After Julius finished his conversation with Loys, he stood pensively at the window and watched the events in the distance. The small fire he had seen earlier had grown larger and he wondered why the mages still hadn't managed to put it out. His curiosity prompted him to grab his uniform and step into the hallway with his sleeping clothes.

"Is everything to your satisfaction?", a young female mage spoke up, waiting outside the guest room.

"Everything is fine, thank you. Did you notice the fire in the Magistrat?"

"Fire?", the young woman repeated in wonder as Julius let the door close behind him. "May I ask where exactly did you see the fire?"

"Western from here", Julius replied, pointing in the direction he had seen it.

"Ah, then you have nothing to worry about. I'm sure the Magistrat is aware of the fire", the stranger explained politely, but this only heightened Julius' curiosity.

"Would I be allowed to see it up close?"

"If you wish. If I am correct with my guess, you should be able to see it quite well from the library. Would you like me to take you there?"

"It would be sufficient for me if you would give me the direction", Julius explained, and could see the young woman hesitate nervously for a moment and then point him in the right direction. Politely, he thanked the woman and walked purposefully down the hall until he spotted a large glass front with hundreds of books. On the other side of the library, he could see the bright light of the fire through the windows.

Unobtrusively, he opened the glass door and followed the path to a large balcony, where there were numerous seats on the floor. Stepping outside, he was greeted by a refreshing cool breeze accompanied by the bright laughter of children.

Quietly, he stepped up to the balcony railing and dared to glance at the spectacle before his eyes. He had expected to see something burning here, but to his surprise he saw a large bonfire with children dancing around its flames. Amidst the crowds, he spotted Yusuf Mirai, who seemed to be enjoying himself with the children.

"Did our students wake you?", a voice beside him spoke up, causing Julius to wince in surprise and turn to his right. Not ten feet away from him squatted two men, who also seemed to be watching the spectacle.

"High-Magician Leuen."

"Yes? Hadn't you seen me?"

"No", Julius replied, holding his chest with one hand. By completely hiding their presences, the mages had not even sensed anyone in the shadows.

"You're even more jumpy than Grin", High-Magician Leuen muttered with amusement.

"What do you mean with that?", the fair-haired mage at High-Magician Leuen's side complained. "I'm not jumpy."

"Well... I remember other stories about that."

"You always show up behind me without a sound."

"You're preoccupied with your work for days on end, and you're aware of your outside world."

"That's not true at all!"

"Oh, come on, Grin."

"I'm not jumpy!", the second mage defended himself loudly, to which High-Magician Leuen replied nothing and instead just grinned. Inevitably, the stranger also quieted down and dropped his gaze to Julius. "Who are you, anyway?"

"Julius Venlan."

"Ah", the stranger exclaimed in surprise, jumping to his feet. "The left hand of the king. I've heard a lot about you!"

"I hope only good things", Julius brought out cautiously. "And who are you, if I may ask?"

"Grischa Vonstetten, first seat of the Magistrat."

"You are... Grischa Vonstetten? I would have expected you to be considerably older."

"He's an old man with the face of a child", Caleb Leuen spoke up, straightening up as well. "And sometimes with the size of a pea's brain."

"Why are you being so mean to me today?"

"Because five minutes ago, I told you not to yell like that. Sefra will hear us yet."

"She already has", another voice spoke up, and before Julius knew it, a slender woman with dark, short hair appeared on the railing. "How long have you two been squatting here?"

"Do you want to hear an answer to that?", High-Magician Leuen replied defiantly.

"I can guess, actually. You'd think you'd have grown up, but look at you. You're watching our students do something forbidden."

"Oh, come on. Let them have their one night of fun. Many of you were with your families over the New Year and it's the first time they've been able to celebrate together."

"If the flame had grown bigger, I would have already intervened. Don't worry", High-Magician Vonstetten interjected into the discussion, whereupon High-Magician Sefra Risztus sighed and looked to High-Magician Leuen.

"Just do me a favor and make sure no one gets hurt, Caleb. That's all I ask."

"I will", High-Magician Leuen confirmed.

