117 – The Tower of Sages

“Although I asked your Divine Child to pass on the message, I still wasn’t at ease, so I asked for your room number and waited for you at the door,” Litt said, scratching her head.

I understood what she meant — she didn’t quite trust a human’s ability to handle things reliably. Even after informing Dylin, she’d worried over it and decided to personally wait outside my dorm.

“Also,” Litt brought forward the item she had been hugging tightly in her arms.

“This is your Crown Tournament reward — the champion’s uniform, and the golden rose brooch. It’s the symbol of your title as the ‘King Without a Crown,’ certified by the Academy. Please take good care of it... Uh — not that you absolutely have to. The Academy covers losses, but it’s still better not to lend it to others or anything...” Realizing she might’ve said something wrong, Litt quickly added a clarification.

“Mm, thank you, Miss Litt.” I took the gift box and reached into my waist pouch to pull out a potion.

“You’ve been waiting here for me for a long time. I don’t have anything too fancy to thank you with, so please accept this potion.”

“Eh?” Litt was stunned and shook her head so hard it looked like a rattle drum. “That’s my duty — I really can’t accept this.”

“Take it.” I smiled and gently tugged her wrist, placing the potion into her hand. “It might save your life at a critical moment.”

“Besides, it’s from me — my heartfelt thanks. If Miss Litt refuses, then it’s as if she’s sternly rejecting my sincerity...”

“No, no, that’s not it at all!”

“Then take it.” I closed Litt’s fingers over the potion. “I don’t know where the Headmaster’s office is. Please guide me there tomorrow, Miss Litt?”

“Ah, yes! Your High— I mean, Miss Teresa. See you tomorrow!”

“Already leaving? Won’t you come in for a cup of tea?”

“No, no... that’s alright...” Litt bowed her head and quickly trotted out of the dormitory.

This child was rather amusing.

I unlocked the door and entered the room. I’d have to spend the night here. It was fortunate that I returned tonight — had I stayed in the boys’ dorm, Litt might’ve stirred up trouble after waiting all night and imagining ridiculous scenarios about Dylin and me spending the night alone outside.

The girls’ dorm rooms were no different from the boys’, aside from slightly more elegant, feminine decor — the layout was practically identical.

***

The next morning, a dazzling figure clad in gold emerged in the girls’ dorm.

Coleman Academy’s female uniform was a darker tone: a charcoal-gray jacket over a white inner blouse, a red ribbon tied at the chest, and a pleated red mini skirt. Unlike the ordinary students’ outfits, mine had golden embroidery on the skirt’s hem and a blue crystal hanging from my waist.

Additionally, the collar embroidery was a vivid, glossy gold, and the cuffs were adorned with aquamarine crystal chips like the boys’ version.

The black over-knee school socks were made for warmth. Unlike standard uniforms, mine had white laces at the sock tops and small gradient five-pointed stars along the sides, paired with brown leather school shoes.

This was the exclusive uniform designed for Coleman’s “Champion” — the “King Without a Crown.” Even the material for the socks and laces was rare. Though it looked similar to normal uniforms, a single glance revealed the difference — a testament to the designer’s care.

Wearing the Academy’s formal uniform for the first time, I stepped outside. Luckily, there weren’t many people on the streets. The senior students had classes, and the freshmen, to avoid disturbing them, were on vacation throughout Coleman City. It was still early, just after dawn.

Even so, with the champion’s uniform and my looks, I drew stares everywhere I went.

“Miss Teres— ah! Over here!” I saw Litt waving to me from a distance the moment I exited the dormitory.

Litt wore the Academy’s formal uniform today too. Her twin ponytails, petite uniform, pleated skirt, and warm knee-high socks made her look like an adorable girl-next-door.

Honestly, even from afar, Litt found herself amazed all over again.

Her Highness really was born to be a model — she looked good in everything...

“Alright, I’ll be in your care, Miss Litt,” I said politely.

Elves woke early because, compared to humans, they didn’t need as much sleep — and their quality of sleep was far superior.

Today, the campus was empty. Litt seemed more relaxed as she skipped ahead, cheerfully introducing each spot on campus. I followed quietly, smiling as I listened.

As I listened and strolled through the Academy, I realized just how enormous the campus truly was. Even though I’d lived here for months, I’d probably only seen a tenth of it. There were far too many places I hadn’t visited.

Alone, I might’ve gotten lost in such a place — but Litt clearly knew it well.

After passing countless buildings, Litt stopped in front of a massive circular structure.

It was constructed from perfectly cut white stone. From one glance, I couldn’t even see where the walls ended. It didn’t look like a building at all — more like a fortress.

“We’re here. This is the Academy’s core building. The highest-ranking officials all live inside.”

“Are we at the main entrance?” I asked, eyeing the seamless wall.

“Of course not. This building has no door.”

“Even the sky above us — it’s actually a constructed illusion. This whole building wraps around the sky.”

“Then how do you enter?” I asked.

“If you don’t belong here, you’ll never find the ‘door’ to this building,” Litt said seriously. “But if you do, any path leads you inside.”

As she spoke, she stepped toward the wall — and to my surprise, walked right into it.

I moved closer and reached out. My hand passed straight through — it wasn’t solid.

Seeing something so utterly unscientific, I hesitated no longer and stepped inside.

What I saw made me gape.

