I walked into the mine. Connor did not move to stop me. I presumed that meant it was fine to do so.


    Alice’s attack had more or less killed the fish. The mine’s defenses hadn’t exactly repaired themselves, but there weren’t any holes anymore. Just a very, very thin layer of mana.


    I stepped through it. The layer did not stop me. I barely even felt it. The inside of the mine wasn’t really that different. For a second it felt like there was a breeze blowing in here, but that disappeared as soon as I noticed it.


    Of course, I walked further inside. The mine grew a bit darker, though it was barely enough to make a difference. I could feel the amount of mana increase as I went further in, especially as the mine grew smaller.


    The thing was now just wide enough for two people. There were stones on the walls that attracted my attention, but I kept walking forward. The ones here were too small for me to actually learn anything from. I just didn’t have a strong enough mana sense for that yet.


    There would be bigger ones further in.


    The mine grew smaller still as I walked, growing just a bit darker and narrower with every step. In minutes, I had to crouch, avoiding some rather sharp stones emerging from the walls beside me.


    The walls themselves were dark things, barely visible in this lighting. Perhaps that was why it was so annoying to walk here. I could barely see anything, and kept walking into the rather sharp walls.


    I stopped after a few minutes, looking at the stone that was cutting into my skin. A strange shape with many sharp edges. Of course, I knew what it was. An air crystal. The reason the mines were so valuable in the first place.


    There was mana within it, more than a hundred bolts worth. But it was far from full. No, I could feel that it would take far more mana before it would be anywhere close to it.


    But how was that even possible?


    The crystal grew in size along with its mana. If it had space for more mana, then it meant that some mana had already been used. Where would the mana have—the spell. I looked back, trying to see if I was right.


    I saw a slow flow of mana towards the entrance, a flow I knew had been much stronger just moments before. Alice’s spell had caused mana to rush outwards. That had emptied the air crystals. Now the crystals would likely take longer to be ready.


    This was why the royal knights did not want us to cast large spells. The spells caused the mana of the crystals to rush out. That was nice to know, I suppose.


    I moved forward, not paying them any more attention. The mine grew even narrower. I was beginning to wonder how much longer I would be able to fit inside it. Perhaps I should turn back. But something kept me from doing so. Perhaps it was just curiosity. Or it was a sense that there was more to see.


    A breeze began to blow across my face. I paused, warily observing my surroundings at the change, but it was just a breeze. A breeze in a mine under a lake. But I supposed it was an air crystal mine, so it was fine.


    I walked forward once more. With each step, it was as if my steps grew lighter. I could feel it now. The Air mana around me. Wait. I had felt mana in that air crystal too. Even though that had to be Air mana, something I should not be able to sense.


    Sensing mana of elements other than those one had an affinity with wasn’t supposed to be possible. That mana just wasn’t interested in you, and it would not go into your mind. And as long as mana did not enter one’s mind, it was not visible. Now it was a different matter if it was being used in a spell. The Local Mana System had rules for that.


    But here I was. The same thing had happened in the Forest of Tragedy. I had been able to sense Darkness mana even though I had not awakened it. Not back then.


    I kept on walking, more than a bit wary of my surroundings. There was still so much I did not know about this place. The more I found out, the more it looked like something strange was going on here.


    The wind grew stronger as I walked, blowing through my hair as it brushed against mine’s ceiling. The mine grew even smaller. I got down onto my knees and began crawling. An act made far more difficult by the mana crystals that continued to poke at me. But I did continue.


    I wanted to know if I was right. This place reminded me of the Forest of Tragedy. Did that mean that it was the same?


    The walls of the mine grew smoother even as the air crystals grew larger. There was almost a glow about them now. Not an actual glow, but a gathering of power that seemed to shine to my mana senses. Set as they were against the walls, it looked like they were showing me a path into the cave.


    I could even sense them working. No, working was the wrong word. But they were changing the environment just by existing. This part of the mine I had reached was not like the half full air crystals outside. This place had not had crystals taken from it in years. There was more mana gathered here than I dared estimate.


    The wind blew strongly against me as I felt its power. Mana sang as it ruffled through my hair, getting into my clothes as if it did not care that we were still underwater. For a second it felt like I was enjoying the breeze on a hill station instead of crawling in an underwater mine.


    That was the effect of these air crystals.


    The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    I was sure there were even larger ones inside. More mana gathered in an even smaller space. A gathering of Air mana just like the Forest of Tragedy had been a gathering of Darkness mana.


    Perhaps if I continued forward I would find myself facing a test for Air mana, just as I had faced one of Darkness.


    The wind blew against my ears as if agreeing with me. I would not put it past it. The Air mana was sure to be listening to my thoughts after all. I supposed that did answer my question.


