Chapter 80 - Shadow (3)

The Dark Mage's intrusion was a serious enough incident to warrant discussions of closing Eternia.

However, the reason Eternia didn't close despite this unprecedented situation was that all the regions students would return to were even more vulnerable environments than Eternia.

During the period of strengthening defenses and recovery, class schedules were postponed, and instructions were given to focus on special department activities during the scheduled gap period.

I was to receive more potions and stay in the hospital room one more day due to the possibility that my internal organs hadn't fully recovered yet.

So I had to idle in bed doing nothing.

From somewhere in the distance, I could hear girls my age laughing brightly. Though it had clearly been hell before I opened my eyes, the world had changed. Like flipping over a coin.

Refreshing breeze and moderate sunlight. It was as peaceful as a noble's resort.

The desperate battle where I fought risking death felt like a momentary dream. Yet on the other hand, it felt like if I slept and woke again, the world would flip back and I'd face damp fog, blood, and ghoul corpses again.

I squeezed my eyes shut and shook my head. I urged myself not to get lost in idle thoughts.

This rest wasn't particularly welcome. Because everything wasn't over yet.

I asked the nursemaid to bring out the notebook and writing materials I had set aside.

I opened the notebook and thought about what to write in my letter to Silveryn. Since communication would be possible once she reached the Holy City, I planned to have my letter delivered along with that.

Trying to deceive her naively would only backfire, but I couldn't tell everything exactly as it happened, so I was completely stuck.

I wrote sentences and then crossed them out repeatedly. No matter how much I wracked my brain, I couldn't think of what to write. After agonizing for several hours like this, I gave up and closed the notebook.

The venom hadn't left my mind. That was why I couldn't say anything to Silveryn.

***

The next day, as soon as I was discharged, I went straight to find Ella.

There, I finished giving my statement about the encounter with the Dark Mage. Ella focused on my story without blinking once.

"We had grasped the general situation during our investigation... but it's surprising you can be so composed after experiencing such things. This aspect of you is frighteningly similar to Silveryn."

"..."

"And... you saw the Dark Mage's face?"

"Yes, I faced her directly."

"...Have you tried drawing it? Could you leave us a composite sketch? It doesn't have to be right now."

"I can do it now. I can do a simple sketch. Could I borrow a notebook and pencil?"

The first step in metalworking was always design sketching. Having spent long hours with pencils, drawing a simple portrait wasn't a problem.

"You'll draw it now?"

"Yes."

I received parchment and pencil from Ella and quickly began sketching. I simply depicted the features and hair and handed it to Ella.

While I was holding the pen, Ella couldn't hide her doubtful gaze, but once she received the drawing, that look disappeared.

"You said you trained in metalworking? Your hand skills are exceptional."

"That's my limit."

"It's enough. Thank you."

After that, Ella explained the situation at Eternia following the Dark Mage's intrusion.

She said the Dark Mage had controlled Luna to neutralize the barrier created by the Guardian Tree, making the intrusion possible.

A person named Kedwen was a Masters Class graduate, and it was estimated that they had discovered how to break into the labyrinth through him.

She told me the Dark Mage had disappeared after the battle with me, and an investigation was still ongoing.

"It's still ongoing. We still haven't accurately identified what being did those things to Eternia's Guardian Tree and Luna. There's a high possibility it came from another dimension."

"What's different about coming from another dimension?"

"Many things are different. Since we have no experience with it, we can't prevent or deal with it. Plus, it takes long research to find ways to break through."

"Is Luna's condition very bad?"

I had encountered Luna in front of the Guardian Tree the night before the entrance ceremony. I wondered what had happened to her then.

There was nothing I could do at the time. Luna had been terrified, and I hadn't detected even the slightest anomaly around the Guardian Tree and Luna.

"...Very bad. We've treated the external wounds, but the curse's binding still hasn't been broken. Even now, Luna's mana keeps leaking out and attacking the Guardian Tree, and all we can do is seal them both to prevent progression. Kedwen that you mentioned, and that Zverev fellow, probably suffered the same thing."

"...Would it be possible for me to meet Luna directly?"

"Honestly, I don't want to increase the burden you're already carrying. To properly identify that being, it's been decided to halt all matters related to the North and recall all dispatched professors and your direct seniors. When Eternia, which is at half-strength, becomes complete again, the situation should improve from now on. What you need to do right now is... adapt to the academy."

"..."

After contemplating for a while, Ella added, "If you still want to dig into that being, come back tomorrow."

"Understood. And... you said everyone is returning, does that mean Teacher is coming back too?"

"Whether Silveryn returns will depend on how things unfold in the Holy City. If you want to send news, give me your letter, and I'll deliver it along with my report to the superiors tomorrow."

"..."

Ella looked at my face carefully for a moment and said, "Is something bothering you?"

I hesitated briefly but finally gathered my resolve and spoke.

"Professor, I have a request."

"...What request?"

"If it's not too late, I'd like to keep my involvement with the Dark Mage a secret from Teacher."

Ella immediately furrowed her brow and closed her mouth tightly. She studied my expression carefully as if trying to understand my true intention.

