After entering the familiar enigmaticbuilding, he swiftly walked towards the center. Without hesitation, he threw the two booklets into the water, his eyes sparkling with expectations. Both techniques were of the earth grade. Thus, he wondered how good their fusion would be if his idea worked. Anyway, he had tranted copies of them already.


    In reaction, the waters swallowed the books and swirled, encasing them in powerful currents under the moon''s red glow. Soon, the painting-like covers turned into ink and nk pages, causing Adam to frown.


    "It''s not working," he muttered, all his excitement gone, leaving only disappointment on his face.


    As he prepared to depart, his heart heavy by the failed idea, bright light glowing with meaningful intent attracted his attention.


    Swiftly turning, he gazed at the calligraphic light-made words with renewed anticipation, feeling hope wasn''t lost yet. After a minute, various parts of the text shed against each other, trying to merge despite their difference and rejection. However, he noticed some seeded after finding their perfect partner.


    Soon, amidst a silent, radiant disy of red, green, blue, brown, and silver, a countdown appeared above the torrential cocoon.


    [Time required for the fusion: seven days.]


    ''Why so long?'' He thought, his brows raised in shock. There were only two possibilities: the resulting technique was formidable and required that long, or the pool had troublebining concepts instead of weapons.


    After thinking about it briefly, he said, "As long as it works, I don''t mind waiting."


    Then, he left the intricate building, returning to his room for the rest of the night to think about Morgane''s revtions.


    Two minutester, hey on his bed, gazing at the different styles of buildings surrounding the za with a theory. If his lodging was a faithful reproduction of his apartment, did it mean every other building sheltered a summoned?


    "If I''m right, our number is scary," he said, gulping audibly. He wasn''t an expert, but with howrge the circle''s circumference was, he believed they were in the tens of thousands or even more.


    Yet, he smiled a secondter, anticipating their awakening. After all, Morgane said they would recover their memories at thirteen, and she didn''t seem to have ess to a system, prompting him to draft two more theories.


    ''''Either I''m the only one possessing one, or their system will activate with their memories,'' he pondered briefly before eliminating the first option. With the little girl''s description, he realised the better potential than the nobles she referred to was most likely rted to their interface.


    With a joyful smile, he swiped the za onest time, hope filling his chest, when he suddenly saw the hateful tower. With a frown, he hurriedly rose to his feet, searching for a cardboard. Then, he grabbed a pen and wrote in bold letters, "Don''t enter this ce if you are not ready to die."


    Satisfied with his work, he left his room and ced his warning before the tower''s gigantic white gates before returning, proud of his selfless action. Despite not knowing them, he couldn''t bring himself to see them cluelessly walk into the trials and suffer as he did.


    Now that he had nothing to do, he closed his eyes to leave the dream ce, knowing Julius would be awake already with how punctual he was.


    ***


    A secondter, his dim eyes ignited with fierce lights as theynded on the boy and three women sitting in the living room.


    "Good morning!" He said with a smile, curious about what they discussed this early in the morning. Yet, Julius'' panicked gaze and bitter smile caused him to frown.


    "Bad news, big bro. The soul reapers reported human movement around the canyon''s entrance this morning," said the boy, worry filling his voice.


    "Why is it bad news for us?" Adam asked, tilting his head in confusion. If people wanted to explore this ominous canyon, why should they care?


    "They wear Belloria''s royal mage''s uniforms and are most likely looking for me," Morgane answered, biting her lips in guilt. She didn''t hide their tracks at all, hiring the mage manning Highvale''s Gate. With how corrupt he was, she didn''t doubt he sold her whereabouts the moment Thorian offered him gold.


    Everyone fell silent, understanding they couldn''t return to Belloria if Morgane apanied them. If the Ashford family could monitor every gate and ship leaving the country for years, they had no doubts the king could do much worse.


    A tense silence settled in the room for five minutes as everyone''s brain raced to find a solution to return to the college until Adam spoke again.


    "We can try to use a Gate from the Aurora kingdom," Adam offered, believing they wouldn''t control them as thoroughly as Belloria.


    "We can try, but they''ll probably search for me, too," answered Morgane, her heart heavy and eyes cracking.


    Upon seeing how regretful she felt, with her head down, shoulders slumped, and voice, Adam said, "Don''t feel guilty. You are part of the team, so we''ll do our best to help you." Then, with a warm smile, he added, "In the worst case, we''ll hide in this city until they drop their vignce."


    Everyone nodded supportingly, causing the girl''s heart to warm and tears of gratitude to well in her eyes. "Thank you," she said, vowing to repay the duo''s kindness and help.


    Yet, as everything seemed to go on the right track, she noticed Adam''s expression shift to uneasiness.


    ''It''s not the right moment, but I''ll tell her now before she learns it from someone else,'' he thought, unwilling to face any unforeseen situation using Rachel to influence the girl.


    With resolved eyes and a deep sigh, Adam said, "You were born in the Riverwood barony. Your mother was amoner named Rachel."


    After hearing the information, the girl''s eyes widened in shock, wondering how he knew them. Yet, she didn''t expect what happened next.


    "She died, murdered by a knight named Max after he took you away," he added before closing his eyes briefly. Then, reaffirming his determination and chasing his misced guilt away, admitted. "I met her three days after she turned evil and... I killed her."


    Silence descended in the room as everyone''s eyes bulged at the revtion but Julius'', who shook his head in sadness.