Academic gathering with a lich-Chapter 458 - 420 Prince Dolgette?

The architecture of the Dark City District offered Lyle a rather novel experience. Thanks to the favor of a smiling Human Veins Warrior, Lyle had quite a pleasant sightseeing adventure, that is if one ignored the fireballs flying through the air and the various, dazzling magical powers.

Virtually every district Lyle passed through brought new sights to his eyes. His slow acceptance of novel architecture often made him mistake his own brain for being inflexible and stubborn. Yet, only the view before him could excite Lyle’s thoughts into a wild boar, charging headfirst into a wall.

Lyle’s mind went blank, leaving only shock... and awe.

After passing the Twisted Wood Courtyard on the outskirts of Soul Theater in Dark Zone One, the grotesque trees, like witches’ claws, withdrew their hands, revealing the white and tall building behind them.

A cobblestone path zigzagged upwards, flanked by white-walled buildings with purple-red pointed roofs. The tiles on the rooftops, shiny like jade, were neatly arranged, each virtually identical in size, reflecting undulating, wave-like sparkles under the sun. The elegant, pristine white walls were unsullied by dust, but the differently colored door signs hanging beneath the eaves told of the slight differences among them. Lavender and violets were the most common flowers beneath these eaves, filling the tiny gaps between houses, turning insignificant spaces into delightful little surprises.

Ascending the stairs, one could easily get lost in the similar vistas around, all indeed lovely enough to be memorable. The scent of flowers and the walls dazzling like jewels would swallow up your sense of direction, and at the end, the Silver Castle would claim every bit of your heart.

Purple banners hung like fringes on the ivory inner city walls, swayed by the breeze, the fragrance and the sound of drums filling your ears, just as the grand castle captivated your sight.

The Royal City—if this wasn’t the royal city of some great nation, you might doubt whether there was something wrong with this world.

The ceremonial guard played music beneath, heralding the bygone splendor for the contestants.

Beatrice involuntarily slowed down her pace; like Lyle, she was gazing down at this treasured miniature of the Earth.

"This is the Royal City, the former royal city of the Arcanists."

"It’s so beautiful, I mean, it’s even more exquisite than the loveliest Cassandra Dawn Church I have ever seen."

"Of course, this place has always been a sacred site of the City of Wandering, open only during major celebrations like the flying contest. Normally, we can only gaze at its splendor stirring the clouds from afar. In fact, from the top floor of the Soul Theater, you could barely catch a glimpse of its glory."

"But what is seen is but a fraction. I think I caught sight of it once during Alianna’s concert. At the time, I thought it was just a beautiful painting hung up by the window."

"Is that so? Mr. Carlos would surely be grateful for such high praise and might even treat you to a glass of his favored Barro Red Wine."

"Mr. Carlos?"

"One of the Arcanists who frequents my tavern. You probably aren’t aware that he’s actually the Lord of the City of Wandering."

"The Lord of the City of Wandering? You mean that uncle who likes to hook up with waitresses and tell cold jokes when he’s drunk? Wait a minute, he’s the same person as William’s influential patron, isn’t he? He’s the one who made William an Arcanist."

"Yes, Mr. Carlos is quite the gentleman with a sense of humor, when he’s not telling jokes."

Lyle shrank his neck, as surprise and the cold wind had some effect on his body.

"I really can’t believe that the city lord actually built such a grand Royal City."

"That city lord was once a King his majesty. If you deeply engage with Mr. Carlos, you will be involuntarily awed by his noble aura, oh, but it might not work much on you, as the scholar’s cultivation hasn’t changed you much either." Beatrice murmured the scholar’s name and stealthily glanced around; this vampire lady was the notoriously bad student who had been singled out.

"Mr. Carlos was once a King?"

"Yes, the monarch of the Arcanists, the heir of the royal Dolgette bloodline. Because of their lineage, the Spellcasters in this family are all exceptionally talented."

Dolgette? Lyle suddenly started coughing violently, an odd idea forming in his mind.

"Beatrice, are you sure this magical family’s surname is Dolgette?"

"Of course, this is not a secret in the City of Wandering, it’s just that Mr. Carlos does not like others to see him as a noble King, so he silently concealed himself. I won’t make a mistake, after all, there’s only one legendary figure who ran away with the capital of a kingdom."

"Dolgette royal family... a King who fled with an entire city..." Lyle’s breathing gradually slowed, his pupils constricting to the limit of a normal human’s. "Beatrice, that... Do you think if relocating this land, there might be a catastrophe left behind akin to a natural disaster... "

"I’m not sure, never tried it, Naslan Castle does not have such potent magical reserves, although I’ve fantasized about moving my family’s castle above the clouds. For this, I had the temerity to ask the scholar. He said, transporting a land would require energy and skills far beyond one’s imagination, that’s not something I could do."

"..."

"Beatrice, do you know William’s full name?"

"Full name? No, I’m not interested. The members of the Bloody Rose Bar are a mixed bunch, as long as their intentions aren’t bad, I welcome them. If you hadn’t mentioned his name was William, I’d still be calling him by that fake name he made up." Beatrice paused mid-flight. "Hey, hey, hey, you suddenly bringing this up here, you couldn’t possibly be suggesting..."

"No, it’s just my speculation for now..." Lyle did not voice his hypothesis, although the astonishing idea became clearer and clearer following the clues of his memory, turning into the sole perspective in his mind.

Beatrice showed a smile, "Isn’t that nice? I was previously dissatisfied with the treatment of Gulelia, but now it seems she might just be a lucky fool."

"Getting everything one desires without even trying, truly a beautiful thing."

The vampire lady’s smile was simple and pure, a frank expression of relief and blessing. In those beautiful blood-colored eyes, Lyle could only see the reflection of the splendid fireworks bursting in the sky.

Beatrice’s arm wrapped around Lyle’s head, and the two watched the brilliant fireworks over Silver Castle, silently flying, becoming a part of the splendor.