In the middle of the white wastes, the dimensional crack opened, spilling out three people.
In front of Akira and his friends lay a mysterious expanse of ice and snow. A snowstorm raged nearby. He could see the same large citadel in the distance as it appeared when viewed from Ryoto. A colossal, enigmatic keep towered over a deep chasm. Around them, he spotted a small cave that looked like a shelter for hapless wanderers. Many roads from this spot led to different parts of the icy realm, but right now, only one seemed to be chosen by the three of them.
Akira stood, helping Liza and Merlina to their feet. He barked as he tried to be louder than the snowstorm itself, covering his face with a hand.
Akira: "We need to hide, NOW!"
Merlina yelled through the snowstorm as well.
Merlina: "DON'T NEED TO TELL ME TWICE, FRESHMAN!"
Liza was the only one who appeared unprepared for this turn of events.
Liza: "So c-c-cold. I think I'm going to freeze to death."
She sat there in the snow in her maid uniform, with her legs apart, knees touching, and facing each other.
Akira: "Merlina, light the path ahead!"
Merlina growled like an old lighthouse keeper.
Merlina: "Aye, aye, sir!"
She lit the path through the snowstorm raging against them. Akira scooped Liza up in his arms, holding her close.
Liza whispered, still barely tolerating the cold.
Liza: "Senpai..."
Akira: "Hold on, Liza. We need to reach that cave over there!"
The three of them advanced toward the cave, stepping into the darkness of the unknown ahead.
To Akira's surprise, the cave was empty—only a cold bonfire remained.
Akira: "I wonder if it's possible that somebody was here right before us."
Merlina, still holding her staff with a light glowing at its tip, observed the cave and the tunnel leading further into the darkness.
Liza: "C-c-cold, Senpai. I hate c-c-cold."
Akira, still holding her, sighed tiredly.
He could understand her. In the Dreamscape, you felt almost everything as if it were real, even though you knew it wasn't exactly so. Even when a person sees a regular nightmare playing in their head, they know it's just a dream, but the fear they feel is real. The same was true for Liza at the moment—her hatred of the cold was real, although Akira and Merlina both had a certain resilience to elemental effects, including bad weather.
Akira: "Can you light the fire already?"
Merlina giggled apologetically.
Merlina: "Oh, sorry!"
She struck the remains of the bonfire, igniting a magical, marigold-hued flame that burned warm and bright.
Akira sat with Liza, still holding her. He tore off a piece of fabric from his Dreamscape uniform and expanded it tenfold, like a mantle. She wrapped herself in the black veil, and Akira finally let her go.
Liza reached for the fire, her voice shaking.
Liza: "T-t-thank you."
Merlina: "A warrior becomes a magician!"
Akira narrowed his eyes with a foxy grin.
Akira: "My teacher taught me a few tricks."
Merlina felt complimented.
Merlina: "Ho-ho!"
A little echo resounded throughout the cave with every sound they made.
Akira extended his hands toward the fire.
Akira: "Neat trick, Merlina."
Merlina: "You bet!"
Akira observed the cave. Inside, textured walls and ceilings displayed a snowy sapphire hue. Bright tongues of fire in the center cast dancing shadows behind their backs.
He sighed.
Akira: "How do you feel, Liza?"
Liza: "I'm a burden to you two."
She mumbled it with a sad expression.
Merlina sat around the fire, putting her staff away and adjusting her hat.
Merlina: "Who tells you that, dear? You're a valuable asset. You don't know it yet!"
Akira: "Nice way to give a girl a compliment."
He took a branch from around the fire and started poking at the magical flames.
Merlina: "Maybe stop blaming others and set an example yourself, hm?"
She hid her eyes behind her pointed hat as she said it.
Liza: "You all can do all this mumbo jumbo, and I just feel useless."
She rubbed her hands and stretched them out toward the fire, sitting there with a sad expression on her face.
Akira: "Don't be harsh on yourself, Liza. It's a miracle we even found this cave... or got teleported in front of it, more like."
Liza: "I still can't get it! How is this thing even getting inside my head?"
Merlina: "I think it's very easy to explain."
