At the last gathering before the holiday, Ang, Gao An, and the others gathered in a small tavern at the academy. With cups of hot drinks in hand, they chatted freely about their holiday plans. Ang listened quietly as they discussed how they would spend the break, a faint smile on his face. Gao An and the others planned to visit Agnis, a province in the north of the Empire famous for its magnificent snow-capped mountains and icy scenery. It was a cold yet beautiful place. Gao An, Bonage, and Angeli were all from northern provinces and had long been accustomed to the cold climate. They were especially fond of winter activities such as mountain expeditions and skiing, so Agnis felt like a return to their hometown.
The gathering was lively until Gao An suddenly realized that Ang had not mentioned his own holiday plans. Curious, he asked, "Ang, where are you planning to go? Why not come to Agnis with us? It has the most beautiful snowy scenery, and we can relax together."
Ang smiled before explaining, "I already have plans. I signed up for my mentor's study tour program, so I'll be going out to learn with my mentor during the holiday." The others could not help but pause in surprise. Bonage sighed emotionally. "Ang, you really seize every opportunity to learn. You won't even let the holiday pass you by."
Ang nodded gently. He had made this decision long ago. He had seen the mentor-led study tour program on the academy noticeboard some time earlier. It involved accompanying a mentor to various parts of the Empire for field investigations and magical experiments. Although it meant that nearly all his holiday time would be spent studying and practicing, Ang was full of anticipation. He knew well that, as