After a few days Cyril was standing near the academy gates, waiting for the rest of the students to arrive.
In his hands he was holding a necklace Myra gifted him, observing it from all angles under the sun.
We've checked it every way we could, even taken it to a master out in the city, but there really is only a barrier spell on it.
Rhamn leaned in close, her red eyes closely scanning the necklace as well.
"This can't be right. Myra really only wanted to give us something to protect ourselves with? As if! There must be a scheme."
Then we can't see through it for now.
Cyril shook his head and put the necklace back under his clothes.
There was a sound of footsteps approaching, finally someone else has arrived as well.
"Speak of the demon."
Coincidentally it was Myra, walking together with Rose.
Rose clutched an old notebook in one hand, the other half curled into a fist.
"Imagine if we can meet Calran or Moryk there? How much insight into magic can we get from just a short exchange with them?" She quietly exclaimed to Myra, who only replied with a strained smile.
Myra looks more restrained than usual. Is she actually nervous about this trip? Mused Cyril as he walked closer and greeted them.
As if finding an escape, Myra interrupted Rose's passionate speech, "Hey, Cyril. You are taking Morpho with you?"
Morpho briefly fluttered her wings in greeting, to which both Rose and Myra waved in return.
"Are you not afraid you won't be allowed in with it?"
"We'll see what happens."
Truth be told, he was wary of the fact and wanted to let Morho stay home at first. However, when the moment came, Morpho strongly resisted being left alone and used a powerful attack on him.
Under her pitiful compound eyes begging to take her with him, Cyril couldn't find the strength within himself to refuse her.
"She is an integral part of our team, we can't just leave her home."
Indeed.
Slowly other students started showing up as well.
Some stood alone to the side wearing a moody expression. Others were grouped together, occasionally sending a nervous glance towards Cyril and whispering some random gossip.
Over all this time, Cyril still hasn't remembered their names.
"I know their names. Want me to tell you? We can punish them later for gossiping behind our backs."
Rhamn threateningly raised her fist at them with her red eyes shining.
No need, they can say whatever they want.
Cyril reined in her murderous intentions, then shot her a glance.
...Why would you bother to remember their names? That doesn't seem like you.
At his thoughts a smirk appeared on Rhamn's face, and she put her hands on her hips.
"Actually, I have photographic memory. So even such useless information will be remembered with no effort."
First time I am hearing about it
"I noticed it myself only recently. It seems Ambrosia is still making us grow, it's truly exceptional."
...It really is.
At this moment he heard the sound of people complaining, slowly drawing closer to their position, and he turned his gaze toward the newcomers.
Leading the way was Richard, their professor of Spellmaking. His usual uncaring expression was tinged with a bit of helplessness.
The cause of his current state was walking behind him.
Two students were within striking distance, throwing insults at each other. Cedric tried to get in between them, acting as a mediator of sorts.
They didn't stop even when they arrived at the gates, they disregarded the looks everyone was giving them and only saw each other in their eyes.
Cedric, suddenly thinking of some idea, shot Cyril a look filled with hope.
What?
At this moment the professor joined in as well, he motioned with his head towards the two.
"I am losing more and more respect for him as a professor."
So you had some to begin with?
Cyril mused, then proceeded to completely ignore the stares asking for help.
Getting no response, Richard sighed in despair, then turned to Cedric, who shrugged his shoulders in defeat.
Only then did he start to try and calm down the argument.
"Bonzo, Regina, stop talking. I have the capability to take away your credit, and I'll use it if necessary."
One of the two troublemakers, a male student with messy hair, immediately responded, "I, Bonzo, am not scared of your feeble threats. Until this cretin understands that she has no place among the elite of class I, no force can silence me!"
This guy has quite the character.
At first, Regina, the female student with a bob cut, was deterred by the professor's warning, but hearing Bonzo's passionate words, she opened her mouth.
Unfortunately for her, Richard finally lost his patience. He cast a spell not seen before by the students. After the magic circle disappeared, Cyril heard no more noise from the two.
Regina and Bonzo were horrified to discover that they were incapable of producing any voice. They opened their mouth in a scream, but only silence came out.
"You should be grateful this is all I am doing."
Still, they were mages and quickly calmed down, understanding their situation.
In the end, the two went towards different sides of the group and tried to keep each other out of sight.
This tour group was a bit scattered. Everyone kept their distance and didn't talk to each other much.
At least it's quiet.
"Right, it's quite good actually. Even those whispering wastes are now silent."
In such a peaceful atmosphere, the group finally departed towards the station, soon boarding the manarail with no trouble.
...
After spending nearly half a day sitting in a metal cabin listening to Rhamn and playing with Morpho, Cyril finally noticed a change in the scenery.
The buildings passing by gradually became more decorated and taller, they now had more magic appliances on them, more lights, and slightly less gray.
They were now entering the heart of the Empire.
There were soldiers patrolling the street at certain intervals, and steel constructions in cylindrical form scanned the streets: creations of magic that threatened to cause any evildoer a swift end in case of emergency.
