Sincerely, Vanessa [EN]: Chapter 101

To Teacher, From Vanessa (1)

There was a rumor that someone had fallen in and suffered greatly in the lake. That the mud at the bottom sucked at their legs, nearly killing them. Because of this, the students never went into the lake, only occasionally dipping their feet in to play….

“Vanessa, is that you?”

Professor Marina appeared, holding a book in one hand and a lantern in the other. Wearing thick glasses, she seemed greatly surprised.

“Is that really you? What brings you here at this hour?”

“I already asked her.”

At the curt reply, Professor Marina glared at Professor Guido.

Standing between the two professors, who were on bad terms, Vanessa gave an awkward smile and quickened her pace. Finally, a huge tree loomed in the distance.

It was a place where she always had fun with her friends. On weekends after finishing assignments, or on days after exams, the students would spread out blankets nearby, eating snacks and chatting.

To the students of Bamberg Academy, the huge lake beneath the sprawling branches felt natural, without any reason to feel strange.

So, they had never observed it closely. Vanessa knelt down and slowly examined the lake.

The lake reflected the night sky like a mirror, making it seem as if the twinkling stars had fallen into the water. The surface was calm, with only occasional ripples caused by fish.

On the surface, it was so peaceful that Vanessa even doubted if her suspicions were correct.

Whether my suspicions are right or wrong, I need to go in. That’s the only way to be sure.

Vanessa took a deep breath to calm herself. Professor Guido summoned light to brighten the surroundings.

“Are you going in there? I could just drain the water.”

“You’re going to drain all the water from this huge lake?”

Vanessa asked in surprise, and Professor Guido pondered for a moment.

“I could do it. It would take some time, though.”

Vanessa thanked him and took off her coat, placing it beside her. She was too hurried to relax.

Professor Guido cast a spell to warm Vanessa and surrounded her with the light orbs he had created. Professor Marina watched Vanessa with an anxious expression.

“Oh, Aper is coming. He’s so slow.”

Vanessa, spotting a figure rushing towards them in the distance, gave a short laugh. Soon, she gathered the flow of air around her face to allow her to breathe underwater. Then, she quickly plunged into the water.

The lake water was very clear, but the many aquatic plants made visibility poor. Several flat, dark-colored fish slowly moved their fins, then darted away in surprise as Vanessa passed.

Struggling and flailing her arms and legs, Vanessa quickly admitted to herself that she had no talent for swimming. No matter how much she moved, she remained in the same spot.

Okay, this isn’t working. At this rate, I’ll only be able to return to Dalois by dawn.

Vanessa swallowed hard. After taking several deep breaths, she cast a spell to add weight to her body.

The spell, attempted with the image of her feet touching the bottom of the lake, succeeded instantly. Vanessa was pulled down to the bottom of the lake in an instant, without any time to prepare.

‘Ugh, ugh!’

After silently screaming dozens of times as her legs were tangled in the muddy bottom and aquatic plants, Vanessa’s eyes widened as she saw something faintly illuminated by the light. The light orbs that Professor Guido had given her spread out, widening her field of vision.

At the bottom of the deep lake, as Vanessa had expected, was the magic circle of the Night Bandalu [an obscure magical order].

Although partially obscured by mud, surprisingly thick pieces of Sharnai marble [a type of magical marble] were joined together, creating a perfect circle with the lines drawn on it.

As always, everything from the composition to the magic within was perfect. Even at a glance, one could tell how much effort had been put into it.

However, what caught Vanessa’s attention was not the magic circle itself. Revealed in the soft light were the corpses of animals surrounding the magic circle, with daggers stuck in them and blood flowing. The surroundings were filled with a hazy red mist.

Looking around, Vanessa felt the air layer around her face becoming thinner. Her heart pounded as she grew anxious.

She widened her eyes and focused. Soon, the corpses of the animals buried in the bottom began to float.

In the dark water, the sight of the small animal corpses, like rabbits, floating up was so grotesque that goosebumps rose on the back of her neck.

Fortunately, the animal corpses that someone had thrown did not properly damage the lines of the magic circle. There were some slightly faded areas, but not to the point of losing its function. It was definitely thanks to the water.

After confirming this, Vanessa released the spell on her body.

“Puhah!”

The professors pulled Vanessa up as she gasped for air and crawled onto the land. Professor Marina wiped the water running down Vanessa’s face with a handkerchief.

“Vanessa! It’s been so long. What is this?”

Professor Aper was flustered as he pulled out the animal corpses.

“Blood… is very effective at erasing magic circles.”

Vanessa caught her breath and roughly shook the water from her hair. Then, she instantly dried the moisture from her body.

The whole process felt so natural.

Even though she had been studying steadily for years, she had only realized the condition [referring to a magical awakening or breakthrough] a little over two months ago.

