Adam walked along the street, sensing someone watching him as a carriage passed by.
"That nobleman who also visited Alva," Adam thought, noting the carriage's insignia. A frown creased his brow; his instincts warned him that the person inside might bring trouble.
Shaking his head, Adam pulled out the letter, hoping Alva hadn't lied. He wished it would lead him to someone who could guide him in mastering his spiritual energy. Adam was prepared for the possibility that the letter might prove useless; given Alva's evident disdain for him, it wasn't beyond reason.
The envelope bore only a few lines:
"At noon, the central clock tower.
The underground bell tolls twelve times.
To inform the inquirer, the guest is a departed soul."
"Twelve o'clock at the clock tower?" Adam shielded his eyes with one hand, glancing up at the sun. It wasn't yet noon, but he set off in the direction of the central clock tower.
Roya was divided into the northern and southern districts, each housing a large cathedral, with smaller chapels scattered throughout. Adam was most familiar with the southern district, and though he wasn't well-acquainted with the northern one, the clock tower stood between the two, not far from the noble district.
With the letter in hand, Adam quickened his pace. Jin's understanding of the sorcerer's craft was limited to the basics and how to dispose of sorcerers. If Adam were to truly learn, a sorcerer's mentor would be necessary.
Since Alva had provided the letter with an address, Adam believed it must be genuine. Though Alva despised him, he wouldn't go so far as to mock him with a worthless letter. Either it would be of use, or it would be a cruel jest.
"Still, caution is required," Adam reminded himself. "This mentor might not be a good person."
Arriving at the clock tower, Adam was surprised to find no guards. Usually, such an important structure would be manned by the military or employed guards.
With a single, quiet push, Adam opened the door, surveying the interior before stepping inside. The floor, covered in wooden planks, creaked faintly underfoot as he moved quietly.
"Underground bell tolling twelve times?" Adam glanced upwards at the towering bell. Its deep resonance filled the air, but there seemed to be no bell-ringer.
As he ascended the staircase, each wooden step creaked underfoot, the noise sharp in the quiet. At the top, he discovered a sundial, a water clock, an hourglass, and even a mechanical clock—curious instruments that piqued his interest.
As the hour neared, Adam considered striking the bell himself, but just as he approached, the bell rang on its own. The first toll of the bell stirred the dust in the air, and Adam, suddenly alert, turned to descend.
With each subsequent chime, he stepped down the staircase, the sound of his footfalls mingling with the resonance of the bell. As the eleventh toll rang, the world seemed to twist. What had been a downward path now became an ascent, and at the top of the stairs, instead of the bell tower, stood a shadowy figure in front of a door.
"Please state your command," the figure, a young woman, said with a voice both youthful and clear.
"Departed soul," Adam replied, knowing that in this world, death was not viewed as a rebirth, but as a return to the embrace of the gods. "Departed soul" had no connotation of actual death, which reassured Adam. He even wondered if Alva had sent him here to die, in a way that was somehow tied to the favor of his old friend, Xia Ya.
"Come up. No one has visited in a long time," the woman said, pushing open the door to reveal a room flooded with light, and her youthful face.
Her features were impossibly delicate—her sky-blue hair wrapped in lace and tied at the back, with only a few strands left free. Her eyes, gem-like, seemed to reflect Adam's own face, and her black noble garb, adorned with intricate embroidery, accentuated her youthful vigor. She was undeniably captivating.
"Just a little less than me..." Adam thought, taken aback by her beauty, but he quickly masked his surprise and ascended.
Once the door closed behind him, Adam realized the space inside far exceeded the confines of the tower. Candles, without scales or measurements, hung from various places, casting their faint glow. There were no windows or additional doors.
"Please wait. The master will be here shortly," the girl said, without introducing herself. After offering Adam a dark beverage, she turned and left through the door she had entered.
Her tone was emotionless, even colder than Adam's own, and as he sat with the letter, his gaze flitted around the room. The walls, ceiling, and floor were all etched with unknown runes. The candles had burned for some time, yet none showed signs of consumption. The furniture, adorned with intricate carvings, was old, and paintings hung on the walls. Their style... was it Alva's?
"Creek." The door opened, and a young man in noble attire walked in, his face showing slight confusion. "A new guest?"
Adam immediately stood, recognizing the man. He had seen him only recently at Alva's gallery. He appeared to be the last member of the Holy Sound Trio. His appearance matched that in the portrait, and his attire was nearly identical.
"Greetings, I am Adam Boku, introduced by Master Alva. Here is my letter of introduction," Adam said, briefly startled before handing the letter over.
"Alva's student? Please, take a seat," the young man said with a warm smile as he took the letter and gestured for Adam to sit.
The room had been dim, illuminated by candles, yet with his arrival, it seemed to brighten, the shadows dissipating entirely. Adam sat, not disturbing him as he read the letter.
As the young man read, his expression shifted. He grew less joyful, and a sense of melancholy replaced the warmth. He held the letter with trembling hands before finally smiling again and looking up at Adam.
"Adam Boku?" He confirmed the name before grinning. His smile was charming, revealing pearly white teeth, which only added to his affable demeanor. "I am Anthony Ratu Fernandez."
"Alva recommended you to become my student in the sorcerer's craft," Anthony continued, his gaze sincere. "I can see you have great potential. Would you like to become my student?"
"I would be honored, Master Anthony," Adam replied without hesitation, though his earlier surprise had subsided. Despite the brief time they had spent together, Adam felt a positive connection to Anthony.
"Your charm surpasses even my fullest effort," Adam mused, glancing at his own attire. "Perhaps it's my outfit that makes me fall short."
"Very well," Anthony said, pleased. He quickly retrieved a coin wrapped in a fine chain from his attire and placed it in Adam's hand.
"For certain reasons, I cannot leave the tower. Take this. With it, you can access the inner space I've created. Use it whenever you need to enter," Anthony explained.
He seemed to remember something else and turned to call out, "Celine, fetch my spare spellbook."
Turning back to Adam, he smiled again. "Celine is my niece. She lives here with me. I've tried to get her to go out more, but she refuses. She insists on calling me 'Master,' despite my numerous corrections."
In that brief exchange, Adam felt an unusual trust from Anthony, one born not from duty but perhaps from his own solitude and the trust he placed in Alva.
At that moment, Adam sensed something beyond mere personal charisma—a deep, inherent charm rooted in character. This was the kind of charm that transcended superficial allure.
"So, this is why Alva brought me here," Adam thought, suddenly understanding.