The friendly reception

Cyrillus returned to the Magic Association with the intention of collecting the letter from Mr. Thomas. The place was noticeably busier than it had been three days ago, and people appeared to be in a rush for some unknown reason. He looked around as he climbed the stairs to the white, majestic building, taking his time to observe the bustling surroundings.

Upon entering the building, his gaze fell upon the same robber lady, seated in the reception area, wearing a predatory smile that sent shivers down his spine. The receptionist's eyes lit up with an unusual enthusiasm upon seeing Cyrillus.

Cyrillus couldn't help but wonder about the receptionist's intentions. "What? Am I supposed to pay her more for the letter? Why is she smiling?"

With a polite tone, she greeted him, "Hello, Master Cyrillus. I was waiting for you. Please follow me; the leader is already waiting for you." She approached him and led him straight to the leader's room.

As the door was pushed open, Cyrillus was greeted by a sight that made his soul quiver. But before he could react, the demon receptionist pushed him into the room. Inside, his eyes widened in shock and terror.

Ferocious tigers, with their large and imposing presence, were napping inside the office, right next to the door. Their powerful bodies were sprawled across the room, their fur coats gleaming in a striking combination of white and black, creating a mesmerizing contrast. Each of them was a formidable creature, exuding an air of silent power even in their sleep.

As soon as he entered the room, the door was slammed shut and locked from the outside. Panic surged through Cyrillus as he felt his soul slowly leaving his body, and every hair on his body stood on end from sheer fright.

The pair of huge tigers, with their piercing, golden eyes and powerful, well-muscled bodies, slowly opened their eyes after catching an unfamiliar scent in the room. Their movements were graceful, each twitch of a paw deliberate and precise. They seemed ready to investigate the frightened, funny-looking human who had entered their space. But before they could make a move, their master arrived, and they obediently settled back down, choosing to return to their slumber.

Cyrillus was overwhelmed with relief upon seeing Mr. Thomas entering the room. He had never been this happy to see someone in both his lives, and he doubted if he ever would be again.

Thomas, seemingly in a hurry, made a beeline for his desk, retrieved a few documents from a drawer, and began signing and stamping them. He handed the signed documents to Cyrillus, explaining, "Here, don't worry. Only the magic academy can detect the stamp. Even if you cannot see it, the stamp exists on the document and will remain there, no matter what you do to the paper, including burning it to ashes. Just take those ashes to the academy if such a situation arises. But I hope your journey is a safe one so you can become an outstanding mage soon..."

Cyrillus couldn't help but think, 'Who would be crazy enough to burn down a letter this important?' Nonetheless, he accepted the documents, his heart filled with gratitude.

As Cyrillus was about to leave, Mr. Thomas recalled something important. He handed Cyrillus a ring and explained, "This ring is given to every mage who goes to the magic academy. Please take care of it well. Oh, another thing, you'll need to bind that ring to yourself now."

Cyrillus nodded and prepared to bite his thumb to apply his blood, a common practice he was familiar with. However, Thomas interrupted him, puzzled by his actions.

"What are you doing?" Thomas asked.

"Binding the ring to myself?" Cyrillus replied.

"Are you really that clueless? Who told you that you need to apply your blood on things to bind them to yourself? Do you know it takes days to heal that bite?" Thomas chided, leaving Cyrillus a bit embarrassed and bewildered.

"Uhh… How do you do it then?" Cyrillus questioned innocently, genuinely perplexed by the unfamiliar process.

Mr. Thomas patiently explained, "Just wear it on one of your fingers. The ring will adjust its size after you just press it a bit and ask it to bind. Just say 'bind,' that's enough."

Cyrillus followed the instructions, binding the ring to himself without the need for blood. He then expressed his gratitude to Thomas for his guidance. It was a significant step toward his journey to attend the academy. As he was about to take his leave, Thomas called out to him, his curiosity piqued.

"Cyrillus, may I ask how you plan to travel to the academy? Do you even know where it's located?" Thomas inquired with a furrowed brow.

Caught off guard by the unexpected questions, Cyrillus scratched his head and let out an awkward laugh. He awaited Thomas's response to the queries, not quite sure what to expect.

Thomas, bemused by the situation, shook his head, unable to fathom how someone preparing for university had no idea about its location. In his thoughts, he pondered, "Why is this guy wasting time on a kid who doesn't even know where he has to go to attend a university that was widely known around the country? Even people who couldn't hear had heard about the university's location. It was as if this kid had just arrived in this world."

"I'll arrange for your transport, don't worry," Mr. Thomas assured Cyrillus. "One of my old friends was invited to the university as a guest lecturer, and remember, it's not a free arrangement. Consider this as a favor that you will have to repay someday."

Cyrillus glanced at Mr. Thomas, trying to gauge his thoughts, but the enigmatic expression in his eyes left him uncertain. Still, he decided to be grateful and replied, "Thank you for your help, Mr. Thomas. I promise to visit again before I depart."

However, Mr. Thomas's response took him by surprise. "I don't have the time to waste on you, Cyrillus," he curtly retorted, leaving Cyrillus somewhat disheartened by the coldness of the response.

He nodded in acknowledgment and left the office, his thoughts a mix of confusion and disappointment. Now, it was time to find the demon receptionist who had pushed him into the office and locked it from the outside.

Despite conducting three thorough sweeps of the building, Cyrillus found no sign of her. His frustration and anger simmered as he left the association. He made a vow to return one day, as a mage, perhaps even accompanied by a few tigers and lions, just to see how the woman would react. Clenching his fist and raising it, he thought, "Maybe I'll have to pay her for the mental treatment she'll have to go through, but it will be worth it."

--

In the hidden room of the magic association:

The room was bathed in a soft, dim light, courtesy of the sconces that lined the walls. Their warm, ambient glow painted intricate patterns on the room's ancient wooden beams. Dust motes swirled in the air, caught in the gentle currents created by the soft, flickering flames. Amid this serene setting, a person stood holding a small crystal ball in her hand. The crystal emitted a delicate wisp of smoke, within which a vivid image took shape and danced in the air.

"So he finally left," the receptionist said with a relieved sigh. "What a dedicated man; the rest of the people leave right away after looking once."

One of the other girls working there couldn't fathom the motivation behind the pranks. She shook her head and asked, "Why do you even do such things? I don't understand. Is it really that funny?"

The receptionist erupted into laughter, clutching her stomach as she did. "Hahahahahaha… why don't you try doing it once, and you'll understand how funny their faces are after they face the tigers!"

The other girl was left speechless. Rumors had it that this hidden room had been constructed at the receptionist's relentless insistence. It was said that she had cried day and night for this very room, and her persistence had finally paid off, courtesy of the association leader. However, the individual who had spread these rumors had vanished when they began circulating.

Back in Cyrillus's world, he had made the momentous decision to embark on a journey alongside Mr. Thomas's close friend, who was expected to arrive in town within the next 2 to 3 days. This brief period allowed him to prepare adequately for the upcoming adventure. However, there was one aspect that tugged at his heartstrings and filled him with mixed emotions - the inevitable farewell to his food aficionado comrade, Alex who had been his, or rather the original Cyrillus's, only friend. Alex had always been there to support him, no matter the condition. Even after his parents had passed away, Alex and his family had supported Cyrillus unconditionally, making their impending farewell all the more bittersweet.