Secret

The full moon hung high in the sky, casting long, ethereal shadows behind a young man and woman walking side-by-side on a gravel path.

Erika, her golden hair cascading down her fair face, sighed with nostalgia, "Yes, our hometown..." Ten years ago, in the capital of the Holy Flame Kingdom, she, and Colin discovered their wizarding talents together. Later, along with other qualified children from different cities and countries, they were brought to this island by the mysterious and powerful Lapu wizards.

Ten years, gone in a blink.

Looking up at the bright moon, Erika's voice was barely a whisper, "I wonder if there will be a chance to go back again?"

Colin, still recovering from the memories flooding back, replied in a low voice, his face pale, "...There will be a chance."

Erika forced a smile, accepting Colin's words as comfort. The sea held too many dangers, and without becoming an official wizard, there was no way back to Lai en.

"Do you miss Lai en, Colin?" she asked, her gaze fixed on the moon.

Colin nodded slightly, letting out a sigh. He was finally recovering, the throbbing in his head fading.

Looking at the moon, so similar to the one in his previous life, he added, "Very much."

Ten years ago, the original owner was a little over seven, born into a loving middle-class family with a two-year-old sister. In his memories, just like Erika, he yearned for Lai en.

And he... missed Earth.

Though newly crossed over, the homesickness was far stronger than his previous travels away from home.

The gravel path beneath his feet, the black stone buildings beside him, and the elusive round moon in the sky... everything was unfamiliar.

He realized he was now an outsider in a world probably separated by countless parallel universes.

Erika and the original owner didn't share a special bond. They didn't know each other before arriving in the wizard school. However, a shared origin fueled a natural closeness. Living in adjacent stone houses within the academy further strengthened their friendship.

Erika had approached him simply because it was convenient for their shared journey back to their house.

"Colin... if you can, I'd like to ask you a favour." Erika turned away from the moon, facing Colin, her hair sliding down to cover her small ears.

"If... I mean, if you can become an official wizard later and return to Lai en, I hope you can greet my parents for me..."

Meeting his eyes with hopeful anticipation, she moved her lips as if wanting to explain something, but ultimately only nodded.

They continued walking for a while, Colin finally speaking up, "The Dark Forest... it's too dangerous. Even if you don't advance in three months, it's better to live outside the enclave. There's no need..."

"But then there will be no hope of going home again!"Erika frowned, interrupting him. "Throughout the entire island, only Lapu School has official wizards, and only Lapu School can train official wizards. Moreover, staying in the school, even if you can't become an official wizard, there is still hope to return to Lai en with the school's recruitment fleet every five years."

She sighed again, continuing, "If I become a wild wizard outside, there will be no hope. You know, after the assessment, we are no longer protected by the school. Those peripheral wild wizards have long formed gangs. For junior apprentices like us... surviving is already difficult, let alone doing anything else."

Erika's face was filled with sorrow, and she said softly, "...except trying my luck in the Dark Forest, I have no other choice, Colin."

Colin remained silent, sensing that Erika had thoroughly considered everything.

The original owner had done the same. Everything Erika thought about, the original owner had also contemplated. They both just wanted to go home.

"I have no other choice. I can only try my luck in the Dark Forest!" Erika repeated, her calm tone revealing determination. It seemed like she was encouraging herself. She added, "Anyway, I won't end up like Annie, selling my body just to stay in the school."

At this mention, she shivered involuntarily.

Colin also reflexively felt uncomfortable, with images of Annie's hands and feet replaced by numerous dark, slimy tentacles flashing in his mind.

For wizards, selling one's body meant exactly that, and it didn't just imply that aspect.

Even when encountering slightly better senior apprentices, it was always just a game, not worth the cost.

The two walked in silence for a while, and soon they reached the residential area.

The living quarters for junior apprentices were separately designated, located at the far west of the entire academy, forming a square area with hundreds of standalone stone houses spaced out.

Their stone houses were on the far left of the entire area, with Colin's house a bit closer.

As they approached the door of Colin's house, they stopped.

After a moment of silence, Erika spoke, "Colin..."

Bang!

Suddenly, a loud explosion accompanied by an eerie screech came from a distance, interrupting Erika's words.

Erika and Colin reflexively covered their ears, looking towards the direction of the sound.

Beyond the wooden fence surrounding the Lapu academy, in the gathering place for wizards at the foot of the mountain, an eerie green light lit up like mist.

The next moment, an invisible transparent aura emanated from the top of the black stone castle at the centre of the Lapu wizard enclave, perfectly enveloping the entire wizard enclave.

Colin took a deep breath several times, gradually recovering. The distant screech was too bizarre; he felt dizzy and nauseous just hearing it.

Fortunately, with the activation of the transparent shield, the eerie feeling accompanying the screech was gone.

"I wonder what kind of ghostly thing is happening this time..." Erika murmured as she looked at the green light.

Colin remained silent, his azure eyes reflecting the distant green flames, a strange chill lingering in his heart.

Although he knew he was in the safest place on the entire island, and the green light would still be dealt with by the guardian wizards. Yet, he couldn't shake off the feeling of unease.

...It was probably the shock from a soul accustomed to a peaceful world witnessing the loss of life.

"I wonder how many people will die this time..." he whispered.

Erika smiled, no longer paying attention to the distant green flames. She turned back to Colin and said, "You wouldn't have thought like this before."

"Is that so," Colin's heart skipped a beat, returning to his emotionless facade. He responded calmly.

"Before, you would only mockingly say something like 'Death is only for the weak; weakness is a mistake!'"Erika teased, but then her expression turned sombre.

"...You're right... weakness is a mistake."

Colin sighed inwardly, the awkwardness of the original owner's edgy remarks disappearing at this moment.

For a while, he didn't know how to continue and could only remain silent.

In this world, strength was the rule... The edgy remarks that would have been laughed at in his previous life had become a truth here.

"Let's not talk about this. I plan to go to the Dark Forest tomorrow morning." Erika smiled, hesitated for a moment, and then continued, "Regardless of whatever secrets you have, if there comes a day, please remember my request... Greet my parents for me."

She gazed into the amber depths of Colin's green eyes as if a mist was accumulating.

Colin's lips moved slightly, but in the end, he just watched silently as Erika entered the neighbouring stone house.

'The original owner doesn't have any secrets to help with advancement...' he shook his head, opening the wooden door behind him.

In the beginning, he wanted to explain to Erika, but after much hesitation, he ended up not saying a word.

He understood that even if he spoke, Erika wouldn't believe him.

And if she did, it would only bring more pain to Erika.

He could see that Erika was heading to the Dark Forest with a determination to face almost certain death.

He felt that Erika probably knew deep down that the original owner didn't possess any secret to help advance.

She just needed a glimmer of hope to cling onto...

Colin entered the house, locked the wooden door, and turned around. In the moonlight, he saw a large, broken diagram on the floor, drawn with an unknown substance that seemed like blood.

Seeing this diagram, he sighed once again.

"The original owner doesn't have any secrets to help with advancement...

It's just a ritual that cost him his life."