YES!

"Li-Little Princess… c-could you… maybe… save a little food for me later?"

Yep. An had backed down.

But it wasn’t hunger that made it surrender. It was…

Who knew this little human kid could cook *this* good?

Ugh…

An cursed Yugo—who’d made the feast before them—through gritted teeth, then flashed Sophia a flattering smile.

"Hmm… Why do I suddenly feel a chill down my spine? Am I catching a cold?" Yugo shivered slightly and blinked.

Seeing Hugh and Sophia were still eating and hadn’t noticed him, he ducked his head again and focused on devouring the food in his bowl.

Oh right… I haven’t seen Sister Sophia’s cat today.

Still asleep?

Good thing some ingredients are left in the kitchen. I’ll save a portion for An later.

Yugo quickened his pace, thoughts racing.

Meanwhile, Sophia remained cool and distant toward An’s incessant whispering in her ear—completely ignoring it.

She ate her lunch leisurely.

Only after both Hugh and Yugo took their first bites did she slowly pick up her utensils.

"Eat fast. Afterward, come refine the magic array with me. We *must* activate it before sunset."

Hugh wolfed down his food, words tumbling out.

Sophia shot him a glance and pursed her lips.

…

After lunch, the three returned to the magic array. Hugh instantly spotted the ring of footprints around it.

He merely glanced at Sophia and said nothing.

"The array’s settled. When I channel magic, stand back—don’t get caught in the backlash. But *do* memorize the flow patterns."

Hugh spoke while meticulously checking every detail of the array.

Sophia nodded.

She didn’t know why he wanted her to remember this, but as a magic learner, it could only help. No need to overthink.

True to his word, the next step came swiftly.

The moment Sophia affirmed, Hugh’s wand glowed with magic.

She instinctively stepped back.

Yugo, as always, peeked from behind Sophia, eyes wide with curiosity.

Clearly, magic still captivated him deeply.

The instant magic energy peaked, Hugh began chanting the first syllable.

Obscure, yet unmistakably a human incantation.

Syllable by syllable, ambient magic swirled inward—guided by invisible threads—flowing into the array below.

Materials at the nodes ignited with unique glows:

Green… red… white… black… gray…

A kaleidoscope of light pulsed across the massive circle.

Bathed in the shimmering afterglow, Sophia froze.

The world looked the same—but *different*.

Sharper?

Clearer?

She couldn’t name it.

She saw leaf veins hundreds of meters away. Felt the earthy-yellow magic radiating from roadside pebbles.

Everything wore a filter—a "God’s-Eye View" lens.

"Watch the array closely. How much you learn is up to you."

Hugh’s voice snapped her from her daze.

She looked—and froze again.

Ground patterns? Node materials? All gone.

Floating midair: tiny magic nodes.

Each no bigger than a thumbnail, yet humming with terrifying power.

As they vibrated slightly, the world sharpened further.

"Is… *this* the array’s true form?"

A flicker of awe stirred in her chest.

Her gaze drifted to Hugh, standing at the array’s heart, encircled by light.

*If this clarity is just a side effect… what does HE see?*

A trace of unease prickled her.

*What if he senses my fairy abilities?*

"Don’t worry." An’s lazy voice echoed in her mind. "I told you—his array’s incomplete. It won’t detect your fairy power… or me."

A hint of mockery laced the words, teasing her fear.

Still, the tension in Sophia’s chest eased.

She trusted An.

*Then… observe calmly.*

Her focus returned to the array.

Slowly, she noticed some nodes held magic—but stayed dark, inert.

*Ah. Those must be where materials are missing.*

Too absorbed to notice, Hugh and Sophia missed Yugo—hiding at the very back—also affected.

But he didn’t see clarity.

He saw *something else*.

Had Sophia glanced his way, she’d have seen his clear, gem-like eyes reflecting a swirling spectrum of colors.

After a long while, Hugh ended the spell.

Sophia blinked back to reality. Hugh stood frowning, confusion flickering in his eyes.

"What happened?" Sophia tilted her head.

Hugh met her gaze, silent a beat.

"I… sensed nothing."

Hesitation colored his voice.

Sophia stiffened. "Something wrong?"

*Please don’t dig deeper.*

If this place tied to An… the more he knew, the greater her risk.

She wouldn’t take that chance.

But…