Master of Time

Kozak is hesitant to response, and he takes a short moment to think to himself before finally speaking up, not to answer my question, however. No. It is to ask a question of his own.

"Is Sapphire Solare not one of your direct pupils, Master Maxwell?"

Hearing that, I narrow my eyes at him. While I do not need Kozak to explain himself as I already know what the real reason is, I still like to hear it from him personally. Knowing it myself is one thing, and to hear it from another person is another thing.

A better thing, at least in my opinion.

And I am not in the mood to humor him. I do have plenty of things to do, like continuing to look deep into my past lives to gain new knowledge. While that is not really urgent, I actually enjoy it. Me, as an angel is similar to me from the before I have gone through everything.

I do miss the old me, whimsical and nonchalantly. I guess I have changed so much. Did not even notice, but I suppose it cannot be helped. Tsk.

"Archmage Kozak."

I address the man with a smile. The title is just how people of any standing address each other on this world, more so in the Arcane Academy, at least from what I can understand. As that is the case, I keep the same mannerism for impression.

There is no need to change what is not broken. Same reason why I did not bother to straight up annex Azula and force people to accept my point of view, economically and socially. That would be like telling them to discard thousands upon thousands of years of their history and conflict.

Sure, I could have Legion muscles everyone into it, but what is the point of that? What does Azula has to offer me other than knowledge? With the state of things, humanity actually has a motive to explore the boundary of magic.

Being the weakest species on the planet after all, not counting monsters.

"Whether Sapphire Solare is or is not my direct student is not the question, so if you decide to stall for whatever reason, you should know… well, you will learn of the consequences then."

I state calmly. Almost cheerfully. Have I ever tortured a mage to insanity before? Nope, and I do hope that Kozak will not be the first. From the look of it, he will not be.

My words are enough to make Kozak tenses the fuck up.

Sweating profusely too.

No need to actually state what I am going to do to him if he displeasures me for any reason, as his wild imagination is enough.

People do have some incredible imagination, and since Kozak has been through basically hell and back again, he should be aware of some of the most terrifying things possible.

Hell is called Hell due to that reason. What I have done so far feel pretty tamed in comparison to what the demons and devils do to each other on a regular basis. Much worst for the angels, obviously.

Compared to Hell itself, Heaven is a paradise. That is for comparison only, as Heaven might as well be called Hell when compare to being utterly rich on the mortal plane in a modern era. Those depictions of heaven in all religious book are just that. Depictions.

The truth is much stranger, and honestly, it is just a matter of perspective. Being an Archangel up there is like being a rich and power Chairman of a multi-billion dollars corporation.

Yup. Matter of perspective.

"My deepest apology, Master Maxwell. Student Sapphire Solare has great potential as a mage herself, and while I do wish to take her under my tutelage as one of my formal students, she had not come by to ask for it personally. Therefore, I am unable to provide for her."

Kozak finally answers my question. Skillfully too, I might add.

The reason to why he did not take Sapphire as his direction student or even a normal student is quite simple. She did not come and ask him for it herself personally, and he is not about to go and fetch her to become his student.

Doing so would be losing face in a world where face value is extremely highly regarded, and while she has great potential to be a powerful mage in the future, so are many students here at the academy.

Sapphire is not an exception, but unlike most students here, she has gone through a rather extremely traumatic experience.

Getting raped to death by monsters have strengthen her resolve, and from the look of it, she is at the peak of first-circle of magic, readying to advance into the second-circle. She just needs a bit of help. It is difficult without anyone helping her.

Despite having studied here for the whole year, Sapphire has not asked any of the Archmage for direct tutelage. This is because I am already her master, and having multiple masters is highly frowned upon here at the Arcane Academy. At any Arcane Academy, really.

This is due to the divided loyalty within the student, not to mention the conflict of interest within the teachers themselves. Everyone has a different way of interpreting magic, just like there are numerous solutions to the same problem.

And having a common student will cause some of their specialty and secret spells to leak to the others.

That said, Sapphire cannot progress further in her study or advance to higher rank within the academic system here while she has no publicly announced teacher. The teacher must also be part of the Arcane Academy, or why would she be studying here in the first place

Sapphire must accept a master to advance and finally reach Archmage level one day. One of the rules of the academy in regard to Apprentice Mages. Those of the zeroth or first circle of magic.

