Chapter 21: Abandoned (1)
Exact day of my expected dungeon to appear. I was in the garden with Vega, having tea, when an approximate 8.9 magnitude earthquake shook the kingdom of Cartania. Unlike Earth, the infrastructures and buildings in this world are invulnerable to earthquakes but there are some parts where it was vulnerable, like the slums.
Vega hugged me tightly as we sat on the ground. I already expected this earthquake so I ordered all of the servants to work on the garden for Vega's birthday as an excuse while I ordered the knights to train their skill even more on the field. We need to be in an open space since this earthquake is a lot stronger than the previous ones.
"We're safe here Vega. Stop trembling, it's not like we aren't used to Earthquakes already." I said in a straightforward way, it's to reassure the servants nearby us.
'Open the 'Fateful Asterism' book with the chapter regarding the 'Drea Dearby Dungeon'.'
*dingg!*
♤Chapter 3: Natural Catastrophe (Bookmarked)♤
'…Now, the dungeon is located on the border between Cartania and Derrevia, a fallen kingdom. The first to discover this will be the villagers and they'll report it to some Adventurer's Guilds…'
'…These people will send out scouts to explore the dungeon, but unfortunately, only one will get out of that deadly dungeon, but not in the condition to report to their Guild. So the Royal Knights that are second to respond will get the information and handle the dungeon instead.'
"*sigh* They clearly stole the information meant for that specific guild." I mumbled.
'…Well it's not like what they did is wrong since the dungeon's appearance is considered a national catastrophe.'
"What did you say, sis?" Vega asked, I pat her head and shook my head
"Don't mind me, it's nothing."
-----
Just like I expected the next day, Marquess Trastius and Keaton were called in to the Royal Palace to discuss the discovered large Dungeon that appeared in Dabe Village. Everyone was in panic, especially the officials of this Kingdom and the Royal family.
This dungeon is the first record of a dungeon break in the history of Cartania Kingdom. On top of that, the assistance teams that were sent to Florenia Kingdom still haven't reported about the situation over there.
From now on, we'll have 1000 soldiers and Knights to raid the dungeon. Since there's no support from the Royal family due to the absence of Prince Megastar, I guess sir Devon Colombelles of Colombelles Duchy will take the Commander position this time.
Marquess Trastius won't take part in the raid, instead he'll send Keaton on his behalf while he protects the Kingdom alongside the Geezer Officials.
On the other hand, I have been studying the scroll from the Magic Shop I went to. I don't have the gist of using those magic crystals and stones.
When using a magic stone, one must have a pact with it, to do so, a drop of blood is needed. Especially for telepathy, a drop of blood from the two people who're planning on using it. On the other hand, the tracking magic stone must have the blood of the owner and attach it to the body or clothes of someone/something you want to track. Automatically you will know the location of it/him/her, you can sense it if he/she is nearby, with just intuition - you can use it within the area of 1 km.
For the other stones, low-grade teleportation stones can teleport within 10-100 meters away as long as you know the place. For low-grade explosive stone, you just say the word after you throw it, and with a mid-grade concealing stone, you can conceal your presence completely without anyone knowing for 10 minutes. The same goes to disguise just saying the word before using it.
Activation words for Stones:
Explosive stone - after throwing "Explode"
Teleportation stone - "teleport"
Concealing stone - "conceal"
Disguising stone - think of a certain face or form and say "disguise"
Telepathy and Tracking stones - are automatically activated if pacted with blood.
When using magic crystals, say the spell once, each use has a cool down of 10 minutes. Each element has a fixed speed, power, and duration: Speed of 500km/h, power of 2000kg, per 5s duration for first try, 700km/h, power of 3000kg per 10s duration time for second try and lastly, 5000km/h, power of 1000 per 15s duration time for the last try.
km/h=kilometers per hour*
kg = kilograms*
s=seconds*
Spells:
'Come forth the blast: Wind!'
'Come forth the flame: Fire!'
'Come forth the falls: Water!'
'Come forth the rift: Earth!'
'Come forth the dark: Void!'
'Come forth the ray: Light!'
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'Come forth the night: Space!'
Whoaa! Now, this is what you call magic! I can feel myself getting excited about using it, but not yet… it's better to save it for the worst possible case.
'…I'm rea-'
I was interrupted by the voices from the training field. It's like they are answering a question in unison with 'Yes, Sir!' and 'We understand, Sir'
I tried to eavesdrop on them, and just like I thought, it was the familiar voice of Marquess Trastius announcing something on the Cavelier Knights.
"Tonight, with Commander Treso's guidance you will march towards Dabe Village and wait there until Keaton's arrival. There are still information to discuss regarding the raid so he'll join you there by 10 in the morning. Make sure to be alert while your there, we have received a report that monster's tend to break out of the dungeon. Do you understand?" Marquess Trastius voice was clear and full of authority.
"We understand, Sir!"
*smirk*
'…10am tomorrow. I'll sneak inside his carriage.'
-*-
Day of the Departure.
Tsk. The Marquess made sure I won't sneak so he locked me in my room. With two knights guarding the door. What a clever geezer… but he didn't consider the fact where I chose the window to escape. He must've thought I won't have the guts to jump out of it.
I opened the window and stuck out my head, 4th floor… it's quite high. I tied the curtains, blankets and dress to create a rope. Thank god I have enough resources.
When I successfully landed safely, I ran towards the carriage Keaton prepared… he's not here yet so I entered and activated the invisibility device I bought along with the magic tools, the only requirement of this invisibility device is not moving.
