Keli, who had been standing behind Saul the whole ti, suddenly reached out like lightning and gave the back of Saul’s waist a sharp twist.
“Hiss…”
It was the sound of a quick, sharp intake of breath through clenched teeth.
Saul instantly understood. Keli was reminding him to choose his words carefully.
If he spoke too modestly, they might assu he was just being humble and forcefully drag him into the group. If he ca off too arrogant, he might end up offending Rocky, who had invited him in front of everyone.
In that split second, three or four possible excuses flashed through Saul’s mind.
Thanks to the diary’s long-term training, he quickly chose the most appropriate one.
Just as Saul was about to open his mouth, a low, hoarse voice rang out from behind the crowd.
“Testing’s done, now scram. What are you all loitering around for? Got nothing better to do?”
Everyone turned their heads quickly—it was ntor Kaz.
Weren’t the ntors all supposed to be busy?
Lokai's eye twitched.
Kaz’s gaze swept past the crowd of pale mushrooms and landed squarely on Saul at the center. “Saul, co with .”
“Yes, ntor!” Saul responded loudly. As he passed Rocky, he gave him an apologetic smile before walking away at a brisk pace.
With Kaz leading the way, they walked toward the ramp on the tenth level and kept going upward.
They passed the fifteenth level and reached the sixteenth.
Saul’s eyelid twitched.
The sixteenth and seventeenth levels were where the ntors lived!
He had only ever been to the fifteenth level—Kaz’s lab.
“ntor, where are we going?” Saul asked, already forming a guess. Could it be that Kaz knew he had passed the test in first place and was taking him to see Big Pink?
“To et a ntor. You probably haven’t seen them before—ntor Rum, who specializes in water and light magic.”
What?
Saul’s heart imdiately skipped a beat.
So they say: you beat up the junior, and now the elder cos knocking.
He had just learned this ntor’s na, and now they’d already shown up?
“ntor, why are we going to see ntor Rum?” Saul asked cautiously.
“What do you think?” Kaz replied without turning his head.
Saul looked at Kaz’s aged figure ahead.
Could it be Kaz was stepping in to smooth things over for him? To prevent Rum from taking revenge later?
Or… was Big Pink pulling strings behind the scenes?
So when Big Pink said “you’re already strong enough,” he really ant, “go for it—I’ve got your back”?
That thought made Saul’s heart start thumping wildly again, a boldness not his own surging inside him.
As they rounded a corner of the ramp and were about to enter the sixteenth level, two people suddenly ca walking down from the level above.
Kaz and Saul paused at the intersection.
Leading the pair was a woman with shoulder-length golden hair and sharp, striking features, appearing to be in her mid-to-late twenties.
She wore a set of half-armor decorated with interwoven gold and white patterns. A court rapier hung at her waist, and her long boots had tallic tips that clacked with every step.
Saul keenly noticed that as the woman approached, Kaz flinched slightly.
An old acquaintance? An archrival?
Before Saul could think further, the second person ca into view.
This one wore a reddish-brown cloak, the hood pulled low, revealing only a pink chin.
The rest of their body was hidden beneath the cloak, save for a glimpse of a black shoe tip as they walked.
A pink chin…
Saul instantly knew who the second person was!
But his first reaction was to lower his head and step aside, even hiding slightly behind Kaz.
Kaz obligingly moved to shield part of Saul’s body.
As the pair passed by, Kaz bowed deeply.
“Tower Master, Lady Kira.”
To warrant a ninety-degree bow from a true wizard, the person had to at least be a Second Rank wizard—or soone of equal standing.
Saul also bowed deeply.
He had intended to stay bowed until the pair passed, but the tal-tipped boots stopped right in front of Kaz.
“So many years, and you’ve made no progress at all,” said the woman, her voice rasping. “Are you even trying to do your job?”
This ti, Saul clearly saw Kaz’s arm tremble.
His ntor… was afraid.
Standing right beside Kaz, Saul felt no pressure from the woman, but he still pressed his chin tight against his collar.
In the quiet hallway, Saul heard the man behind the woman chuckle. “Kira, you’re ddling a bit much.”
That voice—it was Big Pink!
Saul remained bowed respectfully, but his mind raced: So Big Pink really is the Tower Master! Can he tell I’m haunted by a vengeful spirit? Will he help ?
Still, Saul made sure not to move an inch. I’ll wait for the Tower Master’s instructions and pretend I don’t know him. If even Senior Byron can’t help get rid of the spirit, then I’ll…
Kaz clearly feared the Tower Master. As for Saul—he didn’t even have the right to speak here.
But the woman, Kira, was clearly different.
She tossed her head and glared at the Tower Master. “All these years, and you lot haven’t made any progress! Gorsa, I’ve already reached Second Rank. Once I catch up to you, I’m taking her away.”
Tower Master Gorsa didn’t get angry. He simply walked past Kira, leaving behind a breezy remark:
“Catch up to first, then we’ll talk.”
Kira snorted and quickly followed. Their figures soon disappeared around the bend.
Kaz finally straightened up, his chest visibly rising and falling for a while.
Saul turned to look in the direction the two had gone, slowly straightening as well.
“ntor, so that was the Tower Master. That’s the first ti I’ve seen him.”
Kaz had cald down. He glanced at Saul with a aningful look. “Yes. Most people rarely see the Tower Master. Let’s go.”
Saul had wanted to ask who the woman was, but figured Kaz wouldn’t tell him anyway.
They continued deeper into the sixteenth level.
Halfway down the corridor, Kaz suddenly stopped again and turned to Saul, speaking in a low voice.
“If you ever encounter the Tower Master, you must always remain completely respectful. Don’t mistake his gentle temperant for tolerance. Understand—he doesn’t lose his temper not because he can’t, but because he doesn’t need to.”
ntor Kaz is warning ! Saul instantly understood.
So Kaz did know sothing—at least part of the truth—about Big Pink.
Big Pink was the Tower Master.
From now on, Saul would have to refer to him as Tower Master.
“I understand. Thank you, ntor,” Saul replied softly.
Kaz was satisfied with Saul’s earnest attitude—no false bravado.
The ntors’ quarters occupied two entire levels of the Tower.
Even though the upper floors were smaller than the base, the rooms were still massive.
The sixteenth floor had no luxurious decorations—no runes or magical arrays. Even the spacing of the torches and servant quarters was identical to the lower levels.
Saul had expected to see sothing more mystical here, but it was as clean and plain as his own dorm room.
They continued forward until Kaz stopped in front of a massive three-ter-wide door.
The door was nearly as wide as the hallway and designed as a folding door, not a push-pull one.
Saul couldn’t help but think, Whoever needs a door like this must be huge. Could ntor Rum be… a fat guy?
In front of the folding door stood three others besides Kaz and Saul.
They were all golden-haired, blue-eyed, striking young n and won, dressed in identical robes and each wearing a Second Rank apprentice badge in the sa spot on their chest.
As Kaz approached, the trio simultaneously turned to the left, bowed in perfect sync, sa angle, sa pace.
Kaz nodded slightly.
They rose together, turned back in unison, and resud standing silently.
Here we go, here we go!
(End of Chapter)
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