Once again, we were walking through the narrow corridor. Aelwyn, Lilia, and Dorian tagged behind me. Their constant chatter echoing throughout the hallway, accompanied by the thud of heavy footsteps. The line torches projected intersecting shadows of us, mirroring our movements as we pressed further in.
“Cal!”, Aelwyn excitedly pierced through the silence, pulling me from my thoughts. “Listen, you won’t believe this—Lilia and Dorian are B+ rank adventurer!”, she practically squealed, her enthusiasm echoing through the corridor.
“It’s really not that praiseworthy, Aelwyn”, Lilia said, her nervous laugh filling the space. “Well after witnessing Caladrel obliterate that Chimera, I’d wager he’s A-rank… if not higher.”
Dorian chuckled. “I’d bet on that too.”
“Right!? If it wasn’t for him, I would be dead right now, ehehe.” Aelwyn added with an embarrassed giggle, her childlike voice bouncing off the stone walls.
I suppressed a sigh. Is this how Lessers lure as into complacency? acting weak? … or is she truly innocent. Question like this kept gnawing at the edge of my mind. The flood of memories began surfacing, unbidden, and I felt myself drifting off to the past—
The sun dipped low over the horizon, its rays painting the clouds in warm hues of orange. A streak of violet saturated the sky, splitting it into bands of yellow and red. Somewhere in the distance the enormous mountain stood tall, their peaks painted in fading gold, as the last of the day’s sunlight clung to them. I shifted around the tree branch, allowing my back to rest against the bark. Across from me, Elsiya lay sprawled in another branch. The warm yet soothing rays bathing her face in a serene glow.
I am surprised she could sleep peacefully after our intense sparring session. I decided to close my eye, letting the sun’s warmth embrace me, feeling relaxed as the ray’s soak deep within my skin. But moments later I felt a playful gaze burrowing deep into my face.
Frowning I opened my eyes. The sun had already slipped behind the mountains, cloaking the Archon realm beneath a veil of starlight.
“Suw”, Elsiya starred at my face, her lips curling into a mischievous smile. “Ahahaha, look at that frown. My darling really don’t like this name, huh.?”
I scowled playfully and smacked her arm. “It sounds weird, El.”
Her eyes widened in mock offense, her lip twitching. “Did you just smack me? W—wait come back here!!”
Without another second’s thought, I jumped off the tree, landing gracefully on the soft grass. “Come catch me, El. I stick out my tongue with a teasing grin before sprinting off.
“L—Cal?”
Aelwyn voice yanked me out of the reverie, snapping me back to reality.
“Cal! Lost in thought again?”, Aelwyn called again, her voice was laced with concern, though her pouting face did little to hide her amusement.
I felt my jaw clench, irritation rising within me, like a tidal wave. With an exhausted mental energy, I tried pushing down my emotions. The cold, familiar logic, clouded around my mind, suppressing the clawing emotions. I don’t have time for this. I told to myself, as I let out a sigh.
Ignoring her earlier remark, I skated my attention to the couple. “Dorian,” I probed, keeping my tone flat. “Why are you two here?”
Aelwyn perked up beside me, nodding eagerly. “Yeah, I am curious too, hehehe”, her eyes glinted with unfiltered curiosity that never seem to wane.
Lilia and Dorian exchanged a glance, before Lilia decided to answer. “Well, Dorian and I were on a quest—just a normal dungeon, but then, out of nowhere, a blinding light came down on us, and we ended up here.”
It was subtle, but I noticed her tensed up, her gaze flickering over to Dorian. I nodded at her, pretending to buy her story. “Same thing happened to me,” I added with a half-hearted smile
“You could have told me that, Cal!”, Aelwyn chimed in, her face showing genuine concern. I gave her an apologetic look and gently patting her head. But my attention remained elsewhere—out of the corner of my eye, I notice Dorian watching me, studying my expression.
He let out a soft chuckle, the earlier tension in his face melting into something warmer. “I guess we’ll have to escape together, right Lilia?”
Lilia perked up at that, relaxing as if she'd forgotten her earlier discomfort. “Yup! And look at Aelwyn—she’s so cute!” she teased, tugging at Aelwyn’s cheeks. Aelwyn tried to protest but quickly dissolved into giggles.
Dorian too fell into laugh. “I hope our daughter turns out like her, right Lilia?”
I sighted. Shifting my attention forward, I increased my pace. The more I spend time with them, the more I feel sick, as my stomach churns whenever the memory of that event resurface. I need to find Krynnor soon… but last time, I couldn’t do a thing against him.
I walked mindlessly, releasing my clenched fist as I stare down at the floor, and a surge of despondency washed over me. My thoughts darkening as the image of Elsiya’s lifeless body crept back into my mind. She had died because of me—shielding me from Krynnor’s attack.
