Jace's heart constricted within his chest the moment Alec's heartrending cries pierced the air. In that singular heartbeat, the entire world seemed to halt, and his eyes widened in a blend of dread and deep concern. The anguished, helpless wails emanating from Alec cut through him like a jagged dagger, their resonance an unbearable echo within the chamber's silence.
But, as swiftly as they had begun, the anguished cries fell into abrupt silence. The chamber itself seemed to hold its breath; the atmosphere heavy with uncertainty. Jace shifted his gaze upward and beheld the diminutive form of Alec suspended midair, while a similar swirl of stardust gathered in the colossal claws of the dragon Mother. Once more, the world began to relinquish its warmth as an ethereal presence enshrouded them.
However, it appeared that the colossal dragon had ceased to engage in playful capriciousness. In the blink of an eye, a monstrous shadow, as dark as the deepest abyss, leaped forth and devoured the swirling stardust in a single, voracious gulp. The world was cast back into a semblance of normalcy.
Jace, too, sensed the tumultuous whirl of emotions radiating from the mother dragon. He could feel the overwhelming pain she had experienced, the agony of having subjected her child to such suffering. Beneath her serene exterior, a seething rage boiled, like the smoldering embers of a fire long past. Perhaps it was the influence of the blessing granted to them by Her, for it had forged a connection that allowed Jace to glimpse her surface-level emotions. And perhaps, he mused, that connection flowed both ways, enabling the dragon to share in their sentiments.
In the span of a mere week, Jace's entire comprehension of the world had been shattered into a million fractured pieces. He had labored diligently to carve out his place in this unforgiving world, his level catapulting him into the upper echelons of power within the city. He had cultivated connections and clung to a belief in the profound depth of his understanding of the world. Oh, how wrong he had been.
The cult had operated in plain sight, right under their very noses, summoning and bartering these monsters, all while delving into the arts that had remained shrouded in obscurity. For how long had they been abducting unsuspecting souls and offering them up as sacrifices for their own insatiable desires? Jace grappled with a troubling absence of answers. Even now, if they hadn't committed the grave error of underestimating the influence of the Sanctum of Fading Amber by abducting their devoted followers, Jace believed that the cult might have remained hidden in the shadows, perpetuating their dark schemes with impunity.
Lord Trelawney, a seemingly upstanding member of the city's council, was one of them. That vile, treacherous bastard. He had lingered at every level of their investigation, his presence a constant throughout, even though it was hardly his forte. He hadn't resorted to artful deception or veiled schemes; instead, he had steered them straight into the grandest of traps, the very heart of the cult's operations. He had not sought to infiltrate or interfere with their investigations; he had merely sought to obliterate them from the equation entirely.
Jace's gaze drifted to the three wretched cultists bound by the rift, their bodies marred by their devotion to the cult. Even though that vile man had already been subjected to unspeakable torment, his limbs severed, his eyes and torso pierced by malevolent chains, existing solely to appease the dragon's morbid curiosity, it did nothing to quell Jace's fiery rage. It was a rage that seethed and smoldered, the embodiment of a consuming fury that could never undo the pain, suffering, and loss that the man had wrought upon him and his family.
An insatiable anger surged through Jace, a maddening desire to hunt down the cultists, to scour every hidden base they had operated from, to eliminate them one by one. Their influence, it seemed, was as widespread as locusts, and he longed to purge them from existence. But he was not deluded; he knew that such thoughts were nothing more than wishful thinking. As the colossal dragon had emphasized, the cult was a force to be reckoned with, their beliefs anchored in a reality as tangible as the gods themselves. Determination coursed through Jace's veins as he resolved to delve into the archives of the Church of Aeloreth, to study every text, and perhaps even beseech the Sunbringer herself for enlightenment. He needed to grasp the true extent of the enigma they faced.
Jace's gaze drifted upward to the towering dragon, her silent vigil over her slumbering offspring. His thoughts about the dragon mother were a tangled web of conflicting emotions. This conflict arose from his understanding of monsters—those he had encountered had always been slaves to their primal instincts, their nature inexorably bound to their innate drives. Though some could experience emotions and a limited form of communication, the core of their being remained dangerous. In all his years, Jace had never encountered a monster as strange as the colossal dragon before him.
