Chapter 173: The Two-Week Montage
Day Three
Arthur had returned to his routine. Evolution Archive, then Memory Crystal Hall, then light sparring. Arthur, Vedas, and Eden were now spending almost every morning inside the Archive.
Eden had become fascinated by the Memory Crystals. She floated from one to another. "Does this one have a dragon?" she asked.
Arthur checked the crystal. "No."
Eden’s expression fell. "What does it have?"
"A fish."
Eden thought seriously. "Is it a really strong fish?"
Arthur laughed. "We’ll find out."
Vedas watched them. "You’re encouraging her," he said.
Arthur looked at him. "She’s asking important questions."
Eden nodded proudly. "Exactly."
...
Day Five
After experiencing another Memory Crystal, Arthur processed the experience. The inherited experience finally became enough.
[Experience Successfully Inherited]
[Level Up!]
[Level Up!]
[Goblin King]
[Level 7 → Level 9]
Vedas stared at the notification, surprised.
Arthur smiled. "You’re getting stronger."
Vedas nodded. "Again."
Arthur immediately remembered the requirement he’d discovered. "Maybe those fifty Chief Beasts won’t be so bad."
Vedas slowly turned toward him. "Don’t remind me."
Arthur laughed.
...
Day Seven
Another Memory Crystal session, and this time Eden became much more involved. She had started asking Arthur which memories they should experience. She wanted interesting ones. Especially powerful Beasts.
After one particularly valuable memory,
[Experience Successfully Inherited]
[Level Up!]
[Time Fairy]
[Level 5 → Level 6]
Eden celebrated. "I’m stronger!"
Vedas smiled. "Congratulations."
Eden looked at him. "I’m catching up."
Vedas laughed. "You’re still behind."
Eden puffed her cheeks. "Not for long!"
Arthur watched them with amusement.
Later that same stretch of days, Eden leveled again.
[Experience Successfully Inherited]
[Level Up!]
[Time Fairy]
[Level 6 → Level 7]
Eden became even more competitive, actively comparing herself to Vedas. Vedas started teasing her. Arthur enjoyed watching them.
...
Day Nine
Another Memory Crystal, particularly valuable this time. After the experience settled,
[Experience Successfully Inherited]
[Level Up!]
[Time Fairy]
[Level 7 → Level 8]
Eden froze. Then her eyes widened.
"LEVEL EIGHT!"
She immediately flew around Arthur, golden particles trailing behind her.
Arthur laughed.
Then he suddenly paused.
A strange warmth passed through his chest.
It wasn’t his own emotion.
It was excitement. Pride. And a tiny bit of disbelief.
Arthur looked toward Eden.
She was still flying around him, completely unaware of what he had just felt.
A notification appeared.
[Synchronization Increased]
[Synchronization: 10% → 15%]
Arthur blinked.
"I can feel you."
Eden stopped midair. "Huh?"
Arthur smiled. "Your emotions."
Eden’s eyes widened. "Really?"
"A little," Arthur said. "It’s not as clear as with Vedas yet."
Eden immediately flew closer. "Can you feel how happy I am?"
Arthur laughed. "Very clearly."
Eden beamed.
Vedas watched them with a faint smile.
"Looks like you’re getting closer too."
Eden proudly puffed out her chest. "I’m catching up to you!"
Vedas laughed. "Still behind."
Eden’s cheeks puffed again.
Arthur shook his head, smiling.
...
Day Ten
This day slowed down slightly, focusing on discovery rather than levels.
Arthur went through several memories. One showed an ancien8t battlefield, and Arthur immediately noticed the geography didn’t match modern maps. Another showed a flying Beast looking down upon an ancient city, one Athena later helped identify. Another showed a Beast witnessing another species evolve.
Eden became fascinated. "It changed completely," she said.
Arthur nodded. "Evolution."
Then they discovered one particularly strange memory. It suddenly ended right before something important happened.
Arthur stared at the crystal. "Again," he said.
Vedas looked over. "What?"
Arthur paused. "Nothing," he said.
He didn’t explain. He simply stored the thought away.
...
Day Eleven
Arthur and Athena spent part of the day studying Everglades records.
