Allowance

"A flying ship, you say?"

The first one to show a reaction was the Archmage, Stellaria. Just ever so slightly, her large hat shifted, revealing her face to Theodore for the first time. Though half of it was covered by a thick, white scarf, he could see her eyes. Surrounded by wrinkles, those eyes of her held an energy that did not match her apparent age. Strangely, Theodore would later find himself unable to remember what colors the eyes were despite recalling that they left an impression on him.

While entranced by Stellaria's gaze, Theodore failed to notice the subtle change in the atmosphere within the room. The elders, even the fiery large man, became rather solemn upon hearing of his made-up tale presented as if a prophecy.

The 'flying ship' was a warship of the ancient race known as the Alva, whose knowledge of the Aether was said to be second to none. Legends told that upon escaping the destruction of the old world at the Far Side of the Abyss, the Alvan survivors floated in the void aboard their ships and watched as a new world took form beneath them.

So that the massive ships were not trapped by the pull of the new world's gravity, the survivors sent scouts into the newly formed world. Those who arrived on the surface quickly mastered the lands with their Aether-based technology and set out to build a bridge that would connect the land to their ship in the heavens to share with them the bounties of the land.

In time, due to reasons lost to history, the Alvan race declined and all but vanished from the surface of this world, leaving behind scarce traces of their existence. Amongst those was the tower, its name long forgotten and would eventually come to be known simply as the Mage Tower, for it had become a tower occupied by the mages who were hungry for the secrets it held.

"That's right. Or rather, I think it's a ship," Theodore meekly answered. "The 'me' within the dream certainly thought of it as a ship, a ship that sailed across the skies."

"I see..." muttered the Archmage. At the same time, as if it was actually alive, the brim of her hat lowered once more, obscuring her face.

With that short reply, Theodore put on a troubled expression, frowning as he nervously caressed the hare in his hands. He had done so intentionally, though his anxiety wasn't pretended. What he had done was a gamble, and he had no true idea where the coin he had tossed would land.

Through the memories of the Demon Lord, Theodore knew that for many generations the mages had occupied this land. Yet, they were unable to make the slightest progress in their exploration of the tower. Aside from the first ten floors that were accessible from the beginning, the rest of the tower was locked away from all who sought to intrude.

Even so, the mages were patient beings. Despite having nothing to show for it, they held onto this place for five hundred years, waiting for the key to the tower to appear. Theodore, having presented his false prophecy, was trying to present himself as a possible key, or something that could lead to finding a key of some sort.

"Unfortunately," the Archmage finally spoke after a long silence, "I do not believe we can identify who you were from just that. That being said, I do not believe you are an enemy of the Circle."

"He might even be a former elder, albeit, a rather ancient one," the masked woman interjected.

"While we will continue to investigate the matter, I believe that there should be no problem in accepting the boy as an apprentice for the time being."

"So be it then," said the large man, agreeing with the Archmage with a clear lack of reluctance despite him being the most aggressive throughout the interrogation.

"It's a shame. I was hoping to thoroughly 'investigate' him. But I suppose we'll have to investigate in another manner," said the scrawny old man, sounding rather enthusiastic despite his words.

"And what say you, Elder Kalman?"

All four of the elders turned towards the old man with the bushy eyebrows, the sole member that had been silent since the beginning.

"If it is the will of the Circle, then so be it," said the old man in an emotionless tone.

"So it has been decided. For the time being, you, Theodore, shall be welcomed as a new apprentice. As for your master, that will be decided at a later time."

While he couldn't see her face, from the tone of the Archmage's voice, Theodore had the impression that she was smiling at him, though whether or not she was truly doing so under that thick scarf of her was anybody's guess.

"Annaliese, why don't you take the new apprentice to his room?" the Archmage continued to speak. "The both of you have endured a long journey and Theodore even had to take the test right after arriving. It's about time you two have some rest."

Theodore wasn't sure if they had bought his story. Perhaps in their excitement, he had deceived them, but once they cooled down, they might have a change of mind. Theodore couldn't know the thoughts of these elders, each one appearing to be more eccentric than the last. The one thing he understood was that he had been granted the allowance to live another day at the very least.

Soon after being brought into his room, Theodore's eyes fell immediately onto the bed and surrendered himself to it without minding the rest of the room. He was worn out and he fell asleep almost in an instant. Should someone do something to him in his current state, he would surely not notice.

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End of Chapter 27

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