Asking around led him to Bartholemew, who revealed that an old hermit deep in the forest might hold the answers. Without hesitation, the protagonist journeyed into the misty woods to meet the hermit.
The frail old man confessed that he was once capable of controlling such phenomena—but his strength had long faded. He warned the protagonist that the fog’s source lay within the ominous Darklake Castle, a place cursed by ancient magic.
Racing back toward the academy, the protagonist encountered Freya, who sheepishly admitted that she had caused a small magical accident while experimenting in the laboratory. Realizing the connection, the protagonist used the enchanted magic fan he received from Bartholemew to dispel the fog and restore peace to the region.
With the crisis finally over, he returned to the lab to ensure everything was back to normal—only to stumble upon a hidden photograph of Freya locked away in a drawer. The picture showed her in a moment of pure, unrestrained pleasure with another man. Though he knew he shouldn’t, the protagonist couldn’t help but keep it, the image forever burned into his mind.
