"Okay, let's do it!"
Now?
"Why not? Even if they notice it, they won't do anything about it. If you are really shy about it, we can hide behind some stand. That could be exciting."
"..."
"No one will care. There are so many spells in this world, they'll just explain it themselves."
Fine.
As he walked on the stone path, Cyril subtly rolled up his sleeve and raised his hand, observing it.
Soon, it grew a little paler, and in the middle of his palm, a snowflake formed.
"Success!" Rhamn raised her fist to the sky with a proud smile.
"This zoo is really not bad. I can see why Rose was so excited about it."
Whatever magic creature they passed, a stand with detailed information about them was always close by.
For example, a detailed explanation of how Ice Bunny's body worked. Its ears are what allowed it to conjure ice.
Cyril clenched his hand, slowly feeling it. It was a bit slower to move, and it didn't feel that cold.
"Can't be helped. I am imitating a magic creature's biology on a human body. I am not too proficient with that yet. It would work better if I copied it exactly."
A grin appeared on her face.
"Do you want to grow some bunny ears? You could shoot icicles with them."
He couldn't help but imagine himself with two big, droopy ears on top, fighting other students.
As the image persisted, Rhamn's grin turned wider, and she held back a chuckle.
...I'll pass.
Cyril rolled his sleeve back down.
"...?"
Noticing something, he glanced to the side.
There stood Myra, staring wide-eyed at his arm.
"..."
"What?"
"Nothing!" She said and quickly paid attention to the front.
They walked in silence for a bit.
Is she really not going to ask?
Cyril helplessly observed Myra's curious face that stiffly pretended nothing was wrong.
"...It's a special ability I inherited from my father."
Myra's face was suddenly colored with realization.
"Oh! I see!" She whispered, nodding up and down as if everything suddenly became clear.
"..."
"See? No need to hide it."
Myra is a unique case...
Feeling only a little bit guilty, he looked ahead, putting the small incident behind him.
Can you copy the shadow wolf's ability as well?
"That's a bit harder... Maybe if I see it in action? It's of a higher level."
A pity.
...
On the way they've encountered many animals with unusual, if minor, magical abilities.
Some sent sound waves, breathed fire, or blew bubbles that could trap small animals.
Eventually their group reached a fork in the road.
"We have a few choices. We can go to the lake, the mountain, or the jungle." Rose explained as she read from the map.
"What does everyone think?"
"I'm fine with whatever." Edmund waved his hand in dismissal.
Myra didn't say anything, only sending an expectant glance to Cyril.
"I am for the mountain."
"Then we go there."
Rose closed the map and eagerly walked in that direction, the others soon following after her.
There was something sticking out on the horizon in that direction, towering over the trees.
It was a raised landmass covered in trees, stone, and even a white patch of snow at the very top.
It's almost as tall as the Yellow Jasmine hotel. There are really places like this in nature, huh.
"Myra also said there were mountains as tall as the Tower out there. Though I find that hard to believe."
They went ahead with eager footsteps.
A few purple butterflies flying together emerged on their path.
Everyone quickly glanced at Cyril's shoulder, where Morpho's antennae twitched.
She flew up and approached creatures that looked somewhat similar to her.
The butterflies hovered in front of her and began circling around her, as if dancing.
Though before the surrounding visitors managed to fully enjoy the view, Morpho suddenly circled around, pushing back the purple butterflies with her wings.
They quickly flew away, going for the other visitors.
Morpho is a bit of a bully, isn't she?
"She says she doesn't like the animals here. They unnerve her."
...I see.
Cyril shook his head and continued on the way.
"Why did you do that? I didn't have the time to write them down." Rose complained on the way.
Though she quickly stopped when Morpho threateningly looked at her.
"Calm down." Cyril gently but helplessly brushed her wing.
Tigris trailed behind him, observing the red butterfly with the eyes of someone finally being vindicated.
Once they neared the mountain, they discovered a tiger majestically walking by.
Almost immediately Cyril switched his attention to a particular kitten he knew.
Tigris also noticed the animal and froze in confusion.
"Come on, try greeting it," Rhamn encouraged with a smile.
With newfound strength, Tigris slowly approached the tiger with cautious steps.
Eventually the beast itself has noticed the cub in front.
It stared at it with its empty orange eyes for a few seconds before lowering its head and sniffing Tigris.
Confusion briefly flashed in its eyes before returning to its previous tranquility, and it moved away.
Tigris waved his paw at the disappearing tiger, then slowly walked up to Cyril.
"Meow."
