The mountain path narrowed.
Stone replaced soil.
Wind carried a colder tone.
Lior raised his hand.
"From this point onward, we may encounter monsters."
The students straightened instantly.
"Remember," Lior continued, voice firm, "always attack from behind when possible. Direct strikes — heart or head. Don't waste Viora."
Weapons shifted in hands.
Breathing slowed.
Yura frowned slightly.
"…Why does Viora feel different here?"
She closed her eyes briefly.
"I can resonate… but it's faint. It doesn't spread properly."
Luna stepped forward calmly.
"In the kingdoms, Viora is distributed through Beacon lamps and resonance channels. It flows constantly across the infrastructure."
She touched the stone wall of the mountain.
"Out here, it's raw. Unassisted. You must rely on your own stability."
A student muttered, "So Empresses and Emperors don't even provide equal access to Viora either?"
The air grew awkward.
Lior glanced at him.
"They provide what they can. But not everyone lives with the comfort you do."
His tone wasn't harsh.
Just real.
Then he turned.
"Shura. What's your opinion?"
Silence.
Lior blinked.
Adrian.
Also gone.
Yura stiffened.
"…They were right behind us."
Lior exaggerated a dramatic gasp.
"Oh no. Two students missing. What a tragedy."
The class stared at him.
"Wait… what?"
He waved it off lightly.
"No need to worry. Adrian is one of the most brilliant students here."
A student squinted.
"…Then why are you spreading Viora across the mountain?"
Lior grinned.
"Habit."
He clapped once.
"Let's keep walking."
Another student panicked suddenly.
"Wait! They didn't bring food!"
Yura rolled her eyes slightly.
"Shura has food. He just didn't use the relic container."
The group moved deeper between the mountains.
The view opened.
Massive stone ridges curved unnaturally, like frozen waves.
One student stared upward.
"How… did mountains even form?"
Luna answered calmly:
"The world's crust is not rigid. Beneath us, heat circulates. Above us, weight presses downward. When force accumulates and cannot fracture outward… it folds inward. Mountains are not built. They are compressed."
Silence.
The students blinked.
"…What?"
Lior sighed dramatically.
"If Shura were here, he'd ask you to explain that for an entire Orynth."
Luna smiled slightly.
A student whispered to Yura, "When do you think Lior and Luna will marry?"
Yura stared forward.
"I don't answer meaningless questions."
The girl leaned closer.
"I'm asking you."
She extended a hand.
"My name is Clara."
Yura nodded once.
"You live in the same class," Clara continued. "But I bet you don't know anyone."
"I don't like having friends."
Clara tilted her head.
"Adrian and Shura are exceptions?"
Yura didn't reply.
But her silence wasn't denial.
The Cave
After another long stretch, Lior stopped.
"It's been long enough. We'll rest."
"Where?" someone asked.
He pointed.
A cave entrance carved cleanly into the rock.
Inside — flat stone platforms, fire marks, carved shelves.
Clara blinked.
"It looks like people stay here."
"Not people," Lior corrected casually.
"Just me."
"…What?"
"I come here often. I know most of these paths."
Several students' eyes sparkled.
"That's so cool…"
Lior raised a hand.
"Everyone stay here. I'll be back."
"Where are you going?" Clara asked.
"To neutralize the surrounding area."
A pause.
"Or retrieve two wandering brats."
Luna gave him a steady look.
"No need to say it."
He nodded once.
"Take care," she added quietly.
This time, no one teased.
They understood.
Meanwhile — Lost
Far east of the main path—
Shura climbed a ridge confidently.
"If I'm right, you carry my bag for a week."
Adrian walked calmly behind him.
"I already told you. Follow the middle path, climb the eastern ridge. That's the fastest way."
Shura stopped.
"…You knew that?"
"Yes."
"Why didn't you say earlier?!"
"You didn't ask."
Shura stared at him in disbelief.
"You're impossible."
"And you're loud."
They continued walking.
Silence.
Then—
Shura squinted.
"…We're lost."
Adrian looked around.
The ridges curved unnaturally.
The path split into three identical slopes.
"…No," Adrian said slowly.
"We are… temporarily misaligned."
"That means lost."
They argued for a full five minutes.
Then both sat down on a flat rock.
Shura pulled out wrapped food from inside his coat.
Adrian stared.
"You actually brought food?"
"I'm not stupid."
"You didn't bring a weapon properly."
"I have legs. That's enough."
They ate quietly.
Wind passed between the ridges.
After a moment, Shura leaned back.
"You know… if a monster attacks right now, I'm blaming you."
Adrian took a calm bite.
"If a monster attacks right now, I'm using you as bait."
Shura gasped dramatically.
"Traitor."
Adrian smirked slightly.
It was rare.
But it was real.
Shura noticed.
"…You're smiling."
"No."
"You are."
"Finish eating."
Shura stood suddenly and stretched.
"Okay! New plan! We climb that ridge."
"Why?"
"Because it looks cool."
Adrian sighed.
"Every step with you is a mistake."
And yet—
He followed.