Everything was quiet. Peacefully so, sitting on a log, was a man. Young in age, vigor could be seen in his eyes and skin. On his hand were strands of blue strings spinning here and there. This soft glow caused his eyes to reflect both this blue with a tint of red from the campfire. The two colors were reflecting off his green irises.

Time slowly dwindled as his hands showed a far more complicated mess of blue lines. What started strong had slowly turned the snake like string to progress ever so slowly. At this moment, the string barely moved as if stuck. Not knowing which way to go.

Suddenly, the man felt a presence and turned to see a familiar face. Appearing happy one moment, he soon lost all color as the new person watched as the man’s face turned pale and the complicated mess on his hands broke down before disappearing. Watching helplessly, the man turned to look at the ground before speaking.

“Welcome back, teacher…” His voice was as low as his head. All he was met with was silence. Finding it hard to take, the man couldn’t help but ask, “Should I prepare for us to leave?”

Finally, the unbearable silence broke, “Yes.”

As he cleaned up the campsite, he couldn’t help but stare at his teacher. The man appeared old, only he knew he wasn’t someone so simply or old. Well, he was old, very old. However, teacher seemed to be preoccupied as he had been facing a certain direction as if watching something with a bit of interest.

This might not seem like much. Yet, how could he not be surprised. Even when he was complimented for his talent and began to teach him, he didn’t show a bit of interest. It wasn’t that his talent was low, no, if that was the case he wouldn’t have taken him in. Not just anyone could become his student. For his teacher was obviously no simple person.

The young man finished cleaning up. Turning to wait for his teacher’s attention, he could only stand silently. He didn’t have the heart to interrupt. While looking completely uninterested, his teacher didn’t skimp and taught him everything. Not once had his teacher fail to teach him properly.

How could he possibly get in the way of something interested. Though, he did wonder what was so interesting. Knowing better, he didn’t even turn to look in the same direction. Whatever was so interesting was so far out there, he wouldn’t be able to see it even with binoculars.

However, he did notice his teacher did turn in a particular direction that was different from before. This direction was in the same general area, but wasn’t the exact same location as the first. As a student, he was learning magic. The finer details would determine if a spell worked or not. For the magic he was learning was beyond normal magic.Seeing the expression shift on his teacher's face, he couldn’t help but ask, “Teacher is something wrong?”

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“Yes.” Sighing helplessly, he could only look listlessly as he turned to his student, “We will be staying here. Probably be here for a few days.”

Looking a bit confused, he didn’t argue. Without question, he had no choice but to unload everything he had just done. Once he was done, he didn’t wish to bother teacher. Therefore, he left the camp to hunt some dinner.

Without much delay, he could be seen walking from the forest he had entered not ten minutes ago. Having left empty-handed, the young man returned with a deer in hand. Or hands, he had to put in on his back, carrying it by holding the legs.

What was once two became three. At some unknown time, a woman had appeared at his teacher's feet. Looking upset, he didn’t seem to want to look at her, however he also seemed reluctant. Though there was some suspicion on his face.

This look didn’t escape his teacher. Looking at his student, having felt some hesitation. After examining for a bit, he came to discover that his student seemed to have recognized the woman at his feet. There was no complete recognition, only it was clear the two had passed each other.

With a bit of a pause, he couldn’t help but ask, “You have met this person before?”

Shaking his head, “No, she does look familiar though. I can’t… Wait, I remember now! I saw her outside both dungeons…”

There was some confusion, “You mean to tell me you met this woman both times I brought you to town to enter a dungeon?”

Seeing the nod, he couldn’t help but have a grave expression. He had brought his student south. Having been given word, he told his first disciple that he would carry out her favor. Very rarely would she ask anything of him, how could he refuse. For her to ask a favor, then the favor itself, was no joke. His interest had been peaked.

Teaching on the road was common. The best lessons were those taught in a way that started orally and ended with physical demonstrations. However, he wasn’t a normal teacher. After explaining something, it wasn’t enough to be shown a demonstration. Instead, what he wanted to show was its practical use.

Following was a practice phase where the student attempted to reenact the lesson. Shown to work best when practice was challenging. Otherwise, known as a real practical use. Learning something, and using it, were two different things entirely. Without actually using it in a fight, how could one be expected to accomplish the deed when it mattered?

His route had nothing set in stone. Their coming and going followed a random trajectory as he followed the calling of the wind. He only had one end location in mind, though the exact location was questionable. When a gathering was decided, those in the area would feel a calling. Therefore, him being in the south was enough.

Thus, the question became, how was it that his student came into contact with the girl twice in two random locations? The answer was very easy to find. Only one person would do such a thing, only he could ensure such a thing happened. That or it truly was fate, however, he was more inclined to the former.