Chapter 200: New Friend

Looking at the letter, Thorian noticed a red seal at the bottom left, bearing a turtle insignia.

If I run away with this letter in hand, there's a high chance that whoever is behind this plot will notice our involvement, especially considering Nox’s little stunt, Thorian frowned as he mulled over his options. But if I leave it here, there’s a high chance that even if I talk to the intended recipient of the letter, he won't believe a word I say. The seal is necessary to show the authenticity of the message.

Gritting his teeth, Thorian slid the letter into his pocket, then glanced back at the guards. Seeing that they were still standing in front of the house with dumb looks on their faces, Thorian smiled. With his Silk Step Drifting technique, he made his way out of the house and hid in an alleyway.

[Floor Quest Partially Completed:

Uncover the mysteries surrounding the attack on Elian Valtor (Partially Completed).

• Secure the letter that was entrusted to Elian Valtor (Completed).

• Find the mastermind behind his death.]

Seeing this notification, Thorian grinned, Looks like I was right to take the letter with me. He then looked in the direction where Nox and the silver-haired masked man had run. Now I have to reconvene with Nox.

With a goal in mind, Thorian rushed through the streets, emptied by the guards. Using his Elemental Sight, he noticed faint spots of silver mana all around him. These must be traces of the masked man’s movement skills. Good. Makes the task of following him that much easier.

Following the silver traces, Thorian rushed from one street to the next. After five minutes, the traces suddenly disappeared. Frowning, Thorian deduced, This must be where the chase ended.

“Thorian?”

Hearing a voice behind him, Thorian instinctively spun and hooked with the back of his hand in one swift motion, stopping just inches from Nox’s face. Recognizing his friend, he took a deep breath, lowering his hand.

“You seem to be on edge,” Nox chuckled, surprised by Thorian’s attack.

“That’s only natural when we’re deep in enemy territory,” Thorian sighed. He then looked back at Nox and shifted the subject. “So, did you lose him?”

Nox shrugged. “Yeah, he was not that fast. I had to lower my speed just for him to keep pace with me.” He then grinned and asked, “What about you? Did you get the information he was looking for?”

“I did,” Thorian took out the letter and showcased it with a smile. He then looked down deep in thought before laying out his order, “Since that masked man is not at the level where he can track you, I want you to follow him discreetly.”

“Sure, I will give you a report of his movements later in the night,” Nox smiled. However, doubts quickly clouded his eyes as he frowned. “But what about our other quest, where I need to register with the assassin guild?”

“There isn’t a specific deadline for registering. You just need to perform outstandingly before the end of seven days,” Thorian reassured. “However, if that masked man takes too long to do anything substantial, you can stop following him and proceed with your registration. I leave the specifics to your discretion.”

Nox nodded, deep in thought. “Hmm, one last thing. Where should we meet tonight? This city is pretty big, so it’s hard to track you and Vigil.”

Thinking for a second, Thorian responded, “Let’s meet at the gate, since it’s a landmark we’re all familiar with.”

“Then I’ll get going now. It would be a pain to catch up with that masked man if I wait too long,” Nox said as he stretched his arms before using shadow transportation.

With matters settled on one front, Thorian intended to head to the mage court. However, before he could do that, he needed to meet up with Vigil to see if anything had gone awry with the incarceration of the young kid.

The meeting with Vigil went smoothly. The kid had been thrown into a dungeon, and at that point, it was impossible for Vigil to continue his mission without blowing his cover.

At the end of the day, the life or death of that kid doesn’t matter. There’s very little chance he had any useful information, Thorian mused as he headed towards the mage court. From all the information we currently have, it’s clear that someone with high enough authority to order the guards is plotting something nefarious. Considering that the kid seems to be part of some rebel group, it’s logical to assume that person is in cahoots with them as well.

While trying to make sense of the web of schemes and plots, Thorian reached the middle gate. Letting out a deep breath, he pushed these thoughts to the back of his mind. The landscape of these politics will become clearer once Nox gives me his report tonight. There’s no use in dwelling on it now.

After his meeting with Vigil, Thorian inquired about the location of the mage court. It was located in the inner city, so Thorian had to traverse the middle city, where the minor nobles resided, through the middle gate, and then make his way into the inner city.

As he approached the gate, the guard raised his spear. “Halt, state your name and business.”

“My name is Alan Smith,” Thorian replied with a polite tone, smiling. “I am on my way to the mage court as a new recruit.”

The guard furrowed his eyebrows. “A young man such as you, recruited to the mage court? Show me your identification, please.”

Hearing those words, Thorian was momentarily stumped. Without showing his distress, he checked his pocket, fully prepared to flee if necessary. Yet, surprisingly, he found an unfamiliar object in his left pocket.

What is this? Thorian raised an eyebrow as he examined the solid piece of white hexagonal metal in his hand, his name engraved on it.

“Oh my, I apologize for my rudeness, Sir Alan. You may proceed,” the guard said, bowing lightly at the sight of the hexagonal piece.

As Thorian passed through the gate, he could hear the guards whispering to each other about his age.

Looks like this Alan Smith fellow was fairly talented, Thorian deduced. That makes my life easier. It would have been a hassle if I had to continuously prove my worth to further my plans.

