UNLIMITED SPEED

"That was hectic," Elder Sarah remarked as the group went up a flight of stairs. She said that even if a smile remained on her face.

The commotion about her breakthrough had lasted about 20 minutes. During that time, not only Elder Sarah got attention. Noah also did.

He had been shocked to find that many, if not all of them knew of his identity. Most knew him from the trials to enter the guild. And their shock had also been there when they sensed his new level.

Noah also got attention because of his looks. Even men marveled, wondering how good of a gene his parents had.

Eventually, the crowd let them go, ushering them to go inform the higher-ups of the guild. Which was what they were on their way to do.

Noah felt surprised when they started to climb the stairs. He had honestly expected that they simply flew upward since that seemed to be where the higher-ups were.

That idea crumbed, however, when they branched deeper into a certain floor and went down a beautiful hallway.

They arrived at what he could only term an elevator since it did just what its Earthen counterpart did.

Except faster.

Noah felt an incredible pressure land on his shoulders as the elevator sped upward. The pressure wasn't from the speed of the machine but from something else. Something he couldn't explain.

"Is the building this high?" Noah felt forced to ask when he felt his knees begin to shake and were about to give in to the weight on his shoulders.

"No. It's just that the quarters of the masters are above the city itself," Elder Von revealed with a knowing smile.

As if responding to his words. The golden insides of the elevator suddenly lit up with innumerable amount of inscriptions. Then everything went black for Noah.

Noah opened his eyes with a groan. He had passed out without a warning. It wasn't a nice experience.

"Welcome back." Anna giggled crouching before him with her hand stretched forward. He held it and she immediately pulled him up. Much to his displeasure.

"What happened?" Noah asked trying to battle the splitting headache that had befallen him.

"We've arrived," Dan announced, and only then did he have the presence of mind to look outside of the box which was the elevator.

It wasn't transparent before. But now it was.

Noah laid eyes on about twenty floating buildings; mansion-sized. Connected to each of them was a tube of sorts that acted as a tunnel into their gates.

The tubes stretched out from the wide glass box that the five experts stood in.

Hundreds of inscriptions and symbols existed on the tubes to keep them stable, but soon Noah's attention was drawn to another detail in that environment.

That of course would be none other than the grand building right above them.

From the looks of things, the twenty buildings surrounded that golden structure in a perfect circle.

Only flying could get them up there since no other means were available.

It looked like a small town had been erected somewhere above the city.

Noah also noticed that a powerful barrier kept the dark and crackling clouds away from that environment, and the lights that the buildings emanated illuminated its insides.

Exchanging glances with the experts beside him, Noah saw that they all had light smiles on their faces.

"Up we go now," Elder Von announced and they began to fly upwards.

The cylindrical construct connecting the grand building and the box was big enough to allow the passage of about ten individuals.

Noah felt Elder Von's consciousness pull him with the expert, but his eyes were on the thousands of shining lines and symbols running up and down the transparent construct.

An eerie silence drenched that highly magical environment, putting Noah on edge.

They arrived inside the building, but inside a small room that featured a flight of stairs that went up.

The room was bare but was painted an eye-catching shade of gold and black.

The elders immediately led Noah up the flight of stairs, and a beautiful hallway unfolded in his eyes.

Everything Noah laid eyes on, from the paintings to the very carpet and statues held a quality that he couldn't hope to damage.

Noah confirmed that the building was a castle due to how big and spacious it was.

A floating castle high in the sky, surrounded by thick clouds.

The elders led him down many other passages and eventually, a grand door appeared in their gazes.

The mostly golden nature of the walls converged on the obsidian black door, and sparkly inscriptions ran on its surface.

"This is the throne room in this castle. We informed the masters of our arrival, so prepare your greetings," Elder Von explained, directing his words at Noah.

"Or you can just follow our lead," Elder Sarah walked forward, closer to him. Noah heaved a sigh inwardly. He felt somewhat safe and assured by her closeness.

Before they even reached the door it began to part open, and it did so silently, even if its weight would be incredible if measured.

Noah felt his nervousness peak for the nth time that day when the multicolored lights within the room flowed into the passageway. Soon they stepped past the door and a spectacular throne room unfolded in their eyes.

Noah's mouth quite literally fell open when the details of that throne room became evident.

The throne room was a wide tall space, far too big for only one room. At its entrance, a golden carpet stretched forth. Ending at the other side of the room.

Noah swept his gaze quickly on his surroundings and his gaze fell on the huge armed statues all donned in golden armor, and wielding spears as tall as buildings.

The statues were on both sides of the room and although their armors were mainly golden in color multicolored runes existed on them illuminating the entire room with their magical radiance.

Noah could swear that those things were capable of moving since his instincts buzzed at their presence. And although he couldn't be certain, they were above the fourth tier.

At the far end of the room opposite to the entrance was a series of grand-looking thrones, numbering exactly twenty.

They formed an arc around one taller and more spectacular one, but it was empty, and so were twelve of them.

On the seven thrones that weren't empty, were exquisitely robed individuals, whose presence felt devoid of power. They had long since noticed the approaching figures, but they remained silent.

Being at the very end of the group with Elder Sarah, Noah felt intimidated. The more than 50m tall armored statues were very very oppressive, even if their material released no pressure.

Elder Von suddenly stopped before heaving a light sigh.

"We greet the masters," He bowed and the others chanted after him. But for some reason unknown to Noah, they couldn't stop wide smiles from appearing on their faces.

"What the fuck are they doing?" A male voice boomed forth in the entire room.

"I think they're trying to get a reaction from us," One of the three females present, replied.

"Maybe they want us to act formally due to the new person," Another male responded. His tone was that of amusement.

"Who gives a fuck," Another of the four men snorted calmly, even if his voice almost caused the room to shake.

Someone cleared their throat. Noah recognized the voice, but his mind remained too busy trying to deal with the interactions he had just been privileged of listening to.

'Don't they know we can hear them?!' his head spun as almost all his bottled-up nervousness vanished.