Deep inside Zerah forest, a room that no adventure knows about was filled with lights and colors, the everchanging colors of the wall due to light makes it seem like the room is alive,
In the middle of this room, Ryu was sitting, channeling his mana in the same glyph Snow left behind for him.
'Just a bit more!! I can do it!!' Ryu thought as he pushed his mana further into the glyph. The light radiating from the glyph got stronger almost blinding,
It had been six months since he came back from the expedition quest and had diligently channeled his mana in the glyph without missing a single day finally, he was near to conquering the whole glyph and the glyph was reacting brilliantly after being so close to completion,
'I won't lose today!!' Ryu focused all his consciousness on his mana. The number of glyphs left untouched was just 0.90% but it was like a huge wall was stopping his mana from reaching the completion of the glyph,
'There is a gap' Ryu felt it and soon his whole being become calm he gently moved his mana feeling the gap that he found, the part that Ryu did not know was that the gap is not in the glyph it was a gap within his mana pool, with the basic thought of expanding gap he directs his mana towards the gap,
Like a drop falling from the tap, the mana began reaching the other side of the gap.
'More… more' Ryu thought as he increases the pressure of his mana and soon gap began expanding, the lights in the room were having more variation in color now, the artist would dream of the brilliance the colors were created in the room to be turned into art if they witnessed it,
'Done!!' Ryu felt the gap was no longer there the mana was transferring freely to the other side not finding any gap or wall now even with maximum expansion, and the glyph was finally filled with his mana overall just as he was about to open his eyes he felt it,
'It is all flowing back!!' the mana that used to belong to the mana crystal as well his own mana was flowing back inside him, an ecstatic fulfilling, and empowering feeling took over Ryu as the mana coming from the crystal was enhancing and expanding his mana pool further lost in this feeling, he would've rested his body but a soft and caring voice entered in his ears,
"Ryu" he couldn't believe his ears, the voice he hadn't heard in the last 2 years,
'Is she here… Snow' he was overwhelmed with emotions as he slowly opened his eyes,
"Had been 3 years" Snow, who suddenly appeared in front of him, spoke in the same gentle and caring voice,
'A Hologram' Ryu thought as he noticed the transparency of the Snow and was again in awe at her talent and also emotional for being able to see her even if hologram after 2 years.
"Congratulations, you are an Archmage rank now!" the hologram gives a small thumbs-up. Ryu finally stood up on his legs, even though he knew that Snow could not hear it. He still spoke in a low voice,
"thanks to you…" and the hologram started speaking further with a slight hint of dissatisfaction,
"Shame only this small part can be hologram glyph. Can't praise you enough… listen carefully. "
Ryu was already giving his best attention to Snow's hologram, and the hologram spoke again after waiting a bit with a serious but kind voice.
"Ryu as you have reached Archmage level there is not much as a mage you can gain in Zerah town, and also Felicia has already told you about the state the world is in, and I know you will have to grow strong… more than me… more than others," saying this hologram's face was nostalgic as Snow was remembering what Light Goddess Estelle said about Ryu that night, they escaped from Epnir,
"This is something only Lina big sister is allowed to tell you… so even though I want to, I cannot, but getting manifest is already a sign… you must set your feet out of Zerah for once, become an adventurer go and conquer dungeons… I have left a glyph and spell book for the archmage in Lana's care to give you when you come asking for it… it will help you with basics but after that, you have to make your own way… as an archmage, I am assured you will be able to take care of yourself in the outside world and I can be at ease while saying," the Hologram stopped talking and give a cheerful happy and longing smile as it spoke,
"Come to me before I come back to Zerah town Ryu… I will make Snowflake party's name known enough you find easily" with that the Hologram disappeared, Ryu's heart was filled with warmth as he remembers the kindness and love he received from Snow,
The glyph on the ground suddenly lit up once again and rose above slowly detaching itself from the ground Ryu understand instantly what was happening.
"Snow never ceases to surprise," he thought as he understood that the whole glyph was made out of powdered mana crystal-like chalk and the glyph become smaller and brighter finally ending up being absorbed in Ryu's body as well, he felt warmth as if he was hugged by Snow like past,
He made his way out of the tree room and started moving in the direction of Zerah town. Somehow, he did not feel like rushing out today. He wanted to feel every step he took toward home,
"Got you today!!" a voice came from the side of Ryu. Mamo was happy his plan was successful.