She had faced monsters for several hours and even used teleportation magic. She had used and maintained quite a variety of magic inside the lake.

But the magic power flowing through her body was still abundant. It flowed fiercely like a river, and its energy lingered at her fingertips.

Why does it feel like it’s getting stronger the more I use it?

“Vanessa, you’ve realized the condition. Congratulations. But a magic circle?”

The sudden voice interrupted Vanessa’s thoughts. Professor Aper looked very worried.

However, Vanessa couldn’t trust anyone.

“I’m really sorry. I can’t tell you.”

Vanessa carefully conveyed her meaning that she couldn’t trust anyone. Professor Guido scoffed.

“It’s absurd that a student who graduated from here would say that.”

Vanessa felt embarrassed by the short rebuke filled with disappointment. Professor Guido grumbled and made Vanessa step back.

“It’s obvious. There must be some kind of magic circle in there. Come on. Shouldn’t we just prevent anyone from approaching this lake?”

Professor Guido stomped his feet a few times. Even though it wasn’t a spoken spell, a short whisper followed.

Soon, golden lines began to rise from the earth and intertwine. It was like a loosely woven net of light.

Professor Aper scratched the tip of his nose awkwardly.

“So, the condition is revealed like this. I’m useless at night… Actually, I’m useless on rainy days too. But don’t worry. After reporting to the headmaster, I’ll perfectly protect it with a magic circle.”

“That’s why we call Aper a man like sunshine.”

Professor Guido mocked, and Professor Aper smiled awkwardly.

Vanessa swallowed her laughter and realized her magic.

Soon, the darkness dragged from the far side of the sky dyed the lakeside. Now, those who trespass near there will be deprived of their sight.

“That’s an interesting magic.”

“Someone I know is good at using things like this.”

Vanessa quickly put on her coat and prepared to leave. Then, she paused for a moment and asked carefully.

“Who put these corpses here?”

“It must be someone from inside. It’s not a place where outsiders can easily enter.”

Professor Marina pulled out a dagger stuck in the corpse and examined it. As if it hadn’t been in the water for long, the blade was smooth without any damage.

“It doesn’t show any regional characteristics. There’s no pattern. It’s clear that it was made this way on purpose.”

Nevertheless, Vanessa thought that catching the culprit would be very easy.

If they approached this lake, it was likely a student, and someone must have witnessed it. There were many places in the academy where the lights didn’t go out until late at night.

They needed solid evidence to pressure the culprits. Evidence so clear that pulling out one would bring out a string of others.

However, sending investigators to the academy was something she was reluctant to do. This place protects and teaches students, so it would confuse them.

Nevertheless, it was something that had to be done.

“Investigators will come as soon as it’s light. Until then, please don’t say anything.”

Vanessa hesitated for a moment and added.

“But please protect the other students well. I’ve never felt any anxiety here, not even once.”

It’s thanks to you professors. At Vanessa’s words, added with a faint smile, Professor Guido coughed loudly.

“Vanessa, I don’t know where you’re going, but be careful. If you need help, you can ask for it here. Professor Guido will help you well.”

Professor Marina patted the back of Vanessa’s hand as she said. Professor Guido made an absurd expression, but Vanessa smiled.

And she started running again to return to Dalois.

It was a really busy night.

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

Vanessa ran all the way to Seogot and teleported back to Veloz’s village. After running non-stop and having her magic power drain from her body due to teleportation magic, she felt like she was about to faint.

“Ugh….”

I want to lie down. The narrow lodging that comes out when you open the old green door, even the small, hard bed inside, I miss it.

I felt like I could even sleep on the floor for hours without waking up. I wouldn’t want anything more than just a thin blanket.

“I have to run again….”

Vanessa gritted her teeth and started running towards where Dalois was.

Dalois was unharmed in the place where she had been panting and running for a long time. There was some slight scorching, but the reason was clear.

Because flames were erupting around him.

“Oh, Vanessa! You’re back?”

“Wow, it’s the crazy lieutenant. Where are you going alone without even knowing it’s dangerous?”

The man was clearly Captain Sleiman. Flames spewed out madly from around the man, who was wearing a special forces uniform and skipping like he was dancing.

“W-Won’t a fire break out?”

“I’ll just put it out.”

With a simple gesture, the burning fire disappeared, leaving only traces, and the wriggling branches crumbled black and fell to the floor. Vanessa stared at the strange sight.

Vanessa looked at the sky. The light of dawn was burning far away at the end of the forest.

Vanessa stole the edge of the dawn and shoved the light into the monster’s body. Captain Sleiman whistled at the unique magic, and Dalois swung his axe with excitement.

Thus, the moon set and the sun began to rise.

As the brilliant light swept across the earth, the ‘Branches of Dotram’ [a type of monster] stopped moving, and the other monsters fled into the darkness.