    If I stepped further, I could take another test and try to awaken Air mana.


    Or die trying.


    sc


    The City Lord’s mansion in the City Under a Lake.


    Three men sat around a very long table, two of them glaring at each other like they were wondering how to kill each other.


    “Are you two going to continue this foolishness the entire time we are here?” the City Lord asked, sounding bored and annoyed at the same time.


    “This bastard still refuses -”


    “Now, now Rom,” the City Lord interrupted. “Did I not tell you how to speak in my presence?”


    Rom through a hate filled glance at the City Lord. “Of course, my lord. The Respected Head of the Alchemist Guild still refuses to admit -”


    “Why would I admit to such idiotic—cough -” the Head of the Alchemist Guild broke into a coughing fit, unable to finish his words.


    “Now now, Ewan, I think it would be better if you just took care of your health rather than annoying old Rom here.” the City Lord said.


    “And if I may remind the two of you, that we are here to discuss something other than your fights? This meeting has been called to discuss the presence of another Rank 3 in the city, and whether he does, in fact, represent the House of Fire.”


    The two Guild Heads turned to City Lord, staring at him expectantly.


    “What?”


    “If someone was going to know who he was, it would be you.” Rom pointed out.


    “The House of Life does have a great reach.” Ewan added, looking like he had swallowed something bitter. “And my lord happens to have some connections within the royal knights.”


    A frown appeared on the City Lord’s face, his eyes narrowing slightly before his expression returned to normal.


    “I fear that our royal allies have decided to remain silent on this matter,” he stated.


    “I don’t see what you want us to do then.” Rom shrugged. “If the royal knights aren’t talking to you, then they aren’t gonna talk to us.”


    “Does the House of Wind and Water not have a reputation?” the City Lord asked.


    Rom just stared at him. “There are plenty of people that talk about us, sure.”


    The City Lord raised an eyebrow. “I speak, of course, of your tendency to know things that you should not. Perhaps you have something you would care to share with us?”


    “No.” the Head of the Adventurer’s Guild replied. “Not really. I already told you what I know. And I am not exactly connected to the rest of my House. I don’t have friends like yours, my lord.”


    “But if I were to point fingers, I would say that the Respected Head of the Alchemist Guild is the one you should ask,” he continued. “After all, the timing of some events is rather suspicious, is it not?”


    The City Lord turned to look at Ewan, though his expression remained the same. “Do you have something to add then?”


    “I was simply lucky that a boy was able to awaken to Light mana.” Ewan protested. “That is all. I do not see what is so suspicious about it.”


    “The fact that he awakened just in time to save you? Or that it happened right after a Rank 3 entered the lake? Perhaps the House of Earth decided to make a deal with the House of Fire.?”


    Ewan scoffed. “Do not be foolish Rom. I am aware of your tendency to be…overly suspicious of matters, but even you should realize that such a thing would be foolishness. This land is the royal family’s. The House of Earth would not dare do such a thing.”


    “Oh I doubt you would -”


    “Please, please.” the City Lord clutched his head with his hand, looking like he was having a headache.


    “ There is a new Rank 3 in this little town of ours. And we have to know what we should do about him.”


    “Why would we do anything?” Ewan asked. “Just let him do as he wishes. There is little need for us to interfere.”


    “What? Have you lost your brain old man?! A Rank 3 could end up causing a great deal of trouble in this town. And if we do not interfere, then who will? The city guard?” Rom slammed his hands on the table, looking like he wanted to attack Ewan.


    “I think you are just worried that you will lose your own Guild.” Ewan began.


    A cold aura spread across the room making both the Guild Heads turn quiet and look at each other.


    “Did I not ask you two to behave?


    “Of course, City Lord.” Ewan said, still smiling.


    “There is more.” the City Lord continued. “A royal knight’s daughter has escaped into the city.”


    “What?” Rom yelled.


    The City Lord waved him down. “The girl is just a Rank 1 and poses little threat. The issue is the boy. The Rank 3 helped her against one of my own guards. I suspect he might even have known her.”


    “Why would that matter?” Ewan questioned.


    “The boy is also a royal.” Rom noted, catching on.


    “Yes.” the City Lord nodded. “There are those among the royal knights who would see our Houses removed from this city.”


    “And you think this is their plan?” Ewan asked.


    “Perhaps, perhaps not. There is much politics even within the royal knights.”


    “What do you want us to do?” Rom demanded.


    “Oh, you? I would simply have you attend a gathering. With every awakened you can gather. Bring that light mana boy of yours. I am sure he will prove interesting.”


    “A party. You are going to hold a party.” Rom stated.


    “Not a party, Rom. A gathering. A get-together. To welcome royalty into our little city.”


    The City Lord smiled, and he was joined by Ewan. Rom looked like he had eaten something bad.