Archmage Audric

Alex continued his explanation as they walked. "The first and second floors are common areas. Both Mages and apprentices can come and go freely."

"The third floor is the magical materials storeroom, and the fourth and fifth floors are magic laboratories. From this floor onward, magic apprentices need permission to enter."

"The sixth floor is a library, mostly containing nonmagical books. You can borrow them freely, as long as you remember to return them by the end of the month."

"The seventh floor is also a library, but it holds books on magic. Those can only be read inside the library."

As they passed the seventh floor, Rhode craned his neck to look inside.

The furnishings looked much like those of an ordinary library.

Hmm, this would probably be where I spent most of my time from now on. After all, learning more powerful spells was my main reason for coming here.

"From the eighth floor up, you'll find the residences and offices of the Magic Tower's senior staff. In other words, these areas are reserved for full-fledged Mages. Magic apprentices can't live in the tower; they have to find their own lodgings."

"You've been assigned a room on the eighth floor. This will be your private space from now on."

Senior staff? It seemed being a Novice Magic User was already quite impressive. Even at the Magic Tower in a big city like this, I could qualify as senior staff.

Since this was their new home, Rhode and Lilia went inside for a quick look around.

The room was about fifty or sixty square meters, divided into four spaces. The study was the largest, followed by the kitchen, then the bedroom. The smallest was probably the bathroom.

The place looked quite nice, certainly much better than where he had lived at the Farm.

And the library was close, just one floor down. How convenient.

"The ninth floor is Master Hearthglen's residence, though he prefers staying at his own home. The tenth floor is Audric's office. You'd best not go up there unless you're summoned. The last person who did was put inside an ice-and-fire barrier for an entire day, experiencing both extremes. It nearly drove him mad."

"But don't worry. You can go in now; he's waiting for you inside. I'll head downstairs."

With that, Alex smiled at Rhode and Lilia, then went down the stairs.

He really was a good guide, and he seemed likely to be a good colleague, too.

The door to the tenth-floor office stood open.

Holding Lilia's hand, Rhode stood in the doorway and looked inside.

A middle-aged man in loose blue mage robes was leafing through a book on his desk.

As he read, one of his hands kept moving through the air.

Rhode could tell that he was conducting some sort of experimental magic test.

The Mage seemed to be using the descriptions in the book to analyze and calculate the spell nodes and energy circuits of a particular spell.

An ordinary person would not have noticed, but Rhode could clearly sense the mana surges that occasionally emanated from the desk before dissipating.

Rhode and Lilia walked inside.

Hearing their footsteps, the middle-aged Mage looked up. He set down his book, wiped his forehead, and smiled. "Rhode, you're here. I'm Vern Audric."

Looking at Audric, Rhode noticed that his face was rather pale.

The magic test must have consumed quite a bit of his mana.

Both impressed and curious, Rhode asked, "Hello, Archmage. Were you testing a spell just now?"

What puzzled him most was that Audric had known they would be meeting shortly. Surely there was no need to keep testing spells right up until then.

Audric seemed to see through Rhode's thoughts. He smiled and said, "Just call me Mr. Audric, like everyone else. Before you arrived, I happened to be reading this book on magic and doing a few tests along the way, so I didn't stop."

"Of course, Mr. Audric. Even as an Archmage, you still work so hard. You're an example for me to follow." Rhode meant every word.

People who worked tirelessly always inspired admiration.

"Ha ha..." Audric laughed heartily. "Studying magic has been my only passion all my life. Tell me, when you've finally found something interesting that you love doing, what reason is there not to give it your all? If you don't work hard, you'll grow old in the blink of an eye. By the time you want to make an effort, neither your body nor the time you have left will allow it."

Rhode nodded.

Seeing Rhode nod, Lilia nodded along, though she did not fully understand what the Mage meant.

"Yes, Marebu was right. You're an excellent Mage..." Looking into Rhode's eyes, Audric continued, "I can sense your mana surges. You're at least at the level of an Intermediate Magic User, and you don't seem far behind a High Magic User like me. Yet you're still so young... The younger generation truly is formidable."

An Intermediate Magic User? That meant I could cast third-level spells.

Hadn't Mayor Marebu said I was a Novice Magic User?

Had I leveled up again recently?

Of course, it was also possible that Mayor Marebu, being only a magic apprentice himself, could not accurately judge the abilities of higher-level Mages.

Just then, Audric turned his gaze to Lilia beside Rhode.

A flicker of surprise crossed his eyes.

"She has mana surges too. They aren't strong, but..." Audric paused. "They feel different from those of us humans. More primal, more pure... Is she a High Elf?"

Rhode's eyes widened.

Audric truly was a High Magic User. He could identify Lilia's true nature just from her mana surges.

Lilia, meanwhile, jumped up. "You're amazing, mister! I'd definitely lose if I played hide-and-seek with you."

Looking at Lilia, Audric smiled and said to Rhode, "You've used Glamour well. I wouldn't have noticed without taking a careful look. Still, High Elves and humans do interact in this city from time to time, and they've always been on friendly terms. Even if someone recognizes her, it shouldn't be much of a problem..."

"Really?" Lilia brightened. "Then I can show my pointy ears!"

"Yes, and they'd look even prettier with Ruby Earrings on them." Rhode liked teasing Lilia.

"Earrings? I already told you I don't want any earrings!" Lilia covered her ears. "Getting my ears pierced is too scary!"

"Ruby Earrings?" Audric looked intrigued at those words. "You have a Ruby Earring with you? Could you let me see it?"

Huh? Why was Mr. Audric interested in this earring?

Rhode took the box containing the earring out of his pack and opened it.

Apart from the necessary clothes, food, Spellbook, and coins, this Ruby Earring was the only thing Rhode had brought with him to Durnholde Keep.

Although he had rarely run out of mana lately and therefore seldom used it, it was still a piece of Magic Equipment. Having it with him was bound to be useful.

Besides, it was a pretty accessory, at least. Even if Lilia did not want to wear it, he could sell it as jewelry.

But Audric took just one look at the box in Rhode's hands before saying, "Yes, that's it... It used to be mine."