'Of course, it couldn't be that he every day slips out of our hands!!' he thought as he grabbed Ryu from the side giving him a bear hug of sorts, and it could really be considered a bear hug comparing size difference of Mamo and Ryu and also Mamo's chubby build,
"Mamo… what happened!?" Ryu asked confused,
"I would not let you leave today!! Register in Adventurer guild, it had been a year since you become able to register! I cannot see you wasting all those monsters' bodies that could be cashed or help in medicine making!!"
"Hear me for a sec…" Ryu tried speaking, but before he could, the girl from their party spoke in a sudden loud voice,
"Nooo!! The deposit counter lady is concerned and also leaving bodies behind just because you can not give them to the guild is bad… although we give them and took coins but still it is bad and also Ryu is talented it is being wasted and I believe you will be a good adventurer," she was blushing now and suddenly did not what to speak and started crying,
"I am sorry… I shouted" she apologized, and Mamo blamed Ryu in a pitiful sound,
"See, you made her sad! Register in Guild already" and now Ryu was feeling pissed off he never intended to make her cry and also they weren't giving him a chance to speak, and he shouted.
"I am saying I was already going to register today!! But you guys won't let me speak!? How can you people expect conversation and convincing if you wouldn't let another person speak?" seeing Ryu as this, Mamo thought,
'Did we overdid it?' and lightened his grip, letting Ryu free himself as Ryu felt pouty as he wanted to shout,
'You guys spoiled it!! the serene mood, the warmth, and the slow mood I have to enjoy every step till home!!' but he held back,
"I will go home and tomorrow I will register in adventurer's guild myself… sorry for my outburst Mamo and party," Ryu said with an expressionless face as he knew that what Mamo did was not with bad intent as he was a jolly good person, therefore, he did not want to show more disappointment on his face because it would make Mamo and his party more guilty,
"Ryu tomorrow…" before Mamo could speak any further Ryu used [Quickening] and [Silent stepping II] to rush out of the forest,
'Was I too quick to leave?' Ryu thought as he opened the home door, and Lina, who was in the kitchen area, smiled but soon her expression was replaced with shock as she noticed Ryu's body emitting an amount of mana that was incomparable to a mage rank.
'Archmage?' she thought and spoke with a confused expression,
"Ryu, your mana is leaking" and Ryu noticed that he was indeed leaking mana and held it back even if [Hide & Seek] can hide the mana within the body. The mana being emitted cannot be hidden as of now,
"What I am thinking is it true?" Lina asked with a shine in her eyes.
"Yes, mom I become an Archmage due to the amazing help of Snow,"
Lina's emotions were a mess. She was happy her child reached the realm she reached at 18 years old at such a young age, but at the same time she knew it was a sign that her little child will soon leave to grow more,
'I will not be like my father!! I won't hold him back…' Lina thought as she felt greedy to keep her child near her where she could see him regularly and make sure of his safety, she smiled more brightly as she remembered the time, he was named by Goddess Estelle,
'Ryu Rivera my and Ralph's child'
"Ryu, what do you want to eat tonight? it is a treat to celebrate you becoming an archmage," Lina asked, and Ryu reflexively answered
"Anything is fine, just make some patate frytaki too!!"
"Sure look forward to it," Lina said and Ryu smiled as she called her the best mother in the world as he rushed upstairs to Lana sister's room.
"What happened Ryu? You seem to be in a rush?" Lana asked seeing Ryu, who rushed inside her room.
"Lana sister, I want it! the Snow sister's book," Ryu answered, smiling, and Lana, without saying anything, opened the drawer at the side of her bed on the lamp stool.
"It seems you are finally ready as Snow said," Lana stated as she handed over a brown covered diary-like thin book to Ryu.
Ryu took a look at the contents as he spoke.
"Lana sister, tomorrow I will finally be an adventurer… I have decided to register" and Lana replied without much thought,
"But tomorrow Adventurer Guild is close… actually, for a week after today?" Ryu at first did not hear what she said as he was skimming through the contents of the book, but once he did he couldn't help as he spoke.
"Ehhh? Why though? A whole week?"
-To be continued
