The room was dark as Adam got up from his bed. Looking around in confusion, he was sure he slept for a long time.

After looking, he found a set of clothes on a chest in the corner. He put them on and came out of his room. While walking down the stairs to the reception, Adam found the answer for darkness in his room, it was just bad positioning. His room was situated on the west side of the tower, which meant that light would fall directly into it only in the afternoon. It seemed he got a room for the night owls, not for early birds.

After walking down to the reception, Adam was led to the dining room by an attendant.

"Young master, the tower's administrator asked us to tell you that he is eager to show you around the capital, should I inform him that you accept his proposal?" Asked the servant formally, after bringing him his breakfast.

"Yes, please tell him I am very interested." After all, sightseeing with a local would surely be better than alone.

Adam devoured his meal, very nicely done eggs with excellent sandwiches, and went to the room next door, a sitting room. He sat there on a big cushy chair and took a book from a nearby shelf, waiting for Max's friend to come.

The book was about the kingdom's political situation and dungeons. Obviously, Adam wasn't the best reader in the world, or even close to decent, but understanding a book wasn't a problem for him, at least if given enough time.

From what he read, he found out why the adventurer system existed. He wondered about it some time ago, why create a job centered around killing monsters when there are hunters and an army in place? Why let unsupervised people enter dungeons, and get rich by finding artefacts and precious materials?

Well, the book's author had the answer. If the guards and the army conquered the dungeons constantly, there would be no one to protect the towns, cities and the few villages of Derdania. Thus, the Adventurers Guild was founded, with the right to venture into the dungeons, and plundering the riches within, it quickly became a popular occupation for young, energetic people. While the job was dangerous itself, the registered adventures also had the obligation to defend the population centres.

Just like that, the problem was mostly solved, and also, the royal army acquired itself a place to search for talented fighters.

But everything has a dark side, the Adventurers guild is no exception.

While the safety and defences from the wild increased, the safety inside the cities fell drastically. Adventures unable to fight monsters anymore, restless people constantly searching for the source of danger and those who realised that fighting humans is usually easier than fighting beasts. They all started to wreak havoc, creating gangs and other criminal groups. In turn, the number of guards on duty increased, but the problem didn't disappear.

Before Adam had a chance to read about the political situation of Derdania among its neighbours, Steven, the tower administrator came to the room.

"Good morning, young master Adam."

"Good morning Steven, Adam will suffice." Adam felt quite weird when people talked to him with such a title.

"As you say... Adam. Would you like to head out immediately or first see the rest of the tower?"

"I would like to see the tower."

"Then, I will lead. you must have already seen the rooms that are available to residing mages. Apart from them at the top of the tower is the observation deck, from which, a beautiful view of the city can be seen. Apart from it, private chambers and rooms on the ground floor, on the tenth floor is my office." While telling Adam about the tower, Steven guided him through the ground floor to doors that were the furthest from the main entrance.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

"Now, these doors lead to the second section of the tower." They stepped down the stairs, that were hidden behind the doors.

"On the right are the baths, where all residents can relax and wash themselves. I might add that it is prohibited to bring others with you, it's a private place, meant only for mages... And me." Said Steven pointing at the right tunnel, one of the three present at the end of the stairs.

"On the left are the laboratories, to get one you need to ask me and it will be prepared for you. It is strictly prohibited to visit someone else's lab without their consent, and there will be consequences if something like that happens."

"What kind of consequences?" Asked Adam.

"For you? You would probably need to work for said mage for some time or need to compensate them in some other way, for example by giving them your own, personal research. But if it was someone else, not a mage, high-ranking aura user or an important official, they would be hanged."

Silence ensued after those words.

"..."

"So, to what leads the central tunnel?" Asked Adam after a while.

"It's a path outside, after splitting, one leads to a house in the city and the other outside of it. It was supposed to be a retreat path if some lunatics started to wreak havoc around the tower, but it's used way more often than when those things happen, as the situation was last seen around forty years ago."

"Let's see the baths, then we will go to see the city." Said Steven, leaving the matter of questionable escapades behind and leading Adam to the right tunnel.

Behind a door that was at the end of the tunnel, spanned a huge hall with multiple heated pools. Some of them were hidden behind moving walls, but most of them were left in the open.

Around them were doors, Steven said that they led to private changing rooms. The floor was made out of wood, which sounded as if it were hollow underneath.

"Hi!! Are you new around here?" Shouted someone from one of the pools.

Adam turned in that direction and saw a beautiful woman, only wearing some clothing around her breasts and nether region. She had shiny blond hair and blue eyes and was quite tall, about as high as Adam.

"This lady here is Cynthia Jaston, the young lady of the house Jaston and Intermediate Mage." Steven introduced the lady.

"Good morning senior Cynthia, I am Adam Axigna, an Aspiring Mage. I am new here." He introduced himself, following the example of how Steven introduced the stranger.

"Hello, nice to meet you, Adam." Replied the lady.

"We are on a tour around the Capital, would you like to join us?" Asked Steven.

"It would be my pleasure! Please wait for me as I change my clothes." Answered Cynthia, before heading to the changing rooms.

"I didn't expect it to be coeducational." Adam was amazed, and his face was red.

"That's why there are changing rooms, you will find there some clothes to wear while in a bath. If you want to go in without those, you need to go into a private pool." Explained Steven.

"By the way, be nice to Cynthia, as she may help you someday. She is very talented, as she reached the intermediate realm in only one and a half years. Also, she specialises in nature magic." Steven's eyes betrayed his admiration for the woman.

Cynthia came out of the changing room, already wearing her robe. It was the same as Edgar's and Max's robes, but with a different colour scheme, her was full of green patterns on a brown background clearly associated with her nature specialisation.

As they ascended the stairs, Adam suddenly spoke.

"Senior Cynthia, could you tell me how to get a robe such as yours? I've seen two Mages, apart from you and myself, and they both had robes that were very similar to the one you own." Adam also wanted such a cool robe, he just didn't know how to get one.

"Oh, a robe? .... You need to register yourself as a mage at the local authorities. Just go to the Adventurers guild's branch or the castle and they will check if you are a mage. If you are, you will get a robe and registration." Answered Cynthia.

"Wait, if there is such a procedure, then how come I can live in the tower? Shouldn't I be tested beforehand?" Asked Adam when entering the reception.

"Huh??? You live here without registration?!" Cynthia was genuinely shocked, and it was seen on her face.

"You have got a recommendation from Master Edgar. If he says you are a mage, we believe. Though you still have to go through registration, that's the law." Steven erased their doubts.

"Wow, you know senior Edgar? Impressive." Interjected Cynthia.

"He is a chief guard in the town I came from. And Max's dad, so yes I know him a bit." Elaborated Adam.

"Soo....., where would you like to go first, marketplace, main road or do you have something else in mind?" Asked Steven, while looking at Adam.

"Senior Cynthia, could you recommend me something?" Asked Adam in turn.

"The marketplace should be a good idea. There are lots of interesting things to buy there at this time of the day."

"Then, let's go to the marketplace." Said Adam, facing Steven.

"That way."

They went further north, in the opposite direction of where the main gate was. After walking through the main square, they entered a wide road. Not as wide as the one mentioned before, but definitely bigger than the others. At the end of it was a huge plaza, filled with stalls, shops and big tents, where merchandise was sold.