Chapter 318: Chapter 318: The Storm Beneath the Mountain

Several days had passed since the ship entered the endless tunnel, and the monotony had begun to wear on Noel. The scenery never changed—stone walls rising high on either side, water stretching forward in a straight path that seemed to have no end.

He leaned against the railing on the forward deck, Revenant Fang resting at his side, watching the faint glow of the mana crystals set into the walls. For once, things felt quiet.

Then the air shifted.

A low hum vibrated through the hull, subtle at first, then strong enough to make the rail tremble under his grip. Noel frowned, straightening. The water beneath the ship shimmered unnaturally, as if tiny sparks danced across its surface.

He narrowed his eyes. The glow spread quickly, streaks of blue and violet arcing like liquid lightning along the tunnel walls.

’What the hell…?’

The hum deepened into a low rumble, and the hair on his arms stood on end as mana thickened in the air. It pressed against his skin like static, like heat, though the temperature hadn’t changed.

From above the deck, a shout rang out. “Storm incoming! Seal the deck!”

Crew members rushed into motion, slamming shutters over portholes and shouting orders to get the students inside. The deckhands’ faces were grim, practiced—this wasn’t new to them.

Noel’s grip tightened on Revenant Fang. “A storm? In here?” He glanced around at the enclosed tunnel, his voice caught between disbelief and confusion. ’There’s no sky. No clouds. How can there be a storm underground?’

The vibrations spread through the floor, stronger now, until even the walls seemed to pulse with light. The ship creaked, not like it was breaking, but as if it were groaning under pressure it wasn’t meant to endure.

Noel’s chest tightened as he looked down the endless stretch of the tunnel, the water flashing with arcs of purple and blue. For once, he had no frame of reference, no explanation—and that unsettled him more than anything.

The deck shook again, sending a faint tremor up Noel’s legs. He glanced over his shoulder as hurried footsteps echoed behind him. Elena and Elyra emerged from the interior, their expressions a sharp contrast—Elena’s brows drawn in worry, Elyra’s face calm, almost expectant.

“Noel!” Elena called out, her voice carrying over the hum of the ship. “We have to get inside—”

But Elyra was already looking past him, toward the flashing tunnel walls. Her gray eyes narrowed as another ripple of mana spread across the water.

“It’s a mana storm,” she said flatly.

Noel turned to her, incredulous. “A what?”

Her gaze shifted back to him, steady, as though she were explaining something obvious. “The tunnel cuts through veins of raw mana. Sometimes the currents collapse. When they do, the energy lashes out like this.”

Noel blinked at her, struggling to piece it together. “Storms happen in the sky, Elyra. Wind, rain, thunder. You don’t get storms in solid rock.”

Elyra’s lips curved slightly—not into a smile, but something close to exasperation. “You don’t have to believe it. Just understand this: if you’re caught outside, it can shred you apart. Mana doesn’t care for reason, Noel.”

Elena hugged her arms close, her voice soft but urgent. “She’s right. People have died in these before. That’s why they’re sealing everything.”

The ship groaned again, louder now, as another surge of light rippled along the water. Sparks arced close to the hull, fading just before they struck. Noel’s eyes narrowed.

’A storm made of mana… collapsing currents. They say it like it’s normal.’ He clenched his jaw. ’This world never stops finding ways to remind me I don’t belong here.’

Elyra stepped closer, her tone firmer. “Move. We can argue later. Right now, you stay alive by going inside.”

The deckhands moved quickly now, their shouts cutting through the roar of mana outside. Heavy shutters slammed down over the railings, sealing the open edges of the ship. Lanterns flickered as the hull vibrated again, light flashing in rhythm with the storm outside.

“Students below! Everyone below deck!” one of the crew barked, waving them toward the stairs.

Noel hesitated, his eyes still fixed on the glowing water. ’In the story… there was never any mention of mana storms. That’s why I’m so surprised, but it looks dangerous by the reaction of the people.’

The thought lodged like a stone in his chest, but there was no time to chase it.

Around him, the students were reacting in every possible way. Clara ushered a pair of younger ones toward the stairs, speaking quickly but gently to calm them down. Selene followed behind at her own pace, her expression unreadable, though her wand was already in hand as if she expected something to break through the hull at any moment.

Roberto stumbled out from one of the cabins rubbing his eyes, looking half-asleep. “If this kills us,” he muttered, dragging his feet toward Noel, “let me at least die lying down. Feels more dignified.”

“Move faster,” Noel snapped, though the edge in his tone was more frustration at the storm than at his friend.

Elena clung close to Elyra, her lips pressed tight. Elyra kept her hand steady on the girl’s shoulder, guiding her with practiced calm. “Keep your heads low,” she instructed the group, “and don’t waste mana. The storm feeds on it.”

That earned her a few wide-eyed stares, but the students obeyed.

Another arc of violet light slammed against the tunnel wall, splitting into sparks that rattled across the ship’s outer frame. The vibration ran deep into the floorboards, almost knocking Noel off balance.

He grit his teeth, following the others toward the lower deck. ’This world is really strange man, really strange…’

The lower deck was crowded with noise as students shuffled to their cabins, the crew shouting instructions to keep doors sealed. The air felt different here—thicker, humming with the same energy that rattled the hull. Even away from the deck, the storm’s presence pressed in.

Noel kept pace with Elyra and Elena as they moved down the corridor. Elena’s hands were clasped tightly in front of her, her eyes darting at every flicker of light from the crystals set into the walls.

“Don’t worry,” Elyra said quietly, her voice calm but firm. “It’ll pass.” She stopped outside Elena’s cabin door, placing a steadying hand on her shoulder. “Stay inside. Don’t open it for anyone until the crew gives word.”

Elena nodded, though her nervous glance at Noel betrayed her unease. “You too… be careful,” she whispered before slipping inside. The door shut with a click, muting her presence.

Noel lingered a moment, looking at Elyra. The corridor lights cast a pale glow across her features, her braid swaying as she adjusted her posture. She didn’t look shaken, not even a little—if anything, she looked like someone who had seen this before.

“You don’t seem bothered,” Noel muttered.

Elyra turned her gray eyes to him, unreadable as always. “I told you. Mana storms aren’t unheard of. Dangerous, yes, but temporary. Fear doesn’t help.” She paused, lowering her tone slightly. “Check your own door, twice. The pressure can slip through gaps.”

Noel arched a brow but gave a short nod. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

They stopped at her cabin next. Elyra gave him a single, level look before stepping inside without another word.

Left alone in the corridor, Noel exhaled through his nose, fatigue catching up with him. The walls shuddered faintly as another surge of violet light swept past outside, humming through the ship’s frame.

He finally reached his own cabin, pushing the door closed firmly behind him.

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