The flames danced and flickered, mirrored in the depths of her narrowed gaze.
Merlina: "I think it's very important for us to be here. Since we can't go back to your city-double right now, we need to explore this place."
Akira: "Extraordinary logic, cat."
Merlina: "Any bright ideas coming from you, freshman?"
Akira: "I wonder if I can conjure the portal and just return at least Liza back to her pocket plane."
Liza crossed her arms over her chest and pouted.
Liza: "I knew it, Senpai. All this time, you just want to get rid of me!"
Akira: "Obviously not. I just want to save you, Liza."
Liza: "If only I could resist this cold like you two do. How do you not feel it?"
Merlina: "Akira and I have elemental resistances. Did Akira-boya already explain to you how the enchantment works?"
Liza glanced at Akira.
Liza: "Nope."
Akira: "We got our clothes enchanted by Merlina, Liza. Remember when I talked to Alloces about the 'memory of the blade'? Same thing, just for our clothing."
Liza beamed at Merlina.
Liza: "Mel, you're awesome!"
Another compliment caused Merlina to smile.
Merlina: "Well, thank you, sweetie. But you should know it doesn't come cheap. After every fight, or whenever we explore some corner of our 'majestical' realm called the Dreamscape, I have to gather a kind of ethereal substance. An echo of real enchantments, magical weapons, or anything like that. Sort of like magical scraps."
Akira: "Long story short, I think while we're here, she can conjure an attire just for you, Liza. For free."
Merlina: "Huh? Nothing these days comes cheap, freshman! Where did you even find that word in your head—'free', heh!"
Akira: "Not so soul-sisterly now that she's in trouble?"
Merlina: "Well..."
Liza: "Pretty please, Miss Merlina!"
Merlina: "Ah, darn it! You did it again. But I'm only doing it this once. Do you know how tiring it is to gather that stuff? And you need to put it in your magical bag and..."
She started rummaging through her dress.
Akira: "...And just do this already!"
Merlina: "This boy never listens..."
Liza: "What's a magical bag?"
Merlina: "Our storage. Like a bottomless sac de voyage!"
Liza: "Suck de what?"
Merlina sighed.
Akira: "In translation, it's our storage place. It's like a pocket plane, but for important items."
Liza: "Like inventory?"
Akira spread his hands.
Akira: "Something like that."
Merlina: "Okay, girl, stand up! Let me look at ya."
Liza stood up, with Akira following right after.
Akira: "I'll try to open the portal."
Liza, still cloaked in the black cloth, made a dissatisfied grimace.
Liza: "Boo, Senpai! I want to stay with you two!"
Akira: "I just need to check if we can still travel back and escape this place."
Merlina: "On with you, Liza, dear. Come closer."
Behind the bonfire, Merlina gestured for Liza to come closer.
Liza nodded with a smile.
Liza: "Sure."
Akira stood in front of the fire with the sword floating behind him, while Merlina tried to conjure an outfit for Liza. To Akira's surprise, even though he felt more connected to the Dreamscape than usual, the portal he conjured collapsed — something was blocking it. It felt different from the Megaron gauntlet.
Akira: "Guessed so. We're trapped."
Merlina glanced at him from beneath her pointed hat.
Merlina: "Not necessarily trapped, my pupil."
Akira sat by the fire again with a heavy sigh.
Akira: "Whatever."
Liza: "What do you need to make it happen, Mel? Maybe I can help."
Merlina stood in front of Liza, moving her hands in practiced motions as she scanned her. From time to time, a yellow hue glowed faintly from her palms.
Merlina sounded strictly focused.
Merlina: "You just stand here, sweetie, don't move."
Liza grimaced as she tried to make another goofy salute, but restrained herself to obey the command, not twitching even a finger.
Merlina glanced at her with a grin.
Merlina: "You're worrying too much. Nothing bad will happen to ya."
Yet Liza was afraid to make even a sound.
Akira: "You obviously can talk, Liza. Any light movements are allowed, too. Merlina just needs to project your body, put the outfit on you, and that's it."
Merlina: "Just like he said, although it's not THAT easy for me, dear."
Liza clenched her little fists and pressed her lips, standing there as if she were a knight on parade.
