The Silent Dormitory at Bedtime
The dormitory grew quiet as bedtime approached. Aside from a few students popping in and out of the common hall for late-night snacks or final chit-chat, everyone else was preparing to embrace the dawn's silence.
One troublemaker among them had finished his preparations to slip away under the cover of that stillness.
Tap, tap.
Maness Pictri, gazing at the clock tower flickering in the distant darkness, turned at the vibration on his shoulder. He nearly stumbled back in shock.
"Damn, you scared me."
Maness stared hard at the figure for a long moment. A black cloth shrouded their entire face. Soon enough, he realized it was Boltman Gail and let out a sigh so heavy it could sink the floor.
"What's with that getup?"
"Getting caught won't end well."
"We're not stealing anything. It'll just make us look more suspicious."
"You think?"
Boltman pulled off the cloth briefly, then draped it back over his face. "Feels safer this way."
"...Do whatever."
Maness had long since learned that half-giving up was the easiest way to deal with the guy ahead of him.
With a tilt of the troublemaker's head, their covert duo set off.
"Why'd you pick me, anyway?"
Boltman broke the silence first, perhaps unnerved by the quiet steps. "There are plenty in Class 1 who could help, even if not as good as me."
"Would you follow me if I asked nicely?"
"I'm already following you?"
Because you're a simpleton. Maness nearly said it outright but reined in his tongue, filtering the words through his brain first.
"I needed someone with magical talent."
"Thanks, but Iris has talent too, right?"
Yeah, but she'd pry until it killed me. Swallowing the thought again, Maness sighed shortly.
"Specifically, someone with lightning magic affinity. Gotta solve a puzzle to get in through the entrance."
"How'd you know I have lightning affinity?"
Boltman pestered him with annoying questions but nodded on his own soon enough. "Makes sense. Rumors about a mage of my caliber must be everywhere by now."
"That's your simple charm talking."
"...Simple?"
"Just saying."
The trek to the Shopping District was long. And once they entered the forest path toward the bridge, it was pitch-black, like wearing a blindfold.
"Hold up."
Maness, who knew the route well enough, kept moving steadily until Boltman blocked him and rummaged in his pocket. A small orb soon appeared in his hand, glowing faintly.
"Bought it with the points from today's class."
"Didn't expect you to be useful. Saw this coming?"
"Nah, just thought it was pretty."
"......"
Maybe simple isn't a charm after all. Maness mentally retracted his words and pressed on.
No lazybones wanted to miss early classes, so the paths were empty. Only their footsteps harmonized with the distant hoot of an owl.
"There it is."
Beyond the shadowed forest path, the bridge gleamed under moonlight.
Reaching it, Maness gathered his thoughts. Boltman tensed as his guide halted.
"Once we cross, no turning back?"
"......"
Ignoring Boltman's resolve veering off-track, Maness stepped onto the bridge, one foot at a time.
As expected, someone would appear before them. It was calculated, but tension was inevitable. Halfway across, a ripple in the air like a drawn shadow formed a human figure blocking their path.
"Gah!"
Boltman stifled a scream, but Maness stayed calm, eyes fixed ahead.
Teleportation. The figure, using the duty office's magic tool to cross space, glared at his student with a furrowed brow.
"What business do you have in the Shopping District at this hour?"
If you've done something wrong, own it boldly to slip by. But if you're innocent, never cower—posture can invent guilt.
"Something to check out, Professor."
So Maness stated his intent confidently to the on-duty professor, Hiteri Solik.
"Something to check out."
Hiteri raised an eyebrow, piercing them with his gaze. Boltman ducked behind Maness.
Something's gonna go wrong.
But unlike Boltman's hunch, Maness felt a sliver of relief amid the tension.
Hiteri was a stickler for rules. Razor-sharp on student conduct, surprisingly lenient otherwise. He wouldn't approve of this, but might let it slide.
Curiosity was key to magic. A freshman wandering at dawn? That fit.
"Lost something from the morning tour?"
"No. I heard there's a secret passage in the Shopping District leading to a treasure spot."
"Secret passage?"
Hiteri eyed them closely, brow still creased. "Rumors like that float around. A door to a dragon's nest, an ancient relic buried in a hillside grave. Most are nonsense, thanks to this being a magic school."
"A mage doesn't hold back curiosity, right, Professor?"
"...True enough."
The professor's sharp finger pointed at Maness's back. Boltman's shoulders hunched sharply.
