From outside Luminberg, the view of the reactivation of the Wizards' Wall was nothing less than a spectacle; the yellow layer of light frequently disturbed by ever-moving streaks of differing colors, was something people couldn't take their eyes off from so easily. Those outside opted to view the city from telescopes; the wealthier individuals went aboard airships to check out the view from atop. The alarm that went off from the administration building, Brillanz, was thought to be part of the defense network's features. People were at first, fascinated at how such an ancient system was quickly made to adopt and work with newer defense systems in place. Surely, the people during the time this energy barrier was built depended on something like bell towers and town criers.

  It took a few curious dirigible-riding observers with telescopes to figure out: something with the event was wrong.

  "Why is there no one moving?"

  "Max, you've got to see this! Everyone on the ground isn't moving."

  "This isn't right. What are the Constabulary and the Army doing?"

  "Look, Mama! What are those on the ground?"

  Calls were made to the seat of administration from neighboring cities and army outposts: no one was picking up telephones anywhere in Luminberg. Whatever happened inside the city rendered everyone unable to act. The military decided to bring up one of its own aerial vehicles to make a closer survey of the city itself. Unlike the airships hovering above, this was a two-man transport whose fuselage was kept afloat with engines that powered a pair of top-mounted propellers. It was difficult to see through the rainbow streaks that ran around the Wizards' Wall at first, but the presence of metal-clad entities confirmed that the first people who saw it were not mistaken. There was a loud, shrill ringing from a vehicle before it spoke:

  "This is the Imperial Air Arm. Strangers, state your names and affiliation."

  There was no answer from the figures standing at the battlements; one of them looked at the flying machine with bright green eyes before its gaze fixed back at the horizon. The airmen were looking at creatures that only stood like humans. A closer look at them revealed gun-like extensions and claws replacing what were supposed to be hands. The pilot then used his radio to speak:

  "These things on the walls. They're not human at all."

  · · ─ ·?· ─ · ·

  Rinvar did not expect that he was going to the Evening of the Defense through a military transport. Not the one provided by Blaurosen, but a lead vehicle bearing the Melvich family insignia.

  While he would have preferred a faster, more private means, this unit on the move was the surest way to get to where he was needed.

  "It's amazing how soldiers can bear riding in one of these." Elena peered from the vision slit to her right. "It's a good thing the weather is cold here. I imagine if we share a climate with the South."

  "Don't even think about it," Rinvar grumbled. "I know this is Father's idea of trying to win me with the whole family army thing."

  "Between you, that attachment supporting your ribs, and me, being a commander staying at the back is less dangerous."

  "I can't believe you're on Father's side."

  Rinvar sat beside her, looking at the prism that formed a dome above the outline of Luminberg. The fireworks were cut short, he thought. Was the Wizards' Wall that costly to restore that it affected the fireworks budget?

  He wondered if Farin went ahead inside the city. Her name would have been among the list of honored guests. Knowing her, she would have arrived a little too early and stuck with celebrating with the crowd at the city center.

  The trains coming in and out of Luminberg were definitely cut off from entering, given the Wizards' Wall being seen from where his convoy was at the time. He remembered the old magister talk almost incessantly on how the barrier would be raised the way the old texts have described it. If that wall of magical energy did fit into every single hole to completely blanket the citadel, no train could get inside the city. There was no point keeping the railway open during the celebrations.

  It was customary for the Empire to also introduce military innovations to the civilian populace during Luminberg's Evening of the Defense. This helped the government save on costs that would have benefited more civil projects; since the occasion was militarily related, it might as well use the event to showcase the latest product of government spending rather than spend more money on a dedicated parade.

  Behind Rinvar's vehicle were two large, rectangular automobiles that hauled long, eight-wheeled trailers. Mounted on them were eight box-shaped vehicles, four on each carrier. The machines had slanted front and rear regions that gave them an appearance of unsightly boats out of water. Atop the chassis sat a domed turret that housed a wide-bored cannon, a third of the vehicle's total length.

  "So this is what the Army is going to put on parade. A little too late for them to get into these boxes on treads."

