Meanwhile, her son, Prince Xarx, stayed back in the chamber as Amanda returned to her room. He wanted to meet Kael but was afraid to approach the door because of the beast.
As he stood there in dilemma, Captain Cain approached him to question his intentions. When he spoke about it, Cain asked him to stay there and walked to Kael's room.
However, just as he reached a foot distance from the beast, Nyx opened its eyes all of a sudden and let out a threatening growl, revealing its sharp fangs.
Cain, taken aback by its reaction, took a couple of steps back in a hurry and reached out to the sheath hanging around his waist. But, he didn't take it out and spoke to the wolf, maintaining politeness. "I apologize, Nyx. The host's son wishes to meet Lord Moonstone. If you let me, I wish to go inside and inform him."
Nyx stared at him, narrowing its eyes. Cain felt indomitable pressure on his body to the point of sweating. But, after a few seconds of silence, the spectral wolf nodded, moving to the side and lay down once again.
Cain slowly walked to the room and stood outside the door.
Xarx's eyes lit up in excitement as his admiration for Kael grew. "The Queen's son-in-law must be incredible to have tamed such a powerful beast, which even this powerful warrior was afraid of." His curiosity about Kael deepened.
Cain knocked politely and entered when Kael permitted. "Lord Moonstone," he bowed, "the Duchess's son, Prince Xarx, wishes to meet you."
Kael, understanding the need to maintain decorum, nodded. "Invite him in."
Keeping an eye on the beast's position, Prince Xarx cautiously entered Kael's room. His excitement only grew further when his senses assessed Kael's strength. To his shock, Kael was only in the Underprivileged realm, the lowest of all cultivation levels.
Unable to hide his confusion and excitement, Xarx asked, "Are you truly the master of that wolf, Lord Kael?"
Kael didn't respond immediately. Instead, he snapped his fingers and called out sharply, "Nyx!"
The spectral wolf, previously lazing with an air of indifference, jolted upright as though struck by lightning. It rushed to Kael's side, its massive form crouched low in submission.
"Master," the wolf said with a slight tremor in its voice.
Prince Xarx's eyes widened in awe. "Incredible! No wonder the Queen chose you as her son-in-law, Big Bro!" His admiration grew further, and he began addressing Kael as "Big Bro" almost immediately.
"Uhh…" The change of address from this 19-year-old threw Kael off guard but he composed himself and calmly deflected the praise. "Well, as you can see, I don't have much talent in magic. So, I guess the Goddess compensated with other talents."
As their conversation continued, Kael began subtly steering the dialogue toward the affairs of the Duchy. Xarx, eager to impress his new brother from another mother, eagerly shared all the information he knew, from local politics to military movements and even the recent increase in trade activity at the port.
After their conversation, Xarx proposed an idea. "Why don't we explore the city together? It would be a good way to learn more about our city."
Kael paused, wondering whether he should take that offer or not.
In the end, he agreed. "Alright. But, I need to freshen up a little bit."
"Sure, I'll wait for you, Big Bro." Xarx enthusiastically nodded.
Leaving the wolf behind in order to keep away attention from the passersby, Kael left with Xarx after asking Cain to pass the message to Amanda, later on.
Kael and Xarx's city exploration began at the most famous landmark of the Duchy of Ikaris—the Witch's Tower, a majestic seven-story structure that shoots up into the sky like a towering spire, reaching for the heavens.
Xarx excitedly shared the tower's history, mentioning that the tower master was his mother's own teacher. He also revealed that the witch was also in the castle, staying as a guest. Suddenly, Kael realized the identity of the mysterious demigod in the castle.
When the two entered, they were greeted with warm smiles from the employees. The ground floor buzzed with activity, as it housed the reception area, stores, and servant quarters. The spotlessly clean halls glimmered with magical illumination, giving the place an enchanting atmosphere.