And yet a ton of people walked the streets without any fear, as if they couldn't see any of the suffocating displays of the Empire's force.
"Seeing this in person really is different. Your memories don't do this place justice," Rhamn commented, glued to the window.
"The manarail can't go much further than this, so prepare to head out." Richard whispered with a bit of annoyance, "The 'upper echelon' still prefers using carriages, how silly."
The group was still silent, but not for the earlier reason, the spell's effect on Bonzo and Regina ended long ago.
They were simply admiring the sights. At least those who didn't live in the city center were.
Once on the ground, the group found a carriage already waiting for them nearby.
After they were all comfortably seated inside, the magically enhanced horses neighed and started pulling the decorated wooden cabin forward.
"There are accommodations prepared for you in the Tower. Today you'll mostly rest up, if anyone is willing, they can visit the archives. Be mindful not to enter a forbidden section."
"Tomorrow there will be a special lecture by the world's leading mages."
Finding this a perfect moment, Richard explained to the students what awaited them once they arrived.
Rose was becoming even more excited, as were most students.
"Everyone simply must visit the archives today. It would be a waste not to use this perfect opportunity," she whispered to them with anticipation.
"Miss Briar has the right mindset."
"I myself will be spending all of my time in the archives. Thank the gods I won this opportunity," Professor Richard said with an almost drooling expression.
"We've never seen him this energetic. Fascinating."
Eventually the carriage stopped before a giant wall separating the zone around the Tower from the rest of the city.
Cautiously stepping out of the carriage, the group was standing a bit close together, wary of the vigilant stares the surrounding soldiers were giving them.
A group of guards came over holding weapons. They were wearing plate armor and chain mail underneath. It looked unremarkable, but Cyril could feel there was an enchantment working on them.
Richard talked to them briefly, after which more soldiers surrounded the students.
Like this, they were led towards the checkpoint within the wall, and soon, one by one, everyone was taken to do identity checks.
...
"Name?" An emotionless voice asked through the one-way mirror.
Cyril, standing in a small stone room, answered without any worry, "Cyril Thorne."
There was a brief silence on the other end, after which a not-so-emotionless-anymore voice asked curiously.
"...Is your father Nostro Thorne?"
Somewhat expecting such a reaction, Cyril dryly replied, "Yes."
A wave of energy went through his body as his hearing picked up the rustle of papers on the other end, after which came a quiet mumble.
"That's actually him... I haven't been informed of this!" Then the voice continued louder, slightly more humble.
"Welcome to Theopyle! This place has seen much growth since your father's time here and-"
"Am I free to go?" Cyril mercilessly interrupted the somewhat excited worker.
"...Of course. Be sure to enjoy your stay."
Without any hesitation, Cyril walked through the now open door.
"Finally people are treating you with some respect," Rhamn nodded with satisfaction.
Only those from the Tower still view the name Thorne in a positive light.
"Thanks to that, Morpho was able to go in with no trouble."
The butterfly on his shoulder stayed quiet most of the ride, her compound eyes observing everything around them with curiosity. At Rhamn's words she fluttered her wings, radiating some excitement.
That's true.
...
Cyril found himself the first to pass, so he could only wait, enduring the gradually changing stares from the guards around him.
Soon he was joined by Rose, then more and more people.
Eventually they were all waiting for only one person now.
"What's taking Myra so long?"
Just as Rose said it, the door was opened, and the girl with auburn hair hastily walked out, her face showing relief.
Meeting the gaze of the waiting group, she awkwardly scratched her hair.
"Since I am not from the city, they had to search for my information for a little bit longer."
"Once again she is being suspicious..."
With everyone here, Richard now led the group to another carriage waiting for them.
The area around the Tower was mostly flat ground, with occasional small stations along the route.
The group calmly waited as the carriage passed this vast area, finally arriving before the Tower itself.
"The Tower's base is as big as the castle of Ailanthus."
Wide at the bottom and slightly narrowing as it climbed, the Tower rose far above the clouds, its peak invisible from the ground.
The professor remained in place, letting the students who were here for the first time observe the Tower for some time.
Most did so, especially Rose. She was barely containing her anticipation and had already started writing some things down in her notebook.
After they'd had enough, Richard led everyone to one of the many entrances, big and small, lined at the Tower's base.
Cyril could feel a wave of magic wash over them when he came close. He felt like countless people just looked at him at the same time.
Soon the feeling disappeared.
A detection spell... I never felt it so clearly before.
Opening grandiose wooden doors, the students finally entered inside.
"I see the Empire decided to change things up a bit when it comes to color."
A bit of disappointment in her eyes. "Instead of monotone grey, this place is monotone white. So clean too, you wouldn't even think of checking the place for any dust."
With walls and a floor of the same smooth stone, the room was spacious, with a reception desk in the middle of it. A woman in a business suit behind the counter, a polite smile on her face.
To the side were two doors, leading deeper into the Tower. Guarding them were men in business suits, their clothes practically radiating magic.
"Welcome to the Tower. We were waiting for you." The staff bowed towards the newly arrived group.