Chapter 340 Burden and Stakes (1/2)
Chapter 340: Burden and Stakes
To either side of the well-dressed beardedme curious stares, and the two Casters in line behind e”
Alittered in the estured into the building Turning on his heel, he ht but confident strides of a warrior, leaving h the entrance was uninspiring, stepping out into the wide hall beyond was anything but I had thought the Ara had been impressive, but this place had uild hall
The walls, ceiling, and floor hite stone—brighter and cleaner than marble—and carved columns broke up the room every twenty feet or so Golden runes were inset into the floor in the shape of pathways leading from one section of the hall to another, and I could see the shapes of beasts laid out in jade in several places as well
The walls were hung with dozens of tapestries depicting ascenders within the Relictoht olden armor surrounded by a swarht in the convergence zone
I followed the rand tapestries and decor My gaze lingered on the extravagant artworks, wondering if these depictions were conize
After passing a series of desks and co areas, we made our way up a narrow staircase tucked away in one corner of the ht us to a balcony surrounded by black iron railings, and led into a large office that overlooked the hall belo episodes will be published on lightnovelpubco our journey, it was clear he was comfortable with the silence, or perhaps his position The way he slid into his seat behind a ree, then kicked his heels up on the lavish piece of furniture, suggested the latter He waved at a plush chair in front of the desk, and I took a seat, never taking rinned, but I could see the snarling grizzly wolf behind his amiable mask
“I’ve just completed my prelie”
“Oh, I’ve already seen to it My assistant will be up with it anye artifact full of accolades to turn in too, right?” His eyes went pointedly to the ring on er “Clever of you, to keep it frohter,into a sneer “That matter is resolved,” I said coldly
He raised his hands innocently “Don’t misread me, Ascender Grey That whole affair was bad for business—our business” His grin took on that sly quality again “That little named blood doesn’t have any power here in Central Do quite serious: you’ve shown yourself to be quite clever Follow the lightnovelpubcom platfore it?”
I let the question hang in the air while I considered my answer It didn’t help that I couldn’t be sure which “it” he was referring to
Not wanting to give anything away about myself, I finally said, “I’m not sure what you mean”
He slid his feet frorily “How did you secure the posting at Central Academy? An unnamed ascender, fresh froh “Co toofor a hed, an uncontained, uffaw
“That may just be the most pleasant way soers at me “I like you, Grey! daed to attract yet another weird one,’ Regis chortled
Ignoring my companion, I scanned his desk to see if the man in front of me had a nameplate somewhere “I’m afraid I don’t—”
“Vritra’s name, where are my manners? My name is Sulla of Named Blood Drusus, but everyone around here calls e of this little establishestured out over the hall below
“Do you welcome all new ascenders like this, Sulla?” I asked doubtfully
“No,” he said, leaning back in his chair “I certainly do not But then, not e after a single ascent, or ious acaderew sharper—“I wanted to see you for round my teeth This was exactly the kind of attention I wanted to avoid
‘Maybe you shouldn’t always is coe, exchangeit clear that I’d like to end this interaction “I still need to check into the Student Ad journey here”
“Ah, of course,” Sulla responded professionally, but the slouch in his shoulders and the way he leaned back suggested that he was slightly put out “Once again, I’ve let ood sense But promise you'll come back soon, Professor Grey I’llthe majority of the treasure I’d taken from the Spear Beak tribe, I escaped the Ascenders association building and the high ht for the Central Acadeer to meet with my contact and find my roo eyes
The black iron gates had opened of their own accord when I approached On the other side, the close confines of the city streets were left behind in favor of ays bordered by short hedges
A fifteen foot wall of white stone wrapped around the caates opened into a semicircular plaza, from which three paths branched away toward clusters of school buildings
Dozens of young men and women in the black and azure unifor around the plaza, so anirassy lawns between the hedges A few cast ht: I stuck out inclothes, even more than if I’d come to the academy in full battle attire
Directly across the plaza froates stood the Student Administration Offices, a castlelike complex with a dozen peaks and spires that seemed to loom over the caht through this building, under an arched tunnel lit with bright globes that hung fro white battle robes was standing just outside this tunnel, her eyes casting around as if looking for so my way toward the open entryway into the offices, her a up and down my body several ti in a way that see a few quick steps toward ravity…’ Regis said suggestively ‘If you die, can she bewith my aether as if I intended to expel the shadoolf froet pouty’
The woman dipped into a shalloe approached “Plain clothes, gorgeous eyes, too young by half…you could only be our new level one Melee Enhanceht?” She beamed at me and bounced on the balls of her feet “I’her level wind-specialization Caster courses”
“Uuard by her forwardness “I wasn’t expecting—”
“A welcouy like you ht not want to hear this, but you’re pretty much a celebrity around here already”
darumpily
“Anyway, I just really wanted to be the first one to ave olden hair around her finger “Did you really break the containment chains at your trial?”
“I’m sorry, I’m late toaround her andhand caughthere at first I’d be happy to show you the ropes, Grey You just let me know, m’kay?”
With a wink, my fellow professor released me and turned away
I was distracted as I made my way into the ad clerks at the front desk He gave me directions to a fourth floor office where Alaric’s contact could be found, giving me a bemused sain
‘You okay, chief? What’s got you so rattled?’
First the head of the Ascenders association, then this other professor…We’re getting way tooand running’ It wasn’t really a question since he could read my mind
No…yes…I don’t know, I adis barked out a laugh in my mind ‘You just spent three weeks in jail’
Stone and bars weren’t holdingto avoid drawing too much attention
‘How’d that work out?’