The Golem Mage

This extraordinary phenomenon involving the Gordons Patriarch persisted for some time, and every high-rank and mid-rank mage in the Estonia city could sense it, they could all tell that he was breaking through into the Tier 8 realm.

The enormous Mental Image Manifestation continued to radiate brilliant light, and the wild mana storm raging around its evolution made any attempt at concealment impossible.

For many of the city’s mages, the sight brought a rare sense of reassurance to them that now, a new Tier 8 mage lived among them.

_ _

After roughly thirty more minutes, the Patriarch slowly descended, his breakthrough complete, and his radiant Mental Image gradually dimming until it faded entirely from sight.

Across every household in Estonia City, conversations buzzed about the Gordons clan, they knew that with the city hall forces now destroyed and with the Gordons Patriarch having stepped into Tier 8, it was clear to all, that the clan would rule unchallenged for now, at least until the capital finally sent investigators to probe the City Lord’s death.

The moment the Patriarch touched the ground, all the clan elders were already waiting for him around, even Terran had come to watch him finish his breakthrough.

Immediately they began to offer their congratulations to George, while Alec watched from a short distance, observing his grandfather as the elders swarmed him with respectful greetings and bows.

Even from where he stood, Alec could see the change, his grandfather looked noticeably younger. Many strands of hair had turned jet black once more, and the deep wrinkles that time had carved into his face had smoothed away almost entirely.

The breakthrough had clearly extended his lifespan further, and the physical rejuvenation was the most visible proof.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Terran’s voice came from beside him as the older man stepped up to stand level with Alec.

Alec turned slightly.

“I was planning to find you after this,” Alec said,

“But since you’re here...Take this. It should be more than enough to handle your problems.” Alec continued by summoning a small pill bottle from his spatial ring and sent it floating toward Terran.

Terran raised his right hand toward his left as the pill bottle floated into his palm, it took only a split second for his casual expression to shatter, after his mental senses had gone through the contents of the bottle.

“I... I...” Terran stammered, with his eyes fixed on the bottle, no matter how long he stared, words refused to form from him.

“I remember you saying you’d need around a hundred Tier 7 mental pills to fully recover from your injuries, there are only about forty in there, but I have reason to believe they’ll get the job done.” Alec said calmly.

“They’re clearly the highest quality you’ll find anywhere in the Northern Kingdom,” he added, turning to face his master directly.

Terran finally found his voice, though it trembled.

“I don’t understand why your clan is helping me, with this many Tier 7 mental pills at your disposal, you could have raised far more high-rank mages within the Gordons clan. Yet instead...”

Alec cut in gently.

“Master, you should never try to understand the ways of my clan, and this isn’t a gesture from the clan—if that were your thoughts skewered towards then you’re greatly mistaken.”

“This is just me helping you reach perfect health, because the stronger you become, the more freely I can act until I leave the academy. And please, don’t mention paying me back again, because we both know that even if you sold everything you own, it wouldn’t come close to paying for half of those pills.”

Alec dropped those words with a faint smile on his face.

Terran listened in silence, the only part he clung to was Alec’s warning not to try understanding the Gordons clan, that single sentence felt like permission to stop questioning.

“Then I won’t act like a stranger,” Terran said quietly.

As he immediately sat cross-legged on the ground, uncorked the bottle, and poured all forty pills into his mouth at once.

At that moment, Terran let go of all shame, he simply accepted his fate.

Deep inside, he felt overwhelmingly indebted to Alec, and still believed that somewhere deep hidden with-in the Gordons clan, someone was calling the shots, and because of Alec, he had been shown this unprecedented favor.

In fact, Terran didn’t even attempt to enter a safer meditative state first before taking the pills, nor did he pause for a moment to consider whether the pills Alec had given him might cause irreversible repercussions later.

Alec, standing off to the side, was equally stunned to see his master swallow all forty pills at once.

And of course the effects were immediate, and far more explosive than when the Gordons Patriarch had taken just one, as a violent surge of energy erupted from Terran’s body, and almost instantly his Mental Image began to manifest.

A massive mountain-like visage took shape before him, radiating an aura of immovable strength and overwhelming gravitational force.

The moment it appeared, Alec was forced to stagger backward, because just by standing nearby, the gravity around him intensified to a level he could no longer manipulate or ease.

He retreated several steps, eyes widening.

Behind his master, the cracked mountain began to knit itself back together at a visible pace, this time the restoration wasn’t limited to one section, it was happening from every direction at once, stone fusing seamlessly as though guided by an invisible hand.

The other Gordons elders watching nearby exchanged glances, they could all sense it, that once the mountain fully healed, there was a very real chance Terran would break through to the Tier 8 realm himself.

Just as they began to wonder if there was anything they could do, or if they could contain the situation, as they reminisced on how they had failed to suppress even the Patriarch’s earlier outburst, but then in that moment the Patriarch’s calm voice cut through their tension.

“What are you all standing there looking lost for? Set up the barrier, with me here, we should be able to conceal most of the breakthrough aura.”

The elders immediately snapped into motion, swiftly taking positions around Terran, as the Patriarch stepped forward to serve as the formation’s core.

___

Meanwhile, across Estonia City, countless clans had turned their attention back toward the Gordons’ estate once more.

For a brief while they had believed things were settling after the Patriarch’s evolution concluded, but now it was obvious that had only been the beginning, mere minutes after the Patriarch’s aura had stabilized, a second, entirely different aura and pressure began to build momentum, rising steadily from the same location.

“My son, from this day forward, the Gordons clan must never be offended, no matter what happens. Go and spread this order to every enforcer. Anyone who dares disobey will be punished severely.”

The Patriarch of a certain clan spoke these words to his son the moment he sensed the rising energy being swiftly concealed.

At that instant, not only he but the heads of various other clans were issuing the same stern warning to their own members: do not provoke the Gordons, as they all believed the Gordons clan was clearly on the rise.

These were the very same people who, in the past, hadn’t hesitated to talk bad about the Gordons clan when they believed they were already down and would soon be destroyed after being attacked by the city lord.