Almark – Northern Sword, Southern Wand

By the time I got to the dorm, it was almost midnight that day.

It seemed that Raido had spoken well in advance, and fortunately there was no noise in the dorm.

"Almark, I'm sorry. There's no dinner left."

Fine.

Almark shook his head and broke up with Raido.

For these times, I have a stock of baked goods.

When Almark returned to the room, he took off his robe and thought as he threw the baked confectionery into his mouth.

The Trial of the Fountain Cave was difficult, even at the first level, to manage with the magic of the elementary part.

Perhaps Leila is going further down.

I thought she was already learning the magic of the second year of middle school. It is no wonder that it goes down to the third floor.

Not at all, but I can't get there. [M] It will be easier than today.

However, like the trap of the last door, there is no doubt that if you fail, you will not be able to do anything by yourself.

We need to stop Leila from going to the cave alone.

If you don't stop going, you should at least go with someone. Let me tell you that.

This is because I actually entered the cave. [M]

In that sense, thank you to Raido.

At that time, the door of the room was knocked modestly.

"Yes"

Almark stood up when he answered.

I wonder who. I think it's Morgen. Or Wendy.

No, I'm sure it feels like this knock.

When I opened the door, Lilty stood as Almark had predicted.

Hello, Lilty.

"I heard you got home a lot late today."

With that, Lilty holds the baked confectionery in Almark's hand.

"Thank you always. You've been awake for so long."

Lilty nods small in Almark's words.

Normally, she would go home ashamed, but Lilty stood there saying something today.

"What's wrong?

When Almark asked, Lilty shook his head and said just one word as if he had reconsidered.

I'm looking forward to the concert.

Oh, yeah.

Almark nodded.

"That's right. I'm looking forward to it."

When he heard the words, Lilty smiled at him.

Now, let's go home.

Yes, it's a concert.

Almark returns to his room and thinks again.

We need to convince Leila to go to the concert.

Now that I've been in a cave, my words should be convincing. [M]

Let's do our best.

Even the next day, Almark watched Leila in the classroom every day, but he didn't see the appearance of leaving the classroom in a hurry after school.

Then I asked Wendy, and he never came back to the dorm late at night.

"Leila always studies and self-trains until dark, but I don't think it's too late."

Wendy nods herself.

"But I have to work hard on Leila, too."

"Wendy's always trying."

Almark says Wendy shakes her head like it's illuminated.

"I'm running away from something fun right now."

"I don't think it's a bad thing to have fun."

Wendy laughs bitterly at Almark's answer.

"Almark, isn't it fun to study?

"Yeah, it's fun. Both study and training are really fun to learn at this college."

"Look, that's it."

Wendy laughs.

It's not like me.

"Doesn't Wendy enjoy studying?

"Of course, there are some things that are fun, but there are things I don't like and things I'm not interested in."

Really?

Looking at Almark with an unclear face, Wendy smiled, fufufu.

"I'm sure Almark is enjoying it. But what about Leila?"

A little shadow fell on Wendy's face.

"Sometimes Leila seems to be in a lot of pain."

That's right.

Almark nodded.

I look the same to you.

"... if anything happens to Leila, help her, Almark."

Wendy told her to mumble.

"Maybe what we can't say is what you can say."

"Okay."

As Almark nodded, Wendy also smiled and nodded small.

Leido and I tried the first level together, but by the time we got back to the dorm, it was late at night.

I'm sure Leila will go further down, but it's impossible in time to go to the fountain cave on weekdays.

That's how Almark stared.

And then the holidays came.

Almark has been wandering in front of the dorm since the morning.

Before breakfast, I saw Leila washing her hair in the well as usual.

And then Leila hasn't come out of the dorm yet.

If we leave, we'll be out early in the morning.

I'm sure Leila will be here soon.

Almark waited near the road to the forest.

A female student comes out of the dorm entrance.

"Oh, Almark."

It was Wendy.

"What are you doing here? Meet someone?

Hello, Wendy.

Almark scratched his head in trouble.

"Yeah, a little. It's not like I'm meeting you."

"Yes, it is."

Wendy smiles after looking a little strange.

"I'm looking forward to today's concert. Do you want to come with me at night?

I really want to go.

But I can't say anything about Leila not coming.

"Sorry, daytime errands, I don't know when it's gonna be over."

"Yes, it is."

Wendy unfortunately frowned.

At that time, Almark saw Leila coming out of Wendy's dorm early enough.

"Ah."

Huh?

Wendy wrinkles her neck.

"What's wrong?

Yes, no.

Almark shakes his head.

Leila doesn't walk toward Al Mark and the others.

Instead of going to the woods, walk straight behind the dorm.

Aren't you going to the Fountain Cave?

Almark wonders.

"Almark knows where the concert hall is?

Wendy asks.

"Oh, I don't know."

In the corner of Almark's vision, Leila disappears behind the dorm.

"Then I'll tell you. When I went through the main gate....."

Almark heard Wendy carefully show the way from school to concert hall, sweating cold.

Thank you, Wendy.

Almark thanked and raised his right hand.

Well, I'll see you at the concert at night.

"Eh. Oh, yeah."

"I'll be there."

He waved again to Wendy, who saw him off in surprise, and Almark ran around behind the dorm.

I just saw Leila go into the shadow of the implant.

I wonder what's going on in there.

Almark followed Leila in suspicion and peered into the shadow of the implant.

I don't see Leila.

Is that it?

Almark doubts his eyes for a moment.

The shadow of implantation was dead.

There's nowhere to go.

Almark looks around, but he still doesn't see Leila.

When I looked at my feet, I noticed a familiar blue crest on a stone placed on the ground.

I saw this crest in the woods.

Almark thinks so.

It has the same crest as the stone in the back of the forest that I saw on my way to the cave of Leidor and the Fountain.

Why is there the same crest as the stone over there?

When he thought so, Almark understood Leila's intentions.

This is the magic crest of movement.

Magic that moves instantly from one place to another.

For use, stones with the same crest must be placed in each location.

Although I knew it from my knowledge, of course, it was magic that could not be used on Almark.

It's not just Almark. Other classmates won't be able to use it either.

This is not the magic of elementary school. It's supposed to be the magic you learn in middle school or high school.

Behind the dormitory and by the side of the road in the primary restricted area of the forest.

From where the stones were placed, there's no doubt about it.

This is the crest Leila drew to go through the fountain cave.

Using the magic of travel, you won't get home late at night.

Nevertheless, I didn't expect to be able to use such advanced magic.

With his tongue wrapped around Leila's magical strength, Almark touched the stone crest.

Of course, there was no reaction.

It only responds to the surgeon who drew it.

By now, Leila will be on the path to the woods.

Oh, my God.

Almark wanted to hold his head.

I was going to catch him first thing in the morning, but all of a sudden I let him go.

Almark, who had given up for a moment, remembered that the forest stones were still quite far from the Fountain of Lulu.

Leila also thought that if she placed stones near the cave, she would be leaked to the middle school students.

If it's a girl's leg, it's still a long way from there to the fountain.

Then maybe we'll make it if we do everything we can.

There was a moment of hesitation.

Almark made up his mind.

Catch Leila before she enters the cave.

Almark turned his back.

Running back to the room and grabbing Mars's wand, he jumped out of the dorm.

If you run seriously, you'll make it.

Almark ran violently toward the forest.