I flinched, nearly running into Aelwyn who tugged to my sleeves. “Cal, is something bothering you?”, Her voice was soft, concerned. “You saved me. If you need anything, just ask.”
I shifted my gaze to her, this child-like girl who showed sympathy toward her enemy. “I’m fine,” I murmured, ruffling her hair..
“I am not a kid, Cal!”, she protested, turning her face away as her cheeks flushed red.
I could sense Lilia opening to speak but soon close it, as we reach our familiar square room. “We are here.”, I announced to no one particular.
Dorian stretched. “The room’s the same size as the others. We need to get out of this damn dungeon.”
Lilia nodded in agreement while Aelwyn tugged at my cloak again. I turned toward her, mustering a warm smile. “Stay back, Aelwyn.”
She nodded seriously, as if receiving an order from her commander. Shifting my attention back to the room, I extended my Aetheric sense. Aether flowed around me, swirling as I focused. There—just one signature, similar to the mana we had encountered before. Just as I moved toward it, Dorian’s hand stopped me.
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“Let us handle this, Caladrel,” he said, confidence brimming in his voice.
I gave him a nonchalant nod. “Fine, do as you wish”.
I stepped back, my eyes drifting toward Aelwyn, who waved at me with a bright smile. Despite the unease gnawing at me, I forced a smile in return.
“Hurry Cal!”, she practically squealed in excitement, her enthusiasm infectious. We positioned ourselves near the far wall, the perfect spot to intervene if necessary. My nose caught the faint scent of ionized blood—remnants of those who had tried to enter this dungeon and failed.
“Hey, Aelwyn” I muttered to her, loud enough for only for her to hear. She beamed at me, as a big smile played on her face, but Before she could respond, I asked, “What do you know about the binding light?”
“Hehe, I thought you’d never ask.”, she smiled, her expression shifting to something more serious, her carefree demeanour replaced by a knowing look. “You see, there wasn’t any detail explanation of this phenomenon, directly. But before I got pulled in here, I saw a rune suddenly appearing beneath my foot—that’s teleportation, although it isn’t the usual teleportation spell, but it looked like an ancient one.”
“Aether?” I interjected, pieces of the puzzle beginning to fall into place.
Aelwyn’s eyes twinkled. “Yes! Aether is 5th, mysterious element. Unlike mana, we cannot control it, but wield it. and Cal, through Aether, powerful spells such as teleporting a specific person from anywhere is possible. Yes, mana can do it too, but not at this level.”
was taken aback by her knowledge. For a Lesser to know this much about Aether was impressive. “You’re smarter than I thought,” I said, ruffling her hair.
“Hehe, thank you.”, she lowered her head, clearly enjoying the ruffling. ““I’ll take you to the biggest library the elves have. You’ll find everything you need there.” I nodded at her. It would benefit me a lot, since I really don’t have much clue about this realm.
“Sure, Aelwyn”, offering her a slight smile, I skated my eyes over to the couple who were engaged with the hydra looking chimera. Dorian already chopped off a head of the hydra without breaking a sweat. Lilia was few feet behind him, launching offensive spell at the towering beast. The beast screamed in fury, falling helpless to the adventurer duo.
I see he had a spare sword beside the broken one. Dorian leaped high effortlessly, banking in one of the severed head. Lightning began to dance along his sword, one of the hydra head dived for him with its maw open. Dorian jumped up, carefully evading the strike, rotating his body, he hurled towards the defenceless head, his lightning-cladded sword poised.
The hydra instinctively rose its previously lowered head, but it was too late. The beast howled in pain, as Dorian stabbed it’s head, lightning arcing through the body as blood spurted out.
The chimera reared back, stumbling towards the wall. its bleeding head pivoted like a mad beast, trying to shake off its attacker, sending debris across the chamber. The room filled with screech of the beast, as it cried in excruciating pain Dorian pulled out his sword and flip backward, landing gracefully beside Lilia. He gave her a firm nod.
Lilia nodding in return, released a massive flaming ball that she has been conjuring. The pitiful beast was cornered to the wall, nowhere to run. Moment later, the flaming ball found its target—
‘BOOM!’, the chamber revibrated as the enormous flaming globe engulfed the chimera, the oozed-out blood began evaporating, as the surrounding water particle began to disperse. The beast screeched for its life, its eyes showcasing true horror. The chimera stirred up desperately, but soon the crackling flame burned it alive, leaving behind the charred body.
The room was reeking of burning flesh, smoke bellowed out of the seared beast, as it fell in the ground with a thud.
“Good job, Lilia!” Dorian’s voice rang out, breathless, eyes gleaming with pride. “Thank the gods you’re my wife.” He broke into laughter, but it quickly dissolved into coughing as Lilia punched him in the stomach.
“Idiot,” she muttered, spinning on her heel. Dorian winced, clutching his stomach, but still managed to stumble after her as she stormed off.
