Published at 20th of May 2020 04:51:00 PM
Chapter 33
Group Selection Lottery
“We’ll decide the pairs as we always do, via lottery . Take one slip each” .
Hazel, vice president of Magulheim, walked around the room as she drew the lots .
It was custom within the Magulheim guild to form groups of two when launching expeditions into Hedin forest .
Lynn took his slip of paper . On it was drawn a picture of a meteor .
“I got the sun” .
“Who has the moon?”
As more and more members drew their slips, they began searching for their partners .
Lynn went around the room in search of his partner, someone who also drew the meteor .
He saw someone who still hadn’t found their partner, and he decided to ask them .
“Hi, excuse me . Do you have the meteor by any chance?”
“No, sorry” .
“Huh? You have the meteor? How unexpected!” .
Lynn turned towards the voice . It was Illia .
“Illia san” Lynn said, addressing her .
“You must be my partner, then . It’ll be a joy working with you” .
He saw she clutched in her hand a slip of paper with the drawing of a meteor on it .
“Lynn, you’ve been partnered with Illia? What a good match”, Teedro said as he walked by . He must have overheard their conversation .
He paused for a moment, and before walking away he added, “Illia’s already somewhat of an expert at spirit magic and magical beasts, even at her young age . Within the forest you’ll find no safer place than at her side . Throw yourself into the experience today, Lynn” .
They combined their slips so that one was on top of the other, and they burst into blue flames before flying back into the lottery box .
“It looks like everyone has a partner now . Gather around everyone”, Teedo ordered .
“First of all, we have a message from the academy . This time will be the usual, so as a summer season expedition, students are limited to exploring the relatively safe blue area” .
The forest of magical beasts could be split into three large areas . The blue area, the yellow area, and the red area .
The trees and shrubs of each area had a distinct colour profile of blue, yellow, and red, which was the basis for how they were named .
The forest began with the blue area, and as one went deeper it would change from blue, to yellow, and then to red, in that order . The deeper one went, the more dangerous it would become .
It was forbidden for the academy students’ summer season teams to explore anything other than the blue area of the forest .
“For the most part we must abide by the rules of the academy . But if for some reason you had no other choice, perhaps to avoid some kind of danger for example, you may penetrate the yellow or even the red area if doing so can’t be avoided . Everyone should be able to adapt to whatever situation they find themselves in” .
Most of the members in the room exchanged glances at each other, grinning, but Lynn didn’t quite understand the meaning behind those meaningful glances and smiles .
“Today’s meeting point will be camp two, in the blue zone . Everyone should arrive by five in the afternoon . That will be all . Get your equipment ready! Now we enter the forest” .
At the close of Teedro’s briefing, the Magulheim members dispersed from the lodge and headed for the entrance to the forest, where a small branch of the Wizard’s Association was situated .
Before students were able to enter the forest, they had to pass through a checkpoint controlled by the association, to confirm whether or not they were equipped with the correct, regulated equipment .
Lynn and Illia found that from the checkpoint at the entrance to the forest, there was already a long line . However thanks to the staff working the checkpoint, the line moved quickly . Before long it was almost their turn .
“Everything looks good . You have the correct Kariginu . Next, show me your magic rings please… Ok, all good, next pair please!” .
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The pair proceeded to pass through the checkpoint .
Huh? Magic Ring!
Lynn suddenly remembered . He remembered the guidebook he received from Magulheim about the expedition, and how in it he had read that you had to prepare your magic ring beforehand, by yourself . It was apparently also possible to borrow one from the association if you applied to do so . However he had completely forgotten .
What should I do?
If he went to Teedro about it, he was sure he would be able to do something for him, but to forget something so important on his first day… Teedro would certainly be amazed at him, and not in a good way either .
Or perhaps he would be angry, and send Lynn back to the tower . That too was certainly a possible outcome, Lynn thought to himself .
“Are you ok Lynn?”
Illia had noticed that Lynn’s face had lost its colour .
“I- you know the m well the thing is…”
He thrust his hands into his pockets as he fumbled for his words . Illia seemed to pick up on his body language .
“Is it that you don’t have your magic ring with you?”
“Yeah” he admitted .
He had a feeling Illia would tell Teedro, and he’d have an ear full .
His mind conjured up a show reel of different possible scenarios- all of them bad- in which he received a scolding lecture . He felt terrible .
However Illia simply laughed kindly, and said “you don’t have to be so down on yourself . Here, put this on” .
She took off the ring on her finger and handed it to Lynn .
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“Huh? Are you sure? But-”
Just as he was about to ask her what she would do about herself, glowing ribbons of… something… wrapped themselves around her finger, and morphed into the shape of a ring .
Material generation?
Lynn saw that, just the same as a few moments ago, there was now a ring on her finger . He looked to the ring in the palm of his hand, and back to the ring Illia had made for herself . There seemed to be no inferiority in the one she herself had made .
That’s incredible! Will it be enough to trick them?
His heart was beating fast . He continued to wait for their turn .
“Ok, next pair!”
He let out a sigh of relief .
“That was close!”
“My heart was going for a moment there”, Illia said . .
They had passed through the checkpoint successfully . With permission to enter the forest, they were now walking across the last stretch of barren land, with the wall of forest looming above them .
“You really saved me there . I’ve forgotten something so important, and on my first day! I don’t know how I could have faced Teedro” .
“He can be strict sometimes,” she said understandingly, “if he found out he’d probably get all red faced, just like a demon” .
With her index fingers she made horns on her forehead, and made an angry face . She was unexpectedly playful, Lynn thought .
“Really though, I don’t know what to say to thank you properly . But is it really ok? That ring’s fake right? Isn’t it dangerous to enter the forest without a real ring?”
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They were already at the edge of the forest . From here on out, it was they could encounter a magical beast at any time .
“It’ll be ok, because I don’t actually need a ring in the first place… . I have this kid with me” .
Immediately Lynn felt a shiver run down his spine . Somehow he felt that the space between him and Illia grew denser .
Is… There something there?
“Oh? Have you noticed? As one would expect you have sharp senses, Lynn . Let me make my magic a little stronger…”
Just then he began to make out something faint coiling around Illia . It had the appearance of a girl, but it had no substance, and it floated above the ground, close to Illia . It was clear that whatever it was, it wasn’t something living .
“Her name is Shilf . She’s a spirit that’s been passed down through many generations within my kingdom, within my family . So long as she’s with me, she keeps me safe” .
This was the first time Lynn had ever seen a spirit with such a distinctive appearance .
The spirits he saw in fairy magic class were indistinct, abstract forms of light .
Compared to those, Illia’s spirit was clearly far more powerful .
He felt giddy just contemplating the power of her spirit magic . Just then the thought hit him- Did she not mind having something as powerful as that clinging to her?
The expression she wore on her face was exceedingly calm .
“I see you’re still a little apprehensive,” she said before turning her attention to her other companion, “can you reduce your magic a little bit?”
At her order, the spirit’s visibility diminished gradually, until its form could no longer be seen . Nor could its presence be felt .
“Shall we get going then?”
She spoke in a tone that one would expect from someone going for a leisurely stroll, and with that took a step into the thick forest of vivid blue .