I Have the Sacred Sword?

Disappointment.

Four days had passed since Isuke lost all contact with Eleonora, and the mood within Alexia's group had significantly deteriorated, as the possibility of finding the sacred sword seemed increasingly distant.

Throughout this time, Isuke had kept to himself, searching for answers in silence.

Although he could no longer speak with Eleonora, he had a rough idea of her location based on her comment about not going further west, but...

What if it was a trap?

“We're back,” declared Alexia as she entered the tent accompanied by Leo and Camila.

“Welcome... still nothing,” Isuke said softly, keeping his gaze lowered.

Despite not having to participate in the hunting activities, since his friends had devised an alibi for him to stay in the tent to see if he could reestablish contact with Eleonora, it was embarrassing to utter those words every day.

Tomorrow would mark the fifth day, so the device would soon be ready to use again.

“Isuke,” said Leo as he approached to touch Isuke's shoulder.

“What happened?” asked Isuke, swallowing hard.

“Are you sure you have no idea where that sword is?”

‘Damn,’ thought Isuke, shifting his gaze to observe the expressions of Alexia and Camila.

Camila seemed restless, pacing back and forth while clenching her hands behind her back as if trying to hide her excitement.

Alexia, on the other hand, displayed a mix of interest and caution in her eyes. Her lips slightly pursed, her gaze fixed on Isuke.

Hesitating for a few seconds on what to answer, Isuke declared: “I have an idea, but it’s not certain.”

“We'll take the risk,” Leo declared immediately after hearing those words.

“We've already spoken with the group that was going to work with us to leave tomorrow, since we know the area better we have an idea of what we might encounter on the way. There will be two healers, three mages, and four fighters.”

“But I haven’t told you where we’re going…”

“As long as we go against the west, we can find it, right?” declared Leo decisively, cutting off Isuke.

Letting out a small chuckle that relieved some of the nerves he felt, Isuke replied: “If you already knew, why did you ask me earlier?”

“I just wanted to check. We'll take the risk, Isuke,” Leo declared with a smile.

This statement had a strong impact on Isuke, as for a long time, he had stopped taking risks due to the comfort he began to feel at the academy.

Food and a place to sleep ensured as long as he studied were enough to keep him satisfied even though he sometimes felt empty.

Although he was capable of using and understanding magic at a competent level, he never had the courage to go beyond because of fear.

Fear of having some mana reflux.

Fear of losing the ability to use magic.

Fear of... losing everything, but seeing with his own eyes how Alexia, his childhood friend who was extremely cautious despite the craziness she sometimes displayed in fights, accepted an idea like this where they could die...

“Look, it's just a guess, but yesterday when I went for a walk in the area where I first spoke with Eleonora... I felt a strange urge to go there,” said Isuke, lifting his hand to the northeast.

“Do you still feel that sensation right now?”

“Not here, but…”

“Then let's go check it out!”