*
〈 Chapter 320: Ashen Tower (3) 〉
*
“Turns out, this really isn’t much.”
With all the intel extracted, Raniel clicked her tongue, disappointed. The information she hoped to find from the Dark Mage Jakel wasn’t available.
‘It’s not particularly related to the Ashen Tower either.’
Nor is it connected to the recovery of Krenbel Elenoa.
Naturally, it has nothing to do with the Ashen Tower.
The ongoing happenings here also didn’t stray far from what Raniel had predicted. The captured individuals were offered as sacrifices to enhance mana—truly a classic Dark Mage move.
‘So predictable···.’
It was almost deflating.
Though it felt a bit too contrived for a coincidence, she had originally latched onto the suspicion based solely on intuition, so what could she say?
“Sigh.”
Raniel exhaled and ruffled her hair. She felt like she was missing something significant, but couldn’t grasp what it was.
Smack…
Randomly licking her lips, Raniel let her gaze drift. Casting a sidelong glance at the former Dark Mage Jakel, she recalled his last words.
“The Prophet has foretold!”
He said.
“One day, someone with one eye dyed black will appear; it will be a signal sent by me. Wait for that day…!”
The Prophet had sent them a premonition.
“To you, the great Rania! I sincerely apologize for not knowing your true identity, but that’s really all I know!”
The Prophet.
Probably the one who guided these individuals, the central figure.
“The Prophet, huh.”
Raniel muttered to herself.
The term “Prophet” sounded familiar somehow. It was something she had heard a while ago. As she rummaged through her memories, one incident resurfaced from the past.
An event overshadowed by a larger occurrence.
“Oh.”
Raniel snapped her fingers.
“The Fallen Teaching Assistant.”
A teaching assistant under Mackhart had betrayed and attacked Apuria—a betrayal that made some odd sense. However, shortly after, the ancient lich Skebal attacked Apuria, and that event had completely slipped from Raniel’s memory.
‘Now that I think about it…’
That traitor had also mentioned ‘the Prophet,’ hadn’t he? So what’s the deal with this Prophet? Attempting to dig deeper into the matter, it seemed there was no more information to uncover, as no matter how much she probed, the answers remained unchanged.
Tsk.
Raniel clicked her tongue briefly.
“Pathetic lot. Why refuse to spill the beans when it’s clear it’ll come out anyway?”
So tedious.
Muttering, she turned her head and met Kalt’s gaze. Kalt watched her with a rather perplexing look, and Raniel casually remarked,
“What? Do you have something to say?”
“No, it’s just… typical of a senior like you.”
Kalt replied with a slightly sour expression.
“Beating me until I address you formally, beating me until I use honorifics, and beating me until I repeat the same answer three times…”
Thump, thump, thump.
“Impressive, truly.”
“I guess I’m a bit impressive.”
“Ah, yes…”
He was doing that textbook thing where he’d just beat you enough to keep you alive. Kalt felt a sense of helplessness as Raniel, noticing his discomfort, asked bluntly,
“But this seems like good interrogating, right?”
Interrogating?
Kalt snorted with laughter, questioning her.
“Did you mean torture instead?”
“Do you want to be tortured?”
“······”
“What.”
“… No, I was just considering whether it might be nice to head out soon. The air is stuffy, and the atmosphere is dreary; this isn’t a place to linger, is it?”
“Oh.”
Raniel smiled.
“What a coincidence. I was just thinking the same.”
Kalt swallowed his tears inwardly.
Despite having reached a superhuman level and holding the honorable title of Guarder, his tasks hadn’t changed significantly. After all, how could they?
‘If the boss doesn’t change, there’s no way it would.’
A Mage who could take down superhumans with bare hands.
When weighing good or evil, one might say he leans towards good(?), but his nature is not exactly gentle, as he’s quite the grumpy Mage.
“Let’s move.”
Casting a glance at his superior, who had become an archetype of an old kook before even turning thirty, Kalt swallowed his tears.
2.
Days passed.
After much deliberation, Raniel decided to visit the Ashen Tower.
Even though there were plenty of unknowns regarding prophets, it was still something to celebrate that the Elder had risen from his sickbed.
‘Personally, I’d like to meet him as well.’
To think she had received so much from the Elder.
The trust, the expectations, and the advice he had given.
