"Did you trade powdered Nimosyn for an Ice Tyhorn cow, sir?"
"That's right, little Ray. I was lucky enough to come across a Memory Flower, Nimosyn, back when I was working for traveling merchants. About a month ago, someone posted a request at the Adventurers' Guild asking for its pollen. I remember his name vaguely… Seagull, I think. When I told him I wanted to open an ice cream shop, he gave me the Ice Tyhorn cow in exchange for the memory pollen."
Today Uncle Bobby, the chubby ice cream vendor, had sold out completely. He was packing up his cart to go home. Evening had already fallen, and flocks of birds were flying back to their nests.
The two children stared at the plump uncle curiously at the road outside the school gates, while other students were trickling back to their dorms.
"That's strange," Aria muttered, holding her chin. "This person Seagull traded something as valuable as memory pollen—which can erase or restore memories—for a Mythical-class cow? Doesn't that seem unbalanced?"
"Oh, it's not strange at all, little lady," Uncle Bobby replied warmly. "Mr. Seagull wanted to use it to restore the memories of someone important to him. He struck me as a kind man, like one of those top-class Tamers—just like your headmistress."
Ray nodded, though he wasn't particularly interested in Seagull or what he planned to do with the pollen. What mattered more was that he wanted to buy one of the Ice Tyhorn's horns from Uncle Bobby.
"Uncle, um… could I please buy one of its horns? I really need it to make a beast item for self-defense." Ray pressed his palms together in earnest, face pleading.
At first, the uncle hesitated—the three ice horns of an Ice Tyhorn were precious. But since Ray had once saved his business, given him money to get back on his feet, and even promoted the shop, Uncle Bobby finally smiled and agreed to sell him one horn for a cheap price: 50,000 G. Ray quickly paid without bargaining.
[Obtained: Ice Tyhorn Horn ×1]
"Yesss! Thank you so much, Uncle Bobby!" Ray's eyes sparkled as he held the horn. Behind him, Aria shook her head with a faint smile, thinking that she herself would never have managed to obtain such a rare item so easily.
"Not too big, right, Jason…?"
As they returned to the Black Dragon House castle grounds, they saw that everyone was holding a massive concert party on the wide front lawn.
Night had fallen, but magical streetlamps lit the place in blue and orange hues, making the evening glow like a festival of colors. Some students were still dueling with beasts in the arenas. Typical Black Dragon House chaos.
The party was wild. Over a hundred people were there—jumping, dancing, drinking from mugs, munching on chicken legs, and letting their beasts run loose. Phoenix House students had even joined in, maybe outnumbering the Black Dragons themselves.
Tables overflowed with roast chicken, fried pork, grilled shrimp, roasted fish. Drinks ranged from Opal orange juice, Zubu coconut water, to fizzy sodas made from Sea Bear Yala. A few fourth-years from Black Dragon House even smuggled alcohol in.
It was much bigger than expected. Students set up lanterns everywhere, pulled chairs and tables from their magic bags, or spread picnic cloths across the grass.
At the center of the field, Jason had claimed the main arena stage as his concert platform.
Right now, most weren't dancing—they were headbanging to Jason's guitar and screaming vocals. He used a Specker Heron beast to amplify the sound with magic. Dozens of Phoenix House kids locked arms and jumped in unison, while over a hundred more cheered, ate, and drank around the lawn.
The party Jason had organized was far more alive than anyone expected. Aria just looked at the crowd and felt her head hurt already, but Ray's eyes shone with delight as he ran to grab a drink at the table where upperclassman Myra had set up her makeshift bar. Aria trailed reluctantly behind.
"Good evening, Senior Myraaa! I want something fizzy—how do I get one?" Ray greeted brightly at the curvy, black-haired woman in a deep blue dress.
She glanced over from her bar full of bottles and surrounded by girls.
"Well, well, if it isn't little Ray, always stuck to the Ice Princess. Just grab whatever you like, kid—thirty coins a glass." She sipped her red wine with a smirk.
"Oh, thank you, senpai! Here, 30 coins." Ray reached for his wallet, but Aria quickly grabbed his arm.
"Ray, don't. I just saw someone else take a drink for free. She's trying to scam you." Aria glared at Myra.
"Huh? Really, senpai!?" Ray exclaimed. Myra and her entourage burst into laughter.
"Hahaha! Didn't think you'd actually believe me. Too gullible, kid. These drinks are for everyone—most of them were donated by Professor Kegel anyway." She gestured at the stacked bottles.
"Meanie! That was cruel, senpai!" Ray puffed his cheeks.
"Hahaha, relax, relax. Take a glass, free of charge. One at a time though."
