After entering the Emerald Dream, Ryan noticed that the principal of Castrobruso, along with several students, was still standing and conversing beneath the totem pole. He did not attempt to avoid them but instead walked over openly and confidently.
As soon as he stepped under the totem pole, the principal looked at him and spoke gently. "I am very pleased to see a visitor from afar. You may join our discussion for now, and afterward, you're welcome to go upstairs and browse some of our materials."
Upon hearing this, Ryan instantly realized that the principal had known of his presence from the moment he stepped into the Emerald Dream. Surprisingly, Castrobruso welcomed foreign visitors who entered this realm.
This reminded Ryan of something Aunt Betty, the centaur, had taught him. In her class, she had explained that the only individuals capable of entering the Emerald Dream uninvited were evil beings who twisted the surroundings into what was known as the Emerald Nightmare. All others would be treated as fellow travelers and shown kindness. At the time, Ryan had been skeptical of her words, given the need to be cautious around strangers. But now, he understood she had been right.
While mulling over these thoughts, Ryan listened attentively to the conversation unfolding around him. There were only six students present in addition to the principal, but each student wore a unique mask crafted from tree bark. In contrast, the principal's face remained uncovered.
The group was discussing how to address the recent emergence of the Emerald Nightmare in the rainforest. It seemed that this issue had persisted for several days, and today's meeting was to make a final decision regarding it.
What struck Ryan was the atmosphere of equality in the discussion. Despite being students, the masked individuals debated openly with the principal, sometimes even contradicting his points. Yet the principal didn't mind—he welcomed their input, nodding thoughtfully as they spoke.
After reaching a consensus with the students, the principal turned to Ryan and asked for his opinion on the matter. Ryan thought for a moment before providing a condensed account of how he had neutralized an Emerald Nightmare formed by an eight-eyed giant spider in the Forbidden Forest.
"Hmm..." the principal began, clearly preparing a response. But before he could speak, a figure dressed in a green robe entered through the door. The man wore his mask pushed up on his head, allowing Ryan to recognize him as the professor of the herbology class at Castrobruso.
"Mr. Principal, I've returned from my investigation," the professor reported. "The cause of the Emerald Nightmare in that location was the broken seal of an ancient evil god's temple. The entity sealed within, known as Sakshisakyu, has escaped."
"Sakshisakyu? What is that?" Ryan asked, turning to a nearby student.
"It's a giant bird, resembling an Andean condor," a girl in a red mask answered enthusiastically. "It can gather clouds to create thunderstorms, quite similar to the North American Thunderbird."
The principal rose from his seat, having heard enough. "Very well. Everyone, come with me. We must deal with the magical creature that has been tainted by evil energy. As for our guest, you may remain here for now. We'll return shortly."
Before leaving, he turned to Ryan. "You may go inside and read. Feel free to enter any room you can open."
Ryan watched the eight figures disappear into the courtyard before turning and heading upstairs to explore. Since Castrobruso was a relatively small school, there weren't many rooms. Apart from the ones clearly used for meditation or alchemical experiments, only one small room appeared to be a library.
Inside the study, several stone shelves lined the walls, each holding books made from leaves. Each of these books was protected by a transparent, emerald-green magical shield.
After some trial and error, Ryan found that only one book was accessible to him. It was located at the entrance of the room and was the largest volume in the entire building—almost half as tall as a person. Placed alone on a stone pedestal, the title inscribed on its leafy cover read:
"Castrobruso: The Other Half of the School History"
Why would such a book be stored here, in isolation? Was it considered especially valuable?
Ryan opened the massive volume, curiosity piqued. Inside, he found stories that had been left out of the official school history—hidden truths and untold tales. Among the most intriguing revelations was the origin of the wooden masks worn by the students and professors.
According to the book, the third headmaster of Castrobruso was a wizard capable of communicating with the Emerald Dream. He wanted this power to become an integral part of the school's legacy. To that end, he acquired seven enchanted masks from the jungle dwarves by completing several grueling tasks.
Wearing one of these masks enabled the user to enter the Emerald Dream. The more experience one had using the mask, the greater their chance of mastering the power of nature and eventually entering the Dream independently.
For instance, the Herbology professor wore his mask on his head rather than over his face—signifying that he had already mastered part of nature's power. The mask served only as a trigger, enabling him to enter the Emerald Dream in a semi-autonomous state.
It now made sense why Castrobruso was renowned for its magical creatures and expertise in Herbology. If the school could mass-produce individuals capable of entering the Emerald Dream, they would naturally develop an exceptional affinity for nature.
The book continued to document the school's challenges and triumphs. It described how these mask-bearers had led the institution through adversity, propelling it toward prestige and recognition.
After reading the book in its entirety, Ryan fell deep into thought. Then he whispered to himself, "In the Emerald Dream, those who control the power of nature aren't hostile, just neutral. So why does the principal seem so genuinely friendly to me? I'm not a gem—why would everyone like me?"
"Because little Betty asked me to take care of you," said a voice from behind.
Ryan jumped slightly, then turned. "Oh, sorry, Mr. Principal," he said, clearly embarrassed to be caught speaking candidly.
"It's alright," the principal said with a kind smile. "Anyone would feel suspicious in a situation like this. Since you're Betty's apprentice, you may call me Mr. Fernando in private. And if something is confusing you, feel free to ask directly."
"Alright, Mr. Fernando," Ryan replied. "I've been wondering why I was allowed to enter the Emerald Dream here so freely. I mean, I know that some magical schools go to great lengths to keep their secrets. Some even hide their locations entirely. Why is Castrobruso so open?"
Fernando chuckled. "Because the true secret of Castrobruso is the Emerald Dream itself, my boy. And the Emerald Dream is inherently open. Within it, all intelligent beings that are not natural predators receive power in return for maintaining the balance of nature."
He gestured out the window toward the endless greenery. "This rainforest is the largest in the world. With such vast land, the local Emerald Dream faces countless problems. So we don't lack resources—we lack people. That's why we welcome all who share our ideals. And since you came recommended by Betty, you're already halfway part of our family."
"I see," Ryan said, nodding. At last, the knot of suspicion in his heart began to loosen. Mr. Fernando's explanation made perfect sense and finally put his doubts to rest.
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