Avince’s consciousness slowly drifted back to his body. The lingering sensations of the dungeon faded like a half-remembered dream. His mind had barely registered the change when he became aware of the steady rise and fall of his chest, the weight of his limbs against his bed. He blinked into the darkness of his room, confused. Something didn’t feel right.

His thoughts scrambled to find clarity. The last thing he remembered was asking the elf to kill him in the dungeon. Yet, here he was, lying in his own bed. He glanced at the clock on his nightstand. It was 3 AM.

Three in the morning?

He stared at the ceiling for a moment, unable to shake off the disorienting sensation of his mind still lingering in the dungeon. He sat up, looking around his room. It felt wrong. He should have been tired after spending hours in the dungeon, but strangely enough, he didn’t feel exhausted. In fact, he felt... strangely awake.

Avince rubbed his temples, trying to gather his thoughts. Maybe it was because of the pond? The water there had been soothing, healing—more than he could understand. Perhaps it was the healing effect of the pond that kept his body from feeling weary from the fight with the bear.

I should try to sleep, he thought, but as he closed his eyes, his mind replayed the events in the dungeon, Althiel's words, and the soul-binding ritual. The memory of her manipulation of his mind still lingered, leaving a bitter taste.

______________________________________________________________________________

Morning light filtered through the windows as Avince entered the kitchen, where his family was already gathered. In the end he didn't manage to sleep a wink.

His father, Erwin, sat at the head of the table, flipping through a booklet. Ashna was pouring tea into delicate cups, while Amyra, always eager for the day to begin, was already halfway through her breakfast.

“Morning,” Avince greeted them, taking a seat.

“Morning, kid,” Erwin said without looking up. “You’re up early.”

“I couldn’t sleep,” Avince muttered, rubbing his eyes. “Again.”

Ashna placed a cup of tea in front of him, her eyes softening with concern. “Is this about your abilities?”

Avince nodded, lifting the cup to his lips. “Yeah. And... about your trip to the clan. I just remembered I need equipment now and was wondering what kind of gear I’ll need, now that I have my abilities. I don’t exactly know what would be useful.”

"I know someone who can craft tailored gear," Erwin said. "I'll ask when they're available, then I'll bring you to meet them."

Avince’s interest piqued at the mention of someone who could craft tailored gear. “Really? You think they can make something for me at my level?”

Erwin gave a short nod. “I don’t see why not. They’ve worked on gear for a variety of uses. In your case, you’ll just need something light and defensive, and I’m guessing you’ll want it to be topped by your daily clothes, so comfort is a must.”

The discussion ended as Avince prepared to leave for school alone, Amyra skipping her class to follow their parents to get materials for the dragon egg.

When he arrived at school, the usual bustle of students filled the halls. It felt somewhat normal, but the strange events of the night before still lingered in the back of his mind. Erica caught sight of him as soon as he stepped into the classroom.

“Avince! You look like you didn’t get enough sleep again,” she said, eyes wide with concern.

“I’m fine,” he assured her, but there was an edge to his voice that he hadn’t intended.

Erica raised an eyebrow but didn’t press the issue. “You’re sure?”

“Yeah,” he said with a forced smile. “Just... didn’t sleep much again, that’s all.”

As the school day wore on, the usual chatter and lessons passed by in a blur. But then, Professor Carlson made an announcement that drew Avince’s attention.

“Attention, students,” the professor called, his sharp voice cutting through the noise. “There will be an exam at the end of the week. Make sure you’re prepared.”

Avince didn’t flinch at the announcement. He wasn’t worried about the exam. It wasn’t the most pressing thing on his mind. But then, as the professor continued talking, he added something that made Avince sit up straight.

“And just so you’re aware, next week we’ll also be holding a dungeon run practice,” Carlson announced, a slight smile tugging at his lips. “It’ll be an opportunity to test your abilities in a controlled environment. More details will follow soon.”

As the class wrapped up and students began gathering their things, Avince turned to Erica, a curious thought crossing his mind.

"Hey, Erica, have you started studying for the exams?" he asked, leaning casually against his desk.

Erica glanced up from the book she was flipping through, rolling her eyes. "Barely. But to be honest, I'm more worried about the dungeon run practice next week."

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Avince grinned, feeling a spark of excitement. "I'm actually looking forward to it."

Erica raised an eyebrow, a faint smirk tugging at her lips. "Really? Weren't you the one complaining about extra practice sessions last month?"

"That was different," Avince shot back, chuckling. "Back then, it was just boring mana drills and theory. This time, we actually get to do something real. Plus..." He hesitated for a moment before continuing, "I can finally see how much I've improved after gaining my ability."

Her teasing expression softened as she tilted her head slightly. "I’m sure you’ll do just fine, Avince.

After the day ended and the campus emptied, he returned home to find the house empty and then he made his way to his room.

Avince’s mind lingered on the events of the previous day, the frustration with Althiel still gnawing at him. He couldn't quite shake the image of her — her cold, emotionless demeanor as if what she did was only natural. The elf charming him had managed to get under his skin, even if if she tried to justify it. Yet, curiosity got the better of him. “Might as well check if she’s right about my abilities finding her easier with our soul linked.

He grabbed the pendant from his desk, the smooth, cold metal familiar in his fingers. With a deep breath, he focused on the link between their souls, nudging his ability with a quiet thought.

