Prout's fury flared in an instant.
But Gilbert had only offered him an armchair ten meters away, so when Prout looked up, all he could see of the man reclining on the small dais was a knife-sharp chin.
If Gilbert hadn't been a Mage, he probably would have been unbearable to look at... skin stretched over bones could never have been that smooth and taut.
Prout's anger subsided.
This was someone he absolutely could not attack.
Of course he knew about Wester's circumstances... although the fellow was only the student of a Sixth-Circle Mage who was Prout's junior fellow disciple, he was still someone of some standing in their faction.
He certainly wouldn't cross Nicholson's relatives for a mere Level 11 Mage, but he hadn't intended to make more enemies for Wester, either.
Unfortunately, Archmage Rute cared deeply about saving face.
If Prout dared do anything to Gilbert himself in Gilbert's Side Tower, that Archmage could fly straight back from the battlefield and crush his bones!
Even if his own teacher lent him a hand because Prout was one of his few remaining Seventh-Circle Mage students, everything their faction had built up in the middle and lower ranks of the Mage Tower would probably be swept away.
Wester's already difficult path would certainly be cut off altogether.
Kament Tower was an aloof man to begin with, and only treated Prout a little better because he was useful... but Prout knew perfectly well that if he really caused Kament Tower that much trouble, even if he didn't die, he would probably be sent straight out to find the Iron Dragon.
And he would be required to cooperate fully with Sia Tower, with no permission to return until he found it.
Wouldn't that be sending him to his death?
Even that powerful