The gaze cast at him was full of sympathy—including the dragon. Everyone knows that this pie falling from the sky will only smash people's heads and bleed...... Even the two mages couldn't get the slightest jealousy.

Storbell stayed there with a blank face, and there was no joy in his heart, and even a faint anger rose. The title of "Lord of the Tower", a symbol of power and glory and once belonged to Santo the Stone Shaper, was thus abandoned by Verona as a joke...... Whatever the reason, it was hard for him to accept.

For a moment he almost wanted to turn away, but something left him where he was. Verona never took back what he said, and if he had made up his mind, he would have left it alone......

The mage looked around. Except for the library, the entire Archmage Tower was still pitch black and silent. Under the misty moonlight, countless black-gray traces could be faintly seen, meandering all over the minaret and the ground, like scorched lines...... Like a dead vine, it is still tightly wrapped around a tree that has lost its vitality.

At this moment, no one can be sure how much they have lost in this short period of half a day, and no one knows how to go forward in the future.

He had always felt that he didn't have too deep feelings for the Archmage Tower. After Santo's death, he was ostracized for decades, consciously or unconsciously, and the thought of leaving was born more than once...... He had never expected to take on such a responsibility. But now, if he refuses, what will become of this miraculous place that he had looked up to with awe in his childhood?

After all, he was the last disciple of the Stone Shaper...... The gentle old man had never put any pressure on him, but he could not watch his hard work turn to ashes.

Stobel stood up and smiled at Ed.

"I wonder if I'll be lucky enough to ......," he said, "and invite you two to the ceremony?"

.

Around the stone platform, the crowd dispersed a little, and the glass shards on the ground were cleaned up...... But that's about it.

What was originally a solemn and intricate ritual was reduced to almost the last step. When Storbell walked in front of Verona, all the silent gaze fell on him, and he was almost suffocated by a mixture of emotions.

The mage straightened his shoulders and watched as Verona untied the key that hung on his chest and handed it to him.

The bronze key is engraved with the emblem of the Archmage Tower, which is thick and simple, without a trace of wear. That's just a sign - the Tower doesn't need a key to open.

He took the key with a calm expression, but his hand still shook slightly as if it had been burned.

Verona looked at him for a moment, his cloudy eyes as mocking as usual. But when he bowed his head slightly and saluted the new owner of the Tower, the wrinkles on his face showed a peace and relief that he had almost never felt before.

Stobel was stunned for a moment. This is not part of the ritual – the previous owner of the Tower is not required to salute his successor...... What's more, Verona is much older than him.

He returned the salute solemnly, finally realizing something, but Verona did not give him a chance to ask.

"Do what you have to do. He said, as if exhausted, his voice so low that he could barely hear it, "I'll stay in the Mithril Hall first...... Send someone to the practice room at the bottom of the tower, those idiots must have woken up by now. ”

Stobel was silent—So, did he lock up all the other mages who were in the Tower?! though that was probably a kind of protection......

Before he could speak, the old mage turned his head and stretched out his hand to Is, who was standing aside.

"What a beautiful young man!" he complimented, "can you come and help an old man like me?"

Iss just stared at him coldly - he didn't believe that the "old man" didn't know who he was, and he wasn't interested in playing any games with him.

Ed had no choice but to walk over silently and hold the old man's arm, but he couldn't help but glance back at Stobel.

"He doesn't need your help. Verona said nonchalantly, "At least not now." ”

Ed was slightly stunned and understood.

As "spectators" who would never normally be invited to the ceremony, he and Iss received no less attention than Stobel, and there was something in those eyes that he was familiar with—rejection and vigilance.

And that's not just because Is's is a dragon and he's a priest. Archmage Tari is only human, but in fact he is more xenophobic than Grivar, even though they have a good relationship with Stobel...... Even at such times, their "help" may not be welcome.

If you want to stay here and learn more, it would be better to stay with Verona.

.

The Mithril Room is one of the most heavily guarded places in the library. Instead of precious books, there are all sorts of magical items hidden here—not the most powerful ones, of course, but each with its own characteristics. Iss reluctantly followed, and was soon attracted to a strange thing.

It looked like a strange statue, like a trap that had been torn apart, with many complex parts connected and snapping together, but there was no use at all.

"Do you see that?" asked Verona, huddled back in a comfortable soft chair and smiling.

He asked too casually, and Iss replied casually, "...... There's no magic at all. ”

"Ah, indeed, that's more like a ...... Tool. ”

Verona's tone was relaxed and easy-going, as if she had changed into a different person, which made Ed a little furious.

"As long as you master the method, you don't need what you call 'magic', and that thing can tell you where the sun, moon and stars are in the future or at some point in the past—although there are not many stars that can be predicted. The old mage said, "Santo the Stone Shaper created it...... But it's been here for decades, and not many people are interested in it. After all, it can do it, and there is an easier way for a mage to do it. ”

“...... So, why did Santo create it?" asked Ed.

"A question of where it gets right...... Like Stobel, you're good at talking to people. Verona's smile was teasing, but not sarcastic, as if all the awkwardness and edges of the strange old man had disappeared with the key that had been given to Stobel.

"Because magic will cease to exist?" Eder continued softly.

Verona, however, shook his head and gave a completely different answer than what he himself had said not long ago:

"Maybe it's in a different form...... But the magic will always be there. ”

Ed hung his head thoughtfully, but Eth chuckled lowly.

"So," he asked, "what 'form' of magic is it that makes you so dead...... And yet you can move freely?"

.