Chapter 430
Up close, the tower looked even more imposing than it did from a distance. It was conical in shape and had seven floors. Images of dancing dragons, soaring phoenixes, and peacocks swirled around its facade. The latter were a symbol of the Empire. Its coat of arms was a depiction of a peacock feather assuming the form of the ‘power’ hieroglyph.
“Gatekeeper.” Mentor Jean bowed low.
“Young Jean.” An old man wearing a grey, patched cape smiled. He sat on a chair near the entrance and looked dispassionately at his possessions. “I haven’t seen you here for a long time.”
“I was here yesterday, Gatekeeper.”
“Yesterday. Today. A hundred years ago. Time flows differently for me. You know that.”
Jean bowed again, and then turned to the startled disciples. Only Hadjar and Einen weren
