Yi-Han wondered why he had to summon a mass of water, but he listened quietly.
Given it was a directive from Professor Uregor, there surely had to be some reasoning behind it.
"Typically, a mage who is compatible with the water element is likely to be compatible with the cold element as well. However, if you ask whether it's easy to practice with the cold element regularly, the answer is no."
Among the elements, some were relatively easier to handle, while others were more difficult.
Elements like fire, water, or earth were generally easier to handle (though some mages struggled with fire), while elements like lightning, darkness, or cold were more challenging.
"Lightning is hard to control, darkness is difficult to manifest, and cold is tricky to maintain," said Professor Uregor, conjuring snowflakes out of thin air.
The snowflake, born inside the warm cabin, quickly transformed into a droplet.
"Unlike water or earth, the cold element requires constant focus from the mage to maintain its power. Otherwise, it tends to lose its strength and dissipate."
"Indeed. Just like how summoning and sustaining dozens of water beads in the air is difficult, the cold element is similarly challenging..."
"...Well, not quite to that extent."
Professor Uregor was startled by his comparison.
While the cold element was indeed challenging, it wasn't to that extreme.
"But in an environment like this, maintaining the cold element is much easier. Don't you think it's an ideal setting for novice mages to train and hone their senses?"
"That's a valid point," Yi-Han agreed, nodding before hesitating.
'Aha, for a moment, I thought it might actually be a stroke of good luck.'
It was a fleeting thought, but it momentarily filled him with a sense of dread.
This was certainly not luck!
"And as I mentioned earlier, with the Spirit Realm drawing closer, cold spirits would have been summoned all around... An opportunity to interact with them and receive various teachings and blessings."
"When I visited the Spirit Realm before, the spirits avoided me. Could such an environment possibly diminish their fear and increase their affinity toward us?"
"That's unlikely."
Yi-Han's face fell slightly.
So, it's still not possible?
"Thank you for the advice, Professor."
"Of course. Take care. It probably won't last too long."
"A day?"
"Longer than that."
"Two days?"
"I shouldn't have said anything. Just think of it as indefinite."
Professor Uregor, exasperated by his persistent student, shook his head and pulled out a chest.
Inside were round glass bottles filled with a swaying brown liquid.
"This is a gift. It should help with the cold."
"A potion?"
"No. It's brandy."
"...Well, thank you anyway."
Yi-Han took the chest and left the cabin, then tilted his head in thought.
'Wait a minute. So why did we create water in the first place?'
Whooooosh-
"Light the fire!"
"We can't. We've used up all the oil!"
"Push it away with force before it sets!"
"I'll create a wall with earth!"
The students of the Black Tortoise struggled to clear the snow in front of the tower.
While the Blue Dragon had a madman clearing a path with fire magic, the other towers couldn't resort to such methods.
Instead, the Black Tortoise students employed various ingenious methods to gradually remove the snow.
All sorts of tactics were being used.
"Ymirg, push with your strength! I'll create a wall!"
"Wait. Someone's coming!"
"A professor?"
"It can't be..."
The students of the Black Tortoise sensed it too.
A professor wouldn't come to help!
Of course, the one who had come was Yi-Han.
"Wardanaz! How did you manage to get through this blizzard...?"
"Wardanaz! How did you get here?"
The students of the Black Tortoise shouted loudly.
Due to the fierce blizzard, they had to shout with all their might to be heard.
Whooooosh!
"...I came to do it!"
"What?"
"I said I came to do it!"
"You came to help?"
"No! I came for a barter!"
Thud!
Yi-Han set down the chest.
It was filled with thick fabrics.
Having bought them like a madman, he had plenty left even after making various winter gear.
"Where did you get these from?!"
"There's always a way. So... will you trade?"
"We'll freeze if we talk here. Come this way! Let's talk over here!"
Where there used to be a black market in front of the tower, now stood several makeshift snow huts.
They were temporary shelters made by the students of the Black Tortoise for clearing the snow outside.
The students were surprised as they checked the fabrics Yi-Han had brought.
'Where on earth did he get these from?'
'How does Wardanaz, of all people, have better trading skills than someone from the Thieves Guild?'
"I want to trade. Wardanaz."
"Good. That's why I'm here."
Yi-Han looked at his friends with a mixture of hope and anticipation.
"How much food do you have left?"
"..."
"..."
The students of the Black Tortoise hesitated, only looking at each other, until someone finally spoke.
"None."
"What nonsense? I thought you were consistently stocking up."
In reality, the Blue Dragon had avoided starvation so far because Yi-Han had been singularly importing supplies. Left alone, it was at a high risk of going hungry.
In contrast, many of the Black Tortoise students could fend for themselves, even if left in the woods.
While the Blue Dragon relied on purchases,
And the White Tiger on hunting,
The Black Tortoise utilized gathering, farming, trading, hunting – all sorts of methods!
Even if they lacked luxury goods like those in the Blue Dragon, didn't they have more food?
"Our storage was blown away by the blizzard..."
"..."
Unlike Yi-Han, who could store small preserved foods, spices, and seasonings in the lounge, the students of the Black Tortoise heavily relied on external storage.
