"Master?" Gwain began, his tone cautious. "I don't want to question your methods, but that was a Peak Rank 3 demon. I'm certain we passed the low-rank demon cells four cells back."
Kaelen waved a dismissive hand, an embarrassed smile playing on his lips. "High rank, low rank... what's the difference?"
Gwain pressed on, his concern genuine. "What if the experience impacts them negatively instead of driving them to grow?"
Kaelen finally looked up at his first disciple, taking in the man's noble bearing and powerful, combat-honed physique. "I never took you for a softie when it comes to your juniors. Isn't this cute?"
Gwain frowned playfully, scratching his head. "Don't tease me, Master. It's normal to feel lonely after being your only student for so long."
"Don't blame me," Kaelen retorted with a chuckle. "Your talent was simply too overbearing. Taking on any other student didn't feel worth the time."
A smile touched Gwain's lips, but it was thoughtful. "'*Was* overbearing'...? Are you saying my talent pales in comparison to my juniors, even after all I've achieved?"
Kaelen stopped at the door and turned, placing a firm hand on Gwain's shoulder and meeting his gaze squarely. "Gwain, I meant it when I said your talent was overwhelming. But those kids..." He paused, his expression turning grave. "The only other ascendant who can match their potential is Triss. Especially that boy, Ethan. His soul body scares even me. You might not understand, as the matters of the soul are not your focus, but his soul body is *unawakened*, and he was already able to manipulate its energy."
He released Gwain's shoulder and turned back to the door. "The only thing I fear is his element and the madness that surrounds it."
Hearing this, Gwain's face went grim; he knew exactly which element his master meant.
"I hope he's luckier than I was with the ability his soul body grants him," Kaelen added, his voice softer. "Now, come with me. I'd love to hear your stories while we prepare for their awakening..... They will grow from this, Gwain. If they cannot, then a mortal life of ignorance would have been a kinder fate for them."
***
Ethan materialized on his knees in the center of a lavish room on the third floor. He didn't move for several minutes, still panicking. His mind was trapped in the memory of the demon's pitch-black eyes, its grating voice, and the soul-crushing pressure. *That was just a Low Rank 3 demon?.* The thought was a cold stone in his gut.
Taking a deep, shuddering breath, he finally pushed himself to his feet and looked around. The room was immense, larger and more opulent than his entire apartment in the Outer Order. The sheer nobility of the space almost made him forget the horror he'd just witnessed. Almost.
He couldn't shake the feeling that the coming cataclysm was the very event Leo had warned him about. If he was right, the clock was ticking much faster than he'd hoped.
"Now, where's the shower?" he muttered, his voice hoarse. His shirt was glued to his skin with cold sweat, making him incredibly uncomfortable. Spotting a single door, he walked through it and was immediately met by a servant in the tower's distinct livery.
"Young master, I'm Harry. I'll be taking care of your needs during your stay here in the Tower," the man said with a deep bow.
Ethan was taken aback, not expecting to be greeted so promptly. He coughed to clear his throat and nodded in acknowledgement. "Uh. It's nice to meet you, Harry. Please, skip the formalities. I'm Ethan. It's nice to make your acquaintance. Could you please direct me to a bath?"
"Of course, Young Master Ethan. This way, please. There is a private bath installed on this floor for your use," Harry replied, gesturing for Ethan to follow.
Trailing behind the servant, Ethan rolled his eyes at the repeated "Young Master" title. He didn't hate it, but he found it unnecessary. Deciding it wasn't worth the effort to correct Harry again, he simply followed; his mind was already drifting back to the demon's cell and the immense challenge that lay ahead.
"Ahhhhh... I do feel a lot better now," Ethan sighed to himself, the hot water and steam having washed away the grime and the lingering chill of fear.
True to his duties, Harry had been incredibly efficient. Not only had he guided Ethan to the luxurious, stone-tiled bath, but by the time Ethan emerged, feeling human again, a fresh set of clothes had been laid out for him—simple, well-made, and far superior in quality to anything he owned.
