Every ordinary member of this knightly troop felt more formidable to Tars than the captain of that mercenary band. Unlike the mercenaries, whose edge came from a desperate, day-to-day survivalist grit, these men possessed a chilling, disciplined sharpness. Standing together, the pressure they radiated was overwhelming.

  At the rear of the troop, a late-arriving beast-drawn carriage appeared. It looked far superior to the previous bug-carriages, though such a vehicle was likely only practical in the developed towns surrounding a Cavern City; in the true wild wastes, the hardy insect-driven carts remained king.

  Tars stood silently beside the handsome youth, watching the scene with a faint, knowing smile.

  "Young Master Rodrigo, if you please," the tall knight leading the troop said solemnly as the ornate carriage pulled up.

  Rodrigo smiled and remarked, "Long time no see, Lungor. Still as stiff as ever, I see."

  The knight offered no retort, simply bowing his head and waiting for Rodrigo to board. Rodrigo shook his head and led the way into the beast-carriage. Tars and the red-haired woman flanked him, stepping into the surprisingly spacious and luxuriously decorated interior.

  As Tars was still admiring the ornate trimmings, the carriage began to move.

  "I imagine you wouldn't care for the gloom of a fortress, Lord Tars. You are welcome to stay at my manor in the Inner District; I spend most of my time there anyway. The rigid life of the castle doesn't suit me," Rodrigo said with a laugh. "Of course, I know wizards value their privacy. My estate is large enough, but if you wish, you can have Kanaya accompany you to purchase a property in the Inner District as a gift from me. I truly hope you decide to settle down here."

  "If you do," Rodrigo added excitedly, "I shall certainly urge my father to appoint you as the Permanent Arcane Consultant for the Starry Family."

  Tars finished his inspection of the interior and found a comfortable spot to lean back, looking relaxed and at ease. He adjusted his posture slightly at the offer.

  "Then I shall trouble you. Perhaps I really will stay in Starry City for a significant amount of time," he said with a smile.

  Rodrigo's eyes lit up, and his grin widened. In truth, with Karyu's disappearance, Tars didn't have many other options. Coming to Starry City to enjoy light and civilization while meditating and practicing his craft was an excellent choice.

  He could feel the carriage accelerating, though he didn't know how long the journey would take. The fact that these knights had arrived the moment they reached the town meant the Baron had likely known of their movements long in advance. They had passed through that Abyssal town on their way back; perhaps word had been sent from there. It seemed the Abyss wasn't quite as beyond the reach of the Cavern Cities as the legends suggested. Or, it was possible the Baron had a plant within the mercenary band, keeping a watchful eye on his son's "escapades."

  "Are there any interesting places in Starry City?" Tars asked casually.

  "Interesting? How about the Arena? You can watch and bet, or even descend to fight yourself to show off your prowess—though there's no need for you to do that," Rodrigo laughed. "Once you're settled and have rested for a few days, and I've handled matters with my father, I'll take you on a tour."

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  Tars looked intrigued. This sounded like a perfect training ground for Aiskin and Big Dumb Hum, though he wasn't sure if they'd be willing. However, given Big Dumb Hum's recent brooding, the big guy likely had a mind to test himself.

  The wheels spun rapidly. When the bumping became a constant rhythm, it felt almost like a smooth ride. Tars pulled open the window and looked out. The spinning wheels had carried them out of the "sunset" zone. According to Rodrigo, the city's light source was already transitioning toward dusk; otherwise, they might have witnessed the strange spectacle of racing from sunset back into high noon. Ultimately, the light source controlled by the Cavern City was still just a giant lamp—and a weak one at that.

  Tars watched the scenery passing by in the light, feeling the gentle breeze. He squinted his eyes, momentarily feeling as though he were in the surface world. But it only worked if he kept his eyes slit and didn't look up; no matter how high or magnificent the dome was, it was no substitute for blue sky and white clouds.

  They were like the legendary people who chased the sun. Though the light should have been fading, it intensified as they drew closer to Starry City, reaching a balance—as if they were trapped in the moment just before sunset, unable to ever catch it.

  He had to admit, the roads in this domain were well-maintained. The carriage moved faster and faster.

  After an unknown amount of time, just as Tars was about to close the window, he finally saw the fabled Starry City. Rodrigo explained that the name came from an ancestor who discovered that after the main light source was turned off at night, there were still tiny points of light on the ceiling, resembling the "stars" described in ancient texts.

  This city is likely much larger than I imagined, Tars thought.

  The towering walls, which could easily repel any common subterranean beast, were actually white. Under the light, it looked like a city of holy radiance.

  Seeing his surprise, Kanaya explained, "The outer walls of Starry City are coated with the pulp of Shuttling Rift-Bugs. A section is coated every year during the festival; it takes about twenty-three years to cover the entire wall. During a famine long ago, the deposits on these walls actually saved many lives."

  "Those Rift-Bugs? I thought they produced 'bug-milk'?" he said.

  "It's just something that looks similar. We call it bug-milk when we brew tea, but it's enough to keep people alive," she replied.

  Tars smiled and leaned against the window, looking up. He finally saw the source of the light: in the center of the dome, directly above the city, a massive crystal was embedded in the unreachable ceiling—or perhaps it grew from it. Right now, it was slowly dimming. He spent the rest of the journey with his head tilted back, certain he saw the faint traces of runes. Likely the work of a wizard.

  "Does that thing have something to do with wizards?" Tars asked the young master.

  "You have a keen eye, Lord Tars," Rodrigo said. "According to the records I've seen, every Cavern City had wizards involved in its initial construction. I don't know the specifics; Starry City has stood here for over eight hundred years. Some secrets only my father knows."

  Tars nodded. He found these nobles quite peculiar. The more he learned, the more he felt so. Every day, they simulated sunrise and moonfall according to their crystal clocks, following the calendar of the surface world passed down through generations. They counted the days and divided the years, living out their lives and passing that tradition down to the subjects of their domain.

  The carriage entered Starry City without hindrance, its speed gradually slowing. Tars looked at the houses and streets, feeling a sense of relief—at least they weren't white. If they were, they would have triggered too many unpleasant memories.

  Rodrigo suddenly tapped on the carriage wall and pulled open the window on the other side.

  "Take my friend, Lord Tars, to my manor first," he commanded.

  "Young Master, the Baron is waiting for you," the meticulous voice answered from outside.

  "I believe you heard me clearly, Lungor," Rodrigo said with a smile.

  "Of course, Young Master."

  The troop eventually changed course, pulling up in front of a sprawling, grand estate.