Professor Gale, with dark brown hair parted at the center, its edges reaching just below his jawline, bore a small goatee but no mustache. Round glasses sat firmly on his face, covering his eyes and hinting at his focus, though his skin, fair but weathered, betrayed signs of his age. Draped in a deep purple robe that ended just above his leather boots, he stepped into the yard, scanning his surroundings until his gaze landed on Sir Francis. A hint of recognition lit his eyes, and he moved to approach.

"Ah..." he murmured, beginning to greet Sir Francis. But as he took a step forward, the stack of books and papers scroll slipped from his grip, scattering across the ground. In a flustered hurry, he hunched down, muttering, “Oh dear, oh dear,” as he scrambled to gather the fallen items.

Sylvia joined him, gracefully stooping to help retrieve the scattered pieces. With a relieved sigh, Professor Gale finally managed to regain control of his collection, glancing up with gratitude.

“Oh my, thank you, thank you,” he said, fixing his glasses and focusing on Sylvia. His face lit up with recognition, and he stammered, “Oh, it’s... it’s Sylvia! You... you’ve grown. How nice to meet y... you again.”

“It’s nice to see you again, Professor,” Sylvia replied, standing with her hands kept neatly in front.

Professor Gale returned her smile, then shifted his gaze toward Sir Francis, who had now stepped beside Sylvia. “Ah, you... you must be Sir Fra... Francis. I’m Professor Gale,” he introduced himself, stuttering slightly.

Sir Francis gave a small nod. “It’s a pleasure meeting you too, Professor.”

“Likewise,” Professor Gale replied, adjusting his grip on the stack in his arms. Sylvia, standing beside him, glanced at the books and scrolls he held. “Professor, what are these books and scrolls for?”

“Ah...” he muttered, gathering his thoughts. “This is m...my codex of mythical creatures,” he said, gesturing to a thick, worn leather-bound book that looked as though it had seen many years of use. “The others are incantations... spells that could assist us if w...we truly encounter a g...ghoul.”

Sir Francis observed their conversation with a faint smile, his attention soon drifting to the assembled party. There were fourteen members in total: himself, Sir William, Sylvia, Professor Gale, and several guardsmen—the same loyal men who had accompanied him and Sir William from the main city. Each of them stood ready, faces resolute, awaiting his lead.

Meeting Sir William’s steady gaze, Sir Francis nodded, a silent acknowledgment that the group was prepared. Taking his place at the head, he addressed them, his tone commanding yet calm.

“For this mission, I will lead, with Sir William as my support. We’re entering an abandoned mine—one that dates back to the second age of the Royal Rothrosian lineage.” He paused, allowing the gravity of his words to settle over the group, all of whom watched him intently. “Our initial investigation revealed that this mine harbors a dangerous creature—a ghoul, as we suspect.”

The men’s expressions grew more serious as he continued, “But beyond that, we’ve discovered signs of an even darker presence. A malevolent entity lurks within the shadows of that mine, a threat that could endanger the peace of our kingdom and its people.” His voice firmed with conviction. “It is our duty to confront and destroy it.”

With that, the party set to work, loading their gear onto horses and securing supplies. Sylvia and Professor Gale took seats in a carriage, while the rest mounted their horses, forming a swift, organized line. Without further delay, they set off toward the mine.

Inside the carriage, Professor Gale rummaged through a wooden box, clearly searching for something. Sylvia, seated beside him, looked on curiously and asked, "Professor, what are you searching for?"

"Ah... H... Here it is," he said in an enthusiastic yet stuttering voice, holding a small, translucent crystal in his palm.

This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

"Is that Athia's crystal?" Sylvia asked, studying the object.

"Why yes, yes, it is," Professor Gale replied with a nod.

With a thoughtful expression, Sylvia remarked, "Isn't it usually used to ward against evil that lives in the darkness?"

Professor Gale glanced at her, seeming to assess her knowledge. "You... you’re an Atherian?" he asked.

"I am," Sylvia answered simply.

"Well, y... you’re correct," he continued. "Th... the old Atherian be… belief held that Athia's crystal c... could ward off evil. Th... they would hang it above th... their door frames to… to guard their homes.”