They would be considered as actual mages when they reach the second circle of magic. Third circle of magic would be regarded as Archmage. Kozak for example.

Above Kozak is Grand Archmage, or those within the fourth-circle of magic. There is actually no official Grand Archmage in this Kingdom, but there are Grand Archmage, including those two spies that Legion has detected.

There seems to be no reason for those two spies to be here, considering that this Kingdom is very low-ranked amongst the human Kingdoms and Queendoms.

Not even considering Empires on other continents. A much bigger continent. This place is kind of small.

While it does sound quite simple going from first-circle to second-circle of magic, it is actually not.

Mages have spent years after years to get to the second-circle, becoming recognized as actual mages, gaining privileges and benefits as well. Decades to reach third circles normally.

More so to reach that fourth-circle of magic, thus becoming a true powerhouse on this continent.

I do not need to mention fifth-circle as fourth-circle already feels like a dream to many, for most mages died of old age before they could even touch upon fourth-circle of magic.

And mages do live well into the 200s and 300s, all thanks to their magical power. Magic provides them with perfect health and so on, not to mention vast number of potions and concoctions. Artefacts too, if they are in possession of any.

It is not all that surprising really, as technology could do the same. Most members of Hydra are actually immortal thanks to all the cybernetic and biological enhancement they are receiving.

Yup. Not that surprising. Actually, nothing really surprises me anymore. I might be shocked to learn it, but not really surprise.

"Is that so?"

I response and wonder whether I should just command Kozak to go and accept Sapphire as one of his direct students regardless of whatever she wants or not. She will not resist if Kozak produced a letter of request from me.

As for commanding Kozak, it would not take much effort at all, considering my Commandment ability.

I have not actually tested that ability on any Azulian yet, as there is no reason to, really. Also, there is a big different between forcing others to do what I want under the mind-control of the ability and one of their own freewill.

Obviously, I prefer the later, as it feels more natural. Just a feeling, but it is a good feeling. I just really hate everything fake. That is why I never like spending way too long in a simulator. Only spend enough time to study and learn things when I was living in the 31st century.

Just fake. Just really, really fake.

After a moment of contemplation, I decide to state it as it is. There is no need to beat around the bush, as doing so will just be a waste of time for both me and Kozak.

I can afford to waste time with the power to control time at my command, but not so much for Kozak.

Kozak is quite a busy person, from his private study to teaching at the academy. The latter not so much as most students are left to study and fend for themselves. It helps build up their independent as well as confident.

In any case, Kozak has to planned ahead just so he could go and help out the army today. He will have to meet up with them soon. Or not.

The royal family cannot really boss Archmage around, and they have to provide some kind of incentive for the Archmage to help them out. Money. Prestige. Woman. Whatever the Archmage wants.

As for Kozak himself, he wants unrestricted access to the Royal Library. That library is only accessible to members of the royal family as well as some members of the nobilities.

Of course, like most mages, Kozak had attempted to break into the library. Failing in the process. This is because the library is protected by powerful wards and formations, not to mention guardian beasts.

Those wards, formations and beasts are set up a long time ago by a Supreme Archmage. One who had started this Kingdom in the first place. Therefore, the information within the library is very valuable to Archmage. Even Grand Archmage.

Probably the real reasons why there are Grand Archmage acting as spies around the Kingdom.

Legion is also unable to see into the library. That alone makes me interested, and I will check out that library in due time. Just put it on my list for now. Very insanely long list now. Good thing I am immortal, or I would never able to finish all of these tasks.

"Sapphire requires a master in order to advance from Apprentice Mage to an actual Mage, continuing her journey as a mage. She will not accept anyone as her master, considering that I am her master."

I speak up, thoughtfully.

"Even if I allow her to accept others as her master, it will only cause conflict of interest, and therefore, I prefer not to. Also, I do not wish them to put any zealous ideals within her head. As that is the case, what is your suggestion to this problem, Kozak?"

I state the problem. While I already know the solution without having Kozak putting himself down just to make Sapphire his student in order for her to advance, I still want to hear it from Kozak personally.

"Perhaps you can become a teacher at the Academy, Master Maxwell. With your power, it will not be a problem. No one will protest as soon as they feel the abyss of your magic, not even the headmaster himself. I will, obviously, vouch for you without hesitation. Put my own life on the line too should you required of me."

