The Wizard Has A Biochip

I had already encountered that guy once. It was on the first day I arrived at this tower.

Therefore, as soon as I saw him, I recognized him immediately.

Medivo recognized him as well.

The yellow-robed Acolyte immediately changed his attitude and bowed respectfully.

— Hello, Rustil. Why are you here?

Rustil didn’t even bother to answer.

He simply walked past Medivo.

Then his eyes met mine.

Next, he crouched down in front of my small stall.

He began examining my items one by one.

— Water boots... Summoning statue... Blue branch for Water-element staffs...

He picked up each item, analyzed its runes, and then quickly put it back.

— Good stuff.

Rustil smiled from the corner of his mouth.

— They’re all Level 3 Acolyte magical items. No wonder these guys went crazy.

Then he seemed to remember something.

— But wait.

—I heard there was a Recovery Piercing here.

Medivo immediately stiffened.

— Damn.

He swallowed before handing over the piercing.

— Master, the Recovery Piercing is here.

Rustil took the object.

He looked at it for a few seconds.

Then he simply tossed it back onto my cloth.

Medivo was left dumbfounded.

Rustil, however, had already completely changed his attitude.

He reached out and picked up my magical notebook.

He flipped through several pages.

His eyes quickly scanned the formulas, diagrams, and notes.

The more he read, the more serious his expression became.

Finally, he closed the notebook.

He raised his eyes toward me and let out a slight sigh.

— So it was true.

— What?

Rustil held the notebook between his fingers.

— As soon as I returned, I heard rumors that the woman who mastered the magic of sea fish bones had been killed in the Subterranean World.

— I never imagined that you would have brought her magical notes with you. I imagine these pieces of equipment also came from her.

He smiled.

— You really are a younger generation worthy of respect.

Rustil raised an eyebrow.

— So you knew her?

— I’m talking about that girl capable of transforming her own body?

I nodded.

— It was Ruby who killed her.

Rustil fell silent.

— And she sent me to sell this equipment.

— Ruby?

Rustil’s expression changed.

— You’re talking about that beautiful and dangerous Blood Fairy?

— Exactly.

Rustil became thoughtful for a few seconds.

I could practically see the gears turning in his head.

Then he sighed.

— All right. I’ll believe you.

— That easily?

— It’s not exactly easy.

He looked at me.

— It’s simply impossible to believe that a Level 2 Acolyte managed to kill a notorious rogue Level 3 Acolyte alone in the Subterranean World.

So he had reached the correct conclusion.

Or at least the convenient conclusion.

— Pack everything up.

— Huh?

— You won’t find what you’re looking for here.

He bent down and began helping me roll up the black cloth.

— I’ll take you to where you should be.

I stared at him.

— Are you inviting me somewhere?

— No.

He finished rolling up the cloth.

— I’m saving you from wasting your time.

Then he simply started walking.

I picked up my things and followed him.

The funniest part was that, throughout the entire process, Rustil simply ignored Medivo.

He didn’t even look at him.

As if the guy didn’t exist.

Medivo stood there with an extremely ugly expression.

When Rustil and I finally disappeared from the crowd’s sight, the hall once again erupted in murmurs.

The few team leaders surrounded Narkou.

— Who is that boy?

— Where did he come from?

— What is his relationship with Rustil?

— Did you know he possessed so many magical items?

— What exactly did he do in the Subterranean World?

Narkou looked like he was about to go crazy.

As for me...

I had other things to think about.

Rustil led me outside Kar-Dur Tower.

After walking for some time, we arrived at an open area.

I looked around.

There was no road or carriage.

Then I noticed something strange.

— Are we walking?

Rustil smiled.

— No.

He pointed toward the sky.

— We’re flying.

I looked up.

Two enormous creatures were approaching, flying rapidly.

My first reaction was simply to stand still.

— That is...

— A Wind Griffin.

Rustil walked toward one of the creatures that landed a few steps away.

The animal was large.

It was approximately three meters tall and had a wingspan of almost five meters.

Its body was muscular and covered in magnificent feathers.

Its wings were enormous.

Its claws looked capable of tearing a tree in half.

And its eyes...

Its eyes were fixed on me.

Rustil placed his hand on the creature’s neck.