Dressed and finally comfortable, he stepped out of the bathing chamber. Harry was waiting patiently nearby.
"Thank you, Harry. The clothes are perfect," Ethan said, feeling a genuine sense of gratitude for the hard work and thoughtfulness.
"It is my pleasure, Young Master," Harry replied with another slight bow. "Is there anything else you require? Perhaps a tour of your assigned floor? The Master's library? Or would you prefer to rest?"
Ethan's mind, now clear of its initial panic, began to turn toward practicalities. The comfort was welcome, but it was only temporary. The image of the demon, Mephos, was seared into his memory, a constant reminder of his inadequacy.
"No rest yet," Ethan said, his voice firming with resolve. "First, let's get the control cards master talked about, then the library next. I have research to do."
"Okay, Young Master Ethan, come with me to the first floor to meet Ria. That's the main floor for all the servants in the Master's tower," Harry explained as they began their descent down a grand, spiraling staircase. "I'm sorry, sir, but we have to use the stairs. Without a tower control card, we can't use the teleportation circle. And even if the master permitted us, we wouldn't dare spend the few points we earn on something like that."
Ethan followed, his mind more occupied with the upcoming library visit than the walk. "Uhhh... Harry?" he asked absently.
"Yes, Young Master Ethan. Please, speak freely?"
"How many floors do you think the tower has?" Ethan's tone was light, his gaze drifting over the ornate walls.
"Eleven floors, Young Master," Harry replied promptly. "But I might be wrong, but that's all the floors I've had access to for one reason or another. You can always ask Ria; she's been the master's butler for the longest time. If anyone should know, it'll be Ria."
Ethan nodded, remembering the meal. "Do you know what the chef of the tower is like? I believe Ria's supposed to introduce me to the chef in charge of the tower's meals."
Harry scratched his head, his respectful posture slipping for a moment into thoughtfulness. "About that, Young Master... I am in charge of the meals made within the tower." A proud, slightly emotional smile touched his lips. "When Miss Ria told me about your interest in my measly family recipes, I truly felt my grandfather's efforts were worth it." His eyes glistened slightly as he brushed away an imaginary tear.
Ethan's focus snapped entirely to the servant. "What rubbish are you speaking? Those are miracles your hands create? I want to learn them. Every single thing. And I promise I won't teach anyone your family recipes if you don't want me to."
Harry was flustered by the fervent praise for something he considered a simple duty. "Uh, yes? ... Sorry, no? What am I saying? Young Master, it's just cooking. It's an honor to have you even willing to learn from me."
In his enthusiasm, Ethan gave Harry a light, friendly hit on the shoulder—a little too hard, as the servant stumbled and nearly tripped down the stairs. Ethan quickly grabbed his arm to steady him, laughing. "You... are... a... treasure!! Dammit, I'd pay you to be my butler with amazing cooking skills like that."
Harry smiled, genuinely touched. "Thank you, Young Master. But you don't need my measly skills, really. It was all the ingredients the tower master provided."
As they continued down, Ethan wouldn't let it go. "Harry, sir, play it down all you want. The food you make is heavenly." He wasn't kidding; ingredients or not, every dish had been a masterpiece that surpassed most of what he'd eaten on Earth.
"Here we are, Young Master," Harry announced as they reached a vast, functional hall. "This is the first floor. The teleportation circle is right over there. Right... a single use is either 300 points or 3 elemental stones."
Ethan sucked in a sharp breath at the cost. "Wow... that's quite the price just to fetch my things from the outer order." He looked around. "So, where do I get the tower control cards? We made it to the first floor already."
Harry nodded, gesturing for Ethan to follow him further, leading him to the servants' accommodations. "Ria is the only one who has access to the control room where the cards are stored on this floor, besides the tower master himself."