The magic tower of Flaedan.

The white tower rose high into the clouds made of marbles that shined in the sunlight. A couple of hundred mages were always inside the tower at any given point of time. They created magic tools and competed with other magicians and proposed new theories regarding magical laws. Though it was one of the lesser towers, the tower of Flaedan still carried weight in the continent. It was because of Hendrick Abier who was a ninth circle mage. He had made the tower of Flaedan his home and his research on the water element made him a household name.

Though he has aged considerably now, he was still powerful enough to compete with other famous mages on the continent. Usually mages lifespan were extended due to the magic seeping into their bodies. But the most they could live was two hundred years. And Hendrick was already 153 years old. He had become the grand mage of the tower when he was 100 years old and for these past 53 years, he had watched over the rookie mages and guided them to bring out the maximum potential they had. Some had gone on to become famous themselves. He was considered almost a father figure inside the tower and everyone respected him.

The same Hendrick was now sitting on a cozy chair in his room and looking over some papers. Some of his students had proposed new magical theories and he was looking over them. There were dozens of theories everyday. Though most of them don't pass his scrutiny, some of them were quite amusing. The one he was reading had something to do with using ice to freeze magic particles and then infusing them externally into living things to cure diseases. He sighed. Though it looked good in theory, there were many holes when used practically.

Suddenly, his senses which were usually spread up to a few kilometres picked up a surge in energy. It was so sudden and so high, that it made him sweat.

"What was that", he muttered to himself.

He had never felt that kind of energy before. Though it occasionally spiked in areas where monsters reside, it usually doesn't spike so rapidly. And so highly at that.

He muttered something and disappeared from the spot leaving behind an empty chair and the pages of paper fluttering in the aftermath of the wind generated from the teleportation.

------

As Rayce came face to face with the old man, the old man smiled.

"Hello", he said.

"Ah, hello", Rayce greeted back.

(Master, that person is a 9th circle mage. Be careful)

I became wary and asked, "How can I help you. I was just about to go back to the city."

"Is that so? Shall we go together then", he said.

"Sure", I said.

I tried to use Appraisal on him but it was unsuccessful. He looked at me bemused and smiled.

"By the way, that magic just now was wonderful. I have never seen such precise control from someone so young. How old are you by the way"

"I'm 21", I said.

"So young", he muttered.

"I'm called Hendrick. May I know your name?"

"Ah, I'm Rayce"

"Are you from Flaedan?"

"No, I'm a traveller. I just reached this city yesterday."

"Yesterday. Hmm...no wonder", he muttered.

"Sorry?"

"Oh, it's nothing."

As we walked back towards the city, the sun had already set. And the moonlight was illuminating the road.

"May I know the name of your magic teacher?"

"I'm self taught."

He made a bewildered face.

"Aren't you already a 6th circle?"

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"Yes", I nodded slowly.

"You mean you reached the 6th circle by yourself?"

"It seems so."

"Unbelievable. I have never seen such a thing!"

"Why? What's unbelievable."

"Usually to go above the 4th circle, you need someone's guidance since it needed precise control of magic and external stimuli. And a 4th circle mage cannot exert the power to reach 5th circle alone."

I could feel Airi getting smug inside and rolled my eyes.

"But there are geniuses who have done so before like Luke and Donzer and.....", he kept muttering some names.

I let him be.

Soon we reached a fork on the road.

As we took the road towards the city, I could see someone running towards us screaming.

".....rick! Master Hendrick!"

I looked at him and he made a face as if he swallowed a bug.

The person soon reached us and bent down huffing and held up a hand

"Please wait."

We stood there and soon the person straightened himself.

It was a girl around the same age as me. She was also wearing a robe but it was green.

"How......how many times should I tell you...to tell us if....if you were going outside?", she spoke while being out of breath.

Seems like she ran a long way.

"I'm sorry, Alba. Something urgent came up", he said defensively.

"Do you have any idea how worried the other mages were."

"I'm sorry", he said pouting.

"By the way, who is he?", she asked suddenly pointing at me.

"I'm Rayce. I'm an adventurer", I said defensively looking at her.

