As the three of them surfaced, the cool air greeted them.
“Ugh…”
No, upon further reflection, it wasn’t just cool.
“The air is quite cold…”
The air that settled above the surface was cold enough to make you think the depths they had just left felt remarkably warmer.
‘I had forgotten.’
Evan recalled the region around Lake Lisea.
Despite it being autumn, the bitter cold was enough to freeze one’s body entirely.
A landscape blanketed in white snow.
And far in the distance, there stood an ice-constructed castle.
This was the land of the Ice Giants, Lataere.
“We’ve arrived precisely.”
Evan was the first to emerge from the water.
Next, Akada came out, his eyes brimming with curiosity as he surveyed the surroundings.
“I’ve lived my whole life underwater, so this landscape is a first for me.”
“You’ve never been outside?”
“There’s never been a reason to go. Life underwater is comfortable.”
“True, there’s only hardship to be found outside.”
While chatting with Akada, Evan turned to check on Lucia.
“Chloe, are you alright?”
“…It’s a bit cold, but I’m fine.”
For someone who claimed to be okay, her complexion was far from good.
Her face was red, and her body trembled uncontrollably.
“You seem quite cold.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’ve endured worse.”
“Well, if that’s the case. But let me know if it gets tough.”
“I will.”
Evan decided to heed Lucia’s words and continued walking.
*
It had been roughly two hours since they came out of the sea and headed toward Lake Lisea.
Evan, who was leading, suddenly halted.
“I don’t think we can go any further today.”
It was due to Lucia’s condition being so poor.
“Let’s rest around here.”
“I can go a bit more…”
“Lucia, you need to really assess your condition.”
Her previously red face had turned pale.
The trembling of her body had intensified, and it seemed she was barely holding herself upright, stumbling with every step.
“Do you intend to march on and die of hypothermia?”
“That’s not it, but…”
“If not, then rest. Didn’t you say you didn’t sleep at all yesterday? Moving in this state is excessive.”
…I understand.”
Finally, Lucia nodded softly, unable to counter his words.
“Akada, can you find a cave or a nearby house? I need to warm Lucia up a bit before we rest.”
“Sure. If nothing else, I’ll create a makeshift shelter with the snow.”
As Akada disappeared to find a place to stay, Evan took Lucia’s hand.
It felt like touching an ice slab.
He concentrated his magical power into his hand and began to transfer warmth to Lucia.
“Ugh…”
“You’ll warm up quickly. Just a bit longer, Lucia.”
After gathering magical power in his other hand to raise his body temperature, he pressed it against her neck.
‘Warm up…’
As warmth flowed from his hands, Lucia’s expression gradually relaxed.
The previously pale color of her face was returning.
“Evan…”
“Why do you call me?”
“Maybe it’s because I’m tired from not sleeping, or maybe it’s the warmth… but my eyes are starting to close.”
“Just hold on until Akada finds us a resting place. Of course, you won’t die of hypothermia thanks to my magic, but it would be bad if a monster shows up.”
“I’ll try to endure like last time.”
After a short wait, Akada quickly returned.
“I found a cave nearby. It’s sheltered from the wind, so it should be warm enough.”
Evan’s face lit up with the news of finding a resting place.
“How far is it?”
“About a 5 to 10 minute walk. Not far.”
“That’s a relief.”
To move immediately, Evan enveloped his body in magical power to raise his temperature.
Then, he picked up Lucia and held her close.
“I think you can nap a bit now, Lucia. It won’t take long to get there.”
“…Is that really okay?”
“Yes. You haven’t slept, so rest a bit while we walk.”
Only after hearing that definitive answer did Lucia’s eyes close.
Before long, her gentle, rhythmic breathing filled the air.
She had fallen asleep.
‘Looks like she was quite tired.’
Evan walked towards the cave, keeping his mouth shut to ensure she didn’t wake up.
The only sound echoing across the snowy landscape was the crunch of snow beneath his feet.