Aria muttered, "Tamers are just like their beasts, Ray. Don't forget that." She handed him a glass, poured herself jasmine tea, and they walked away.
As they left, the girls at Myra's table teased, "So, are you two more than just friends?" But Aria cut them off coldly, "Think whatever you want, senpai." She tugged Ray's arm to leave, cheeks tinged red.
Ray tilted his head, confused. "Aria, you shouldn't be so cold all the time, you know. People will misunderstand."
"I'm not going to say what they want to hear just because they want it."
"What do you mean?"
"They wanted me to say we're something more." Her face turned pink.
Ray's eyes widened. "Ohhh, I get it. I'll go tell them that's why you were annoyed." He ran back before she could stop him.
"Wait, Ray!"
Too late. The boy apologized earnestly to the seniors on her behalf, and they forgave him. Aria could only stand there, flustered, hiding her face.
"Ugh… he's always too kind. Always like this." Her heart burned, not from anger but from embarrassment.
At that moment, two girls—Jennifer and Cassie—approached from behind.
"Well, well, if it isn't Miss Aria, all alone again. Poor Ray, huh? Guess he'll just get his heart broken like your perverted dad did. Like father, like daughter, right?"
"Yeah, Jen. She hogs all the guys, then dumps them. Rich, pretty, and heartless. Lures them in just to break them. So envious~"
The blonde and the redhead mocked her right to her face, but Aria sipped her drink calmly, ignoring them.
"Look at her, acting all high and mighty, drinking like she's the heroine. Hahaha!"
"Oh, stop it, Jen, you're killing me!" Cassie giggled.
"Wait, here comes love itself. Scared yet, Miss Aria? Ooooh, I'm sooo scared of love!" Jennifer mocked as Ray walked back carrying drinks.
Aria sighed. She hated not for herself—but because Ray was about to walk into this.
But just as she turned to snap back at them—Ray tripped on a rock. The drinks in his hands splashed all over the two girls' expensive dresses.
"KYAAAAH! What the hell!?"
"My new dress! RUINED!"
The girls shrieked, flailing.
Ray blinked innocently, pointed at the rock. "I-I tripped over that."
But his sweet face melted their anger instantly.
"Oh, Ray, it's fine, really! Don't worry!" Jennifer cooed.
"Yeah, it's nothing. You didn't mean it, right?" Cassie simpered.
Aria's eye twitched.
Ray scratched his head, then suddenly grinned. "Actually, I saw the rock. I thought I'd give it a try and trip on purpose—'cause you two kept mocking my friend. I got mad." He beamed innocently.
Aria nearly burst laughing, covering her mouth. The two bullies stood frozen, red-faced and humiliated. Finally, they stormed off, grinding their teeth.
Ray and Aria laughed together, just as Jason finished his last song. The crowd roared. Jason spread his arms wide, soaking in the glory.
Spotting his friends, Jason leapt down from stage, shoved through the crowd, and grabbed Ray's drink to chug it in one gulp.
"Hey! I hadn't drunk that yet!" Ray yelled. Aria shoved her jasmine tea at Jason instead, and he drained it too.
"Woohoo! Amazing, right? Everyone's screaming my name! I'm a genius beyond Witzany herself!" Jason crowed.
"You said this would be small," Aria scowled.
"It was small! People just gathered when they heard me play," Jason shrugged smugly.
"You broke your word. No more homework help," Aria snapped.
Jason scoffed, but Ray stepped in, dragging both away. "Guys, today's for Karua and Kana, okay? Let's go see them."
They headed toward the siblings' table.
Ray asked, "How did you even get all this, Jason?"
"Oh, simple. I invited Witzany." Jason grinned. "When she saw I was throwing a party, she joined in. That's influence, baby."
"Professor Jason, Professor," Aria said flatly.
"Huh? Don't boss me around like you're my mom—"
But Ray pointed behind him. Jason turned—and froze.
Headmistress Witzany stood there, smiling gently. Then she ruffled his head hard.
"Well done, Jason. Lovely performance," she said sweetly, mussing his hair.
Jason sputtered, but Ray and Aria couldn't hold back their laughter.
Witzany finally released him, patted Ray and Aria's heads affectionately, and said, "Enjoy yourselves, but don't forget your studies. Promise me."
They nodded fervently. Hearts swelling, they watched her walk away, graceful as ever. Ray looked at her back with admiration. One day, he wanted to become someone like her.
Meanwhile, Witzany strolled out, humming and eating a candy, until she saw Professor David waiting in the shadows with his notebook.
He nodded. "I investigated, Headmistress. It's him. Last month, he was here. Seagull Lavender—the real one. Your former disciple."
Witzany's smile faded slightly. "Oh dear… so it really is him. I thought he'd vanished. What is that cult leader planning now…?"