While they were being shown around, a regal woman in her late twenties passed by. Her sharp features and confident stride drew immediate attention. Xarx greeted her enthusiastically, introducing herself. "Greetings, Lord Sunfire."
"It's been a while, Sister Camilla." Xarx also greeted her enthusiastically.
He then turned to Kael. "Big Brother, this is Camilla Sunfire, my distant cousin, and she is the tower manager here, also the disciple of the Witch, just like my mother."
"And Sister Camilla, meet Kael, my new friend. He came all the way from Imperial City to meet me," Xarx said cheerfully, hiding Kael's identity as he wished.
Kael looked at her. In an instant, he assessed her realm with his aura sensing technique, instead of simple mana sensing. 'peak-Tier-7 and a dual attribute wielder? That's rare…'
"Hello, Miss Sunfire," He smiled.
"Hmm?" Camilla gave Kael a brief glance, her eyes narrowing as she gauged his aura. Her lips turned slightly downward as she realized Kael was in the Underprivileged realm, a level so low it barely registered. Her respect for Xarx wavered, and her tone turned cold.
"I see. A pleasure," she said flatly, before turning to the staff. "Ensure Lord Sunfire and his friend are escorted properly. I have other matters to attend to." Without another word, she strode away, leaving a chilly atmosphere in her wake.
"Uhh… Did she just blow us off?" As Xarx looked at her back in a daze, an unfazed Kael simply smiled. "Shall we proceed?"
Together, they started exploring the tower.
The Witch's Tower consisted of Eight levels, each surpassing the last in significance and mystery. Almost every level has a public space for visitors as well as normal disciples of the tower and a restricted area for elite disciples and special servants of the tower.
1) Zero Level: The entrance hall, reception, stores, and servant quarters were bustling with activity on the ground floor. This area functioned as the heart of the tower's public operations.
2) First Level – Library and Archives: The public library contained thousands of books, ranging from general knowledge to historical texts. The restricted section housed ancient tomes, magical manuscripts, and scrolls of immense value. Kael couldn't help but pay attention to the guarded doors leading to the restricted area, feeling the heavy aura of the magic wards protecting it. However, since they weren't allowed there, he could only shrug it off and leave.
3) Second Level – Alchemy Laboratory: This floor was a mixture of museum and workshop. The public section displayed cauldrons and apparatus from different eras. The restricted area, however, was heavily warded and contained rare ingredients and enchanted tools for advanced alchemy. Once again, Kael and Xarx weren't allowed inside there and were only informed by their escort regarding the things available in the restricted section.
4) Third Level – Spellcasting Chambers: The escort guided Kael and Xarx through isolated chambers designed for spell practice. The public chambers were simple yet durable, while the restricted chambers offered advanced training with armored puppets as sparring partners. Once again, they were denied entry into the restricted section and Xarx decided to stop asking from then onwards.
5) Fourth Level – Enchanted Gardens: A breathtaking variety of plants filled this level. The public garden boasted flora from around the world, while the restricted section was protected by barriers and contained mystical herbs and elemental crystal flowers capable of amplifying magical attacks.
6) Fifth Level – Guardian Constructs and Training Grounds: This combat-centric level had two arenas. The public arena used randomized elemental landscapes for training, while the restricted arena allowed users to select specific elements. Golems and gravity-enhancing magic added further challenges to combatants.
7) Sixth Level – Astral Observatory: A mesmerizing level dedicated to celestial studies. The public section featured a magnificent observation dome with high-magnifying telescopes. In the restricted area, a small library contained scrolls detailing secrets of the universe gathered by ancient sages.
8) Seventh Level – The Witch's Sanctum: This final level was almost hidden in the clouds, completely restricted even to most tower disciples. It was a magically enchanted space resembling a grassy hill with a serene waterfall and a stream. Atop the hill stood a simple yet mystical hut—home to the current tower master.
When they reached the Enchanted Gardens, Kael paused to admire the elemental crystal flowers, which sparkled with energy. Xarx noted, "These flowers are incredibly valuable. They can channel immense elemental power when used in spells or weapons."
