Leo froze, the book still clutched in his hand. He didn't know how to react—was he supposed to be more shocked that Ryan, an A-rank, had been tossed around like a ragdoll, or that this woman was the most powerful illusionist in the world?
"And who is this mute kid?"
Her sharp words snapped him back to reality. He quickly bowed slightly. "I'm Victor Black, madam."
She raised an eyebrow. "And what is your real name?"
Leo stiffened. 'How does she know?' He glanced at Ryan, but his friend remained silent. A bead of sweat rolled down his forehead before he finally spoke. "It's Leo Mantine."
"And?" Her voice was firm, expectant.
Leo swallowed. "I want to be your student."
Alexia stepped toward him, her piercing gaze drilling into his very soul.
"Why should I, the greatest and only S-rank illusionist, accept a mere C-rank as my student?"
Before he could even process his last shock, another one hit him like a thunderbolt, she was an
S-rank. Her scrutinizing gaze dropped to the book in his hands.
"Why did you choose that one, out of all the others?"
Caught off guard by the question, Leo quickly gathered his thoughts.
"Because of the title. I thought it would help me control my mana better."
Her eyes locked onto his again, and for a long, silent moment, she simply observed him. Then, finally, she spoke.
"You chose the right book. And… there's something strange about your aura." She paused. "Fine. I'll give you a chance."
A grin broke out on both Leo's and Ryan's faces.
"The first step of your test," Alexia continued, "is to follow me to the yard."
'That's it?'
Leo hesitated, but as soon as he took his first step, he realized what she meant. The world around him twisted and distorted. The door, which had been just a few meters away, suddenly stretched into the distance, now seeming a hundred meters away.
'An Illusion? She's testing me with an Illusion?'
"What's wrong?" Alexia's voice was calm, almost amused. "Aren't you going to follow?"
Leo gritted his teeth and activated Courage and Calm to sharpen his focus. He took another step forward—crossing what felt like fifty meters in an instant—and his stomach lurched. He barely stopped himself from throwing up.
He channeled mana, attempting to dispel the illusion, but it was useless. Each step felt heavier, the distance stretching endlessly. Sweat trickled down his forehead.
"If you're planning to walk that slow, maybe you should just guide yourself to the exit," Alexia taunted.
Leo clenched his fists. 'Think, Leo. Think like an illusionist.' An idea formed in his head.
With intense concentration, he gathered his mana and activated Mind Control—on himself. Using its effects, he dulled the Illusion's grip on his senses.
The world shifted slightly, the distortion lessening. He exhaled sharply and took another step—this time, it felt normal.
He smirked. "No, I'm fine. Let's go to the yard."
A small smile played on Alexia's lips. Without another word, she turned and walked. Ryan followed.
Leo stepped into the yard, and as soon as he did, the Illusion completely shattered. The world snapped back to normal.
"If you want to be my student, you need to prove four things. The first one was talent, which you've already demonstrated. The second is mana capacity. Show me how much mana you have."
As she finished speaking, the middle of the yard began to tremble. The dirt shifted aside, clearing away to reveal a large circular crystal embedded in the ground. Leo immediately recognized its purpose—it was used to measure mana reserves. Without hesitation, he stepped forward and placed his hand on the crystal. The moment he did, it started drawing mana from his body.
His expression twisted in discomfort. The sensation of his mana being pulled out was deeply unpleasant. It took only ten minutes before he finally removed his hand from the crystal.
"I see you know better than to let your mana run completely dry," she said, pausing for a moment before continuing. "Your mana reserve isn't very large, but it's enough."
Without waiting, she started walking again. "Next is knowledge."
They exited the yard through a different door and entered another room inside the building. Alexia sat down and gestured for Leo to take a seat across from her. A piece of paper appeared on the table in front of him.
"It's just an exam," she said.
Leo picked up the paper. Like his paladin exam, it contained questions on math and basic knowledge, but this test was far more challenging. It included other subjects too—illusion magic and related topics. Despite the difficulty, Leo had spent countless hours studying. He had even created his own spells. Thanks to his preparation, it took him only about thirty minutes to finish the exam.