The tower’s interior was impossibly tall — I couldn’t see the top. It was a massive cylindrical chamber, its walls built of deep-blue energy stones. Soft blue light filled the entire space. Even without any heat-based light sources, it was brightly lit.

Each floor floated in midair, unconnected to the walls. Suspended crystal orbs floated above, like sentinels of this fantastic structure.

As for staircases... there were none. Instead, a massive levitating stone carried people up and down.

Wasn’t this basically an elevator??

Every floor had different furnishings, but they all shared one thing: bookshelves — lots of them. Clearly, those who lived here loved to read or collect books.

As I walked inside, I saw only a few people. They wore robes and cloaks, carrying broom-like tools, tending the seemingly endless tower.

Their faces were hidden, but I could vaguely sense they weren’t human.

I glanced at Litt.

“Right? You noticed too, didn’t you?” Litt smiled, catching my look.

“You’re right — there are no humans here,” she said with a grin. “This is the Tower of Sages, accessible only to pureblood Elves or those specially invited by the Elf Tribe.”

“Excuse me, coming through,” said a figure in a white cloak, passing us without so much as a glance.

Just in that instant, I glimpsed the face beneath the hood: classic pointed Elf ears, chiseled features — definitely a handsome man by human standards.

He didn’t stop, carefully applying a preservative solution to the books on the first floor.

“Alarel, that was rude,” Litt huffed, hands on her hips. It seemed they were peers. “Do you even know who I brought with me?”

“What’s it to me?” the young man replied without looking up, focused entirely on his task.

“Did you forget what Elder Diderlay told you?”

The man paused, slowly turning around. When he saw my golden hair, a flicker of shock appeared in his otherwise calm eyes.

“My apologies. I’m Alarel, responsible for maintaining the books here in the Tower of Sages. I’m from a Wood Elf village in the Morning Wind Region.” He bowed, then stared silently at my ears — his meaning clear.

“Your Highness, take off your disguise,” Litt said casually. “Don’t worry — we’re all among friends here.” She wore a smug look, clearly proud of her forethought.

“...”

I looked at Litt in silence, smiling faintly.

“...Eh?” Litt froze. Though my gaze was gentle, a chill climbed up her spine. She gulped loudly.

“Sorry, Litt.”

“Eh-eh-eh?? W-why apologize out of nowhere?”

“Because what I’m about to do... probably won’t look very ladylike.” I folded my hands at my abdomen and tilted my head with a smile.

“Huh?” Litt blinked — and then suddenly, my soft, delicate hand reached her lips, and—

“Mmmf?! Y-Your Highness?! Wh-what are you— my mouth— mmm!! That hurts!!”

“Litt, is this how you uphold your vow of secrecy?” I gently pressed my nails against her lips. Despite Litt’s pained expression, my smile never faltered, as if I weren’t the one enacting punishment.

“You swore up and down on day one, and by day two, everyone in the city knew. Maybe this leaky little mouth of yours doesn’t need to exist anymore~”

“Mmm! It wasn’t me! I didn’t spill anything!”

“If it wasn’t you, then who did?” I tilted her chin, giving her one last chance to explain.

If she didn’t answer well, I’d have to punish this untrustworthy little thing.

“Gah! Your Highness — I swear it wasn’t me!” Litt looked up at me, eyes glistening with tears, her face full of grievance.

“Then explain what’s going on.”

“Um, actually, I... I...”

“Let me explain instead,” a voice echoed through the tower — calm, dignified, and authoritative.

I looked up and saw a silver-haired figure descending on a floating platform, leaning on a sapphire staff, dressed in stately robes — like a god come to earth.

“Miss Teresa — may I call you that?” he said.

“If you’d prefer a more formal address, I could also call you Her Highness Galnorin.”

“This isn’t Litt’s fault. She didn’t reveal your identity. In fact, I had already suspected the truth before she even knew. The invitation was my idea. If I’ve offended you, I ask for forgiveness.”

He called himself “this old man”...

Ordinarily, hearing a youthful, elegant Elf boy refer to himself like that would be strange — but it didn’t feel odd to me at all.

His voice carried a maturity and calm far beyond his appearance.

“Ah, right — you probably don’t know who I am. Forgive my rudeness. I am Diderlay Oleniman, this Academy’s Headmaster, personally appointed by the Moon Elf King — and an Elder of the Elf Tribe.” As he spoke, he did something astonishing.

He knelt on one knee, staff in hand, and bowed to me.

It was a full royal salute — the kind an elder would offer to their monarch. This would’ve been unremarkable once upon a time, but now... the Elf King was a Moon Elf.

“Headmaster, there’s no need for such formalities, and you don’t have to call me ‘Your Highness.’” I had considered the possibility that the Academy knew my identity — but it had only been speculation. I hadn’t expected they had real proof.

Clearly, it was very hard to deceive people of this level.

“You are certainly Her Highness. Elves are the branches and leaves of the Sacred Tree. If the roots break, the entire race breaks. And your kind — the Gold Elves — are those roots. Only Gold Elves can determine the fate of our people. Only Gold Elves can lead us.” Diderlay spoke with deep reverence.

“Please also be assured, Your Highness Teresa. Your identity remains entirely confidential. Everyone within the Tower of Sages is well aware of what’s at stake. No one will let word of your presence slip.”

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