Chapter 8: The Dungeon

The sudden shift in surroundings disoriented Noah, and he blinked several times, trying to process the change. They were no longer on the street, running from some unknown energy. Instead, they were inside what seemed to be a cavern with the walls towering above them. The faint glow of luminescent crystals bathed the cavern in eerie blue and violet light, casting long shadows across the jagged stone floor. It was cold in here. The air was thick with dampness, and the silence was only broken by their ragged breathing.

Noah instinctively checked himself, feeling his pulse still quick from the sprint. He had to check on Althea next.

"Althea," he asked softly, though his voice was strained. "Are you okay?"

Althea was sitting on the ground, her body curled slightly in on itself as she tried to catch her breath. Her chest rose and fell rapidly, and her hands were trembling. She didn't look injured, but her eyes were wide with panic, and her expression was one of sheer terror.

Noah froze, unsure of what to do. He had been trained to administer first aid by his dad, but those skills had mostly applied to physical injuries—cuts, bruises, fractures—but this... this was different. He didn’t know what to do with a panic attack.

He hesitated, his thoughts swirling. He couldn’t very well check her for injuries the way he would if she had a visible wound. He wasn't sure how to approach this, especially with her visibly distressed. The thought of touching her—his hands brushing against her body—made him feel awkward and unsure, especially considering the situation.

Taking a deep breath, Noah knelt down in front of her, careful to give her some space but trying to make himself seem reassuring.

"Take it easy," he said gently, though there was a touch of concern in his voice. "Don’t move too fast, okay? Just breathe. We’ll be fine. We’re both okay."

Althea looked up at him, her chest still heaving as if she couldn't catch her breath. More tears poured down her face, and her eyes were wide with fear. She opened her mouth to say something, but her words were jumbled as panic continued to seize her.

Noah didn’t know how to fix this. He could barely fix himself when he was dealing with his own emotions, let alone someone else’s. But seeing her in this state—so vulnerable, so afraid—made something in him click.

Gently, he reached out and placed his hands on her shoulders, just enough to steady her without pushing her. His touch was light, hesitant, but he spoke softly, hoping his words would reach her.

"Hey," he said, his voice calm but firm, "everything’s gonna be fine. I’m here, okay? We’re in this together. Just breathe with me."

He guided her in deep, slow breaths, trying to match his breathing with hers. He wasn’t sure how much of it was helping, but he had to try.

"Just breathe with me, Althea. In and out, nice and slow," he continued, doing his best to keep his voice steady. "Focus on my voice. You’re gonna be okay."

Althea’s breathing slowed slightly, though her body still trembled with the remnants of fear. She looked up at him. Her eyes was unfocused, but there was a flicker of recognition in them. The tension in her shoulders started to ease, and Noah felt a small sense of relief.

"Do you have any injuries?" Noah asked gently, not wanting to push her too hard but needing to know if she was hurt. He had to know, for both their sakes.

Althea finally managed a small, shaky laugh, her voice quiet and shaky. "I don’t think so... just... just scared as hell," she admitted, her words almost lost in the cavernous space.

Noah nodded, still holding her shoulders but a little more relaxed now that she seemed to be calming down. "We’re gonna get through this," he reassured her, his hand gently squeezing her shoulder. "I promise."

Althea’s breathing slowly returned to a more even rhythm as she calmed herself. Her hands were no longer shaking. She checked herself over carefully, her movements precise, as if she had done this countless times before. Her fingers lightly pressed against her arms and legs, searching for any signs of injury, but she didn’t seem to find anything of concern.

"I’m definitely okay," she assured, her voice quieter now but still tinged with residual fear. "No injuries or anything."

Noah let out a long, relieved sigh, his shoulders sagging slightly as the tension in his body eased. He had feared something more serious had happened, but it seemed like they had both escaped the energy storm mostly unscathed. Still, they were far from out of danger. He needed to figure out where they were—and how to get out.

There was no way in hell he knew how to subjugate a dungeon, not to mention escape from it…

He stood up, his eyes scanning the glowing cavern walls. There was no immediate sign of any way out, but there had to be something.

