Back in the days of high school, our group usually makes rounds around the school campus. We weren’t loitering around, but we break fights that usually happen and prevent bullying. It was only because I was dating the student council president at that time.

***

A week has passed since our departure from Parlit Town. Within that week, I experienced a cold because of our extra-large snowball fight. Thankfully, Cherry made a medicine for me, though two days already passed before it was finally made.

Right now, our caravan is going up a mountain called, [Behemoth’s Horn]. It was called like that because this mountain is a habitat for large monsters.

You’re probably wondering why we’re passing through a dangerous path. I was actually the one who suggested of passing through here. Not because I want to encounter a large monster, but because it’s a shortcut. Also, I’m quite confident with my escorts. They’ve repelled every attack from monsters that we came across without me or Sora intervening. If push comes to shove, I’ll just summon my familiar.

“Today’s as peaceful like yesterday. I wish we’ll arrive at Berigious with only snow at our carriage’s roof, not damaged ones.”

“That’s a very dangerous remark Cherry. It’s like you’re hoping that something would happen.”

“If something did happen, it would be favorable to me since I haven’t used my magic aside from using it for making potions. It would be a good exercise.”

-Isn’t that supposed to be a good thing?

By the way, the only ones inside the carriage is me carrying Marie, Cherry, Matt, and Sora. Jane and Ghena are currently outside riding a horse. By the way, Ghena requested that idea and Jane came along with her. There’s a reason for that.

Right now, I’m going to discuss something very important to everyone.

“For the last few days, both factions haven’t made any moves against me. It’s bugging me a lot lately so I thought I’d discuss it with you guys.”

“I don’t sense any members from my factions right now. Though I felt them when we made a stop yesterday, their shadows suddenly stopped following us. I agree with your thought, it does seem suspicious.”

“My side either, I don’t sense anyone using magic aside from us. For the last few days, I sensed them following us using > magic, but right now, there’s none.”

“If that’s the way it is right now, they’re probably planning something big. We need to get to Berigious as soon as possible.”

We then looked outside the window as we thought of the matter deeply. Then out of a sudden, Marie tugged my shirt.

“Papa! Papa!”

“What is it?”

After asking her, she suddenly pointed outside the opposite window of the carriage. I took a peek where she is pointing at, but I didn’t… no, I saw some light above the mountain that is far from our position. Because of that, I inadvertently turned to Sora.

“Dude, can you sense anything from the shadows of that mountain right now?”

“Give me a just a sec, I’ll check.”

Sora closed his eyes and clasped his hands together. Then, I noticed that his shadow making some black smoke coming out from it as a reaction to his power. It’s quite cool actually.

“I can’t reach there. There are too many monsters inside the forest so my shadow detecting ability’s range is reduced in half. I didn’t know that there are still many active monsters despite the winter.”

“Then it can’t be helped then.”

I then turned my head to Cherry and Matt who’s sitting just opposite of my position.

“Sora and I are going to investigate there. The two of you are going to wait here in the carriage without stopping the caravan.”

“Why would you go there?” (Cherry)

“You’re too quick to decide on things, calm down.” (Matt)

“Why am I coming with you?” (Sora)

“Because we can escape through your shadow if things get out of hand. Moreover, you already marked the carriage’s shadow. If we find ourselves lost, I’ll rely on you. Also, you’re coming with me on this trip for free.”

I ignored Cherry and Matt’s protest. But since Sora tried to complain, I hit him with some facts. And I’m not lying about him coming with us for free.

“The two of you, stay here. Let Ghena and Jane inside the carriage, we don’t know what’s going to happen so advise everyone to stay alert. That includes our escorts.”

I didn’t let the caravan stop. Instead, I opened the door of the carriage and prepared some magic enchantment on myself.

“> > >”

> and > are my derivations from > Spell. Since > has some flaws, I tried to perfect it. But in the end, I had to divide it because some parts of the script negate each other’s effect.

And also, > isn’t actually a [Spell Type] magic but [Force Arte] magic. [Force Arte] is the type of magic that can be used by almost anyone. It is a derivation of magic from [Force Magic] category but weaker. And since I can modify probably every spell that exists, I can boost this magic up to, I don’t know, maybe a million folds?

After the magic enveloped my body, Sora immediately entered my shadow like its normal. So he can ride in it huh.

“I’m going now.”

Without listening to whatever they were about to say, I immediately jumped off the carriage to the sky with amplified speed without shaking the carriage. After that, I then looked back at them, Cherry looks very angry at me.

[You flew too fast! I’m getting dizzy inside here!]

“Is it shaky inside my shadow?”

[Super!]

Since Sora’s complaining, I slowed down mid-air. After that, I casted > and made stop steps on the air. Now I feel like some sort of superhero from somewhere.

“We’re going directly to the mountain, hang on.”

[I’m getting sick.]

While running towards the mountain, I made zigzagging moves to fight against the air current. Since it got too cold, I used >. It’s very convenient for this type of weather. Glad I copied it.

Just when I was about to arrive at the foot of the mountain, suddenly—

[Dude, stop!]

--Sora screamed out from my shadow.

“What the hell man! You rang in my head.”