Looking around, Thorian noticed the stark difference between the outer and middle cities. The outer city's narrow, winding streets were lined with dilapidated wooden houses and littered with uncollected waste. In contrast, the middle city boasted broad, well-maintained streets and sturdy stone houses, their facades clean and orderly. Neatly trimmed hedges and small gardens added a touch of refinement.

Scratching his chin, Thorian made a decision. Since information is paramount to clearing these narrative floors, it's better that I tour this middle city and understand its layout.

With a plan in mind, Thorian spent the next hour and a half making his way around the middle city. In contrast to the outer city’s flea market, the middle city was filled with luxurious shops selling everything from high-end silk and suits to renowned blacksmiths offering top-tier armor and weapons. It also boasted small mansions housing minor nobles and wealthy merchants. Having completed his tour, Thorian made his way to the inner city gate.

“Just follow the road east, and you should reach the mage court in no time,” the guard instructed after checking Thorian’s identification.

Nodding at the guard, Thorian stepped through the grand archway. He was greeted by a wide pristine avenue lined with elegant lampposts and lush greenery. Manicured lawns and vibrant flowerbeds bordered the polished stone pathways, creating an orderly environment. As he followed the road, he passed stately buildings on both sides, each adorned with banners and emblems of the Silverwater house as well as the royal family’s. In the distance, Thorian could hear the rhythmic clink of metal from a training ground and the soft murmur of dignitaries and officials engaged in conversation.

Yet Thorian paid the monuments no mind and followed the road east. Soon, there were no more buildings around him, only a thick and vibrant woods. After running for fifteen minutes, he finally saw signs of civilization again. Atop a tall hill were the golden gates of the mage court.

As Thorian approached the gate, a man in his mid-twenties walked from the other direction. He was wearing a white suit with the emblem of the mage court embroidered on his collar.

“Hey, young man, this is the territory of the mage court. What are you doing here?” the man approached Thorian.

Having experienced something similar at both gates, Thorian took out his identification without a word.

“Oh? I heard the new recruit was a special one, but I didn’t think you’d be this young,” the man said as he checked Thorian’s identification. “Alan Smith? So your father was a blacksmith, yet you were still invited to the mage court at such a young age. He must be truly proud of you.”

“Thank you for your kind words, sir,” Thorian responded with a light bow. “Well then, forgive me but I must proceed to register.”

“Now, now, why the cold shoulder?” the man chuckled. “Let me accompany you to the registration office.”

“Weren’t you just heading out of the court?” Thorian raised an eyebrow at the young man’s sudden change in behavior.

“And then I met a talented person such as yourself,” the young man replied with a smile. “Such is life.”

What a strange young man.

As the two approached the golden gate, the young man addressed the guards, “Open the gates. This man is the mage court’s newest recruit.”

“Right away, young lord,” the guards bowed to the young man, prompting Thorian to raise an eyebrow.

Young lord? Is he the son of a noble? Thorian mused internally.

As the two passed through the gate, the young man coughed, “I still have not properly introduced myself. I am David Silverwater, a senior mage apprentice of the court. If you ever need help in your training or experimentation, do not hesitate to reach out to me.”

Silverwater? Thorian frowned at the familiar name. However, as he recalled the name of the noble house whose territory he had just passed, his eyebrows shot up. “Are you perhaps the son of the duke, young lord? I apologize for any rudeness.”

“Don’t mind it, I prefer it this way. Just call me David,” he laughed heartily. “And no, I’m not the son of the duke. I’m just his nephew.”

How interesting. A noble who disregards hierarchy, Thorian raised an eyebrow. However, as his thoughts drifted, he frowned, But to think that I would meet such a distinguished person just as I step foot inside the mage court’s territory? That’s too outlandish to be a coincidence. Could this be a predetermined encounter by the narrative floor?

As they made their way along the marble white road towards the registration office, David initiated some small talk. “So, what is your elemental affinity, Alan? Or do you perhaps have two?” he asked with a knowing grin.

Hearing this question, Thorian sighed internally, If I reveal that I can control all basic and secondary elements, I’ll stand out too much. I’m not sure how the plotline will progress, and I don’t know if gathering fame will help or hinder me. Plus, this Alan Smith character must have a history in this world. If my abilities differ too much from those recorded at the Arzak Academy, I’ll raise suspicions.

With these thoughts in mind, Thorian decided to show the bare minimum. Raising his staff, he conjured a ball of fire and a ball of wind simultaneously.

“Fire and wind magic? That’s a destructive combination,” David raised an eyebrow in surprise. “And you’re able to cast both elements simultaneously? Your mana control must be exceptional. I see now why you’ve been invited.”

“You honor me too much with your words,” Thorian humbly replied.

“The more I see, the more intrigued I become,” David looked down in thought before smiling. “Would you be interested in joining me for a training session after your registration is complete?”

“Training session?” Thorian inquired. “I don’t mind, but what will we be doing?”

“Well, we will of course go to the combat hall,” David grinned. “I heard you were an adventurer, so the monsters we will be fighting should be familiar to you.”

Combat hall, huh? Thorian pondered, then a realization dawned on him. Wait, if we will be fighting monsters, I can use this opportunity to raise the proficiency of my skills. If I use my time wisely, I might even to upgrade Elemental Synergy by the time this Floor Quest is done.

With a plan in mind, Thorian smiled, “That sounds delightful. I would love to train and exchange pointers with you, Sir David.”