Lucius followed Rena back to her room. While she entered, he merely closed the door behind her. Technically he could enter his own room through hers by using the servant door that connected them, but it was improper to open the service door for any reason than being called to attend to the lady.
Instead, he closed Rena's door behind her and moved further down the hall to enter his own, small room.
"How long are you going to stand there?" Lucius asked with one hand on the handle to his door.
For some reason, Lucius could smell this person the moment they returned home, but thought nothing of it since he visited quite frequently. However, for him to still be present even at night was a strange circumstance. Lucius turned to face the person he called out to.
Standing in the hallway was a short, innocent looking old man. He had a long white beard and a bald head. Normally one could not separate him from any other geezer taking a stroll on the town, but this man was dangerous.
He was Wallace Carmichael, or Wally, a King Rank mage who mastered all Elemental and Transcendent magic. In other words, he could use Fire, Water, Wind, and Earth as well as their evolved counterparts; Magma, Ice, Thunder, and Metal.
"Oh come now young man, can't you pity this old man for a moment of your time?"
"Sir Carmichael, I..." Lucius began before being interrupted by a shock.
The old man had suddenly appeared right next to him and poked him gently on the shoulder with one finger. His entire arm crackled with electricity. "Come now, boy. I told you to call me Wally, didn't I?"
"Sorry, Wally...my head was still switched into formal mode since I am in the manor. I also just got back from speaking with Lord Richard so..."
"Bah! Phooey on that. Come with me." Wally dismissed before grabbing Lucius by the wrist.
Due to all his time spent training with Wally, he figured this is what the bastard would do. Since he had dropped to all fours, he was prepared for this follow-up movement by launching himself up into the air, letting the spell fizzle out into the dirt. Lucius landed on the ground on his feet, weapon up ready for more.
"Good one boy." Wally grinned evilly.
Lucius was beginning to sweat, not from the effort but from concern about what move his teacher would make next. The best option for him was to press the attack. Lucius gathered all his strength and pushed off the ground with his feet. In his wake he left small cracks in the ground and a cloud of dust.
The boy flew towards the old man with his weapon held out to the side, ready for a swing. He folded his arms to his chest and started a spin. Wally had leapt backwards to try and create space to cast another spell, but that simply gave Lucius more room to complete his maneuver. After his spin started, he once again extended his sword arm out. "[Forsaken Arts: Gouging Strike]"
Golden mana enveloped the blade of his machete. That combined with his spin made him look like a golden drill as he bared down on Wally.
The old man simply smiled in response, but Lucius was unable to see it given his current state.
"[Ferrum: Steel Wall]"
A giant, mental wall appeared between the two combatants. Lucius collided with the wall with full force, sparks flying from metal on metal. The attack lasted for a few seconds, before Lucius ran out of steam and dropped to the ground.
The boy watched as Wally stepped around the wall and investigated the damage. He responded with a low whistle.
"Not bad, boy. That was leveled down to an Intermediate Rank spell and you still managed to drill through about a third of it with that attack. Impressive." Wally commended.
After that, he waved his hand and dispelled all the spells he cast. The metal wall and spikes ringing the room vanished, and the rock wall that blocked the exit dropped into the earth where it was summoned from.
"Alright. You can go." The old man said with a massive, toothy grin.