The sound of water dripping from the ceiling echoed through the quiet interior of the cave. Only Flynn and Leonardo were there.
They had ventured quite a distance from the main procession, winding their way through the cave’s side paths. While they wouldn’t get lost—thanks to the sensor left at the gathering point—Flynn was debating whether he should stop Leonardo, who kept heading deeper and deeper.
Leonardo floated flaming orbs on either side, casting light into the darkness. Then, he pulled a piece of paper from his inner pocket and began comparing it to the minerals embedded in the rocky walls, clearly searching for something.
From time to time, he would draw the dagger from his waist, dig into the rock to extract a mineral, and mark something down on the paper. Flynn watched silently, following him step by step.
Huh? The footsteps...?
Suddenly, Flynn noticed that only one set of footsteps echoed through the cave. Curious, he paused for a moment—and sure enough, even though Leonardo was still walking ahead, not a sound came from his steps.
Then, as if sensing the silence behind him, Leonardo immediately turned around. Flynn had assumed he wasn’t paying attention, but clearly, he’d been listening to the footsteps all along.
After a moment of blank staring, Leonardo turned back and resumed walking. Flynn hastened to catch up.
They say the Armsilvers don’t even make footfalls... Impressive.
As the thought crossed his mind, Leonardo suddenly came to a halt. Flynn stopped as well.
A faint smile briefly crossed Leonardo’s lips before vanishing. His gaze was fixed on a particularly soft, glowing blue mineral embedded in the rock.
Without hesitation, he floated closer to the cave wall, removed the glove from his right hand, and gripped his dagger. Then, hovering in the air, he pressed himself against the stone and drove the blade deep into the rock.
After a few firm strikes, the embedded mineral dislodged and dropped into his palm.
Landing lightly on the ground, Leonardo raised the gem toward the nearest flame. The blue crystal shimmered as light passed through it—Flynn recognized it. It was a rare substance, if not highly rare, at the very least uncommon.
Leonardo had likely known about it from the beginning. He’d mentioned visiting the peninsula before—and apparently, that had been the truth.
Without delay, Leonardo took out a pen from his mage robe, jotted something on his paper, and slipped the mineral into a small pouch tied to his wrist. Then, he stared down at the pen in his hand, glanced toward Flynn, and held it out.
“Thanks for the pen. It came in handy.”
“Ah... yeah.”
It was the same pen Flynn had lent him during the operation briefing. Caught off guard by the gratitude, Flynn nodded, slightly dazed, and accepted it.
It was the first exchange of words between them since setting out alone. Leonardo’s hand brushed Flynn’s briefly as he returned the pen—warm, as expected.
Then, picking up the paper again, Leonardo looked around and resumed walking deeper into the cave. Flynn followed and casually asked,
“What are you going to use the minerals for?”
Leonardo, still inspecting the cave wall, paused and glanced back. Flynn blinked. For a second, it seemed like a smile crept across Leonardo’s refined features—but it quickly vanished into his usual blank expression.
“Why do you need to know?”
Flynn’s face soured slightly. He had made a genuine effort to strike up a conversation, only to receive a cool, evasive reply wrapped in a smile. It felt like the warmth he had imagined between them was nothing more than his own illusion. He quietly regretted giving the pen back.
Flynn still hadn’t resolved his feelings about Teo—or rather, Leonardo Blaine—the man who had deceived him in the Frost Territory.
He knew full well Leonardo hadn’t had a choice. But even so, he had wanted to believe their bond in that final moment, when they’d parted in the square, had been real.
The problem was, he couldn’t distinguish where Teo’s act had ended and Leonardo’s sincerity had begun.
And honestly, he didn’t understand why the Commander had paired him with Leonardo in the first place. He thought they would’ve gone separate ways by now. Being around him like this—well, «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» it was awkward, to say the least.
So when he got that cold response, Flynn turned his head away, silently vowing never to start a conversation again. Leonardo noticed but said nothing and returned to his search.
A few steps later, still not turning his gaze, Leonardo suddenly spoke loud enough for Flynn to hear.
“I’m going to make an amp stone.”
Flynn turned back toward him. There was no one else here—so those words were definitely meant for him.
“You’re making an amp?”
“Yeah.”
Leonardo answered casually while surveying the wall again. Then, as if spotting another mineral, he floated over, pried it free, and tossed it to Flynn. Flynn reflexively caught the small gem with both hands.
“Take care of that. It’d fetch a fortune outside.”
Leonardo flashed a grin and moved on. Flynn looked down at the mineral in his palm, then closed his fingers around it and followed after him.
An amp, simply put, was an amplifier. The target of amplification could be electricity, sound—or mana. And Flynn was almost certain Leonardo’s goal was mana amplification.
Many scholars had researched mana amplification over the years, but most catalysts broke under the pressure of mana flow, limiting their output.
If a catalyst managed to last even a bit longer than average, its price soared to absurd heights. That’s why some magic users directly harvested minerals, enchanted them, and created amp stones for themselves.
Flynn assumed Leonardo was one of those types. After all, the mineral in question was indeed suited for such a purpose. Though it expanded mana effectively, it lacked durability—still, it was rare and costly.
But something about Leonardo’s reasoning didn’t sit right with Flynn. Giving in to curiosity, he asked impulsively,
“But why do you even need an amp? Your mana’s already strong—you don’t need help.”
Leonardo, who had been drifting further ahead, paused and looked back again. After a moment of thought, he reached for the black choker half-concealed under his collar and tapped it lightly.
“Because of this.”
Flynn fell silent.
He was aware of the choker. During the Council’s briefing, it had been mentioned. Even if Leonardo hadn’t said it aloud, he clearly knew Flynn already understood what it was.
That object—believed to be issued by the military—suppressed mana. Not to the extreme degree of full mana-sealing stones, but significantly nonetheless.
“With this on, I can’t use my mana properly.”
Though his tone was neutral, Flynn couldn’t help but feel the weight behind the words. Sensing that, Leonardo—who had been holding his gaze—suddenly approached and slung an arm over his shoulders like an old friend.
“All right, enough questions. I’ve answered plenty, so don’t sulk anymore, okay?”
Flynn was completely flustered. Dumbfounded, he stared as Leonardo leaned in. Despite the damp, musty air of the peninsula cave, he caught a faint scent—clean and sun-dried.
He found himself momentarily mesmerized by Leonardo’s long lashes and translucent skin. Then, snapping back to reality, Flynn recalled his words and flared up.
“When was I ever sulking?”
“When? You’ve been pouting ever since Agrizendro paired us up.”
Leonardo’s pinpoint accuracy made Flynn’s face flush crimson, his guarded thoughts laid bare. Leonardo chuckled softly, clearly amused.
Seeing the slight lift at the corners of his lips, Flynn was suddenly reminded of Teo’s smile—the one from their parting in the square. That soft curve of the eyes, the genuine warmth...
Flynn looked at it quietly, then turned away and focused forward, lips pressed tight.
Because he had to admit it—whether it was Teo or Leonardo—he had wished for him to be well. Had hoped they’d meet again someday, if fate allowed. And that feeling hadn’t changed.
So he couldn’t deny it: he genuinely wanted to get along with him.
“...”
At that moment, an unfamiliar sound echoed from deep within the cave. Neither monster cry nor natural noise, it was strange and hard to place. Flynn and Leonardo flinched simultaneously.
Flynn, eyes on the darkness, slowly lowered the arm draped over his shoulder and stepped in front of Leonardo.
“We should head back.”
Leonardo looked once more into the cave depths, then nodded without argument.
“Okay.”