Before he could get further into his thoughts, Althea spoke again. Her voice was strained and filled with guilt.

"I’m sorry," she murmured, her words rushed and panicked. "This is my fault. I’m sorry, this is my fault."

Noah frowned and turned back to her, his eyes softening with concern. "What do you mean? How is this your fault?" he asked, trying to understand why she was blaming herself.

Althea’s breath caught, and her eyes flickered with fear. She fidgeted nervously, her hands wringing together as she tried to explain. "I’m a Gifted," she confessed, her voice small and unsure. "And people… like us… we sometimes get pulled by a dungeon. It’s not something we can control. And now… now we’re here because of me, and I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for this to happen."

Noah’s heart tightened as he understood the gravity of her words.

A dungeon. The very thing that had been monopolized by the Superhero Association. The spatial anomalies that pulled people in—sometimes at random—were dangerous and unpredictable. Althea had been chosen by the system, and it seemed that her connection to dungeons was far more personal than he had realized.

The guilt in her voice was palpable. She wasn’t just apologizing for their current situation—she was apologizing for something much deeper, something that had clearly affected her in ways Noah couldn’t fully understand. The panic from earlier had been real, and it seemed like it wasn’t just a reaction to being trapped in this place; it was the resurfacing of a trauma that had shaped her experience as a Gifted.

Noah’s eyes softened with sympathy, and he took a step closer to her. He gently placed a hand on her shoulder, trying to steady her once again. "Hey, Althea, this is not your fault. You didn’t ask for this, and we’re in this together, okay?" His voice was calm and reassuring. "You didn’t do anything wrong."

But Althea didn’t seem to hear him. Her face twisted with fear and self-blame as she repeated the same words over and over. "I’m sorry. I’m sorry. It’s my fault."

This was her second panic attack back to back… and it was scaring Noah.

"Oh my god, what have I done?" Althea murmured, her voice cracking as she stepped back and wiped her face. She took a few moments to steady herself, trying to push down the tears that were threatening to overwhelm her.

But then, something changed.

A resolve washed over her. She straightened up, wiped her face one last time, and stood taller, almost as if to reclaim some strength she had lost. Her shoulders squared, and she exhaled slowly, collecting herself before turning to face Noah.

"Don’t worry, Noah," she said, her voice clearer now, tinged with newfound determination. "I will save us." She paused for a moment, looking down at herself as if searching for the strength she knew was there. "I just turned Level 3. We should be fine… Yes, we should be fine…" She said it almost like a mantra, convincing herself with each word.

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Noah watched in silence, his heart pounding as Althea took in a deep breath.

Then, she extended her hand forward. A soft pinkish flame flickered to life at her fingertips, dancing in the dim glow of the cavern, casting eerie shadows on her face. It flickered and swirled, gaining strength with each passing second as she focused her will into it.

The flame was delicate, but it was powerful too.

Noah stepped forward, his hand reaching out and gently grabbing Althea’s wrist. His grip was firm but not overpowering. He could feel the tension in her as she prepared to unleash her flames again, the energy radiating off her. But Noah wasn’t sure how much energy she had, and from the way her breaths were shallow and quick, he knew she wasn’t in the best state to be pushing herself too hard.

“Althea,” Noah said quietly but with a hint of concern in his voice, “don’t overuse your energy. We don’t know what’s ahead, and you’ve already been through a lot. You need to conserve it.”

Althea immediately froze, her eyes widening in shock as she hastily withdrew her flames for fear of accidentally hurting Noah. The pinkish fire flickered out with a soft hiss, and she looked at him as if expecting him to scold her.

“I… I didn’t mean to—” she stammered, her voice trailing off as she looked down at her hands, now empty.

Noah bit his lip, watching her reaction. She looked so uncertain, so vulnerable. He could tell she wasn’t used to someone looking out for her, and in that moment, he realized just how much she needed support.

He let out a quiet sigh, deciding then and there to come clean. He couldn't keep his own secret any longer if he wanted to help. "I’m a Gifted too," he said, his voice lower, almost hesitant. "I just reached Level 2 recently… please, don’t tell anyone."

