The Pursuit Of Catalyst: A Dive Into Another Verse

Hawk stepped forward, his expression unreadable as always. "Let's leave now."

But just as he raised his hand to open the portal, a voice rang out behind them.

"Wait, Master!"

The four turned around quickly.

Ashia was running toward them, her hair bouncing behind her, a small wooden box clutched tightly in her hands. Her breath was slightly uneven from the run, but her eyes were steady and focused on one person.

Sylves took a step forward immediately, concern flickering across his face. "Ashia? What happened?"

Ashia came to a stop in front of him and held out the box with both hands. "This… is a dessert I made. It's prepared using the honey that Lady Ylva sent from your estate. I… I thought you should have it before you leave."

Sylves stared at the box for a second, then stepped closer—and pulled Ashia into a tight embrace. "Thank you," he said, his voice warm and low. "For making this… and for coming to give it. I was feeling like something was missing… but now, it feels complete."

Ashia, caught in his arms, returned the hug with a soft smile. "I'm glad, Master."

A few feet away, Lyana tilted her head curiously toward Elza and whispered, "Who is she? His lover?"

Elza's eyes followed the two with a slight twitch at the corner of her mouth. "Her? That's Ashia—Sylves's personal maid."

Her voice dropped lower.

"She's kind of… a rival to me."

Lyana blinked at her, then a knowing smile crept across her face. "So both of you are in love with him."

Elza said nothing at first, her eyes fixed ahead. But she didn't deny it.

Lyana added quietly, "It's good to have rivals. They push you to grow… and sometimes, they turn into allies so strong, not even fate can break the bond between them."

Elza looked at her from the corner of her eye, then smiled faintly. "Hmph… You talk like a poet."

Back at the front, Ashia finally let go of Sylves, brushing back a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "Take care, Master. I'll be waiting for your letters."

"I'll write often," Sylves promised, lifting the dessert box with a grateful nod.

Ashia took a step back, bowing slightly toward Hawk and the others. Then she waved.

Hawk, wordless as ever, raised his hand. A swirl of darkness appeared midair, forming into a shimmering Void Portal.

One by one, the four stepped into it.

Elza gave Ashia one last smirk and a nod. Sylves gave her a final glance—one filled with appreciation. Lyana simply studied her quietly before vanishing into the vortex.

And then the portal closed.

The scene shifted.

The four emerged in the clearing near Hawk's cottage—the same clearing where so much had changed before. The wind was gentle. The skies above were scattered with stars.

They were back.

Back to the place where they would train together, live together… and grow, not only as mages, but as something more.

As comrades, rivals, and maybe something deeper.

---

A Month Later — Morning at the Imperial Asphalia Academy

A month had passed swiftly since Sylves, Elza, and Lyana began living and training under Hawk's guidance at the secluded cottage.

Today, Sylves was scheduled to return to the academy—not for classes, but to bring Ashia, Prince Elas, and Serena to visit their new home.

Ashia had risen with the first light of dawn. She dressed carefully, adjusted every fold of her robe, checked her reflection in the mirror more times than she cared to admit, and even adjusted the ribbon in her high ponytail a dozen times before finally stepping out. Her heart thudded softly with anticipation.

On the way, she knocked on Serena's door. "Serena, it's time."

Serena, already mostly ready, nodded with a warm smile. The two girls walked briskly through the marble halls of the academy.

As expected, they met Prince Elas on the path leading to the front gates. He greeted them with a casual grin. "I assume I'm not late?"

Ashia gave him a glance. "Surprisingly, no."

The three stood near the main gates, glancing occasionally at the sky as anticipation buzzed between them. A few idle jokes passed. Ashia kept adjusting her sleeves, Serena brushed dust off her skirt, and Elas leaned lazily against the gate's stone pillar.

Then, at last, the air shimmered before them—and a portal twisted open with a low hum. A foot stepped out.

But it wasn't Sylves.

It was Hawk Frost.