As the fiery marigold light shone, her maid's attire crumbled, becoming one with the color of fire. While the light burned parts of her current outfit, delicate parts of her body started to be visible both to Merlina and to Akira. Akira covered his face with his palm.
Liza made a squeak.
Liza: "I ASKED YOU TO INVITE HIM IN MY POCKET PLANE SOMETIMES, BUT I DIDN'T ASK YOU TO UNDRESS ME RIGHT IN FRONT OF HIM. MEL, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"
Merlina giggled.
Merlina: "Told you, it's not that simple."
Liza appeared almost naked, clutching at herself in a desperate attempt to cover the most important parts of her body. At that moment, a bluish light shimmered to life, wrapping around her and casting a glow that began shaping the outline of her new outfit.
Piece by piece, the fabric came into being. It was a gray-brown dress with a soft, leather-like sheen, sharply tailored to her form. Gold detailing lined the lapels, buttons, and belt, catching the firelight with a refined gleam. The entire ensemble gave off a dignified, almost Victorian feel. Beneath the hem, black thigh-high stockings completed the transformation with a bold contrast.
She stood there, bathed in Merlina's magical light, her new attire seeming to have formed from the air itself. Like a magical girl or a princess, Liza faced Merlina in stunned silence. Akira blinked twice, unable to believe his eyes that Merlina had conjured this outfit right here and now.
Akira sat with his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.
Akira: "Not bad, Merlina."
Merlina: "Let's hope you won't freeze to death now, dear."
Liza appeared embarrassed for a moment, and she got even more flustered when she looked down at her newly conjured skirt.
Liza: "Mel! I mean, I'm grateful and all, but what is this?!"
She held her skirt, trying to hide the dark stockings and the bare skin above them.
Merlina: "What do you mean? Your maid outfit was even more revealing than this one. You even got an overskirt!"
Liza: "Well, yeah, but this one looks a bit too striking, I think."
She mumbled the last part under her breath so Akira wouldn't overhear.
Merlina: "Nonsense, girly. This one's a masterpiece. Ask Akira if you don't believe me."
Liza glanced at Akira, then turned her full body toward him, clearly hoping he would give his verdict.
She mumbled softly.
Liza: "So what do you think, Senpai?"
Akira slightly choked.
Akira: "Well, I..."
Now it was Merlina who gave him an executioner's look.
He choked again and quickly covered his mouth with his fist.
Akira: "I mean, you look dashing, Liza. Very attractive... I mean, that wasn't my point. I hope it also protects you well."
Liza shyly giggled.
Liza: "Ha, thank you, Senpai."
Merlina playfully gave her a bump with her staff.
Merlina: "Told you. A promise is a promise."
Akira's eye twitched in annoyance.
Akira: "What was that about?"
Merlina jolted with a giggle.
Merlina: "He-he. Nothing."
Akira: "Right."
He stood up.
Akira: "We need to continue exploring this place. Since we're trapped here anyway, maybe we should take that tunnel. I still can't shake what the owl told us..."
He paused, narrowing his eyes at the fire, like he was talking to himself.
Akira: "There waits a friend you must unseal. Hm."
Liza: "Maybe someone got trapped here, too. Like that rude professor."
Akira: "He wasn't trying to do anything to you. It was Alloces controlling him at some point. Though I can't say we'll meet anyone we know here. This part of the Dreamscape is ancient and far from Ryoto. I wonder what this place even is."
He glanced at Merlina, hoping for an answer.
Merlina: "I told you. If the guardian sent us here, it must be important."
Akira: "I get that, but what IS this place?"
She shrugged.
Merlina: "Beats me."
Akira: "Very informative, 'storyteller'."
Merlina: "I'm not embarrassed if I don't know something, laddie."
Akira: "Uh-huh."
Merlina: "You're no fun at all, freshman. Where's your sense of adventure?"
Akira: "I left it behind, along with your sanity. Sorry."
Liza giggled.
Merlina: "Always so cranky."
Akira: "Let's take the tunnel. And don't forget to put out the fire."
Merlina: "As you command, Monsignor!"
She made a goofy curtsy.