— It’s a Wind-element beast, equivalent to a Level 3 Acolyte.

The Griffin let out a low growl.

Grrrrrrr...

I stopped.

— It doesn’t seem to like me.

— Ah, don’t worry.

Rustil smiled.

— It’s just saying hello.

— That was a "hello"?

The Griffin opened its beak.

— GRAAAAH!

— It definitely didn’t sound like a "hello."

Rustil sighed.

Then he slowly clenched his hand.

His fingers produced a small cracking sound.

The Griffin immediately froze.

It looked at Rustil.

Rustil simply raised an eyebrow.

The majestic Griffin, which just seconds earlier had seemed ready to devour me, began to sweat.

Literally.

A drop ran down the side of his head.

He raised one of his claws...

Ran it across his forehead, wiping away the sweat.

Then lowered his head.

Completely submissive.

Rustil smiled.

— See?

— He’s afraid of you.

— Respect.

— He was literally trembling.

— Deep respect.

I looked at the Griffin.

The animal avoided my gaze.

For the first time, I began to sympathize with it.

Rustil patted the creature’s neck.

— Don’t worry. He’s very obedient.

The Griffin made a small sound.

— Grr...

— He said he’s also happy to meet you.

— You made that up.

— Maybe.

I sighed.

Then climbed onto the creature’s back.

It was the first time in my life that I had ridden a flying demonic beast.

And I was very nervous.

Rustil mounted the other Griffin.

Then both Griffins spread their wings.

The wind began to blow violently.

My heart raced.

— Wait...

The wings beat.

WHOOSH!

The ground disappeared.

— AAAAAH!

I immediately grabbed the feathers behind the Griffin’s neck.

My heart felt like it wanted to escape through my throat.

Rustil looked back.

And began laughing.

— Hahahahaha!

— IT’S NOT FUNNY!

— It’s always like this the first time!

The Griffin continued climbing.

Each beat of its wings carried us higher.

My hands became sweaty.

Until, after some time, the creature stopped climbing and began flying steadily.

I opened one eye.

Then the other.

And then...

I fell silent.

Fluffy white clouds floated above me, looking like gigantic pieces of cotton.

Below, steep mountains stretched all the way to the horizon.

Deep valleys cut through the landscape.

Dense forests covered enormous areas of land.

I could even see small animals moving among the trees.

I slowly released the feathers I had been gripping.

I crossed my legs and sat more comfortably on the Griffin’s back.

I had never imagined that flying on a magical monster would be so different from flying in a balloon.

Thankfully, I wasn’t afraid of heights.

It would be quite humiliating if a future Divine Mage like me became known for something as ridiculous as a fear of heights.

After some time, we began descending.

The Griffin slowly flapped its wings and landed.

I climbed down from the creature.

Rustil simply took a magical crystal from his bag and tossed it to his Griffin.

The creature opened its beak.

CHOMP!

It swallowed the entire crystal.

Then calmly walked to the side.

I took a magical crystal.

I tossed it to the Griffin I had ridden.

The creature caught the crystal with its beak.

CHOMP!

Then...

Its expression completely changed.

The same animal that had seemed to want to kill me before now looked extremely satisfied.

It took a few steps and lay down peacefully in an empty field.

— So you just needed to be bribed.

The Griffin turned its head.

I completely ignored its dignity.

Rustil spread his arms.

— Welcome.

I looked around.

— Where?

— To the true circle of friends.

He pointed toward the training field.

— We and those people from the public hall are from different worlds.

— You won’t get anything good by hanging around with them.

— What you truly seek can never be found in that place!

He paused dramatically.

— This is the future that belongs to true combat Mages!

Then there was a long silence.

He stood there with his arms spread wide.

It was probably the most awkward moment I had ever witnessed.

Rustil slowly lowered his arms.

I was trying to think of something to say when an arrogant laugh came from afar.

— Rustil!

Rustil closed his eyes.

The voice continued:

— Are you giving that horrible speech again?

I watched his face contort.

— Who are you trying to fool with that?

A man appeared farther ahead.

— Bring that boy over here quickly! I want to get a good look at him!

Rustil clenched his teeth.

— That bastard...

He muttered something that probably wasn’t appropriate to repeat.

...

1500 Words