"An adventurer huh, hmph".

She turned her head away from me and glared at Hendrick.

"Hehe hehe", I felt like he was laughing as if in mortal danger.

Then she glared at me again. I lifted my hand indicating I had nothing to do with this.

"Let me introduce myself again. I'm Hendrick Abier and I manage the magic tower of Flaedan."

I made a suprised face. I didn't know there was something called a magic tower.

"Is it a tower where you practice magic?" I asked

Alba looked at me incredulously.

"I'm sorry. I'm a traveller. From where I came from, there were no magic towers near my home."

"I see."

"Do you know, Alba. Rayce is already a six circle mage."

"What? How?"

Hendrick made a small sound as if suppressing a laugh.

"I just taught myself."

Alba had a blank look while staring at me.

"You see", Hendrick said, "I had to meet him."

"I understand now. But you should still tell the junior mages if you are going out of the tower."

Hendrick shrugged and said, "I'll keep it in mind from now on."

"You better", she glared at him.

"Then, shall we head back?"

"Yes", I said.

We made our way towards the city. You could see the streetlights come on and illuminating the roads.

Soon we reached the gates. The guards as soon as they say Hendrick greeted him and waved us through.

"Uhm, I'm going this way."

"Are you. Then please come to the tower and meet me after two days. I have to talk to you about a few things", he said, his eyes glinting in the streetlight.

"Uhuh, I understand. I'll look forward to it."

We said goodbyes and went our seperate ways. Alba was still glaring at me while parting. I think she was still angry. Probably.

(Airi! I stood out! Why did you have to create six circles so suddenly!)

(Um...I mean. Isn't it better to make some acquaintances?)

(That's not the point!)

I made my way to the same inn and after having something to eat which was bread and stew, I went to my room.

What should I do now, I thought while lying on the bed.

Should I travel to another city.

Master, I think we should stay here for a few more days and then make our way to Astrya.

(Astrya? Why Astrya?)

(As you've heard, it's a free city. If Master wants to settle down, I think it would be the best place. It's a neutral city and I think that place would be the best for us.)

(I see. It does sound convenient. But we still have to meet the tower master)

(Yes, I think we should leave right after)

(We'll see)

I soon dozed off.

The next morning I made my way to the Adventurer association to submit the completed quest.

Even though it was morning, it was still crowded.

I made my way to the reception desk and informed of the quest completion. Reina was there and she smiled.

"Are you settling down well?"

"Yes", I said. "The people are very friendly."

"Glad to hear that!"

"So you have completed this quest. May I have the items?"

"Yes."

I took out the entire batch of Daytona herbs.

"Whoa, how many did you pick?"

"Ahaha, it seems I forgot how much I should pick and picked a bunch of them."

"Will I be able to sell everything?"

"Yes, there is always a demand for medical herbs. So we should be able to buy all of them. Please give me a half an hour."

"Alright."

I went outside the building and saw that they were selling fruit juices nearby. I went and bought a juice made of what looked like an apple.

It had the same flavour but the name as per the signboard was called Aplion.

It was refreshing. People were lining up to get their share.

As the half hour was up, I made my way back inside and went to the reception desk.

Reina was there filling some forms.

She smiled and said, "The request was for 12 daytona herbs for 2 silver coins. You have submitted 144 daytona herbs. So the total would come to 24 silver coins. Here's the amount."

"Thank you", I said, taking the small bag of coins.

"Will you be taking a request today?"

(Master, combat request!!)

"Yes, I was thinking of extermination requests preferably smaller monsters."

"I see. Please allow me a moment."

I waited and after looking on the glass panel fitted into the desk, Reina smiled and said, "It looks like there is a request for exterminating gray wolves. This is a F class request but it may rise to D depending on the number of monsters."

"I see."

"Would you like to accept this request?"

"Yes, please."

She asked for my card and after assigning the request, she gave it back to me.

"The task has been assigned. The payment will be 5 silver coins for exterminating four gray wolves."

"Thank you."

"Please be careful, Rayce", she said.

"I will", I said and smiled.

I took a look at the request and it seemed to come from a small village near the forest.

I guided my steps towards the village.