All three of them proceeded through the tunnel.
Liza: "I wonder what Baldy's doing now."
She walked in the middle, flanked by Merlina, lighting the way ahead, with Akira following behind her.
Akira: "Let's hope he doesn't get involved in this. But I think I can summon him here if needed."
Merlina seemed surprised.
Merlina: "You can? How?"
Akira: "He gave me his bracelet."
Liza: "I remember! I thought it was just some ancient relic, like he was repaying you for leading us out of that dark Greek dungeon!"
As they continued down the shadowy corridor, Akira tried to explain.
Akira: "We handled that together, Liza. I'm not the one who deserves all the credit. If anything, you did more during the fight with him."
Liza: "Bah! Don't be modest, Senpai. Merlina told me how strong you are!"
Akira gave Merlina a grin she could feel along her spine, even without seeing his face.
Akira: "What exactly did you tell her, Mel? I hope it was a very flattering and heroic story."
Merlina: "Oh, don't gimme that raccoon face! I told her what she needed to know about you, that's all."
Akira: "Every minute you stay in human form, you sound like a raccoon yourself, Sensei."
He grinned again.
Liza: "I just noticed... Mel, how come you sound older and older by the minute?"
Merlina: "You gave away my Achilles' heel, didn't you, freshman?"
Akira cackled.
Akira: "Well, I won't say I'm not enjoying watching you grow a little wiser every minute you're in this form."
Liza turned her head back and forth between them.
Liza: "I don't get what you guys are talking about?"
Still illuminating the tunnel with her staff, Merlina barked at Akira.
Merlina: "Go on, tell her EVERYTHING, you cranky bat!"
Akira giggled.
Akira: "Only with your permission. You know how generous I am."
Merlina: "Oh, thank you, sir!"
Liza: "Is it a secret, Merlina?"
Merlina: "Obviously not. But like I said, I'm letting him do the honors and explain it."
Liza glanced at Akira and whispered.
Liza: "Can you just tell me already?"
Akira sighed.
Akira: "Well... you see, when Merlina's in her cat form, she sounds younger. When she's in her human form, her voice gets older. It's not like she turns into a full-on granny or suddenly becomes a baby—it just works in a way that's hard for me to explain."
Merlina: "Oh, you loggerhead! I'm old, okay? That's it. I lived a long life before I woke up in the Dreamscape with no memories and met Akira in this world. Some things I remember, but not everything. Parts of my memory keep coming back, while others are completely sealed. When I shift into a cat, I feel younger. When I shift into a human, I feel older. That's all. Nothing extraordinary."
Akira: "Yet you already sound like a 'baba'."
Merlina: "'Baba', he says!"
Liza giggled.
Liza: "You might sound older, Merlina, but you still look young and beautiful."
Merlina: "Finally, a well-behaved girl travels with me. Unlike some rude boys!"
Akira let out a satisfied smile.
Akira: "A cranky bat deserves a cranky old baba to keep him company."
Merlina: "Dimwit!"
Akira giggled again.
Liza: "Have you two known each other for a long time?"
She tilted her head and turned slightly toward Merlina.
Merlina: "It's been almost ten years."
Liza: "Wow."
Akira: "Less than ten, for sure. I don't think I could tolerate her for more than that."
Merlina: "Oh yeah? How about I stop lighting the path and smack you with this very staff?"
Just then, Akira noticed something ahead.
Akira: "Not necessarily now. But you can slap me after we see what's in there."
He pointed his finger toward the open space revealed beyond the next corner of the tunnel.
Upon finally emerging from the narrow tunnel, the three of them faced a cryptic sight. Two snowy paths stretched out in opposite directions beneath an endless rampart of ice, which soared upward toward a sky half-shrouded by jagged ice cliffs. Snowflakes drifted gently through the narrow opening where the sky was visible, the rest sealed off by a towering icy wall.
A deep chasm far to the left carved its way around the rampart, separating Akira and his allies from the frozen monolith. Though a narrow road stretched ahead, their path to the right was blocked by a colossal slab of glacial glass: smooth, translucent, and shaped like a giant egg, trapped within a massive icy arch that jutted from the wall behind it.