Indeed, he had never encountered a true dragon at all, for they had existed only as myths and legends. Records of dragons were plentiful, but they were steeped in speculation, their existence a subject of doubt. He conjectured that perhaps some form of evolution explained the phenomenon, as evidenced by Alec, her offspring, who clearly bore no resemblance to a dragon. But once again, this was pure speculation. The very nature of dragons remained concealed in a shroud of impenetrable mystery, leaving Jace to grapple with the tantalizing ambiguity that enshrouded their existence.
The dragon before him was undeniably sapient, possessed of the gift of perfect communication, and an intelligence that might well eclipse that of humans. Her power was a vast, incomprehensible force, one that could reduce the city of Dunhaven to rubble with but a fleeting thought. Although she had not displayed any signs of aggression toward humanity, save for the cultists, whom Jace believed had brought their doom upon themselves, he couldn't shake the disquieting notion of a powerful monster freely roaming within the city's confines.
Jace was abruptly drawn from his contemplation as the colossal dragon shifted her posture. In her gentle embrace, she lowered the unconscious form of Alec into his awaiting hands. The dragon gathered herself, her immense presence unwavering as she locked eyes with Jace and Lorelei. This time, there was no deafening roar; instead, she seemed to speak directly into their minds. A voice, simultaneously melodic and perilous, brushed the edges of their consciousness, akin to the softest velvet draped over the keen edge of a razor.
"It is time for your departure," the dragon's words resonated with a commanding authority that brooked no argument. "Remember the oaths you have sworn, oh children of this world, and protect my progeny from the grasp of harm. Do not divulge the peculiar events that have unfolded within these depths, for I perceive a convoluted tapestry of destinies unfurling in the future. Shield him with all your strength until it is no longer possible. My kind has a predilection for meddling with the threads of fate, often leading to unfortunate crossroads."
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She bore her gaze upon them, her scrutiny piercing the veil of time. "Vigilantly watch over him, for the sole destiny from which we, the dragonkin, are forever veiled is that of our own kin. Now, depart from this rift, retrace your path, and spin your tales of deceit as you mourn your fallen comrades."
Jace burned with curiosity, his desire to inquire about her own intentions unyielding. Yet, his voice remained ensnared by silence. However, Lorelei was not fettered by such constraints, and she boldly voiced the question that had taken root in their collective thoughts. "What, then, shall be your pursuit, your majesty?"
The dragon indulged her.
"I desire solitude, to mend the fragments of my scattered memories. I shall carry this rift with me; the moment you step beyond its bounds, it shall cease to exist."
Lorelei's unyielding thirst for knowledge was far from sated. She pursued her inquiry with unwavering fervor, her voice trembling as she asked, "W-what resided within that stone, and the t-thing you extracted from your child?"
A solemn silence lingered for a moment before the dragon's voice resonated once more. "I perceive the very essence of curiosity within you, child, but would you tread this path, fully aware that the knowledge you seek may imperil your very existence? Are you prepared for the weight of such revelation?"
The gravity of her words settled upon them, stifling further conversation. They stood in silence as the dragon continued.
"Now, depart, and bear in mind: do not heed the forbidden whispers, do not glimpse the veiled, and be wary of coincidences, for the fates unseen weave tales untold."
She cast one final, contemplative gaze at her unconscious offspring.
With that cryptic parting message, the expansive chamber surrounding them dissolved like paint stripped from a canvas, leaving their senses reeling as they suddenly stood in the heart of a sprawling forest clearing.
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Alec stirred from his grogginess, his feline instincts guiding him to rub his eyes with his newfound paws. It all came back in a rush: the strange chamber, the encounter with his mother, and the unsettling revelations. Panic seized him, and he hurriedly summoned his status screen, the verdant display materializing before his wide feline eyes.
