Chapter 51

EP.51 Restia Elenoa (2)

Suddenly, an old memory surfaced.

The memory began with a question.

"What are the elders of the tower?"

"Yes."

There was a time when I asked my teacher such a question.

Recalling the trigger was not difficult.

'It was when the elders were being particularly troublesome.'

I disliked the elders of the tower. Especially, the elders when I ascended to the position of the next tower master.

"What makes those old farts think they can lecture me...?"

So, this must have been a question I asked when I had just taken office as the next tower master.

'What did my teacher answer to that question?'

Perhaps.

"Raniel, first of all, I am an elder too."

"Of course, I meant the other elders, not you, teacher."

"Hmm... ."

I remember it was a slightly different story from what I asked.

At that time, my teacher had me sit on the sofa and started the conversation.

"First, Raniel, let me correct one thing."

"What?"

"It's not a new thing for the elders to be particularly picky with the next tower master. Since the construction of the Ashen Tower, no one except the first tower master, Armiel, has received the support of all six elders."

That's what my teacher said.

"It's not that your background is the problem. The elders basically think that the tower master is unnecessary."

"Why?"

"There's a reason for that. Raniel, do you know the characteristics of the Ashen Tower?"

"Well... there's no fixed school of magic, right?"

"Yes, the Ashen Tower has no fixed school of magic. It started with the aim of restoring the magic of the kingdom that had turned to ashes."

The story continued with a sigh.

"For example, the black faction studies spell inscription, and the white faction studies elemental spells. Usually, a tower decides on a single theme and starts its research. However, the Ashen Tower is different."

My teacher spread out two fingers.

"This has both advantages and disadvantages. The advantage is that we don't discriminate against mages, so each individual's ability is outstanding... ."

"The disadvantage is that everyone works separately."

"Yes, that's correct. That's the first characteristic of the Ashen Tower."

My teacher folded the remaining finger.

"The second characteristic is that the unruly mages are divided into six factions for management. These are the elders of the tower that you call 'old farts.'"

"Ah... ."

"Do you understand now? It's natural for the elders to be wary of the tower master. If a mage from a specific faction becomes the tower master... the balance among the six factions will be disrupted."

I nodded, and my teacher smiled bitterly.

"Of course, I don't intend to use you to strengthen my faction. To begin with, I am quite skeptical about factional struggles. What qualifications do I have to manage young mages? All I can offer is advice."

It's a funny thing.

My teacher stood up from the seat.

"So, until now, the tower masters have been selected through battles among the factions... ."

"..."

"But you are different, Raniel."

My teacher approached me.

"The elder recommended you personally. He said that you could unite the six factions. This is the first time such a thing has happened."

My teacher placed a hand on my shoulder.

"We saw potential in you."

A weight that was neither light nor heavy. The hand on my shoulder tapped a few times with a moderate weight.

"Have confidence."

"But the elders... ."

"The elders... Well, it's a bit funny for me to say this as an elder... ."

My teacher said with a smile.

"The elders are just dregs."

The dregs left after the broth has been boiled and all the good stuff has been extracted. Things that have nothing left to give.

My teacher described the elders like that.

"Don't be swayed by their words, Raniel."

Saying this, my teacher grabbed my shoulder.

Then, my teacher tore off the emblem from his robe.

-Rip.

I remember that gesture.

"The elders, including me, are already retired from the front lines."

The emblem pinned to my chest.

I still remember the warmth of the emblem.

"When they mock you, mock them back. If they criticize my achievements, you should criticize theirs and bring them down."

Thinking of these words, I opened my eyes.

When I opened my eyes, the first thing I saw was the emblem pinned to my chest.

I looked away from the emblem.

I lifted my head and looked straight ahead.

There sat an old man.

His face was familiar.

"Rania von Trias."

He called my name. My name, which had changed from before, was pronounced by the old man.

I know him. I couldn't not know him.

'Jileon.'

The oldest elder of the tower.

My eyes naturally narrowed as I looked at the old man.

2.

The position of elder in the Ashen Tower is very convenient.

Jileon knows him.

And, he knows how to use his position.

Jileon rented the entire cafe and sent the owner outside for a while. In the cafe where only the two of them were left, Jileon finished his story.

'I don't reveal everything.'

He only mentioned the information that would help the story. For now, that was enough. What Jileon was proposing was something that any mage would covet.

'The opportunity to become the master of the Ashen Tower.'

There would be no mage who wouldn't be tempted by this.

Confident of this, Jileon extended what he had prepared.

"This is the recommendation letter."

He placed a black letter on the table.

The letter bore the emblem of the Ashen Tower.

'The recommendation letter for the next tower master.'

While other elders easily wasted their recommendation letters, Jileon had saved this one for such an opportunity.

"My recommendation letter, Jileon's."

Jileon emphasized this and leaned back.

'Now that I've put this recommendation letter on the table, there's no need for further words.'

It was a valuable item.

Jileon thought so.

However, after a long while, there was no response.

"Hmm."

Jileon cleared his throat and narrowed his eyes.

He glared at the girl sitting in front of him.

Rustle.

Ashen hair flowed down her shoulder.

The blue eyes hidden behind her long lashes did not look at Jileon.

"..."

She was looking at the dregs at the bottom of her coffee cup. Or perhaps, she was looking at something even further away.

'...An inscrutable expression.'

That was the girl's expression.

It was impossible to guess what she was thinking. There were too many things that could be on her mind.

Among them, the most concerning was.

'She's not even looking at it.'

The fact that the girl wasn't even looking at the recommendation letter hurt Jileon's pride.

'What has she been looking at this whole time?'

The girl's gaze was fixed on the dregs at the bottom of her coffee cup.

"..."

He was puzzled by this.

Any mage would know the value of this recommendation letter. Especially, someone involved with the Ashen Tower.

'If she grew up under Elder Roselle, she should know the value of this position, right? Did she not hear the story?'

The hand holding his cane tightened.

"Huh... ."

Jileon took a short breath.

Then, he swallowed his pride and spoke again.