They examined old expedition routes, maps, Beast classifications, environmental hazards, and reports from previous explorers.
Arthur kept turning pages.
Then he stopped. "...Wait."
Athena looked over.
Arthur placed an old expedition report beside another. "These were written forty years apart."
Athena nodded. "So?"
Arthur pointed toward the maps. "Look at the symbols."
Athena leaned closer.
The two maps had been drawn by completely different explorers.
Yet both contained the same strange marking.
A small circle surrounded by five short lines.
Athena’s expression changed. "...That’s not part of the Academy’s map system."
Arthur immediately pulled another report from the pile.
Then another.
The same symbol appeared again.
Different expedition.
Different year.
Same symbol.
Arthur’s eyes slowly brightened. "It’s not a landmark."
Athena frowned. "Then what is it?"
"I don’t know." Arthur smiled. "But someone kept drawing it."
Athena carefully examined the oldest report.
At the bottom of the page, beneath the symbol, someone had written a single word.
Mirror.
Arthur froze. "...Mirror?"
Athena’s eyes widened. "Don’ tell me–"
"It might really be the same thing!"
Neither spoke for several seconds.
Arthur slowly looked toward the Everglades map and laughed. "We found another link!"
Athena nodded. "Apparently."
Arthur grinned. "Now I really want to go."
...
Day Twelve
Arthur and Vedas began their regular light sparring. Not serious battles. Testing their growing synchronization.
Arthur attacked. Vedas moved. Arthur changed direction. Vedas reacted before Arthur spoke.
Arthur suddenly stopped. "You knew I was going there," he said.
Vedas smiled. "You always move your shoulder slightly before changing direction."
Arthur looked at him. "I do?"
"You do now."
Arthur stared at him for a moment. Then his grin widened.
"Again."
Vedas sighed. "Of course."
This time Arthur moved without warning.
Vedas reacted instantly.
Spear met spear.
Arthur changed direction.
Vedas followed.
Arthur feinted.
Vedas didn’t move.
Arthur stopped. "You didn’t fall for it."
"I knew you weren’t attacking."
Arthur laughed.
They separated and for a brief moment, neither said anything. They simply looked at each other.
Then Arthur smiled. "We’re getting better."
Vedas nodded. "A lot better."
...
Day Thirteen
The Expedition Hall was packed with supplies. Students compared Beast abilities. Professors organized teams. Students practiced survival techniques. The Evolution Archive prepared Everglades records. First years discussed what they wanted to discover. Some were excited. Some were nervous. Some were already bragging.
The entire first year was preparing for the expedition.
...
Day Fourteen
Two weeks had passed. Arthur, Vedas, and Eden were noticeably different.
Vedas at Level 9.
Eden at Level 8.
Arthur’s major improvement was better combat coordination, better understanding of Vedas, better understanding of Eden’s abilities, and more knowledge of the Everglades.
No giant power up was necessary. They were prepared.
Arthur looked toward the Academy gates. "Tomorrow," he said.
Vedas nodded. "The Everglades."
Eden’s eyes shone. "Finally!"
The next morning, the Mana Realm was packed. More than one hundred first year students were gathered, behind them the twenty first year professors responsible for supervising them.
Arthur stood with Mithra, Sun, and Athena. Their Beast Partners were inside the Mana Realm, accompanying their Tamers without physically crowding the gathering area.
Everyone was wearing expedition equipment. Bags were packed. Supplies were ready. Students were excited. Some were nervous. Others were already bragging.
"I’m going to find a rare Beast!"
"I’m going to map an unexplored region!"
"I’m going to be the first one to discover something!"
Arthur looked across the enormous crowd. For once he didn’t say anything. He simply smiled.
Professor Roland stepped forward. The noise slowly died down.
Roland looked toward the enormous group, a faint smile appearing. "You’ve spent the last two weeks preparing," he said. He paused. "Now."
Roland raised his hand.
"It’s time for the Field Trip to the Everglades."
The first-years erupted.
"YEAHHHH!"
"LET’S GO!"
"EVERGLADES!"
Sun grinned.
Athena looked toward the distant horizon and Mithra smiled.
Arthur simply grinned.
After everything they had discovered, they were finally going.