Chapter 307: Chapter 170: The Happy Ending of the Two (Three in One)
Shiayar dreamed again of many years ago, of his first encounter with Hathaway in Knowledge City.
"Whether it’s completing the courses at the Black Tower or studying the Arcane Arts, it requires a considerable investment of funds and resources."
"To be honest, we’re not fond of such rules either, but the cost of cultivating a Wizard is indeed quite steep—"
"For commoners without family support, perhaps joining the Empire Military Department or serving the nobles of the Princes’ Alliance, obtaining Pet Beast offspring that they can produce on a large scale, and embarking on the path of an official Beastmaster might be a better choice."
Outside the magnificent high tower, the guards’ words also carried a hint of helplessness.
The Wizards inside the Black Tower are arrogant.
This arrogance is not the flaunting condescension of the nouveau riche but stems from a pride ingrained in their very bones.
They look down on brawlers who resort to violence at the slightest disagreement and on believers whose strength comes from gods rather than themselves... In other words, they harbor a faint sense of superiority over everyone who is not a fellow Wizard.
This arrogance is unrelated to the status of others, whether high or low, noble or common.
Even Great Nobles of the Princes’ Alliance, wielding significant influence, have been unceremoniously rejected by the Black Tower with the pronouncement, "The young nobleman is too hasty, lacking the most basic reverence for truth and the Arcane Arts, and devoid of the spirit of inquiry a Sage should possess. It would be better for him to seek another path."
One must possess not only ample resources and wealth for Magic experiments but also a thirst for Arcane knowledge and truth—the inquisitive heart required of a Sage.
The majority of nobles’ offspring eager to enter the Black Tower are stopped by the second requirement.
Shiayar, however, was one of the rare few who met the second requirement but failed at the first.
Nonetheless, despite such strict thresholds, aspirants from all over the Western Continent still flocked to the main tower of the Black Tower every day.
The reason was actually quite simple—
The Empire, the Holy Creed Kingdom, and the Princes’ Alliance, however powerful, were nations established only in the Fourth Epoch. Some secret organizations and Angel Families arose a bit earlier, but they too only ascended to prominence in the Third Era.
Only the Supreme Black Tower—
Through the changing of eras, the succession of dynasties, the bloodshed of gods.
From the battles of Angels to the Saints stepping onto the mortal coil, from the barren lands to the dawn of the Holy Calendar...
Wizards had fallen many times, yet their order always endured, unyielding. Since their birth in the Second Era, they have long guarded the sparks of order and civilization.
...
I knew it wouldn’t be this easy.
In other words, I still need to spend some time saving money...
Although I’ve considered ways to make money, accumulating the initial capital is rather troublesome. If it takes too much time, it might disrupt my original plan.
The black-haired boy politely thanked the Black Tower guard, while his gaze lingered on what lay behind him.
The pitch-black high tower stood majestically, reaching into the clouds.
And on the plaza outside the Black Tower, a towering obelisk stood firm.
Red Gold ancient Gyaran inscriptions were engraved upon the obelisk—
"Truth and destiny lie deep within the stars."
This is the creed of the Black Tower.
It is also why Shiayar put so much effort into trying to enter the Black Tower with Enola to study.
Though he possessed the memories of a transmigrator, he was well aware that different worlds had different laws and rules.
On the Western Continent, there were Extraordinary creatures, legends of Sub-races and giant dragons, the existence of spiritual power, so-called mysticism, and Mana Factors wandering through the air... All these were phenomena his previous world lacked, requiring time to familiarize himself with and understand.
Perfectly adapting the advanced concepts from his life as a transmigrator to this world was his goal.
In this world of the extraordinary, the heights a Transcendent individual could reach also depended on their understanding of the world.
To Shiayar’s mind, learning the knowledge and laws of this world and establishing a strong foundation was far more important than hastily taking Ennie to align with some power, contract Pet Beasts, or cultivate spiritual power.
The former offered only short-term benefits, while the latter directly determined one’s potential for future development.
In this regard, neither the Empire nor the Theocratic Kingdom was as suitable as the Black Tower, which had an unbroken tradition of upholding the creed "to seek knowledge, understanding, and the pursuit of truth."
Unfortunately, with almost no wealth to their names, entering the Black Tower for education was bound not to be easy.
"Let’s go."
He took the soft hand of the little blonde girl beside him.
"My hunting bow and spare arrows that I consigned to the Hunters Association just sold. I’ll treat you to baked sweet potatoes today."
Perhaps because both of them hailed from the Northern Territory, Enola always had a special fondness for steaming hot sweet potatoes that could warm her hands.
But this time, unusually, she did not seem excited by the offer and stubbornly stood her ground.
"Expose my identity, and use the compensation from the Empire to get you into the Black Tower to study..."
"No."
Enola’s suggestion was immediately and ruthlessly rejected by Shiayar as soon as she voiced it.
"Ennie, do you want me to sponge off a girl who’s two months younger than I am?"
"Deliver the last legitimate daughter of the Ingritt family to the Empire Capital? Into the hands of those families and Great Nobles who clearly harbor ill intentions—perhaps even the hidden masterminds behind Ceylon—all for my Black Tower tuition?"