The following morning, Ryn strapped his sword to his back as Richard had advised.
Though he still didn't understand why one would need a weapon just to study magic, his recent experiences had taught him an important lesson: sometimes, it was better to follow orders than to ask questions.
With that in mind, he headed south through the city of Central, just as he had been instructed.
Central in the late morning was far more lively than he had expected.
Men and women walked past each other in busy streams, their voices, laughter, and footsteps echoing across the marble streets.
At the center of the plaza stood a towering marble statue of Martos, the God of War.
Ryn paused for a moment to look up at it, then let out a quiet sigh.
Since arriving here, he had barely gone anywhere—aside from the registration hall and Richard's house.
"From the statue… head southwest. You'll find the entrance to the Central Council."
He muttered the directions to himself, scanning his surroundings.
Before long, he spotted a white gate in the distance.
Massive marble pillars stood on either side, and above them was a stone sign carved with large letters:
The Central Council of Eostra (Eastern Continent)
Ryn swallowed and stepped forward, a little hesitant.
As he passed through the gate, another instruction came to mind.
"To the left… there should be a marble staircase."
He turned left—and sure enough, a long staircase stretched upward before him.
Step by step, he climbed.
At the top, he froze.
What stood before him wasn't a house.
It was a massive mansion, grand enough to resemble a royal palace.
White walls gleamed under the sunlight, layered rooftops rose high into the sky, and lush gardens surrounded a wide open courtyard.
But what caught his attention the most…
It was full of women.
Female mages were scattered throughout the area.
Some sat in small groups chatting quietly.
Others were buried in thick spellbooks.
A few stood still with their eyes closed, focusing their magic in deep concentration.
Ryn stood stiffly in place.
Not because he was afraid—
But because…
There wasn't a single man in sight.
He took a deep breath, forcing himself to act natural, and began walking toward the entrance.
As he passed through the crowd of female mages, heads started turning.
Whispers followed him.
"Who's that?"
"A guy?"
"Is he in the wrong place?"
"Or is he… a new student?"
Some giggled.
Some openly scanned him from head to toe with curious eyes.
Ryn felt like he was walking through a storm of stares.
But even with his awkward steps, he kept moving forward.
Ryn stopped in front of the mansion's doors, took a deep breath, and reached out to knock—
Knock. Knock.
The sound echoed clearly through the courtyard, which had suddenly fallen silent.
Every female mage's gaze turned toward him at once.
Ryn stood up straight, his heart pounding.
The jet-black doors slowly opened, and a young woman stepped out.
She wore a maid's uniform, her posture neat and polite.
"Sir Ryn… is that correct?"
Ryn flinched slightly before nodding.
"Yes."
The maid smiled faintly and spoke in a calm, professional tone.
"Master is in the library. Please follow me."
She turned and walked ahead immediately.
Ryn followed close behind.
They entered a vast hall inside the mansion, where even more female mages were seated.
Some were reading spellbooks.
Some were quietly discussing magic.
Others were practicing mana control in designated areas.
And nearly every pair of eyes still drifted toward him.
Whispers began again.
Ryn lowered his gaze slightly, pretending not to notice, and continued walking in silence.
They ascended a grand central staircase to the second floor, then proceeded down a long corridor lined with deep red carpets, until they stopped in front of a single door.
The maid bowed politely.
"Master is waiting inside."
Ryn thanked her softly, then raised his hand and knocked.
Knock. Knock.
A woman's voice answered from within—calm, cold, and precise.
"Enter."
Ryn opened the door.
The room was spacious and silent.
Towering bookshelves stretched all the way to the ceiling, packed with countless volumes arranged in perfect order, as if not a single book was out of place.
At the center of the room stood a woman with her back to him, reading a book in front of the shelves.
She did not turn around.
She did not speak.
She did not even acknowledge his presence.
Ryn stood there in silence.
And without knowing why, his heart began to race.
So this is her…
Aurelia Thalosyne, the Great Sage of the Central Council—
the woman who had never accepted a male disciple.
The atmosphere inside the room was utterly silent.
Only the soft sound of turning pages broke the stillness, as if deliberately emphasizing the presence of someone who was not welcome.
Ryn took a deep breath and finally spoke.
"I—"
"Don't speak."
The middle-aged woman's voice cut him off instantly, sharp and decisive.
She did not turn around. She did not even glance in his direction.
"I already know," she said. "Richard's boy."
Flip.
The sound of a page turning echoed in the room.
"That man still does whatever he pleases. He never changes."
Ryn fell silent, standing perfectly still, as if waiting for something.
After a brief moment, he tried to speak again.
"I—"
"You do understand," she interrupted, her voice colder than before,
"that I do not welcome men here."
She closed her book softly.
"Even if Richard begged, I have no intention of accepting you."
She returned the book neatly to the shelf and took out another.
"I only allowed you to come because he asked."
There was a short pause.
Then, without turning around, she delivered her final words.
"You may leave."
Silence reclaimed the room.
Only the quiet rustle of turning pages remained, as if the matter were already settled.
But Ryn did not move.
He did not plead.
He did not argue.
He did not explain.
Even after being dismissed so bluntly, he stayed where he was.
Because deep down, he believed—
Richard would never have sent him here without a reason.