Blade Over Magic

Solvar

Solvaren’s capital, Solvar, had a nickname.

The City of Defiance.

Thousands of years ago when the different races of the continent were on very hostile terms, it served as the focal point of innovation where humans managed to make their stand, proving that even though they were not born any inherent traits, like the Wraiths ability to manipulate shadows, or the Onis tyrannical strength, they were more than worthy to stand amongst them.

’It certainly looks the part.’ Xander hummed as they passed the, frankly, massive walls of Solvar. Each wall was a staggering 100 meters tall, the material used to make it being a special synthesized metal that had the property of absorbing any incoming attacks, be it physical or magical, to bolster its own integrity.

There were also countless runes, magic circles, and spell formations running all sorts of checks every passing second and serving a myriad of purposes. It’s said that anyone foolish enough to scale the walls while being uninvited would face a quick death if they were lucky, and while not yet directly proven, its rumored that in the past, the wall had endured a direct attack from a full-fledged Archmage and survived. If that were true, then it was truly an engineering marvel.

’I wonder what architects and engineers on earth would be able to pull off if they had access to magic. After all, a 100 meter tall wall with proper structural stability is not viable with ordinary physics.’ He thought briefly as the entourage passed through the massive gates after their identities were confirmed.

When they passed through the tunnel which displayed how insanely thick the wall was, the group got their first look of of Solvar, and...

"Wow..." Curtis was unable to hide his awe.

As the entourage moved across paved streets, houses filled their vision for as far as their eyes could see.

The outermost ring of Solvar consisted of the residential district, so the group caught sight of all sorts of buildings which Xander noted had architecture that sort of resembled that from Victorian era. However, due to the existence of magic, typical engineering constraints did not apply. Hence, many of the buildings were much taller than their materials should have allowed.

Xander caught sight of levitating platforms that acted as elevators going up and down, hanging lights, and even one area, there was an entire second ’floor’ constructed on a series of buildings where another set of buildings were constructed.

In the sky, airships which looked like your standard ship but with magic powered airsails flew in the air following a strict traffic guide.

People were bustling about, pet beasts followed their owners, some chatted, others argued and so on. It was an extremely lively scene.

However, once their entourage came in, they were led down a special route meant for those attending the ball, knights and mages ensuring that no one could enter the route to cause problems.

That said, people could be seen standing along the routes, many screaming and cheering, some holding up makeshift dolls wearing Archmage robes, and so on, celebrating all the entourages that passed them by.

"Guys, look." Curtis pointed, and they saw some groups of people wearing somewhat familiar clothes. It was rudely made attire meant to resemble the Avoma uniform, and among these people, some held up wooden sword, others wore comically large glasses, and some held up cardboard cutouts that were meant to indicate large ice attacks or explosions.

"... They’re certainly lively." Xander gave a wry smile, and Falael scoffed.

"They didn’t even get the explosion right. That looks like fire magic. I don’t use fire magic." She grumbled, which made the others chuckle.

That’s when they finally looked forward towards their destination. Towards the Palace of Defiance.

Even from where they were, they could tell that the structure was not small. It was situated on a pretty conspicuous hill and had rising towers, each one a very specialized mage tower where palace mages waited for any possible attack.

Flying beasts also frequently flew around it, and from what Xander could see, it was made from a golden material. It was a lot.

"Hey look, that’s the Mage Tower in the distance." Aubrey pointed out, and indeed, some distance away from the palace, a towering spire extended high into the sky, standing at over 3 kilometers tall, and while it looked thin from where they were, it was no doubt very thick, and who knew just how much spatial magic was used to expand the interior.

That was the headquarters of the largest magical organization within Solvaren, and the place where the one who stood against everything Xander was headed.

He stared at it for a few seconds, then he retracted his gaze, looking back at the Palace.

Time passed quickly, and the entourage as well as those behind and in front of them passed through the city, going through the industrial area, the upper class area, and eventually arriving near the palace.

However, there was an issue.

While the palace was undeniably large, most people attending the Ball were like Xavier, carrying a retinue of soldiers, some extravagant people even carried scores of servants with them.

Even if the palace was large, so many people carrying large groups with them was bound to rapidly fill up the place and make it crowded.

But there was a reason there hadn’t been any constraints on how many people invited guests could bring with them.

The group watched as the entourage in front of them passed through the palace gates... and disappeared.

Mia, who had been sleeping, opened her eyes, and everyone sat straighter as their own entourage reached the gate. First it was the carriage carrying Xavier and his daughters, then it was the knights who were in front of them.

And finally, their own carriage passed through.

The transition was so seamless that Xander did not feel any of the familiar discomfort associated with spatial warping, if what happened could even be called that.

That’s because the surroundings had changed.

The palace that had been just in front of them was suddenly much further away. Moreover, it was bigger.

Much bigger.

Easily several times larger than what they had previously been looking at as it looked like a massive slumbering giant covered in lights.

A huge forest surrounded the place for as far as the eye could see, and the many carriages and entourages were being led in a certain spot near the massive palace.

This was the real Palace of Defiance.

This abrupt change would have shocked anyone else, but Xavier had already briefed them before hand.

This ’space’ wasn’t actually that. It was in fact a dimension created by one of the Royal Family’s Archmages. The Celestial Mage.

And it was, by all accounts, its own world.

Xander looked outside and saw the twinkling stars in the sky and a moon. And he just had to sigh in his heart.

’Archmages are absolutely ridiculous.’

When their entourage passed scores of patrolling royal knights and mages, they finally arrived at something that looked like a warehouse. But upon getting directed inside, they learned that it was a spatially expanded space where the Lowell knights, their horses, and their carriages could stay comfortably. An expanded space within a created dimension.

It was also private.

That said, those attending the Ball would actually stay in the palace, each person having their own room.

When everything came to a stop, everyone alighted their carriages as Xavier also stepped down with the hood of his mage robe pulled back. He looked around and nodded.

"Alright. Seems like Irene has stopped that nasty habit of hers. No one is prying in here." He commented casually and looked at the group.

"There’s not much to be said. So, there’s not much need to waste time." He then turned to Claire and Theresa.

"If those two guys start looking for your trouble, find me immediately." He sounded uncharacteristically serious, but the expressions the faces of both girls looked more wry than anything.

"... Yes father." They said in unison.

Just then, Mia looked at the group, then she said aloud.

"I’ve secured your telepathic link, so you can communicate telepathically without anyone prying." Hearing this, the group let out subtle sighs of relief. Considering how much people were going to try and break them apart, they needed a way to communicate in case of anything, but after Xavier revealed very casually that their telepathy was in fact not full-proof, they were concerned about using it in a place like this.

But Mia’s assurance made them feel at ease.

"Alright. Let’s get this show on the road." Xavier took the lead, his daughters falling in step behind him with their maids. The elite mages and 4 knights flanked the group as Xander and co trailed behind them.

After stepping out of the ’warehouse’, a group of royal knights and mages could be seen. The knights wore heavy purple and golden armor, while the mages wore robes with a similar color scheme.

Upon seeing Xavier, each of them gave a crisp salute.

"Your Excellency!" Xavier just nodded at them, his demeanor becoming far more calm and composed.

Seeing this, the knights and mages led the way, their group going towards the large entrance where other invitees were being led into.

The stage was set. And it was time for the Ball to begin.

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