Chapter 80: Journey to the Mage Tower

Arcane Academy · Professor’s Office —

Merlin carefully distributed the newly developed beverages to the professors in the office. As he watched Professor Harrington sip from his cup, he smiled and asked, “Professor, do you think the Academy would accept the proposal I mentioned earlier?”

Harrington glanced at the pearl milk tea in his hand, his fingers tapping rhythmically against the polished desk. He let out a long sigh and said, “You’ve certainly given your old professor a tough problem. Since the Academy’s founding, no one has ever attempted something like this. Frankly, this isn’t a decision any of us professors can make on our own.”

“I understand,” Merlin admitted, rubbing his hands together awkwardly. “I just hoped you could help me inquire about what the higher-ups think.”

Harrington shook his head in mild exasperation. “You… you actually want to rent a room inside the Academy’s teaching building to sell the food and drinks you make. I have to say, I’ve never seen anyone try to do business inside the Academy before.”

Merlin chuckled softly. He knew his request was ambitious, perhaps even overstepping a little, but after all, every innovation has its first attempt.

Harrington picked up a pen and wrote a letter. Folding it neatly, he handed it to Merlin, the expression on his face a mixture of resignation and mild irritation. He waved the letter slightly as he spoke, “I knew there’d be trouble when you came to see me. And don’t give me that ‘I brought drinks for the professors to taste’ excuse. As for renting a room, take this letter I’ve written and see the Vice Principal in charge of room assignments. If he agrees, then you’re good to go.”

Merlin’s face lit up as he accepted the letter. “Thank you, Professor. May I ask where the Vice Principal is located?”

Harrington stood and pushed open the window, pointing toward the most iconic structure of the Arcane Academy. “The Mage Tower.”

Arcane Academy · Mage Tower —

The Mage Tower was the sacred heart of the Academy, founded and maintained by the headmaster and his closest followers. Without a professor’s introduction letter or a personal invitation from the Tower itself, ordinary students had no way to enter.

Merlin had been to the gardens beneath the Mage Tower countless times, but today was the first time he would step inside its legendary halls. This was, after all, the dwelling of the Academy’s headmaster—a demigod by legend—and he had no idea if he’d even get a glimpse of such a being.

His hands tightened nervously around the introduction letter as he approached the enormous arched doors.

At the base of the Mage Tower, a massive archway was inlaid with a gigantic crystal that radiated a soft, silvery light, illuminating the polished stone at his feet. The doors bore an exquisite bas-relief, depicting a robed mage wielding a staff, casting potent magic. On either side stood statues—magically animated guardians, ever vigilant, protecting the entrance.

As Merlin drew closer, the crystal in the door emitted a faint hum, as if sensing his presence.

Grrr… click… clack…

A mechanical grinding sound emanated from the statues. The one on the left depicted a mighty warrior clad in ancient armor, sword tip raised skyward, ready to strike any intruder. Its stern face and resolute eyes conveyed an unyielding will. Intricate magical runes etched into the armor shimmered faintly, whispering forgotten incantations.

The right-side statue depicted a wise mage, robed and holding a staff topped with a radiant gem that pulsed with raw magical energy. The mage’s expression was gentle, eyes sparkling with insight, as if it could perceive all hidden truths. Runes along the robe caught the gem’s glow, appearing almost alive, poised to unleash formidable magic at any moment.

The warrior statue raised its massive hand in a stopping gesture toward Merlin, its voice booming with authority: “Mage Tower. Students, halt.”

The mage statue spoke next, its tone gentle, almost like a kindly grandfather, “Young scholar, may I ask the purpose of your visit to the Mage Tower?”

Merlin held the letter aloft. “I am Leo Merlin, a first-year student in the Alchemy Department. This is a letter of introduction from Professor Harrington of Alchemy. I have come to speak with the Vice Principal regarding a matter of some importance.”

The warrior statue slowly lowered its hand. The mage statue focused briefly, sensing the magical imprint of Harrington’s energy embedded in the paper.

After a nod to the warrior statue, the guardian shifted, placing its massive hands upon the archway. With the infusion of magic, the great doors slowly swung open.

The mage statue gestured politely for Merlin to enter. “Welcome to the Mage Tower. Please maintain silence at all times. Should you encounter a problem you cannot solve, close your eyes and quietly call for assistance.”

“The Vice Principal, Klein Jenny, is in Room 03. Refer to the map in the Mage Tower’s hall for precise directions.”

Merlin hardly expected entering the Mage Tower to be so effortless. Bowing slightly in thanks to the statues, he stepped inside.

A sudden sensation of dizziness and weightlessness washed over him—but only for a brief moment.

He shook his head and looked around the Tower’s grand hall. It was unlike anything he had imagined. The space was vast, far more expansive than the exterior suggested. Magic suffused the air, carrying faint scents of herbs and ink, mingled with the subtle aroma of aged tomes.

The central hall was a broad expanse of polished marble, at the very center a massive magic array sprawled across the floor. Intricate runes and lines interwove into an exquisite pattern. Observing closely, Merlin realized the pattern was not static—it was a constantly shifting map of the Mage Tower’s interior.

The Tower itself was “alive,” its structure changing over time. Finding the Vice Principal’s office would be no simple task.

Merlin approached the magic array and noticed a small inscription on a nearby notice board. This explained that the array was a network of portals leading to every room in the Tower—but to reach a specific destination, one had to calculate the path of the portal connections precisely.

Using the array as the central coordinate, other rooms moved continuously. To reach a target room, one needed the “key” to navigate the path.

And the key, Merlin realized, was… mathematics.

He stared at the array, absorbing the hints of functions and coordinates etched on the floor. The Mage Tower’s rooms were hidden across four quadrants. By calculating the correct functional path, he could unlock the connection to the room he sought.

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