The faint metallic sound of the key to the forbidden archive sliding back into place. Keefree realized his ears were tracking that sound alone. Orugio turned around. The soft waves of his silver hair swayed in the hazy light of the mana lamp, and his deep blue eyes looked directly at him. "[gentle]Come on, this way." His voice was as calm as ever. But tonight, beneath that calmness, something felt tightly coiled. Keefree gave a small nod. What was this? His chest had been restless for a while now. Ever since Orugio had suggested a secret lesson. Was he happy? Scared? He couldn't tell. But his legs, following Orugio's back, moved without hesitation. They descended the stairs to the second basement level. The stone walls held moisture, and a chill clung to the air. Only their footsteps echoed in steady rhythm—tap, tap. "[whispers]Just ahead." The deepest part of the old archive. A forgotten section where no one ever came. Orugio walked without hesitation. His back seemed to know this place inside and out. (*How long has he known about this?*) Keefree wondered. Orugio stopped. He stood before a wall. An ordinary, ancient stone wall. But his fingers slipped smoothly into a gap in one particular spot. *Click.* A small sound, and part of the wall sank inward. "[gentle]Here it is." Orugio turned back and smiled, just a little. The small star-shaped mark on his left cheek shifted faintly. Keefree held his breath. The wall opened. Inside was a small stone chamber. Maybe twenty square meters. The walls were covered in carvings. Old, old symbols. Keefree knew in an instant they were magical sigils. Some were shapes he had never seen before. In the center of the room, a single stone pedestal. The mana lamp glowed dimly, slowly bringing the wall symbols into relief. (*This place is—*) "[gentle]A research room for seal magic. Two hundred years old." Orugio's voice fell into the quiet room. Keefree approached the wall. He reached out his fingers. Gently, he traced the symbols on the wall. Cold. The rough texture of stone. The sigils were carved deep, and their impressions transmitted through the pads of his fingers. "[serious]My ancestor left a record in his diary. A hidden research room beneath the Great Lecture Hall." Orugio also walked up to the wall. "[serious]Seal magic research was conducted here. But during the Mage War, the Crimson Seal Order misused it... So the Heptagram Council sealed away the very existence of this room." The Crimson Seal Order. Two hundred years ago, an organization of those who couldn't use magic, who gained power through seals and rose in rebellion. A war that lasted three years. Tens of thousands dead. After the war, seal magic was designated a forbidden art, and those who had researched it were stripped of their magic and imprisoned. "[gentle]If we're found out, it's over for us." Orugio said it in the same gentle voice. But those words fell coldly into Keefree's chest. He knew. Dabbling in seal magic meant potentially losing his social standing, maybe even ending up in prison. A position as a teacher at the Great Lecture Hall would vanish in an instant. (*Even so—*) Keefree couldn't tear his eyes away from the symbols on the wall. So this was forbidden art. A forbidden technique that allowed anyone to use magic. Orugio took a small bottle from his pocket. A black liquid swayed inside. In his other hand, a thin brush. The tip seemed to be made from the hair of a magical beast, faintly reflecting the light. "[gentle]This is ordinary mana ink. Its effect fades in thirty minutes. First... shall we try drawing just one symbol on your hand?" Keefree swallowed. "[whispers]...Yeah." His own voice was hoarse. Orugio sat down beside the stone pedestal. Keefree sat next to him. The coldness of the stone seeped through his trousers. "[gentle]Put your hand here." Orugio lightly patted his own knee. For a moment, Keefree couldn't move. (*My hand... on his knee?*) His heart grew loud. Putting your hand on a friend's knee was a normal thing. Thinking that, he extended his right hand. He could feel his fingertips trembling slightly. Orugio wrapped Keefree's hand in both of his. Warm. Orugio's palms were much warmer than he had imagined. His long, pale fingers gently supported the back of Keefree's hand. (*This isn't something friends do.*) Keefree's thoughts flashed that warning in an instant. But he couldn't pull his hand back. Orugio dipped the brush into the ink. The black liquid soaked into the tip. His fingers touched the back of Keefree's hand. Ticklish. The cold ink was laid onto his skin. With every movement of the brush, Orugio's fingers traced the back of his hand. (*What is this?*) Keefree felt like he might stop breathing. He lowered his eyes. Looking at his own hand made his heart feel even noisier. He raised his face. He could see Orugio's profile. His brows were slightly furrowed, concentrating on drawing the symbol. A serious face. The light of the mana lamp dimly illuminated his silver hair. (*He's beautiful.*) For some reason, he thought that. It wasn't something you should think about a man. He knew that. But he couldn't stop the warmth spreading deep in his chest. The brush stopped. "[gentle]Done." A complex symbol was drawn on the back of his hand. The black ink glistened, faintly wet. "[gentle]Try focusing your consciousness lightly. Do you feel anything at the tips of your fingers?" Keefree timidly directed his awareness to his fingertips. (*Nothing—*) No. Wrong. At his fingertips, a faint warmth. A tiny, tingling sensation. Like static electricity. But different. This was welling up from deep within himself. (*Mana.