In the humble hut, Isma sat beside him, listening attentively. She reminded Nidhogg of Schierke and Erica, the adopted daughter of the blacksmith Godo.
Ever since she was forced to leave the Spirit Tree Pavilion, Schierke had been curiously observing the world outside the Spirit Tree Forest, asking everyone all sorts of absurd questions. Only recently had she adapted to the way people lived.
Erica lived with Godo in the mountains, near a small village and town, which served as her only channels for understanding the outside world.
By the way, Isma's situation was very similar to Schierke's and Erica's.
She was born on this isolated island, surrounded by an endless sea. The people she had encountered up to now were either islanders or passing sailors. Her understanding of the outside world might be even worse than Schierke's or Erica's.
Nidhogg chose what to say and told Isma, satisfying the girl's curiosity. Then he asked about her life story.
Isma sat on the chair without any particular posture, her bare feet swinging, and said calmly:
"My mother left me very early, at least before I can remember. My father never mentioned her until about two or three years ago."
"My father didn't come back in time on a night of the full moon. His boat capsized on the shore. They said he had angered the island's Sea God. He swam back to shore and died, and then he became very ill."
"Before he died, he told me that one day my mother would come back to take me away. He asked me to wait here. So I've waited until today."
Nidhogg comforted Isma, who was quite confident. He connected the mermaid who had shown them the way earlier with Isma. Then he asked about the Sea God.
"The Sea God is the Sea God. Everyone says he lives deep in a cave under the cliff of Sea God Island. They say that if he catches islanders, they'll go missing for a few days and then come back acting strangely."
"There were three people in the village who disappeared on a night of the full moon. When they came back, they were delirious. Everyone said they had angered the Sea God. Soon after, the three vanished completely."
"My father was afraid of being caught by the Sea God. After his boat capsized, he desperately swam back to shore. Although he swam fast enough, he was still seriously injured and couldn't get out of bed after returning home."
"He couldn't explain what happened that night. He only warned me never to go deep into the cave under that cliff, especially on a night of the full moon."
Nidhogg chatted with Isma for a long time. When night fell, Isma lit some candles, bid him farewell, and left.
"Wouldn't it be nice if you just lived here?" Isma seemed a little reluctant to end the conversation.
Nidhogg shook his head and chuckled: "You're really too trusting. It's fine that it's us, but if it were someone else, you shouldn't do this. Alright, I'm going back to my companions."
"I'm not stupid. I just know who is a good person and who is a bad person. That's why I told you this." Isma put her hands on her hips and replied, not entirely convinced.
Nidhogg thought for a moment and realized this might be some kind of talent of Isma's—the ability to sense good and bad intentions, like Flora, Schierke, Puck, and Ivalera.
He still didn't stay. Waving goodbye to Isma at the door, he looked up at the sky.
The full moon was bright. Its divine beauty made him feel comfortable both physically and mentally.
At that moment, Nidhogg's arms moved. He saw Miniature Ranni, who hadn't moved in a long time, poke her little head out. She glanced at Nidhogg and then coughed delicately.
Nidhogg reached out, took Miniature Ranni into his palm, and held one of her little feet. The exquisite snow witch, like a doll, stood on his palm.
"I sensed it," Little Ranni said. "Tonight is the night of the full moon. When magic is at its peak, the door to the barrier of the Raya Lucaria Academy opens."
"It seems Rogier's information is accurate. And we timed it quite well this time," Nidhogg said.
"So, are we going to enter the Magic Academy this time? Or should we deal with the Minor Erdtree first and wait for the next full moon?"
"This time. I'll go back first and talk with Flora and Guts."
"Alright. I haven't been to the Magic Academy in a long time. If you take me to my mother, perhaps the battle for the Magic Academy will be resolved quite simply."
When Nidhogg returned to the camp, the core members of the Spirit Tree Company had gathered in one huge tent.
Flora was making the final preparations before her spirit projection. The two little witches, Schierke and Farnese, were helping to place spiritual items in their respective directions. Puck and Ivalera flew around, assisting.
Guts and Serpico stood guard to the side. When Flora's spirit left her body, it would be her most vulnerable moment. The guard of Guts and the others was one of the guarantees for the success of this journey.
Nordic and Manifico couldn't help themselves and simply stood to the side, watching curiously.
"You talked with that mermaid for a long time." Flora was in her wheelchair. Seeing Nidhogg approach, she smiled and asked, "What's her name?"
"Isma. How did you know she's a mermaid?"
"Her body is followed by many water elementals... We mages are most sensitive to elemental spirits. After all, almost all spellcasting requires their help."
"I see. How long will your spirit projection take this time?"
"If nothing unexpected happens, I'll probably return before dawn tomorrow. Regardless of whether King Hanafubuku agrees to let us go to the island or not, this one trip will be enough for me to go back and forth. What's wrong? Do you have something?"
"I'm also going on a trip. Timing-wise, I'm afraid I'll also return tomorrow morning."
"This must be about the Minor Erdtree and the Junction." Flora was very interested and quickly guessed the key. "Alright, let's split up. You go. Everything is fine here."
Nidhogg nodded to Flora, then approached Guts and the others, explaining the situation.
"No problem. Leave it to us." Guts planted the Dragonslayer in the ground and said proudly.
He decided to stay here for the night and wouldn't close his eyes.
Casca stood to the side with little Frodo in her arms, nodding in agreement.
Frodo behaved quite calmly during this magical ritual and, after a while, fell asleep. He wasn't lively and active at all.
Nidhogg relayed the information he had heard from Isma about the night of the full moon and the Sea God. He told them not to approach the cave on the seaside cliff tonight before leaving the camp.
Under normal circumstances, the Sea God hadn't been unsealed yet, so naturally, it wouldn't be rampaging like it would in the age of the Falcon of Light.
However, the night of the full moon made it more active. But as long as they didn't approach the cave, things should generally be fine.
Nidhogg went to the harbor again and also said a few words to the crew members who remained on the ships. Then he took a small boat and rowed alone into the depths of the sea.
In fact, he wasn't alone. Melina and Miniature Ranni were indeed with him. Strictly speaking, Torrent was also nearby.
The boat rocked on the waves. Watching it get further and further from the shore, looking back at Sea God Island from here, only a small black dot remained on the island.
At that moment, Nidhogg stopped the boat, took Miniature Ranni into his palm, and asked her to recite the incantation Rogier had paraphrased.
Little Ranni recited it. Soon, something strange appeared on the sea.
Projected by the moonlight, a huge vortex gradually formed in the depths of the sea. It devoured everything around and radiated its terrifying power.
Nidhogg didn't retreat. He advanced forward, because this vortex was the door to the Magic Academy that Rogier had spoken of. It only opened when the appropriate incantation was recited in the depths of the sea on a night of the full moon.
The boat was quickly swept away by the whirlpool and vanished.
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