In truth, Krenbel Elenoa was like a benefactor and teacher to her. If Rosel had been her master in magical studies (???), then she learned the mindset befitting a Master of the Tower from Krenbel.
“… A truly respectable person.”
Muttering this, Raniel continued walking.
The moment she stepped into the lobby of the Tower, she sensed that the atmosphere there had changed significantly since her last visit.
Back then, it had felt chaotic, as if everything was just starting to be managed…
‘Now it seems organized.’
The expressions, voices, and movements of the roaming Mages communicated the mood of the Tower. In Raniel’s eyes, the atmosphere of the Ashen Tower felt strongly organized.
“Oh, Professor Rania.”
Raniel turned her head.
There was Resti, flapping her future Master of the Tower robe. Raniel observed the looks of other Mages as they regarded Resti.
During her last visit, fear had been discernible on their faces. But this time, a sense of respect was evident. They didn’t look upon her as a dictatorial ruler but as a leader guiding them.
This signified that Resti had gained complete recognition from the Mages and was effectively carrying out her duties as the future Master of the Ashen Tower.
‘How impressive.’
Raniel felt joy knowing that her junior and disciple was doing well. Naturally, her expression softened. With a gentle smile, Raniel waved her hand.
“Hello, Resti.”
“Yes. I heard about your visit. You’re here to see the Elder…”
“Yep. My brother had something he wanted me to pass on.”
Everyone knew about the connection between the Ashen Mage and Rania van Trias. Declaring her position as an official successor meant Raniel now had several excuses to use.
‘Selling my name a bit, though…’
But who cares? It’s still my name, after all.
Raniel brazenly continued speaking.
“I owe a lot to the Elder.”
“The Ashen Mage, huh?”
“Yep. Quite a bit. My brother said he was a great man… someone truly deserving of respect.”
“Is that so?”
Though it was praise directed at the Elder, Resti beamed as if she had been complimented herself.
“I’ll show you the way.”
As Resti began walking ahead, Raniel quietly watched her back. Usually, Resti seemed like a calm and collected Mage, but seeing her now…
‘Still a kid after all.’
The feeling was very much that of a child.
Resti’s steps radiated an undeniable joy. With each light step, a smile peeked through her lilac hair, reflecting pure excitement.
Her emotions were clearly getting the better of her.
Well, it was understandable.
For Raniel, he was like a mentor, while for Resti, he was the Elder. Imagining how she’d react if her teacher experienced something similar and awoke from the sickbed after many years, Raniel pondered.
‘… Probably not all that different.’
She would be overjoyed. Like a little child.
She would probably have an itch to share all the past stories. Indeed, Resti was fidgeting with her lips as if she felt the same. This sight made Raniel chuckle softly.
It was a good thing.
She would be rewarded for her efforts.
In the end, it was undeniable that Resti had worked so hard to show the Elder.
After what felt like quite a while, they finally arrived at the Elder’s office.
*
It had been a substantial amount of time since the Elder regained consciousness, and Resti found joy in each passing day. It felt as if all the strife she had gone through was being rewarded.
“That happened, huh?”
“You must have gone through a lot. Endured much hardship.”
“Well done, Resti.”
Each time she recounted her experiences, the Elder would smile warmly. Sometimes, he would widen his eyes in surprise, and genuinely praise her, gently ruffling her hair. That touch was dearly cherished by Resti.
“I didn’t realize you had grown so much.”
“Do you dislike being petted? If you do, feel free to say so. It’s just that everything’s changed so much that it’s hard for me to adjust.”
Whenever the Elder appeared awkward and attempted to withdraw his hand, Resti would vigorously shake her head. How could she dislike that? She had waited years for this day.
Every day was delightful.
The struggles she had faced, the days she had been dismissed by the Elders, yet never gave up, all felt like they were finally being rewarded, keeping a smile on Resti’s face. Perhaps this was her true nature.
Bright, energetic, and talkative.
After a long time forgetful of herself, Resti let out her excitement.
“Elder! We have a guest!”
Calling out, she heard a reply from inside the office.
It was an invitation to enter, and Resti opened the door, stepping inside alongside Rania.
“This is Professor Rania from the Apuria Academy, who teaches me…”
Pointing at Rania standing next to her, Resti continued explaining.
“And this is Rania van Trias, the formal successor of the Ashen Mage, who carries on the legacy of the great Krenbel Elenoa.”
