On the first night after arriving at Liya Tower Fortress, Astrid and Lyra were lodged in the Forge Command Hall at the fortress's center, arranged by Grand Duke Charles.
This frontline stronghold, once blown to pieces by the self-detonation of a mana cannon, had been reshaped by the Church Knights using earth magic to serve as a logistics hub and bridgehead for their assault on the Valeria Empire. When the Empire mounted a powerful counterattack, the City of Light ultimately abandoned the fortress and it returned to Duke Charles.
Rebuilt three times, changed hands twice, even Lyra, who had lived at Liya Tower for months, felt a stranger in this military installation on her return.
