They stood just outside the town’s gate, the sky clear and endless, with the sun beaming down in full force. Waves of heat rolled over the earth, and Arthur could already feel the forming beads of sweat on his forehead. With a quiet sigh, he summoned his new staff, and gently waved it effortlessly, as water rose from his flask, shaping itself into a thin floating umbrella above them.

  “Master Amelia, I told you we should have bought those umbrellas.” Arthur sighed deeply. “If we bought it, I wouldn't need to waste my mana to create a big umbrella for the both of us.”

  Amelia waved him off, watching the water shimmer faintly in the sunlight. “Oh you, wuss, think of this as training. Just because you’re consuming small mana, doesn’t mean you can’t shrink it.”

  Arthur frowned. “If I shrink it, it won’t cover us.”

  “So, you haven’t learned anything from the past millennia? And here I thought you were ready to graduate…” Amelia said, her voice carrying a hint of mock disappointment. “Just because you're consuming less mana to cast this spell, doesn’t mean you can’t refine it even further. A true mage learns to use even less mana while achieving the same result.”

  “Once we’ve reached the forest, deep inside it, I’ll demonstrate it.” She added as they continued walking along the roadside.

  Carriages rumbled past, their wheels kicking up dust and gravel. Some carried passengers, others were loaded with crates, bound for unknown destinations.

  “Umm… Master Amelia… our umbrella is evaporating.” Arthur’s voice carried a hint of unease, his gaze fixated on the dissolving water above them.

  “Just create some more water,” Amelia replied, completely unbothered.

  Arthur let out a low, throaty grumble, something between a growl and a frustrated hum. The kind of sound one makes when one wants to argue but knows they won’t win.

  Amelia raised an eyebrow, amused. “My, my, are you growing rebellious?”

  Arthur sighed sharply, still holding up the spell. “The least you can do is help while I keep this umbrella up.”

  Amelia rolled her eyes. “Oh, please. You already know how to cast multiple spells at once. Consider this as another lesson. Learn how to balance multiple spells while consuming less mana.” She sighed dramatically before finally giving him a mock exasperated look. “I guess I’ll have to demonstrate this too… You know how to make more work for your teacher, huh?”

  As they walked toward the forest, their conversation continued, filling the quiet stretch of the road. Before long, their destination came into view, a dense wall of trees stretching endlessly before them.

  Amelia came to a stop. “Alright, it’s time to levitate. I’ll show you the magic later after we deal with the boar. For now, we need to scout the area.” She opened her palm and summoned her staff, its form materializing in her grasp.

  Arthur followed suit, and together, they rose slightly above the ground, their feet barely touching the ground as they glided forward, disappearing into the forest.

  They glided silently through the dense forest, scanning for signs. Arthur noticed deep hoofprints in the soil and broken branches where something large had passed. Then, a loud noise echoed from afar. Amelia and Arthur immediately halted their senses on high alert. Without a word, Amelia raised her hand, signaling for them to take cover behind a nearby tree.

  “Let’s move up,” Amelia whispered, motioning towards the branches above.

  As they silently ascended, she waved her hand gently, drawing water from her bottle and shaping it into a spyglass.

  Arthur, still watching the area below, leaned in slightly. “Master Amelia, should I create a live map to track the source of the sound? We might be outnumbered, if there are more boars.”

  As Amelia peered through the spyglass, she let out a quiet sigh, shaking her head. “Oh right…”

  She released the spell, letting the water flow back into her bottle. She turned to Arthur with a smug expression. “Why don’t you handle this alone? Think of it as your evaluation test.” She nodded to herself as if the decision had already been made. “I’ll just sit back and see if your spell work has any flaws… or whatnot.”

  Arthur, unimpressed, gave her a deadpan look. “Master Amelia, this is hardly the time for jokes.”

  Amelia shrugged, unfazed. “I’m serious. Remember, this is our last mission, I need to see if you still lack something. Think of it as a ‘last-minute quick fix.’”

  Arthur, still unimpressed, let out a deep sigh. “Fine.”

  He levitated upward, ascending above the trees, in this state, his form was weightless against the breeze. Below him, the dense canopy stretched endlessly, branches swaying gently from the force of his ascent. In the distance, he spotted the giant boar’s back, its hulking form tearing through the forest, splintering trees in its path.

