The interior of the tower was the same obsidian black color as the exterior, it was very simple without extravagant stuff like pictures or trophies made of monster parts; truly fitting the pragmatic nature of the Magi.
The first level of the tower was the place where apprentices gathered, there were all kinds of stalls, some sold special metals, others potions and herbs, and some sold weapons.
Some stalls were used for administrative purposes, like the management center or the exchange center.
In a corner, you could see groups of apprentices that looked at the huge screens in the wall.
At the entrance of the tower, there was a blue platform accompanied by a statue of a lion. This was the portal to the upper floors of the tower.
Zatiel and Ezequiel enter the first level of the tower and are headed to the place where the management center of the tower was located. A lot of apprentices were looking at them and murmuring, but Zatiel ignores them.
The reason for the attention was that Zatiel was dragging a wounded person by the neck.
Of course, it was Nick who was so terrified from the duo that didn't dare to be stubborn and did as he was told, bringing them to the management center. But beside fear in his eyes, there was hatred as he looked at Zatiel.
Although he was trying to hide it, to Zatiel it was so obvious that he may as well scream, but he didn't do anything.
Firstly, because to Zatiel this person was insignificant and could never pose a threat, and second because if he were to kill him, they would definitely start a lot of trouble and maybe even Rank 1 Magus will involve themselves, after all, they were not part of the tower yet and although most magic towers don't meddle if apprentices start fighting, killing was prohibited.
Zatiel knows that he isn't strong enough to fight against a Rank 1 Magus yet, and even if he is, from what he can tell about this tower, the person who controls it is definitely superior to rank 1.
After a couple of minutes, they arrived at the management center. There were 4 apprentices in charge of the stall. From what he could see, every one of them was a Rank 2 Apprentice. Zatiel went to the one that was unoccupied and reading a book.
The apprentice was a middle-age man, despite his age, he was barely a Rank 2 Apprentice meaning that his chance of becoming a Magus was null.
"Hello, I want to know the procedure to become part of the tower, and also where I can exchange some magical creature parts for magic crystals?" Zatiel asked.
The apprentice barely looks at Zatiel with a tired face, but he was instantly startled, not because Zatiel and Ezequiel's strength of Rank 3 Apprentices, after all, in this place that level of power was not uncommon.
What attracted his attention was the wounded person that Zatiel was carrying. He recognized Nick immediately, after all, the apprentice has made himself famous for being a brutal person, but now he was being dragged like an animal.
"What are you doing with him!" The apprentice could not help but ask.
"Oh, he is just our guide, don't worry about it, now you haven't told us what we asked," Zatiel responded like nothing happened.
"Yes! Sorry for that, I am Richard. I will give you the information immediately," Richard was scared. He did not dare to offend someone who dares to drag a Rank 3 Apprentice like a dog.
"Good, now that you are no longer needed, you can leave," Zatiel says as Nick falls, making him smash his face on the ground.
Nick picked himself off the ground, and contrary to what most were expecting, he started to leave the tower without a word. But although he looked emotionless, if you could see his eyes, you would detect immense hatred.
'He is not completely stupid,' thought Zatiel.
Ezequiel saw the man leaving, and his years as an assassin, and instincts as a Neo-Demon let him detect the hatred that he was hiding. He knows that it is never good to leave unfinished business so he was preparing to handle it immediately, but just when he was about to act, a voice was heard in his consciousness through the core.
"Don't do it, the problems that it will carry outweighs the threat that he represents. If you want to get rid of him, wait until you can do it without anyone knowing, and don't worry, you won't have to wait for long. I am sure that he will come back on his own very soon."
Ezequiel looked at Zatiel and nodded.
"I'm sorry for that, continue."
"Ah, yes. To become part of the tower and be able to use the facilities, you have to sign a contract. Since you are an apprentice, the contract is very simple. The principal point is that you will have to undertake a certain number of tower missions at every determined amount of time.
Of course, if you want to complete more missions, you can do it. The reward is in magic crystals, and merit points. Merit Points is a currency used to obtain certain materials that can't be exchanged with simple wealth," Richard says as he delivers the contracts to Zatiel and Ezequiel.
'It is simple. Although it doesn't provide much help, and we will have to pay to use most of the facilities, we will be able to use the tower to rest and experiment. The best part is that it isn't anything that is too binding.'
"Ok, we have no problem with this, what else needs to be done?"
"We will also have to scan your magnetics force field to make an investigation and be sure that you are not wanted for some crimes."
A magnetic force field is produced from the energies that all beings carried on their bodies.
The higher the amount of energy, the stronger the force field, and since it is unique to every individual, it is normally used as a means to recognize someone. After all, making some changes in your physical appearance is very easy with spells.
