True Intentions

If one were to look inside the tower in its entirety, one would say it was the most disorganised one, but that wasn't the case when you looked closely. It was like a machine with each part running at its own pace. But the amalgamation of these tiny parts is what makes the machine produce a final result.

Unlike the other floors that were filled with many leading doors, the last floor where the stairs ended had only one. It was a huge wooden door that had a completely different vibe from others. The old beggar walked towards it, the pace still the same.

The thick wooden door had many features that protected the inside from intruders. There was a trace of mana that was strong enough to mistake for a person. If one was not careful and didn't know the method to open the door, it would surely cause them great harm.

Even the king didn't have this kind of advanced protection that was filled with traps and contraptions. It was because this is where the tower master resides. He is the head of the tower and has the title of the greatest mage in the kingdom.

With little to no effort, the old beggar opened the huge wooden door without even touching it.

His eyes fell on the figure that was seated on a chair in the corner of the room.

Even in the seated position, he looked tall. He was an old man with a long white beard that had icy-cold eyes. His long hair was tied back, completely revealing a face filled with many wrinkles. It was a sign of his old age, but it didn't decrease the grace he was emitting in the slightest.

To be more clear, he was the complete opposite of the old beggar that was standing near the opened door.

Many may not know the face of the seated old man, as he always stays cooped up in this room, but everyone heard of his name at least once in their measly lifetime: Merlin Whitlock, the master of the White Magic Tower.

He didn't show any surprise when an unknown person entered the room. His face was composed.

"Who are you?" Merlin asked without getting up from his seat.

He was curious about the person before him, who could dare to step into his room without permission, and, moreover, it was a new face. A person he didn't know.

In truth, there are hundreds of mages in the tower, so Merlin doesn't know each one of them, but still, at least, they had the attire of a mage. But the person in front of him was the personification of the word 'poor'.

He had skinny limbs from a lack of nutrition. His beard was touching the ground, and his hair covered his entire face. His clothes bore many holes, and the pungent smell he was emitting was from the local slums.

"How did you get here?"

It was already impossible for outsiders to enter the tower, but he was even able to enter his room by surpassing all the protection magic. This act alone was beyond suspicious.

Only if he allowed it, the people on the outside could enter his room. Even if something happens in here, it will stay inside, as no one will be able to bypass the protective magic on the door.

But the current situation made him think otherwise.

"How long are you going to play deaf?" The old beggar remained silent.

The worst thing that could be happening is that the tower is under attack. If that is the case, as the master of the tower, he needs to take action immediately.

Merlin narrowed his eyes before spreading his mana sense throughout the entire room. It was a kind of spell. Wherever his mana spreads out, he can sense everything in that field.

His mana spread throughout the entire room and outside the room, and then it covered the entire tower within mere seconds.

The range of mana sense depends on the level of the mage and his sensitivity to mana. It can be naturally learned by high-level mages, but it can also be learned by low-level mages if their sensitivity towards mana is high. But in the end, the range of their mana sense will be limited.

Everyone present in the tower was busy with their work, and he found nothing irregular of any sort. So he retracted his mana sense.

"I don't sense any bad intentions from you." Merlin finally got up from his seat and came to the side of the desk in front of him.

"But I still want to know how you came here." He placed one of his hands on the desk and leaned against it.

"I don't know if you know, but leaving this room won't be a choice that is available to you… unless your answer is satisfactory." He emitted a killing intent that filled the space.

If a normal person were to be here, he would have suffocated in the thick atmosphere around here. But the old beggar didn't even let a groan out. His breathing was calm.

Merlin was surprised as he retracted his killing intent. This was a warning and also a test by him. But no matter what, no one in the entire kingdom was unaffected by his killing intent. He was hailed as the great mage. So this was a surprise to him.

Now he was even more perplexed by the mysterious old beggar in front of him.

"You are as stiff as ever, Whitlock." This was the first time the old beggar opened his mouth.

His voice sounded hoarse, but it didn't concern him. What was more astonishing was that the voice was familiar to Merlin. It was a voice he could never forget. He searched the old beggar's eyes for resemblances to the person he knew.

His gaze slightly shook at the old beggar's figure, which seemed familiar now. His features changed considerably in his long years, but the people close to him were still able to distinguish him. With little to no time, even Merlin was able to.

"I-Is that you, my friend?" The alertness when a stranger entered his room without his permission was no more. An unknown feeling flooded him. His facial expressions changed in a complicated way. He tried to stay composed but couldn't.

The old beggar didn't respond but gave a small smile for the first time. It was only half visible due to his overgrown beard.

"It is you…" Merlin's eyes were filled with a warmth that had never been seen before. His stiff face, which he maintained as the tower's master, was no more. His arm, which was on the desk, gripped it tightly. Some documents were under it, and they could tear if he continued, but he didn't care.

"Moses…" It was the name of the old beggar that even he forgot while being on the streets.

"Where have you been? What have you been doing? Why did you disappear all these years...?" Endless questions poured out without constraints.

He just wished to go to him and hug him tightly until their old bones broke. The distance separating them was what kept Merlin's bursting emotions in check.

"Let's keep the greetings aside and talk about the matter at hand." Moses' smile disappeared, replaced with his usual empty look.

Normally, when you meet someone close after a long time, you catch up on things. That's what people do. But Merlin knew the old beggar personally. He knew him so well that he believed there was a meaning to every action he took, even if it wasn't justified.

That was the kind of blind faith he had in him. But even for him, the current expression on his friend's face was something new. An expression of nothingness.

"How have you bee—?"

"I have a favour to ask you." Interrupting him, Moses spoke.

He tried to know his current state, but Moses didn't answer. Instead, he asked for a favour. What could it be? What could be so important?

"Hand over the Jewel of Arcana." Hearing that name made Merlin shudder.

"How did you—?"

"It doesn't matter how I knew; just hand it over." His voice was demanding, as if he were ordering someone.

Merlin didn't say anything but gazed emptily at the palm Moses extended forward. A few moments passed.

"That's what I thought." He sighed. He already knew that it wouldn't be easy. It was no ordinary item that anyone would hand over like a piece of rock.

It was the most valuable item in the entire kingdom and currently resides in the White Magic Tower. How could Merlin, as the tower's master, hand it over that easily? He couldn't, even if he wanted to. That's the kind of responsibility he has—the responsibility to protect.

"Sorry, Whitlock; I hope you can forgive me." He sighed again. His expression became stern as he extended his arm to his left side.

"There is not much time." With that, a loud bang from an explosion covered the entire room. The smoke rose right after. The size of the explosion was enough to kill anyone within proximity.

Merlin extended his arm forward, and a gust of wind engulfed the entire room, clearing all the smoke in an instant. He was still in a daze about what was happening, but with years of experience, he could compose himself immediately.

As the smoke cleared, two figures came into sight. They were Merlin and Moses. Both of them were uninjured, but there was an enormous hole in the wall in the direction where Moses extended his arm out.

The tower that seemed impenetrable had a hole right through it now.