Right on ti, Mr. Roth, Professor Jules said.
The slight, white-haired professor was standing outside the registrar's office holding a bulging satchel.
Morning, professor, Alex said. Did you sleep well?
Well enough, all things considered, she said wearily. Now, then, shall we proceed?
Whenever youre ready, Alex said, frowning. Whats the protocol for giving soone access to the ninth-floor, professor? For the other floors, all you need is a professor to sign off that you can cast that tier of spell, butas far as I knowonly Baelins powerful enough to cast ninth-tier spells, right? So, does that an hes the only one who can give permission?
It is a little more complicated than that, the professor said. The entire faculty has access to every single floor of the library, as do certain other staff mbers. However, we cannot give permission for a student to access any floor above seventh. Not on our own.
So, what happens in that case? Alex asked.
We would have to fill out a lot of paperworkand I do an a lot. Professor Jules grimaced at her satchel. And then take it to be approved by either the chancelloror in the event of his absencethe registrar. If the registrar is absent as well, then every faculty mber collectively must sign the permission docunts for the matter to move forward, but since Registrar Hobb is here, that will not be necessary. He can approve your applicationthough he might require you to show that you're capable of ninth-tier spells.
I thought that might happen, Alex said. Umhow often is this procedure used?
Very rarely. Extrely rarely, Professor Jules said. Archwizards do not exactly grow on trees, Mr. Roth, and I imagine that you could probably count the number of tis a student has beco an archwizardbefore their graduationon a single hand, in spite of our long history. You are in a very exclusive club.
Wow, Alex said. I feel honoured
Could you feel honoured inside the registrars office? She raised an eyebrow. I have been up most of the night, and I would dearly love to sit down. Besides, we have about two minutes until our appointnt begins, and if you know Registrar Hobb, youll know that he would rather us be slightly earlypreferably exactly on tirather than late, even by a second.
Oh jeez, sorry, let's get in there then.
Professor Jules knocked on the door, and Hobbs familiar voice called, Co iiiin.
Well, that doesnt sound at all sinister, Alex muttered as she opened the door.
Whenever Alex had t with Hobb, it had always been at the front desk near the main entrance of the castle. He had never been in the registrars office before.
It was smallalmost uncomfortably soand bare of decoration. Each piece of furniture was practical, and unadorned. The bookshelf to the right of the entrance was forged of solid iron and filled with leather bound tos. In front of it were two chairs, and beyond them, stood Hobbss desk piled high with mounds of paperwork.
A large window allowed sunlight to stream into the room, falling on the devils back as he hunched over his desk.
He peered up owlishly, adjusting his monocle. There you are. Almost precisely at nine in the morning. Please have a seat and I will be with you once our appointnt officially begins.
Professor Jules and Alex took their seats in front of his desk.
There was silence for a bit, only broken by Hobbs scratching pen and the ticking of a tikeeper. Alex frowned, looking around.
He found no evidence of a tikeeper anywhere.
Alright, then. The registrar put down his pen, looking up at Alex. His eyebrows rose. Your spirit has changed.
The young wizard paused. Wait, what now?
The devil watched him closely. You are still brandedbut its different now. Like baggage has been lifted. My, my. So you did it, then. Congratulations!
Oh, can you sensethe Mark? Alex asked.
Now that I know what to look for, yes, Hobb said smoothly. It's all vague, but I can tell that your soul has changed. It does not take a genius to figure out what that would an, considering your goals. Well done, young man.
He looked at Professor Jules next. So, Professor Vernia Jules, Departnt Head of Alchemy, your ergency communication stated that we are to give Mr. Roth access to the highest levels of the library. He paused, then grinned. Or should I say the lowest, considering how our library is oriented.
That's right, the professor said, handing over the paperwork.
And for what tier? Hobb asked.
Ninth.
Hobb paused, his attention returning to Alex. Do you recall our very first conversation?
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You did leave an impression, Alex admitted.
I tend to. Hobb said. I once told you that one day you might set up your own tower and bend the forces of the cosmos to your unbreakable will.
Yeah, you did say that. Alex leaned back. It feels like a lifeti ago.
Maybe a lifeti by the reckoning of mice, the devil said. But, in a mouses lifeti, you have gotten to the point where you could bend the forces of the cosmos to your unbreakable will. If what your professor is saying hasnt been exaggerated, that is. You are not lying to her, are you? There are so who try to fake skill in order to gain access to our rarest magical tos.
No, Alex shook his head quickly. I really can cast ninth-tier spells.
Hmmmm, I see. I see. Hobb took in all of Professor Jules's paperwork in a few glances.
The alchemist scoffed. If only those docunts were as quick for to fill out as they are for you to read.
Not all things can be hurried, Hobb said, finishing the stack of paperwork. Well, that's all in order. I'll have to ask you to demonstrate a ninth-tier spell for , Mr. Roth.
Alrightbut uhin here's a little cramped, Alex pointed out.
Hobb jerked his finger to the right. Over there should do nicely.
The young wizard frowned, confused. You an the bookshe His words trailed off. I should know better than to be surprised anymore.
Where the bookshelf had been only a mont before, there was now a hallway leading to a vast room beyond it. It resembled one of the Cells, but was double that size, with a complex summoning circle in the middle of the floor.
