"H-how many layers?" Trevor asked, wincing at the burning feel he got as he was exposed to Tier 9 magic.
His whole life had been limited to the 8th Tier, after all.
"About 24 are left. I just destroyed one." Noir revealed.
Trevor's mouth nearly dropped. He had no idea of this. A total of 25 layers of Tier 9 magic were stacked up just for access to the Archmage.
"I-incredible! The door isn't opening, though... and there are so many layers of magic. What will you do now?" Trevor asked.
Noir simply smiled as he turned at the flustered young man.
"I'll just keep knocking."
As Noir readied his hand, covered in golden light once again to hit the door, a creaking sound suddenly echoed across the whole floor.
>CREEAAAKKK<
The giant door suddenly opened, slowly parting before the two mages.
Trevor was surprised by what happened, and how the Archmage had accepted Noir just like that.
"I told you, all I had to do was knock." Noir smiled, walking past Trevor as he entered through the door.
Trevor stood, dumbfounded for a second before finally moving to catch up to Noir. The other researchers merely watched from their distance as the two men disappeared into the gate and it closed once again.
Noir and Trevor both used magic to block off the bright radiation of light and kept pressing on. They felt various barriers around them lifted since they were welcome guests.
"Are all these really necessary, though?" Noir muttered.
"Of course. Lord Denzel is an Archmage. This much is to be expected." Trevor responded.
Noir sighed and didn't say any more.
Finally, the light faded, and they appears in what seemed to be a very large office. It was glamorously designed, having golden ornaments and several ores around it. The white and gold paint around it, coupled with the many awards and magic tools made it appear so exquisite.
By the left, Noir saw many shelves, stocked full of books of various kinds. The Archmage was indeed a studious one.
Noir didn't have the pleasure of observing any more, as the wry old man caught his attention.
"Welcome to my office, your knock was heard quite well." He said in a deep, commanding tone.
It had a hint of hostility and suspicion, but Noir failed to notice the way Lord Denzel addressed him.
"Thank you for granting me an audience. I also apologize for the discourtesy. It was rather urgent." Noir responded calmly.
The Archmage nodded, turning to Trevor, who remained silent. A trait that was unlike him.
"It's good to see you too, Trevor Netherlore. Our last encounter still remains burned in my memory." Lord Denzel said with a smile.
Hearing this, Trevor stiffened up and gave a slight bow.
"I apologize for not offering my greetings first. It's also a pleasure to see you Lord Denzel. Pardon our intrusion."
Denzel gave a heart laugh upon hearing Trevor's method of formality.
"Well, I wouldn't call it intrusion since I was the one who let you both in here. Still, I believe I instructed the receptionist I didn't want any visitors."
Trevor knew he had to say something at this point.
"Yes. It was very urgent, so I had to bypass your instructions. Truly..."
Denzel sighed. Trevor was a very cautious person, also very proper, and stuck by the rules. It wouldn't be an understatement to say that he was the perfect magic instructor, even when he was still in the Tower.
For him to have said it was important, he had to have been telling the truth. Plus, upon seeing Noir's actions, Denzel believed it.
"I understand, Trevor. Well then, I shall address the issue. You may leave."
The sudden command to leave Noir alone with the Archmage stunned Trevor a little, but he conceded.
"Of course."
Making one final bow, Trevor left the room, the gate opening for him once again. As soon as he left, Noir gave a short sigh as he stared at the Archmage.
Denzel appeared a little surprised that Noir didn't protest to Trevor's leaving or show any emotion. He didn't know who this stranger was, but his curiosity had been piqued.
"Who are you?" He blurted out.
There was no need to beat around the bush. Among practitioners at such a high level, being straightforward was the etiquette they practiced.
Noir shrugged, moving closer to the Archmage's desk.
"My name is Noir Novo, a traveling merchant."
Denzel was not buying that.
"No mere merchant could cast a Tier 9 spell so easily." The Archmage narrowed his eyes as he stared at Noir.
Noir's expressionless face displayed apathy at his interest.
"Believe it or not, that's what I am. The better question you should be asking is what my purpose is for coming here." He stated.
Denzel smiled at the young man's impudence. His lack of respect and nonchalant demeanor threw him off the edge. From the start, he knew Noir was unconventional from the moment he easily made a Tier 9 spell and called it a knock.
The Archmage had been observing them ever since he sensed their presence a while back. He wasn't expecting the power Noir displayed, though.
"No, your identity is more important," Denzel stated.
"Oh?" Noir responded.
"There are only five mages at the 9th Tier level in this Empire... and only two of them are capable of easily making Tier 9 magic as you did. I am one of the two, and the second is at a place that I can't easily access at the moment. Therefore, you're not someone I know, or the empire recognizes." Denzel said, deepening his glare.
"Wow, you figured out that much. If that's the case, then why did you allow me to enter this place?" Noir asked.
If he had indeed not known Noir from anywhere, it made no sense for the Archmage to grant him entry and disabled the security systems of the gate. Unless...
"That's precisely why I let you in, and even told Trevor to leave. If this is something important, and you ended up blackmailing one of my staff, then I would have to deal with you personally." Denzel said.
Noir remained expressionless.
"And? Do you think you have what it takes to defeat me?"
Suddenly, mana surrounded the whole room as an immense amount of aura poured out from both mages. Denzel still remained where he sat, and Noir where he stood. They stared at each other while letting their energies attack each other.
>VWWWWUUUUUU<
The room started to tremble, and the atmosphere was getting much tenser.
"In a normal case, I might have been a little unsure of my victory... but, young man, you made an error in this case."
Noir's eyes widened a little in surprise, looking at everything around him.
The designs on the walls, the ornaments, ores, awards, and everything around started to glow.
pαпdα Йᴏνê|,сòМ "Ah, I see. You-"
"That's right. Your error was entering this place, stranger. I don't know who you are, or what you want... but I'll be sure to find out." Denzel stated, now rising from his seat.
Noir knew what was coming.
"So, I'll ask you again... who are you?"
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