Time

"Yes, I am. And who might you be?" Kayden responded with respect, but his tone was measured. His youthful appearance often sparked a sense of superiority in older mages when dealing with him.

"I am Hayler, the first mage of this empire," the man declared. At that moment, Kayden fully grasped the ancientness of the figure before him and recognized his identity. Still, Kayden's demeanor remained unchanged. To him, this was just an old mage—not one of particular significance.

"It's a pleasure to meet you," Kayden said, offering no embellishments or grandiose titles. He simply waited, his expression neutral.

Hayler, unaccustomed to such a direct and unceremonious reception, nearly reacted, but he held his composure. Kayden's value—and the fact that he hailed from a different universe with its own cultural nuances—justified some tolerance.

"I will administer several hundred lessons on the tenth realm to you," Hayler said abruptly.