When we got up the next day, I gave Elaria some gold for her to rent us an apartment. I could have had her buy a house, but I wanted to see how many mana stones I could buy with the gold I had remaining from the bandits and Schmucks.
I had to go to the magic tower today, and meet Herbert today. Lila decided to come with me.
After the girls ate at the bakery again, we went our separate ways, Lila and I walked toward the magic tower.
When we entered the magic tower, we were greeted by the man who took us up yesterday, and he sent us up to the top floor.
On the elevator ride up, I let Lila jump as much as she wanted. I remembered when I used to also, there's just something fun about it, especially on the way down. She'll have to try that later.
We reached the top floor, and I opened one of the big doors, letting Lila go in first and sit down, then I followed.
Herbert came from behind his desk towards the door.
"I'll just show you around the tower today; it's big, so it'll take a while."
I nodded, "Alright, I'll follow you."
Lila got up and followed me as we walked out the door and turned left.
He pointed at a door that was off to the side of his office.
"This is a place where the tower master can live if they want; every tower master renovates it to their liking. There is quite a large space inside to work with."
We didn't go in and walked by, and I saw more doors, "There are several standardized guest apartments for when important guests come to visit; they are all the same, I'll show you one."
He opened the door, and we walked in; just the living room was the size of the house I grew up in!
More like a guest mansion. It even had a second floor inside.
As we walked through, he told us some things to know.
"Each apartment has its staff; when no one is here, they come clean once a week. If someone is here, they will cook, clean, or do whatever the guest wants them to do."
We left the apartment and went back the way we came, passing the office he uses before coming to what looked like a vault with loads of magic circuits on the door and two guards stationed next to it.
"This is where we store some of the more precious things, but you'll have to learn all about those after becoming the tower master. The security circuits were made by a 10th circle mage, so it is one of the most secure places on the planet."
We went back and down the elevator all the way to the first floor. Lila tried jumping and seemed to enjoy the strange feeling.
We reached the 1st floor, which was mostly just a giant library with several librarians to help customers looking for spells. The part that wasn't a library had some tables and also a store for basic potions and magic items. If you wanted more advanced items or potions, they could also be ordered there.
The only spells in the library on the first floor were basic 1st to 3rd circle spells that could be purchased by anyone.
There was also a small place selling food if people got hungry while studying.
The 2nd floor was a place where people could rent alchemy stations and buy materials.
The 3rd floor was the same as the 2nd but for artifact refining.
The 4th floor was for alchemy done by people who work for the tower.
The 5th was for the tower's artifact refiners.
The 6th contains level 1-7 spells that can be accessed by people with proper permissions.
The 7th and 8th were the same but with stricter permissions on each floor going up.
The 9th was where the tower worked on secret projects like new potions, artifacts, circuits, and spells.
Finally, the 10th floor with the office and apartments we'd already seen.
By the time we'd finished with it all, it was a little past time for lunch, and Lila went down to the first floor to eat.
When Herbert and I were in his office, and he was telling me a bit more for the day, he got a call on his communicator.
"Something happened on the first floor they need me for; you come also."
I started worrying about Lila and used my ring to ask, "Is everything okay down there?"
"Mhm, evshis vine" Well, it must be if her mouth is full.
We went down to the first floor and saw there was a crowd next to where the tables were. They parted for the tower master as he walked closer, and I saw the problem.
All the tables were empty except two; at one, there was a middle-aged man wearing glasses who was reading a book while sipping tea, ignoring the scene around.
At the other, Lila was standing next to it holding her plate in one hand and fork in the other, eating quickly while taking a drink of water that was on the table next to her every once in a while. I also saw what caused the commotion.
Under one of her boots was the head of a young guy who was lying prone on the floor, unable to get up due to Lila's gravity magic and the boot on his head.
We walked up to her, and the man reading the book glanced up at us.
He looked at Herbert, "It's not really her fault father," he returned to reading.
I remembered Herbert saying he wished he could get a daughter-in-law as talented as Lila, so this must be his son.
I looked at Lila who had yet to notice us and raised an eyebrow, "You call this 'everything's fine'?"
Lila looked up from her food and smiled, "He bothered me too many times but can't anymore, therefore, everything's fine."
I shook my head, the first time in over ten years I'm not there, something happens.
She went back to eating, and I looked at Herbert, who was just pretending it didn't exist while chatting with the floor manager.
After she finished, she walked over to the counter and turned in her plate; the guy she had been standing on stayed there, almost seeming to want to hide.
I made plans to come back to the tower next, and we started to leave, but Lila turned around waving at the man on the floor, "See you another day."
He shuddered, looking like he was about to cry.
When we walked out of the tower, I wanted to know about what happened.
"So what happened?"
"He wanted me to go on a date with him, but I said no and started eating again. But then he thought I was insulting him or something and asked me again, telling me he's someone whose name I forgot already, and then I told him no and to go away. Then he grabbed my arm, and I stood on his head to finish eating." She sucked in a huge breath.
Jeez, you really said all that in one breath. Then I realized what exactly she said and wanted to go back inside and cut his hand off. He's lucky I'm already a block away, and he's not worth my time if I don't see him again.
I decided we should meet up with Elaria if she was done with her task, so I activated my ring, this time with the circuit connected to her.
"Elaria, are you finished?"
"Just about master. I found a place and am just going to the office to pay now."
She then told me where it was so we could meet her there.
After a few minutes, we met up at the door to the apartment.
Elaria unlocked the door, holding it open for us, then handed me the keys, "Master, the manager said that you can put enchantments on the place to keep people out as long as he can enter and dispel them."
I took the keys then gave one to Lila, another to Elaria, and kept one for myself.
After enchanting it, I thought about the location and mentioned it to Lila.
The apartment was only a block from the guild, so we could check the quests there every day if we want to easily. I think Lila was more excited about the bakery being close, and Elaria gave a faint smile when she saw we liked it. I think they must be some of the reasons she picked this place.
The inside had 2 bedrooms this time, and I placed beds and clothes in each of them, a small variety of different outfits for Lila and me in ours, and uniforms for Elaria in hers.
The kitchen and dining room were separate this time and it also had a decent-sized living room.
After looking around, I decided we would go to the Dreadwood Forest since we should have enough time left in the day to arrive there, then we can start hunting tomorrow.
We were going to get a map at the adventurers guild, and I remembered that spell I was supposed to get from the tower to show our location on the map.
"Elaria, go to the magic tower and get that spell that you cast on a map and it shows the location, then meet us at the guild."
"Yes, master."
We parted ways, and Lila and I went to the guild to buy a map then waited outside the door.
After about 10 minutes, Elaria hurried to us and handed me two spell books, then pointed at one.
"Master, there were 2 spells like the one you mentioned but this one is more precise."
I put the other in storage, and we began walking while I looked at the spell she indicated.
It was relatively simple, and I was able to cast it on the map after only a few minutes of study.
After exiting the Ironguard gates, I cast the speed buff on each of us, and we started in the direction of the Dreadwood Forest.
We reached a point where we could see the forest in the distance and set up camp for the night. I cast several spells and barriers for protection, one of them being the new barrier spell in case anything did try to attack us.
While I was busy casting, Elaria laid out blankets for us to sleep on tonight.
After eating, we were excited about the hunt tomorrow, and Lila started some pre-hunt celebrations with me, to which I had no objections.