When he set the paper down, Alexia smiled without even glancing at it. "Good job. You're already doing better than Ryan did when he first came here."
Ryan didn't respond; he continued to watch silently.
"Stand up. It's time for your final test."
Leo rose from his chair, and as soon as he did, the table and chair vanished. Alexia's expression turned more serious than ever.
"The last test is endurance. Try to stay conscious."
Before Leo could respond, a surge of mana erupted from Alexia's body, causing the entire room to tremble.
Leo's body froze in place. He recognized this overwhelming pressure—it was just like the time when he had been carrying Elna, and the S-rank mage Ryan had mentioned released her mana. Back then, if Captain Edmond hadn't activated that defensive spell, Leo wouldn't have been able to move at all and he was hundreds of meters away from her.
His legs began to shake under the crushing weight of Alexia's mana. Even breathing became difficult; standing felt nearly impossible.
Realizing he wouldn't last much longer, Leo focused all his remaining energy on directing his mana toward his head. Moments later, his legs buckled, and he collapsed to his knees. Sweat poured from his body, but he kept his focus sharp, forcing himself to stay conscious.
Despite his efforts, it felt impossible. His thoughts grew sluggish, his mana slipped from his control, and his body turned rigid. Just as he was about to black out, a familiar force surged through him—it was the power of his domain. Compared to the overwhelming pressure around him, it felt small, but it was enough to steady his mind.
Memories of his goals, his family, his old world, and Elna flooded his thoughts. Determination flared inside him. Drawing on every ounce of strength he had left, he fought to remain awake.
He gritted his teeth, sweat soaking the ground beneath him, and endured. Slowly, Alexia's overwhelming mana pressure began to fade.
Within the next minute, the pressure vanished completely, as if it had never been there. A smile returned to Alexia's face. "Well done," she said, rising smoothly to her feet. "Let's go."
"Where?" Leo asked, blinking in surprise.
"To the Upper City, of course."
A mixture of excitement and confusion crossed Leo's face at her unexpected answer.
"I'll leave the rest to you, master," Ryan said, stepping back with a casual nod.
"You're leaving?" Leo frowned.
"My job was to bring you here. I still have plenty of tasks to handle," Ryan replied.
Leo hesitated, then lifted his hand. "Thank you."
Ryan grasped it firmly, flashing a grin. "You're welcome."
"Master..."
"Get lost," Alexia snapped, her tone sharp. "And remember, if you summon me like that again, you're dead."
An awkward, almost nervous smile spread across Ryan's face at her words.
Leaving him behind in the room, Leo followed Alexia into another chamber. At the center of the floor, a large magic circle pulsed with faint light. Without a word, she stepped onto it, and Leo followed. The circle flared to life, and in an instant, they were transported to the Upper City.
The new room was cleaner, more refined, with polished stone walls and elegant sconces casting warm light. Leo trailed behind Alexia as she led him into a wide corridor of the building. The place was sprawling, filled with countless rooms, though most seemed empty and silent. Their footsteps echoed softly against the marble floor.
Eventually, they arrived at a grand hall, spacious and open, with an impressive staircase leading down to the lower floor. At the base of the stairs stood three maids dressed in fine uniforms and a man in a tailored black suit. As soon as they spotted Alexia descending, all four bowed deeply in respect.
"My Lady, who is this young man?" the butler asked, his voice smooth and formal.
"He is my new student," Alexia replied calmly.
A flicker of surprise crossed all their faces, especially the butler's.
The man stepped toward Leo, resting a hand firmly on his shoulder. "Son, do you have a death wish?"
Before Leo could respond, the man's body suddenly lifted off the ground and shot backwards like a cannonball, slamming hard against the wall behind him. His pained yell echoed through the hall.
"That's Klaus Moser. He's my butler," Alexia explained, as if nothing unusual had happened.
Leo watched, wide-eyed, as Klaus got back to his feet, brushed the dust off his immaculate suit, and straightened his posture as though this sort of treatment was routine.
"Show Victor to his room, get him ready, and bring him back to me," Alexia instructed, already turning to walk away.
Leo blinked, surprised to hear her use his new name.