  Elena craned her neck against the window. She was used to seeing the typical armored car the Imperial Army had been using for the longest time. While they were more than enough for operations that needed something more powerful than a rifle or a machine gun, the boxy machine had to be introduced to field bigger guns on a stabler, more robust platform.

  "Are you sure that these things won't crush the road once they're off these... carriers?"

  "I have no idea."

  Rinvar looked at the tractor treads. They were twice as wide as those used in regular crawlers, though this was made of rubber. It was after squinting outside that he answered:

  "Rubber. They're not going to break any stones." Rinvar made the best of what little view the vision slit provided. "They're finishing the parade under their own power..."

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  The convoy moved along; flanking the larger transports were automobiles that moved on four large rubber tires. Turret hatches were left open as soldiers who manned the guns made sure that the barrels were kept raised. The vehicles were painted in blue and vermilion colors; the Imperial Seal showing on their left and right sides. Metal-plated hats and uniforms adorned with roses and swords complemented the ceremonial colors of the machines. The roads were almost empty, save for either a random deer that came out of the forest cover to stroll in the open, or a random traveler who went the other way, stopped, and looked at the line of vehicles.

  Elena leaned on the vision slit in an attempt to get a closer look at the outside; the thick glass broke the outside view into several shades, with some details obscured from view. Not far from the road was the way to Luminberg; the view of the Wizards' Wall in its spectral restlessness was both exhilarating and ominous. A low, long wail was heard from the city. Rinvar took more attention looking outside, where he asked:

  "Love, has the Wall looked like this in those old books?"

  "The old scribes didn't draw the Wall this way. I guess the company the Magister hired didn't get it right?"

  "Strange. The previous celebrations used to have a lot of fireworks in them. This one is dull. Don't tell me Demian Silbern decided to use this occasion to test the Wizards' Wall and use the alarm system as a shoddy replacement."

  "For fireworks?" Elena's gaze looked more concerned, now that the alarm was louder, the closer their convoy was to Luminberg.

  Both noticed their vehicle had halted when a different-colored armored car stopped in the middle of the road. It had a blue and deep red color scheme; the turret gunner held on to a six-barreled machine gun as if readying to aim.

  "That crest." Rinvar saw the Rose of the Empire insignia on the blocking vehicle's door. "Why are the Capital's men here?"

  "They must have responded to the sounds from the city." Elena's hand was on the door latch; she was outside after needing to push the door out using her shoulder.

  "I'll have to wait on what these officers will talk about."

  Someone stepped out of one of the lead vehicles. It was Farin, though in a ceremonial version of Imperial officer attire. Rinvar stepped out of the vehicle. Elena waved her hand at the Imperial officer, though her gaze was fixed on the city now wrapped under a spectral dome.

  "Finally giving in to Lord Erik's request, Captain?"

  "The wonderful director should know that I'm not the type to turn down a father's request."

  "And you have Elena with you." Farin said, "What a fine mess of a gathering this is going to be."

  "I haven't seen you in a while, Farin." Elena smiled, though she could not mask her concern over what was happening inside the city.

  "I did not want this to be our reunion, you see." Farin shook her head. "I was thinking of wine and banquets, not being blocked from entering the city by this... magical machine."

  Rinvar watched the formation of another body of House Melvich soldiers gather a kilometer away from the gates. They must have been from the nearby garrison, and Farin most likely tagged along to observe.

  "Sir Rinvar." A Melvich family officer made a salute; Rinvar returned the courtesy. "We received orders from the Emperor to assess this situation."

  "At ease. You're making me look awkward. Not part of the Army, you see."

  "This is what Lord Erik ordered us to do in situations like this. Let me take you closer."

  Rinvar scratched his head and followed the officer's lead. The parade troop leader walked closely behind them. Not far from the convoy was a gathering of soldiers; field guns of various lengths were towed into position and aimed at one of Luminberg's openings.

  Rinvar borrowed a pair of binoculars from one of the officers manning the artillery pieces. The gates were open, even with the spectral field blocking the entrance. Beyond the point were bodies of men and women lying still. None of them showed any movement; the gathering was seemingly put into a stupor. Overhead was a two-seater autogyro scanning the city with a searchlight.

  "So, what did you see?" Farin showed up at the left of the constabulary officer.

