It was a new year.
Within the Grand Halls of the Wizards' Quarter, where the Old Wizard spent most of his time, were portals of shaded light that trembled with pure energy.
Afore these portals, two purple pillars stood, each of them glistening in resonance to the energy of the portals.
In betweem both pillars, a baby-faced man with grey hair stood wearing long white garb. His eyes were cloudy, and he clutched a thick wooden staff that doubled as a walking stick.
This man was Rennitus von Faere, the Old Wizard, servant of the Elidias Household.
He had been posted within the Vero Clan, many years ago, and was promptly gifted the Grand Halls of the Clan Leader as his personal abode.
He used the Grand Halls to establish himself and his many apprentices, and also aided the clan as he was instructed to.
But he never went beyond the call of duty. At least, not for anyone but Dorian.
Dorian was the only son of the Clan Leader, and had lost his mother at a young age. He had been transfixed by magic and cultivation from a young age, and would spend almost all his time studying in the Wizard's Quarter.
His curiosity eventually led him to Rennitus, who was shocked at the boy's incredible memory.
Dorian had learned everything of every book he read in the Wizard's Quarter, committing it all to memory- never did he forget.
Rennitus was full of praise for Dorian, and would go above and beyond to help nurture him.
Last year, he had even allowed Dorian early access to the Clan's Trial Grounds, which lay beyond the portals, and denied Dorian's friends.
This showed how biased the Old Wizard was.
As of right now, Rennitus was standing there looking at the portals. There were various desks surrounding the pillars on three sides, with only the portal-side being clear of any objects.
Those desks were covered in a mess of books, papers, scrolls and other such items.
Rennitus took his eyes off the portals for the first time in a while, rubbing them as he yawned and walked over to one of the desks.
"Oh? Merida brought last year's newspapers in? I didn't even hear her come in."
He picked up a folded collection of papers and began skimming through them, looking quite disinterested until he came across a series of articles and eye-witness reports contained within a subsection of one of the papers.
"Reports of a possible Descender in Clent? He cut his own head off, without a drop of blood, then reattached it like it was nothing?"
Rennitus continued with a puzzled frown, skimming through more and more papers.
"Possible Descender arrives on the Ladora Front, walks across the battlefield in light of cannon fire and raging spell techniques? Witnesses say he was struck hundreds of times but made it through unscathed?"
Rennitus pushed some stuff aside and sat on the desk, skimming through more and more papers.
Eventually, he got to the final paper, which was last month's.
On the very front of it, an image of a blurred figure with golden hair, wearing nothing but tattered pants, could be seen walking along a dirt road.
"The Descended Immortal, spotted leaving The Nine Isles and entering the Esterna Empire through the Elidias Duchy."
He kept reading.
"Across a number of months, reports have spread like wildfire regarding the mysterious appearance of a man whom many claim is a descended being."
"Due to the nature of these rumors, many people have speculated that this Descender may be an immortal being from somewhere in the Beginningless Library. As to why they have come to the starting ground to wander the Seven-World Continent, no one can say."
"Speaking on this matter, Ministers of the Esterna Empire, Ladora Empira and The Nine Isles Kingdom have said that, as long as this Descender remains neutral, no action will be taken so as to avoid possibly incurring his ire."
Rennitus kept staring at Gilgamesh's image as a number of emotions flashed in his eyes.
Suddenly, he tossed the paper aside and opened his palm, causing space to open up in front of him.
Out of it, at his whim, a crystal ball arose and settled in his hand.
Focusing on the image of Gilgamesh in his mind, he set about casting a spell, becoming coated in a colorless aura.
"Revalations of Sight; Eyes that Survey, Open and See through!"
The crystal ball became infused with that colorless aura, and images began to flicker inside of it. Soon enough, those scattered images settled on a single, clear image.
This was Gilgamesh, walking through a wide cemetery.
Rennitus leaned forward and focused entirely on the image within the crystal ball.
"He seems young... but his eyes... They look even more ancient than mine but..."
"There is no life in them... Is he even truly alive? Perhaps people think he's immortal because he's an undead."