*
After being extra cautious so Lucia wouldn’t wake, Evan finally reached the cave after 15 minutes.
As Akada stated, the cave was sheltered from the wind, but due to the cold air, the inside wasn’t as warm as he had hoped.
‘Still better than being outside.’
Evan thought that as he cautiously set Lucia down.
Then he focused the magical power that was surrounding him back into his hand and placed it on Lucia’s body.
This was to help maintain her body temperature while she slept.
“Ugh…”
It was a place where she might have woken up, but fortunately, Lucia only stirred a bit, remaining sound asleep.
As Evan quietly watched her, Akada spoke up from leaning against the cave wall.
“I’m jealous.”
“Of what?”
“Having such valuable comrades.”
“Does it really look that way?”
“Doesn’t it? Just look at how you wielded your Trident to protect Chloe back in Cordelia.”
Evan fell silent at those words.
Certainly, Lucia was closer to a companion now, but if asked whether she was precious, that was a different story.
They had originally met as enemies, after all.
She couldn’t hold that value.
But considering the actions he unwittingly had been taking lately…
It wouldn’t be too strange to think that way.
It was one thing to protect her life for the sake of his other companions.
But covering her with a blanket while she slept or worrying when she was sick were actions that didn’t stem from the attitude one would take towards an enemy.
‘Am I unconsciously valuing Lucia?’
That thought led Evan to imagine killing Lucia in his mind.
He felt no significant rejection.
It was still a sign that he hated Lucia.
‘Then why am I acting as if I’m looking after her?’
With that thought, he pondered for a long while.
At the end of his contemplation, Evan reached one conclusion.
‘I want to catch the mastermind behind everything as quickly as possible.’
All the actions he had taken so far were driven by concern for Lucia’s health.
If she were to fall seriously ill, he wouldn’t be able to continue the investigation until she recovered.
In that case, capturing the mastermind would be delayed, and he didn’t want that kind of situation to arise.
Yes, that must be it.
‘A clear answer.’
A smile crept onto Evan’s lips.
It was a mysterious smile, difficult to decipher.
“We should sleep too. Since Lucia is in a deep slumber, it seems pointless to move any further today.”
“Good idea.”
At his words, Akada nodded and lay down.
“Sleep well, Evan.”
“You too.”
*
The next morning, after everyone had a good rest and woke up.
The three, who had moved early, easily arrived at Lake Lisea.
With the lake being vast and deep, Evan felt as though he were looking at the ocean when he gazed at Lake Lisea.
“Unlike the lakes we passed by, this one hasn’t frozen over. The magical power is also denser here.”
Lucia, who was crouched down and dipped her hand in the water, spoke up.
“Is there really something in here…?”
“Only trying it out would tell us.”
Akada, having stripped down to just his trousers, jumped right into the lake.
Seeing this, Evan and Lucia didn’t hesitate to enter the water as well.
‘…Looks like Lucia was right.’
The water was infused with magical power more than any place they had been.
Not only that, but upon entering the water, they could even feel very faint flows of magical power deep within the lake.
“My abilities can’t be activated here since it’s a lake, not the ocean. So, just keep up with me.”
As Akada dived deeper, the other two, not being mermen, nodded and followed behind since they couldn’t talk underwater.
They held hands to maintain their body heat.
“There’s definitely something in this lake, even if it’s not the Trident of Atlan.”
After swimming for about 30 minutes downwards, Akada, his blue eyes shining, said:
“The flow of magical power is getting stronger the deeper we go.”
Having confirmed the flow of magical power, he started swimming faster to dive further down.
Seeing his speed, Evan and Lucia also picked up their pace.
As the surroundings grew darker, the magical power shone more brightly.
Following the currents of magical power down the lake, it was more than 2 hours before they finally reached the lake bottom.
“I think we’re close…”
As Akada stood on the lakebed, he walked around, feeling the flow of magical power just in front of him.
While Evan and Lucia were also searching for something…
“…!!!”
Akada suddenly vanished from their sight.
It happened in an instant.
