The elf’s gaze never wavered, studying Avince with curiosity . Finally, a small smile crossed her lips as she broke the silence. “Why do you look like you just revealed something you shouldn’t have?” she asked, arching a brow with an almost playful glint in her eyes. “Although… I must admit, having a way to train your soul is truly powerful. But tell me, have you considered the vastness of the resources at your disposal? You can access dungeons tailored to your needs. That ability alone is incomparable. Your power to train the soul could not hold a candle to that.

A strange feeling settled over Avince, a sudden, unnerving realization. He’d been too candid—too trusting—and it had somehow slipped out. She’d deduced more than he intended, and with an effortless insight that made him feel almost exposed. For a heartbeat, he hesitated, wondering if he should pull back, guard his words. But the elf’s serene confidence held him in place, making him feel both at ease and entirely vulnerable.

“You mean… the ability to train my soul isn’t as valuable as…” He trailed off, mentally retracing her words. His brow furrowed as he tried to piece together what she was implying. “Who told you I could access specific dungeons?” His voice sounded more defensive than he’d intended.

The elf chuckled softly, the sound carrying a hint of amusement. “Who told me?” She gave him a knowing look, as though the answer should have been obvious. “Avince, you practically handed me that information on a silver platter. You decided to temper yourself and somehow found your way to the one place that best suits your needs, perhaps in the whole universe, purely by chance? This forest isn’t exactly a typical dungeon ground, you know.”

Avince’s shoulders tensed as he realized how easily she had uncovered his secrets, one by one, effortlessly piecing together details he’d hoped to keep to himself. “I didn’t mean to reveal so much,” he murmured, half to himself.

Her expression softened, but there was still a glint of humor in her eyes. “You’re young. Secrets are not always easy to keep, especially ones that carry as much weight as yours.” She paused, glancing around the forest as if assessing its every shadow. “Now, tell me honestly, Avince—what’s the extent of this ability of yours?”

He hesitated, but there was a certain inevitability to it now. The elf had already discovered so much; he might as well answer. “I can… sort of nudge my ability in the direction I want it to go,” he admitted, watching her expression for a reaction. “Sometimes I focus on a specific type of monster or places, and if I pour enough mana into it, I can reach a place that helps me achieve that goal.”

Her gaze sharpened, her interest clearly piqued. “So, you have control over it. Better than I’d imagined,” she murmured, almost to herself.

“Not always,” he clarified, a hint of embarrassment creeping into his tone. “Some of my first tries went badly. I ended up in places that… weren’t exactly what I intended.” He glanced down, an old memory of a near-fatal encounter flashing in his mind. “But I learned eventually, I think..”

The elf nodded. “Those mistakes are quite common when exploring unknown abilities, especially one as unique as yours,” she said thoughtfully. “But, Avince, do you truly understand the potential of what you hold?” She studied him intently, as though searching for a spark of recognition in his eyes.

He met her gaze, feeling both intrigued and a bit lost. “You keep saying that. Why is my ability to access dungeons so valuable? Isn’t training the soul just as important? I mean, I still have to be strong in the first place to gather any resources from those dungeons, right? And it’s not like there aren’t dungeons around in the world already.”

At this, the elf let out a hearty laugh, rich with both amusement and pity. “Ah, how clueless you are.” She shook her head, her smile tinged with the same mixture of amusement and warning. “Let me enlighten you, Avince. Even if we put aside the fact that your consciousness is what enters these dungeons, meaning you can’t truly die, there’s more to it. Dungeons are unpredictable, and that’s only part of the issue.”

Her expression grew more serious, her gaze piercing. "The best dungeons—those rich with resources and treasures—are almost always claimed by powerful entities. High-ranking organizations or wealthy clans stake their claim on these dungeons, and any loot gathered is typically split among teams and heavily taxed by the owner. You wouldn’t have the freedom to keep much for yourself, not without facing serious consequences.”

A realization dawned on him as he recalled what his parents had told him about the Alliance’s control over dungeon rewards. Despite risking their lives, they had only received a steady salary and the occasional bonus, though the benefits were quite good.

The elf’s voice lowered, drawing him back to the conversation. “Think about it,” she said, her gaze sharp. “With your ability, you not only have the freedom to choose dungeons tailored to your needs, but you also get to keep everything you find. All those resources, unclaimed and fully yours, if you’re strong enough to claim them.”

There was a pause as Avince mulled over her words, the weight of her statement settling in. His thoughts were interrupted as the elf’s voice broke the silence once more, softer but unwavering. “We can help each other,” she said, an undercurrent of calm assurance in her tone.

Avince’s brow furrowed in confusion. “Help each other?” he asked, suspicion creeping into his voice. “How?”

The elf tilted her head slightly, eyes glinting with a mixture of amusement and wisdom. “While you may be weak for now,” she began, stepping closer, her words resonating in the quiet space around them, “I can help you grow stronger. In exchange, when the time comes, you’ll help me gather the materials I need for a ritual.”

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Avince’s skepticism grew as he crossed his arms. “A ritual? What kind of ritual? And how exactly do you expect me to help someone as strong as you?”

The elf gave him a knowing look, her expression unchanging. “You’re right to be cautious. But for now, you’re too weak to be of any use to me. However, if you help me gather these materials later on, I’ll be able to slowly weaken and destabilize the dungeon core. In time, I’ll be able to destroy it without alerting those who imprisoned me.”

