What is the Octarine tower? It is an organization created after the alliance of the five magic towers that now dominate the Sarifal region.
The tower of secrets, the crimson tower, the brown tower, the white tower, and the gold tower. The alliance had happened over a thousand five hundred years ago, and it had integrated into one organization in time.
The purposes behind the creation of the alliance were many, one of them being to widen the learning opportunities of mages. Another was to share critical resources and allow access to more talent pools.
Of course, the most important reason behind it at the time was probably to counter the Elemental Congregation in the north.
The Elemental Congregation was not an alliance, it was one magic tower swallowing the other two. That was a story for another time.
The Octarine tower is ruled by five Master mages, the masters of each of the towers. But the Master mages were not bothered with the day-to-day operations of the tower.
Instead, it was the Council of thirteen that did that. The council consisted of five sub-tower masters, the deputies who took care of most matters in place of the Masters.
The others were the leaders of some important factions and departments. The council oversees the tower and the most powerful in the council were naturally the sub-tower masters.
They were the direct disciples of the Master mages and had the most say, each one of them was a powerhouse. Esdras was an apprentice of the Octarine tower but he was accepted by the crimson tower faction and so the person he answered to was Meeralah Alabaster.
She was the backbone of the crimson faction in the Octarine tower and the most important backer for them. Right now she was in the capital of Elbrim having answered the call personally.
Right now she was projected into the room, sitting on a chair she had a wine glass in her right hand. The projection was in full color and very clear.
She had a head of fiery-red hair that looked like flames leaping over her shoulders, and when she turned her eyes would stun those who dared meet them, they were red as rubes and even more enchanting. she showed thick lips with an unconcealable sex appeal.
She was wearing dark red robes, the dense elemental aura flowing from them indicating this was a rare mage robe that could provide a powerful boost to elemental magic.
However, unlike normal robes the neck was cut exceedingly low, revealing fair flesh and a bit of two swollen globes. The elemental aura she continuously emanated made it obvious that she was a Great mage.
Esdras and Daylen hurriedly placed their right hands on their hearts and bowed. Even if it was just a projection, her achievements in magic made her presence palpable as if she was really there.
"I have heard of your outstanding work on this mission, good job. I assume Ron already told you about your reward? Good. However, I would like to offer you two another mission which you will be rewarded handsomely for."
Her voice was energetic and it carried a certain charm. This came as a slight surprise to Esdras, as unlike her looks she was more than eighty years old. Although Great mages live to 150 or a little more that didn't mean they could maintain the same enthusiasm.
"I assume you want to know what the mission is, before answering?" Meeralah asked.
Esdras didn't dare to answer, the wrong word here could get him into a world of trouble. Fortunately, she didn't wait for their answer.
"Unfortunately that is not possible, you have to answer first. Although that is admittedly unfair, so I will at least tell you about your reward. If you satisfactorily complete this mission you will get another spell slot and an enchanted rob like the one I'm wearing, of course, it will be of a lower grade."
Esdras and Daylen exchanged looks and then answered simultaneously, "we are honored to accept."
Meeralah finally showed a slight smile and nodded in approval, "you two seem to know how to grab onto opportunity, very good."
Esdras smiled warily in his heart, he had to accept either way. Refusing will ruin his first impression on a higher-up and who knows if she might get offended after getting rejected by an apprentice?
For that, she might make his career a living hell.
Unreasonable? Unfortunately, this is how some people were, the higher a position they're in, the more tyrannical they become. Thanks to his background on Earth he was very well aware of how ego worked.
Moreover, he had already calculated the risk, if the mission had to be completed by apprentices then it was likely the level of danger wouldn't exceed that.
Of course, in case it did become really dangerous he was more than ready to run. After all, unexpected things do happen, especially in this time of turmoil.
"You met lieutenant Donnis Mauler he is Gilderoy Elbrim II, the crown prince of Elbrim. You must escort him to the capital safely, he is also carrying an important royal relic that must also be kept safe. The details will be explained by Ron. Good luck."
The light of the orb dimmed and vanished entirely. With that, there was a collective sigh of relief in the room. Esdras and Daylen looked at the crown prince and he smiled back in return.
However, when he glanced at Esdras he looked slightly embarrassed, probably remembering all the things he said when he was drunk last time.
"Now, let me explain what the sub-tower master meant." Senior Ron took out a map of the kingdom and pointed at several roads, "you must not use any of these roads, your route must go along this path here and then cross over this bridge."
"But," Daylen and Esdras had frowns on their faces, "these are all the well-built and safest routes... you want us to take the longer and more dangerous paths?"
"There is a reason for everything," Ron said looking slightly troubled.
Esdras sighed, he knew this was not going to be an easy mission.