The oil lanterns, suspended from the brick walls, danced with wavering flames as the mage, cloaked in his tailored tailcoat, lifted his luminescent staff. Magic converged at its apex, and soon, four radiant runes materialized, interwoven by delicate threads of arcane energy.
Immediately, they pulsed in unison, flames erupting and swirling like a miniature fiery cyclone. The inferno gleamed brilliantly, condensing into a luminous, blazing sphere.
"Leave now," the mage commanded, his voice dripping with contempt. "The boss has no time for unknown interlopers at his threshold." Despite his age, there was no hint of the gentleness or frailty one might anticipate. His tone was thick with scorn and arrogance.
One after another, the runes on Tia's wand ignited, glowing vibrantly as she lifted it skyward, a clear defiance in her gesture.
'If I don't show them my strength, they will not deal with me as an equal, but instead they will try to scam me.'
Seeing Tia's defiant gesture, the henchmen blanched and hastily stepped aside, clearing a path for the pair. Yet their shouts and jeering smiles betrayed their anticipation of the spectacle to come.
"Fight!"
"Burn her!"
"Haha, the mage boss will destroy her!"
'Conjure connected with fire, and shape linked with the sphere.' Tia immediately realized the identity of the four runes and confirmed that the magic system was similar to the one she remembered.
'It looks like the rules ruling over the laws of magic are the same across the worlds I've visited so far.'
If a magic caster wanted to cast a spell, they had to shape appropriate runes with their magic power. Their composition then dictated the spell's power and effect.
'Maybe I can combine those runes with my esper powers.' She has already confirmed with her wand that the magic runes could still affect her powers. The thought of combining both powers to unleash terrifying hybrid attacks made her heart beat with anticipation.
"Fight! Fight!" Only the loud yells of the mob brought her back to the ground.
From the tip of Tia's wand erupted a brilliant inferno, twisting and turning into a vast disc that illuminated every corner of the storage area, reminiscent of a fiery maelstrom from the netherworld.
The raucous laughter and clamor of the mobsters were instantly extinguished, replaced by a heavy silence punctuated only by collective gasps of shock. Their eyes, once gleeful, now widened in dread, realizing the catastrophic fallout should the two casters fight. They knew all too well that they could easily become the unintended victims of such a showdown.
"Haha!" the elderly mage chuckled, lowering his cane. With a gesture, the raging flames disappeared into thin air. "Very well, the boss will see you."
With a casual flick of her wrist, Tia's blazing inferno fizzled out as well. The heavy atmosphere was punctuated by audible sighs of relief and the darkness that fell after the flames were extinguished.
'Finally, we are done with this charade.'
Her point had been made clear: she was not to be underestimated. The sheer display of her power had ensured her a seat at the negotiating table.
Tia and the elder mage walked forward as they navigated through the pack of mobsters, who looked on with a mix of awe and apprehension.
The path led them to an unassuming wooden door.
"After you," he remarked gracefully, using his cane to gesture toward the entrance. With a gentle push, he held it open for her to pass.
'Nice, he is a gentleman now. Oh, the old good times, when people weren't like animals.'
As she stepped through the threshold, the mage aligned himself next to the door, assuming the stance of a vigilant sentinel.
Inside the dimly lit room, a distinguished, dark-haired gentleman sat poised behind an ornate desk. Dressed in a charcoal-grey pinstriped suit, he appeared as though he'd stepped out of another era. A glint of gold dangled from his pocket — the chain of a vintage pocket watch. The soft glow from a desk lamp illuminated his relatively aged face, casting a shimmer on the flawless monocle that adorned his right eye.
He lifted his gaze from the desk, his fingers gently caressing his ebony mustache.
"Stan, some people call me Daddy Stan," he began, his voice tinged with a refined accent. "It is indeed a rare delight to encounter a lady of such exquisite charm in this part of the city." With a graceful sweep of his arm, he motioned towards the awaiting chair. "Do be so kind as to take a seat, miss."
'Wow, I was expecting something else.' Tia couldn't help but be surprised at how classy the old gangster was. He was like someone cut straight out of some old movie when even criminals acted with more grandeur than even the rich of the current intergalactic era.
"Pleasure to meet you, mister... Stan, was it?" The entire atmosphere made even her want to act as if she fit inside instead of her usual rowdy behavior.
One by one, she set down gleaming platinum plates onto the mahogany surface, their lustrous sheen reflecting the warm glow of the lamp overhead.
Stan's fingers danced over his well-groomed mustache, attempting to mask the flicker of avarice in his eyes. "Miss? Pray to tell, what transaction demands such a generous remuneration?"
"I am looking for a spatial storage magical artifact."
For the first time, the man's composure vanished as the corners of his mouth twitched. "Miss, this is..."
"If it isn't enough, I can also offer something extra." With a smirk, she placed two small metallic circles, each only as large as a small coin. With a wave of her hand, two screens projected out.
Stan leaned forward, and Tia saw with the corner of her eye that even the mage guarding the door moved to see what was happening.
She spoke, her tone as grandiose and overbearing as she could: "This is a great magic artifact found deep under a sea. It carries various powers! For an example, it can be used to speed up calculations! Also, their holders can communicate at any distance, protected from all magic taping!"
Seeing their astonished faces, she almost burst into laughter. 'It is just a toy for kids...'