As the sensation of displacement hit him, he felt his consciousness being pulled once again to the familiar dungeon realm.

The familiar surroundings of the dungeon materialized around him, hazy and shifting. He barely registered the weight of his physical body as his presence coalesced fully in the world. And there, waiting for him at the edge of the stone pathway, stood Althiel. Her silhouette was stark against the cascade of water behind her, eyes glowing with a quiet intensity that made Avince’s irritation flare once again.

"Welcome back," she said, her voice seemingly pleasing, but it sent a ripple of annoyance through him nonetheless.

Avince couldn’t suppress the edge in his voice. "Let’s just get this over with. What’s the plan?"

Althiel’s gaze never wavered, piercing him with an intensity that felt almost physical. It was like she could see right through him, despite the annoyance he tried to mask. She didn’t even flinch at his tone. "We should start with your training. Follow me."

He wasn’t sure if it was the sheer irritation or the haunting calm in her voice, but the words seemed to leave no room for argument. She turned on her heel and walked ahead, her steps sure and fluid, leading him through the twisting paths of the dungeon.

Soon, they reached their destination: a vast cavern with a massive waterfall cascading down from a jagged cliff. The roar of the water was deafening, yet somehow, it felt like the silence between them was heavier. Althiel halted at the edge, her back to him now, facing the water’s rush with unyielding focus.

“This is an ideal spot to temper your body,” she explained, voice echoing faintly in the cavern.

Avince raised an eyebrow, skepticism dripping from his voice. “You’re not trying to kill me, are you?”

Althiel’s gaze remained unwavering. "You can't die here.". Her eyes gleamed with an intensity that told Avince she wasn’t asking, nor was she indulging his hesitation.

He snorted, crossing his arms as he stared at the violent rush of water. “Well, I suppose that takes the fun out of it, then.” He could feel the weight of her silence. She wasn’t even pretending to acknowledge his attempt at humor.

“You can’t die here,” she repeated, her tone serious, and yet there was a strange finality to it, almost like she was stating something obvious

Avince sighed dramatically, shaking his head. “You can’t take a joke, can you?”

As he turned to the waterfall beside them, he noted its intensity—it was far more powerful than the tempering waterfall he'd learned back in his world. The force of the water crashing down was almost otherworldly, a constant, thunderous roar that sent vibrations through the ground beneath him.

"I'll weaken the water pressure. Proceed," she said, ignoring him, her voice carrying no room for refusal as she used some sort of magic to weaken the flow of the water .

Avince stepped forward, carefully positioning himself beneath the powerful stream. The moment the water hit him, he winced as the pressure crashed down on him like a thousand stone hammers. His teeth ground together as his muscles screamed, the cold water soaking through him in an instant. For a brief moment, his vision blurred with pain, the force of the water overwhelming him, but he gritted his teeth and refused to yield.

"This is your idea of training?" he called out over the deafening roar of the falls. "Aren’t you just trying to drown me?" Avince said jokingly

The water was relentless, and the coldness began to seep into his bones, but Althiel remained silent, watching him from the edge. The water pressed against his body with bruising force, each second a war against the growing pain in his limbs. Every inch of him screamed for relief, but he stayed firm, leaning into the torrent.

His muscles burned, but he could already feel the subtle shift, like a new strength spreading from his core. The hours blended together into a disorienting haze, with the pounding of the water echoing in his skull, the strength of it molding his body in ways he couldn’t quite explain. Time seemed to stretch, the minutes melting into one long, painful second.

Just as he was about to buckle under the pressure, he felt a sudden force tug him back. The water’s pressure eased up, and Althiel’s voice cut through the fog of exhaustion.

“Enough,” she said, her tone as calm as ever. “Your body has taken enough damage. Go to the pond and heal.”

Avince barely had time to react before he was pulled back from the waterfall’s edge, his mind still reeling from the intensity of the experience. His body ached, bruised from the unrelenting force, but even through the pain, there was a strange sense of fulfillment. It wasn’t just the physical punishment that had him reeling—it was the way his body was slowly but surely being reshaped. He could feel something within him shifting, building, and it was more than just muscle.

After healing in the pond, the elf led him back to the cavern and the training continued relentlessly, with Avince pushing himself against the unyielding torrent of the waterfall under Althiel’s watchful gaze. Each time he managed to steady himself, the water seemed to press harder, testing every ounce of his stamina and resolve. Bruises formed along his arms and shoulders, his muscles strained to their limits, and his vision began to blur with fatigue.

This continued until Althiel called out from the side, her voice clear despite the roar of the water. “That’s enough for today.”

"Finally," he muttered through gritted teeth, the exhaustion finally catching up with him. “I’m done for now.”

Althiel’s gaze flickered over him, her expression still unreadable. “Return again tomorrow.”

As his consciousness shifted back to his body, the familiar feeling of being anchored to his physical form flooded his senses. But something was different now. The exhaustion that hit him wasn’t just a side effect of the training—it was deeper, as if the whole experience had drained something from him. The healing from the pond wasn’t enough to fully alleviate it.

He stumbled to his bed, the weight of fatigue dragging him down. His body felt like lead, and despite the healing from the pond, he was still worn out from the intense training. Before he could even try to shake off the lingering exhaustion, his eyelids grew heavy. Within moments, darkness overtook him, and he fell asleep.