"The one behind doesn't look adventure-ready."
Grind. Boltman couldn't see Maness's face but felt the rage clearly.
"Well... people have their fashion preferences."
"......"
"He's got this obsession—says he needs cloth like this at night to feel safe. Looks like a thief, sure."
Hiteri showed no sign of softening at the hasty excuse, so Maness drove the wedge home.
"You wouldn't disrespect student diversity, would you, Professor?"
Flipping the weakness was compromise 101. In a harsh world, a silver tongue was survival basics.
"You sure run your mouth."
Hiteri glared like he'd devour the student, then let out a dry chuckle with a faint, unfamiliar smile.
"If thieves hit the Shopping District, you'll be first on my list."
"H-ha..."
"And if you're late for tomorrow's roll call, prepare yourselves."
The on-duty professor vanished as swiftly as he'd appeared.
Only then did Boltman peel off Maness's back, clearing his throat before puffing his chest.
"Shall we move?"
"Hey."
Boltman's momentum faltered at Maness's twisted expression.
"Ditch the cloth."
*
"This is really where the passage is?"
Maness's face soured as he ran his hand along the fence. Annoying interruption mid-focus, but he'd let this one slide. He held the glowing orb ahead, and trailing in the dark along a fence might spook anyone.
"Told you not to grab my collar if you're scared."
"Can't see my feet!"
"Your problem."
Despite the baggage, Maness kept his focus until an odd sensation brushed his hand. Not wood's roughness—smooth.
The hidden passage spot.
"Step back."
"What if I get lost?"
"We're almost there—move it!"
Shoving the pest aside, Maness focused his palm's sense. Channeling mana to one point.
Soon, the same pull—like mana being sucked in—swirled, and click. The passage opened.
"What was that sound?"
"What else? Treasure vault opening."
Maness smirked mischievously, easing the fence open.
"Treasure vault?"
Boltman fussed excitedly at the word, scanning the opening.
"That's it?"
"Why bring you if it ended here?"
"...Fair."
Maness slapped Boltman's back—more effective than arguing with the coward.
"Then,"
His thick arm tensed in an instant.
"After you."
"Gyaaaaah!"
Boltman vanished through the opening like a ghost. If someone saw, I'd look ridiculous too.
With that inner quip, Maness followed seamlessly.
No dissonance. Space shifted naturally, dense forest welcoming them.
"Anyone?! Where the hell is this!!"
Boltman thrashed wildly—warm sunlight shattered behind him.
This space's time is fixed? Maness was impressed.
He'd thought it linked two spots, but this opened new possibilities. Was the fence-linked area's time frozen? Or a created pocket realm?
Either way, insane territory.
That guy's doing.
Time-space magic was dragon domain. Untouchable by humans. The one enchanting the professor's tool with teleportation? Trivial with time invested.
"W-what now, Maness? Call for rescue?"
"Calm down. We didn't get flung somewhere."
Ignoring Boltman's frenzy, Maness headed to the goal. His friend, holding his lifeline, followed quietly.
Straight ahead a bit, sloppy runes in ancient script appeared again.
"This... a drawing? Ancient beast maybe."
"Save the critique. Pay attention—this is key."
Lightning: southeast. Maness strode to the recalled magic circle spot.
Leaf-crunch checks confirmed Boltman trailed. Soon, the lightning glyph circle.
"Magic circle? First time seeing one."
Per last time, Maness could fill four and a half alone. Boltman needed to cover half—but fully one, really.
No lightning potion.
"Pour mana into this circle first."
"Here? How?"
"Palm on the glyph, shove your mana in like you're emptying yourself."
Sudden ask, but Boltman complied. To escape, follow orders—emotions aside.
"Hmm..."
"Hup!"
"Hraaaaaa!"
"Urghhh!"
After dozens of weird yells, pale yellow light spread from Boltman's hand.
Maness, leaning on a tree thinking of napping, approached wide-eyed.
"Good! Push harder!"
"L-like this?"
"To the brink of death! Life flashing before your eyes!"
"?"
Gruesome pep talk, but Boltman focused. Mana churning inside. Gripping the novel surge, he poured more.
"No. That's your limit."
Maness frowned, eyeing Boltman's withdrawing hand and the circle.
Ten percent?
These circles ramped demand exponentially. Even a blowhard like Boltman—future big name—fell short of filling one, unlike Iris.
But loopholes existed.
Maness pulled a vial from his pocket.