LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 99
Rain and Haiven offered me the most fantastic conditions, but still, I couldn’t bring myself to say I would head to the Mage Tower with them.
“What are you thinking so hard about?”
Haiven’s questioning gaze landed on me. I popped a little potato from the plate into my mouth and responded.
“I heard from Rain. The wizards in the Mage Tower have to regularly carry out missions assigned by the tower. Plus, they hardly get to go out unless it’s for a mission, right?”
“That’s true.”
“I don’t like that. I’d rather explore this world freely than be tied down somewhere.”
“I expected that answer. I’ll make it convenient for you.”
Haiven remarked lightly, as if my answer was no big deal. I tilted my head in confusion and asked, “Convenient?”
“I’ll give you a long-term mission. The duration can be up to two or three years, and I promise to select a mission that’s not too difficult. All you have to do is return to the Mage Tower just in time to show your face… a simple task.”
At Haiven’s response, Rain, sitting next to me, frowned and asked, “Is that even possible?”
“It’s just extending the mission period a little. Isn’t that normal?”
“Then why don’t you offer the same to me?”
At Rain’s question, Haiven fell silent. Rain then glared at her mentor with a look of disbelief.
I let out a small sigh and said, “I know that the conditions Haiven has presented are extraordinary. But I’m still curious.”
“What are you curious about?”
“What about me made you propose this? Have you seen me use magic before?”
“This eye can see more than you think.”
Haiven answered my question while pointing to his eye. The shapes etched inside his eye continued to rotate endlessly, even in this moment.
“What exactly is that eye?”
“It’s my perspective on the world. There’s a saying: when your viewpoint changes, the invisible becomes visible…”
“…So what do you see?”
Haiven looked up silently at my question. His gaze rested on the spot where horns would sprout. I touched my head just in case, but there were no horns.
Can Haiven’s eyes truly see my true form?
I looked at his eyes with doubt.
However, there’s no way I could easily believe his words. After all, I had revealed my true form to the magician of the Mage Tower before. Thinking back to my encounter with Leonis, I questioned Haiven.
“Did you see the information recorded by the Mage Tower?”
Haiven smiled quietly, extending his fingers. Moments later, I felt a small flow of mana, and a thin flame rose above his fingertips.
The tiny flame stretched and formed a circle, almost mimicking the circle that resides in my heart.
“C-can you see everything…?”
“Not everything. Just a vague glimpse.”
At Haiven’s words, I instinctively covered my chest and stepped back, feeling uneasy that a hidden secret of mine had been exposed.
“Do others in the Mage Tower have eyes like that?”
“This eye? That couldn’t possibly be the case…”
Haiven chuckled lightly at my question.
“What is it…? What can you see? Please tell me too…!”
It was Rain’s question, watching the scene with a sense of exclusion, feeling left out. However, Haiven ignored his disciple’s question and turned to me.
“Have you made your decision?”
After a long pause, I cautiously asked Haiven, “To be honest, I still have doubts. What benefit does Haiven gain from going this far?”
“If I said it’s a favor without a price, would you believe it?”
“No.”
At my firm answer, Haiven smiled slightly and continued.
“There’s one thing. One thing I want. For you to become my disciple.”
“Disciple…?”
“Of course, you can just be listed on paper. I’d be happy to teach you my magic if you want.”
“When I become your disciple, what will you gain?”
“Honor.”
In Haiven’s gaze lay a conviction that bordered on belief. It seemed he really thought that if I entered the Mage Tower, I would indeed be able to build a new tower. I slightly avoided his gaze and replied.
If I could bear a bit of annoyance, it wasn’t a bad proposition. With the name of the Mage Tower backing me, my future travels would surely become much more convenient.
“Could you give me some time to think…?”
“Of course. Are you planning to stay at this inn?”
“Well, yes…”
“I’ll book the room next door.”
“Are you saying you’ll keep an eye on me so I can’t escape?”
“Why would you say something so hurtful…? I just want to get closer.”
About two days passed since then. While I occasionally ran into Haiven and Rain going back and forth in the inn, neither mentioned the Mage Tower.
Instead, Rain frequently came to me, asking about everything I had been through. She seemed more interested in my adventures than in dragging me to the Mage Tower.
