"How do you know that... Huh? It really is a spirit? How did you know?"
"If it runs away when it sees me, it's usually a spirit."
"..."
"..."
An awkward silence lingered momentarily.
Nillia hesitated before speaking, "You don't necessarily need a spirit to be a good mage! Besides, Wardanaz, you have many other friends!"
'She’s really not very talented at comforting,' thought Yi-Han, but he nodded in agreement, understanding that his friend was trying to offer sincere comfort.
"Wardanaz, come here and let's go forward, shall we?"
"Why?"
"There's something over there. I want to see if it's a spirit or not."
Yi-Han looked at Nillia with a feeling of hurt, but she, oblivious to his gaze, beckoned impatiently.
"Hurry up! We need to check!"
'Must be a hunter's nature,' Yi-Han grumbled to himself as he walked.
Generally, heavy snowfall was not conducive to hunting. However, experienced hunters could still track their prey under such conditions.
"That's impressive," Yi-Han remarked, amazed as Nillia caught another rabbit.
"When the snow falls suddenly, the animals get startled and panic," she explained.
"Indeed... The way you ran on the snow earlier seemed unique. Can you show me again?"
Nillia, a former member of the <Shadow Patrol>, was proud of her origins and often liked to talk about the Patrol and hunting with her friends.
-"This bread is really terrible,"- someone commented.
-"Ah, but it's better than the bread I had when I was stranded alone in the mountains, right? The bread I had back then was the worst, left by a hunter in a cave, full of mold and bugs..."-
-"Eww, Nillia...!"-
Of course, such attempts at conversation were not always successful. However, Wardanaz's respect and interest in her stories pleased Nillia.
"Wardanaz."
"What is it?"
"I really enjoy talking about the <Shadow Patrol>... I'll answer everything you asked... Let's talk later!"
With a swift motion, Nillia accurately took down a fleeing deer.
Wardanaz had just asked his 17th question about various hunting techniques like choosing and shooting arrows, tracking prey in the snow, and concealing one's presence. Initially, Nillia was excited to explain, happy to satisfy her friend's curiosity.
However, she had forgotten one thing: her friend was a zealot intent on attending every class at the magic academy!
'Even so, there's a limit!' Nillia thought, feeling exhausted and her throat sore after the 17th question.
"Can't you just answer this one?"
"No!"
Nillia, usually unable to refuse a friend's request, was learning to say no, especially when dealing with Yi-Han.
"That should be enough," she said after the final hunt.
"Right?"
After disassembling the last of their prey, Nillia washed her hands in the snow.
Yi-Han melted the surrounding snow with fire and boiled it for drinking water.
'It's good to get used to fire even a little,' he thought.
Nillia, seeing this, borrowed some water with an embarrassed expression.
Magic sure is convenient!
“Freshmen coming this far in such weather? It's dangerous. Go back.”
Startled, Yi-Han and Nillia turned around, only to find that there was nothing visible around them.
However, the voice continued to be heard. It was a gentle and kind voice.
"It doesn't matter where I am. It's dangerous. Go back."
'I don't know who this is, but they must be among the top 5% in character at Einroguard,' Yi-Han thought.
A being that tells students to go back because it's dangerous is likely to be fundamentally friendly.
"We don't know who you are, but we need food."
“I don't understand why Einroguard starves its young students... But still, it's dangerous. Go back. This weather is artificially created and won't settle down easily.”
Encouraged by the other's kind demeanor, Yi-Han became more proactive.
It was rare to encounter such a person at the magic academy. He had to take help when he could get it.
"Can you not reveal yourself? I would like to meet and talk."
“It wouldn't be good for you to see me.”
The voice remained polite but warned.
"Why is that?"
“My scent is too intoxicating for freshmen, it will make you drunk.”
'What kind of species is this?'
From the warning, Yi-Han guessed that the other's species was quite unique.
A species that can intoxicate others with just their scent...?
"But I will be fine."
"Wardanaz. Isn't that too reckless?"
Nillia whispered, worried about the serious warning.
It seemed the other was not a weak opponent...
"It's okay, Nillia."
"Really?"
"Yes. But you might be in danger, so it would be better if you stayed back a bit."
"..."
Nillia looked at Yi-Han with very worried eyes.
'Is it really okay?'
The Gandarva, with bird-like wings and legs, could easily be confused with the bird mixed-blood, but they were distinctly different.
The difference was that Gandarvas emitted a scent that could intoxicate humans.
The Gandarva was closer to a spirit mixed-blood than a bird mixed-blood.
The Gandarva who spoke to Yi-Han had been a guardian-like figure who had long settled in the underground caverns near the rockweed, ensuring no accidents happened.
As such, they were understandably weary of the approaching mages.
'This is why I don't like mages!'
The Gandarva shook off the heavy snow piled atop the entrance to the underground cave and revealed itself, enveloping Yi-Han in a strong scent.
No matter how resistant to alcohol, a less experienced mage couldn't possibly endure...
"Pleased to meet you. My name is Yi-Han."
Yi-Han greeted politely, causing the Gandarva to be taken aback.
Not giving the Gandarva time to recover from the surprise, Yi-Han continued to ask.