Cyril picked him up and put him on his shoulder.
"He says he's hungry."
He nodded and turned towards the rest of his group.
"Let's take a break."
...
"According to the map, there should be a cafe here-"
"We don't really need a map. Look there." Edmund pointed in the distance, interrupting Rose.
There was a large plaza right in the middle of the 'wilderness.'
It stood at a dividing area with one side looking like a lush forest and the other like a mountainous region.
On this plaza several buildings stood with a crowd of people going in and out.
"Looks like a restaurant."
"Perfect."
They approached it, passing the crowds, and went for a small cafe that had tables outside.
"...!"
Someone bumped into Cyril, making him stumble a step.
Cyril warily glanced at the person in his path.
It was a tall, thin man with black hair and black eyes that seemed unfriendly. By his waist was a long sword, with only a single edge.
"Sorry." The man grumbled and walked away, disappearing into the crowd before Cyril had the time to ask anything.
He quickly pretended nothing was wrong and continued on his way, the others following behind without paying too much attention to the interaction.
That was Flynn.
"It's the first knight we've noticed. I already started to wonder if Cosmas lied."
Not our concern.
...
Soon the group found a place in one cafe with outside tables.
Unfortunately, Morpho and Tigris weren't allowed in a more expensive restaurant.
"How dare they...!"
It's no big deal.
As Rhamn fumed, Cyril slowly ate a sandwich, with Tigris cleaning a plate with his tongue in front of him.
Morpho quickly ate a little bit and flew in the air above the crowd, curiously observing everything.
"On the mountain there are storm eagles, lightning goats, and crystal lizards... There is a griffin at the very top too!" Rose excitedly scanned the map while everyone ate.
"A griffin... They have them, huh." Myra looked at the mountain, her gaze distant.
"I'm looking forward to it." Edmund nodded with his back straight and said nothing else.
He ordered no food in this place, citing he wasn't hungry, though Cyril's ears still picked up a quiet rumbling coming from his stomach from time to time.
The food here is not that bad, he should try it...
"If it's good enough for Tigris, then it's more than enough for the likes of him."
Just as Cyril wanted to say something, a familiar, enthusiastic voice that shouldn't be here interrupted him.
"Cyril, Myra! We finally found you!"
Cedric emerged from the crowd, holding a balloon with wolf art on it.
Anna quietly followed behind him, wearing a cap with a cute seal on it.
"Thank goodness your butterfly is conspicuous enough, ha ha."
Found us...?
"How did you know we would be here?" Cyril said, sending him a cold glare.
Anna half-hid behind Cedric, silent.
Cedric's smile became slightly stiff as he glanced at Myra to the side.
"...?"
Cyril confusedly sent her a stare.
"...He asked me about my weekend plans back during that special lesson. I told him," Myra shrugged in response.
So that's what that was.
Cyril nodded, remembering them talking in front of that confusing cabin.
"Yeah! It's a funny story. You see, Anna wanted to invite you here for some time now!" Cedric said with a smile, ignoring a subtle elbow jab Anna gave him to shut him up.
"I was going to ask you, but you didn't even hear me out, so I had to ask Myra, you are always together after all. Imagine my relief when you were going here to begin with!"
Cedric nodded with satisfaction, while Anna behind him covered her face with a palm, hiding from their eyes.
"This must be fate!"
Edmund, Myra, Cyril, and Rose stared at him without saying anything for a moment.
"What a friend he is. How does Anna suffer him?"
"I see."
Cyril finally replied as he took the last bite of his sandwich.
"He is not going to join us, is he?" Rose whispered to them.
Before anyone had the time to reply to her, Cedric walked closer.
"Have you heard there is going to be a show soon? At the mountain's base, we are close," he said.
"A show... There is no information about that on the pamphlet."
Rose quickly read through the booklet they all had, a frown on her face.
Cedric leaned a little closer, theatrically looking left and right, before bringing a finger to his lips.
"They haven't opened it to the public! Only a select few are allowed in."
"And I have a way in! Want to go with us?"
Cyril and others shared a look, seeing the same curiosity in each other's eyes.
"Sure, lead the way." In the end, Rose couldn't contain it and agreed on everyone's behalf.
Cedric's smile widened.
"Follow me!"
He turned around to where Anna stood and gave her a thumbs-up.
Anna only lowered the cap with a seal, hiding her face somewhat.
A show... Hope it's something good.
Cyril grabbed Tigris from the table, before he managed to devour the whole plate, and put him on his shoulder.
Having finished with their break, the group continued on.