Sword of Dawnbreaker

”From your description... it is as if the kingdom is layered from outside to inside,” Gawain mused, touching his nose, ”The deeper you go, the more peculiar and eerie it becomes, starkly different from the ’world outside’... It feels less like a country founded by mortals, and more like a ’secret realm’ used to seal and suppress something.”

”It’s not without reason,” Aunt Heidi shrugged, ”Some scholars describe the Violet Kingdom in just such a way, saying that the whole country is a vast secret realm—half the things on the island are lies, and half are illusions.”

Gawain did not respond to this overly absurd folklore, instead showing a contemplative expression, slowly saying, ”You mentioned the ’Association of Mystics’ of the Violet Kingdom earlier... I do have an impression of that organization. The founder of the Magic Web, the unnamed Wild Mage... he was driven away by the Association of Mystics, and as I know, every year, some members of the Association leave the Violet Kingdom and roam the northern parts of Loren Continent...”

”Yes, such traveling mages truly exist, sometimes they even accept commissions from northern countries to act as magic consultants for certain leaders or kings, but these mages rarely talk about their homeland,” Aunt Heidi nodded, ”When they leave the Violet Kingdom, they seem to undergo a form of ’memory reshaping,’ sealing memories of the Violet core, especially those about the City of Thousand Towers. This phenomenon further enhances the mystery of the Violet Kingdom among the various clans of Loren.”

”...When you put it that way, I am becoming increasingly interested in that country,” Gawain murmured, rubbing his chin gently with his fingers, ”Employing memory reshaping of this sort, it appears the secrets this country harbors are not small.”

For a moment, Aunt Heidi said nothing, seemingly recalling something, and after a while, she suddenly spoke: ”Ancestor, when it comes to connections with the Violet Kingdom, I suddenly remembered something... Did you know? Among those familiar to you, there is someone who has had deep interactions with the Violet Kingdom—she even entered the City of Thousand Towers.”

”Someone who entered the City of Thousand Towers?” Gawain was instantly surprised and widened his eyes, ”There’s such a person? Who is it?”

”The Duke of the North, Grand Governor, Lady Victoria,” Aunt Heidi said with a serious expression, ”She trained in the City of Thousand Towers during her girlhood!”

Gawain paused for a moment, then suddenly remembered: ”Ah, I recall hearing about this... Victoria was the most outstanding magic prodigy in the entire northern region during the Anzu Era; it’s documented that her talent was recognized by the Violet Kingdom, and she was fortunate enough to be invited to further her studies in the City of Thousand Towers... I hadn’t thought about this at all!”

”That’s normal, because there’s probably not much information to dig up behind that event,” Aunt Heidi nodded, ”Like everyone leaving the Violet core, Lady Victoria also does not remember her remarkable ’student days’—related memories are sealed, so she almost never mentions this to outsiders, and others hardly discuss the private affairs of an aristocrat frequently.”

Gawain unconsciously drummed his fingers on the files on the table, while seemingly speaking to himself: ”The heir to the Duke of the North... even has such an experience, truly worthy of the ’Pastoral Age of Sword and Magic.’ But no matter how, this piques my interest—link to Bitter Winter Castle, I want to talk to Victoria.”

”Understood,” Aunt Heidi nodded immediately, ”I’ll call right away.”

The Magic Web Terminal set beside the desk was activated, a call rapidly dispatched along the internal line, and within a few seconds, Bitter Winter Castle responded—luckily, Victoria, the busy northern manager, was conveniently in her castle today, and soon appeared before Gawain.

”We are discussing matters about the Violet Kingdom,” Gawain said straightaway, ”I heard you once went to the City of Thousand Towers, even selected because of your extraordinary talent to further study at the headquarters of the Association of Mystics—I am very interested in your experience.”