"Why am I not being asked?", High-Magician Vonstetten exclaimed indignantly, while High-Magician Risztus merely waved her hand away and walked back through the door into the Magistrat's interior. "Geez. She's still treating me like a child."

"You are a child", High-Magician Leuen threw back, stepping up to the railing. Julius, who had been watching the discussion in silence, couldn't help but clear his throat in amusement. Loys had really been right on that point. The High-Magicians were just ordinary people, too.

"Does your students do this sort of thing often?", Julius inquired.

"No. They are forbidden to use magic outside of class and without permission."

"The Magistrat cannot justify our students unintentionally harming anyone. That's why the arena is such a thorn in the Magistrat's side", High-Magician Vonstetten spoke up, propping his hands on the railing.

"But the Council does nothing to stop it either", High-Magician Leuen interjected.

"As long as they only use magic in the arena, it's fine. Many of the adults there are also mages and have assured us that they will intervene if necessary."

"Really? I didn't even know that."

"Yes. There are things you don't know, too," High-Magician Vonstetten countered with amusement, looking over at Julius. "I hope our students haven't been bothering you."

"Not at all. I couldn't sleep anyway."

" I've been told that sleep is important", High-Magician Vonstetten replied, glancing over at his colleague.

"I wonder how you're even viable without Ibellina and me", High-Magician Leuen countered, not taking his attention away from the large bonfire. "Must feel strange to spend the night in the Magistrat, doesn't it, Sir Venlan? Our guests often say that, but you get used to it relatively quickly."

"A little, yes. The intensity of the mana here is a bit... stifling."

"I wasn't aware it was that bad", High-Magician Vonstetten interjected in wonder.

"No. It's true what High-Magician Leuen said. You get used to it, and my colleagues are all asleep by now, too."

"I'm glad to hear that", High-Magician Vonstetten replied with a broad smile before turning back to the spectacle. "That brings back memories, doesn't it, Caleb?"

"Yes, unfortunately."

"How old were you then?"

"Good question. Must have been my senior year, if I remember correctly. I still remember that scolding from Sefra."

"Well deserved. What were you thinking?"

"I wasn't involved in it at all originally. The culprit is sitting down there having a good time", High-Magician Leuen interjected, pointing his hand at the crowd. "Tz. I still can't believe that the troublemaker has become a teacher. It doesn't fit at all like that."

"Who, Sir Mirai?", Julius inquired, since Yusuf Mirai was the only person who fit that description. Jerkily, the two High-Magicians turned in his direction.

"Yes, Sir Mirai. When he was younger, Sir Mirai was a magical magnet for trouble", High-Magician Leuen explained.

"Younger? He still is", High-Magician Vonstetten interjected.

"Wasn't it Sir Mirai's disciples who were able to prevent the creatures' first attack on Exarion? At least that's what they say in Bellator", Julius asked curiously.

"That's... only half of the truth, though", High-Magician Vonstetten replied, giving High-Magician Leuen a worried look, to which the dark-haired mage only sighed.

"Yusuf had, at my request, taught the students about the creatures so that they could help in an emergency. Similar to what Madam Perendan had done in Sylve. But that's a longer story and I'm not really in the motivation to talk about it."

"I'd call that more like 'avoiding the problem'", a third voice spoke up, which Julius found familiar. As he glanced down, another High-Magician he had met only a few hours ago emerged. "I guess this is where the moths gather at the light, huh?"

"Sefra was here earlier, too", High-Magician Vonstetten replied.

"I know, I saw her leave", High-Magician Aaron Thopas commented, stopping beside his two colleagues before turning to Julius. "Good evening, Sir Venlan."

"Good evening."

"I hope Grischa has behaved himself."

"Hello? What do you guys have against me?", High-Magician Vonstetten indignantly interjected, but High-Magician Leuen couldn't help but laugh. "Seriously now, what is going on?"

"You'll understand when you're older", High-Magician Thopas replied with a grin.

"Community bullying is what I call it", High-Magician Vonstetten countered, folding his hands in front of his chest. "I can guess what's going on here. You guys are teasing me about my age, aren't you? Who started this?"

"Caleb."

"Hey! You traitor", High-Magician Leuen interjected indignantly.

