Chapter 78: At the threshold (2/2)
”Past that gate, it's the law of jungle. If you ever want to grow there, be it by participating in lessons or by acquiring cultivation resources…” Shaking her head, the old lady lowered her eyes as if reminiscing something. ”In the inner sect, only your merits matter. That's why the crux of my advice.”
Raising her eyes, the old lady looked deeply into Layn's pupils. ”Whatever feud brought you to this place, obtaining merits is enough to settle it.” Speaking this single line with a strange, deep voice, the appearance of the elder momentarily changed.
Rather than a weak and ugly female who lost every last hint of her former beauty yet failed to accept it, rather than a desperate woman at the end of her line, a powerhouse stood before them.
Irea froze. From how her pupils dilated, she clearly was facing something like that for the very first time.
'It's hard to believe…' Squinting his eyes, Layn accepted the stare of the old lady. For a moment, the power behind her words seemed to turn her into a ferocious and experienced beast, a huge mass of violence that saw hell and managed to return from it.
And then her smile once again took the tone of the pestering elder, removing every last trace of the might she revealed just a moment ago.
'A killing intent… To think I could see it so soon.' Standing still, Layn looked at the scrolls he held in his hand, before moving his eyes back at the gate nearby. His other hand tightened around Irea's palm. 'If the elders of the outer sect can already exhibit this power…' Staring in the direction the old lady left, Layn's eyes squinted even further.
”Hey, stop glaring at the flowers like that. They will wither.” Pushing her forefinger against Layn's cheek, Irea puffed her own cheeks out. Her slightly lowered eyebrows only spelled trouble.
”Right, right. Let's not bother our thoughts with this event all that much.” Scoffing at what just transpired, Layn fixed his grip on Irea's warm hand before marching towards the gate.
Even though it wasn't the first nor the second time he had to play all sorts of scenes to get something done, Layn was getting annoyed by it only all the more. 'So much time wasted on some stupid rituals…' Rolling his eyes, he passed the sealed scrolls to the silent guardian that appeared right before the huge wooden doors of the gate as soon as the two of them took the first step.
'Five seals, huh… So they already knew I would bring her with me…' Throwing one last look at the scrolls, Layn then moved his eyes at the girl beside him, yet the sound of something snapping returned him back to reality.
”Wait, what?” After leisurely snapping the seals in half, the guard took a look at the content of the papers. And in a flash, his face changed from a bored to a shocked one. Raising his eyes at the guests in waiting, he took a good, long look at the two of them.
”In the middle of the year…” Whispering under his nose, the man shook his head before snapping back to reality and moving aside. ”You may enter. ” Pointing his hand at the gate, he encouraged the duo to step forward.
”And good luck.” As Layn passed by the guardian, he suddenly noticed something. As if the world stopped in its tracks for a brief moment, the archmage noticed the hostile and satisfied smile of the guard. As if he was a hunter watching his prey voluntarily step into a trap. Yet this moment also passed by super quickly, not giving either of the men a chance to act on it.
”Thank you for your good word.” Smiling to the guard, Layn stepped forward. Only stopping when he stood right in the gate, Layn turned his head to the girl before smiling and bringing his hand up. Caressing Irea's cheek for a short moment, Layn's face visibly relaxed. And as if he suddenly lowered his guard, right in the middle of the home ground of the society he was baring his fangs again, Layn spoke.
”This time, the acting will be even harder. Just trust me and go with the flow.” Speaking out in the open, Layn was perfectly aware of what he was doing. With the gate's guard obviously directing his ear towards them, it was given his words would quickly spread through the entire inner academy.
'Well, the bar is set, now it's just to wait for the fishes to come.' Smiling to his own thoughts, Layn tightened his grasp over Irea's hand before stepping into the Inner academy.