"This way, Mr. Victor," Klaus said, gesturing politely.
Leo followed Klaus and the three maids as they made their way to a corridor opposite the one Alexia had taken. The hallway here was slightly narrower, lined with ornate lamps and portraits of unknown figures, giving it a dignified, almost intimidating atmosphere.
"A few tips if you want to survive here," Klaus began, his tone dropping lower as they walked. "First, never go upstairs alone. This place is full of mysteries. You're inside the tower of one of the three Grand Magistrates of the Kingdom of Magic—Lady Alexia Clayden, the Phantom Oracle."
"A Grand Magistrate?" Leo repeated, eyes narrowing with curiosity.
"They are the most powerful mages in the kingdom," Klaus confirmed.
"What about 'Phantom Oracle'? Is that her title?"
Klaus gave him a sharp glance. "What rank are you?"
"C-plus."
"That explains it."
Leo frowned. "Explains what?"
Klaus inhaled slowly, as if choosing his words. "In this tower, even at your level, you're spared from certain... influences. So, I'll tell you. After A-rank, every mage must choose a sub-path for their spells. Without it, you'll drown in the endless sea of possibilities."
"Sub-path? How many are there?"
"Hard to say. Hundreds, maybe."
"So, Phantom Oracle is a sub-path?"
"Not exactly," Klaus corrected. "At A-rank, sub-paths are more standardized. But in S-rank, the mages are so powerful they forge their own unique paths. No two S-rank mages share the same path. Each one is like a legend in their own right."
"Forged?" Leo murmured, half to himself. The thought sent a thrill through him. 'They're like gods...' He couldn't help but feel a spark of excitement about the future and his own potential path.
They stopped in front of a large door. Klaus pushed it open, revealing a spacious and elegant bedroom.
"This is your room."
The room was enormous, with a grand bed draped in fine fabrics at its center. To one side stood an ornate dresser and an empty bookshelf waiting to be filled. A luxurious bathroom was attached, and nearby, two chairs and a carved table sat invitingly. The furniture and decorations were clearly crafted from expensive materials—fit for nobility.
Near the dresser was a decorative folding screen. Two of the maids slipped behind it, rustling as they prepared clothing and accessories, while the third gestured toward the bathroom.
"This way," she said softly.
Leo followed her, but the two maids trailed close behind.
"Hey, I can handle a bath by myself," Leo protested.
"We will assist," the maid replied without hesitation.
Before Leo could argue further, they had already begun undressing him with practiced efficiency. Within moments, he found himself standing naked as the maids worked to wash him, their movements quick and professional.
'Well, this is new,' Leo thought, caught between embarrassment and resignation.
Once they finished, they led him behind the divider, where fresh clothes awaited. The garments were fine and perfectly fitted.
"Ahem." Klaus cleared his throat to recapture Leo's attention. "As I was saying, this place—especially the upper floors—is a mystery. It keeps shifting and rearranging itself. If you go up there alone, you might never find your way back."
Leo stepped out from behind the divider, adjusting the cuffs of his freshly changed white shirt. It was still slightly rumpled, riding up just enough to reveal a glimpse of his well-defined stomach.
"I see you've got a solid build too," Klaus remarked, a hint of approval in his voice.
One of the maids quickly stepped forward, her movements precise as she smoothed out Leo's shirt and tucked it properly into place.
"My third path is Warrior," Leo replied, his tone calm but firm.
"Third path?" Klaus raised an eyebrow, visibly impressed. "Now that is quite something."
"What's your rank, Mr. Klaus?" Leo asked curiously, knowing that this butler wasn't ordinary.
"I'm a B-plus Alchemist," Klaus answered. "And also a Warrior, like yourself."
"I see," Leo responded, mentally noting the man's dual path.
The maid finished adjusting his clothes, then stepped back in line without a word, her expression neutral and disciplined.
"You're fortunate," Klaus continued, walking ahead slowly, gesturing for Leo to follow. "Most mages stick to two paths at most, but having three means you either have great talent… or an appetite for risk."
Leo followed him down the corridor, glancing around at the elegant décor and wondering how many hidden dangers this place truly held.