'…I'll suffer stiffness in order to tag along in the raid, haaa…'
When I felt a presence approaching, I quickly glanced at him. It's Keaton. I can see traits from his face. Ha! He must've really tried doing nothing but creep in every corner of the house yesterday, I'm embarrassed. Tch.
He yawned and frowned after laying down on the carriage's chair opposite mine. What the… He fell asleep? He didn't even notice my presence, though this is advantageous for me, it's my chance to attach him with a tracking device (stone).
I'm expecting him to run off during the raid, it's better safe than sorry. I holed the coat of his end coat and shot the stone inside then mend it, he didn't even notice what I'm doing, geez… Is he really a shadow knight? He fell asleep just like that, and he didn't sense me doing something on him, so careless.
We arrived after 5 hours at the Dabe Village, and a huge slanted old castle was sitting there… I felt a cold down my spine just by staring at it. So this is that dungeon, I'm expecting to see a cave. Welp… I wasn't described in the book, so spare me the judgments.
We notice the camp on Dabe, knights and tents are everywhere. Keaton immediately went to the huge tent without looking at me, did he really not sense my presence? How odd. I assume the tent he entered is the planning area. The knights guarding the tent let Keaton in, but a ponytailed girl was kicked out when she attempted to enter.
"Girl, go home and play with your doll, there's no room for a woman in here." The knight who threw her said.
I felt irritated after hearing his words. So what if she is a girl?! Are they discriminating against her because of her gender? Fucking discrimination.
I deactivate the invisibility device and helped the girl up and shoot a glare towards the knight. He flinched after seeing me- he didn't recognize me, right?
"Is this the right way to treat a lady, sir Knight?" My tone is cold and alarming. The knight hesitated to refute and chose to avoid my gaze.
"Pardon us Sir, but she can't enter the planning area. It's her third time for sneaking in and the Prince already warned us about this." My eyes sharpened.
'What? D-did he just say Prince?'
"…Who?" I asked even though I already know whose Prince he's pertaining to. But I, who's denying that fact, wishing it wasn't that Prince. He tilted his head in confusion but answered.
"It's Prince Polestar, sir." My breath shortened after the name.
'…Holy fucking hell…'
Prince Polestar Brimo Roscendev. A dignified but cruel prince of this Kingdom - one of the ten legendary heroes. He ordered to kill half of the military knights when he learned there was one spy from another Kingdom later in the story. He is the Crown Prince. I better not get in his way or else I'll die. Fuck! What with this sudden change of events?!
"Are you perhaps, a relative of Sir Keaton?" The knight asked.
Ahh, so that's why he reacted that way, he must have been wondering why we looked the same, especially the clothes' style.
"Yes." I took the girl with me even though she's struggling.
"Let go of me, sir! I need to get in there- I need to hear the plan" she struggled and was about to bite me.
"Little girl, the Prince already ordered not to let any female enter. Do you want to disobey the Prince?" I gently said, it made her shut up and did not continue her biting attempt.
"B-But I need to hear it. My brother is one of the adventurers who went in when the dungeon first appeared, he hasn't come back yet since then. I want to take part in this raid so I can find him." She looked so heartbroken. "Only they have half of the map of this dungeon."
"Even if your brother didn't manage to come back, why do you think you can?" I asked in a straightforward way.
'Oh Shit…! emotion got over me. I didn't mean to say that.'
"What do you know?! I will do anything just to find my brother, even if it costs my life. He's the only one left to me, I won't give up on him!" She's crying in rage and sadness. I feel pity for her, I wanted to hug her like how I comfort Sunny but…
"Sorry. But you should treasure your life first, I'll find your brother as a compensation for my behaivor. Do you have a photo or know anything distinct about your brother?" She wiped her tears, so I gave her my handkerchief.
'I'm not confident I could find him, if there's things that belong from the Adventurers who went in on the way, I'll just hand it over to her.'
"For real? *sob*" she asked in surprise.
"Yes." I smiled, "But I won't promise anything, I'll try my best to find your brother. Wipe your tears and leave it to me." I pat her head, and she cried again… She's just like Vega.
"Thank you… Thank you very much, Sir. *sniff* here is my brother's photo. Can you tell me your name, Sir? *sniff* Someday I will find you and repay you." she finally smiled with twinkling eyes. I felt relieved after her answer.
*smile*
"Randall. It's alright even if you don't repay me, after all it is my compensation for saying harsh words." She nodded.
I kept the photo and excused myself. As much as I want to enter the planning tent, I need to restrain myself and not to get on the Crown Prince's bad side. He's hateful, and I don't want to experience death the second time in an instant.
I went to the back wood to practice my sword techniques. After half an hour the bell rang for Lunch, exactly when my stomach grumbled. When I turn around I notice a figure, in plain black cloak… I didn't notice his presence. I approached him and he warily looked at me…
'Oh, she's a woman, carefully hiding her face.'
"What are you doing here by yourself? Come, let's get lunch." I warmly offered to let her feel less anxious.
She shook her head and didn't respond. She looked decent and modest, she must be hiding here because the knights don't let women in the camp. Damn this frickin' misogynistic mindset! It's a good thing that I disguised myself as a man (a delicate type).
I went to the hall while the other knights were looking at me intently as I walked casually down the aisleway. Keaton's face crumpled, his wide eyeballs were about to fall off, yep… he really was unaware we rode the same carriage, how can a shadow knight be this careless? I stopped at the table of the 'officials' where Keaton was sitting and sat down beside him. Same posture and expression as him… I couldn't deny the features we have, so what if we have that same vibe?
"……!" Keaton stood up and pulled me up and dragged me away by my back collar… he may look fragile on the outside but I admit his strength.
'…Ouch'