While Liza and Akira observed their surroundings, Merlina extinguished the light at the tip of her staff and playfully smacked Akira on the back.
Akira: "Hey, what was that for, Sensei?"
Merlina: "You earned it, naughty boy!"
He scratched the back of his head with a tired smile.
Liza: "Wow. This ice egg is so big. I wonder what's behind it."
Akira: "We don't have time to spend here, but we can check it just in case."
He proceeded forward, with both Liza and Merlina following him. To Akira's surprise, when he got close to the slab of giant ice, he could see a blurry image of Cleo Williams.
Liza: "Cleo!"
She dashed toward her friend without thinking.
Akira: "Liza, be careful, it might be an illusion!"
He extended his hand as he tried to stop her.
Merlina mumbled.
Merlina: "Very interesting indeed."
She came closer to Akira.
Merlina: "It's this girl from the first day, huh? Told you we're gonna meet her."
Akira whispered back.
Akira: "Very funny, Sensei. How about we gather the whole RIU university here, just for fun, and force them to fight dragons."
Merlina: "Good idea!"
Akira gave her a deadpan expression.
Akira: "Shut up."
He waved at her and followed Liza, who stood before the ice block and tried to reach the person who stood behind.
Akira: "Liza, I told you we need to be caref..."
Liza: "But it is her, Senpai! Look, she's stuck there!"
Akira narrowed his eyes before standing before the ice block. Akira saw the girl behind the ice block; she looked exactly like Cleo Williams in her RIU female uniform and little white skirt. Standing there as if she were in some kind of trance.
Liza tried to focus her magic and melt the ice.
Liza: "Witchfire!"
Green flame spawned from her hands and struck the ice, but nothing happened. The green flame disappeared after contact with the ice block.
Liza: "Dammit!"
Liza appeared to be crushed by her failure, as she thought she would finally be somewhat useful to the team.
Liza: "My magic and I are useless after all."
She tried to touch the ice with her palm as she was trying to reach Cleo behind it telepathically.
Akira: "You're wrong, Liza, this block of ice is not ordinary."
Akira stood behind her with his sword, crossing his arms.
Merlina approached them from behind, standing on Akira's right side.
Merlina: "You don't say it, freshman. Something tells me even the three of us combined can't break this crystal egg."
Merlina stepped in with her staff and tried to touch and explore the ice block.
Liza: "Cleo!"
Liza sounded desperate.
Liza: "Work, damn it! Fire!"
She again tried to let out a portion of her green fire, but as she released another green fireball, it struck the ice and made a little shockwave that made her bounce back.
Liza: "Ah."
Akira jumped to the place where she was supposed to fall and caught her.
Akira: "Careful."
Liza fell on him in her new dress, blushing like a peach.
Liza: "Thanks. Argh, I'm useless, Senpai, utterly useless!"
She seemed grateful at first, but then an outburst of inner rage surfaced again. Angry at herself, she clenched her fists and playfully punched Akira's arms.
Akira: "Liza..."
Merlina playfully struck the block of ice two times with her staff. Just before Liza was thrown back toward Akira, she took a step away, as if she knew what was about to happen.
Merlina: "You can't do much, Liza, dear. We don't need brute force. We need a plan!"
Liza turned her head to her.
Liza: "What can we do, Miss Merlina?"
Merlina made the expression of the wisest advisor in the entire history of people giving advice.
Merlina: "First of all—"
But she got interrupted by Akira.
Akira: "I'm going to summon Zhenzhen."
Liza looked at him desperately.
Liza: "Do you think Baldy can help us?"
Merlina stood in front of them with her staff and arms crossed, mad at Akira for interrupting her.
Akira: "He's a monk after all, and as I recall, an adept at using both ice and fire. He told me if I ever needed him, I could use his bracer."
Merlina still glared at him, disappointed.
Akira raised his hand, allowing her to speak.
Akira: "You may continue your speech, Merlina. I just needed to warn you all before summoning him here."
Merlina: "Always so disrespectful!"
Playing the queen of all dramas, Merlina brought the back of her hand to her face, pretending to be deeply offended.