Althea’s eyes snapped up at him, surprise written all over her face. She opened her mouth to say something but paused with the words caught in her throat. Noah could tell she wasn’t sure whether to believe him or not.

“I know this might sound crazy,” Noah continued, his tone more serious now, "but I have a skill too. It’s [Fly].”

Without waiting for her to respond, Noah stepped back slightly and activated his skill. His body lifted a few inches from the ground, hovering effortlessly. He hovered for a few seconds, just enough to show her the capability, before he dispelled the skill, his feet touching the ground again.

“I can fly… or, at least, hover,” Noah explained, shrugging lightly. “It’s not much, but it’s something. I’m still figuring it out. But…” He hesitated for a moment, glancing at Althea with a stern expression. “You’re clearly not in the best state of your mind right now. I can see that. So please don’t act rashly.”

Noah stepped closer with his voice softening, but carrying an unwavering tone. “You don’t have to do this alone. You can depend on me. I’ll help you through this. I mean it.”

Althea stood there in stunned silence, her expression shifting between disbelief and awe. She was quiet for a long moment, clearly processing what Noah had just revealed.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, she spoke, her voice much softer than before. “You really… you’re Gifted too? The system… picked you too?”

Noah nodded, his hand still lightly resting on hers. “Yeah. I am. We’ll get out of here, okay?”

For a brief moment, Althea’s lips twitched into the faintest of smiles. She didn’t say anything at first, but her grip on his hand tightened slightly as if to silently acknowledge his offer.

Noah stared around the cavern, still trying to process what had just happened.

The overwhelming energy, the way they were suddenly pulled into this strange place, and now the looming presence of the dungeon—he knew next to nothing about them. His mind kept circling back to his dad’s cryptic words whenever the subject came up. His father was never one to share much about dungeons, and that had always seemed odd to Noah. As much as his dad was a strong figure in his life, there was an air of secrecy around the subject. He had heard bits and pieces from other people, but it was clear that dungeons were wrapped in mystery.

"Althea," Noah began hesitantly, "what exactly are dungeons? I don’t know much about them. The internet barely knows them, except that is where monsters come from…”

Althea let out a heavy sigh, her expression darkening as she crossed her arms. "Not many people do," she said. "Even now, there's so little known about dungeons. It's not like they want people to know more. They keep it all secret, hidden from the public to avoid mass panic."

"Mass panic?" Noah raised an eyebrow as skepticism crept into his voice. "I thought they were just space anomalies... Some kind of rift that distorts our world."

Althea nodded, her eyes flicking around the eerie cavern. "Yeah, that’s about the gist of it. Dungeons are like... fractures in reality, I guess. A space-time anomaly. They open doors to other worlds—fictitious worlds filled with things that shouldn't exist. Monsters, magic, you name it. And the scary part is that these otherworldly places aren't just... fiction. They become reality when the dungeon opens."

Noah frowned, confused by how she described them. "But if that’s the case, why aren’t we told more about them? There must be something important that the government is hiding, right?"

Althea turned to face him with a grim expression. "Maybe they're scared of what people might do if they knew the truth. But what I do know is that the dungeons aren’t something anyone can control. There’s this thing called a [Dungeon Call]. It’s like how the [System] picks the [Gifted]. It's random, and it’s unpredictable. Just like what happened to us."

Noah’s brows knitted together in confusion. "A Dungeon Call?"

"Yeah," Althea continued, her voice quiet, almost like she was afraid to say it aloud. "It’s how new Gifted people are chosen. You don’t get to choose when or how it happens. You just… get pulled into it. The best the Superhero Association can do is monitor them and try to keep people safe. But they can’t stop it. They’ve tried."

The seriousness in her tone made Noah feel even more uncomfortable with the situation.

"So, that’s why they’ve got that Gifted Registration Act, huh?" Noah said, his voice tight with the understanding of what that meant. "To make sure the new Gifted are prepared before they get thrown into something like this."