  Arthur glided forward, closing the distance. When he was near enough, he stilled midair, his grip tightening around his staff.

  He raised the staff, its tip aimed directly at the boar. A faint shimmer flickered into existence, and the small glowing particles spiraled inward, converging at the tip. The gathered energy swelled into a condensed sphere, pulsating with raw power.

  Arthur took a deep breath. As he unleashed the spell, the sphere collapsed and momentarily imploded before surging forward, stretching into a focused stream of pure force. The boar barely had time to react. The moment the beam struck, its head vanished—scattered into dust. For a heartbeat, nothing moved. Then, with a loud thud, its massive body collapsed, sending tremors through the ground. Satisfied, Arthur descended and landed near Amelia.

  “Well done!” Amelia clapped her hands as she proudly smiled. “Mana was still suppressed with no fluctuations with perfect control.” She then gestured toward the massive corpse. “But now we have another problem… how are we supposed to get rid of this thing?”

  Arthur eyed the fallen beast, his brow twitching at its immense size.

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  “We can’t just leave it here… it’ll rot and ruin the environment.” Amelia sighed, as she crossed her arms. “Come on, help me chop these up and carry them to the adventurers’ guild.”

  With careful precision, they began cutting the body into smaller, manageable pieces. It was meticulous and exhausting work. Arthur wiped the sweat from his forehead, noticing the sun had moved considerably lower. As time dragged on, and by the time they finished, the sun was dipping toward the horizon, painting the sky in shades of orange and casting long shadows over the forest.

  Amelia flicked her fingers, using magic to lift the sweat from her forehead before casting it away. “Now, as for the trees and everything it trampled over…”

  Arthur sighed, shaking his head. “Would you like me to restore them, Master Amelia?”

  “No need. I’ll handle it.” Amelia waved a hand dismissively.

  She gripped her staff, closing her eyes. As she cast the spell, her body lifted slightly off the ground, her hair shifting as if caught in an unseen wind. Energy pulsed outward, reaching across the broken landscape. The snapped trees, crushed undergrowth, and torn earth reversed themselves, shifting back into place as if time itself had rewind.

  Once the spell was complete, Amelia exhaled slowly, her feet touching the ground again. “Well, that takes care of that,” she said before flopping onto the grass. “So exhausting… I never imagined cleaning up would take longer than the fight itself.”

  Arthur chuckled, as he sat down beside her. “Alright, but only a ten-minute break.”

  Amelia closed her eyes, letting the soft grass sway beneath her. The breeze brushed against her skin, warm and gentle. A feeling of familiarity settled over her. Then, the warmth deepened. The air had changed.

  A warm breeze gently swept through the field of wildflowers, carrying their faint, sweet scent. Amelia’s younger self sat quietly beneath a familiar old oak tree, a grimoire open in her lap. Beside her, Maevis watched the horizon silently, her eyes distant yet kind.

  “Miss Maevis…” Amelia began, hesitant but curious. “How did it feel when you sent your first apprentice away?”

  Maevis smiled softly, eyes reflecting the warmth of the fading sun. “I felt proud, of course—but also afraid. Afraid I hadn’t taught them enough, afraid I wasn’t ready to let them go.”

  Amelia’s gaze lowered, her fingers tightening slightly on her grimoire. “Then… why did you?”

  Maevis let out a soft sigh, resting her hand atop Amelia’s head as she gently brushed through her hair. “Because, Amelia, the hardest lesson for any teacher is learning to let go.” Her voice carried quiet warmth, laced with unspoken understanding. “One day, you’ll understand—when there’s someone you’re afraid to lose.”

  Amelia fell silent, absorbing her master’s words as the memory slowly faded away.

  A gentle touch on her shoulder slowly drew Amelia back to the present.

  “Master Amelia?” Arthur’s quiet voice broke through the lingering haze of the past.

  She opened her eyes slowly, meeting Arthur’s patient gaze. Without a word, she softly reached out and pulled Arthur into a warm, gentle embrace. Arthur briefly stiffened in surprise before relaxing into her comforting hold.

