Meeting with the headmaster

With this statement of Professor, Aren had no choice but to walk alone towards the large door.

Tak! Tak! Tak!

In that excessively large hallway whose ceiling was vaulted and had tall pillars on both sides, Aren's footsteps echoed. With the lights passing from the large stained glass windows behind the pillars, Aren could see those flying buttresses supporting that grandiose dome.

Although he was nervous, he had no choice but to push the large door open and step forward when he reached the end of the hallway.

Even if it was in small numbers, He had already met and seen more mages than an apprentice his age would. But even then, seeing a greater mage was a different matter, what's more meeting directly. The Headmaster, as a rank 5 mage was one of the four most powerful casters of the kingdom.

The other three were the Court Mage of the kingdom, Branch leader of the Mages' Association and the rank 5 bishop of the church of light. All three of them were very busy and important, so there was a minimum chance for even a rank 4 individual. Aren being given a chance to meet one these powerhouses already proved the importance of a Seer.

As he entered the headmaster's abode, Aren was amazed at the size of that room. It could basically fit a small two storey house!

In there, the ceiling was also made up of ribbed vault and the only window which was quite large and had intricate decorations was situated on the back wall. The room, however, wasnot empty even though it looked huge.

High quality oil lamps, Beautifully painted old paintings, chairs and tables made of magical woods and shelves in which thick books and magical items were kept. The room was simply a treasury to the thieves but this was only a temporary residence to the headmaster.

Aren was sure that even one of the things here could fetch a price of tens of thousands or maybe even hundreds of thousands of gold if sold outside. His eyes were practically glittering at the sight of this. It wasn't because he wanted those but because at thought of him becoming like the headmaster, powerful and rich. That thought, however, didn't last long as the owner of the room called him.

"So you're here, young seer." The voice was not as hoarse as that of an old man but it did have the authoritative aura that it was supposed to have.

Aren's gaze fell upon the mature man who was looking outside from the window. Even though he was quite a distance away from him, he did not escape the spiritual senses of the man the moment he entered the room.

"Yes, headmaster. I'm here as per your summons." Aren replied in an extremely polite tone. He then patiently waited for the man to turn around and look at him.

As the headmaster looked at Aren, his powerful spiritual power enveloped him. It made him feel as though he was completely naked in front of this man, having no secrets.

"Ah-" Roderick was suprised, it didnot make sense for an apprentice to wear this type of high grade item. With his spiritual power, even the ring of necromancy, which was not used for some time became visible but he appeared uninterested. He would've already snatched away that ring if it was not that damaged and if Aren wasn't a seer.

'Blond hair, brown eyes, a lean body and an average height. He also doesnot look that old, only about 35-40 years of age. But why that pointed ear? It is not as long as an elf's ear though. He also doesnot have any distinct characters of elves but... Is he a half-elf? But weren't half-elves discriminated?'

Aren was in a state of confusion but didn't make it apparent on his face. Likewise, the headmaster was also sizing him up. After a while, a smile formed on his face as he asked him.

"Aren, do you know why I kept Cowen and that little girl outside, only allowing you to enter?"

'...little girl? Is it because of the vast difference in ranks or is he really that old?' Aren pondered, hearing the words of headmaster.

Roderick looked at this boy who was deeply thinking and his interest in Aren grew greater. Of course, he was not expecting a right answer from him so he answered his own question.

"It is because what I'm about to say is a very sensitive topic. At first, when Cowen told me that you had the highest grade aptitude, this was only a thought but your rapid growth is also abnormal. Your body has greater vitality and strength than others of your age. Coupled with the fact that your aptitude is natural and you already had a rune in your spiritual space, It makes sense now. Because this is only possible if you are a high human!"

"A high human?" Aren carefully inquired. He was also curious about who he was. Even if he couldn't find his family in this world, he would definitely like to know about his racial origins. Who knows, that might give him some lead about his parents? It was better than just blindly searching.

"Yes, A high human! One of the high races. The blood of a high race might be flowing through your veins." Roderick's voice was abnormally high pitched when he said that last sentence, his eyes containing a hint of madness in them. Yet not caring about Aren's increased vigilance, he started to explain in his own pace about high races.

"High races are those races who evolved from the odinary races. They are the species whose racial bloodline are exceptionally pure. They show great talent and potential since young age and mostly every individual born out of this race can become a legendary being. High dwarfs, high humans, high elves and high demons. These four races had managed to produce high races after thousands of years of evolution but other than high elves, all became extinct after the great war. I truly didn't think that I will see a high human even after the great war and a seer on top of that too."

Roderick then waved his hand and Aren was abruptly pulled by an invisible force, making him sit in one of the chairs. When he was seated, that pulling force also dissappeared making him clam himself. As he looked at other chairs that were around that long table, Aren was startled to find the headmaster already sitting in one of the chairs.

'When did he...?' While Aren wondered how the headmaster got here so fast, the said person's voice rang in his ears.

"Now boy, first lets go with an introduction. We have much to discuss..."

....

2 hours later, Aren finally emerged from behind the door. There was not much change to him. So it seemed that they only had some short conversation but Aren knew that that was not the case. He pulled up the sleeve of his garment under his cloak and checked his arm. There was already a marking because of that syringe.

Yes, he asked for his blood. Although it was only ten drops, Aren still found Roderick very strange. But that blood was not given in vain though as in exchange for that, he also unlocked the spells in that ring for Aren. That ring, which Aren had been wearing, had other uses than he knew.

There was the rank 1 bone shield, rank 2 summon undead and rank 3 Perishing Ray. For higher rank spells, it was already very damaged. It was a pity though as the craftsman did not imbue any apprentice level spells on the item and with his spiritual power; he could barely cast bone shield when he became a senior apperentice.

When Aren reached the stairway which led down to fourth floor, he didn't see Cowen and Monica. It seemed that they had already left the moment Aren entered headmaster's room.

He again covered his face with his cloak. There was a reason to be this secretive as the third floor and fourth floor were the places where rank 3 and rank 4 mages resided. Before, he was with Cowen so there was no need to be careful but now that he was alone, that area might be maintained secure by terrifying spiritual powers and alarm spells.

Thankfully, it might because of Roderick or Cowen giving him some ''soul brand'', in other words passport; he safely reached second floor.

As he reached there, he noticed that there were many mages having their own rooms in this castle. Even though it was only first and second floor, this wasnot not the place for rank 1 and rank 2 mages. They had their own dorms. Even rank 2 mages could only be in the first floor when they teach the apprentices.

As he didn't find teacher Monica there, he decided to head to his dorms.

Reaching the dorms, he had quick lunch. When he reached the corridors and was about to enter his room, he caught sight of a senior who was just locking her door with some spell.

"Ah senior Terry, I have a question to ask you?"

Terry looked at Aren's direction when he called her and said uninterestingly.

"Make it quick, I don't have much time."

"I saw some mages having their own rooms on the Clementine Castle but aren't rank 1 and rank-" When he said this much, Aren was immediately cut off by Terry as she started to talk.

"You know the difference between major families and minor families, right? It is not only in name. Those mages you saw in second floor are all from three major families. You might think its unfair but this is how the world works. You can't get anything if you don't have power." With her not knowing, Terry's hand was clenched at this point. It seemed like she had some bad history from those of the major families, which Aren decided not to ask.

At this time, there was another question in his mind which he couldn't make sense of.

'Then how did tutor Monica get a room? Have those young masters taken that much fancy on her that they'd even gift a room to her?...'