"What?", High-Magician Thopas retorted, before receiving a slap from High-Magician Leuen and distancing himself a few steps, laughing.

"You'd better tell me if you've been able to find out anything about Sir Nolan's students. From the looks of it, you must have found something if you're showing up now."

"You could say that", High-Magician Aaron Thopas replied, leaning back against the terrain. "I found their names in a recent list, yes. They work for the healers here in Exarion."

"For healers? So they're alive?"

"Yes."

"And you don't know why they haven't contacted anyone, do you?"

"No. What do you expect me to do? For me to knock on their shelter at 3 a.m. and ask why they haven't sent any sign of life to Sylve after the death of their caretaker and their friend? Do you think I'm that empathetic?"

"Sometimes?"

"Ouch", High-Magician Thopas threw back. "But the answer should be obvious to you, right?"

"Yes", High-Magician Leuen confirmed, continuing to gaze at the flames. For a few moments, the three High-Magicians were silent, so Julius detached his attention from them and looked to Yusuf Mirai. He spotted the blind mage between two students dancing together around the campfire. It was a strange sight, as Sir Mirai seemed barely older than the students themselves.

"How is it that Sir Mirai wears a Levione?", Julius spoke up, only realizing a moment later that he had uttered the question.

"I gave him the crystal as a gift", High-Magician Leuen spoke up.

"Gave it as a gift? A Levione?"

"Yes."

"Respect. Even with my salary, I couldn't afford a Levione, let alone give it to someone as a gift."

"Then you should have a serious talk with Duke of Freigoud."

"How much is a Levione worth?", High-Magician Vonstetten interjected, causing Julius to look in his direction.

"Depends on the size and purity, but certainly over a thousand gold coin."

"A thousand GOLD COINS?", High-Magician Vonstetten exclaimed indignantly. "You gave Yusuf something worth a thousand GOLD COINS? Are you kidding me?"

"Don't shout like that. You're making it sound like that's a lot of money", High-Magician Leuen muttered.

"It is a lot of money!"

"For you. But you're forgetting that I have a different lifestyle and almost don't spend my earnings from the Magistrat. I never really had money worries."

"By the Eldest's beard! Caleb!"

"Don't look at me like that. It's not like I wasted my entire fortune on the crystal. I always set aside my necessary portion and donate the rest."

"You donate it?", High-Magician Thopas interjected confused. "To whom?"

"To an orphanage in Sylve."

Abruptly, the two High-Magicians fell silent.

"Orphanage?", Julius repeated dumbfounded, instantly thinking of Loys. Back then, after Gloria had lost her child, Loys had been a strong advocate for children's lives. As a result, he was the one who had initiated the funding of orphanages by the state and was still one of the biggest donors. "Why the one orphanage?"

"Let's put it this way: they earned it", High-Magician Leuen replied with a smile on his face, but the somber expressions on the faces of the other two High-Magicians suggested to Julius that there was more to the story.

High-Magician Vonstetten, on the other hand, sighed loudly and turned away from the group.

"I think I should go home. This has been too much for one day", he muttered, opening the door before turning back one last time. "Don't stay up too late. I'll need you for my ship in the coming days."

"Oh no, please don't", High-Magician Thopas countered before High-Magician Vonstetten distanced himself, waving a hand. "Am I mistaken, or did he mean BOTH of us?"

"I'm pretty sure he said 'Aaron'."

"Haha, you better not leave me alone with him", High-Magician Thopas threw back. "Before your time, I was always the one who got to serve as his guinea pig. You don't know how many times his crystals knocked me out?"

"He set me on fire four times."

"At least you were able to defend yourself with your Igrikum. I was completely immobilized."

"Okay, okay. You win", High-Magician Leuen replied, raising his hand as if surrendering. He then dropped back down to the sitting area where he had made himself comfortable earlier. "Ah, look at that. The kid seriously left his uniform here."

"Why am I not surprised", High-Magician Thopas brought out, taking a seat next to High-Magician Leuen as Julius watched High-Magician make the black cloak disappear into thin air. Together, the two men sat back and watched the flames in the distance before High-Magician Leuen turned to Julius.

"Would you like to join us?"