Avince stood still, his thoughts swirling, the weight of the elf’s words settling in. Despite his doubts and the strange sense of unease, something in him couldn’t deny the allure of her offer.

He took a deep breath, his mind racing through every possibility. What did he have to lose? The elf was already trapped here; what could she do if he didn’t help her? And her promise of power was too tempting to ignore.

“I don’t have anything to lose,” Avince muttered, more to himself than to the elf. He looked up, meeting her gaze with a mix of hesitation and resolve. “Alright. I’ll help you.”

Without warning, the elf’s demeanor shifted. She extended a hand toward him, her eyes gleaming with an ancient, powerful light. Avince blinked, startled by the sudden change, and before he could react, she spoke again.

“I, Althiel Solaris, daughter of the sun itself and former leader of the Sun Elves, pledge upon my soul that I will help this child unlock his full potential and grant him strengths beyond his imagination. In exchange, he will help me gather the materials required for the ritual to weaken the dungeon core in which I am imprisoned.”

Avince, surprised and awed by the elf, stated, “I accept!”

Avince felt a surge of energy, a strange warmth flooding his chest. His thoughts swirled as the ritual completed, their souls marking the oath, intertwining in ways he couldn’t fully comprehend.

The elf stepped back, her expression serene as the ritual came to an end. But as the magic died down, Avince felt something shift in his mind. It was subtle at first, like a whisper in the back of his thoughts. But then, the clarity hit him.

He gasped, his breath coming in sharp, startled breaths. “You tricked me!” His voice was filled with outrage as he pulled his hand back, realizing what had just happened.

The elf didn’t flinch. She merely regarded him with the same calm demeanor as before. “You’re upset?” she asked, raising an eyebrow. “I would think you’d be grateful.”

Avince’s face flushed with anger, his heart pounding in his chest. “Grateful? You manipulated me!” he shouted, his fists clenching at his sides. “You cast some kind of charm on me, didn’t you?”

The elf simply stared at him, her expression unreadable. “Yes,” she said, unfazed. “I did.”

Avince’s anger surged. “When?”

“The moment I sensed someone else was in the dungeon,” the elf answered, as though it were the most obvious thing in the world.

He froze, realization dawning on him. She’d known from the start. She’d been controlling his thoughts, manipulating him without him even realizing it. His trust had been broken, and the sting of it hit him hard. He also realized why he had been so eager to reveal information about his ability—it hadn’t been his own choice.

“You tricked me all along,” he muttered, stepping away, his mind reeling with anger and disbelief.

The elf remained calm, unmoving. “Calm down,” she said. “The charm was only there to make it easier for me to convince you. It wasn’t meant to control you completely. You’re still in control of your actions. The ritual itself is a mutual agreement, Avince. It’s for both our benefits.

Avince’s anger was still boiling, but he couldn’t help but feel the truth in her words. Slowly, his mind began to clear, the haze of manipulation lifting. It wasn’t as bad as he had thought, but the feeling of being deceived still left a bitter taste in his mouth.

“Why should I trust you now?” he demanded, his voice quieter, but still edged with distrust.

The elf met his gaze, her eyes steady. “Because you don’t have a choice. You agreed to this. And I didn’t lie about the benefits, Avince. I can help you become stronger than you ever imagined. But I need your help to do it.”

Avince took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing thoughts. He needed to think this through, to analyze the situation logically. The elf had her own motives, but her offer was tempting. She could help him grow, help him reach the strength he needed.

“Alright,” he said finally, his voice quieter now. “I’ll help you. But I want to know exactly what this ritual means, and what you need from me.”

The elf nodded, her expression serious. “This ritual will bind our souls together. I cannot do anything that would harm your growth, and likewise, you’ll need to gather materials for me. You should be thankful, as I willingly took the short end of the stick with this agreement. Some of the materials I’ll need can only be obtained when you are stronger than me. That means I must fulfill my end of the bargain first, or I won’t be able to get what I need either.”

Avince nodded slowly, the weight of her words settling in..

But there was still one thing nagging at him.

“Before we go any further,” Avince said, “I’m unsure whether I’ll be able to go back into this dungeon using my ability.”

The elf’s expression remained unchanged. “Now that our souls are connected, it will actually be easier for you to nudge your ability within this dungeon. The bond will guide you, and you should be able to return whenever you wish.”

Avince wasn’t entirely convinced, but the elf’s words were enough for now. He had no way of knowing it would work, but right now, he had to take her word for it.

His thoughts churned, but there was little more to be said. The ritual had been done, and he had no choice now. He turned away, trying to steady his mind. The frustration still simmered beneath his skin, but he pushed it down for now.

He gathered his clothes from the rocks and wore them, his movements quick and purposeful. “I have to go now,” he muttered, ignoring the elf’s gaze as he dressed swiftly. “I’ve been here long enough.”

A thought lingered in his mind as he prepared to leave. He turned back to the elf, hesitating. “I need a way back to my body,” he said, the weight of his request clear in his voice. “Can you...kill me?

The elf studied him, her expression unreadable. “Yes,”

As the word left the elf’s mouth, everything around him dimmed, the elf’s face and the forest fading into a deep, endless black.