Third-Year Mission Activities (4)

In the past, the ancient kingdom had been located on the northern continent and boasted exceptional magical prowess. Those three keywords were everything I knew about it. The fragmented information stemmed from how rarely ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the ancient kingdom was even mentioned.

Akacheonma didn't treat the northern continent as an important setting. That's why I had no knowledge of the castle's structure, layout, or features. In other words, the castle before my eyes was completely unknown territory.

But I couldn't just sit around doing nothing—that would be the height of stupidity. We had to scout the castle and find a way out. By now, Rana's group was probably in an uproar. I shared my thoughts with Ariel.

"What do you think?"

"Same here. We can't just wait around for rescue."

Her decision was swift. As expected of the future empress—such decisive resolve. In truth, Ariel was the most rational of the main characters.

Afterward, we checked the subspace first. Not knowing how long we'd be stuck here, food was critical. We confirmed we had enough rations to last a week if we rationed carefully.

Then we scouted the surroundings. Figuring out where we were wasn't hard.

"Looks like a garden."

"Seems so."

Frozen grass and flowers—the classic palace garden. But that was it. The garden was just a garden: barren. The only deductions we could make were that a massive spherical barrier enclosed the castle grounds, preventing escape, and judging by the ice's scale, a city likely lay beyond the castle walls.

We stopped exploring the garden and headed inside the castle. Midway, Ariel stared up at the ceiling.

"We can't get out that way, can we?"

"Yeah, impossible."

The sky was sealed by thick ice. We'd fallen through a hole blasted open by the relic's explosion—traces remained, confirming it. But the gorge's chill had sealed it shut. I'd considered escaping that way if a hole existed, but it was too high up, and the frigid air made teleportation risky, so I'd scrapped the idea early.

We entered the castle. The moment we did, the bone-chilling cold enveloping our bodies vanished.

"It's warm in here."

Temperatures like spring in the empire. The air itself felt cozy. It was due to magic permeating the castle. This enchantment maintained a uniform warmth throughout. But the method was peculiar, drawing my eyes repeatedly. It differed from the systems I'd seen at Tianis Academy.

Something unknown to me was mixed into the magic. I couldn't identify it. Magic branches endlessly—even as a hunter who'd seen spells from countless worlds, I didn't know everything. Still, at my level, I could roughly parse it.

"The ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠ancient kingdom's magic is incredibly unique."

Ariel had no magical talent, but her innate gifts didn't vanish. Her awakened imperial bloodline let her intuitively sense the differences from continental magic.

"They must've had their own independent system."

"You can tell?"

"Kinda, yeah."

I replied curtly. We wandered the castle interior. Ariel touched a wall and remarked,

"It's weird. The floors, decorations, paintings... it's like time stopped."

She was right. Everything inside was frozen solid in ice, perfectly preserved without a scratch.

"What on earth happened here?"

"Hard to guess."

Unless we studied it properly, we couldn't conclude from visuals alone. It could've frozen from the gorge's cold, a failed spell, or something else entirely. Too many possibilities.

As we chatted and moved, we found a door leading outside the castle. But ice made it hard to open.

"Let's push together. One, two..."

"Three!"

We shoved on cue. Rumble! The door groaned roughly. Ice jammed it midway, but two knights pushing seriously overwhelmed it.

Beyond lay a path and gate—to the royal capital and city. We approached the castle gate.

"Blocked. With magic, too."

We couldn't pass. A barrier sealed off travel between palace and capital.

"I'll break it."

The most effective anti-magic spell, Dispel, channeled into my sword and swung. Thud. But the barrier repelled it effortlessly. Annoyed, I unleashed Arden swordsmanship [Mana Breaker]. Even with aura-infused power, the barrier held.

"..."

"No good...?"

"Yeah. Without destroying the catalyst, brute force won't work."

Embarrassing, but I'd half-expected it. This was a sealing barrier anchored to a powerful catalyst with constraints. No catalyst, no passage.

I traced the mana linking to the barrier. It led into the castle.

"Back inside."

"Got it."

We returned, and soon I hit a snag.

"What's the problem now?"

"...Looks like we have to search room by room."

Advanced magic, my ass. More than I'd anticipated. The mana to the catalyst was perfectly concealed, tangled with other castle spells to evade tracking. I understood it as the barrier's core, but this was overkill. Better to focus elsewhere than this hassle.

But no time for complaints. Finding the catalyst was key. Then I felt Ariel's gaze—watching me intently with an odd glint.

"Why stare like that?"

"Just... surprising. Didn't know you had a side like this."

"...I don't know everything ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠either."

I'd shown near-omnipotent skills before, but even I had limits. This felt mocking.

"Not mocking."

"...I didn't say anything."

"You thought it."

Why waste stamina on mind-reading? Especially now.

"...Fine, I'll stop."

"..."

While pondering solutions, Ariel spoke up.

"Can I see mana traces too?"

"Not hard."

