“If you sit here, Mr.
Ihis will come down soon.”
“Wasn’t there a prior appointment?
Does he intend to keep the Emperor waiting?”
“It's unavoidable.
We're people pressed for time, so we ask for your understanding.”
Kazan frowned at the guide's tone, which was more like a command of understanding rather than an apology.
Even if the Magic Tower was a neutral organization not affiliated with any country, wasn't this too impudent?
Especially from a guide who is not even a high-ranking official in the tower, treating the Emperor like this.
While Kazan was about to say something, Temesyan, who accompanied him, quickly intervened.
“We understand, because the date was arranged in a hurry.
We will wait and hope that it will come as soon as possible.”
Temesyan laughed and sent the guide away, then turned to Kazan, who was looking at him with a cold look, his features looking embarrassed.
“Did I not tell you, Your Majesty?
I have taken great pains to arrange this meeting.
I know you are dissatisfied, but for the sake of your loyal servant’s sake, bear with me a little.”
“We don't need to be this low.”
“This is how things are with Al-Hakim.
At least, because you were the one who asked to meet, they agreed to make time.
He is someone who would not meet anyone even if they paid millions.”
The title of Sage was not just a designation for the Master of the Magic Tower.
He is called the most powerful wizard of his time, one who transcended the limits of humanity.
Since he is a man who is not bound by status, even ordinary nobles cannot deal with him easily.
So, it was natural to make every effort to arrange a meeting with him.
“Your great majesty, who deserves to be looked down upon by all, please, with the wise...”
“Okay, come out now.
I will face the sage alone.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Temesyan hesitated for a moment, but could not disobey the emperor's order and withdrew.
The door closed quietly, and Kazan was left alone in the room.
It had been a full week since he had seen Yasiris through the crystal ball.
Just the confirmation that she was alive brought the sparkle back to his eyes.
Even if his eyes were a mixture of sharp anger and liveliness, they were not as dead as before, scanning the room with a glance.
As befits a tower master's reception room, it was filled with strange things he had never seen before.
While he pretended to guess the functions of the magical tools, his mind was somewhere else entirely.
What will I say when I meet Yassaris?
If she hates me so much, why does she love my child?
Did you think about me after she left?
What is the secret of the impact left by the griffin?
How am I going to treat her anymore?
The questions that had been running through his head for days came back to mind.
The more he dwelt, the more these questions floated, lost in search for answers he couldn't reach, consuming time like emptiness.
Knock-!
The door opened at that moment.
Small, clear steps crossed the place with a quiet sound.
“Sorry to keep a valuable guest waiting.
When I'm immersed in research, I don't feel like time has passed.”
Kazan turned his gaze to the dreamy tone, which sounded like singing or reading a fairy tale.
The first thing he noticed was the bright golden color.
Eyes exactly like the ones he saw in the crystal ball, tracing the friendly curves of a kind old man.
He did not reveal his true age, but he looked like a middle-aged man approaching old age, despite appearing to be an adult a century ago.
His long white hair hung down, covered by a purple robe decorated with geometric patterns, so it was not clear how tall he was.
He was too quiet to be considered one of the most powerful magicians on the continent, but an aura that could not be ignored was gently emanating from him.
“It is an honor to meet the wise man.”
Kazan finally spoke after his meditation ended.
He had not raised his voice to anyone since his return to his position, but the sage was worthy of respect even from the Emperor.
He didn't intend to show arrogance, especially since he came to ask something regarding Yasiris's whereabouts.
“It is an honor for me, too, to meet Emperor Ozevia directly.
So, what do you want to ask this old man?”
Ihis sat in the opposite seat exchanging words of courtesy.
His golden eyes sparkled with curiosity as he studied the Emperor.
Tinilath, a big unexpected character.
I heard he was crazy, but he didn't seem like it.
Guessing that the Emperor had come to ask for his help in finding the Empress, Ihise's face hardened at Kazan's question.
“Do you know a woman with golden eyes named Lina?”
“…Why do you ask?”
His reaction was clear that he knew her, so Kazan asked politely: “The missing empress was with her.
Tell me where I can find her.”
“What a coincidence...”
Ihis lost himself in thought, holding his short beard.
He was more astonished that the Empress, who was said to be dead, was alive, than that she was with that woman.
It can't be someone else.
Golden eyes were a unique trait to her, unless she was an “artificial” being like him.
Did you hide the empress's death and take it out?
What did she see in her?
Guessing what happened between them, Ihis asked a question instead of an answer.
“A few days ago, Duke Ozevia borrowed my crystal ball.
Have you seen the Empress and that woman through it?”
That woman?
Kazan paused for a moment when Ehis named her, but then moved past that and focused on the more important topic.
“Right.
The ball showed the Empress, and a woman named Lina was beside her.”
"This is embarrassing.
Very embarrassing."
“Is there a problem?”
“Isn't it an instrument charged with mana?
You'll think I spied, maybe I'll be punished.
Haha.”
“…Who is this woman to worry like that?”
Kazan's question was natural.
He had never heard of anyone beyond the sage, but he spoke as if there were one.
Ihis made a hesitant sound, then rubbed his chin and replied: “It’s complicated, but she is, in short, my teacher.”
“So the sage has a teacher?”
“Did you think I got here by self-education?”
Kazan responded with silence, agreeing.
Ehis, a mysterious sage of whom little is known, was supposed to have succeeded without it seeming strange.
But to have a teacher...
Kazan narrowed his eyes as he thought of the woman with golden eyes.
It was clear from her ability to penetrate the Sage's magic that she was not ordinary, but she was greater than he imagined.
This explained how she was able to completely escape the eyes of the Empire, but it was not understood why she hid Yasiris.
It doesn't appear to be a kidnapping, because she didn't demand anything from the Empire.
And if it's just help, what can Yasiris offer?
Magicians always have their interests in mind.
“Can you arrange a meeting?”
“Likyana… No, Lena will not welcome uninvited guests.
She has placed a barrier around her entire area.”
“As long as the Empress is there, I must go.”
"Sorry, but I won't cooperate.
It's not time to visit her."
“Just tell me the place.”
Ihis shook his head, dismissing the urgent request.
“Even if I told you, you wouldn’t be able to go.
No one other than a magician of my level could find her barrier and break it.”
“O wise one.”
“I have made my position clear.
Let's end this meeting...”
Sc-!
Ihis didn't finish his words.
Kazhan drew his sword threateningly.
“I ask politely again.
Help me retrieve the Empress.”
“…Do you know what to do now?”
Ihis asked, more surprised than annoyed.
This experience was new to him.
Why are weapons allowed into the Tower Master's reception room?
Because there is no one who can hurt him.
The stronger magician always holds this position.
"I know."
And Kazan knew that too.
He drew his sword even though he knew he was no match for Ihis.
But the sword was not directed at Ehis.
Rather, it was directed to…
“Crazy.”
“Yes, crazy.
So think carefully.”
A fine line of blood appeared on Kazan's neck where the sword had touched.
He didn't even blink at the drops of blood, staring at Ehis.
“If something happens to Emperor Ozevia in the Magic Tower, the losses will be great.
Wouldn’t it be better to bear your teacher’s rebuke?”