Later, after Adam had learned a bit of magic, he decided to sit inside the tent for a moment to unwind.
Outside, a woman anyone would call gorgeous approached the tent, her radiant smile growing wider with each step.
I can't wait to get back to Magna Frisia. I wonder how Bradly is doing—hope he's been taking good care of the mansion. I wonder if Adam will like it there.
Without hesitation, Celest pushed aside the tent flap and stepped inside.
"Adam, it's time to start packing."
Adam, sitting on the bed, had been staring blankly at the ground for nearly an hour, his thoughts scattered and restless. Celest's arrival snapped him from his trance.
He turned his head, locking eyes with her as her earlier words echoed in his mind.
Oh, that's right—they said they're going on an expedition.
"We'll be meeting up with a boat about two kilometers north of here," Celest said with a bright smile, her pearly white teeth shining softly in the dim light filtering through the tent's fabric.
Why is she always so cheerful? Adam wondered. Celest was always smiling, always full of energy. Wait... kilometers? Goddammit—they have a measuring system from my world? I'm so used to miles. Why kilometers of all units?
"Adam, help me pack the tent. I'll show you how."
He furrowed his brows, searching his memory for the word "yes" in their language. Was it "x"? No—wait, now I remember. It's "ҳа"!
"Ҳа," Adam replied confidently.
The word caught Celest off guard.
She turned to him, eyes wide. Did he just speak? He's already learning our language?
"Adam, did you just say yes?"
"Ҳа," Adam repeated, puffing out his chest in triumph.
I really did say "yes" in their language. That's progress.
Celest, still slightly stunned, said nothing—but inside, her affection bubbled over until she couldn't hold it in.
He really just spoke our language… My son is a genius—in both magic and learning.
Her smile broadened, and the next moment she pounced on Adam, wrapping him in a smothering hug and pressing him to her soft chest.
She smelled of wildflowers and fresh wind—clean, gentle, and comforting—a scent perfectly matched to her warm, vibrant personality. It was the kind of smell that made him feel safe.
Adam fell back but didn't resist. He accepted Celest's motherly affection without hesitation.
Ever since I came to this world, I've known only fear and hate. But Luka and Celest… they've been nothing but kindness. They already treat me like family—and it's only been a day.
Wanting to return the warmth, Adam wrapped his arms around her. His arms weren't long enough to reach all the way around, but the gesture was enough.
"Oh, Adam! I'm so proud of you—already learning our language and gifted in magic too!" she exclaimed, beaming.
"Oh—wait! I forgot—we still need to pack!"
She released him and stood up from the bed, Adam following suit.
"We don't want to be left behind, do we? Let's start with the bed," Celest said with a smirk.
Turning around, Adam began with the bed sheets. The sheets were a little discolored white but silky soft, showing only faint signs of wear from travel. He grabbed them and folded them in half.
"Adam, what are you doing, sweetie?" Celest's voice came from behind him.
He turned, confusion flickering across his face. His eyes narrowed, mouth slightly agape.
What does she mean? I'm folding the sheets.
"Adam, we don't pack like that. We're using this," Celest said, raising her right hand.
Adam looked at her hand, noticing a small silver ring.
A ring? What does that have to do with packing?
"This is a special storage ring," she explained. "It can hold a lot of stuff. It's convenient because we don't have to rely on carriages or other means that might slow us down."
Did she just say storage ring? They have that too? This world just keeps getting better and better, Adam thought in awe of the small ring in her hand.
"This ring can hold a lot. I don't remember exactly how much this one can hold, but it's a lot. We'll use it to store our things," Celest said, holding the silver ring delicately between her fingers.
"Here, I'll show you how it works," she added, turning toward the bed.
"Using a storage ring is actually pretty simple," she explained, holding out her hand. "First, release your mana into the ring. Then channel that mana outward and wrap it around whatever you want to store. Once it's completely enveloped, say the word 'Store,' and the ring will do the rest. I'll demonstrate first, then you can try."
Adam nodded, watching closely.
Wow, this is cool. In most stories, storage rings just absorb stuff. But this feels way more... technical.
"Adam, pay close attention," she said firmly.
A moment later, the ring on her finger began to glow—a soft, ethereal blue light blooming from the band as she poured her mana into it. The faint glow pulsed gently, then brightened.
Suddenly, a beam of shimmering blue light shot out from the ring. Like a living stream of energy, it raced across the room and wrapped itself around the nearby bed.
The white sheets glowed under the mana's touch, their crisp surface reflecting the pale blue hue. The light shimmered across the fabric like moonlight dancing on fresh snow, giving the bed an almost ghostly, otherworldly appearance.
Then Celest uttered the word, "Store."
The blue light pulsed once—and in an instant, the entire bed vanished. The mana that had engulfed it recoiled, streaming backward like liquid lightning and shooting straight into the ring.
Adam's eyes widened. He blinked twice, his mouth slightly open.
That… was insane. I did not expect the whole bed to just vanish like that.