*) The sensation of mana flowing inside him, felt for the first time in his life. His eyes grew hot. He tried to say something. But his throat tightened, and no voice came out. He bit his lip. A faint tremor leaked through his teeth. (*Inside me... magic is...*) Something he hadn't felt even once in twenty-eight years. Something he had always yearned for, but could never reach. Now, it was tingling at his fingertips, definitely shining. "[gentle]...I'm glad." Orugio said quietly. Keefree nodded, his head still bowed. He squeezed his eyes shut so the tears wouldn't spill. Orugio was still holding Keefree's hand. "[gentle]Only for thirty minutes, though." He heard a voice that smiled slightly. But the hand holding his didn't let go. (*This warmth won't disappear in thirty minutes.*) Keefree thought absently. The ink on the back of his hand would eventually vanish. The sensation of mana would vanish too. But he felt that only the warmth of Orugio's hand would not disappear. Was this a feeling for a friend? Or. (*Maybe it's different.*) He felt something quietly beginning to stir deep in his heart. The corridor was silent. Leaving the secret room, the two of them walked back through the underground passage. The mana lamp flickered, casting long shadows on the walls. Keefree glanced at the back of his hand. The ink was already gone. Thirty minutes had passed. But the back of his hand still felt faintly warm. "[whispers]Next night, shall we draw a slightly more difficult symbol... on your arm?" Orugio said it without turning around. On his arm. Heat gathered in Keefree's cheeks. Directly on his skin. Not just his hand this time, but a wider area. (*This is magic practice.*) He told himself. (*It's just my heart pounding with anticipation for magic.*) But he couldn't fully believe it. On the way up the stairs from the second basement to the first floor, Keefree noticed a paper posted on the wall. He stopped. "[serious]...A new notice." His voice dropped slightly. Orugio also looked at it silently. Heptagram Calendar Year 1824, Spring — Council Ordinance No. 77. Strengthened enforcement against the possession and use of forbidden art-related items. Unauthorized entry into off-limits areas of academic institutions at night shall be subject to immediate reporting. Keefree checked the date written at the bottom of the paper. It was dated just yesterday. Until last week, this notice hadn't been here. (*The timing couldn't be worse.*) His chest went cold. What they had started tonight fell squarely under this. Possession and use of forbidden art-related items — mana ink was exactly that. Off-limits areas at night — a hidden room on the second basement level was the worst possible place. "[gentle]...Lately, it seems the hardliners within the Council are on the move." Orugio's voice was as calm as ever. But it was slightly lower than usual. "[serious]They're strengthening the crackdown on forbidden arts, driving out anyone they don't like, one after another. They're the type who don't hesitate to use dirty tricks." The Heptagram Council — the highest authority in magical administration. But within it, corrupt factions existed. Bribery, human trafficking, fabrication of evidence. People who wouldn't hesitate to socially annihilate anyone they disliked, all in the name of forbidden arts. (*If we're discovered—*) A chill ran down Keefree's spine. But. "[whispers]...Can I come again?" Those words came out of his own mouth. Orugio turned around. His deep blue eyes looked straight at Keefree. There was a silence for a moment. Orugio narrowed his eyes. A little softer than usual. With a warmth that seemed to be holding something back. "[gentle]...Of course." When he saw that smile, the depths of Keefree's chest grew warm again. It was strange to feel this way about a friend's smile. He knew that. But. (*But I want to see you tomorrow.*) Keefree murmured that in his heart. The two parted in front of the forbidden archive. Orugio headed to the researchers' dormitory in the Starcrest Tower. Keefree headed to the faculty dormitory of the Great Lecture Hall. At their parting, Orugio gave a small wave. Keefree awkwardly waved back. He walked alone through the corridor. Only his footsteps echoed—tap, tap. Keefree raised his right hand. He stared at the back of it. The ink was gone. The sensation of mana was gone too. But the back of his hand was still warm. The feeling of Orugio's palm still lingered. (*Next night, on my arm.*) He imagined it, and his cheeks grew hot. He told himself it was anticipation for magic. But somewhere in his heart, he knew that wasn't true. He returned to his room and lay down on the bed. He stared at the ceiling. He closed his eyes. What floated up was Orugio's profile, illuminated by the light of the mana lamp. His serious face, brows furrowed, moving the brush. Keefree clutched at his chest. (*This isn't a feeling you have for a friend.*) He acknowledged it clearly in his heart. But he still didn't have the courage to tell him. Unable to sleep, Keefree continued to stare at the ceiling. Only the warmth on the back of his hand remained, still not fading, in the darkness.