Chapter 173: Floating City

"Argus?"

Merlin's gaze turned toward Argus, noting his young face now exuded a hint of maturity and steadiness, a far cry from the boy he once was. Merlin recalled how, back in the day, Argus had boldly vowed to protect him. Merlin also remembered how Argus had once stepped fearlessly between him and a powerful bandit, ready to sacrifice himself.

"Yes, Argus is honest and brave. If you've chosen to pass the secrets of the relief sculptures on to him, Father, I have no objections."

Merlin was indeed satisfied with Argus. His ambition as a young knight had simply been to join Old Wilson's heavy-armored knights. With his current strength, Argus was more than fit for the role, even as a commander.

But Old Wilson shook his head, a smile gracing his face. "I'm not asking about Argus's character—I know him inside out, having trained him myself. What I meant was, what do you think about Argus and May?"

"Argus and May?"

Merlin raised an eyebrow, surprised. Since his return to Pugas City, he hadn't seen his sister, May. According to Old Wilson, she was currently managing Constance's territory, acting as Old Wilson's right-hand aide. But he hadn't expected Old Wilson to be matchmaking May and Argus.

"What's that look? You don't think it's a good match?" Old Wilson's brow furrowed.

Merlin shook his head. "No, it's not that—I'm just surprised."

Old Wilson laughed. "I was surprised too when Argus admitted his feelings for her. His quiet personality seems worlds apart from May's lively nature. But maybe that's fate. As long as they're happy, that's all that matters."

After they both chuckled, Old Wilson's tone turned serious again. "Merlin, you came to find me for something, didn't you?"

Seeing Old Wilson's interest, Merlin explained simply, "Father, I'll be away from Pugas City for a time. Hill and I will be traveling somewhere."

"Leaving so soon?" Old Wilson's face reflected slight disappointment, but he quickly regained composure. He understood that Merlin, now a mysterious and powerful spellcaster, was in a world far beyond their own.

"Very well, but six months from now, Argus and May will be getting married. You, as her brother, had better be back by then."

Merlin pondered this. Floating City wasn't too far, and as long as he didn't linger, returning in six months seemed feasible. He nodded, "I'll be back in six months."

With that, Merlin took his leave, while Old Wilson returned to training Argus and the others in the mysterious stances from the relief sculptures.

---

That night, the air was cool, but Merlin, Shirlyce, and Avril were wide awake. After days of bathing in the revitalizing potion, their skin was soft and radiant, leaving both women looking even more beautiful.

Having shared an intimate evening, the three lay together, quietly savoring the moment's warmth.

"You're really leaving again?" Shirlyce broke the silence, her voice filled with wistfulness.

"Yes, I'm leaving tomorrow."

After Merlin spoke, the room fell silent. Since returning home, Merlin had become aware of a growing distance between himself and Shirlyce, Avril, and even Old Wilson. It wasn't physical but emotional—a divide he couldn't bridge with words alone.

After a long pause, Shirlyce murmured, "Merlin, sometimes it feels like you're slipping further away… even when you're right here beside me."

Merlin said nothing, letting the room descend once again into a heavy silence.

---

The next day, Merlin quietly left Wilson Castle, making his way to the black-robed mage's home. Hill was already prepared, a carriage waiting at the ready.

"All set?" Hill asked, raising an eyebrow with a wry smile.

"Yes, let's go." Merlin entered the carriage without looking back, his tone steady.

Hill glanced at him, letting out a long, knowing sigh. "Merlin, cherish the time you have with your family. Spellcasters… we're destined for loneliness. There will come a time when you'll miss those warm, familiar days…"

Most first-rank spellcasters could live up to two hundred years, and even the weaker ones would live well past a hundred. For ordinary people, sixty or seventy was considered a long life. Ultimately, spellcasters and ordinary people belonged to different worlds, separated by time as much as anything else.

Merlin looked over at Hill, sensing an air of wistfulness around him. Perhaps Hill, too, once had a family—a past he looked back on with fondness and regret.

---

The journey to Floating City was rough, their carriage navigating a steep, winding mountain path, frequently jolted by rocks and dips in the road.

Eventually, they arrived at a remote mountain area, cloaked in mist. The carriage finally stopped, and Merlin and Hill stepped out. Hill briefly spoke with the driver before the carriage headed back down the mountain.

"This is Floating City?" Merlin asked, eyeing the dense, foggy forest ahead. The black-cloaked figures of Merlin and Hill seemed to blend into the eerie, quiet landscape, with only Hill's reassuring smile to guide them.

"Yes, it's up there. Just a bit farther." Hill led the way into the thick mist, and Merlin hesitantly followed.

The fog grew denser, obscuring their vision, but Merlin continued, seeing only the vague outline of Hill's figure ahead. Moisture seeped into his cloak, chilling his skin.

"Crack."

Sensing movement, Merlin quickly cast an *Ice Bind* spell, freezing a large, venomous spider in its tracks. A closer look confirmed it was indeed deadly.

"There are plenty of deadly creatures here, Hill."

Merlin cast a fireball to incinerate a swarm of buzzing beetles. Though they had only entered the forest moments ago, they'd already encountered multiple venomous pests. These were highly toxic; one bite could be fatal.

Spellcasters, with their heightened awareness, could detect these threats, but even powerful elemental knights could fall prey to these creatures if caught off guard.

"This is Floating City?" Merlin asked, frowning.

Hill stopped, a smile on his face. "We're here."

Merlin looked around. The fog still swirled thickly, but as he extended his senses, he noticed the faint outline of a city hidden within the mist, suspended on the mountain as if floating.

"It's not really floating," Hill explained with a smile. "The city sits atop the mountain, veiled by mist, hence the name 'Floating City.' This mist is generated by a massive rune array, making it invisible to ordinary people who lack spiritual energy."

Merlin nodded, understanding that while some spellcasters preferred to blend into society, others sought isolation. Floating City clearly leaned toward the latter, purposefully hidden from the outside world.

"To enter, channel your energy into these statues," Hill pointed to several large stone sculptures nearby, each depicting a spellcaster. Precious stones and mysterious runes adorned the sculptures, casting an otherworldly glow.

Merlin and Hill approached, channeling their energy into two of the statues. Instantly, the runes lit up, and the gemstones gleamed brilliantly, casting flashes of color across the mist.

With a whoosh, a flash of light enveloped Merlin and Hill, and their figures vanished into the mist, transported directly into Floating City…