"Dear Karin:
Kirkland, the instructor mage from Fairbreeze Village, has told me that you have reached the first circle. I was both surprised and delighted! To cross the first threshold on the path of arcane magic after just two months of studying magic is quite rare in our family's history over the past century... So I look forward to the day, centuries from now, when you can shed your red robes and stand at the very top of Sunfury Spire, overlooking all of Silvermoon City alongside me!
Keep up the good work, and continue striving!
Kane Sunfury
August 2, at Sunfury Spire"
The final signature was gray, a stark contrast to the black writing, and it exuded an intense sense of pressure.
"Kane Sunfury? That name sounds familiar!" Karin idly looked over the letter as he took out half a loaf of bread and tossed it to the owl that had delivered it. "Help yourself. This is to thank you."
The owl caught the bread in its beak and tossed him something shaped like a token.
"A pass to Sunfury Spire!" Karin picked up the piece of iron. "Looks like the family is starting to acknowledge me as one of its members!"
"That letter wasn't written by just one person!" The All-Knowing Eye's voice rang out in his mind.
"Oh?" Karin hurriedly picked up the letter again.
"The contents were written using the third-circle spell 'Scribing,' probably by a third- to fifth-circle mage!" the All-Knowing Eye commented. "But that final gray signature was formed using the seventh-circle spell 'Inscription'!"
"So this Mr. Kane is at least a Seventh Ring mage?" Karin asked quietly.
"To be precise, he's most likely at least an Eighth Ring mage. Inscription is a rather marginally useful spell, and ordinary Seventh Ring mages rarely devote time to learning it!"
"An Eighth Ring mage! No wonder a mere signature carries such overwhelming pressure!" Karin frowned slightly. "It seems the Sunfury family really is a powerful family in Quel'Thalas!"
Karin went to his wardrobe and took out a bright red mage robe... A coin-sized circular emblem was embroidered on its right breast. This was a first-circle mage robe used specifically in Quel'Thalas, issued uniformly by the Silvermoon Council, and it provided a decent boost to a first-circle mage's mana... Last night, after the Silvermoon Council had reviewed and officially confirmed Karin's advancement to the first circle, Mage Kirkland had immediately sent someone to deliver it.
Dressed in his mage robe, Karin left the cottage.
The plump hawkstrider in the little courtyard was sleeping comfortably in the sun.
Karin walked over in exasperation and gave the hawkstrider two kicks in the backside. "Stop lazing around. Come on, we're going to Silvermoon City!"
"Sunfury Spire?" Karin raised his head to gaze at the tower before him!
It was nearly as tall as a building dozens of stories high, and a flag bearing a shield-shaped emblem fluttered at its tapering summit.
That must be the Sunfury family's crest? Karin stepped into the tower as he considered it.
"Halt, intruder!" An icy voice rang out ahead. "Please present your pass!"
In the darkness, Karin saw a huge Arcane Construct walking slowly toward him. The voice had come from the construct.
Calmly taking out the token the owl had brought earlier, Karin held it in front of his chest.
"Verification complete... Hello, Karin. Welcome back to the family!" A little warmth entered the Arcane Construct's voice. "As this is your first visit to Sunfury Spire, would you like an Arcane Servant to guide you?"
"A guide?" Karin paused, then hurriedly nodded. "Yes, I would!"
The Arcane Construct stepped aside, and a blue figure resembling a water elemental approached Karin. "Mr. Karin, please follow me. I will show you around Sunfury Spire!"
"All right, sorry for the trouble!" Karin nodded to the Arcane Servant.
"The first floor of Sunfury Spire serves as a resting area for Novice Mages... Every first- or second-circle mage in the family may have a lounge here!" the Arcane Servant explained slowly.
"Everyone gets one?" Karin asked softly, following the Arcane Servant.
"Yes. For example, this lounge right here..."
Karin looked up and saw the words "Karin Sunfury" inscribed on the door of the small room before him!
"Would you like to go inside and rest for a while, Mr. Karin?" the Arcane Servant asked.
"No... No need. Let's keep looking upstairs!"
After climbing the spire's stairs to the second floor, Karin saw another row of enclosed rooms.
"The second floor of Sunfury Spire serves as a training area for Novice Mages! There are twelve fully equipped training rooms here. Whether you wish to learn spells, practice spells, or even conduct mock duels, Mr. Karin, you can reserve a training room here..."
"You even need a reservation?" Karin muttered. On the first floor, he had still been able to sense the presence of several mages, but upon reaching the second floor, he could no longer sense anyone at all.
"Yes. All twelve training rooms are currently vacant. If you wish to enter one, Mr. Karin, you may choose any of them!" The Arcane Servant's voice carried no emotion.
"No need. Let's keep going up!" Karin replied evenly.
Although the training rooms provided by the family were well equipped, there was an eighth-circle mage on the very top floor, after all. If he noticed Kalin communicating with the All-Knowing Eye, that would be trouble!
"Very well, please follow me... The third floor of Sunfury Spire serves as a marketplace for Novice Mages. Family members can buy magical materials needed for enchanting, alchemy, conjuration spells, and so on here at reduced prices. If you acquire any rare materials, you can also sell them to the family here!"
"This is a pretty good place!" Karin murmured to himself. It seemed he might visit this floor more often in the future!
"Now we will go to the fourth floor... The fourth through sixth floors house the library for low-ranking mages. Here, you can find books describing any spell from the Zero Ring through Fifth Ring. Of course, I personally advise you not to venture onto the fifth or sixth floors yet, Mr. Karin. The contents of the books there are far too advanced for you!"
"A library..." Karin nodded. "What about farther up?"
"Only mages of the Third Ring or above may enter the seventh floor and higher. I'm sorry, Mr. Karin, but you do not meet that requirement!"
"All right, I'll browse around here. You can leave now!" Karin said as he took two steps forward.
"Very well, Mr. Karin. It was an honor to serve you. I will take my leave!" The Arcane Servant bowed to Karin and quickly disappeared from sight!