“I kind of want to take a quick look.”
“Me too.”
Paul lifted one eyebrow slightly.
“Alright. They’re not back yet.”
So the three of them went up to the building.
It truly did have a peculiar atmosphere about it.
Leah, caught between curiosity and unease, asked,
“Where’s the hidden passage?”
He gestured lightly to the side of the structure.
“This way.”
When they walked around the building, they found a stone staircase along its side.
“If you go down these steps and follow the underground path, you’ll come out beneath the stone monument near the meadow where we always meet.”
“Can’t we go back that way? I want to try it once.”
“The underground air feels strange too. It might make you feel sick. And the footing isn’t very good.”
“You use this path all the time, don’t you? So it’ll be fine.”
“But…”
Leah and Izaac looked at Paul expectantly until he finally relented.
“Alright. Watch your step, both of you. I’ll take you to the exit.”
“Okay!”
“Yeah!”
Paul retrieved a lantern he had hidden beneath the shade of a nearby tree.
“Let’s go, then.”
Leah and Izaac followed him down the stairs.
Her heart pounded as she walked behind Paul, Izaac bringing up the rear.
Paul’s back was straight, his golden hair shimmering faintly in the dim light.
Was her heart beating so loudly because they were descending underground like this on an adventure—or because Paul was so close?
Leah, who liked Paul, was staring at his back when she suddenly slipped.
“Ah!”
“Leah!”
Paul turned at once and caught her in his arms.
“Are you alright?”
“Yes.”
…I need to be careful…!
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine. I’m just glad you’re not hurt.”
Paul smiled warmly.
“But be careful.”
Blushing, Leah nodded.
I can’t lecture Mother about being careful when I’m the one who fell…
They carefully descended the rest of the stairs.
At the bottom stretched a dark corridor.
“So this leads beneath the meadow?” Izaac peered ahead.
“Yes. —Leah, it’s dangerous. Let’s hold hands.”
Leah took the hand Paul offered. His palm was warm.
Her heartbeat quickened, thudding in her chest.
“I’ll carry the lantern, then.”
Taking it from Paul, Izaac moved to the front and began walking.
After a short distance, he stopped.
“Is this wall… actually a door?”
The two behind him halted as well. Izaac was staring at the wall to the right.
Paul nodded.
“Yes. I think it’s a door.”
It blended seamlessly with the wall, yet intricate patterns were carved across it.
“It somehow feels like… the same atmosphere as that building.”
A cool, peculiar sensation lingered in the air. Leah looked up toward the ceiling.
“Judging by the position… does it connect to that building?”
“Yes.”
“Paul, wouldn’t it be alright if we just stepped inside for a moment?”
Paul gave a wry smile.
“It’s a prohibited area… and it’s locked.”
“Let’s try pushing it. It might open.”
There was no visible handle, so Izaac placed his palm against it and shoved.
The door did not budge.
“I told you. It’s locked.”
Leah studied the patterns intently.
Oh?
“Paul, these markings on the door—they look like the ones I saw in a book. A magic circle…”
“Yes. A magic circle.”
“Then if we use magic, might it open? Maybe the lock itself is magical. The three of us are casters, after all—we might be able to open it.”
Leah wielded Wind.
Paul wielded Star.
Izaac wielded Light.
Each of them possessed magic. In the village, only the three of them and Leah’s parents were casters.
Those who possessed magic were exceedingly rare. Star and Light were especially precious, her parents had said.
Paul shook his golden head.
“I don’t know.”
“Have you never thought about opening it?”
“I’ve thought about it. But I’ve never tried. It connects to a forbidden building. Truthfully, even this passage isn’t meant to be used. I only use it because otherwise I can’t go outside freely.”
“Aren’t you curious what’s inside?”
Leah knew she was.
“It doesn’t feel like a good presence.”
Paul frowned at the door. Under the weight of Leah’s and Izaac’s eager gazes, he gave a small shrug.
“…Alright. If it opens, we’ll take a look inside.”
“Yes.”
“Yeah.”
The three of them placed their hands upon the door and released their magic.
A sudden flash of light filled the space. The patterns flared with color, shifting from red to blue.
The door began to move slowly.
“It opened…”
