Blackwell Region – White Lotus Mountain
The morning fog hung heavy over the base of White Lotus Mountain, casting a dreamlike veil over the jagged forest path that led up the slope. Unlike most peaks crowned with snow, this mountain's summit bloomed with clusters of white lotus flowers—ethereal and luminous, said to soothe the soul and enhance alchemical brews.
Three figures trekked the winding trail.
At the front walked Latto, a scrawny boy wrapped in rags too thin for the mountain air. His shoulders slumped beneath the weight of heavy bags packed with climbing tools, harvesting blades, and bundled cloth for storing lotuses. It was hard to tell his exact age—malnutrition had left him short, with sunken eyes and yellow-tinged hair that might've once been black. His bones pressed against his skin like scaffolding, and his steps wobbled from weakness more than the terrain.
Behind him strolled Kreto and Miria, two apprentice mages from the local Academy. Latto had worked with them a few times before, helping them collect white lotuses to fulfill their contribution quotas to the Tower. They were both Level One mages, still considered juniors and thus responsible for menial fieldwork to fund their cultivation.
Latto had been the one to approach them this time, waving a gleaming white lotus as proof of his discovery. It was brighter than any flower they'd seen before, likely a high-quality specimen. He claimed it grew in an unexplored section near a waterfall high up the mountain—an area previously avoided due to the danger of magical beasts.
Kreto had been immediately intrigued. With his calm, no-nonsense demeanor, he saw the opportunity as worth the risk. He stood tall and broad-shouldered, wearing a simple traveler's robe and carrying a long sword strapped across his back—not a common sight for a mage. He rarely wasted words, preferring action over argument.
Miria, by contrast, wore a robe lined with silver thread, her garments clearly enchanted. She had a pointed hat tucked under one arm and an ever-present look of superiority etched on her face. She treated Latto like a necessary inconvenience—a tool rather than a person. Her attitude was sharp and theatrical, always seeking to assert her rank over those beneath her.
Still, Latto didn't mind too much. Money was money, and if this flower patch turned out to be as rare as he suspected, he might finally earn enough to leave Blackwell behind and escape the slums with their endless "taxes"—protection fees, job fees, even fees for working in specific territories. Everything was controlled by gangs who divided the mountain's harvest zones and squeezed every copper out of the poor.
Latto cleared his throat and tried to spark conversation as they trudged along.
"So… think this spot might get you noticed by your instructors? I heard one guy got promoted for finding a blue lotus, right?"
Miria scoffed, not even looking at him. "Tch. As if a few bright flowers are enough. Real mages rise through power, not errands."
Kreto merely grunted in acknowledgment. "Maybe. Depends on what's guarding them."
Latto nodded, half-smiling. At least Kreto treated him like he existed.
They walked in relative silence after that, the sound of rustling leaves and the occasional distant cry of a bird-like beast filling the air. As they climbed, the terrain grew steeper, more rugged. Latto's body ached, but his spirits remained high. He was finally going to make some real coin today.
Eventually, they neared the heart of the mountain. The dull roar of rushing water echoed through the trees, and Latto perked up.
"It's close," he said, quickening his pace.
They pushed through a thicket of underbrush and emerged into a clearing. Before them cascaded a narrow waterfall, veiling a sheer cliffside in mist. The air here shimmered faintly, a sign of concentrated mana. All around the fall, bright white lotuses bloomed on stone ledges and mossy crags. It looked like a secret garden untouched by human hands.
But then came the sound—a low growl, primal and too close.
Latto froze.
Kreto turned instinctively, hand on his sword. From the shadows emerged a white-furred tiger, eyes glowing faintly with mana. It wasn't just a beast—it was a magical predator. Latto knew the rule: if a beast doesn't flee from humans, it's likely hunting them.
Without hesitation, he bolted.
His job was to guide them, not fight tigers. That was the mages' problem. Besides, they always treated him as expendable—if he got hurt, he doubted they'd even cover his funeral. He sprinted toward the cliff base, hoping they'd be too distracted to notice.
Luckily for him, he carried all the gear.
Latto began climbing quickly, ignoring the clash of spells and roars behind him. He couldn't afford to get distracted. One slip, and he'd fall to his death. The stone was damp, the mist made his grip slick, but adrenaline pushed him onward.
As he ascended, he felt pressure—a subtle heaviness that wasn't physical. It crept into his skin, into his thoughts, like the mountain itself was watching. He shook it off as nerves. Probably just the aftermath of spotting the tiger.
Higher and higher he climbed, pausing only to collect a few lotuses growing near the edge. Then, he noticed something odd.
A gap in the waterfall's curtain.
There was a cave behind the fall. Hidden, silent. Latto stared in awe. Maybe it was just a hollow pocket in the cliff… or maybe it was something more. A treasure trove? A monster's lair?
By the time he reached the top, the sounds of battle had faded. He turned to see Kreto and Miria approaching, both a bit scuffed but unharmed.
Miria's sharp voice cut the silence. "Who told you to run first?"
Latto groaned internally. Of course. "I just didn't want to waste the time of your esteemed selves," he said, bowing slightly.
Kreto waved her off. "We're already here. Let him work. The faster we collect, the faster we leave. That beast might've drawn others."
Miria gave both of them a glare but said nothing more.
Latto hesitated. He wasn't brave. He wasn't stupid either. Exploring that cave alone? No thanks. But maybe if he told them, they'd investigate and maybe he'd get a bigger cut.
He cleared his throat again. "Um… Honorable Mages? I think there's a cave behind the waterfall. Didn't seem natural. Might be worth checking out?"
That got their attention.
Miria activated a wind spell, spiraling upward in a controlled breeze. Kreto bent his legs, mana rippling through his boots, and leapt with ease.
Latto watched, feeling mildly insulted. What took him ten minutes to climb, they did in seconds.
As they landed beside him, both mages activated mana vision. Their eyes glowed faintly, scanning the magical currents. They both tensed.
"There's energy back there," Kreto muttered. "A lot of it."
Miria's eyes glittered. "Could be treasure."
She turned to Latto and, with a smirk, shoved him forward.
"Go first. We'll be right behind you."
Latto cursed his curiosity under his breath. It seemed she was still angry. And now he had to play bait.