Akira: "You can stop being an absolute jester and start explaining your plan, whisker."
Merlina: "Not until you apologise to me, my pupil."
Akira sighed.
Akira: "Suit yourself, cat."
Liza, still feeling sad, giggled again.
Akira rolled up his sleeve, focusing his willpower on his wrist and projecting the golden bracer locked onto his hand as he summoned the golden bracer.
Akira: "Now, the question is—how do I even summon Zhen here? Do I need to talk to it, or..."
Merlina: "Try to rub it like a magic lamp!"
She smiled dangerously.
Akira: "Uh-huh."
Merlina: "What?"
Akira: "I'll do it my own way, Sensei."
Merlina: "Always need to be skeptical."
Akira: "Always need to be aware that my 'Sensei' has the mindset of a ten-year-old girl!"
Merlina: "Raaawr."
Akira glanced at Liza.
Akira: "Imagine living with her in your head for almost ten years..."
Liza giggled again.
Merlina: "What's that supposed to mean, freshman? You know I can be useful too!"
Akira: "Whatever. Just let me figure out how to summon Zhen here."
Akira observed the golden bracer once more. Ancient phoenix and monk figures were carved into it. He gently ran his finger over the surface, as if trying to reach out to his friend across a great distance.
He closed his eyes, extended the arm bearing the bracer, and thundered.
Akira: "Ars Goetia! Zhenzhen Mao! Hear my call, come forth before me! We need your aid once more, my friend!"
Merlina purred to herself.
Merlina: "My disciple always needs to be so dramatic. I wonder where that influence came from."
A slight shock went through Liza as she stepped away from Akira. After Akira's thunderous voice rang out, a figure began to materialise before them. A small, bald figure—embodying both fire and ice—took shape, with a tiny firebird hovering above him. Zhenzhen stood before the three of them in his monk's robe, looking exactly as he had at the Megaron.
He raised his hand, barely noticeable.
Zhenzhen Mao: "Ars Goetia, resilience."
His expression, calm and friendly, was a stark contrast to the one he wore at the Megaron, back when they were still opponents. Now he seemed happy to see them again.
He hugged himself and gave a little shiver after casting a cold resistance spell.
Zhenzhen: "Quite cold in here."
Akira dashed toward him.
Akira: "Zhen!"
Liza followed Akira as they ended up standing right in front of him.
Akira: "I'm so glad you're with us again."
Liza shied away a little.
Liza: "Hi."
Zhenzhen let out a smile.
Zhenzhen: "Not going to call me 'baldy' again?"
Liza waved at him, embarrassed.
Liza: "Feh! It's all in the past. I'm also glad you're here, too. We're in dire need of your help, Zhenzhi!"
Zhenzhen looked puzzled. His eyes asked—Z-z-zenzhi?!
Akira glanced at her.
Akira: "Very unusual way to spell his name, Liza."
Liza put her hands on her hips.
Liza: "I know I can sometimes be rude, Senpai! You don't need to remind me, alright?! I'm sorry, okay?"
Akira chuckled.
Akira: "I didn't even say anything."
Liza: "But I know what you thought!"
Merlina got closer to them all, raising her hand dramatically.
Merlina: "We've got a mind reader in our little gathering—conceal your minds, boys. She can read your naughty thoughts!"
Liza: "Wha... No way."
Zhenzhen: "I don't have such thoughts, Miss Merlinaza."
Merlina threw up her hands.
Merlina: "Look at that, freshman—another polite member in our group! You could learn from them. Eh-eh."
She poked Akira with her elbow.
Akira let out a tired expression.
Akira: "Save it, Cat-astrophe."
A loud giggle from Liza prompted a sincere smile from Zhenzhen.
Merlina: "What was that? Ah... I knew it. Another dull knife in the back from my APURRentice. Dishonourable brute!"
Akira: "Anyway, Zhen, we're in deep trouble. I need to explain what this place is."
Akira recounted the whole story of how they got there in the first place.
Zhenzhen nodded.
Zhenzhen: "To be honest, I was in the middle of a fight of my own. I entered a museum in the Dreamscape, trying to reach the relic—the second Bracer, if you remember. And I was attacked by some large, ogre-like creature wearing a mask. A strong and dangerous foe."
