The field practice officially began. The tranquil atmosphere of the forest on the outskirts of the capital was instantly transformed by the chaotic thundering of footsteps.
The students began to scatter in every direction, pushing through thickets and underbrush in search of monsters that would serve as proof for today's assignment.
Deep within the lush foliage, several academy supervisors moved silently. They were trained mages tasked with monitoring every student's movement from the shadows to prevent fatal incidents. However, one supervisor's concealment tactics failed miserably when he crossed paths with Arvin.
Arvin came to a halt, turning toward an empty spot behind a massive tree with a gaze that seemed to pierce through the supervisor's very soul.
"Stop following us!" Arvin said casually, yet the mana pressure he radiated felt incredibly heavy. "I can protect Allen and myself. I've known of your presence since the beginning, and I certainly don't need help with low-class monsters. If you dare to shadow us again, I'll make sure you go home in a coffin!"
Hearing that cold, deadly threat, the supervisor felt the hair on the back of his neck stand up. Realizing that the student before him was no ordinary noble, he had no choice but to abandon his post. He decided to distance himself and stop monitoring the pair altogether.
Allen, standing beside Arvin, could only offer a wry smile. He knew his husband's temperament well when it came to his desire for privacy.
He really doesn't want anyone else knowing this secret. Allen muttered to himself, stifling a laugh. He recalled the days before they were married, when Arvin would often throw similar cold, sharp glares. When he used to look at me like that, I'd shrink back in fear instantly.
The married couple continued their journey through the increasingly dense wilderness. They pressed forward, moving further away from the city walls until the voices of the other students could no longer be heard.
As they entered a deeper zone of the forest, the atmosphere changed drastically. An eerie silence enveloped the air, broken only by the occasional flapping of wings from birds in the distance. Allen immediately entered combat-ready mode, his hands poised to cast a spell should any danger suddenly emerge.
In stark contrast, Arvin walked casually while holding Allen's hand, as if he were enjoying a romantic date in the middle of a peaceful city park.
A few moments later, Arvin stopped abruptly. Allen halted beside him, his breath hitching slightly.
"My husband, have we arrived?" Allen asked, scanning their surroundings warily.
"Yes, we're here!" Arvin answered firmly, pointing ahead. "Look at that. Those two fallen trees are the markers!"
Before them, two large tree trunks lay side by side, covered in thick moss that indicated they had been there for a very long time. Arvin guided Allen closer.
"Let's step over these trees four times together!"
Without question, Allen followed his husband's instructions. They held hands tightly and stepped over the fallen trunks four times in perfect synchronization.
Zap!
In the blink of an eye, the green forest scenery around them vanished. Allen's eyes widened, stunned by the environmental shift that happened so fast it made his head spin.
The place that was previously a wilderness had transformed into a strange, enclosed space. They were no longer beneath the blue sky, but inside an ancient structure that looked magnificent yet long abandoned.
"M-My Husband..." Allen whispered, looking left, right, and up at the high ceiling above. "Where are we, exactly?"
"Right now, we are in an ancient ruin that has been buried underground for thousands of years." Arvin replied casually, as if he were merely explaining the weather. "Those two trees were the hidden entrance. Let's head deeper in, Allen!"
Allen simply nodded in agreement, though his heart was still racing with awe. Keeping a firm grip on his husband's hand, he walked through the silent corridors of the ruins.
"My Husband?" Allen called out again, breaking the silence of the hallway.
"Yes, what is it, Allen?"
"It should be pitch black in here since we're underground, right? So, why is there still bright light illuminating our path?" Allen asked, confused.
"That's because this place is filled with magic crystals that emit natural light!" Arvin explained the phenomenon that made the ruin walls shimmer. "Instead of letting someone else find them later, please help me collect all the magic crystals here, okay?"
"Of course, My Husband!" Allen answered without hesitation, filled with excitement.
They continued deeper into the heart of the ruins. A few minutes later, they stopped in front of a massive, tightly closed double gate. The door was made of a dark metal decorated with intricate carvings.
Arvin let go of Allen's hand for a moment and stepped toward a part of the wall that looked ordinary.
Click!
Arvin's hand pressed a hidden button camouflaged among the ancient carvings. Shortly after...
Grrrkkkk...
The massive, heavy door creaked loudly, the vibration rattling the floor beneath their feet. The sound of metal grinding, unopened for thousands of years, echoed powerfully, filling every corner of the silent room.
Allen stood frozen, completely amazed by the ancient mechanism that still functioned perfectly. However, that amazement quickly turned into profound admiration for his husband.
I never would have imagined my husband could find a secret place like this in the past! He is truly amazing and can remember every secret and hidden location in this world with such precision! Allen thought proudly.
"Allen, don't just stand there dazing! Let's go inside!"
The sound of Arvin's voice broke his reverie. Allen snapped out of it and hurried toward his husband, who had already stepped through the gateway. However, as soon as he entered the room behind the gate, Allen froze once more. His eyes widened in disbelief at the sight before him.
"M-M-M-My Husband...." Allen called out, his voice trembling and catching in his throat from shock. "I-Is all of this real?"
Arvin smiled, satisfied with his spouse's reaction. "Everything you see here is reality, Allen!"