmm, what do they call them in the west? Demi-humans?”

  The others around him snickered behind their sleeves.

  “Ah yes, how’d I miss it?” He waved a hand toward Lilian’s ears, sneering. “Those beastly features explain the appetite. Guess my statement about dogs wasn't that far off, huhu.”

  Hmm, I'm getting déjà vu. I wondered as Lilian froze, her chopsticks halfway up, and her ruby eyes sharpened to slits.

  Despite being familiar with this bullshit, I still felt my blood boil, my own chopsticks twitching in my fist.

  I thought the East would be more tolerant because they worship mountain spirits that often take the appearance of half-humans, half-beasts. Turns out, bigotry can pop up anywhere, even if it was rare here.

  It could be that he was intentionally trying to anger us. Or that he wasn't from Goryeo, from a nearby nation. Whatever the case, it made me want to release my Qi.

  Solara slipped her hand into mine under the table, giving it a quick squeeze. Don’t make a scene, that touch said. Not now.

  With serious effort, I forced myself to calm down. We were guests here, after all. The man and his cronies had already turned away, still laughing, clueless about how close they’d come to a real mess. If Lilian decided to go full werewolf, or if I’d let any of my power show...

  “Don’t,” I whispered to Lilian, noticing her claws starting to extend. “He’s not worth it. Trust me. Let's enjoy our food?”

  She let out a low growl but pulled back her claws, jabbing a piece of beef instead.

  The party kept rolling around us, the drums picking up pace as dancers spun faster. Even with all the color and music, my mood soured, that insult to Lilian souring the air.

  “Enjoying the festivities?”

  I nearly choked on my wine when the Monarch himself appeared at our table, whispers spreading among the onlookers. All eyes were on us—who was this foreign kid that the ruler of Goryeo would approach in person?

  “Ah, yes, Your Highness,” I said, jumping up and bowing the right amount. Solara and Lilian did the same. “The celebration is fantastic.”

  “I’m glad you think so, for it's all thanks to you,” he said with a smile. “Can I ask for a bit of your time?”

  “Uh, sure.” I nodded, then added, “But… I’ve got a small complaint.”

  He lifted an eyebrow. “Oh? Is the food not to your taste?”

  “Not exactly.” I quickly pointed to the fat noble who’d insulted Lilian, now loudly bragging at a nearby table. “He insulted my maid earlier, just for eating. By calling her a dog, to be precise. Imagine how hurt her ‘family’ would be if they heard about that….”

  The Monarch’s eyes flared in shock, color draining from his face as he paled. I could see him starting to sweat. “That… that fat idiot dared mock the granddaughter of the First Apocalypse?!”

  His voice was low but fierce, glancing from Lilian to the man and back. Then, with a quick gesture, he called over a guard. “Guards!” His voice was loud.

  “Y-Your Highness!” A bunch ran over to greet him.

  “That one,” he muttered, nodding at the noble, “and everyone with him—escort them out immediately. To the dungeons. I’ll handle their disrespect tomorrow.”

  The guard bowed and hurried off. I smiled and watched as they closed in on the bigmouth’s table. The noble’s face went from smug to confused to terrified as they led him away.

  “…I apologize for that insult, Princess,” the Monarch said to Lilian, lowering his head slightly—which is a huge sign of respect coming from a king. Jaws of the crowd dropped to the floor. “Please rest assured and let your grandmother know that I’ll punish that fool properly.”

  Lilian’s ears perked up, and a tiny grin flickered on her face. “Please, no worries. I’ll be sure to pass along your amicable response, Your Highness.”

  He nodded, then turned to me. “Will you take a walk with me?”

  ****

  A moment later, we headed to a quieter spot near the square’s edge, where the crowd thinned out enough so we could talk without being overheard.

  “Thank you,” he said once we had some privacy, his formal aura easing a bit. “My daughter told me about your counselling words. I’ve been trying to push her for years, but she wouldn’t listen to me.”

  “Sometimes you just need an outsider to say it,” I shrugged. “She’s got the strength and brains. The rest will come. Plus, given she has such a reliable father, I doubt she'll face trouble ruling.”

  He let out a hearty laugh while running his fingers through his beard. “That is for sure. Yes… Although I still worry about what Xianli might do. They won’t be happy.” His gaze drifted back to where Ha-Yun was mingling. “Still, I’d rather they be angry at her as the next Empress than see her as some bride they can bully.”

  “She’s not alone,” I said simply. “Aside from having a strong father, she’s got strong friends now.”

  You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

  “That does reassure me. But enough of that, I didn't selfishly call you to just talk about me and my daughter. ” He said, then reached into his sleeve and pulled out a sealed parchment. “This came for you earlier today, from Waybound Academy.”

  I looked at it. Amelia’s pretty handwriting was easy to spot, though the seal was the Chancellor’s official one, not her personal mark. I knew her personal mark since she sent the recommendation letter to me with that, rather than the chancellor one.

  “Weird timing,” I said, taking it with a polite bow.

  “Indeed. Must be important.” He gave me a small smile. “Now, I have to get back to my duties. Please, keep enjoying yourself. And thank you again, Iskandaar Romani.”