"May I know your name?"
“You can call me the master of the Rockgrass Cave.”
"!"
Yi-Han was surprised.
The Rockgrass Cave...
-Rockgrass Underground Cave (Beware of the Cave Master)-
Wasn't it one of the exits from Einroguard that Professor Bungaegor had mentioned?
'You seem very composed?'
Honestly, the Gandarva seemed more approachable than the professor.
"Are you the master of the Rockgrass Cave?"
“Do you know about the Rockgrass Cave?”
Suddenly, the Gandarva's face contorted, emitting a powerful aura.
Yi-Han, unfazed, responded calmly.
"I saw the name in the library."
“You're not trying to pass through the cave, are you?”
"Me? What lies beyond the cave?"
Yi-Han feigned ignorance.
Nillia, listening from behind, was also completely fooled by his expressionless face.
“If not, that's fine. Don't even think about the Rockgrass Cave.”
"May I say something?"
“What is it?”
“Mages are inherently curious beings, so simply telling them not to be interested in something might only pique their interest further. If you explain why they should not be interested, they will understand and not pay it any heed."
Upon hearing Yi-Han's words, Gandarva fell into deep thought.
The freshman's suggestion was more plausible than expected.
“That could be possible…”
"Yes."
“The Rockgrass Cave is very dangerous.”
"How exactly is it dangerous?"
"..."
Nillia looked at Yi-Han from behind with a bewildered expression.
Surely he's not thinking of going in there?
“Due to the collision of great magics, other realms have overlapped, creating unstable paths.”
Nillia, having heard the same explanation as Yi-Han, couldn't comprehend it at all.
'What is he talking about?'
"Indeed... Then it wouldn't be easy to tamper with. The mana must be intricately entwined, and with the overlapping of other realms..."
“Exactly.”
"..."
Nillia cast a betrayed look.
'Is this an area where there are serious magic accidents?'
Mages are inherently prone to causing major accidents.
The heavy snowfall in this area was also due to a magic accident.
It was clear that the Rockgrass Cave, located underground, was a site of such magic accidents.
Because of the collision of great magics, the flow of mana was disrupted, and realms like the spirit world became intertwined...
Yi-Han finished his notes.
The guardian of the cave says not to enter, but other professors come and go when they are bored.
There must be a way to traverse it.
"Thank you for telling me. I won't go near the Rockgrass Cave."
“Thank you! You are truly different from other mages. You are bound to succeed greatly.”
Gandarva was pleased with Yi-Han's understanding.
It had been worried about students who kept discovering this place and poking their heads in, so it was really a relief.
“Is there anything else I can help you with? Did you mention earlier that you were short on food?”
"Yes. And..."
“?”
"We are also short on clothes. It's so suddenly cold. Everyone is shivering in their scant clothes."
"?”
Nillia was also puzzled.
You're rich in fabrics, aren't you...?
That's true as well.
"We are also short on potions. We can't gather ingredients because of the cold..."
Gandarva was genuinely saddened by Yi-Han's words.
“I'll take care of it for you!”
"...Weren't you out hunting??"
Yi-Han's friends were astonished by the cart he had brought back.
Even for a master hunter, it was impossible to hunt for well-packaged food, let alone potions or coats.
Yonaire, realizing something, whispered softly.
"Did you hunt the professor's workshop?"
"...That's a novel idea, but no."
Yi-Han and his friends sorted through the supplies he brought.
It seemed they would be able to get through this week somehow.
He was worried about what would happen if it dragged on...
'Let's think about that when it comes.'
Yi-Han was seriously considering asking the cave again.
The other party had been surprisingly kind.
'I should visit periodically.'
"Is everything ready?"
"Let's set off! Everyone, keep your wits about you and follow!"
The students of the Blue Dragon, tightly clad in coats and tied to each other with ropes, began to walk out into the snow under Yi-Han's command.
Though their expressions were solemn, their destination was the main building of the magic academy.
It was time for Monday morning classes.
"Huff... Huff."
"Stay focused! You can't fall!"
The students of the Blue Dragon managed to pull each other into the main building's entrance, barely making it inside.
Although it was just as cold inside the main building, the absence of the blizzard and strong winds made it feel almost bearable.
"Everyone..."
Professor Garcia looked at the students seated in the lecture hall with a deeply sympathetic expression.
How did they end up in such an academy...
'Half of them haven't even come?'
Yi-Han was surprised to see the number of students in the lecture hall.
These kids, how could they just skip class...
"Professor Verduus, could you please make today's enchantment magic lecture about cold resistance?"
Professor Garcia asked the beaver mixed-blood professor standing beside her.
It was supposed to be a lecture explaining what enchantment magic was...
But seeing the students half-frozen, cold resistance seemed far more important.
"Why? Why should I do that?"
"Please."
"The freshmen are too foolish to learn it even if I teach them."
"But if you show them how, maybe one or two will keep trying and succeed."
"No, they're too foolish to do it."
"Just do it."
Professor Garcia crushed the corner of the lectern with the strength of her grip.
Professor Verduus was immediately convinced.
"I'll do it! It must be done!"
'I really need to be careful about my behavior in front of Professor Garcia.'