Althea nodded, her gaze hardening. "Exactly. The government doesn’t want people to panic, and they want to make sure we’re useful. So, they register you, train you, and hope you’ll be able to survive when you get called. You don’t get to say no. You can’t escape it."

"Doesn’t it sound a little… messed up?" Noah muttered, more to himself than to Althea.

If it was Noah, why not just get rid of the secrecy entirely, so that everyone would be prepared?

Althea didn’t answer at first. She probably felt the same.

"Althea," Noah started, "what exactly is a Dungeon Call?"

Althea sighed heavily, staring down at her feet for a moment before answering as she sat and leaned at the wall. "A Dungeon Call is... well, it’s exactly what it sounds like. It's a phenomenon where dungeons open up, and they call out to Gifted people. The [System] chooses who gets called, and when it happens, you get pulled into a dungeon—whether you want to or not." She paused, her eyes distant as though recalling something unpleasant. "It’s recorded that every Gifted person will experience at least one Dungeon Call in their lifetime. For me... it's happened three times already, including today."

Noah raised an eyebrow, feeling a sense of unease growing inside him. "Three times? That sounds… dangerous." Or someone having a shitty luck.

"Yeah," Althea admitted. "It's dangerous, and it gets worse every time. Sometimes, the Dungeon Call will even drag others into it like what happened to me—people who weren’t even supposed to be part of it."

Noah frowned, the pieces starting to click together. "So, you’re telling me… this whole thing happened because of you? That’s what you think, right?"

Althea flinched as if she hadn’t been expecting him to say it so bluntly. "I didn’t mean for this to happen. I didn’t want to drag you into this," she said quickly, her words tinged with guilt. "I didn’t choose it... it just happens."

Noah shook his head, trying to alleviate her guilt. "The Dungeon Call was probably after me," he insisted. "I was the one the system was looking for. You just happened to be dragged along."

Althea gave him a skeptical look, clearly not buying his explanation. "I don’t know. That’s not how it works, Noah. It’s usually random, and honestly, I have pretty bad luck. It's always been that way for me."

She stared ahead, her mind drifting back to the past. "The first time the Dungeon Call happened, I was in kindergarten. My sister had just been chosen by the [System], became a Gifted, got caught by a [Dungeon Call], and then the dungeon pulled me in by accident. I was just a kid, so it was terrifying. The second time happened in grade six when one of my classmates was newly chosen as a Gifted. They were a little reckless with their power, and next thing I knew, I was yanked into another dungeon with them." She paused, her voice dropping in frustration. "And now, here I am again, just two weeks after becoming a Level 3 myself. I was recently chosen by the [System], and now I’m stuck here, in this mess. I even involved you…"

Althea shook her head in disbelief at her bad luck. The burden of her past experiences seemed to press down on her, and for a moment, Noah saw just how much it had all taken out of her.

"I didn’t want to drag you into this, Noah," she said softly, her voice cracking just slightly. "I’m sorry."

"How many times do I have to repeat myself? It’s not your fault," he reassured her. "If it weren’t for you, though, none of this would have happened. You didn’t pull me in. I was already getting dragged in myself. But if you hadn’t started running like that, we probably wouldn’t have gotten far enough to make sure nobody else got trapped here with us."

Althea looked at him, her face a mixture of confusion and relief. "You’re serious? You think it was because of me that we didn’t bring anyone else here?"

Noah nodded. "Yeah. If you hadn’t acted so quickly, if we hadn’t run, this whole thing could’ve been a lot worse. You kept us from being stuck here with even more people. So don’t blame yourself."

Althea blinked at him, caught off guard by his words. For a brief moment, she seemed uncertain, but then her lips quirked up in the smallest of smiles. "Thanks, Noah. I... I guess I didn’t think about it that way."

Noah gave her a reassuring smile. "We’re in this together, right? We just need to figure out how to get out. Don’t worry about what happened. We can handle this."

"You are… surprisingly confident," Althea tilted her head, raising an eyebrow as she studied Noah.

Noah grinned, shrugging as if the confidence was no big deal. "Well, I have a two-time veteran with me, don’t I?" he laughed lightly. "Enough pep talk, though. Let’s do some strategizing..."