CHAPTER 176: WHAT REMAINS UNCHANGED

Once Robert placed his belongings in his room at the Thornehart estate, he headed straight for the Yellow Tower.

It was close to ten in the evening, and even at that late hour, faint traces of celebration still echoed through the streets, laughter spilling from taverns, music drifting in the distance, and the glow of mana lamps illuminating the cobbled roads.

But when he arrived at the Yellow Tower, Robert froze in place. The shabby, neglected tower he remembered was gone.

In its place stood a structure that gleamed under the moonlight, newly repaired stone, reinforced runic lines pulsing faintly along its walls, and a soft golden hue emanating from the windows. The Yellow Tower returned to how it looked in its heyday.

He caught a whiff of some rather expensive herbs. He then saw that there was a garden now.

Rows of well-tended plants lined the front courtyard. Moonbloom petals shimmered silver under the light, while flame orchids pulsed with a gentle orange hue, their warmth brushing against the night air.

Robert crouched down, brushing his fingers over one of the petals. ’Hm, I guess they did use the money to get a few good things.’

"Do you like the new garden?"

Robert suddenly heard someone speaking from behind him and was surprised as he moved backward while reciting a spell. He turned and relaxed when he saw who it was.

"You startled me, old man," Robert said with a tinge of irritation. The person who spoke was none other than the Tower Master of the Yellow Tower, and the strongest mage of Norvaegard, Thelwin Keldross.

"You’ve become rather jumpy. Is it because you have experienced the monster waves?" Thelwin asked.

"Anyone would react the same way if someone whose presence they could not sense approached and spoke from behind them."

"Hm... In the past, that wouldn’t have been a problem for you. In fact, I was expecting you to say something along the lines of. Oh, is it a ghost? I wonder if I could dissect you."

"... That does sound like something I would say. Whatever, what are you even doing awake at this hour, old man?"

"Well, as a Tower Master, I have a lot of responsibilities."

Robert frowned when he heard Thelwin’s answer. "Wasn’t the money I gave enough? Did you need more, old man?"

Thelwin shook his head. "No, the money is enough, actually, nowadays most of the Yellow Tower Mages can conduct experiments without worrying about money."

"Then, why are you still working so hard?"

"Well, no matter if we had too little money or too much, there are many things a Tower Master must deal with."

Robert exhaled and rubbed the back of his neck. "Tch, old man. Shouldn’t you step down as the Tower Master and let someone younger deal with these things?"

"Well, I do like my job, but I guess I could step down if someone capable would take my place. How about it, do you want to become the Tower Master, Robert?"

"No, thank you," Robert answered without hesitation.

Thelwin chuckled softly. "As expected. You’ve always been quick to turn down responsibility, but never the work that comes with it."

Robert crossed his arms. "I prefer to experiment and seek the truth, instead of doing an administrator’s job. Besides, if I became Tower Master, half the alchemists would run away within a week."

"Well, that is true," Thelwin smirked. "You might be talented, but your social skills aren’t any good."

"Who needs those kinds of skills anyway. Those who seek the truth will instinctively understand each other. Just like me and Lucen."

"I guess you’ve gotten very close with the Iron Duke’s heir."

"Yes, he is my partner who will create the future with me."

Seeing the bright smile on Robert’s face when he said those words made Thelwin smile as well.

Even though he and Robert weren’t related by blood, he treated Robert like his very own grandson. He had raised Robert when he saw his potential in the orphanage.

He taught Robert as much as he could. The young Robert had absolutely no friends, as none of his peers could understand him.

"Why don’t you try playing with the others?" Thelwin asked.

"They don’t want to play with me, nor do I want to play with them. They cannot comprehend my words, meaning they are unworthy of my time."

The ten-year-old Robert said to Thelwin. When Thelwin heard Robert’s answer, he thought that Robert’s life would be such a lonely one. So Thelwin did his best to make it so that the young boy was at least a little less lonely.

To see someone younger able to communicate with Robert as an equal, nay as a friend, was truly a blessing.

’I guess it was truly the right decision to have sent Robert that day.’ Thelwin thought to himself.

"I see... That’s good to hear."

