I stood in front of the magic circle.
There had to be a cave behind this wall. And inside that cave, there would be a portal pouring out monsters.
I didn’t need to find the portal myself. If I just reported the cave’s location, the imperial knights would handle the rest.
Once we go back and tell them, we can return to the city sooner.
Yes! No more sleeping outdoors!
I was celebrating internally when Theodore, who had followed me in, examined the magic circle carefully.
“What is this? Looks like some kind of illusion magic.”
He turned to me.
“You know how to dispel illusion magic, right?”
“Um…”
I scratched my cheek awkwardly.
“I can’t use magic.”
“What?”
He stared at me in shock.
“You’re Chiprian’s student.”
“Yes.”
“The greatest mage in the Empire is your master.”
“That’s right.”
“Then why can’t you use magic?”
“Good question.”
“…”
He looked at me like I was the biggest idiot alive.
What can I do? My magic level is only 1.
All I have is charm.
Anyway, my role ended here. Dispelling this illusion was Lowell’s job.
I casually placed my hand on the magic circle.
“It’s fine. We can just call my master. For him, breaking this kind of spell is easy as—”
At that moment, the circle beneath my hand began to glow blue.
The solid stone wall rippled like water after a stone is thrown into it. Then it blurred and disappeared.
A cave entrance quietly revealed itself where the wall had been.
Cold air flowed out from within, as if rejecting intruders.
I stared at it in confusion.
What?
Why did it break?
Theodore looked just as stunned.
“How did you do that? You said you can’t dispel illusions.”
“I don’t know. I just touched it…”
“Who made something like this? What are they hiding in here…?”
The cave looked much deeper and darker than expected.
Then Theodore suddenly shouted.
“Watch out—!”
Red eyes flashed in the darkness.
Before I could react, something lunged at me, jaws wide open.
Hot, foul breath hit my face. Dozens of sharp teeth rushed toward me—
Suddenly, my body was lifted into the air.
Something wrapped around me, and we rolled deeper into the cave.
Rocks scraped against us. Dust filled the air. My body hit the ground several times before we finally stopped.
Everything was pitch black.
I could only feel cold metal against my cheek, arms wrapped tightly around me, a warm hand at my shoulder, and a man’s rough breathing.
As my eyes adjusted, I saw Theodore.
He was holding me tightly, breathing hard.
“Theodore…?”
“Ha… Are you okay? You’re not hurt?”
I moved my arms and legs. Everything seemed fine.
But he was hugging me so tightly I could barely move.
“I’m fine. Can you let go? I can’t breathe.”
“Oh. Sorry.”
He quickly let go and cleared his throat.
I brushed dirt off my clothes.
“What was that?”
“A wyvern.”
He lit a torch. The darkness slowly retreated, revealing the cave.
We had fallen down a sloped pile of rocks. Faint light filtered in from above.
That must be the cave entrance.
So we fell to the bottom.
If not for Theodore, I would have either become a wyvern’s snack—
Or turned into mush from the fall.
Both options were horrifying.
I looked at him.
“Thank you for saving—”
“It’s too early for that.”
He drew his greatsword and took a battle stance.
From above, a terrifying cry echoed through the cave.
Soon, the wyvern appeared.
Scaled body. Massive wings. Dragon-like form.
Smaller than a dragon, but just as intimidating.
It gripped the rock wall with thick claws and slowly descended, eyes locked on us like a predator closing in.
“Stay back.”
Theodore stepped in front of me.
He gripped his sword and muttered a prayer.
“In nomine luminis arde.”
His blade glowed red with holy power.
The wyvern roared.
“Krrraaa!”
Theodore rushed forward.
The wyvern slashed with its claws. His blade flashed and deflected the attack.
He spun and drove into its side.
The wyvern snapped at him, but he didn’t hesitate. He slashed horizontally.
“Krrk!”
The wyvern staggered.
Theodore jumped again, stepping onto its back, climbing up toward its head.
He raised his sword high and drove it down into the wyvern’s skull.
“SKREEE!”
The wyvern shrieked in agony, thrashing violently.
Theodore forced the blade deeper.
“Krrraa…!”
With a final cry, the massive body collapsed.
I stared in awe.
He had killed something that huge alone.
The title of youngest holy knight commander wasn’t just for show.
Theodore stepped down from the corpse, covered in blood.
But as he approached me, he suddenly staggered.
“—!”
I rushed to support him.
“Are you okay?”
“Ha…”
He was breathing heavily.
Then I noticed.
The blood on him wasn’t just the monster’s.
Deep claw marks had torn into his armor. Blood seeped through the cracks.
My hands started trembling.
“…You’re hurt?”
He leaned against the cave wall and gave a weak smile.
“Actually, I broke my arm when we fell.”
“What?!”
So that’s why he looked pained earlier.
He fought a wyvern with a broken arm?
If he hadn’t saved me, he wouldn’t be like this.
Guilt flooded me.
“Are you stupid? You have healing powers! You should’ve healed yourself before fighting!”
“Unfortunately, I can’t use healing on myself.”
“What? That makes no sense!”
“Yeah. I’d like to complain too.”
He looked like he was reaching his limit.
Think.
What do I do?
Actually, it’s obvious.
I looked at him, breathing roughly, and said firmly—
“Take it off.”
