The training yard slowly returned to normal after the demonstration of magic. Adventurers who had gathered to watch the sudden burst of lightning and ice eventually drifted back to their own practice routines, though many of them kept glancing toward Kael and the twins with quiet curiosity.
The frozen patch of ground Lyra had created still shimmered under the lantern light.
The guild official stood calmly near the edge of the ice field, studying it with the quiet interest of someone who had seen many kinds of magic in his lifetime.
Lyria stretched her shoulders as if she had just finished a casual warm-up instead of helping create a miniature winter inside the training yard.
"Well," she said, looking around with satisfaction, "I'd say that answered the question."
Kael crossed his arms and glanced at the frozen ground.
"I guess it did."
Lyra stood beside him, her posture composed as always, though Kael could still feel the subtle hum of mana flowing between them through the resonance bond.
The connection felt different now.
Stronger.
More organized.
Earlier, when they first discovered the ability, the bond had felt like a simple channel of shared energy. Now it felt like a network that constantly balanced their power.
Kael finally turned back toward the guild official.
"You were serious about the North Ridge expedition."
The man nodded.
"I was."
Up close, the lantern light revealed the faint lines around his eyes. They were the kind of marks that came from years of experience rather than age alone.
"Your demonstration confirms my assessment," he continued. "The resonance between the three of you is unusually stable. In unstable mana environments, that stability could mean the difference between success and disaster."
Lyria tilted her head.
"You keep saying 'could.'"
The official smiled faintly.
"Because nothing about fortress-class dungeons is guaranteed."
Kael appreciated the honesty.
"Fair enough."
The man gestured toward the guild building.
"Shall we discuss the details somewhere more comfortable?"
Lyria immediately perked up.
"Does 'comfortable' involve food?"
The official chuckled.
"Yes. The guild kitchen should still be serving meals."
"Perfect," she said. "Lead the way."
Kael shook his head as they followed the official back toward the guild hall.
"You really never miss an opportunity to eat, do you?"
"Adventuring burns calories," Lyria replied casually.
Lyra added quietly, "Proper nutrition is important for mana recovery."
Kael glanced between them.
"You two planned that response, didn't you?"
Neither of them answered.
Inside the guild hall, the noise had grown even louder than before. Evening had turned into full night, which meant most adventurers had returned from their jobs and were now celebrating, relaxing, or arguing loudly about whose quest had been harder.
The group moved toward a quieter corner table.
A guild attendant quickly arrived with three plates of food and drinks before disappearing again.
Lyria wasted no time picking up her fork.
"Alright," she said between bites, "let's talk mountains."
The guild official placed a rolled map on the table and carefully spread it open.
The parchment showed a detailed section of the northern region beyond Ardent City.
Jagged peaks stretched across the page like the teeth of a giant saw.
Kael leaned closer.
"That's the North Ridge?"
"Yes."
The official tapped a marked circle near the center of the mountains.
"This is the dungeon location."
Lyra studied the map closely.
"The terrain is difficult."
"Extremely," the official agreed.
"The mountains are steep and the weather can change quickly. Snowstorms are common even outside winter months."
Lyria swallowed another bite of food.
"So travel's going to be fun."
Kael looked at the map.
"How long would it take us to get there?"
"Three days under normal conditions," the official replied. "Possibly four if the weather turns against you."
Lyra nodded slowly.
"That is manageable."
The official continued.
"The dungeon itself appeared roughly two weeks ago. At first it was small. Our scouts believed it might stabilize naturally."
Kael raised an eyebrow.
"I'm guessing that didn't happen."
"No."
The official pointed to several small markings surrounding the main circle.
"Mana readings began rising rapidly. Elemental fluctuations were detected across multiple zones."
Lyra's expression grew more focused.
"Similar to the dungeon we cleared."
"Yes. But significantly larger in scale."
Lyria leaned back in her chair.
"Meaning lots of monsters."
"Correct."
The official tapped the map again.
"Our scouts observed fire constructs, ice wraiths, and wind spirits near the outer layers."
Kael frowned.
"That's three elements already."
Lyra spoke thoughtfully.
"If lightning mana is also present, the elemental system may be forming a rotational cycle."
The official looked impressed.
"That is exactly what our mages suspected."
Kael blinked.
"Hold on. Rotational cycle?"
Lyra turned slightly toward him.
"Elemental mana often stabilizes in balanced environments."
She gestured lightly with her hand as if arranging invisible pieces.
"If multiple elements are present in large quantities, they can form a cycle of interaction."
Lyria grinned.
"Think of it like magical weather."
Kael nodded slowly.
"So fire feeds air, air feeds lightning, lightning feeds ice… something like that?"
"Close," Lyra said.
The official leaned forward slightly.
"This is why the dungeon is dangerous. The internal mana fields are constantly shifting."
Kael rubbed his chin.
"Which means normal spellcasting gets disrupted."
"Exactly."
Lyria pointed at Kael.
"Except for us."
The official nodded.
"Your resonance stabilizes mana flow."
Lyra added, "Meaning we can maintain spellcasting even in unstable environments."
Kael looked down at the map again.
"So the plan is for us to go in first."
"Yes," the official confirmed.
"You will scout the outer layers of the dungeon."
"And if we survive?" Lyria asked.
The official smiled slightly.
"Then the guild will send a larger raid team with your guidance."
Kael leaned back in his chair.
"So we're basically the test run."
"That is one way to describe it."
Lyria didn't seem bothered.
She finished the last bite of her meal and wiped her hands.
"I like it."
Kael looked at her.
"You would."
Lyra spoke calmly.
"There are still preparations we must consider."
The official nodded.
"Supplies will be provided. Cold-weather gear, climbing equipment, and emergency teleport scrolls."
Kael perked up.
"Teleport scrolls?"
"A last-resort safety measure," the official said. "If the situation becomes impossible, they will return you to the guild."
Lyria raised an eyebrow.
"Only one problem with that."
"What problem?" Kael asked.
"They're expensive."
The official smiled knowingly.
"Which is why you will only receive two."
Kael groaned.
"So we really can't afford to fail."
Lyra folded the map carefully.
"The expedition is dangerous."
"But manageable," Lyria said.
Kael looked between them again.
He had only known the twins for a short time.
Yet somehow their confidence made the impossible sound reasonable.
Finally he exhaled.
"Alright."
The official looked at him.
"You've made your decision?"
Kael nodded.
"We'll take the job."
Lyria grinned.
Lyra's calm smile returned.
And the official rolled up the map.
"Then you should rest tonight."
He stood from the table.
"Because tomorrow morning… your journey to the North Ridge begins."