Robert straightened and glanced toward the tower entrance. "How about showing me around this new Tower, or are you sleepy already, old man?"

Thelwin chuckled, stroking his beard. "I already took a little nap before you came here. So let me show you what the Yellow Tower looked back when I was your age."

Thelwin gestured for Robert to follow, his robes brushing softly against the stone path as they walked toward the entrance.

When Robert stepped inside, he paused and looked around. The interior no longer resembled the crumbling relic he once worked in. Gone were the cracked walls, broken glass, and smell of burnt reagents.

The stone floors were clean, polished with alchemical resin that shimmered faintly, and the once-flickering lanterns had been replaced by mana lamps.

"Wait, you’re using the mana lamps of those Grey Tower b*stards?!" Robert shouted.

"Why not? Advancements in mechanical arts make things more convenient. This also lessens the chances of our tower burning."

"But it’s made by those Grey Tower b*stards!"

"Does that really matter? We do have a rivalry with the Grey Tower, but they aren’t our enemies. Even they use things like mana potions, so why can’t we use what they make?"

"I understand it in my head, but just thinking about using those irritating b*stards who know so little is just infuriating."

Thelwin no longer tried to convince Robert and simply shrugged his shoulders as he continued to show Robert around.

Robert was shocked to see young alchemists working on a potion this late at night. The last time he had been in the Yellow Tower, he was the youngest alchemist.

"We have new mages that joined?"

"Yes, they are only a few now, but the Yellow Tower is finally stepping back to how it used to be."

There was a hint of nostalgia in Thelwin’s tone as he watched the young alchemists trying to figure out what materials to use.

Robert noticed the gentle smile on Thelwin’s face, and he unconsciously smiled as well.

***

The two continued walking around the Yellow Tower. Thelwin showed Robert the new books they had acquired, new cauldrons, and vials.

They then reached Thelwin’s office, and Robert saw that, unlike everything in the tower, Thelwin’s office was the only room that remained the same.

"Why didn’t you improve this place?"

"... I guess, there are a few things that should remain the same." Thelwin looked around his office. "This office hasn’t changed how it looked since the first Yellow Tower Master made this place in Norvaegard. Many things in the tower have changed over time, from the materials to the alchemists who use them, but this room remains the same, and I hope it remains that way even with the next Tower Master."

Robert glanced around the old office. The faint smell of herbs, ink, and old parchment lingered in the air, the same scent he had grown up with. The shelves were still lined with overflowing notes, the same cracked window still let in the pale moonlight.

For a moment, he said nothing. Then he smiled faintly. "I guess you’re right... Not everything needs to change. The path towards the future has a lot of changes, but to have a few things remain the same should be alright."

"To think you would say such a thing. I guess even you needed to grow up at some point." Thelwin said with a chuckle.

"Huh? What does that mean? I had grown up long before this, alright."

"If you say so." Thelwin shrugged his shoulders.

"Enough! I’ve seen what I needed to see. I’ll head back to the Thornehart estate. You’d better sleep properly as well, old man." Robert spoke with a rather thorny tone, but there was a hint of worry mixed in as well.

"No need to worry about me. I’ll sleep well tonight, knowing that the young man I raised finally found a friend he can play with."

"First off, don’t make it sound like I’m some child, like I said I’m an adult. Also, we’re not playing, we’re creating the future."

"Yes, yes, I understand." Thelwin nodded his head.

"Do you, old man? Tch, fine, it doesn’t matter." Robert stood up and headed towards the door, but before he left, he said something to Thelwin.

"... It was good to see you, old man. Make sure to take care of yourself, eat properly, and sleep right. Don’t worry about money, I’ll make sure to send more your way."

Thelwin was about to respond, but Robert had already left. Thelwin then sat on his chair as a smile appeared on his face.

"To think that child would tell me all that. Knowing him, it would be better if he did all that himself."

Thelwin chuckled as he decided to go to sleep just as Robert wanted.

"He’s grown well... better than I ever hoped," he murmured, glancing at the moonlight filtering through the cracked window. "The future’s in good hands."

With that thought, the Tower Master rose and made his way to the small adjoining room. As he lay down, the faintest smile still lingered on his lips.