Since we’ve stopped, I landed above a tree. I can stand on a leaf without breaking it by the way.

Then, before replying, Sora’s head popped out of my shadow.

“I sensed some odd magic to where we’re going. Let me use my magic eye to check on it.”

“Isn’t it bad if you used it while I’m here?”

“Don’t worry, I’ve adjusted it already so that I can’t see you’re mana. >”

Then, the pentagram on his eyes got projected out and moved around. The fact that Sora has this unique characteristic makes me a little jealous.

“Hm… I thought that the flow of [Mana Essence] is normal, but now that I’ve activated my magic eye, I can see the large invisible magic circle.”

“How big is it?”

“Probably the same as the whole mountain, it’s too big for my eye to fully see actually.”

“That’s crazy. If that magic circle is as large as the mountain, then where would it take mana from?”

Sora stroked his chin with his right hand out of the shadow. It looks like he has some idea what it is.

“I have two things in mind, but both don’t just easily connect with this one.”

“Let me hear it.”

“Well, there’s two type of mana source aside from the mana crystals which came from living beings. First is: [Dark Miasma], it’s a concentration of malice from various twisted things you know like sacrifices etc. then materialized using magical tools. And the second one is: [Earth Vein], a natural source of mana that flows through the world.”

“I understand the [Dark Miasma] part, but can you elaborate on the description of the [Earth Vein]? I don’t quite understand that part.”

“Well actually, [Earth Vein] is something that exists in both Marzenthura and Earth. But the one back on Earth is inaccessible unlike this world.”

“I’m not asking about that.”

“I’m not yet done. You see, [Earth Vein] is something like a life-blood of a land. It provides life in the part where its roots have sprouted out. This place probably has a root coming out from this area. I won’t be surprised if it does because of the vastness of this forest and the amount of monsters in it is enough proof.”

“I see. But the question now is how either sources of mana could fuel this magnitude of magic circle. No human could possible create this alone.”

“I got to agree with on that part. Moreover, I don’t recognize the script composition. I can tell that it’s [Non-Element Magic], but which one?”

“Well, there’s one way to find out.”

Like reading what I was thinking, Sora returned his head inside my shadow.

Because we’re entering an unknown territory, it would be bad if someone would see me jumping above the trees, so I got down from the tree. I didn’t cancel the effect of > so that I wouldn’t leave a trail on the snow.

With caution, I approached the area where Sora said the magic circle’s area is.

“I think this is the magic circle’s effect.”

[I can see that, but I never thought that I would meet this kind of magic in this place.]

In front of me, there’s an area where the snow on the ground is flat like smooth glass, trees with leaves the supposed to be falling slowly falls sharp down, and most of all, the difference in pressure from that area to mine.

In other words, it’s obvious what kind of magic it is.

“[Gravity Magic] huh. Wasn’t it categorized as one of the [Forbidden Magics]?”

[It is, and to think it’s used in such magnitude…]

Before continuing his words, Sora immediately popped out from my shadow. Since its gotten cold for him, I gave him armor so that he could warm up. But this time, I colored it black just to fit with his theme.

“I need to investigate this as a Royal Knight.”

“I’m very curious now so let’s enter this area.”

Sora suddenly picked up a small pebble under the snow. After that, he flicked it towards the area where the gravity is stronger. When the stone entered that area, it didn’t even reach a meter away from the border-line and immediately dropped on the glass-like snow making a hold in it.

“Judging by the pebble’s drop, we need at least 10 times our normal strength just to walk normally in there.”

“That’s not a problem. >”

After touching Sora’s shoulder, he got wrapped in soft layer of red light.

“Times 20 huh… Good thinking.”

“No need to thank me.”

Then after that, we proceeded to the area with caution.

The moment we entered, our theory was correct that the area’s gravity is really strong. It even let our legs bury about 3 inches under the glass-like snow. Good thing I multiplied our strengths up to twenty-folds or we’d get squashed by this pressure.

“It’s really strong. Even though I have a boost from you, it still cost me quite some strength just by taking a single step.”

“Yeah, maybe I should increase the boost up to thirty. Can your body take that much boosting?”

“Let’s find out.”

I’m actually worried about how the boosting magic works. Although it amplifies physical strength using mana, suddenly increasing it would strain the muscles in the body. If I boost it until 30 times, I don’t know if our bodies could take it. However, when I increased the output on the boost on both of us, nothing happened so I’m quite relieved.

“If only the magic doesn’t backfire, we could become superhuman with unparalleled strength with your mana.”

After joking around for a bit, we then proceeded walking towards the mountain with caution.

When we walked quite far enough, both of us looked back to where we crossed. I can see our tracks like icing on a cake got touched. So much for my >…

During our walk, since neither monster nor beast appeared, we talked care-freely like we’re taking a little stroll.

“Key, dude. I’ve been meaning to ask you this.”

“What’s with that all of a sudden?”

Since Sora is wearing a troubled expression, it got me curious to what he’s about to ask me.

“Well it got me curious a bit, but what do you think of your fiancées?”

“Where did that come from?”

“Come on, just tell me. I told you my feelings towards Ghena before, tell me yours.”

