Irvene's point of view
We were still trapped in this mining area and I'm thinking about an idea to get out of here safely. I once thought of using the portal but I'm not familiar with Spirit Mountain and we might end up in a more dangerous place. Another thing was some people could accidentally see us using a portal especially here in Headmaster Estrama's den.
The portal that father made was an exclusive one and whom he gave the red crystals was unknown to everyone. It's not a good idea to use it here.
"What should we do next?" Ivy asked.
I looked at them and said, "Elis took off your fire first and then, Ivy check these two sides and find out which of these two were easier to dig a hole," I said.
Since a barrier was blocking us, I could only think of digging a curve path and that would make us skip the barrier without a problem, and then our make up way would end up to the other side of the barrier which was the original path of this mining area.
When Ivy's vines disappeared, she looked at me and started explaining.
"There's nothing much difference, but the right side has a big hard rock," Ivy said.
"Hmm, so we'll take the left side?" Meryll asked.
"Yes, and also Ivy, I'll be giving you another work. Help us push the rock and make a hole easily. Elis and Meryll, be attentive. We're not sure how many schemes they planted towards us," I said.
Elis nodded.
"Sure thing," Meryll uttered.
We started doing our plan. Ivy carefully manipulated the earth and a hole, enough for us to enter, was made slowly. Ivy, an earth-living element has a sub-class which was plant class. Each earth-type element differs. It could be a plant or rock class. That's why Ivy couldn't expertly manipulate the rocks because she's a plant class earth-element.
As she belonged to the plant class, she could provide fresh air for us to breathe at a certain period of time.
While they're busy doing our whole plan, I saw Fluff who had been sitting and sleeping comfortably on Ivy's head. Her flower crown prevented him from falling. I'll wake him up later.
After a while, Ivy said that we're near to the original path and successfully skipped that mysterious barrier.
"Wait," I uttered.
They all looked at me.
"What is it?" Elis said.
"You'll need to be sure that no one would see the three of you later," I said. I stayed silent after as I don't know how to deal with this new problem.
"Understand, Master," Elis said.
"Also, remove this curved path after we exit here. Can you still use your powers, Ivy?" I asked.
She nodded but I saw her weakened state.
"Hidden Healing Prowess, 1st level," I chanted.
It healed Ivy, thus she managed to remove our evidence of Ivy's powers and existence. When we returned to the original path, only Meryll was left with me. The three of my living elements disappeared after that.
"That fellow has his problems towards you huh," Meryll said.
"I think it's my fault. I'll deal with that after having a long talk with Headmaster Estrama," I said.
"You're right. I wonder what ridiculous excuses he prepared for this," she continued.
"I think I should have expected this since it connects to what I'm investigating that's making little progress," I whispered.
Afterward, we could already see the end of this tunnel and a man with his widened eyes.
"A-archmage Elvina!" A man said.
His presence felt familiar. I wonder where did I saw him. His deep blue eyes were really hinting me that there's something I must remember.
"You seem startled. I wonder why? I think you're informed that we're checking this mining area, so no need to fright out," I said.
He calmly straightened his back and looked at us.
"Archmage Elvina, I mean no harm and we seemed to have a misunderstanding here. I'm just relieved that you two were safe, since the end of this mining area just collapsed. I have been commanded to check this place and make sure you're safe," he said.
"Really? We managed to get out of the danger. Enough of this, I found something important there to discuss with Headmaster Estrama, so could you please bring me there," I said.
"Of course," he said.
Gone were the moments of his slightly terrifying attitude. He glanced at my back where I think he stared at Meryll whereas Meryll was not uttering a single word. It's weird to think that she would not mind someone that would stare at her intentionally.
He retracted his gaze and guided us the way. The sunlight almost blinded us since we've been in that mining area for a long time.
None of us spoke until we reached the Headmaster's room. Another room that was different from the ones we entered earlier.
He knocked and opened the door. When we entered, we saw him lively walking back and forth through his room with some letters on his hand.
"Headmaster," the man said.
Headmaster Estrama stopped what he's doing and looked at us, startled.
"You didn't knock?" he said.
"I did Headmaster," the man said.
Headmaster Estrama sat on his desk and told us to sit. He coughed a few times before he talked.
"I heard the news earlier that the mining area wrecked on its own again so I sent my personal assistant, Erill Wanemoon, to check on you," he said.
"Are you sure that it's an accident and nothing inconspicuous scene happened earlier? We're just curious, right Meryll?" I said.
Meryll whose spacing out suddenly looked at me. "Yes," she answered.
"Archmage Elvina, I think you're sure that the mining area you had visited was dangerous, so circumstances like that might happen from time to time. That's why we're doing our best to stabilize that area and why would we attempt to take away an Archmage's life?" Headmaster Estrama said.
"How can we know? Only oneself can know one's thoughts, Headmaster," Meryll said.
Oh, she's speaking now. Good thing, Meryll didn't try to punch his face as she countlessly mumbled about doing that earlier.
Meryll got her point. A Ruler's life was once killed, so a lower position such as mine to be in danger wasn't surprising.
"You can think what you want, but I didn't do anything. If you didn't believe me, show me pieces of evidence to prove that I tried to claim your life," Headmaster Estrama said.
"Then what about this, that incident only happened after the man leading us disappeared. We're trapped there with that dark aura lingering on the air. I'm afraid that our life would be in danger here in the process of fixing that mining area. Might as well close do--," Meryll said.
She's interrupted by Headmaster Estrama.
"Let's make a wise decision. As long as you didn't encounter any danger that took your life, that area wouldn't be closed down," Headmaster Estrama said.
"That'll be alright. I wouldn't be able to work efficiently in a surrounding full of danger, so I expect that you'll let us be in peace," I said.
"But Irvene, I think that something might happen again when we head to that mining area again and it's known that we would be going there frequently. I don't want to hear such explanations that it's an accident caused by no one," Meryll said.
"Miss Dellmira, I'm sure that it posed no danger to the two of you in that mining area compared to us, since you're able to get out safely. The sun hasn't even set today, but you managed to easily escape without injuries as it looked like nothing happened to the mining area. If we didn't check the area and only analyze your appearances, we couldn't have guessed that the mining area wreaked havoc again," Erill said.
"You're definitely right, Wanemoon. Then, do all of us agree to the conditions I made?" Headmaster Estrama said.
"Fine!" Meryll said.
Meryll's quite unpredictable today. Her attitude always changes since we came to Spirit Mountain.
"I'll agree. Both of us would benefit since this dangerous mining area would be instantly close when someone attempted to take our lives. I would inform you that this agreement would reach Ruler Mavien. I'll make sure that this would still be effective once someone took our lives. Once broken, that mining area's gone," I said.
It's not that I'm afraid that someone would kill me. I'll not make that happen, but the unnecessary troubles I'll encounter would hinder my work. It'll also make Headmaster Estrama think twice of planning towards us especially Meryll.
Headmaster Estrama didn't expect that our small agreement would suddenly turn into a serious one. He made this, I'm just returning back his favor.
After that, we got out of his study room and the same man named Erill Wanemoon guided us to our room. Meryll and I would live in the same huge room with two elegant beds temporarily in Spirit Mining Company.
"We have tons of work to do here. Could you still manage today and rest later?" I asked Meryll.
"Of course!" Meryll answered.
"But before that, explain about your unusual attitude since we got here," I said.
"Okay, I'll tell you....," Meryll said.