Chapter 143: Joining the Magic Institute (1/2)

After a ride that took the pair more than an hour on a private carriage, Tyler and Nadine alighted from the carriage some distance away from their destination and continued the rest of their journey on foot.

It was just a few minutes walk after exiting the main road into a street that could be called a pedestrian zone and they soon came in front of m a long stretch of brick walls that enclosed a massive structure.

Three towers — each at least thirty stories tall — rose from within those walls. Their height was made even more imposing by the fact that they were the tallest buildings around. Well, not including the distant Blackwing Hotel.

These towers were surrounded by several long and narrow Five-story buildings that connected them in the shape of a triangle with the tower at the front housing large imposing double doors that seem to have been made of heavy metals.

Anyone that saw such a large structure for the first time would surely not believe that it was only a branch of the Magic Institute. However, while this was technically a branch of the magic institute, it was also the main headquarters of the magic research division for the Zorak magic institute.

They needed ample space for the development of new spells, scrolls, and magic items, as well as the recruitment and testing of various young magic casters to send out the most promising ones among them to the magic academy in the capital city of the Zorak region, Blackwing City.

Although this magic institute was originally implemented by the Great Five to keep the other organizations in check. They could not actually fund its operations as it would go against the purpose of the organization and would no doubt be an expensive venture. So the reason why they could afford all this land despite restricting any outside support was probably due to their manufacture and sales of magic items and scrolls.

Such items were the lifeblood of Hunters and even Merchant's so technically, the Hunter guild and Merchant guild were paying to keep the Magic institute running.

Then again, the sales of low-grade magic items and scrolls could not actually support a massive operation like this so the main customers of the magic institute would still be the nobles themselves.

Life in the demon continent was basically like living in a jungle. It was the survival of your fittest and anyone that lived here would have to do anything to protect themselves and magic items were vital to that ideal. Such items were mostly purchased from the institute during their monthly and annually overpriced auctions which tend to affect the market prices of the items, thereby creating a vicious cycle.

After walking a little further, Tyler and Nadine soon saw a sturdy gate. The latticed gate yawned open, and on either side of it were several armed guards, stationed by the sides of the gate that fenced off the massive institute.

The guards did not obstruct the pair — although they quickly looked them over— and they were able to pass through the gate because his VIP merchant license was visible, otherwise they would require him to take off his hood.

There was a gently sloping wide staircase before him, and a set of gold inlaid heavy metal doors which opened into the bottom floor of the large middle tower. Naturally, these doors were open, to welcome visitors.

Upon entering, they found themselves in a small entrance hall, which should be the building's lobby before them. A number of magic chandeliers hung down from the high ceiling of the latter room.

On the right was a guest lounge that contained a sofa and several other pieces of furniture. There were magic casters conversing within. On the left was a glass board that displayed quests and missions, naturally, that was a magic item. Several people were studying it in earnest; some wore robes and looked like magic casters, while others seemed to be Hunters.

The atmosphere here was cool and calm and it gave off a sense of ease that the other two guilds they had visited had lacked.

There was a counter in the innermost reaches of the hall, and there were several young men and women of different races including dark elves seated behind it. All of them wore robes, and they had crystal badges on their chests which matched the symbol they had seen while entering the building.

On either side of the counter sat a pair of dark fur giant wolves, they were of a relatively normal size compared to an actual giant wolf but still larger than the normal size, slightly similar to the silver wolf. Their dark fur was almost completely black if it wasn't for the occasional grey stripes that resembled giant claw strikes — Dire Wolves, as they were most commonly know in this world.

Apparently, they were tamed beasts being used as sentries. Their nose and senses may be a lot better than most demons but the fact that they had not posted any demons or sub-race sentries inside must have been pride on the part of the Magic Institute, the outside sentries notwithstanding.

Tyler's shoes pounded out a steady beat and were mirrored by Nadine as they approached the counter at the end of the hall.

The young lady on the counter they were approaching noticed them and gave a slight bow as a greeting. Tyler nodded in response as they came to a stop at the front of the counter.

”Welcome to the Zorak Magic Institute. How may I be of service to you?”

”We would like to join the magic research division.”

”I'm sorry, but we are not accepting recruits at this point in time. Please try again next year.”

Tyler didn't respond to her polite denial and just reached into his inner breast pocket for an envelope, before handing it over to the counter staff that was attending to him.

She glanced at the envelope for only a split second before her eyes widened as she did a double-take Before immediately bowing again to Tyler in an even more polite manner. ”My apologies, I was unaware you already had an invitation. Please follow me.”