They couldn't perform tasks like smoking or pickling inside the lounge.
Of course, such storages were vulnerable in situations like this.
"You should have been prepared for this."
'How could we have prepared for that...'
"Anyway, I understand."
Yi-Han picked up the chest again and stood up.
His journey here had been in vain, but there was nothing he could do.
"Wait! Hold on, Wardanaz!"
"Don't go!"
The students of the Black Tortoise clung to Yi-Han's coat.
Right now, they needed winter gear more than anyone.
"Why are you being so pathetic?"
Yi-Han's words were colder than the blizzard outside.
"Can't we do it on credit? When we go outside, I'll pay with silver..."
"Hey, don't be ridiculous. That won't work. No matter how rich your family is, the other party is the Wardanaz family. Why would he accept such an offer?"
Another friend rebuked the student from the Black Tortoise who had last spoken, the one who had been beside Salko previously.
Yi-Han paused.
"Which family are you from?"
"The Richmond family..."
Shyles from the Richmond family opened his mouth with an embarrassed expression.
The family had amassed wealth in the empire through the carriage transportation business, but the dignity of a family was determined not by the gold it possessed but by the history it had built.
In this regard, the Wardanaz family, a prominent noble house and a renowned family of mages in the empire, held a prestige that Shyles could hardly compare to.
'Oh, this kid.'
Yi-Han was incredulous.
If one's family was wealthy, why not make it known instead of creating awkward situations by keeping it silent?
"A very distinguished family you come from."
"Are you joking now, Wardanaz?"
"Do I look like I'm joking?"
Yi-Han's cold, statue-like face had an intimidating effect even when he remained silent.
Shyles was slightly flustered.
"I'll give it to you on credit. Pay me back during the break."
"What? Really? Is that okay?"
"Of course. I can trust the Richmond family."
"Wardanaz..."
Shyles looked at Yi-Han with a moved expression.
Yi-Han, of the Wardanaz family, clearly wasn't there to covet silver coins. He was surely considering Shyles's feelings.
Such warm respect shown in front of his friends.
Was this the dignity only a great noble could possess?
"I'm really thankf..."
"Just sign here."
"Oh, okay."
Yi-Han handed over the chest.
Though he hadn't secured food, selling the goods at a high price warmed his heart.
"Wardanaz is here?"
Nillia peeked her head out from outside the snow hut.
"Help me convince them!"
"Nillia... It's too risky. It's dangerous."
"No, it's really not dangerous!"
"?”
Nillia entered, exasperated, thumping her chest.
Adorned with various animal skins for warmth and makeshift snowshoes crafted from vines and twigs, Nillia radiated the aura of an expert.
"What persuasion are you talking about?"
"I'm trying to go hunting, but everyone is stopping me."
"Nillia... Even so, going hunting in this weather is..."
"It's a good idea. Let's go."
"See? Told you! Wardanaz agrees!"
"..."
The friends looked at Yi-Han with aghast eyes.
Why isn't he stopping her!?
"Just sitting around won't make food fall from the sky."
"That's exactly what I'm saying, Wardanaz. People who aren't hunters think meat falls from the sky! But Wardanaz, could you move the fire a bit?"
"Oh. Sorry."
Nillia moved back, feeling the heat. The flames Yi-Han had scattered around were too intense.
Yi-Han marveled at Nillia's lightness as she moved effortlessly over the thick snow.
It was no wonder she was from the <Shadow Patrol>.
"Such a blizzard must be nothing for the <Shadow Patrol>, right?"
"No. It's actually a big deal. It's rare for it to be this severe."
"Indeed. But still, to make a path like this in such a challenging situation without other <Shadow Patrol> members..."
Yi-Han was impressed.
Nillia, a skilled hunter and ranger, was an excellent guide.
The snow-covered mountain had transformed into a completely different space, and one could easily lose track of their bearings.
However, Nillia unhesitatingly found and made her way.
Truly remarkable skill...
"No, it's actually much easier."
Nillia looked at Yi-Han as if he was making no sense.
How could it be a challenging situation when they were walking with flames floating around, brightening their path and keeping them warm?
Had other hunters heard, they would have remarked, 'Wow, that makes hunting easy.'
"Anyway, I thought you, Wardanaz, would try to stop me."
"Ah. Of course, I would have preferred to go after the snow had lessened, but it couldn't be helped."
"?"
"I have to attend classes starting tomorrow. Need to gather everything over the weekend."
"..."
Nillia flinched.
In fact, she had been thinking that since the midterms were over and a heavy snowfall was expected, it might be an excuse to skip a class or two.
"Classes... Even in such an emergency, isn't it okay to miss one?"
"What kind of nonsense are you spouting, Nillia?"
"..."
Nillia turned her head away and pouted secretly.
That's why he's the top student!
Suddenly, Nillia's long ears perked up.
"There's something. It's either a spirit or a monster..."
"Can you tell which?"
"Not easily."
Due to the blizzard shortening visibility and the rampant natural magic in such conditions, distinguishing between spirits and monsters was challenging.
Pop!
"Huh? Why is it running away?"
"...It's a spirit."
