The morning mist on the seventh day was thinner than usual, as if the mountain itself was holding its breath, waiting for the outcome of a battle that had been delayed for far too long.
Elara took a deep breath, then looked at Sylveras, who was already prepared with a spell in hand. Their faces were no longer nervous. There was a matured resolve, forged through the failures and exhaustion of the past six days.
"If the plan fails… we improvise like always," muttered Sylveras, flashing a thin smile.
Elara replied with a nod. "Yeah. Today, we're going to defeat that annoying spirit."
The mist began to swirl.
A yellowish-green aura glowed from between the rocks. Mirtagos appeared, slowly spinning like a lazy whirlwind. He floated above them, eyes narrowing mischievously.
"Oooh~ Much neater today. Are you on a date duel or a dueling date?"
Sylveras raised both hands. "Let's just get started, you perverted mist spirit."
Mirtagos raised an eyebrow, grinning widely. "With pleasure~"
The battle began.
Elara opened with a light magic attack to break the concentration of mist around them, clearing pathways for Sylveras to move freely. Sylveras placed earthen circles at various points, each containing minor gravitational pull spells—a special trap meant to draw parts of Mirtagos's mist body if touched.
Mirtagos dodged with ease, laughing freely.
"Too bad~ too slow!"
But this time, they didn't chase him directly.
Elara focused her magic on a single point, filling the air with light particles that reflected signals around her—like a magical sonar. She could sense the flow of mana within the mist… and locate its core.
"Now!" she shouted.
Sylveras raised both hands, then slammed them into the ground.
An explosion from below—the gravity traps activated all at once.
Mirtagos had no time to dodge. For a moment, his misty form compacted, and that was enough for Elara to fire a beam of pure light directly at the core.
The beam pierced through.
The mist shuddered.
Mirtagos let out a soft cry—not of anger, but surprise. His body was blown back, then rose upward, reshaping his misty face with a glowing smile.
"Ah… my first touch~! It feels… sweet," he said dramatically, clutching his chest.
Sylveras shook his head hard. "You need spiritual therapy."
But Elara didn't laugh.
She stood still, both hands glowing, the light pulsing softly.
Her body trembled.
"Did I… really hit him?" she whispered, almost in disbelief.
"Not just hit," Mirtagos replied, now with a more serious tone. "For the first time… the two of you acted as one. One magic. One rhythm. And it… was beautiful."
Silence filled the air.
Mirtagos floated down slowly. The mist around him shrank, becoming softer, no longer suffocating.
"I think I've tested you enough," he said. "This training was never about strength… but about synchronization."
Elara and Sylveras exchanged looks.
For six days, they failed because they acted individually. But today—they moved like one spirit in two bodies.
"So," Mirtagos continued, spinning like a dancer, "as a reward… I'll share a secret about this mountain."
They stayed silent.
Mirtagos pointed to the sky.
"This place… is invisible from the sky. One of seven points that cannot be seen from above. This mist isn't just decoration. It's a boundary layer between worlds. A leftover from the Great War, left behind as a protective barrier of the old world. The eyes of the gods cannot penetrate it—not even the All-Seeing Eye."
Sylveras swallowed hard. Elara looked serious.
"In other words," Mirtagos whispered, "your training here… was never observed. But I could observe you, especially you, Lady Elara—ahem."
Elara growled. "One day, I'm going to kill you."
"Just kidding," replied Mirtagos. "Alright, now let's be serious."
For the first time… Mirtagos didn't smile. He spoke solemnly.
He vanished into the mist, leaving only his final words, echoing like a whisper:
"Use your time wisely. The outside world won't remain blind forever. The atmosphere of the underworld is starting to feel… strange."
Then they returned home.
Gorion did not greet them. He was sitting in the main room with a serious expression.
Sylveras asked, "What's wrong, Gorion?"
He answered, "Mirtagos talked too much, huh? Actually, things outside are in chaos. While you two were training, I attended several meetings of the magic council. Many strange phenomena have been happening, and it's all the work of the demons. But nothing as strong as the thirty-headed serpent from before.
Yes, and it's been two weeks without a single report of demon attacks. Honestly, I didn't want to tell you this yet, but Mirtagos went too far. I think that's enough for now. I'll contact the other two spirits.
You'll rest, but training continues tomorrow. No breaks. I'll tell you more when the time comes. You must stay focused on developing your magic. Even now, you're already this strong…"
Gorion muttered in his heart, analyzing silently.
They're both incredibly gifted. Ordinary humans and earth elves wouldn't improve this fast. In just two months, they've not only grown powerful—they're intelligent. Their battle IQ is remarkable. Where did this talent come from? Each of them is worth 350 soldiers now…
Then he spoke again, "For now, Elara, you're safe from the demons. They won't find you on this mountain. You're thinking about it, aren't you? Ever since Mirtagos said what he did?"
Elara replied, "Yes… I'm worried. There are many good creatures here on this mountain. I don't want them to be hurt. The animals live in peace, the goblins too, and even people from nearby villages who come to pick herbs or hunt… I don't want them to be harmed."
"The pendant I gave you… you still have it, right?"
"Yes. I always carry it, just in case."
"Good," said Gorion. "Oh, and I almost forgot—congratulations. You managed to defeat Mirtagos. Tomorrow, you'll face a different spirit. He's short-tempered and easily offended, so watch your words. I've prepared dinner. After a bath, eat and get some sleep."