-Uhg! It’s the topic I loathe the most. But hey, there’s no one here, maybe I can just tell him the truth and make him swear not to say anything about it.

“I’d rather not say it though, but you’re the one asking so I can’t really refuse.”

“So what is it really?”

I stopped walking for a sec and took a deep breath before answering. While looking at Sora, I let out the truth.

“Though they’re both beautiful, I don’t see them as a romantic interest yet.”

“WHAT!?”

“I know it’s surprising but, our relationship was just forced to me. Yes, I do see them as women. But the thing is. They never once considered my feelings. I’m just taking responsibility to what happened to them, nothing more, nothing less.”

“But Goldy’s already fallen for you. Can you still ignore that? And Matilda, you two have a good relationship with each other from where I stood.”

“Yes, I do have a good relationship with Matt. But the way she looks at me is like the way everyone looks at a toy. Though she already told me that she loved me, I can’t shake off the feeling that she’s only using me. And about Cherry, I don’t know what got into me and I picked a fight with that Allenshyre guy and at this point, I’m already confused to what I really am feeling now.”

“So there’s still chance for you to like them, right?”

--is it just me, or is Sora sounding like a girl right now? I wonder what’s running through his mind right now.

“That, I don’t know. All I know is that I’m tired of all this shit happening to me. I already have Gods chasing up my ass and I have burdens coming along with me.”

I don’t know what got into me that I’m sprouting out some words that I never knew that I could dare say against the girls, but because of that, I received a punch on the face from Sora.

“Dude! You don’t sound like yourself! Get yourself together!”

Sora’s punch was amplified thirtyfold by my power, but since I’m also boosted the same way, I felt a normal left jab on the face.

When I landed on the ground, he shook me while holding my shoulders.

Just when I was about to get mad at Sora, I noticed that his Magic Eyes are activated with the pentagram out.

“W-what happened?”

“You got under a [Mind Magic] spell. Didn’t you notice?!”

-was I?

“I didn’t notice that, I thought that I was really talking.”

“No, you really were talking. You were just under the influence of [Mind Magic]. I really got surprised when you started talking out of nowhere.”

-I must’ve looked crazy then.

Then, Sora looked ahead of me. Out of a sudden, he pulled my sleeve even though I’m already down and rolled to the right.

“That one was close!”

“What was close?!”

Since I was upside down, only Sora saw what came towards us.

“Someone’s firing [Mind Magic] at us, and not like the ones you can joke about like earlier.”

“How come I didn’t see it coming?”

“It’s [Mind Magic], it doesn’t have a form. But if you have a way in seeing [Mana Essence] like me, it’s pretty easy to dodge it.”

Then after that, both of us stood up on the snow with the heavy gravity pulling us down.

“Well, whoever’s firing it, they aren’t friendly ones.”

Sora and I ran up the mountain at the same time. Since I don’t have a sword with me, I summoned > to protect myself. I didn’t summon any for Sora because he can handle himself with his dagger.

“I’m going to use your shadow to do a >, hold your position.”

“Okay!”

I don’t really know how this > works, but it really sounds awesome.

“#### ### # ##### #### ### >”

After finishing his chant, he jumped with all his strength along with my boost towards my shadow. And then suddenly, when his legs landed on my shadow, it reacted like a trampoline. LIKE A FUCKING TRAMPOLINE!

Going forward, he flew like superman would, except for the fact that he’s holding a dagger and looks like a jaguar with the black armor.

And of course, I didn’t get left behind.

“>”

Activating the > special ability, I flew up the mountain with blazing speed. But because of the strong gravity pulling me down, I’m only a meter above ground.

When I arrived, only Sora was there standing alone. He then looked at me with a confused face.

“I’m pretty sure they were targeting from this area.”

I landed beside Sora and looked around, but there really is no one here except some stone and snow.

“Whoever was that, they’re pretty good.”

“I can’t even detect them with… wait. I got some movement.”

Sora turned to the left while brandishing his dagger. And since it looks like we’re going to get under attack, I coated the daggers with >. Now that I remember it, why didn’t I use this combo when I fought against that Abysmal Hound?

Suddenly, a dozen brown colored [Golems] appear one after another from the ground. All of them came running towards us.

“Shit! Key, give me a few seconds, I’m going to use another magic.”

“Okay!”

I then stood up in front of Sora along with my daggers. After that, I fired the daggers on the Golems with extreme prejudice.

Unfortunately, it’s not the same with the Abysmal Hounds where they easily get cut using only >. Though > power is relatively six times stronger, it’s barely giving the golems some scratch.

“Not enough huh. >”

This time, the red crystal coated daggers hovered behind the lightning orbs and attacked the golems.

“Oh FUCK!”

Although this time the daggers penetrated the golems, each one of them remained stuck on the bodies of the golems. Moreover, one of them managed to get close to me and tried to squash me with its huge arm. Good thing I have a > and rolled to the side or I’d be dead by now.

“Dude, I’m done preparing.”

“Well it’s about time!”

Then, when I turned my head, I then saw Sora, literally smoking, in black through the armor.

“Have a taste of my >.”