'It's normal that they investigate, but it doesn't matter. When I became a Neo-Demon, everything about me changed, and that includes my force field.'
"Ok, you can begin immediately with the scan."
Richard nodded and picked a crystal from his desk. After giving the command to the crystal, a wave of energy scanned both Zatiel and Ezequiel.
[Bip.. external energy trying to assess the host, permission to interrupt.]
"Denied"
'This time it was able to act, I guess that the wave at the entrance of the city was too subtle for the chip current abilities.'
The scan lasted 3 seconds, and information was being sent to Richard through the crystal in his hand.
"We have no information about a crime associated with any of you, so as long you sign the contract, you will become part of the tower."
Zatiel and Ezequiel delivered the signed contract to Richard.
"I have uploaded the information in the contracts. Now if you follow me, I can take you to the place where you can get your magic robes, and a guidebook about the tower. It is the same place where you can exchange your carcasses."
Richard guided them to another stall not far from the one they were, in which an old man who was a Rank 2 Apprentice was sitting.
It is very normal for these jobs to be taken for people with little talent, after all, the other apprentices with a chance to become a Magus will never waste their time in this type of job.
"Hey old Hal, these are the new apprentices. They need magical robes and also need to exchange some parts of magical creatures."
"Who are the new ones and what do they bring?... Oh, so it is you."
The apprentice named old Hal had already seen Zatiel and Ezequiel when they entered, bringing Nick with them, so he knew that these were people he should not offend. He immediately gives them their robes, black for Zatiel and white for Ezequiel matching the color of their hair, and also a crystal to each one of them.
"This crystal has all the basic information about the tower as the facilities, the classes you can take and much more. If you give me your sacs, I can evaluate the worth of the materials you brought."
"Here you go," spoke Zatiel as he and Ezequiel gave their bags to the old man.
Although he was old, the apprentice certainly has proficiency in his field. With a crystal, he starts to scan all the magical creatures.
As they were waiting for the old man, Zatiel started to explain the use of the crystal to Ezequiel after seeing the boy not knowing what to do with it.
"Little EZ, this crystal is the most common way of keeping the information. You just have to put the crystal on your forehead and try to guide your consciousness into it, and the information will start to appear in your mind."
Zatiel nodded as he saw the boy starting to go through the information in the crystal. As for him, he has a more efficient and faster way of doing it.
"A.I. Chip, scan the crystal, and imprint the information directly into my mind."
[Bip... starting scan,
Scanning completed
Uploading information.]
Zatiel felt a current of electricity go through his brain as the information started to appear in his mind. As he went through the new information, a voice distracted him.
"Ok, I have finished checking. Most of the magical creatures are on the border of the strength of a Rank 2 or 3 Apprentice. According to the parameter established for the tower, you will receive 223 magic crystals."
"That much!" Richard could not help but exclaim, after all, his salary was barely 10 crystals a month, and saw someone making a transaction for more money than he makes in a year.
Old Hal was already used to this type of transaction, so he didn't say much.
Since Zatiel was satisfied with the amount, the transaction ended quickly and the old man handed him a bag with magic crystals. As for the expression of the apprentice, he didn't take it into account.
"Thanks for the help."
"It was nothing, also this is the place where you deliver the material of the mission, so I guess we will see each other often."
"See you soon then, and you too," Zatiel says to the old man and Richard, but he doesn't go very far when Richard reaches out to him.
"Is there something else?" Zatiel asked at the apprentice who was making a troubled face.
After a moment, and seeing that no one was looking in their direction, Richard came closer to Zatiel, and started to whisper.
"You have to be careful. Nick's older brother is a Pseudo-Magus, and a very powerful one. He will definitely come to you for hurting his brother."
Zatiel saw the apprentice and understood why he was helping him. Reaching into his bag, he took 30 crystals and gave them to him.
"Thanks for the help."
"You're welcome!" Richard said as he took the crystal and returned to his desk with a smile on his face.
Ezequiel was listening to everything, and concern was shown in his face. He knows that it will be easy to kill a Rank 3 Apprentice with his strength, but a Pseudo Magus is supposed to be much stronger more strong, and he doesn't know if he can defeat them.
"Master, there will be trouble?"
"Don't worry little EZ, as long we are in the same rank nothing can present a threat to us," Zatiel spoke with carefree expression.
Ezequiel nodded, and his expression returned to his usual calm one. To him, his master is always right.
Zatiel looked at the boy and smiled.
'He still doesn't understand how strong he is. Barely 3 months ago he was just a normal boy, and now he was able to defeat a Rank 3 Apprentice with just his body. If it wasn't for his opponent having a strong body, he would have killed him in the first exchange.'