Late in the evening, I approached the two.
“Alright. I’ll go to the Mage Tower.”
*
“That’s good to hear.”
I set off with the two magicians, leaving the city behind. Haiven looked at the Nightmare I was riding with pure awe.
“Is that a real horse…?”
Rain seemed equally astonished.
I cautiously opened my mouth, gauging their reactions.
“Um, Haiven?”
“What is it?”
“Do we have to walk all the way to the Mage Tower?”
“Hmm, I should’ve gotten a carriage. That would have been faster.”
I regarded the two wizards with a strange look. They were just trudging along. Yes, the wizards were walking. I imagined a grand wizard and then asked Haiven.
“Is there no magic to teleport us directly to the Mage Tower?”
“You mean teleportation. I’m sorry, but it’s not possible to teleport from here to the tower.”
“Why not?”
“Because the distance is too far. Plus, it requires complex preparations, so there aren’t many who can actually use that magic.”
“Hmm…”
“You’ve met a magician who uses teleportation, right?”
I nodded at Haiven’s question, recalling my time with Leonis.
I spent the entire journey to the Mage Tower engaging in brief exchanges about magic with Haiven. I wanted to know how wizards in this world trained their powers, but he didn’t disclose the method to me.
“Why won’t you tell me? Because it’s a method you don’t need. Just have confidence in the path you’re on now.”
Haiven said. Magic is a mystery that starts from belief. A wizard is a creator who brings forth what they firmly believe into this world and writes new laws.
“Of course, not every magician can create new laws. It’s because they lack a firm belief that many wizards choose to follow already established paths.”
One month and a bit more than two weeks later, we finally reached the Mage Tower. Most of the time was consumed by the journey.
“Wow…”
I gasped at the scene unfolding before me. Huge towers towered beyond the massive walls, brushing against the clouds.
“Isn’t it impressive?”
“It’s beautiful…”
Haiven and Rain chuckled lightly at my reaction.
Beyond the giant walls, surrounded by towering spires high in the sky, large and small buildings could be seen. Inside the castle walls, a city was forming around the tower.
“Ah, hey. Is there a stable by the tower?”
As I followed Haiven and Rain, I stroked the mane of the Nightmare and asked. Haiven frowned, looking annoyed.
“There’s no stable… but I think I can prepare a place for him to rest.”
As we entered the Mage Tower, all the eyes around began to focus on us. I sensed the movement of mana behind the many gazes and looked around. Most of the people here were wizards capable of wielding mana.
Just as I was about to approach the tallest tower, Haiven turned and said to me, “Not that way.”
“Oh, is it a different tower?”
The place I arrived with Haiven was the tower at the very back. Compared to other towers, not many seemed to visit this one.
“Come on. Go inside.”
Fortunately, the entrance to the Mage Tower was spacious. It was big enough for the Nightmare to fit through.
As we stepped inside, countless gazes from wizards landed on us. They whispered to each other, watching us enter.
“Vice Tower Master…? What’s that behind you?”
“Holy smokes… Isn’t that a Hairan breed horse?”
“Did the Vice Tower Master return?”
Suddenly, Haiven, who had been walking slowly, stopped and spoke.
“Seems like everyone is free today.”
The moment Haiven’s words ended, the wizards who were whispering quickly bowed their heads and hurried away with faces as pale as a sheet.
Watching this, I cautiously asked Rain beside me, “Did Haiven really become Vice Tower Master…?”
“Yep. Didn’t you know?”
“He didn’t tell me…”
Just then, Haiven turned back, extending both hands lightly. Behind that light gesture, enormous mana began to churn, warping the surrounding space.
“This is…!”
“Let me formally greet you. Seris. Welcome to the Tower of Dawn.”
Haiven’s words quietly dispersed into the air. I focused not on his voice but on the changing environment around me.
The walls, the floor, and the ceiling were all transforming. Even the images of the wizards wandering around began to fade in hazy turmoil.
As I stood in shock, looking around, Haiven lightly laughed and said, “That’s the teleportation magic you wanted to see. So, what do you think of experiencing it directly?”
I blankly turned to look at Rain. She let out a small sigh, as if used to such situations, and threw her bag into a corner.