“—Get away!”, a women scream tore through the air, her voice laced with fear. From afar, I watched as she narrowly dodged the snapping maw of chimera. Its three hydra heads lunged toward her, trying to clutch the women with its claw, while his hulking body moved with unsettling grace, effortlessly leaping between platforms.

A man encased in tight-silver armoured appeared, his movements swift but desperate. “Lilia! Run. I’ll keep him busy”, he shouted, his tone resolute despite dwarfed by the monstrous beast. He hurled himself toward the chimera, narrowly avoiding its stomp. His blade cut through the monster’s leg, but it was too shallow. In a blink, the monster kicked him, his sword shattering as he went plummeting through broken pillars.

Aelwyn tugged at my arm, her eyes widened in concern. I pushed away her hand, my voice firm. “Stay back. Don’t get involved”. With that done, I bolted toward the fight. I didn’t care about saving them. If it weren’t for Aelwyn watching, I’d have let them fall. But she was here, and I couldn’t afford to show her my true intentions.

My feet carried forward on instinct, perhaps it was the remnants of my former self –the one that used to protect. No, those thoughts are waste of time.

The air around me grew cold as I let logic take over, pushing aside the rising emotions.

Mana started to swirled around my palm, materializing sword of ice. Clenching it tightly. Not dwindling any second, I sprinted toward the two humans. The women, a mage, knelt beside the fallen man, cradling his head in her lap.

I think he broke quite a few of his bones.

“Dorian, please!”, the woman—Lilia—sobbed, her voice mixture of desperation and frustration. “…don’t do something reckless like that!”. A soft golden light emanated from the woman’s palm, bathing the man injury in its warmth–

Before they could react, the chimera’s venomous snake head reared back, ready to poised. Without thinking, I lunged forward, digging my feet into the ground and launching myself in the air, matching the beast height. The chimera barely had time to notice attack before my icy sword penetrated through its head, piercing the hydra’s eye. The beast let out deafening screech as it staggered back, crashing into pillars and sending debris all over.

I glanced back, checking upon the two. The woman’s eye was wide in disbelief, her eye skated over me and the chimera. She flinched, nearly letting out a squeal as the male lesser caressed her face, wiping away the dried tears. “You can’t escape that easily from me, Lilia”, he teased despite his condition.

The women –Lilia punched the man’s stomach, barely dinting his armor, through her voice carried both frustration and concern. “Dummy!”, her voice waivered slightly, more out relief than anger.

I was about to call out to them, when the Chimera stirred again, rising to its feet with a snarl, its three head swivelling towards me, eyes beaming with fury. The beast gaze locked mine, a surge predatory malice in the air.

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Ignoring the couple, I turned my focus toward the chimera. With a flick of my wrist I called upon mana, cold energy swirling in my palm before coalescing into dozens of crystalline blades.

The chimera leaped in the air, its hulking form cutting through air. I released the blade, sending them flying toward the target. The shard pierced through the beast’s socket, the sharp crack of impact, followed by a agonized screech. The chimera crashed into the ground with a thunderous impact, debris and dust exploding outward as it tumbled across the dungeon floor.

Purple blood oozed from its ruined eye, staining the cracked stone beneath it. Despite the gross wounds, the monster rose, staggering to its feet, its three head snapping in all direction as it unleashed a furious roar, sending shockwave of tremors across the chamber.

I had no intention to draw this out any longer.

A coldness swept over me, the familiar sensation of power surging through my veins. Flames of deep Amethyst flame crackled to life in my palm, tendrils of lightning racing across the glowing sphere. The dim room was bathed in spiral of violet light, casting flickering shadows across the pillars and wall.

“Tempest Ember”, I whispered, my voice barely audible beneath the crackling flame.

The sphere shot forward, blurring toward the monster. A moment later—

‘BOOM!’

The dungeon erupted in a blinding flash of light and flame. A nova of amethyst fire engulfed the creature, the deafening boom echoing through the chamber as the chimera's agonized screams filled the air. The flame consumed the beast entirely, leaving behind only charred ash.

I turned, surveying over the aftermath. The chamber was reeking of charred flesh, but the flame still lingered, flickering faintly even after the monster had been reduced to speck of dust.

“H-hey,” a shaky voice interrupted my thoughts. I glanced over at the source, my gaze falling on the woman. “You… you saved us there. We’d be dead if it weren’t for you.” She stumbled over her words, relief clear in her eyes, though uncertainty laced her tone.

“Yeah, man. Thanks,” the male—Dorian—grunted, still leaning on his wife for support. “I’m Dorian, by the way, and this is Lilia. My wife.” He nodded toward her.

I barely acknowledged them, instead peering into their cores. Stage 3 red core. They weren’t exactly weak, but they certainly weren’t strong either.

I was about to turn away when hurried footsteps caught my attention. “Cal! You’re not even going to say anything? They’re thanking you!” Aelwyn’s voice rang out, huffing in exasperation as she rushed over. “Caladrel is just shy,” she explained with a bright smile, as if offering them a valid excuse. “Oh, and I’m Aelwyn!”

I shot her a frown, but she ignored it. Lilia and Dorian exchanged a glance before bursting into laughter. “—Yeah, he seems shy alright,” Dorian added, his voice dripping with amusement.

Suppressing a groan, I turned my attention back to the room, scanning the remnants of the battle. The paintings along the walls, faded and torn, still radiated faint traces of aether. Whoever had created them was long gone, but their essence remained, like ghosts haunting the space. Perhaps the library Liren spoke of held more clues, but I didn’t have time for these distractions. Especially not with the lessers buzzing around me.

“Aelwyn,” I called, my tone flat. “We’re leaving.”

“Wait, Cal!” Aelwyn called out, hurrying toward me with that insufferable grin still on her face. “Can Dorian and Lilia come with us?” Her eyes shone with that same pleading look I knew all too well. If I refused, she’d probably cry. Again.

“Do what you want,” I muttered, walking toward the exit, pulling open the heavy stone door. Behind me, I could hear Aelwyn’s half-giggling response.

“Thanks, Cal! See, he’s kind… just shy.”

Their footsteps echoed behind me as I stood at the doorway, waiting for them to catch up.