Their destination was the Lake District in western England—one of the few well-known resort areas in the UK.
It was also the birthplace of the beloved children's story, Peter Rabbit.
When Caren was a child, Peter Rabbit had been one of her bedtime stories. Still, compared to Andersen's and the Grimm Brothers' tales, Beatrix's stories ranked just a bit lower in her heart.
After getting off the train, they were immediately greeted by a horse-drawn carriage. The driver, recognizing the group, removed his hat and bowed.
Even in this modern age of advanced transportation, the tradition of horse-drawn carriages remained stubbornly alive. The Iselma family had deliberately arranged for such a carriage—a clear symbol of a Magus Family's resistance to modern science.
The carriage, large enough for four, was drawn by four horses. Outside of royal events, it was an uncommon sight. The Iselma family, though merely a branch, clearly wished to flaunt their heritage as traditional Magus nobility.
Surprisingly, the ride was incredibly smooth. Even on the rough mountain road, it was more comfortable than a car, with almost no jostling.
It was likely enchanted with some form of levitation Magecraft.
Intrigued, Caren asked Shiomi about the Rune formula behind it during the ride. Shiomi casually explained, turning the carriage into an impromptu lesson in Magecraft.
Reines was stunned, watching the two hold a full-blown magic lesson without a care for their surroundings.
But it was exactly this kind of uninhibited Magus style that had led her to accept her brother's request and invite Shiomi to be her private tutor.
By the time the twin towers by the lake came into view, Caren had more or less mastered the technique.
"That must be the Twin Towers." Caren gently tucked a lock of hair behind her ear as she looked out at the lakeside buildings.
They weren't particularly tall by modern standards—maybe four stories at most—but their oddly tilted, symmetrical structures gave them a striking resemblance, hence the name.
Sometimes the family that managed the land was added to the name, making them the Twin Towers of Iselma.
"The one to the east is the Tower of the Sun. The one to the west is the Tower of the Moon."
Shiomi remained laid-back as ever. So was Caren. Their composure only made Reines and Gray seem more on edge.
Of course, Gray's tension came from the anxiety of being in unfamiliar territory—completely different from Reines's concerns.
After all, a Magus's home is their stronghold. Their workshop, naturally, even more so. And when it came to the outer grounds, they could be just as fortified. There was no telling if a handful of dust or a breath of air might turn hostile toward uninvited guests over the slightest provocation.
That was exactly why Reines had confirmed Shiomi's travel plans and chosen to accompany him.
The carriage came to a halt in front of the western tower—the Tower of the Moon. After everyone disembarked and collected their luggage, the carriage and coachman vanished before their eyes like something out of a fairy tale, leaving behind only a small toy soldier and a toy carriage.
"Impressive Magecraft. No doubt a creation of the Department of Creation," Shiomi praised without reservation.
"Your compliment honors me," came a deep, composed voice.
A well-groomed gentleman, likely in his forties or fifties, stood at the tower's entrance and gave a respectful bow. He had a full head of gray-streaked hair and wore a vermilion suit. A cane supported his hand—perhaps due to difficulty walking.
"Byron Valualeta Iselma," Shiomi said, stating the man's name.
"It is an honor that you still remember me, Mr. Shiomi," Byron replied with sincere courtesy.
Even as a branch family member, and even if Shiomi was merely associated with Inorai, Byron treated him with utmost respect. He turned and bowed to Reines as well.
"Welcome, Miss El-Melloi."
"So it's the head of the Iselma family. My apologies for not greeting you sooner," Reines replied with as much formality as she could manage.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Byron smiled and gestured toward the tower's entrance.
"Please, come in. The banquet has already begun."
Following Byron's lead, they entered the banquet hall.
The hall's high ceiling radiated a solemn brilliance. Plush carpets softened every step, thick enough to sink into. The cold air was crisp, yet pleasant. The mingling shadows of guests chatting and laughing painted a scene straight out of a dream.
Everyone here was a Magus—truly, a gathering that felt like a fantasy come to life.
"You're free to do as you like," Shiomi said before being immediately surrounded by several Magus looking to strike up a conversation. Someone even handed him a glass of red wine.
Caren sighed. It was clear they'd have to move about on their own. She turned to Gray.
"If you're not comfortable, just stick with me."
"I don't really know anyone here," Reines murmured as she let Trimmau follow beside her, scanning the crowd.
Most of the attendees were from the Trambelio and Meluastea factions, with barely anyone from Barthomeloi.
Roughly sixty percent belonged to the Democratic-aligned Trambelio, ten percent to the Aristocratic Barthomeloi, and the remaining thirty to the Neutral Meluastea.
For someone like El-Melloi, still formally part of the Aristocratic Faction, this was practically enemy territory.
"What a shame. I thought El-Melloi was still Aristocratic," Caren teased. "Why not take this chance, now that you're studying under my father, to cut ties with them?"
"I'll consider it—if your father ever manages to wipe out the entire Aristocratic Faction," Reines replied, naming a condition that was practically absurd.
After all, breaking from a faction wasn't something that could be done on a whim. Leaving would invite retaliation from her original faction, and the others wouldn't necessarily offer support. They might even sit back and profit from the chaos.
At its core, the divide between the Aristocratic and Democratic Factions lay in how they believed the Clock Tower should be governed: by noble bloodlines or by talented individuals regardless of lineage.
El-Melloi's faction had long been criticized by Barthomeloi, especially due to the influence of the classroom established by El-Melloi II, which aligned more closely with Democratic ideals.
There was also the matter of Inorai once intending to bring Shiomi into the Valualeta family by marrying him to a young woman in the clan. Instead, Shiomi ended up adopting Caren and Sakura—and when he returned to the Clock Tower years later, he brought a wife back to London with him.
Faced with that outcome, even someone as politically savvy as Inorai had no choice but to abandon the plan.
"Now that's a dangerous thing to say. What if my father suddenly gets suspicious?" Caren raised an eyebrow. "Reines, are you trying to throw the entire Clock Tower into chaos?"
"Then I can only pray the flames of war don't reach me," Reines replied with a wicked grin.
As they joked, a venomous voice cut through the air.
"Oh? Do you really think that with such shallow bloodlines, you can leave any mark on the noble history of Magecraft?"
An old, scheming Magus from the Aristocratic Faction had begun hurling insults at the group surrounding Shiomi.
...
(90 Chapters Ahead)
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