After several hours of travel, Zatiel and Ezequiel finally returned to the Magic Tower. Each carried an enormous bag slung across their back, the weight of their harvest evident in the heavy thuds the sacks made as they shifted.
The moment they stepped onto the first floor, the air seemed to change. Dozens of apprentices turned to look, their eyes drawn to the oversized bags. Whispers rippled across the hall—murmurs tinged with both curiosity and envy. Some gazes were sharp with greed, lingering a little too long on the bulging sacks.
But no one dared approach. Everyone in the Tower had heard stories about the pair—of missions completed with startling speed, of dangerous creatures slain with unnatural ease. Those rumors had only grown since they had both entered the Endless Forest. The thought of challenging either one was foolish enough. To challenge them together was suicide.
Zatiel paid the onlookers no mind. In fact, he had chosen not to use his newly acquired spatial sack precisely for this reason. He wanted its existence hidden, at least for now, and carrying the materials openly provided an excuse for why he hadn't returned sooner.
He led the way to a familiar corner where Old Hal, the Tower's task overseer, sat behind his desk. The elderly man looked up from a ledger, his sharp eyes glinting as he took in the sight before him.
"So," Old Hal said, voice dry but tinged with amusement, "you've returned already… and with quite the haul. You two certainly know how to stand out among the apprentices." His gaze lingered on the bags, as if calculating the value of their contents.
"You could say that," Zatiel replied evenly. "We've come to deliver the mission materials—and I'd like to know if you can also handle the magical equipment we're selling."
Old Hal's brow arched slightly. "I can process the mission materials immediately. But are you certain you want to sell the rest directly to the Tower? You could fetch a higher price by trading with other apprentices."
"Trading would be a waste of time," Zatiel said flatly. "I'd rather dispose of everything in one go." Efficiency mattered more to him than squeezing out a few extra crystals.
"Very well," Old Hal said, shrugging. "Let's begin, then."
As the old man began sorting through the bags, examining each item with practiced precision, Zatiel turned to Ezequiel.
"Little EZ," he began, "I'll be spending the next while focused entirely on rune crafting. You should use this time to find something that interests you and study it. Professions like alchemy, enchanting, and forging might not seem vital now, given our physical power—but later on, they'll become far more valuable than brute strength alone."
Ezequiel considered the advice seriously. He had never doubted Zatiel's judgment, and if his master said it was important, it was worth pursuing. He wandered over to the Tower's course listings and spent several minutes scanning the offerings before returning.
"I've made my choice," he said. "I want to learn how to create magical equipment."
Zatiel's brows lifted. "Are you certain? Equipment crafting is no small undertaking. It's one of the most challenging paths—second only to rune crafting in complexity." His tone was calm, but there was a subtle note of warning.
He knew from experience that crafting magical items required immense patience, steady hands, and a deep understanding of both magical theory and practical application. Without his own A.I. Chip to guide him, even he might have struggled in his early years.
"I'm sure," Ezequiel said simply, his eyes steady. There was no hesitation in his voice.
A small smile tugged at Zatiel's lips. Pride, faint but genuine, stirred in him. "Headstrong as ever," he said, ruffling the younger man's hair in a rare gesture of familiarity.
Ezequiel endured it with only a mild look of discomfort.
"Well," Zatiel said, "I don't know much about magical crafting myself, but if you need help, ask. I'll do what I can."
Ezequiel nodded, the exchange between them quiet but warm.
Before long, Old Hal finished his work. "Everything's been assessed. Your merit points have been added to your Tower accounts. As for the mission's crystal reward and the equipment sales…" He tapped his ledger. "A total of 2,160 magic crystals. You can take them now or deposit them with the Tower."
"How convenient," Zatiel said. "Deposit them into an account accessible to both me and Ezequiel."
That earned him an odd look from the old man. "Hmph. Not often I see that. Most teams don't share accounts unless one of them has leverage over the other." He eyed the pair, clearly noting there was no such dynamic here. "Still… none of my business."
He touched the crystal on his desk, and a faint flash passed between it and the smaller ones carried by Zatiel and Ezequiel. "Done. Those crystals can be used to monitor your account balance and make payments within the Tower."
"Good. Now—where can I acquire rune crafting tools and Rank 0 rune diagrams?" Zatiel asked.
Old Hal blinked in mild surprise. "Before, you'd have needed to barter with other apprentices and hope for luck. But with over fifteen hundred crystals in your account, you can go straight to the storage on the third floor. Exchange your crystals or merit points for whatever you need there. Use the same portal you took to reach the second floor—just tell it you're going to the third."
"Perfect. Thanks for the help, Old Hal." Zatiel inclined his head slightly and turned toward the portal, gesturing for Ezequiel to follow.
As they walked, Zatiel spoke quietly. "Ezequiel, check the schedule for crafting courses and sign up for anything that catches your attention. Don't worry about cost—once I've purchased what I need, you can use the rest of the crystals freely. If something comes up, contact me through the core."
"Yes, Master," Ezequiel said, already scanning the Tower's postings for course times and materials lists.
The two moved deeper into the Tower's upper levels, each with their own goals—but united in their quiet, deliberate march toward greater power.