She could help, so I cast sight-sharing magic.

"This is a mage's world? So different from a knight's..."

Ariel marveled at the palace. Knights and mages perceived reality differently due to enlightenment gaps.

"Hmm... Hm..."

No threats inside, so she strolled like on a walk—stomping floors, sniffing walls, odd behaviors. I didn't stop her. Her senses outstripped mine. This played to her strengths.

After thoroughly scouting, she found something and led me. We reached a room in the castle.

"Here. I sense barrier traces from this room."

I nodded and opened the door. A library—not Tianis-scale, but shelves crammed with books.

"Tell me the exact spot."

"One sec."

Ariel moved slowly, sensing. She stopped at a central shelf.

"This is as far as I can pinpoint. Nearby, but..."

"Enough."

Narrowing it was huge. I pulled Ariel back and cast unique magic [Domain Declaration].

Mana particles seeped into shelf gaps. I fused them with the books. Now the library's tomes were mine to control.

But I only sought catalyst info—no mana waste. I sorted incoming data. Tricky: hundreds of fake catalyst books scattered. Tedious grind, but persistence paid off. I identified the real one.

Dispelled the magic and approached. No traps, even if fakes fooled it. Still, checked with Ariel.

"That book—what do you think?"

She eyed it and said,

"Looks fine."

"Alright..."

I smashed the ice, pulled the book. No triggered spells, as she said. But inspecting it, I clicked my tongue. Mana links showed multiple catalysts—not just one.

Spotting the first made others easy—all linked, all in the library. Next shelf. Same process; pulling the book—click. A switch flipped.

We tensed instantly. I'd guarded against magic, missing simple mechanics. But nothing happened. Instead, figures materialized before us.

I realized immediately. "Looks like it's recreating memories from the library's past."

"Memories? But..."

"Anything off...?"

Then the reenactment cut me off.

Her words from long ago, and Ariel's form surfaced. The visitation room scene.

"..."

"..."

Foul mood. Reviving forgotten memories. Ariel pursed her lips beside me—maybe same, but I was pissed.

"Find what we need and go."

"Yeah..."

We hurried. Memories of us kept replaying, dredging up ancient ones.

Days after possession, talking with Ariel.

First day possessed, lunging at her via body memories. All post-possession interactions replayed. But not the end. Pre-possession grudges between Kyle Arden and Ariel Tianis persisted.

Reenactment ended. I ignored it, focusing on catalysts.

Damn...

But concentration faltered.

Why set up something like this...

Projecting past memories to torment the mind. Simple, brutally effective. Ariel's darkened face showed it; my head throbbed, despite not being the subject.

Couldn't dwell. Finished, sought next catalyst. Third one found— a woman materialized before me.

Wide-brim hat, book in hand, earnestly lecturing. Noah Celestia. The sage, my magic teacher.

Hah, this is fucking bullshit...

Didn't expect this memory. Disgust peaked. But I didn't ignore it. Phantom from my memory—this space's fleeting dream, gone on escape.

I met her gaze. Pulled the third catalyst. Three books total. All catalysts secured. Destroy them to end it.

"Your Highness, you okay?"

"Ah, y-yeah! Sorry, those memories got to me..."

"No worries. Prep to leave."

No need to destroy here—time limits possible. We exited the library.

Stepping out—BOOM!!! Left corridor exploded. Dust-choking blast. I raised a shield, yelled,

"Run the other way!"

No time for formalities. She followed instantly.

Whoosh! But flames erupted right as she leaped. Rumble!! Ceiling rocks crashed too.

Damn...!

Escape sealed. We retreated to library. Magic didn't stop—entry triggered a magic circle spewing northern chill.

"I'll hold it! Find the exit—they prepped one!"

"My magic eye could..."

"How long?"

Her eye was great, but stamina/mana-limited.

"...Got it."

She dashed inward. I resisted with ring magic too.

"Urgh...!"

Wracked my brain for escape. No perfect solutions. Magic too strong—near 10-circle power. Glancing away to help her? Breached instantly. Reverse-engineering? Trying, but couldn't decode core ritual.

At least get her out...

Protagonist's safety first. Drop defense, brief teleport window—best bet.

"Just came for a light mission... what a mess."

Lately, nothing went right. Then a voice whispered.

Noah Celestia. Master scolded as she approached. Library magic raged on. Ancient bastards were vicious.

Her hand overlaid mine. Odd—warmth and texture from mere memory.

"Always your problem. Emotions blind you to the key points. When will you grow up?"

Her voice felt real, like she was there. I turned, startled. Not memory—real Noah Celestia stood.

"How...?"

"Not important now. Follow me."

Mana flow transmitted. I followed her lead; it touched the circle. Unraveling. I grasped the ancient core.

"See? Calm makes it easy."

She withdrew. Magic dismantled. I faced her.

"Hey, cutie? Long time no see?"

Her signature grin, fangs glinting alluringly.