Admittance

Nine days later, in a spacious solar filled with mystical devices that occasionally flashed with vibrant light and ancient tomes that seemed to whisper forbidden knowledge, an old Magus with a head of white hair and gilded spectacles peered into a crystal ball he held delicately in his hands. The room was bathed in a soft, ethereal glow, casting long shadows that danced across the walls, adding to the air of mystery and ancient power.

Within the transparent sphere, lines of text materialized, glowing with a faint, otherworldly light:

'Leylin Farlier. Third-grade soul aptitude, Darkness elemental affinity. Born and raised in the Chernobyl Islands. Entered Abyssal Bone Forest Academy in the year 20,987 of the Saint Yuan Calendar.' 

Beside these words, an image of a handsome young man, appearing eighteen to twenty years old and strikingly similar to the current Leylin in his shapeshifted form, emerged. His emerald eyes held a depth of knowledge and a hint of ambition, as if he were aware of secrets that could change the world.

Nearby, another crystal ball displayed a detailed record of Leylin's experiences at the Abyssal Bone Forest Academy. Every piece of publicly available information was meticulously inscribed, including a report on how he had crossed the influential Lilytell family. The records glowed softly, the light pulsing in time with the old Magus's heartbeat, as if the very essence of Leylin's history was alive within the crystal.

"Hmm… He deserted his academy and provoked the ire of its main supporters… All for the sake of an ancient remnant? Sounds quite reasonable!" The old Magus nodded with a discreet smile, his eyes twinkling with amusement. His voice, a soft murmur barely louder than the whispering tomes around him, carried a weight of authority and wisdom.

"My lord, we should demand that he hand over the research materials he obtained from the ruins," a white-cloaked Magus with a third, yellow-colored eye on his forehead declared harshly, his voice cutting through the room like a blade. The third eye glowed ominously, reflecting his stern and unyielding nature.

"That would be most unwise, old friend. All official Magi are entitled to their secrets. We must be lenient and tolerant, or else all the members in our organization will act solely for their personal gain, leading to a civil war in our midst," the elder admonished, his tone firm yet measured. 

His words hung in the air, a reminder of the delicate balance of power and trust that held their world together. The room fell silent, the only sound the faint hum of the mystical devices, as the Magi pondered the wisdom of the elder's counsel.

Several Magi had journeyed across the South Coast, achieving breakthroughs that echoed through the annals of magical history. Their discoveries and advancements were celebrated, becoming legendary tales that inspired generations. 

If the Four Seasons Garden demanded Leylin surrender his research, it would undoubtedly provoke the wrath of other Magi, who would fear similar treatment—the outright theft of their life's work. This was unacceptable. The members of the various Magisterium were not mere vassals but esteemed associates with their own rights and privileges, each contributing uniquely to the collective knowledge and power of their order.

"However, according to Wade's account, this brat Leylin possesses a distinct aura, unlike that of regular Magi. Not to mention, his prodigious talent in Potioneering… He might have broken through using some ancient, unknown methods..." the Three-Eyed Magus spoke, his voice laced with guile and a mix of curiosity and caution. "He could be a Warlock for all we know. Would the risk of dissent outweigh the potential benefits we might gain from the boy?"

The elder's face twitched with irritation, his patience wearing thin. "Those alternative paths a Magus might take to advance do not always offer the advantages you assume…" The old Magus fixed his gaze on the Three-Eyed figure beside him. His eyes, filled with the weight of centuries, bore into his companion.

"Time is the ultimate judge," the old Magus began, his eyes gleaming with ancient wisdom. "Over tens of thousands of years, countless beings have come and gone. Branded Swordsmen, Elemental Bards, Divine Warriors—all have faded into history. Yet, we, the traditional Magi, have endured." His voice resonated with the authority of countless generations, carrying the weight of their undying legacy.

"For some subclasses, although they might find favorable conditions for advancement, most of their paths become obstructed. It pales in comparison to us, who can achieve continuous progress through diligent cultivation of meditation techniques."

The elder continued his lecture without pause, his tone growing more fervent. "Moreover, one must trust in time and the power of influencing others through goodwill! Embrace them, and they shall embrace you in return!" The old Magus smiled with confidence, his demeanor softening as he spoke of unity and mutual respect.

"We should not treat Leylin as an enemy, but as a friend. In time, he will naturally sense our goodwill. Furthermore, the abundant resources of our Four Seasons Garden surely contain something he needs. Then, we might be able to trade with him." His strategy was clear: to win Leylin over through kindness and cooperation, rather than force and intimidation.

The old Magus chose a gentle approach over a harsh one. Even so, it did not mean he had abandoned the goal of obtaining Leylin's knowledge. His mind was a labyrinth of plans and contingencies, each designed to secure the future of the Four Seasons Garden.

"My lord, I beg you to reconsider Leylin's admission. Based on the joint investigation, he's the one behind the destruction of Andre Town! That makes him directly responsible for the deaths of countless acolytes and civilians! Do you wish to let such a bloodthirsty monster into our order?" The Three-eyed Magus exclaimed, his patience wearing thin, his voice rising with each word.

The elder clicked his tongue and shook his head in disappointment. "I may be mistaken, but I thought Magi based their decisions on evidence and fact? Tell me, what new evidence has been uncovered that incriminates Leylin?" The elder's wry smile irked the Three-eyed Magus, who merely lowered his head, unable to meet the elder's piercing gaze.

"I thought as much," the elder continued, his tone now tinged with a hint of reproach. "Remember, Leylin was endorsed by none other than Lord Crew, one of our founding members." His voice was grave and deliberate, as if letting the weight of his words sink in, each syllable carefully measured to convey the gravity of the situation.