  He slipped away into the crowd, leaving me to stare at the letter for a bit. I should probably open it later, in a more private setting. I decided to return.

  Walking back, I found Solara and Lilian trading banter about how many sweets count as “too many.” They both stopped and turned to me when I appeared.

  “What’d he want?” Solara asked, nudging me with a wing. “Besides showing off that he’ll punish that jerk?”

  “He just wanted to thank me,” I said, tucking the letter into an inner pocket, “and hand me this—from Waybound.”

  “Ooh, is it from that Vampire? Or maybe it’s from the dragon?” Lilian said, her ears perking up.

  “Or maybe more elf drama,” Solara chimed in, grabbing a rice cake from Lilian’s plate and dodging a playful swipe.

  “It's from Amelia, yes. I’ll open it later in my room,” I said, and they nodded. At that moment, my eyes fell over at Ha-Yun as she smoothly greeted guests, regal and composed.

  Our eyes met, and she gave me a slight bow—from a future empress to an out-of-town friend.

  “Think she’ll come with us when we leave?” Lilian asked, following my gaze.

  “She probably can’t,” Solara countered. “She might have to stay for a bit longer and learn how to run this place. Right, Iska?”

  I took a sip of rice wine, spotting a group of jesters starting a comic performance with masks and tumbling. The crowd cheered as one nearly fell on his face. “I figure she’ll make that call herself. She’s found what she wants, but it's not as if she'll drop out now. Let's see what she does.”

  A few minutes passed in enjoying the festivities, but then a servant approached our table, bowing deeply. “Young Master Romani?”

  “Yes?”

  “The Namja of Eastern Cheonghae invites you to her table,” he said, and I recalled that a Namja was roughly similar to the rank of Baron. "She’s a spirit tamer and has heard stories of your battles in the Highlands from her spirit friends.”

  Solara hummed. “Looks like someone's famous now. Hopefully, she hasn't heard too much.”

  “I think he hopes otherwise. Isn’t that his goal?” Lilian said in a teasing tone, snatching a dumpling off my plate. “The mighty Iskandaar Romani—tamer of gods, counselor to queens?”

  I rolled my eyes but got up to meet this noble Namja, feeling the letter from Waybound like a small weight in my pocket.

  Whatever Amelia had to say would have to wait until after the party.

  ****

  Meeting with the Namja went pretty much how I expected—thankfully short. She was an old woman full of wisdom with half her face painted white, reminding me of those fox spirit masks I’d seen at the festival stands.

  Her questions hovered mostly around our journey through the Highlands and, in particular, my run-in with the Green Scale King. She also asked about Yueling, and given her fox-like features, I realized the two of them might share some kind of connection.

  Overall, our conversation was surprisingly pleasant.

  She wasn't interested in the politics or alliances—just the juicy details about the Mountain Gods. I gave her the sanitized version, of course. No need to mention demon swords or near-death experiences.

  "By the way, the way you speak reminds me of…" she trailed off, tapping her cane against the stone tiles, "it reminds me of foreigners who've lived here for decades. Your accent is quite good. How odd… I thought you arrived here just a few weeks ago?"

  I smiled, not bothering to explain that my borrowed memories from this body had given me a decent grasp of Eastern languages. "I'm a quick study."

  She snorted, clearly not buying it but not pressing further. "Well, whoever taught you did a fine job. You sound almost like you were born here."

  We chatted for a while longer before a servant came and whispered to her ears. “...Eh, what bad luck. Hah, I guess I should greet the Monarch now. Alright then, little thief, take care.”

  Little thief? Those words seemed familiar, but I didn't quite recall.

  Whatever the case, she left. I smiled. I was getting better at these noble banters, whether in Ethenia or here in Goryeo. The rules were different, but the game was the same—careful words, calculated smiles, and never showing your full hand.

  Night had fully settled in now, and the whole celebration was at its peak.

  Dancers with ribbons spun between tables, and quite a few nobles seemed way too deep in their cups, laughing loud at jokes that probably weren’t even funny. The smells of grilled meat and sweet rice wine hung heavy in the air.

  “I need a breather,” I decided, the sealed letter from earlier feeling heavier in my pocket than it should.

  I slipped through the crowd, bowing politely when needed, until the crowd eased off and the noise faded to a friendly hum. The royal garden behind the feast was a perfect little oasis: stone paths winding among blooming bushes and elegant trees, lanterns hanging off branches to cast warm pools of light on decorative rocks, and tiny waterfalls.

  Finding a quiet bench beside a koi pond, I sat down and fished out Amelia’s letter. I wanted to open it in my bedroom, but the banquet was taking too long. I couldn't help my curiosity.

  The paper felt fancy, thick, and cream-colored, with the Waybound Academy seal pressed in purple wax. I broke the seal open.

  『To my favorite pretty boy troublemaker who's in love with my honey cakes,』

  I snorted. If the Monarch had peeked at this before giving it to me, our dear chancellor might’ve been in hot water. Dragons and their flirty jokes.

  『I hope this finds you healthy and that Goryeo and the Highlands have been enlightening. The academy misses its resident chaos magnet, though I'm enjoying the sudden lack of property damage. I think the other professors are catching on, for sure, seeing that all our problems vanished the moment you vanished. What a coincidence, right?

