"How much time would it take?" an impatient and arrogant voice of a female sounded in the Potion Hall.
"It's already been a long time since he entered to meditate. I think it should be time." Elora held her rage and replied. Hicka stood behind her, sighed in relief. He was afraid that this Little Boss would lose her temper and do something that would turn the situation worse.
"Do you know how many people want to meet with me?" Zelie said. "It's your brother's honor that I came here myself. But this is how he treats his guests?"
Elora had the urge to scratch that hateful face of Zelie. Who the hell asked you to come here anyway, damn bitch? She suppressed all her curses inside her heart, noticing Hicka's pleading expression.
"It's really a bit careless of Mister Kadyn. Even if he don't respect us we won't mind, but..." a man sitting on a couch glanced at Zelie and sighed regretfully that even a blind person could tell was fake.
"Yeah, we came here with such good intentions, and he is making us wait. That's a bit...sigh," another man occupying a different couch also criticised Kadyn. He wanted to continue, but then he glanced at Elora and fell silent. He had already achieved the result he wanted.
"That's enough!" Zelie said and stood up. "We'll check it out ourselves!"
Both the elders of the Palius and Irabel Family curled their lips in triumph. So what, your father's the leader of the Magic Association's branch in Avibria City? We can still control you with just a few words as we want. Both of them exchanged glances and a deep rivalry flickered inside their eyes.
In Avibria City, three forces were the strongest. Palius Family—whose leader was the Mayor of the city. Irabel Family, the richest family in the city due to their flourishing business and the last was the branch of the Magic Association.
Obviously, the Magic Association branch was the strongest, but they rarely interfered in the matters of the two families. However this time they have found a talented individual like Kadyn. How could they remain neutral and let others snatch him away from them?
So to hire Kadyn all the three strongest forces sent their people here. Other families had no chance to compete with these giants, so they didn't even bother, afraid that it might irritate these people.
"Mr Ephrais Palius, and Mr Sho Irabel," the old man that sat beside Zelie silently all this time, finally spoke, staring at the two elders. "You two are quite reputable individuals. I never knew that you enjoy playing the pig to swallow the tiger."
"What are you talking about, old man?" Sho Irabel said with a little discomfort, sensing the old man's hawk-like eyes, exchanging glances with Ephrais Palius. Neither of them knew who this old man was.
They thought he came just to protect Miss Zelie, but now they were having other thoughts. This old man doesn't look like a protector type. Instead he suddenly gave them a terrible pressure that only their leaders could exert on them, turning their expression confused and sluggish.
"You can pretend all you want," the old man went on with his flat voice. "But remember to not forget your limits or you won't even realise when your head left your body."
The duo trembled when they saw a threatening gleam in his eyes. The old man turned towards Elora and said. "Though they were just trying to incite a little fire among others, they aren't completely false. It's really been quite some time. Lead the way." The old man stood as he said.
"Even Grandpa Yel is bored," Zelie said. "What are you waiting for? Lead the way!"
"Yes, yes, I'll take you there." Hicka heard the cracking sound of Elora's knuckles and said hurriedly. "Please, sir." He glanced at Elora helplessly and led the duo. However other two people didn't move, remaining frozen on the same spot.
"Gra-grandpa Yel? Was that Potioneer Yel?" Ephrais Palius asked with his trembling voice.
"We-we tried to con Miss Zelie in front of him," Sho Irabel said. "Do you think he will come after us?"
"I-I don't know," Ephrais replied with a pale face. "But I don't think he would make things difficult on us afterwards. After all he's a majestic Spell Caster and level 1 Potioneer. Would he stoop low enough to make things difficult on us? If he wanted to kill us, he could have done that with a swipe of his hand."
Sho nodded, and the duo stayed no further, scuttling out of the shop as soon as possible.
Elora heard their conversation, and her eyes went wide. She couldn't believe that the old man was a legendary Spell Caster, and he was also a level 1 potioneer. How shocking was that for an aspirant like her to encounter a level 1 potioneer, who dreamed to reach that level one day?
However the basic requirement to become the level 1 potioneer was to become a level 1 Spell Caster. Most of the people would remain at that level for their entire lives.
"Oh, no!" suddenly she remembered that the old man went to her brother. She knew that her brother's mouth was foul and his temperament wasn't good. Who knew what would happen if he antagonised that old man? Elora dashed out of the Potion Hall, chasing after them.
As the trio walked, the old man lectured Zelie. "You need to control your emotions. Didn't you realise those two cunning foxes were trying to set you against Kadyn, so they could benefit from this?"
"I'm sorry, Grandpa Yel." Zelie put her head low and apologised. Hicka couldn't believe how docile she acted in front of this old man. He must be someone great.
"It's fine as long as you understand." The old man smiled and patted her head lovingly.
"Sir, we are here," Hicka said with a weak voice.
"Alright, ask Kadyn to come out," Grandpa Yel said in a commanding tone.
"Errr…" Hicka felt as if something was stuck inside his throat.
"What err, didn't you hear what Grandpa Yel said?!" Zelie looked at Hicka with a threatening gaze. The poor guy's heart shuddered in terror. He didn't want to disobey these two people, but he also didn't want to disturb his boss. His heart was entangled in a weird struggle.
"Do as they tell you," Elora rushed from behind and told Hicka.
The kid sighed in relief seeing her. He nodded and knocked on the door—no reply. Hicka eyed Elora and again knocked. Still no reply. After five knocks, the old man lost his temper. "Let me see."
Elora turned pale in fright and said. "Elder, let me try." He might be lost in his meditation."
Elder Yel eyed Elora and nodded and stood with his hands behind his back.
Alas, no matter what method did she try—knocking, calling—no one replied from inside.
"Step aside, girl," the old man said and slammed on the door heavily. Then again, and again, and again. Each time his hand landed on the door, the booming noise increased. Elora stepped aside in terror and didn't dare to speak anything.
"This door looks rather solid," he turned towards Elora and said. "Your brother might have faced some trouble in meditation. Do you want me to break this door?"
Elora's breath almost stopped at his words. She never thought about this possibility. However this wasn't impossible, thinking that her face became paler.
The old man saw her sluggish expression and curled his lips in a deep sneer and turned towards the door and a fire burned over his fist—then he slammed on the door without waiting for her reply.
"Boom!"
He thought that the door would shatter in a single punch but… ten times more terrible force than his attack released from the door and crashed over his chest. Blood spattered as the old man was smashed away, screaming in pain, anger, and bewilderment.