Kozak kisses ass. Making me smile under my hooded cloak in the process.

"Simple and effective. I already know that the simplest solution to help my student is for me to become a teacher at this Academy, and it is already within my plans to do so. There is no need for you to vouch for me or do anything that would put yourself in harm ways. Of course, I might require your presence when speaking with the headmaster myself."

I tell Kozak as I access information on the headmaster from Legion.

The man is noted to be at the peak of third-circle. Just like Kozak himself, but unlike Kozak, he actually has been at peak for a very long time now, unable to breakthrough to the fourth-circle of magic despite trying everything that he knows.

Breaking through to higher circle does not only take trainings and dedications, but also the right state of mine, moment and time. Everything must be perfectly in order for a mage to breakthrough. Higher circles are much more difficult, obviously.

As for the headmaster, his time has actually long passed, and there is little he could do to breakthrough into the fourth-circle of magic, extending his lifespan in the process. Without being able to, he would die soon.

While I cannot help him breakthrough as I have no clue how, I could give him more time to do so. Time that is extremely precious to him at the moment.

Of course, I can also command him to make me a teacher with my Commandment ability. That would take no effort at all, and it does not really affect his freewill as the Arcane Academy always looking out for qualified teacher.

I am more than qualified.

"Yes, Master Maxwell. Shall we go now, or perhaps you would like to talk to your student first? She is currently out in the field, so it will take a few hours to request her to return."

Kozak states thing that I already know. The few hours estimation is kind of bullshit, considering there are spells that can get her here within a few minutes. Or an instant with my teleportation. I could just teleport her directly to me.

Actually, I could teleport anyone directly to me. Including the headmaster.

"There is no need, Kozak."

I tell the man before deciding to take his seat behind the desk with so many stacks of paper. He hasn't been sitting in his seat ever since he has learnt of who I am. Sitting while I am standing is stupid, given our vast differences in power.

Kozak looks puzzled for a moment before speaking up.

"It is not possible to invite the headmaster, Master Maxwell. He is also old and frail, thus unable to go anywhere even within the academy itself."

Kozak realizes that I am not going to the headmaster to ask for a job. I am intending to get the man to go to me, which is kind of absurd, considering that the headmaster is the most powerful person in this whole academy.

At least on the surface.

"Archmage Kozak, you will learn that with me, nothing is truly impossible."

I tell him before an old man magically appears out of thin air. There is no magical incantation circle or anything of the sort.

Other than me, everyone in the room is utterly shocked and surprised. For different reasons, of course.

"Kozak! How dare you summon me?"

The headmaster calls out as his magical power and aura explode outwards, washing the private office in a storm of energy. It is much denser and vaster than Kozak despite being the same power level.

"And how did you do that? Some sort of artefact? Hand over the artefact!"

Only artefacts can cast magic without requiring magical incantation circle or runes. This is because the runes and incantations are on the artefact itself. And having powerful artefacts can equalized the field in ways that is not possible to determine before the battle.

"Silence old man."

I state simply, not needing to raise my voice. That did not go right with the headmaster, and his magical aura immediately direct at me.

Just like before with Kozak, it does absolutely nothing. I am remotely controlling this avatar from miles away, not inhabiting it with my consciousness or spirit.

Kozak cannot helped but smile faintly, realizing what is about to happen. Unfortunately for him, I really am not someone who would repeat methods, especially when I have so many ways to troll people.

I mean to say, terrifying little ants. Not going to use a magnifying glass or anything like that. Teleporting the headmaster straight to the surface of the sun to make him crispy would probably do the job. More than the job, actually.

But I do have something that I need to test out.

"Silence old man."

I state with the Commandment ability lacing my voice.

"How dare you –

The headmaster manages to call out before he lost his voice. He tries to speak but finding he is unable to form words. He immediately cast a dispel spell on himself but since it is not really magic, that spell does nothing.

It takes another second for his eyes to convey what he is thinking: "Impossible!"

"Have you grown too old and senile old man? If I can teleport you into this room, I can definitely throw you into the sun. I have expected better from a headmaster. Now, kneel, so our eyes are at the correct level."

I command, activating my ability for the last part.

And before he could do anything, he is forced onto his knees. He is now a terrified old man instead of an Archmage with unfathomable power.

Honestly, before me and this primordial power, even Gods have to prostrate, resigning in defeat. What is a puny Archmage to a God?