Chapter 45.1: Solving the Mystery

Chapter 45.1: Solving the Mystery
When she saw that golden-haired man jumped across the wall, Isolde decided to just let it be because maybe tthe man is not really headed towards the place that she thinks he is headed.

She decided that she needs to rest already because tomorrow is the last day of the examination and that she needs to be in the best condition because it is a combat type of assessment.

And so, she tucked herself to bed however, an hour passed but still she cannot sleep - not even for a minute.

She kept tossing in her bed, her blankets now half on the floor and her thoughts louder than ever. Luckily, her brothers are fast asleep and that she hadn't woken then up from all her antics. Her window was still open just a little, letting in the cool night air, but her eyes stayed fixed on the direction the golden-haired man had vanished toward.

The possibility that he is headed towards the forest - the same forest the Spirit King showed her that she needs to look into, the same one that still made her feel cold every time she remembered its twisted trees.

Who was he?

Was he a student? A spy? Or maybe… a summoner? He didn’t wear the academy uniform, and he certainly didn’t act like someone worried about being caught. What if he was the reason the spirits asked for help?

What if he had something to do with the contamination?

With those sudden thoughts popped in her mind, she sat up but she made sure that she will not create unnecessary noise that will wake up her brothers.

Her hands clenched the edge of her blanket. She knew the right thing to do was to stay put. If she got caught sneaking out before even officially becoming a student, it could cause a scandal. It could hurt her father’s name. It could ruin everything.

But—

What if she never had this chance again? What if something worse will happen?

She stared at the window.

The wind rustled the curtains. The sky outside was quiet. No footsteps in the hallway. No flicker of torchlight near her door.

Just silence.

Her heart pounded in her ears.

“Just a little peek,” she whispered. “I’ll go, check what I can, then come back before sunrise.”

She got out of bed and quietly pulled her cloak over her nightclothes. She grabbed her boots, tied them tightly, and made sure her dagger was strapped safely to her side—not that she planned to use it, but just in case.

Then, moving as silently as she could, she opened her window wider, climbed out, and dropped gently onto the grass.

The academy grounds were still.

The only sounds were the chirping of crickets and the soft rustle of trees nearby. The lights near the faculty building were dimmed, and no patrols seemed to be circling at the moment.

She crouched low and walked close to the walls, making sure to stay in the shadows.

She made it to the outer wall of the academy and paused. Her heart was racing again. She had never done something like this before—at least, not since her days at the orphanage where she would sneak into the Matron’s storage room. Back then, it was for food for the younger kids who were starving because the portion wasn't always enough.

However, this time, it was for answers and for her peacae of mind

She took a deep breath, focused, and called a bit of wind under her feet. Nothing flashy—just enough to give her a push upward. With a careful jump, she grabbed onto the edge of the wall and pulled herself over.

On the other side was open land—tall grass, a narrow dirt path, and the gentle slope that eventually led to the forest in the far distance.

And right there, just ahead of her—

Footprints.

They were faint, but fresh.

Boot prints, deep enough to suggest speed. Not running, but not walking lazily either. And beside the prints, disturbed grass, small broken twigs, and the faintest trail of crushed leaves.

Isolde crouched and touched one of the prints.

This is recent, she thought. It has to be him.

Without another word, she followed silently.

\-

The night deepened as she walked. The moon provided enough light for her to see which is a good thing because as much as possible she doesn't waant to use magic that could possibly attract unnecessary attention and she also don't knoww whether or not the academy has a system that could detect magic outside of their premises - it wasn't mentioned during the orientation and so she thought that maybe they deliberately hid that fact so that the examinees will not be worried about anything and that those who had a thought of breaking the rules from the start will have a chance to be elimated.

Obviously, she doesn't want that to happen because one is that she needs to pass and successfully enroll because if not how will she achieve her mission and second it will be a disgrace not only to her but also to her family. Which she doesn't want to happen.

While walking a straight path - following the footsteps, Isolde felt it.

The air felt different out here.

She thought because as she walked farther, the air is getting thicker and if she will proceed further there is a posibilty that she will not be able to breathe properly

She also don't know excatly why but a apparently the land outside the academy felt older, quieter, and heavier in a way she couldn’t explain. Like it remembered things no one else did.

She kept walking.

Each step took her farther from the academy, closer to the entrance of the forest. It wasn’t visible yet—just a black blur on the horizon—but she could feel it.

A pull or maybe a warning.

Her stomach twisted. Not from fear, but from unease. Like someone was watching her at the moment. Still, she was unbothered because it might not be her or maybe whoever that is, is looking for something else. But regardless, Isolde kept following the prints.

Until she stopped ans she blinked thrice.

She crouched, checking the trail again. She looked left. Then right.

Nothing.

The prints vanished in the middle of the path.

There were no trees to hide behind. No rocks large enough to leap over. Just open space.

She frowned.

“Where did he go?” she whispered.

Her hand moved to her side pouch. She pulled out a small charm—one that could help her track residual mana. If the man had used magic to vanish, this would help her locate the last direction of the energy.

Just as she was about to activate it—

She froze.

A cold, sharp pressure touched the side of her neck. A sharp metal that she never thought that would actually land on her neck.

Her breath hitched. And then, a low voice spoke behind her.

“Don’t move.” She followed and she didn't even flinch, however at the same time she had already a spell in mind that would at least immobilize the one threatening her with a sword. However, before she could even react, the man spoke again...

“Who are you,” the voice asked, calm but firm, “and why are you following me?”