"Alright, now it's your turn. How about you try it on that crate?" Celest said, turning toward Adam with her signature warm smile.
She extended her hand, revealing the storage ring nestled delicately between her thumb and index finger, its polished surface catching the ambient light.
Adam, without hesitation, reached out and gently took the ring from her.
As the cool metal settled between his small fingers, he tilted his head in curiosity.
This feels like any regular ring… yet it can store entire objects? This is so cool.
He turned his gaze toward the wooden crate resting nearby. It looked heavy, reinforced with iron bands and sealed with a thick leather strap—nothing remarkable on its own, but perfect for a first try.
Raising the ring slightly, Adam pointed it at the crate.
Okay… just release my mana into the ring, then send it back out and wrap the crate. Easy enough… I think.
He took a breath and closed his eyes, remembering the sensation he felt when casting Water Ball. That warm, swirling energy inside of him—it had felt like pressure building up, waiting to be released.
Mana is like water… I just need to open the faucet and let it flow.
With that thought, Adam imagined a valve inside him, and with intention, he twisted it open. The flow was slow at first, like a weak stream from a sink, but then it built steadily—rushing down his arm and pouring into the ring.
The metal band grew warm on his skin, and then—
Fwoom.
The ring began to glow with a faint blue light, soft and pulsing, like a heartbeat. Then the light surged forward, shooting out and enveloping the crate in a swirling cloud of translucent blue mana.
Adam's eyes widened, startled.
"Whoa…"
The magic shimmered around the crate, dancing like liquid energy over its surface.
Then, remembering Celest's instructions, Adam moved on to the next step. His hands trembled slightly as he took a deep breath and focused on the glowing ring. The mana surrounding the crate shimmered with a quiet hum, swirling gently like mist caught in a breeze.
With determination tightening in his chest, Adam whispered the word:
"Store."
The moment the word left his lips, the blue mana around the crate pulsed—once, sharply—like a heartbeat. Then, in an instant, the entire glow constricted around the crate with a snap, and the object itself dissolved into shimmering particles of light. The particles spiraled upward like sparks, and were sucked back toward the ring on Adam's finger in a rapid, twisting stream.
The ring glowed intensely for a heartbeat, the blue light swirling as if drinking in the last remnants of magic—then dimmed, returning to its ordinary state as if nothing had happened at all.
Silence followed. Adam stood frozen, eyes wide and mouth slightly agape, staring at the now-empty space where the crate had once been.
The stone floor where the crate had rested was bare, save for a faint outline of dust.
"I… I actually did it," he thought, stunned. It's gone… just like that.
The air around him still felt charged with magic—warm and electric—as if the ring remembered what it had done.
Adam stood frozen, still absorbing the awe of what he had just done. Meanwhile, Celest, who had been watching closely from the side, wasn't caught off guard by Adam's success this time. Knowing her son's sharp mind and determination, she had never doubted he'd accomplish it on the first try.
A warm smile spread across her face as pride swelled in her chest. Quietly, she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Adam in a gentle hug.
"Well done, Adam," she whispered softly, her voice full of affection. "I knew you could do it."
After Adam had mastered the storage ring, with Celest guiding him patiently, he swiftly helped pack up the tent and their belongings. The soft rustling of fabric and the quiet clinks of gear filled the air as they worked efficiently.
Once finished, Celest mentioned they would meet Luka at the center of the camp for a final roll call before setting off for the ship.
Walking side by side with Celest, Adam's eyes swept across the campsite. The morning's bustling camp, once alive with colorful tents pitched in neat rows, now looked eerily empty. The once vibrant canvas structures were gone, leaving only flattened patches of earth and scattered footprints.
The afternoon sun filtered through the sparse trees at the edge of the camp, casting dappled light over the tall grass and patches of dirt that made up the walking paths. Between the vacant tent spaces, the ground was soft and uneven, marked by footprints and flattened blades of grass. Here and there, faint wisps of smoke drifted lazily from cold cooking fires, the faint scent of embers lingering in the warm air.
Adam realized that almost everyone had packed their belongings away—likely hidden in their own storage rings—leaving the camp feeling strangely quiet, as if it were holding its breath before the journey ahead.
As they drew closer to the center, the lively murmur of voices grew louder.
Arriving at the heart of the camp, Adam and Celest found themselves surrounded by groups of armored soldiers. Their faces, weathered but bright, glowed with joyful anticipation. They leaned casually against crates and tents, speaking in excited tones about returning home after their long journey.
"Just a little longer and I'll be back with my family," one man said, a broad smile lighting up his face.
Another laughed, "I can almost taste my mother's stew already."
The air was thick with the scent of polished metal, mingled with fresh pine from the nearby woods, and the faint smoke of cooking fires. The camaraderie was tangible, a welcome contrast to the hardships they'd endured.
In the middle of the crowd stood Luka, his posture steady and commanding, preparing to call the final roll before they moved toward the ship.