The room hadnt been there a heartbeat earlier.
Youve got so neat tricks, Alex remarked.
As do you, Hobb rose from his chair. The energy from your growing demigoddess seems capable of things that would make Chancellor Baelin jealous, eventually. And I hope that you manage to make him irritated. He sotis gets entirely too smug for his own good.
Doesn't he, though? Professor Jules agreed, rising from her chair and stepping into the testing room. Smug old goat.
That he is, Hobb said.
Uh Alex paused. I actually really like him, and I kind of think he deserves to be a little smug, to be fair. I an, I can be a little smug sotis. Even you two can be a little smug sotisand we're all powerful. So just a little smugness goes with that, you know? Just a little, as a treat.
Alright, youve made your point, Mr. Roth, Professor Jules said in a chilly tone.
Okay, okay, Ill leave it alone. He held up his hands in surrender then turned to Hobb as they neared the middle of the testing chamber. So I'm going to cast a summoning spell, but I won't need the protective circle.
I should hope not, if you're truly an archwizard, Hobb said. What will you be summoning?
So the most powerful thing I can summon is busy at the montkilling things. Probably a lot of things, for the next few days. So what I'll summon instead is an astral engel He paused, looking at Hobb questioningly, wait, that's okay, right? I an, considering
Hobbs laugh was a deep, eerie sound, running through the room. That I'm a devil? he chuckled. Why, yes. I am a devil. And a simple engeli would not be enough to curdle my essence with offence.
Alright, just wanted to be polite, Alex said, turning to the centre of the room.
Raising a hand, he chanted the incantation for the ninth-tier spell: Summon Astral Engeli.
It flowed from him with ease, and he felt holy power filling the area as a familiar presence ca down from the celestial planes.
A flash of light announced the beautiful engeli entering the room, holding his flaming sword.
Archwizard, the engeli lowered his head. I am here to serve. What evil shall we conquer next?
No evil to conquer today, Alex said. I just wanted to use your presence for a little demonstration.
The young wizard gestured to Hobb.
With a sidelong glancefollowed by a double takethe engeli recoiled from the devil.
Hobb gave the celestial a little wave. Hello.
Ugh, the engeli made a sound. An offensive presence.
I am not too fond of you either, one beneath the wheel of burning eyes. Hobb glanced at the engelis halo.
The celestial looked like he was going to respond, when Alex interrupted.
I think, uh, we can leave it at that, right? the young wizard asked. I an, that should be enough for the demonstration?
More than enough The devil looked at Alex with interest and a raised pair of eyebrows. He actually looked impressed.
Perfect, Alex said, looking at the engeli. I'll summon you again when it's more pleasant for you.
Thank you, archwizard. The engeli bowed as Alex dismissed him.
When the celestial faded, loud applause reverberated through the room. Registrar Hobb was all smilesone so broad that it almost split his face in two and showed far too many teethwhile he clapped enthusiastically.
Well done! Well done! the registrars voice thundered through the chamber. You are the third studentin all of Generasis historyto beco an archwizard before graduation! Magnificent! You should call great armies to you! Raise the curtain of magic and drive the dead from their graves! Ta a dragon and fly upon its back, devastating the world with your
Registar Hobb! Professor Jules cut-in. Will you stop trying to influence the students in worthlessness! The ti of necromancer-warlordspettily squabbling over petty fiefsis long gone. Try not to ruin Mr. Roth: the old goat is a bad enough influence as it is!
I am simply trying to A look crossed Hobbs face, one that said more than his words. Oh, never mind. Either way, congratulations, Mr. Roth. Please give your student card.
Alex fished it out, giving the card to the devil.
In a tongue of devilsa very old tongueHobb waved a hand over it. Letthis one know the full knowledge of our institution. Let its full power be at his beck and call.
The identification card flashed once.
When the light faded, it had turned to sparkling crystal.
Its not too often that Ive had the opportunity to issue one of these, Hobb said, handing the card back.
Let guess, only the third ti ever, right? Alex asked.
Why, yes, Hobb chuckled. Either way, welco to the ranks of those with grand, cosmic power. You might think that this is the end of your journey, but understand that it will be a beginning. It will be differentprobably much slowerbut Baelin has never stopped his ascension to higher tiers of understanding. Will you?
No way Alex paused, again struck by questions about his future. Sayand you'll have to forgive , Professor Jules, but I'm curious. What were you trying to teach earlier, Hobb?
Professor Jules rolled her eyes. You are simply obsessed with the worst influences.
Hobb chuckled. He has made his choice, Professor Jules. He looked at Alex, all humour fading. What I was trying to teach youfrom one powerful being to anotheris pride.
Pride? Alex repeated.
Oh, this sounds wholeso, Professor Jules nodded.
It is not, Hobb said. Which is the point. My young archwizard, how do you feel?
Good? Alex asked.
I an, compared to how you felt when you first entered the university. Not in an emotional sense, but in a sense of your essence. Of who you are? How do you feel? Who are you?
Alex Roth, the young wizard said. And I feel the sa as I always have.
And that, my friend, will get you into trouble with creatures like myself, Hobb smiled. If you do not heed my words carefully, I doubt you will survive your next trial.
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