Esdras didn't show any change in his expression, he had naturally prepared for this eventuality when he decided to breakthrough back then.
"Yes, we were very lucky. In our most desperate hour we managed to advance. Although I am unsure about the details, is it really that hard?"
He innocently asked, as if he did not know just how rare and difficult it was to do something like this without any help or guidance.
"We did end up using a few mana stones, though."
"Oh? You had mana stones on you despite being an apprentice?" Meeralah asked sounding interested.
"Well, you may not know this, but I am the heir to a noble house, a Viscount to be exact. So I was fortunate to have some on me. I was planning to use them later on after advancing as a message to trade for a magic item, but…"
"Hmm, I see that makes sense, then. Which kingdom do you belong to?"
"The Kazzat kingdom."
"Very good, it's from Yorick's side then? It's been doing well recently."
The Yorick she mentioned was a councilman, he was the sub-tower master of the tower of secrets and the Kazzat kingdom was under his jurisdiction.
"I am very glad to see the new generation having two capable youngsters like you two, of course the others have also proven themselves enough. The crimson tower is lucky this time around."
'Hm?!'
Esdras frowned, she didn't say the Octarine tower but the crimson tower? She was trying to rope them in to her faction without giving them the chance to refuse.
It was after passing the Rite of passage that mages-to-be went on to different ways according to the invitations or their own interests.
The more talented, the more choice you had. For especially talented individuals like the newly rising Edwinn Ademar, it was said that the different factions almost went into war to have him.
Esdras and Celine were bound to have the similar treatment at least, so the options they had were many.
There was a good reason why Esdras didn't want to join the crimson faction; it was weak.
It was simple, the Master mage lady Sera who was supposed to preside over the crimson tower was missing for the last forty years. She happened to be Meeralah's master.
Of course, she was alive as the Octarine tower had ways to confirm that but she was missing without any contact at all.
Master mages had long lifespans and were known to go into seclusion to meditate and conduct long-term experiments but there was still regular contact.
They needed materials and food and such, although it's called 'seclusion' it's not to the point of completely cutting off contact.
Moreover no one knew where she was, she was missing, Meeralah and some of her fellow disciples were searching for her everywhere.
Over time the fact that the central figure along with some of the disciples going far away to look for her made the crimson faction lose a great amount of power and influence within the Octarine tower.
Esdras would prefer to join one of the other towers for that reason. He had to find places better suited to help him not just the other way around. One could even say joining the crimson tower might hold him back.
Obviously, the crimson tower still held sway and no one would dare to go too far, after all, Sera was still alive, so it was holding on fine, especially thanks to Meeralah taking charge when most of her fellow apprentices were searching of her master.
Nonetheless, this remains uncertain, after all, maybe the crimson tower will offer better conditions than the other towers for that exact reason.
So, he was not in a hurry to choose but Meeralah seemed in a hurry to rope him in.
"Well… it's too early to say…"
"Don't rush to refuse, as long as you join us, you will get the best treatment possible."
She didn't get the hint!
"Um, actually I already promised to join the brown tower!"
Suddenly Celine intervened and shouted, then she realized her outburst was rude and bowed quickly.
"It's fine, it's fine."
Unexpectedly the Great mage waved her hand in disinterest, "they already talked to me about it, it's done already. Rather… I'm more interested in him."
Esdras, did remember that Celine once told him that she was recruited by the brown tower. He wasn't sure how that was going to work yet.
Saying that she smiled slightly and her eyes fixed on him, she giggled, "think about it, I can get you access to whatever position you want, within reason of course but you will get promoted in a few years, if you do well I might think about taking you as my apprentice."
Esdras looked excited and moved on the outside but in his mind he cursed her a hundred times! She was taking a higher position as if he was the one who needed her, it's the other way around!
Esdras knew his own worth, he was not just a dual elemental mage, he had all four elements! And the divine shard on top of that. The only person he would take as master was a Mater mage if not then he could just stay by himself.
He was doing fine already.
Esdras and the rest were then dismissed and then they joined up in his room.
"Wow, did you see how beautiful she was? I thought I was meeting a goddess for real."
David and Esdras snickered with evil grins, Celine snorted and rolled her eyes.
"That's because she's a Great mage, her looks were enhanced further after she advanced. I bet she wouldn't look as good without her magic."
"I agree, I think you will look even better than her." Esdras quickly changed sides but…
He was too late! And he chose the wrong words!
"… so, you think she's better than me?"
Suddenly the atmosphere turned cold.
'That's not what I meant!'
"W-what? I meant that you are already better than her, but you will look even better when you advance again…"
A nock on the door alerted them.
"Hey, can I come in?" It was the prince.
Esdras hurriedly opened the door and the prince entered, he was in a fresh white military outfit, lined with golden threads and the back had the silhouette of the flag of Elbrim.
A warrior riding a dragon.
"Here you are, did you rest enough?"
"Not entirely, but it has been much better than the wilderness."
"Good, good. I just came to give you these passes for the library, any time you want to go, you don't have to worry about and procedures. You can use them for as long as you stay here."
The prince handed them several coins, they were not real coins but they were engraved with the word 'library'.
The prince left.
"Hey, David did you eat all the honey cakes I sent you?" Esdras asked.
"I just ate one of them, five is too much don't you think? Why did you do that anyway? It's like you to nice for no reason." David was very rude and didn't understand his good intentions.
"Just one? I want you to eat so you can grow fat and save your life! You have to get fat soon or it might be too late for you."
"What's wrong with you? Why would I want to be fat?"
"Tsk, if you want to survive you have to become my fat comedic friend or you won't make it!"
"Why are you obsessed with making me fat? If you want a fat friend just look for one!"
"You don't know anything! What's wrong with being fat? You will make it to the end if you're fat, trust me!"
"I will go to sleep…"
Esdras shook his head at this, how could his hard work be so easily neglected?
Although everyone is as exhausted inclined Esdras he still went to the library and borrowed three books. These books documented many events in the age of myth.
One of them, especially talked about the Elven culture and the differences between them and the rest of the races.
The last book was the smallest, and had the vaguest information, it talked about Elven magic.
Many of the spells and general knowledge of magic today was derived from elven magic. However, the immortal empire which was supposed to have inherited the most a lot of knowledge regarding the Elven magic, had scarce knowledge of it.
And even that was lost after the destruction of the fall of the empire, during that time, an unbelievable struggle for power ensued, and that led to the eventual destruction of the empire.
Whatever information they had about, the elves was buried in an age of welfare at civil strife eventually that civilization was destroyed in a slow and agonizing manner.
When things stabilized at last it was already too late almost everything from that era was lost.
Of course, large scale movements to on earth, the lost arts started later on, but the findings were always very rare and often incomprehensible, besides being costly.
This made it that it became unpopular. After all who had that much money to spend on a project that's so uncertain?
However, from time to time these ruins produced awesome results having Elven items buried there, so they were still very attractive to mages.
The Elven, culture of the time was very distorted, however, what was certain was that the elves used a different kind of magic. How different? It was hard to tell.
Several days later, Esdras discovered a very interesting passage within one of these books.
Updated from fr𝒆ewebnov𝒆l.(c)om