“Wow,” the Elder exclaimed with a brief gasp.
“Seems we’ve had a rare guest today.”
He tried to rise but winced, leaning back against the chair instead.
“I’ve heard from Resti. You’ve taught her many things in my stead? Thank you.”
With a smile, he extended his hand to Rania.
Rania slightly bowed her head and took the Elder’s offered hand. In that moment, a shiver ran through her body.
“What’s wrong?”
“… It’s nothing.”
Rania shook her head and opened her mouth.
“I’ve heard much about the Ashen Mage. I’m Rania van Trias. It’s an honor to meet the Elder of Ashen.”
“Heard you were bestowed a title by the Mage of Ancient Dragons, Resti has bragged about you quite a bit. I’ve heard a lot about you as well.”
With an amiable smile, the Elder nodded.
“That friend Rania has raised you well. Even in retirement, she remains a treasure of the Ashen.”
“Thank you.”
“You seem to take your teacher’s praise as if it were your own, don’t you? Such a polite young lady.”
As the Elder chuckled heartily, Rania slightly bowed her head in gratitude. When she lifted her gaze again, she was not looking at the Elder.
“…”
Silently, she looked at Resti.
The look she directed at Resti, not the Elder, was filled with confusion. She slightly bent down to whisper into Resti’s ear.
“Do you see it?”
“Yes?”
Resti blinked in disbelief.
Rania asked again.
“Do you see it?”
The tone of Rania’s whisper was different from usual. It wasn’t soft nor was it the stern tone of someone teaching. It was a chilling voice.
“What do you mean, ‘do you see it’…”
“… No, never mind.”
Rania trailed off.
Resti could not comprehend the situation and glanced at Rania’s face, noticing that she was biting her lip tightly.
“Resti.”
Finally, Rania called her name.
At the sound, Resti slowly nodded her head.
“Yes?”
“I have something private to discuss with the Elder, may we have a moment alone?”
“Ah, yes. Of course…”
Rania smiled, thanking her.
Resti blinked and then quickly exited the office. Just as she was about to close the door, she caught a glimpse of Rania’s back.
‘… Gloves?’
Her hands, which were bare just moments ago, now wore gloves. As Rania pulled them further on, she approached the Elder. Resti felt an inexplicable dread.
Thud.
An unusually heavy sound echoed.
The closed door did not open again.
3.
“Elder.”
I began to speak.
My voice trembled slightly, but it couldn’t be helped. My heart was beating wildly.
“I’d like to ask for a favor.”
“Hmm? Feel free to say anything. As Resti’s benefactor, I should gladly oblige.”
The Elder offered a warm smile.
That smile was genuine. He would likely make every effort to grant whatever I said, knowing that fact I took a breath to steady myself.
Inhale.
I firmly grasped the left hand that had just shaken hands with him, pressing it against my chest.
Thump, thump, thump.
My heart raced.
“It’s not a difficult request.”
I clenched my fist.
“Please turn your body, close your eyes, and cover your ears.”
“…Suddenly?”
“Yes.”
“Something like this should be fine…”
The Elder covered his ears and closed his eyes.
After confirming his body had turned away, I loosened my front.
The circuits engraved into my chest began to make a distinct whirring noise, crackling as they resonated.
Whirr…
The circuits quaked.
The trembling circuits ignited warmth within me. As cold sweat trickled down my back, I closed my eyes and then opened them. A vibrant blue shimmer mixed with ash danced in my eyes.
My vision sharpened.
What was once obscured now revealed itself.
Though I didn’t possess sight as keen as Resti, and couldn’t uncover all secrets… my eyes here saw one thing clearly.
Glance.
I observed the Elder’s heart turned away.
Inside the Elder’s heart, a black sludge ebbed. Spreading from the heart, it reached the Elder’s brain. When I confirmed this, I became convinced.
The Elder was cursed.
He was afflicted with something as serious as mine, or perhaps even worse.
“How on earth…?”
I mumbled.
“How are you still alive?”
The Elder slowly brought down his arm, which had been covering his ears.
“Well…”
Although his eyes were closed, he seemed to have kept his ears open, and slowly turned to face me.
“I’m living because I can’t die.”
With that, the Elder opened his previously closed eyes.
One of them was dyed black.
*
