Before Yi-Han could even begin to argue, Professor Willow swiftly walked away. Yi-Han wouldn't have protested anyway, even if the professor hadn't left.
After all, a professor who would listen to protests wouldn't have given such a task in the first place!
"Yonaire, I'm sorry."
Yi-Han apologized sincerely.
He should have escaped when he had the chance earlier, instead of trying to impress the professor, which now had its consequences.
"Huh? Sorry for what?"
But Yonaire was already busy digging around the dry soil near the plants, feeling its texture to check if it needed water.
"...Aren't you angry about this unfair labor?"
"Taking care of plants is fun, isn't it? You like it too, don’t you?"
Surprisingly, Yonaire didn't seem displeased at all.
Loving to take care of plants, the opportunity to personally tend to the rare species she had only read about in books was very satisfying for her.
"I like my own plants, but others’, especially the professor's plants are a bit... Never mind. As long as you're happy, that's what matters."
Yi-Han started to say something but then stopped.
Upon reflection, he realized Yonaire's perspective was quite positive.
Thinking of it as a chore assigned by the professor could be depressing, but considering it as a chance to see rare plants they could only read about in books...
'But still, it doesn’t completely erase the gloom.'
Yi-Han was too pragmatic to be as optimistic as Yonaire.
Yet, Yi-Han moved into action.
Feelings were feelings, but work was work.
"Yi-Han, the soil is dry. Should we water it?"
"The leaves are firm, and the book said it doesn't need much water, so let's skip it. But this one definitely needs water..."
"Wait. That plant needs only rainwater. I've read about it."
"Right. I've read that too."
"Did I make too amateurish a suggestion?"
"No. It's good to check our knowledge against each other."
The two students at the botanical garden shared a knowing smile.
Experts recognize each other!
Other students of the Blue Dragon wouldn't understand why they had to go to such lengths for a single plant.
For youngsters from noble families, gardening was a meticulous and labor-intensive task.
But for Yi-Han, it was different.
'Plants are better than professors.'
Of course, checking the soil daily, adjusting the water type and temperature, removing pests or mold, ventilating the air, and giving potions could be bothersome and annoying.
But plants were quiet and taciturn, which made them more endearing than any professor.
How many hours had passed?
"Are we done?"
"Yeah."
They wiped their sweat and straightened their backs. Gardening was as demanding as swordsmanship training; their muscles screamed in protest.
“I am watching you, young humans.”
"...?!"
"!"
Yi-Han immediately drew his staff and aimed it in the direction of the voice.
Surprisingly, the voice came from the nearby pond.
With a bubbling sound, a massive water entity emerged from the pond. It was clearly a powerful elemental spirit.
"My name is Farakis. I am the spirit of this pond. You young humans must be the dwarf's disciples."
"...Yes. Do you know the professor?"
"Yes. I have a contract with the dwarf to help tend this garden."
It was evident that the spirit looked favorably upon them, and the reason became clear immediately.
"It is rare among young humans to find ones who care for plants as diligently and meticulously as you two..."
"Aha, is that why?"
Seeing Farakis, Yi-Han began to understand why Professor Willow had sent them here.
Professor Willow was a professor of botany.
He must have been moved by Yi-Han and Yonaire's genuine care for the plants.
That's why he sent them to this spirit who valued caring for plants highly.
If they truly cherished the plants, they would surely be recognized by the spirit!
‘I'm sorry, Professor.’
Yi-Han quickly apologized.
He had thought Professor Willow had merely tasked them with his own work, but there was a deeper meaning behind it.
He was touched by this revelation. Normally, spirits do not like revealing themselves in front of people, but they couldn't remain idle after witnessing such dedication.
Having finished speaking, the spirit looked at Yi-Han, puzzled.
"But you seem to be the type that spirits would fear. How do you have a tree spirit with you?"
"..."
Yi-Han felt slightly hurt by this remark. Yonaire, without realizing, jumped to his defense.
"Yi-Han may not seem like it, but he's really a kind person."
I'm sorry, young human. Lower spirits do not have the ability to discern the nature of their contractors.
The weaker and lower the spirit, the lesser its intellect.
To understand the nature of a contractor like Yi-Han would require a long time of coexistence and mutual understanding, which was difficult for Yi-Han, as most spirits would likely flee from his powerful mana!
"I received this staff as a gift from the talking oak trees."
“Ah, I see. Don't be too heartbroken. The tree spirit of your staff was scared at first and still is, but it praises you as a good human.”
"..."
Yi-Han looked at his staff, unknowingly.
It was scared of him?
Yonaire, feeling sorry, asked.
"Farakis, is there any way for Yi-Han to make a contract with a spirit? Even when he tries to contact spirits in the spirit world, they avoid him."
“Hmm... This is a dilemma I haven't encountered before…”
Farakis immersed in thought with splashing sounds.
“How about this?”
"What is it?"
Yi-Han felt a flicker of hope.
Being a powerful named spirit, he would have a wise solution...
“Instead of trying to make a contract with spirits, why not form a contract with other beings? With such powerful mana, most would be afraid, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. There are beings who would appreciate such power.”
"...But I do want to make a contract with a spirit."
