Chapter 1

　　Everyone is a Monster, and No One is a Monster

　　It was a sweltering summer day, the late heat clinging stubbornly to the air. Astina rested her chin in her hands, her gaze fixed on a transparent sphere spinning slowly as it hung from the ceiling.

　　Theo watched her, a hint of concern in his eyes. "Tina, are you too warm? Shall I make another ice sphere?"

　　"No, Theo, it’s perfectly cool," she assured him.

　　The watermelon-sized orb of ice was a clever temperature-control device of Theo’s invention. An artifact of sorts, it lowered the ambient temperature until the magic stone at its core was depleted. It was a product of his sheer determination to bring Astina relief from the scorching summer heat. The spell required a level of magical application so fiendishly complex that the other mages of the Tower had shaken their heads in defeat just looking at the blueprints, but Theo had succeeded.

　　When Astina gifted one to Empress Brillin, the ingenious device became a sensation across the empire. Despite a price tag as outrageous as its complexity, requests from nobles poured in, securing a massive influx of research funds for the Magic Tower.

　　The genius mage who had so enriched the Tower’s coffers studied Astina’s expression. "What are you thinking about? You look troubled, Tina."

　　"I am, Theo." Astina finally tore her gaze from the sphere and turned to him.

　　"Tell me what it is."

　　"If we made that ice sphere really, really big," she began slowly, "do you think we could cool the entire Berhi Territory?"

　　"The entire territory?"

　　"Yes. In the meeting earlier, they said the summer crops have all withered because the heat has gone on for so long. The people must be heartbroken."

　　An artifact large enough to alter the climate of an entire territory was a notion so absurd that most would have scoffed. Fortunately, or perhaps unfortunately, Theo was not most people. His expression grew serious as his mind began to race, calculating the sheer area and the colossal amount of magic required. It wasn’t theoretically impossible, but the cost was the true obstacle.

　　"Securing enough magic stones would be the critical issue."

　　Astina’s eyes widened. She had only been thinking aloud, but he was taking her seriously. "It’s actually possible?"

　　"With ten thousand magic stones or more, we could attempt it."

　　"Ten thousand?" Astina’s brief flicker of hope died. She slumped forward, resting her chin on the table. "That’s just a nice way of saying it’s impossible." Even gathering every magic stone in the Dresden Empire wouldn’t yield a thousand. The great mage of their era, who had just been reminded of humanity’s frailty in the face of nature, pouted. "Being the Tower Master isn’t all it’s cracked up to be if I can’t even do something about a little heatwave."

　　Theo chuckled, stroking her hair as she grumbled about matters far beyond the mortal realm. "Thanks to our Tower Master, the heat is the only thing we have to worry about this summer. Isn’t that a relief?"

　　Astina blinked, not understanding at first. Then a slow smile spread across her face. "That’s true."

　　He was right. Last summer, the nightmare of Varius’s return had been so all-consuming that the heat had been the furthest thing from their minds. With a new Emperor and Empress on the throne, peace reigned in the Dresden Empire, and the Berhi Territory, the new home of the Magic Tower, had regained its former glory. Summer would soon pass, and with the bountiful autumn would come the first anniversary of the new reign. Which also meant that the wedding of Astina and Theo, postponed by Astina’s wish to get married on the same day as her sister, was fast approaching. Theo shared a smile with the blissfully unaware Astina, secretly clenching his fist in anticipation.

　　Just then, a knock came at the door. "Tower Master, are you busy?"

　　"Not at all, Hingis. Come in."

　　They greeted him with bright faces, but the usually cheerful mage’s features were clouded with worry.

　　"Hingis, is something wrong?" Astina asked.

　　"I have a favor to ask, Tower Master."

　　"A favor?"

　　"Could you… could you accompany me to my hometown?"

　　The unexpected request made Astina and Theo exchange a wide-eyed glance. Hingis hailed from the Gail Kingdom, south of the empire. They were prepared to grant any request from Hingis, with whom they shared a special bond, but they had to understand the circumstances.

　　"Is something wrong in the Gail Kingdom?" Astina pressed gently.

