183 Solarium (1/2)

Aside from the fact that the island was floating, it was just as normal as any prosperous kingdom. According to Aunt Luna, the Solarium was as big as their family's dukedom.

Unfortunately, I didn't get the chance to see Oakes when we were still in the Royal Capital.

Anyway…

As soon as he got out of the house, he looked up to look at the blue sky.

Ordinary people wouldn't see it but he was different. He could clearly see a very thin but very powerful barrier around the whole island. He loved his Aunt Luna but the barrier that she could create was nothing compared to the barrier surrounding Solarium.

If the barrier of the island was weak, then it would have crashed down a long time ago.

It's amazing how the air up here is still normal.

And it was definitely because of the barrier.

The houses in the island were like the houses of average islands. Even their house was just a little bigger than the rest. The life there was simple and the poverty rate was very low. It was probably thanks to the low population (compared to the empire below) and the good leadership skills of the Fire Archmage.

Almost everyone here knows each other.

The Solarium was composed of five floating islands.

Of course, the center island was called the Main Capital. That was where they lived.

The Fire Archmage's temple is also here.

The four other islands connecting to the Main Capital were simply called North Island, East Island, West Island, and South Island. Each island was being supervised by the Keepers.

And they are called Lords (and Lady for Kelsi, the only female Keeper).

The surprising thing that he found out about the island was the fact that not only Fire Mages lived up there.

According to the stories that he heard from the adults, when the Fire Mages escaped from the empire to avoid execution, they also brought most of their followers with them. So right now, the citizens of the Solarium could be classified into five ”categories.”

1. The Rosenbergs– the direct descendants of Winchell, the Red Phoenix.

2. The Keepers– he was yet to know the story behind the Keepers of the Supreme.

3. The Fire Mages– the clan where the Rosenbergs originated.

4. The Sun Priestesses– the women serving the Red Phoenix and the sun.

5. The Followers– ordinary humans who devoted themselves to the Fire Mages.

”Boss Winter!”

Winter smirked when he was greeted by his underlings when he arrived at their little hide-out. He called it hide-out but it was just an abandoned school building. It was yet to be renovated so the street children were using it as a ”hide-out.”

”Yes, boss!” the three ten year old boys named Axel, Brent, and Clarence answered simultaneously.

Clarence was a skinny, nerdy kid with round eyeglasses. He looked like a pushover but he was the brain of the trio.

Brent was the pretty-looking rich boy. He was the group's ”financier.” (AKA the one who would always buy snacks for them).

Axel was the tall, chubby, and very strong ”muscle” of the trio. The musclehead used to be a bully but after he knocked him out with one hit last week, he promised to change and ”follow” him forever.

They're my underlings now.

But to be honest, he looked really out of place.

After all, he was the only person in Solarium who would wear suits. The climate in the island was always hot even at night. It was probably because of the fire Mana that almost everyone in the island possessed. But the heat was tolerable, especially in the nighttime.

But since his body was naturally cool, he couldn't really feel the heat in the island. That was why he always wore suits and thick clothes.

Kids around him used to bully him for it. After all, the children wore light clothes.

Most of the people in the island also had pretty Sunkissed or bronze skin.

He, his mommy, his Aunt Luna, and some of the Keepers stood out like sore thumb because of their pale skin.

”I already know when Mount Sola will return to the Main Capital,” Clarence reported while holding his trusted leather notebook. He even adjusted his eyeglasses before he continued. ”According to my research, the floating ship is about to return in a week.”

Ah, so he only had to wait for a week. ”Good job, Clarence.”

Clarence looked so proud of himself. ”Thank you, Boss Winter!”

Brent cleared his throat and when he turned to him, the flower boy started his report. ”I have already acquired the tools that we need to be able to escape the Main Capital's security without being caught.”

”But even if we're caught, I'll protect you, Boss Winter,” Axel said proudly while flexing his arm muscles. ”You trust me, don't you?”

”Sure,” Winter said casually. I'll probably do all the saving anyway.

He really didn't want to escape the Main Capital without permission from his mommy but he couldn't wait any longer.

Uncle Fire Archmage and the overprotective Keepers don't want Mommy and I to leave the island.

Of course, he would always be thankful for their protection.

But my daddy needs us!