He looked as unbothered and sleep-deprived as ever, his coat slightly rumpled, and his hair even less combed than usual. His tone was drier than toast.

"The place you're going to is far," Hawk said flatly. "Time runs an hour earlier there. I gave up my peaceful sleep just to fetch you people. Hurry up and get in."

His voice carried an unmistakable "I'd rather be asleep" edge to it.

The trio instinctively stiffened in front of him, but then Prince Elas chuckled, breaking the awkward silence. "He sure loves his sleep."

Without another word, they stepped through the portal.

A sudden rush of mana swept over them—thick, dense, and pressurizing like an invisible ocean. Then in the blink of an eye, it was over.

They emerged on the other side.

The morning sky was just beginning to glow. The sun had not yet risen fully. The lawn in front of the cottage was immaculately clean, surrounded by trees and quiet dew-dappled flowers. Birds chirped faintly in the distance.

And in the middle of the lawn, a girl was sweeping with precise movements. She wore elegant housewear—simple, but graceful—and moved with a quiet rhythm. Her brown hair was tied back neatly.

Serena blinked. "Aren't you… the sixth-year graduate from last year?"

Ashia took a step forward. "Miss Lyana Merose, if I recall correctly."

Elas nodded. "The one who scored a perfect 300?"

Lyana paused and turned with a soft smile. Then she bowed politely. "You remember correctly. Though now, I'm simply living here with my uncle… Mr. Hawk Frost."

Ashia's eyes widened. "Your uncle?"

Before Lyana could answer, a familiar voice spoke from behind them. "Apparently, he's the brother of Miss Lyana's late mother. He also trained her."

They turned to find Sylves approaching calmly, a small smile on his face. His silver-blonde hair caught the morning light faintly. And behind him came Elza—rubbing her eyes, her hair a mess.

"Why are you all so noisy?" she mumbled, yawning. "I was sleeping…"

Ashia stepped forward eagerly. "My greetings, Master!"

Sylves smiled. "It's good to see you again, Ashia. How have you been?"

"I've been well, Master," she said, voice soft with pride.

Just then, Hawk walked past them toward the cottage. "Show them around. Lyana, get my breakfast ready."

"Yes, Mr. Hawk," Lyana replied, placing her broom aside and heading after him.

Ashia blinked at the sight. "She really is like a maid…"

Sylves chuckled. "It's… complicated."

And thus began their visit—to the hidden training grounds, the quiet sanctuary where the strongest mages of their generation would grow side by side.

---

The morning sun had just begun to spill golden light over the treetops as Sylves led the group toward the main cottage. The lawn was clean and dewy, with trimmed hedges lining the stone path. Birds chirped lazily from the trees, and a gentle breeze rustled through the leaves, bringing with it the fresh scent of earth and pine.

"Well then," Sylves said, clapping his hands lightly. "Welcome to Hawk's territory—our temporary home and training ground. Let me show you around."

Ashia walked a little closer to his side, her eyes scanning the area with quiet awe. "It's more peaceful than I imagined…"

Elas folded his arms with a grin. "So this is where you've been hiding, Sylves."

Sylves chuckled. "Not hiding. Training. There's a difference."

They passed the main path and reached a small herb garden nestled along the cottage wall. Elza, now more awake and walking beside Ashia, pointed at the rows of neat green plants. "That's Lyana's work. She's been obsessed with growing tea herbs lately."

Ashia bent down slightly to examine the rows. "Chamomile, mint… Even silvershade flowers. She's cultivated a nice mix."

Serena nodded in agreement. "It looks like something straight out of an alchemist's catalogue."

"To the right here," Sylves continued, "is the kitchen garden. We grow most of our vegetables here. Hawk's pretty strict about us learning basic self-sufficiency."

"Self-sufficiency?" Elas raised an eyebrow. "He really trains you like a monk."

"I heard that," came Hawk's voice from somewhere inside the cottage. Everyone froze.