“Hmm. I see. If they liked such traits, they would probably be malevolent beings. That wouldn't suit someone with a benevolent heart like yours.”
"?"
Yi-Han was puzzled.
Was that so?
But Yonaire showed no sign of surprise, nodding in agreement.
"That's right."
"I'm not insistent on contracting only with spirits..."
“Hmm... If you insist on contracting with a spirit, another way might be to form a contract with wild and ferocious spirits.”
Farakis suggested another approach.
Not all lower spirits were timid and innocent. Some, even as lower spirits, were wild and fierce.
Especially the spirits of unstable and destructive elements tended to have such tendencies.
"There's such a method...! Wait, but the professor didn't mention anything about this."
Yi-Han realized something odd.
Could it be that Professor Uregor deliberately didn't tell him, possibly as a prank?
It was a highly plausible scenario.
"Well... Even if a lower spirit is wild and fierce, it's not so foolish as to not recognize danger... It's more likely they would flee or run away."
"..."
"..."
Yi-Han and Yonaire fell into silence again. Yonaire's sympathetic gaze was somehow heart-wrenching for Yi-Han.
“But the method I mentioned is not entirely wrong. The stronger and higher-level spirits are less likely to run away at the sight of you. And such spirits might be able to discern your true nature through conversation.”
"Thank you for the advice."
“Hmm... No, not all strong and high-level spirits would work. Ideally, it should be a wild and fierce one. Of course, not all spirits who aren't like that will necessarily run away, but spirits generally don't like meaningless fights…”
"..."
Yi-Han thought he might have been better off not hearing Farakis's explanation, which now felt even more daunting!
Yonaire asked with a pleading tone.
"Farakis, would you consider making a contract with Yi-Han?"
"Yonaire, it's okay. Let it be."
"No, I want to help!"
Yonaire wanted to repay Yi-Han for the help she had received.
But Yi-Han was starting to feel embarrassed.
It was like a teacher asking, 'Isn't there a spirit who can be friends with Yi-Han?'
“A young human mage contracting with me is a bit much. You'd collapse right away…”
Farakis, looking at Yi-Han, changed its statement.
“...You might not collapse, but I'm sorry. I have a contract with the dwarf right now. It would be difficult for me to follow you and help.”
"It's okay."
Yi-Han thought he might have to start getting friendly with undead creatures.
“How about this? There's a spirit I know at this academy. It was summoned here. If I introduce you, it might at least listen to you.”
"!"
Yi-Han was surprised.
It was an unexpected and welcome suggestion.
"Would that be okay? I don't want to be a burden..."
“Seeing you two young gardeners, I really want to help. Don't worry too much. And…”
Farakis hesitated for a moment, wondering if it should say the next part.
Finally, it spoke.
“But don't be too disappointed if that friend avoids you. Understand?”
"...Yes..."
Yi-Han started to wonder just how powerful a spirit he had to find to even have a conversation.
Would he have to seek out the Spirit King?
Farakis coiled up and floated, emptying the water from the pond. A deep cave was revealed beneath.
“This way will lead you straight to my friend.”
Yi-Han was grateful for the spirit's kindness. But Farakis's generosity wasn't over yet.
Flash!
Ancient symbols, resembling the pond, were etched onto the back of Yi-Han and Yonaire's hands.
“I've imbued a bit of my power into these markings. They will help you young mages.”
"Thank you."
"Thank you so much!"
Yi-Han and Yonaire expressed their sincere gratitude.
The spirit in front of them seemed much kinder than any professor at their school.
“Yes. Never forget your love for plants.”
As Yi-Han and Yonaire walked down into the pond, Farakis quickly returned to its original pond form. The passage to the underground quietened instantly.
"Light."
Yi-Han floated a sphere of light. And he found himself unwittingly looking at his tree spirit staff.
He wanted to ask if it still found him scary, but he held back, thinking it would sound too pitiful.
Despite his reluctance, he really wanted to ask.
"Yi-Han?"
"!"
Yi-Han, thinking his true thoughts had been discovered, was taken aback.
"Why so?"
"Mr. Farakis was at the pond, wasn't it? Where do you think the spirit we are looking for now might be?"
"...Hmm."
Yonaire's question was indeed sharp. Farakis had forgotten to explain what kind of spirit it actually was.
"Perhaps... somewhere underground, like beneath a lake or a river."
Since Farakis was a pond spirit, it was highly likely that its friend would be a similar kind of spirit.
Water, rivers, ponds, seas, etc.
'Surely it's not connected all the way to the sea.'
In the worst-case scenario, they could end up in a dungeon beneath the sea.
Yi-Han knew that this magic academy was certainly capable of that.
"It would be nice if it's a river spirit. I've heard that most river spirits are wise and knowledgeable."
"If I can indeed contract with a river spirit, then I can gain the wisdom necessary for my time in this prison... no, in this academy."
Yi-Han paused in his speech.
'But aren't river spirits known to be mostly gentle in nature?'
...Then wouldn't that mean another one running away from him?
Clank!
With a sharp noise, they emerged from the passage and ascended upwards.
The place they saw, amidst the dark and silent air, was one Yi-Han had seen before.
...It was the school's punishment room.
"..."
Yi-Han thought.
That friend could never be a river spirit!