He continued observing.
"He doesn't seem undead, though. If it's a nature of true energy, he would have to have cultivated it well past the Awakening Realm in order to acheive such effects."
"But he can't be a cultivator either. Revelations of Sight allows me to see through cultivation, and he has none."
Rennitus was at a loss, and he sank further down on the desk.
"What a wild thing, this is."
As he stared, bewildered, at Gilgamesh walking aimlessly, one of the portals wavered before a figure stepped out of it.
This was a young man of fifteen years, with fawn colored eyes and brown hair that fell a little way past his shoulders-- most of it was tied up.
Dorian was wearing plain white clothes, and had tight white sleeves that hugged his muscled arms.
As he came out of the portal, he first looked down at himself, relieved once he saw his spotless white outfit.
"Thank goodness, there's no blood on it. That would have sucked."
His eyes finally settled on the Old Wizard, and he tilted his head as he walked over to him. "Old Man Ren?"
Rennitus did no hear, nor did he even notice Dorian get close to him-- he was transfixed by the image of Gilgamesh walking.
Dorian leaned over and stared down at Gilgamesh too, his eyes sparkling as his mouth fell open, realization plastered across his face.
"That's the Descended Immortal! Where is he now!?"
Finally snapping out of it, Rennitus saw Dorian.
"Oh- ah, yes. He's passing through the Elidias Duchy into the Empire. No one seems to know what he wants."
Dorian nodded.
"He doesn't look like someone that wants much, does he? Look at those eyes. If he even wants something, he must have no idea what it is."
Rennitus gulped. Dorian had always been insightful, but he seemed to see a lot more today.
He then remembered where Dorian had come from, so he cleared his throat and asked, "How was your trial? Did you receive a nature of true energy?"
Dorian's glowing eyes returned to normal when he looked away from Gilgamesh, and he nodded with childlike excitement.
"I did! It's a nature called 'Xerxes!' I got it after clearing the final floor of the Trial Tower."
Rennitus nodded, slightly taken aback.
"Xerxes, huh? That's a name I don't recognize. Perhaps this 'Xerxes' nature that you received was once someone's inherent nature."
Dorian was in awe of the thought. "How cool would that be?"
Rennitus chuckled with a nod, "Very cool indeed."
Dorian then went back to looking at Gilgamesh, and a new kind of sparkly glow came to his eyes.
"I'm going to start meditating on this nature so that I can attune it to my true energy. Then, once it's mine, I'll step right into the Awakening Realm."
Rennitus smiled proudly, "I wish you nothing but luck, Dorian Vero."
Dorian's face wrinkled in disgust, "Blegh! Just Dorian is fine-- oh, you haven't used that nickname in years, you know."
Rennitus blinked, "Has it truly been so long? I suppose it's because you're no longer the little boy that would come here to listen to stories."
Dorian smirked proudly, rubbing his nose.
"Well, be off then, Young Vesa. Work hard at your cultivation, and continue to grow. One day, you shall see more of the Library, but only when you're strong enough to do it."
Rennitus gave Dorian an encouraging punch in the shoulder, and Dorian took a final glance at Gilgamesh before walking out.
When he left the Grand Halls, a mischievous glint sparked in his eyes and he looked off in a certain direction.
"The Elidias Duchy, was it? Great! I can be there and back with him by tomorrow." Dorian started sprinting with all his might and power, easily creating a sonic boom that echoed throughout the Vero Clan.
His body vanished in a blur, heading straight toward Gilgamesh as if by some guidance of fate.
It would not take long before he got to where Gilgamesh was.
As for the Old Wizard, he placed the crystal ball on a stack of papers and started to clear some things off the table.
He noticed the paper with the image of Gilgamesh on it. When he threw it earlier, it had actually fallen off the desk without him realizing.
He picked it up and put it with the rest of the newspapers, then left the room with a cluster of books and scrolls.
It never occurred to him that Dorian had been in the trial for more than half a year, long before the Descended Immortal had been first spotted.
It never occurred to him, that Dorian should have had no idea who Gilgamesh was.