Liza's eyes widened.
Liza: "An ogre?!"
Merlina: "Sometimes I think our witch girl has a thing for big, scary monsters, kidnapping, or being trapped by them."
Liza faced Merlina, putting a finger to her lips and attempting a whisper, which came out more like a hiss.
Liza: "Shh! Shut it, Merlina! I told you it's my dark secret!"
Akira and Zhenzhen exchanged glances.
Akira: "Well, as you can see, we're stuck here—and I don't know for how long."
Zhenzhen: "What's with the ice block?"
Akira: "It's the reason we summoned you."
Zhenzhen nodded.
Zhenzhen: "I see. I can try striking it with all my might to crack it open."
Liza: "Wait! Akira forgot to mention there's a person trapped behind it. It's Cleo—Cleo Williams, from your group."
Zhenzhen nodded again.
Zhenzhen: "I remember her. So... somehow, we need to reach her first. Did you try opening portals or phasing inside?"
Akira: "Nothing seems to work for us."
Merlina: "I mean, I could try, but..."
She waved her staff, and an amber crack collapsed in front of her.
Merlina: "Like I said—sadly, all bold options are forfeit now."
Zhenzhen scratched his bald head at the mention of "bold".
Liza giggled a little.
Akira: "You guys... Well, since we can't reach Cleo by summoning portals, maybe we can—"
Liza shouted.
Liza: "Guys, look! She's waving at us!"
Just like she said, Cleo Williams stood behind the block of ice, looking frightened. She waved at them as if pleading for help.
Liza rushed toward the ice block again.
Liza: "Cleo! Can you hear me? Cleo!"
Cleo cried out from behind the ice, but her voice was too soft to pierce the frozen barrier.
Liza turned to her allies.
Liza: "Guys, can't you just do something already?!"
Akira rushed forward just as she finished.
He tried to reach Cleo with gestures, waving back at her and starting to articulate slowly, attempting to explain their situation using hand signals.
Merlina followed, with Zhenzhen beside her.
Merlina: "Do you really think she can understand all that, freshman?"
Akira: "We won't know unless we try."
Liza cast a small burst of magic toward the ice block. It resonated again, snuffing out her flame with a little shock wave.
Liza: "God darn it!"
Merlina patted her on the shoulder.
Merlina: "Be patient, Liza dear."
Liza: "But wha—"
Zhenzhen cut her off.
Zhenzhen: "I can use my Resonant Touch technique, but it will take time. I'll land soft punches on the ice, little by little, leaving an echo inside it. After a while, it may be possible to form a crack within this giant ice egg, and with Akira's help, we can strike it and split it in half from within."
Akira nodded with approval.
Akira: "Great idea, Zhen!"
They exchanged glances.
Liza: "Don't tell me I'm going to stand here being useless again?"
Merlina: "We could observe from afar, obviously. But I have a better idea, sweetie."
She raised her staff and pointed it toward the ice block.
Merlina: "Like I said, sometimes it's better to use your head instead of your instincts or brute power. We can help those two. I'll charge a light halo through my staff and try to melt the ice. You'll help me."
As she began channelling her power, Liza looked confused.
Liza: "But what am I supposed to do, Miss Merlina?"
Merlina: "Stand behind me. Close your eyes. I'll channel a halo at the edge of my staff—meanwhile, you conjure your green flame. Together, we'll combine our power to melt it faster."
Akira: "Sounds like a desperate idea, Merlina. You know your powers are opposites."
Merlina gave him a playful glare.
Merlina: "Desperate times, desperate measures, my boy."
As they talked, Zhenzhen began to land his Resonant Touch punches on the ice. Theoretically, he could've smashed the block outright using brute force together with Phoenix. But he realised doing so might shatter it violently, sending shards toward them—or Cleo—inside her frozen prison.
Just like that, the four of them stood ready. Liza and Merlina channelling their magic.
Zhenzhen rhythmically struck the ice. Akira, standing tall with his sword raised, ready to strike together with Zhenzhen, to slice the barrier and free their friend from her icy prison.