Chapter 172: Departure
At this thought, Horne's already grim face turned deathly pale...
Because, Horne finally understood.
Recently, the most sensational event at Cloudspire Tower was undoubtedly the breakthrough in Vanrison's Formulas. Star Sage Joey had spent twenty years to finally prove that for centuries, the mages of Northend had been treading a mistaken path. This has had immeasurable effects on both Cloudspire Tower and the entire world of Northend.
Although Horne had only just returned from the Pale Plane, he could still feel the impact while in Auckland. Tens of thousands of mages praised Star Sage Joey, thanking him for using his wisdom to illuminate a new path for countless mages—including even the rival Black Tower mages...
Now, Star Sage Joey's influence in Auckland had reached its peak.
However, within Cloudspire Tower, another rumor was circulating—that the greatest contributor to cracking Vanrison's Formulas was actually a young mage.
Back then, Horne certainly refused to believe it...
When it came to Vanrison's Formulas, Star Sage Joey was already the greatest authority in the Andalusia Kingdom. No one could compare to him. If there was a problem even Star Sage Joey couldn't solve, who else could? Not to mention some young mage whose name he'd never even heard— even the top Title Archmages of the major mage factions had to bow their heads before Star Sage Joey.
Yet, as soon as Horne finished listing his reasons, a few familiar Archmages started looking at him with sympathetic eyes...
Horne remembered what they said at the time...
"What a pity, you missed the chance to witness a miracle firsthand."
Now Horne finally knew who that young mage was—the one who assisted Star Sage Joey in cracking Vanrison's Formulas and stunned the Cloudspire Tower Archmages with a miracle...
That's right, it was Matthew Merlin standing before him.
Truth be told, the only reason he could sit as the Head of the Magic Department was because Matthew Merlin intervened, moving up the breakthrough in Vanrison's Formulas by over a decade. Otherwise, he might've been stuck in the Pale Plane indefinitely, waiting for Star Sage Joey to solve the formulas before escaping the grunt work and returning to Cloudspire Tower as department head...
Yet, out of a moment's anger, he had come knocking—demanding not only that Matthew Merlin break Leon's Mana Harness, but also that he keep Leon's magic sealed for three years.
Thank goodness, thank goodness...
Thank goodness Star Sage Joey showed up...
If Star Sage Joey hadn't appeared in time, he would've already started the fight. According to the battle model analysis, five minutes later, Matthew Merlin would have sacrificed three Soulbound Relics to drag a ninth-level Archmage like himself down with him...
Just thinking about that outcome made cold sweat break out on Horne's forehead.
"Get yourself back to Cloudspire Tower!" Joey shooed him off as if chasing away a fly. "If I see you in Seaview City again, you know what the consequences will be..."
"Yes, yes, yes, Star Sage Joey, I'm leaving Seaview City right away..." Horne wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and led Leon Merlin out of the Gilded Rose's main hall. Passing by Leon, he managed a sheepish apology: "Sorry, Mage Merlin..."
With that, Horne and Leon Merlin left the Gilded Rose...
"Teacher, why did Star Sage Joey..." Leon Merlin finally couldn't hold back after leaving the Gilded Rose.
Leon Merlin still couldn't understand why Joey appeared at the Gilded Rose, or why Joey was so protective of Matthew Merlin.
After all, Matthew Merlin's father was just a small-time merchant. He might have been well-known in Seaview City, but in Auckland he was nobody. Besides, the merchant had died long ago. Nowadays, Matthew Merlin's identity hadn't even been acknowledged by the Merlin Family; aside from a Nether Iron Vein, he had nothing worth mentioning.
Even Leon Merlin, ignorant as he might be, knew that a Nether Iron Vein meant little to someone like Joey—no more valuable than a head of cabbage.
What could possibly make Star Sage Joey personally protect him?
No matter how much Leon Merlin thought about it, he just couldn't figure it out...
"Shut up!" Horne snapped, glaring him into silence as soon as he started to speak.
Originally, Leon Merlin was the clear successor in Horne's eyes, but now—for reasons he couldn't quite name—Horne suddenly found his disciple increasingly disagreeable...
Looks like, once he got back, he'd have to reconsider. Leon might have outstanding magical talent, but his temperament and judgment were just awful...
Can't you see what Star Sage Joey's attitude is? And you're still foolish enough to ask why...
Fine, once they're back at Cloudspire Tower, he'll help Leon break the Mana Harness. But as for who will inherit his mantle, that would have to be reconsidered. Someone with a temperament and judgment like Leon's wouldn't achieve much, even if he did pass down his legacy.
Leon Merlin had no idea that his trip to Seaview City had not only left his magic sealed, but also cost him a golden opportunity.
Meanwhile, in the Gilded Rose's hall, Leon glanced at Joey from afar and chuckled softly. "Heh..."
Joey caught Leon's look and offered an awkward laugh in return...
Because Joey knew his intentions had already been seen through.
Horne, after all, was a ninth-level Archmage. Even in a place like Cloudspire Tower, he was considered a pillar of strength. Otherwise, Joey wouldn't have promoted him to Head of the Magic Department after he finished his work in the Pale Plane—a position among the most important at Cloudspire Tower, overseeing the tower's interplanar expansion plans.
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For any faction, interplanar expansion is of utmost importance. The fact that Joey placed Horne in this position showed just how much he valued him.
Put simply, as long as Horne could make a mark in this role, he'd eventually join the Cloudspire Council. Maybe, centuries from now, he could even vie for the seat Joey would leave behind.
And yet, for some reason, that idiot had come to Seaview City to provoke Merlin.
Just thinking about it made Joey's head ache. To others, Merlin was just a fifth-level Grand Mage—talented, but nothing special, not even part of a powerful faction. But Joey knew this young Grand Mage's true potential went far beyond that...
Take his astonishing calculation ability shown during the Vanrison's Formulas breakthrough—it was far beyond what a fifth-level Grand Mage should possess. And just now, Merlin had built a battle model almost simultaneously with Joey himself. What did that mean? It meant Merlin already matched Joey's ability in constructing battle models...
Someone like that could reach heights far beyond a Title Archmage...
At that point, Horne would be the one left regretting.
Just imagine...
Many, many years from now, Horne has joined the Cloudspire Council, become one of the highest authorities in Cloudspire Tower, his every word shaping the fate of countless mages—only to suddenly realize that the young mage he once carelessly offended now stands at a level that looks down on him. How would Horne feel then?
If Merlin were forgiving, it wouldn't matter much. But if he were the vengeful type, then not just Horne—the entire Cloudspire Tower might be in trouble...