Kael silently memorized the details, digesting whatever he could learn. Who knows, what information will become useful in the future? What if he had to assassinate someone living in this tower? You never know. Hence, Kael was quite attentive to Xarx's explanations.
Xarx, oblivious to his thoughts, chatted happily. "Wait until we see the Astral Observatory! It's my favorite floor."
Kael and Xarx reached the highest publicly accessible level, the Astral Observatory. The dome, with its crystalline glass ceiling, revealed a spectacular view of the stars even in daylight, thanks to powerful enchantments. Xarx enthusiastically pointed out constellations and shared tales of ancient sages who studied the stars from this very spot.
When Kael inquired about the final level—the Witch's Sanctum—Xarx explained that entry was forbidden unless explicitly invited by the tower master. "Unfortunately, she's not here right now," he added.
Kael nodded with an air of understanding. Though he didn't voice it, the mystery surrounding the sanctum intrigued him, especially those layered spells and runic magic inscribed on the walls in every level they went to.
Satisfied with the visit, Kael decided it was time to leave. The escort followed them as usual.
As they reached the tower's ground floor, Kael spotted Camilla at the reception. Her gaze momentarily met with his gaze and suddenly, a thought popped up in his head.
While about to walk to the exit, he paused for a moment, looking thoughtfully at the ceiling above. Then, in a casual tone, he remarked, definetly not in a low tone. "You know, Xarx. I've heard about the Witch's Tower possessing an item… something that allows people to talk to the dead. Interesting that it's being auctioned soon."
"Eh? Talk to the dead?" Xarx was surprised, his eyes widening.
Camilla's ears perked up and she immediately left the desk. In an instant, she teleported to them. Her gaze turned sharply, locking onto Kael. "Who told you about that?" she demanded, her voice low and dangerous.
Kael met her glare with calm indifference. "It's a rumor I heard in the imperial city. I think that rumor dragged many people to this place," he replied with a slight smile.
"Rumor?" Camilla's brows furrowed, her gaze filled with suspicions. It's not exactly a rumor. The item's existence was a closely guarded secret, known only to three people: herself, the Duchess, and the Witch. Camilla's mind raced. Had the Duchess leaked this information, perhaps manipulating the auction for her own purposes? Kael's relaxed demeanor only added to her unease.
"Who did you hear this rumor from?" she asked.
Kael simply shrugged. "In some inn," he replied cryptically, before walking off with Xarx. "Let's go."
Camilla stood still, her thoughts swirling with suspicion. "I need to inform Master about this."
Kael and Xarx then wandered through the vibrant marketplace of Ikaris, where bustling stalls displayed everything from exotic spices to magical artifacts. The air buzzed with the chatter of merchants and the occasional spark of magic as enchanted items were demonstrated to potential buyers.
As they strolled, Kael suddenly felt a burning sensation on his arm. It was his tattoo. He winced, clenching his teeth, but the sensation only grew stronger as they moved forward. "What's going on? This never happened before."
"Something wrong, Big Bro?" Xarx asked, noticing Kael's discomfort.
Kael waved it off. "It's nothing. Just a cramp," he lied, though his mind raced.
The burning subsided briefly, only to flare up again as Kael passed an alley. "Hmm?" He stopped, his gaze scanning the area. The pain dulled when he stepped away but grew unbearable when he moved closer. "The tattoo is certainly reacting to something. What is it?"
Determined to investigate the reason, Kael followed the pull of the tattoo. It led him to a shadowy corner of the marketplace, where a sturdy iron cage was set up. Inside was a teenage girl with disheveled blonde hair, a collar around her neck, and a patch covering one of her blue eyes.
Kael's breath caught. The burning sensation stopped entirely when he stood before her cage.
The girl turned her head toward him, her remaining eye fluttered in fear at his curious gaze.