　　"It seems… mages are disappearing there," Hingis said, his voice heavy. A string of disappearances had plagued the kingdom, and among the missing was a childhood friend with whom Hingis had first studied magic. It was another old friend who had sent him the news. Though their paths had diverged when Hingis left for the Magic Tower, he couldn’t ignore the desperate plea from his homeland. With six mages already vanished, the safety of those who remained was uncertain.

　　"Please, Tower Master," he implored, bowing his head. "Please save the mages of the Gail Kingdom."

　　Astina took his hand. "Alright, Hingis. I’ll catch those villains for you!"

　　In contrast to her enthusiastic declaration, Theo’s voice was laced with caution. "But Tina, the Magic Tower cannot interfere in the affairs of mages who are not its members. The King of Gail will never grant a formal visit from our Tower Master."

　　Mages were a key military asset to any nation, and most rulers were wary of the Tower poaching their talent. Furthermore, with Astina being the Empress’s sister, the King would undoubtedly suspect political motives, especially given her unprecedented power. Theo’s point was so valid that Hingis’s expression fell.

　　Astina, however, simply tilted her head, still holding Hingis’s hand. "Do I need a king’s permission to visit a friend’s house?"

　　"A friend’s house?" Theo asked, bewildered.

　　Astina shot Hingis a conspiratorial wink. "Hingis, isn’t it about time you went home for a visit?"

　　Having left home eight years ago in a manner that was more running away than moving out, Hingis had never once been back. He nodded frantically. "Y-yes! It is high time I paid my respects to my parents, indeed."

　　And just like that, it was decided. Astina Berhi, Master of the Magic Tower, was going to the Gail Kingdom.

* * *

　　After informing Mikhail of her extended leave, Astina teleported directly to the Imperial Palace to let Brillin know she would be away. Materializing on the teleportation circle, she immediately bolted toward the main palace as always, ready to shout, "Brillin!"

　　But this time, someone caught her by the scruff of her neck.

　　It was the Emperor himself. Hafen, who had been passing by, held her dangling in the air with a stern expression. "Countess. Henceforth, loud noises and running are forbidden in the palace."

　　"Your Majesty!" Astina protested. "What’s this all of a sudden?"

　　"You must be careful not to startle the Empress."

　　"Why? Is something wrong with my sister?" she asked, a knot of fear tightening in her stomach.

　　Instantly, Hafen’s stern facade dissolved into a ridiculously goofy grin. "Something has come up that requires her to rest for the next eight months."

　　Astina was merely confused, but Theo understood at once. "Congratulations, Your Majesty."

　　"Congratulations? Why, when my sister needs rest? Your Majesty, what is going on?"

　　Hafen set the frustrated Astina down, letting out a booming laugh, the most foolish sound she had ever heard from him. As he continued to roar with laughter, Theo leaned in and whispered in Astina’s ear. Her already large golden eyes grew so wide they seemed ready to pop from her head.

　　"A… a baby?"

　　"Yes, Tina," Theo confirmed, his voice soft. "It seems Her Majesty the Empress is with child."

　　"My sister… a baby…"

　　"You’re going to be an aunt. Congratulations, Tina."

　　"An aunt… my own niece or nephew…" Astina repeated the words, dazed. The joy was so overwhelming that she couldn’t form a coherent thought. A scream of delight threatened to erupt, and she clamped her hands over her mouth to stifle it. She wanted to run to Brillin that very second, but Hafen’s warning echoed in her ears. She bounced on her toes, unable to contain her excitement, and finally just threw herself against Theo.

　　He stumbled but caught her, laughing, while Hafen’s shoulders continued to shake with mirth. Amidst the heartwarming family chaos, Brillin’s voice drifted down from the stairs.

　　"Tina?"

　　"My dear sister!" Astina muffled through her hands.

　　Hafen immediately scurried to Brillin’s side, offering his hand. "Careful on the stairs. Please, be careful, my Empress."

　　"Your Majesty, I’ve told you I’m fine."

　　"Still, one must be cautious."

　　"Honestly, I’m fine. Move aside," Brillin insisted, pushing past her husband’s already overprotective fussing. She descended the stairs to find her younger sister, who always ran to her, hesitating with wide, stunned eyes. A radiant smile lit up Brillin’s face as she extended a hand. "Tina, come here."

　　Astina shuffled forward as awkwardly as a newborn puppy.