  "It looked like someone plainly shut the whole gathering down – everything and everybody." Rinvar offered the binoculars to his superior.

  "This is horrible." Farin swept her vision from right to left; one of the bonfires was toppled and began to set fire to a nearby wooden fence. "Is there a way we can get in?"

  "There's a passage that will connect us to Brillanz's basement." Rinvar looked to a cluster of trees near Luminberg's western gate. "We can't bring everybody, though."

  "Do you think we can force our way through the barrier?" The parade troop commander was listening to them all along before he pointed to the field guns that were being loaded.

  "The legend says this wall withstood the strength of the great beasts." Rinvar sat on the grass and pulled out a small rectangle in dark wrapping. He tore through it and took a bite. "We have no idea if a monster's fireball is more powerful than our artillery, but it wouldn't hurt to try."

  "I've heard your suggestion, Sir Rinvar. Let me contact Headquarters."

  The Melvich soldier disappeared into a tent. Farin dug into her robes, pulling out a pistol into the light before placing it back. She said:

  "Just when I finally decided to be in a festive mood, this comes along."

  Rinvar stood up just in time for the Melvich officer to come out of the tent.

  "We have received approval from Headquarters. We can commence firing at any time."

  "Are you sure you want to take orders from me..." Rinvar looked at the officer's jacket before saying, "...Colonel?"

  "We abide by your father's instructions, sir."

  "Let's not ruin the city gates. Aim at the parts of the barrier not in front of the battlements." Rinvar dusted the back part of his pants, shaking off flakes of wilted grass that clung to it.

  Only three of the smallest field guns aimed; the blast that came out of them rang in the ears of those who stood close. The shells slammed into the transparent areas; there was an angry cloud of fire, followed by black and white smoke. The wind revealed their efforts in the form of an undisturbed layer of energy.

  Elena, shocked at the sudden firing of a field gun, ran to the captain, grabbing hold of his arms. Her silence was broken, and she was worried to the point of becoming teary-eyed.

  "Father should be all right inside, right?"

  "I... don't know, but we'd have to get inside to find out. Old Demian should know better than be caught off-guard by this."

  Rinvar put on his cap and addressed the officer, "It looks like either we draw the strength out of the Wizards' Wall, or we run out of shells."

  The small artillery pieces had to be pulled out; in their place were larger field guns that had the length of two men. Firing on the sealed Luminberg resumed; ground-shaking shots and more explosions only made mild ripples on the energy barrier's surface.

  Meanwhile, Farin watched as the artillery kept pounding on the field of energy; the Wizards' Wall continued to mock the Imperial Army's efforts as exploding shells made thin, radiating waves that quickly dissolved as they traveled throughout the shielding's surface. None of the men and women in the field had any inkling of whether the barrage was weakening the ancient magical device. Even Rinvar De Melvich, the person closest to those behind Luminberg's administration, had no idea of how potent the defensive barrier was. Farin watched another batch of shells being loaded into the artillery pieces before saying:

  "So, anything from memory that you can pull out for us to know if we're even making any progress against this wall?"

  "All I'm sure of is that your guns are not doing enough to disturb the Wizards' Wall." It was Elena who answered. She drew even farther from the artillery teams; her ears were starting to tremble from the noise of gunfire.

  "This... has got to be a product of a very creative villain. Who knew that trapping a city using an ancient mechanism proved this hard to deal with?"

  "All I know, Farin, is we'll be dealing with worse things once we get inside the city."

  Rinvar caught a rushing group of riflemen turning towards the northeast. These soldiers began cocking their guns, readying to take aim at a growing shadow that was emerging from the trees. The light revealed a large pack of creatures unknown to the land; misshapen things, with toothed beaks that growled and snapped at the humans facing them.

  "They’re… those monsters?"

  “I can’t say I’m elated to see those things alive, and up close.” Rinvar held on to Elena, whose focus was trained on the emerging creatures.

  Meanwhile, soldiers rushed to the front, fixing bayonets and training their rifles at the growing horde. Rinvar looked at Elena, who nodded before returning to the armored car.

  Holiday Hectic Haywire mode has come and gone.