Aelwyn tugged at my corner, a scorn mixed with disbelief was etched on her face. “Is it over?”, she whispered, her voice hoarse.
“Yes— “, but before I could even finish my sentence, I caught onto a different signature—earth mana, swirling around a behemoth like rock. Of course it was there, just like before. “Get of there!!”, my voice teared through the air, as I tried to warn the couple. But it was too late—
Lilia’s sharp gasp echoed through the chamber as the massive Sentinel’s blade cleaved her in two. Her body hit the ground with a sickening thud, blood pooling from the severed halves. Silence followed—an oppressive void filled with nothing but the screeching of metal as the Sentinel moved closer to the stunned Dorian.
“NOOOOO!”, Aelwyn’s scream broke the stillness, a raw cry of horror. As if in response, Dorian snapped back to himself, gripping his sword with trembling hands, his blank eyes staring at the monstrous creature before him.
“I shook Aelwyn gently, noticing the tears streaming down her face. “Stay here,” I ordered firmly. I didn’t wait for her response before dashing toward Dorian, who seemed on the verge of following his wife into death. “Dorian! Dodge it!
But my words fell on deaf ears. Ignoring my words he dove high, banking on the hilt of the sentinel’s sword. The sentinel eye darted towards the small figure, it tried to swat him with its free hand, but Dorian leaped back again, latching onto the other hand.
He’s not listening. I gritted my teeth, pushing off the ground and soaring toward the Sentinel’s head.
I delved into the surrounding aether, willing them to my mind, and controlling the mana through it. Mana began to shudder, as wind element began swirling in my palm, compressing it to a violent ball of caged wind, as if it’s trying to break apart.
As I inch closer toward the sentinel whose focus was on Dorian, I hurdle the violent sphere toward the Sentinel, carefully not to hurt Dorian. As a heart-beat later, the compressed wind impacted upon the sentinel enormous abdomen, and with a deafening boom, the violent burst of wind send the sentinel tumbling toward the wall, crashing on its course. Gale burst, I noted the name in my mind.
Dorian was left hanging in the air for a split-second, before gravity pulled him down to the ground, his knees buckling as he hit the ground. I landed beside him with a sigh. “Dorian, pull yourself together. Stay still. I’ll handle it.”
“No”, a single whisper escaped his lips, his eyes were burring with vengeance as he went hurtling towards the chimera, now stirring with a mechanical whirr. Suppressing a groan, I followed close behind.
The Sentinel’s eyes flared a bright blue, and I felt the earth mana stirring beneath us. . A moment later, metallic spikes shot out from the ground, their tips blackened—likely poisoned. Holding my breath, I dodged the barrage of spikes by a hair's breadth. Ah—
Dorian wasn’t so lucky. He stopped dead in his track, as a spike penetrated his chest, second later the spike’s tendrils began to spread through the whole, and stabbing him through his flesh. He stumbled to his knees.
I had no time to reach him—the Sentinel reared back, ready to swing its sword. My brows furrowed as I gritted my teeth, focusing on the aetheric path—Pravam.
Aether began to follow my command, as the familiar destructive energy surged through my body, a glowing sensation was itching in my arm. The air around became unnaturally still, as the space began to distort and the swirling aether began to coalesce into a dark swirling orb of pure darkness, creating a shadowy around it. A low, ominous hum filled the air, accompanied by a crackling energy that feels unstable.
The sentinel let out a deafening roar, shaking the walls of the chamber, as it began to run toward me. As it came near me, barely few feet away, I shoot the void blast, leaving behind a distorted trail. For a brief second the massive sentinel paused in its track, but soon came in contact with the speeding orb. The mater itself began to disappear into nothingness, erasing everything in touch, first it was its armoured hand, then chest and soon entire sentinel was ceased out of existence, leaving not a cue of it behind.
Panting, I drew a deep breath, my aether reserves almost depleted. I jolted, remembering the binding light—but to my relief, I hadn’t been teleported.
Spinning around, panic welled inside me as I spotted Dorian’s still form on the ground. Is he dead? The thought hit me hard.
“Cal!” Aelwyn’s panicked voice echoed in the chamber, her face pale as she rushed toward me, eyes wide with shock and concern. “Are you okay?!”
I waved off her worry with a nod, quickly kneeling beside Dorian, His breaths were shallow, but he was alive—barely. His eyes fluttered open as he sensed my presence, darting across the room before locking onto mine.
“I wa—” Dorian choked, blood spilling from his lips as he searched for my hand. I grasped it tightly, meeting his gaze.
“We were sent by Lady Elara…a parchment in my left pocket…I—I am sorry—in be half of our kind..” he trailed off, losing his strength as the last light from his eye snuffed out, the words were left hanging as his body lay lifeless.