The palace grounds remained teeming with onlookers as if it was all but natural.

The court wizards and knights had retreated inside, but citizens from the city, the wizards from the towers, and members of the wizard’s guild still lingered in droves on the other side of the lake.

"The Wise Sienna!"

"Sienna Merdein!"

"Lady Sienna!"

Voices cried out, hailing Sienna's name in a raucous cacophony. The most fervent were the students who one day dreamt of being enlisted in the towers. No one knew from whence they acquired them, but they waved glowing cheer sticks and, disregarding the law, sent celebratory spells exploding into the sky.

Boom, boom, boom!

The lights painted the sky. Eugene checked Sienna's expression with a sideways glance. He had thought the girl would be embarrassed, but it was not so. Sienna had been used to such cheers for centuries. Having returned after a long absence, she considered such a welcome only natural.

"Eugene Lionheart!"

"Successor of Lady Sienna!"

"The second coming of the Great Vermouth!"

"Hero of the Holy Sword!"

Among the chants for Sienna, Eugene's name also echoed. Eugene was… familiar with such ovations too, but unlike Sienna, he could not enjoy it. His face twisting in discomfort, Eugene attempted to retreat, but Sienna would not allow it. With bold familiarity, Sienna snatched Eugene's hand and yanked him to her side. She then shot their hands into the sky for all to see.

The crowd erupted in cheers, their enthusiasm confounding Eugene. He could not fathom the reason behind the fervor. Sienna then began to ascend slowly into the sky with Eugene. They could have shot up swiftly, but Sienna rose as if she was ascending to heaven, gradually, ever so slowly.

The altitude kept increasing, but the cheers did not recede, instead growing louder with their slow ascent.

“Kyaaaahhh!”

Among the screaming, cheering crowd was Melkith, her dignity as a tower master cast aside like a discarded bone as she flung her arms into the air, dancing and cawing like a crow.

"Lady Sienna…. Sienna, Sister Sienna! Take me too,...