"Is there some unspeakable reason it must be kept secret?"

"Yes."

Ella, her head seeming complicated, pressed her temple with her pen holder and took a deep breath, then slowly exhaled.

"I'm not sure that's a good idea. Regarding matters with the Dark Mage, Silveryn needs to know and will have to know. Even if you somehow deceive her, she'll eventually notice everything when she returns."

...Still, I could buy time and make plans during that time.

"It's alright. I don't want to cause Teacher any worry."

"Haa, fine. Let's look into ways and continue this discussion tomorrow. Stay at Witdruff Hall for now, or if you want to be safer, commute from Silveryn's castle."

"Understood."

"Choose your special activity quickly too, if you delay and get assigned to something gloomy like the Literary Club, there's nothing more unfortunate than that."

Seems there were some departments with bad atmospheres. Hearing the word gloomy made me really averse to the Literary Club. I should look into this carefully.

"I'll keep that in mind, Professor. I'll visit again tomorrow."

"Alright. See you tomorrow."

As I turned to leave the professor's office, Ella casually dropped a suggestion, "Ah, since you have good hand skills, try visiting the Art Department too. The Drama Club is good too. I’m not forcing you, just a suggestion."

***

I left the Magic Department's research building and headed toward Witdruff Hall.

But while moving, I felt a strange gaze.

I felt odd and looked back several times.

A girl with bluish hair, holding textbooks to her chest, was following me.

When our eyes met, she flinched briefly.

Then, she narrowed her eyes slightly like a guard looking for a wanted criminal and walked briskly toward me with her gaze fixed on me.

"Hey, are you perhaps a new student?"

"...Yes?"

"Have you perhaps... heard of someone called Damian? No, are you Damian?"

"Yes, that's right... but who are you?"

"Ah, I was right! I was just suspecting... It's nothing really, but someone was desperately looking for you. Doesn't seem to be an academy student... We've been keeping a girl in a maid's uniform who seemed lost on campus since morning. Her name was RiRi? Lili? Do you know her?"

If she was wearing a maid's uniform, she must mean Liria. 

She got lost looking for me?

"Yes. That's someone I know."

My stomach churned. If I'd known this would happen, I should have given her a map of the Eternia campus beforehand.

"Where is she?"

"Oh, so you do know her. That's good. She's at the Magic Department's Caltera Element Training Ground... no wait. You're a new student so you wouldn't know. I'll just guide you there."

"No, that's fine."

"No way. New students getting lost on campus is super common. The campus is huge after all. I cried my eyes out when I first got lost too. Follow me."

She said that and led the way. I followed without a word. A quiet and awkward companionship continued for a while.

As we walked, she kept turning back to glance at my face several times.

After doing this multiple times, by the time we reached the Magic Department's main building, she reluctantly spoke to me, "Hey, could you maybe lighten up your expression? It's scary."

"...Pardon?"

"You must be quite the caring young master? You're really worried about just a maid. Are you close?"

"..."

"Haa, you look like an older brother whose little sister was kidnapped. I'm not a kidnapper and I'm not holding her captive or threatening her, so please lighten up your expression. My back feels hot."

I kept imagining Liria trembling in fear among strangers, so I was anxious.

I must have unconsciously made an unpleasant expression. How embarrassing.

"You're right that I'm very concerned because she's young. I'm sorry."

"We're almost there. Don't worry too much."

After walking a bit further, we reached the Magic Department's outdoor training ground. She stopped briefly and looked around.

"Hmm.... Around here... Ah! There she is."

Where she pointed, there was a small garden set up like a rest area. Around six students were gathered around a tree stump, chattering about something.

And through the gaps, I could see Liria.

As I hurried toward them, before I could squeeze through the gap, Liria recognized me and shouted.

"Master Damian!"

Soon, a path opened through the students, and Liria ran out, practically throwing herself against me.

"Liria, were you alright?"

She looked up at me slightly and nodded.

"Yes!"

The male students glanced at us and left with expressions that seemed to say, “All's well that ends well.”

"Did any of the boys ask strange things or bother you or bully you?"

"No! The others treated me very well. I think I heard 'cute' more times today than ever in my life. They gave me lots of snacks too."

There were cookie crumbs still unwiped at the corners of her mouth. 

Seems she’s... fine.

I wiped away the crumbs and felt relieved for a moment.

Liria looked at my face and instead worried about me in return.

"Master Damian... really, you can relax. They were kind people. Please lighten your expression."

Ah, my face must have hardened again. Perhaps it was because the venom hadn't all drained away after experiencing that unfortunate incident.

Liria pattered back to the tree stump where she had been sitting, picked up a basket, and came back to me.

"I sent you a letter last week but got notice that you couldn't be contacted because you were injured. Something did happen to you, right...!"

"I'm fine now."

"I was worried. Just in case, I brought herbs and potions and snacks... Here."

She held out the basket to me.

Inside were herb extracts we used to eat during strength training with Silveryn, Griffin Potion, butter cookies, and even the flower petal candies that Cecil likes.

"..."

Seeing that, something firmly knotted inside my heart melted away.