  On to business: This year’s Summer Festival is in a special location—the ancient city of Nevaramis in central Ethenia. You might’ve heard of it? “The Phantom City,” known for only appearing whenever certain stars align. It’s a big tourist attraction whenever it ‘exists’ in our plane.』

  I raised an eyebrow. Nevaramis? A flying island. It was an event in the game a few years from now. Why was it being brought now?

  The flying ghost city was famous for its grand architecture. It was supposedly built by giants or long-gone races eons ago and used to be ruled by an Immortal. The city only appeared in the sky during specific astral events and vanished into some pocket dimension the rest of the time.

  If the Summer Festival was being held there, it meant the Academy had worked out a deal with whoever (or whatever) managed the city’s appearances.

  『All students need to attend, even the fourth years who’ll be graduating soon. The administration’s hoping to make it memorable.』

  I hummed quietly. Fourth years... Why would she mention them separately...?

  "Ah, right," I blinked. Victor Seraph and his goons. Judging by Amelia’s attempt at secrecy, this might be my shot at dealing with him once and for all.

  『As always, be mindful of the company you keep and how much power you show. Not everyone admires a rising star, and knowing that fact will save you lives.

  Come back safe, and we can talk over tea.

  Yours, in exasperation and curiosity,

  Chancellor Amelia Duskleaf』

  Down at the bottom, there was a quick scribble in a slightly different style:

  『P.S. I really can't wait to see you again. My honey cakes feel lonely when they're not in your mouth.』

  "…Hmm, is she talking about honey cakes or something else?" I asked with a stupid smile, folding the letter carefully. I really hoped she’d never change.

  Still, Nevaramis…? The festival this year would be amazing. The flying city itself was rumored to have all kinds of ancient wonders, perfectly preserved behind its dimension barrier. But the mention of Victor had my mind spinning. Should we head there early for recon, or go back to the Academy first and gather intel?

  “There you are, wanderer,” Solara’s voice cut through my thoughts. She and Lilian strolled toward me down the path. “Hiding away to read a love letter under the moon? What a romantic.”

  Lilian wrinkled her nose. “It smells like a slimy gold dragon,” she said, eyeing the folded parchment in my hand.

  Solara crossed her arms. “Couldn't wait to open Chancellor Duskleaf's letter?”

  “It’s not like that, girls,” I muttered, feeling a bit warm around the ears. I was lucky I didn't open it with them. “It was important stuff. She’s letting us know about the Summer Festival this year. It’s going to be held in Nevaramis.”

  "What's a nevaramis?" Solara asked, perhaps unaware of the legends of the ghost city.

  “Nevaramis, as in the flying ghost city?” Lilian’s ruby eyes lit up. “I’ve always wanted to check that place out!”

  “Exactly that. More importantly,” I went on, "the fourth years will attend it. Victor Seraph. In that scenario…" I trailed off, watching their reaction. They nodded.

  Before I could continue, however, a loud sound interrupted me.

  A sudden commotion erupted from the banquet area, filled with raised voices, scraping chairs, and shocked gasps.

  “What now?” Solara groaned, her wings flitting in worry.

  We rushed back to find the party in chaos. A young man in fancy emerald robes stood in the middle of the square, furious, pointing a finger at Ha-Yun on the stage. Guards surrounded him, keeping him from going any closer.

  “How dare you?” he yelled, voice echoing in the hush that fell. “I’m the Third Prince of Xianli! There was an agreement!”

  Ah. Must be Ha-Yun’s fiancé. Or ex fiancé, after tonight. Fantastic timing.

  “Is this how Goryeo honors treaties?” he ranted, face red with anger or booze. “Crowning my betrothed as heir? What is this game you’re playing, Monarch Jin?”

  I considered intervening, but the Monarch was already on his feet. The hair at the end of my head prickled, my eyes trembling.

  Goryeo was kind to us. So far, I've only had light chats with the Monarch, so I'd forgotten what he was.

  The presence of an 8th Ascension king washed over the area like a tidal wave, making every torch and lantern flare brighter. The air got impossible to breath.

  “My daughter,” he said, voice quiet but reaching every corner, “will be Empress. Naturally, your engagement’s off. I didn't bother to let you know since I thought it was obvious. So it surprises me that you came here without an invitation. Why?” He asked as the Third Prince’s mouth worked silently, outraged but suddenly hesitant. The Monarch walked forward, his golden aura pulsing. Tables crackled. “Do you really think you’re fit to share a bed with an Empress, boy?”

  A smile tugged at my lips at his authority. The Monarch was done messing around, and not even this prince’s tantrum would change that.

  I doubted things would escalate further tonight—he had too tight a grip on the situation.

  While the prince sputtered and his entourage attempted to rescue his dignity, I looked at Solara and Lilian.

  “Looks like the situation is handled. We should probably figure out our travel plans,” I said, tapping the letter in my pocket. “The Summer Festival is coming up soon, and we’ve got decisions to make.”

  Do we visit the Academy and join the festival along with the others, or do we find the flying city on our own?