"Naturally, you are entitled to suspect Leylin and keep the investigation open. I will not protect him from you. However, I will not allow you to chase him off with baseless accusations either. Bring real, concrete evidence of his crimes to me, and we shall take appropriate action. Until then, we can only assume that his appearance here and what happened at the border was merely an unfortunate coincidence." The elder spoke definitively, puffing on his tobacco pipe, the smoke curling around his head like a halo of defiance.

"In that case, do you mean…?" Three-Eyes sharpened his tone slightly, his eyes narrowing as he tried to gauge the elder's intentions.

"Indeed. Notify Lord Decarte that we have found someone with great potential, and that he is to be nurtured accordingly. Furthermore, you will not speak your opinion of Leylin in public, lest you damage his reputation. Until you can formally accuse him, of course." The elder's voice softened once more, but the underlying firmness remained, a clear indication that his decision was final.

Three-Eyes clenched his teeth in anger but said nothing, merely bowing and taking his leave from the solar, his mind racing with thoughts of how to gather the evidence needed to bring Leylin to justice.

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Naturally, Leylin remained unaware of the events taking place behind closed doors. However, he had a general grasp of the situation.

Given the strength and influence of the Four Seasons Garden, it was highly likely that all of his known accomplishments until now would be scrutinized by a panel vetting him. They would probably infer that he had killed Bosain for an inheritance and was now on the run, seeking refuge from their retribution.

Despite this, Leylin was not worried at all. The Great Magus Serholm had set up a failsafe that utterly destroyed the Dylan Gardens. Since the deceased party could not verify anything, the Light Magi would at most assume he had obtained some subclass Magus information and had advanced to an official Magus with some luck, limiting his future progress. This assumption would work in his favor, as it would divert attention from his true capabilities and intentions.

Moreover, he was now an official Magus. Other guilds would certainly have official Magi who advanced under similar circumstances. If they tried to uncover the truth, they would not gain the trust of these Magi who had advanced in special scenarios. 

Ultimately, as forces of the Light Magi, they had to maintain an outward illusion of benevolence, regardless of their inner thoughts. This facade of righteousness would prevent them from taking drastic actions against him without concrete evidence.

As long as Leylin could conceal the meditation technique of the Great Magus Serholm and Aralis' purification of the Kemoyin bloodline, he was not afraid of them discovering other things. His confidence stemmed from his meticulous planning and the layers of deception he had woven around his true abilities and knowledge.

Regarding his duel with the Lilytell Elder's homunculus, Leylin had ensured to erase any trace of his presence in the area, even going as far as to kill any survivors of the catastrophic battle. With no witnesses or physical evidence of what happened in Andre Town, they could at most be suspicious of him, but never convict him of any crimes. This thoroughness in covering his tracks was a testament to his cunning and foresight, ensuring that he remained a step ahead of his pursuers.

Just as he had anticipated, the moment Leylin reached the reception area of the guild registration office, he spotted Wade, the familiar face from the trial, already waiting for him.

"Nice to see you again, Mister Leylin!" Wade greeted with a warm smile, bowing respectfully.

"Likewise," Leylin replied, returning the gesture with his trademark gentlemanly bow. He then followed the Light Magus to a private office, where they both took their seats.

"Allow me to congratulate you on passing the test. Out of the 27 applicants, you were this year's chosen new admission. From this moment on, you are an official member of the esteemed Four Seasons Garden!" Wade announced with a passionate smile.

"I am honored to join such a distinguished order." Leylin's face reflected a mix of solemnity and excitement.

"The institution allows for new members to arrange any pending matters in the city before joining us. You may take a couple of days to sort your business and then meeting me here again, or we may go now. Your choice." Wade said graciously as he smiled.

"I have no need to delay any further," Leylin replied immediately.

"Very well. There are still a few contracts and procedures we need to go through regarding your entry. Bureaucracy is inescapable, no matter where you go, hahaha!" Wade laughed as he stood up.

"Please follow me." Wade led the way, guiding Leylin through the various zones of the city until they reached the Fifth Zone. However, much to Leylin's surprise, they bypassed the Four Seasons Garden building altogether.

Noticing the doubt on Leylin's face, Wade explained, "Although our Four Seasons Garden has a branch office in the Fifth Zone, it primarily serves as an embassy to represent our interests in the city. Our main headquarters are located on the outskirts."

"I see…" Leylin murmured, his eyes narrowing as he took in the imposing structure ahead. A colossal gate loomed before them, forged from volcanic stone and intricately inlaid with shimmering mithril.

A few minutes later, they arrived at a grand square adorned with luxurious decorations—fountains gushing crystal-clear water, statues of mythical beings, meticulously manicured gardens, and arcane runes pulsating with energy. In the center of the square stood several imposing black stone posts, to which creatures of various shapes and sizes were chained.

"This is the Fifth Zone's stables, where you can access a specialized mount," Wade explained, gesturing towards a large group of magical creatures that were obediently resting by their stone posts.

"Although you can rent them, I suggest purchasing one for personal use. Only the less fortunate rent their mounts, you see. We at the Four Seasons Garden have a reputation to uphold as one of the more prosperous guilds. However, I believe it won't be an issue for you, who lives next to Lord Crew, hahaha!"

Leylin chuckled outwardly, but inwardly he wished he could rip the tongue out of this idiot's mouth. Wade was nothing like he had been during the trial, and Leylin wondered why he felt it was acceptable to act so foolishly in front of a new member.

Wade approached a small wooden hut beside the plaza and greeted the person inside through the service window.

"Hello, Madre. We need two Dragon Crown Nighthawks, and we need them now," Wade demanded.

"Alright, I got it," the man behind the window replied impatiently, tossing out two green metal sheets.

"The first one is on the house. But the next one you will have to pay," Madre said to Leylin, who nodded in acknowledgment.