CHAPTER 201: TAKE YOUR TIME

The Wyverns landed just outside the Council of Mages. It was a very massive tower, like structure with numerous floors.

This was the place where every mage that wanted to reach the pinnacle came to.

After they landed, the man bid them farewell and left with the Wyverns.

"So this is the Council of Mages," Riven muttered. He looked at the tower, there was an insignia over the door of a staff in the claws of a Vermillion bird.

This council held as much power as a Duke or a Senate member in the kingdom, as they were given leeway to be under their own laws by the last king of Vermillion.

Riven looked at the double doors of the tower, made of thick polished black wood and reinforced with thick metal slabs.

But that was the least of it, because he could feel the mana around the door. It wasn’t just a single layer, but multiple layers of mana twisted in different forms.

Each one was a barrier set up, formations crafted by the peak mages of this land. The entire tower gave off a very domineering presence.

Riven took a deep breath and walked towards the tower. They arrived at the door, and it was much larger than what he expected.

It was over twenty feet tall and ten feet wide. There was a metal door knocker on each door. He grabbed one and slammed it onto the door twice.

KNOCK KNOCK.

He waited for a moment to see if someone would come, but no one came. So he grabbed it to knock again, but the door suddenly started opening.

He heard the sounds of gears turning, like a machine grinding. The door opened inward, and inside was a man in black robes with the golden emblem of the Mage Council on his chest.

He had sunken black eyes and ruffled black hair. He looked at the five outside. Seeing their uniform, he knew they were from the Royal Academy.

"We were not informed of any visitors from the Royal Academy today," he spoke.

"Yes, it was an emergency," Riven said. He pulled out both letters and showed them to the man. The man took both letters, opened them, and read the content.

After he was done, he closed the letters and moved to the side, allowing them to come in. Riven and the rest walked into the tower, and right off the bat, the atmosphere inside the place was different.

The inside of the tower was massive. Despite them knowing it was massive from the outside, seeing it from inside was something else. The air was calm and cool; it smelled of soft flowers.

The floors were made with patterned marble tiles, polished and very clean. Riven also saw some young mages his age carrying some books to a room, their smiles caught his attention.

The man saw how they were looking around the tower and then spoke, "Your first time in the tower, I guess," he said. The door closed, and he started leading the way.

"The tower is the home of every magical innovation that this kingdom has seen. The best mages have all had their time here, crafting and creating," the man said, leading them down a hallway.

"You see, a life without having a goal is something not to live for. That’s the motto I stand by, and many other mages do.

Many of you young men and women have great drives of defeating demons and becoming heroes, both battle mages and mages alike.

That’s their goal, that’s their passion, but is that all life is really about? War and being the strongest? Not at all.

And so, here at the tower, we push creation and learning, passion. I look at you five, and I see capable and hungry warriors. But as you battle evil, learn to create, learn to slow down, and learn to live life," he said. He led them up a narrow stairway and into a room where some people in similar robes were standing.

There was a massive magical circle on the ground. It was intricately made, detailed very finely. The people in the room were checking on the circle, ensuring that it was fine.

That was their job, manage the teleportation circle and also teleport the people that needed to be teleported.

"We will get the teleportation circle ready. You all just wait there," the man said.

Riven stood there. He looked at the circle on the ground, but his mind was stuck on what this man had said.

It was like everything was trying to tell him to calm down and enjoy life, but he could still hear the voice of Lucifer telling him there was no time.

He wanted to rush and defeat the demons, but could he really rush? He recalled the journey that Lance had been through. Lance never actually rushed—he grew, loved, cared, became. He suffered loss and gain. Lance lived a full life and only many years later did he kill the Demon Lord.

’Lance from the story started at fourteen years, and killed the Demon Lord at the age of twenty-five, a few days after his birthday.

I’m only thirteen... is it okay if I relax a little, allow myself to grow a bit? Is it okay if I actually be a child for once and not worry about where the next enemy is coming from?

If I relax, will this world end? I want to have happiness. I have been rushing since I came here, and because of that, I haven’t even lived a happy and calm life.

Maybe it’s time that I finally slow down and grow properly,’ Riven thought. A smile formed on his face, a bright smile.

The light of the teleportation circle lit up brightly. The man looked at them. "Alright, walk into the circle and you’ll be teleported right outside Ribest Town," he said.

They all entered the circle. The man looked at Riven. "Remember what I said, learn to live your life," the man said.

"Wait, what’s your name?" Riven asked. The light got brighter, they were about to be teleported.

"I am Raphael," the man said before they vanished.

Immediately after they vanished, Raphael’s physical appearance changed into an old man with very long grey hair and beard. He stood there straight with vigor and energy despite being old.

"Good luck, boy," he said.