Sylvia’s face softened, a memory surfacing. "My mother used to put one above my bedframe. At night, in the dark, it would glow faintly, lighting up my room. Somehow... it made me feel safe."

Professor Gale nodded, then asked, "D... do you know h... how Athia’s crystal are made?"

Sylvia frowned slightly, deep in thought before she answered, "Unlike a magic light crystal, Athia’s crystal is blessed by holy magic from an Atherian priest, then left to absorb the light of day."

A subtle smile crossed Professor Gale’s face. "Gh... ghouls, or any creature of th... the night, wouldn’t survive in th... the light of days."

A revelation seemed to dawn on Sylvia, and she muttered, "Ah," clasping her hands together. Her voice was excited as she continued, "Athia's crystal contains the light of day, so it could be used as protection against the ghoul."

Professor Gale acknowledged her with a warm smile. "Yes, but," Sylvia’s tone grew thoughtful again, "can it really work?"

Professor Gale slipped the crystal into his robe pocket, his voice steady as he replied, "Th... that’s for us t... to find out."

Outside the carriage, calm, bright weather subtly shifted as they neared their destination. Sir Francis and Sir William, riding at the front of the party, noticed the stark change in the sky.

"I’d say it was still bright when we departed," Sir Francis said, scanning the sky, which was gradually turning cloudy, with a few dark clouds gathering.

Sir William hummed in acknowledgment. "By the look of it, it'll be dark soon, but..." He paused, his gaze fixed forward. "It doesn’t feel right—the clouds aren’t rain clouds, just clumping together densely."

Sir Francis turned toward him, concern showing on his face. "Honestly, it feels like the time we encountered those wretched witches."

Calmly, Sir William responded, "If things go south, I don’t think we’ll be able to handle it." His usual composed demeanor had shifted to one of worry.

"I won’t let anything bad happen, especially on my watch," Sir Francis said sternly, his tone determined, his gaze sharp on the distance ahead.

Sir William gave a smile, his mood shifting to one of confidence, especially toward his colleague. He knew well that Sir Francis always gave his all in every task given. He then added, jokingly, "I’m here, too, you know."

Sir Francis smirked, acknowledging him. Their party moved steadily along the trodden road, subtle thunder rumbling above, while their horses trotted onward, visibly agitated but pressing forward with determination.

A few moment later.....

A large, dead Eldar tree loomed ahead—the same tree Sir Francis and Sir William had encountered before. Sir Francis brought his horse to a stop beneath its twisted, bare branches, Sir William halting beside him. Moments later, Professor Gale emerged from the carriage, Sylvia following closely.

With the group assembled beneath the broad, twisted branches of the large dead Eldar tree, Sir Francis signaled for them to prepare. Pausing, he scanned the surrounding forest, his expression focused before speaking. “From here, we’ll leave the horses,” he began, his voice steady as he outlined the plan. “Two guardsmen will stay behind to keep watch. Bring only essentials,” he instructed, his tone resolute. “We’ll cross through the woods, climb a short hill, and reach the mine entrance beside it.” A brief pause settled before he added, “Stay vigilant. We’re here to investigate, but if anything changes, be ready.”

With determined expressions, the party adjusted their packs and weapons, moving cautiously toward the forest edge behind the tree, while two guardsmen remained stationed, keeping watch over the horses.

At the academy, Aki's room......

"Yah...” Vidia’s the fairy cheerfully munching a meal laid out on a plate at Aki’s desk. She perched on the edge, nibbling on a piece of bread, her wings fluttering with excitement. Aki, seated beside her, watched with a faint smile, amused by her enthusiasm. The food was supposedly served for him but he didn't mind it at all

“Wa... everything is so big,” Vidia marveled, taking a bite of the bread that, to an ordinary human, would be just a regular-sized loaf. But for Vidia, the bread was nearly twice her size.

As a faint rumble of thunder echoed from afar, Aki’s attention shifted, his gaze drifting to the arching window before him. Through it, in the distant sky over the mines where Sir Francis and his party had ventured, dark clouds gathered, clumping together until they almost smothered the daylight.

Aki’s expression grew somber, his earlier amusement fading as a hint of concern creased his brow.