"…Apologies," Elas muttered with a sheepish grin.

They all laughed lightly as Sylves gestured toward a small stable-like structure near the edge of the clearing. "That's the training shed. We store equipment there and use it for sparring when the weather's bad. There's a dummy in there that Hawk uses when he's in a bad mood. He's broken it four times this month."

Serena blinked. "That's kind of terrifying."

Elza added, "The dummy deserves a raise."

They came to a stone well beside the cottage. Ashia touched its cool surface. "It looks ancient."

"It is," Sylves said. "Hawk enchanted it ages ago. The water is always pure, and the temperature adapts to the weather. Summer cold, winter warm."

"That's so thoughtful…" Ashia murmured.

Elas tapped the rim. "I'm going to drink from it. If I don't return in five minutes, avenge me."

"It's just water," Sylves said dryly.

As Elas leaned in to drink, Serena asked, "And beyond those trees?"

Sylves turned toward the edge of the clearing. "Ah, yes. That leads to the waterfall glade. We'll head there last. But first, let's go inside."

He led them into the main cottage. The entrance hall opened into a cozy living space. A large table stood at the center, surrounded by sturdy wooden chairs. Bookshelves lined the walls, and scrolls and magical artifacts were scattered across the room with the kind of organization only Hawk understood.

Lyana appeared from the kitchen area, apron still on, carrying a tray of toast and fruit. "Breakfast is almost ready, everyone."

Ashia greeted her with a polite smile. "It smells lovely, Miss Lyana."

"Please, just Lyana. You're guests here too," she said, setting the tray down on the table.

"Where's Hawk?" Elza asked, yawning again.

"In his room. Probably ignoring everything until breakfast is officially set," Lyana replied. "He's… not a morning person."

Sylves clapped again. "Let's continue before we eat or he drags us into sparring at sunrise."

They passed through a hallway that led to three guest rooms and one larger chamber—the room Sylves and Elza shared. Ashia looked at the decor—modest but neat, with a few decorative runes carved into the ceiling beams.

"I helped Hawk set up the runes," Sylves said proudly. "They balance the room's temperature."

"I'm surprised you're good at interior enchantments too," Ashia said softly.

Sylves shrugged. "Elza kept yelling about the cold, so I had to learn."

"I DID NOT yell!" Elza shouted from behind.

Everyone burst into laughter again.

Next, they exited through a back door into a trail shaded by tall trees. Birds fluttered overhead, and the sound of rushing water grew louder.

"Almost there," Sylves said.

The trail opened into a breathtaking clearing—a pristine waterfall pouring into a clear, blue pond. Smooth stones rimmed the edges, and luminous butterflies danced in the air.

"Whoa…" Elas muttered. "This is… unreal."

"This is our meditation spot," Sylves said. "Also where Hawk teaches advanced magic theory. Though sometimes he just naps under that tree."

He pointed at a large oak with a slightly dented trunk.

"That dent," Elza said, "was caused by Sylves crashing into it while dodging a spell."

"I was foolish... trying to ambush Master Hawk," Sylves admitted.

"You were desperate," Elza added.

Ashia walked closer to the pond, peering into the water. "It's beautiful."

"I thought of you the first time I saw it," Sylves said gently.

Ashia looked at him, startled, then quickly looked away with a small smile.

After a few quiet moments, Sylves turned to the group. "So… that's the tour. What do you think?"

"I think…" Serena began, "…I could get used to this place."

"It's definitely not what I imagined," Elas added. "But I like it."

Elza nodded. "It's simple, peaceful… and full of magic. Just like Hawk."

From somewhere in the distance came a yell. "IF YOU DON'T RETURN IN TWO MINUTES YOU WONT GET ANY BREAKFAST."

Everyone turned toward the cottage, then laughed.

"Let's go," Sylves said. "Before he keeps his word."

Together, they walked back through the trail, their laughter echoing through the morning woods.

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