Hearing this, Ian's expression turned grave.
A letter from a month ago?
Wasn't that when Victor had still been at the base? Had he discovered something back then?
Ian hurried back home.
He shut the doors and windows and opened the envelope.
But before long, his expression grew strange, because the contents were merely Victor's observations from his time at the base.
Like two friends catching up after not seeing each other for a long time.
But...
Could it really be that simple?
Ian's eyes flickered. Under the Radiant Eye, even subtler changes appeared on the paper, as though it had been coated with a faint layer of something.
Potion Identification immediately allowed Ian to sense the aura of several magical plants.
"So that's how it is?"
Ian seemed to understand something. He swiftly fetched various materials from the laboratory beside him.
Then he began compounding and blending them. Several hours later, Ian had prepared a bottle of colorless solution.
He slowly brushed it over the paper, and the letter's contents appeared.
He read the letter.
"Ian, if you're seeing this letter, it should mean I didn't come back. I have to say, that really isn't good news.
"Two things to remind you of. First, be careful of Doug. It's purely intuition, but I've always felt that my failed advancement more than half a year ago had something to do with the potion, though I have no evidence. And then there's this time, when I was inexplicably assigned to go there.
"Second, don't report this, and be careful of the School's wizards. I feel like the School is riddled with holes like a sieve now. If you get the chance, leave this place as soon as possible.
"Third, if you can see this letter, it means your potion-making skills have