  “Is something wrong, Master Amelia?” he asked gently.

  She shook her head and let go, offering him a reassuring smile. “No, it’s nothing,” she replied quietly. “Just an old memory.”

  Arthur nodded quietly, understanding without pushing further, and quietly began gathering their belongings to head back.

  As they walked along the quiet road, a horse-drawn wagon rolled up beside them, the driver—a man with gray hair and kind eyes, pulled the reins to slow his horse.

  “Need a lift?” he called warmly. “This road goes on for quite a stretch—you’ll wear yourselves out walking ”

  Amelia grinned, her voice light. “Now that’s an offer we’d be fools to refuse.”

  Arthur gave a small nod, and they climbed into the back, settling onto the wooden bench as the wagon rocked gently along the dirt path.

  As they rode, Amelia sighed softly, turning her head slightly to watch Arthur from the corner of her eye.

  “Sorry, I couldn't teach you the tricks I promised.” She reached out, gently placing her hand over his, her thumb lightly brushing over his knuckles in a quiet, reassuring motion.

  “It’s fine,” he replied simply.

  The carriage rolled forward, the sun dipping lower, casting long shadows over the fields. The orange sky gradually deepened into a rich, dark blue, with stars beginning to flicker above. The wind carried the quiet hum of the wheels against the dirt, and soon the silence settled comfortably around them.

  After some time, the wagon slowed to a stop, night had fully settled.

  Arthur stepped down first. “Thanks again for the lift, sir. We really appreciate it.”

  Amelia handed over three wrapped portions of the meat from their hunt, offering them to the man. “Take these as thanks. Can’t travel on an empty stomach.”

  The man chuckled, accepting them with a grateful nod. “You’re kind folk. Have a wonderful night.”

  With that, the wagon rolled away, leaving them at the adventurers’ guild, the cool night air settling around them.

  As they stood waving goodbye to the kind man, a familiar voice called out behind them.

  “What a coincidence!” Aengus approached, his voice bright with excitement. “You two want to join us for dinner?”

  Amelia turned around, smiling easily. “We wouldn’t mind at all.”

  As they entered the adventurers’ guild, they found it bustling with energy. Adventurers filled every corner, laughing, sharing stories, and enjoying their meals. Some sat at crowded tables, while others lined up to order more food or drinks.

  Aengus and the others found an empty table nearby, settling down and patiently waiting as Amelia and Arthur approached the register.

  After handing in the completed quest, the receptionist smiled warmly, giving them their reward.

  Amelia counted out the coins and handed half to Arthur. Seeing his questioning look, she smiled reassuringly. “Consider it a little something to start your journey with.”

  Arthur stared at the coins in his palm, then closed his fingers around them, a faint smile touching his lips. “Thank you, Master Amelia.”

  After they arrived, Arthur and Amelia smoothly joined the ongoing conversation with Aengus and the others at their table.

  “So, are you two spending the night at the guild’s inn as well?” Aengus asked casually.

  Amelia nodded. “It’s the easiest option after today.”

  Bartholomew broke into a broad, hearty smile. His large frame seemed to brighten with warmth as he leaned forward. “Then how about we make it special?” he suggested cheerfully. “We’ve got a new teammate joining us tomorrow—it’s only right we celebrate with a proper feast!”

  Arthur glanced at Bartholomew, whose enthusiasm was infectious, despite his own reservations.

  “Come on,” Bartholomew encouraged, giving Arthur a firm friendly clap on the shoulder. “Nothing brings a team together faster than good food!”

  Arthur couldn’t help but smile faintly, nodding his head slightly. “Fine, I suppose I can’t say no.”

  “Well, then it’s settled,” Aengus said, rising from his seat. He glanced warmly at Arthur and Amelia, gently smiling. “Dinner will be on us tonight. I’ll go order.”

  Amelia stood up as well. “Let me help carry it back. It’s the least I can do, after all.”

  As the two walked toward the counter, the rest of the group resumed their relaxed conversation, patiently waiting for their return. After a short while, Amelia and Aengus returned carrying plates and laden with food. As soon as the dishes were set down, the group began to eat, their laughter and easy conversation blending seamlessly with the lively atmosphere of the guild.