Alec Jones
Species: Felinus Daemonis Puer
Race: Ancesant
Constellation: Prænuntius Vacui
Potential: [Perfect]
Status:
Level: 7
HP: 250/250
MP: 195/195
SP: 247/247
Attributes:
STRENGTH: 37
ENDURANCE: 12
VITALITY: 25
MIND: 55
WISDOM: 28
CLARITY: 11
AGILITY: 34
Available Points:
Stat Points: 0
Skill Points: 2
Species Abilities:
Blood Claws lv1
Mana Bite lv1
Blood Bullet lv1
Space Step lv1
Racial attributes:
Dimensional space access lv1
Mystic lv1
Language comprehension lv Max
Stellar abilities:
System Interface
Alec's bewilderment deepened as he beheld the shocking change in his status. An entire portion had vanished without a trace. It was far from ordinary, and a creeping fear took hold. He couldn't help but recall the mention of the Stellar Essence and its potential link to marking his very soul. The dread within him grew, and he realized that there was something dark and ominous lurking in the world around him. His mother's vehement reaction spoke volumes—whatever it was, it boded nothing but ill.
As Alec's vision adapted to his surroundings, he realized he was nestled in Lorelei's lap. She epitomized the quintessential fantasy enthusiast, engrossed in her notebook, with the kitten cradled in her other hand. Alec discovered they were in an underground forest of sorts, where towering trees enveloped them in an otherworldly emerald hue. The air carried a gentle, earthy fragrance, intermingled with the elusive scent of freshly bloomed flowers in the early morning.
His gaze was irresistibly drawn to the cavernous ceiling of the forest, where a colossal, radiant emerald crystal hung suspended in mid-air.
Lorelei must have sensed his awakening, for she promptly closed her notebook and held the kitten gently with both hands. "How are you feeling?" she inquired.
Alec contemplated his well-being. No headaches, no centipedes in pursuit, no cultists seeking his capture, and most importantly, no sinister soul-tattooing schemes on his status screen. He was feeling considerably better. He conveyed this with a single meow, and then inquired, "Meow?" to ask her about the whereabouts of his mother.
Lorelei gently shook her head. "She requested that we depart while you were still unconscious. I'm uncertain of her current whereabouts."
Alec had half-expected this, and while a wave of sadness washed over him, he swiftly lifted his spirits. He reminded himself that whatever his mother was currently engaged in was undoubtedly perilous, and he had already faced his fair share of danger since arriving in this unfamiliar world. At this moment, all he truly yearned for was a peaceful nap in the warm sun and perhaps slaughter some prey.
However, his thoughts soon caught up with him.
Slaughter some prey? What the fuck brain?
He chided his own mind.
Shaking off the strange impulse, Alec redirected his focus and questioned Lorelei about their present location. With a meow, he inquired, "Mew?"
Lorelei responded, "Ah, we find ourselves on the third floor of the dungeon. The Verdant Hollow."
With curiosity burning in his emerald eyes, Alec inquired about the giant emerald crystal that hung above their heads. "Meow?" he asked.
Lorelei provided an enlightening response, explaining, "That's called an Emerald Heart. It's one of the primary mechanisms of the third floor. Not only does it serve as a source of light, but it's also a symbol of the life force that sustains the underground forest. Additionally, it's home to the Tyrant of the third floor."
Alec processed the information and realized that he was indeed within a real dungeon, as opposed to the artificial memory-based construct he had initially encountered. He further questioned Lorelei about the concept of Tyrants, learning that they were the formidable boss monsters of each floor, and defeating them granted access to the next level.
As they made their way back to the city of Dunhaven, Alec found himself feeling genuinely thrilled at the prospect of visiting a genuine fantasy city. He no longer felt the imminent danger that had previously surrounded him, and with no quest screens appearing recently, he could sense a flutter of excited butterflies in his stomach.
While Alec pondered butterflies and the upcoming visit to the city, Jace was engaged in a quest of hunting a butterfly of his own, though not of the literal variety. Each floor held unique and hidden mechanisms, whether puzzles, events, or specific traps. Jace's current task was to search for one such trap, which explained his absence at the moment.
Lorelei had informed Alec that Lumigryphs were a type of spirit monster with a strong affinity for nature. On the third floor of the dungeon, they were particularly rare, and the dust from their wings was a highly coveted alchemical ingredient. However, hunting them came with a catch. Engaging one of these creatures would trigger a mechanism on the third floor that would instantly teleport the entire group of adventurers back to the entrance floor. The dungeon operated according to hidden rules, and those with a keen sense could decipher these subtleties.
Returning to the entrance on foot would be a time-consuming journey, taking at least a day, as Lorelei explained. But hunting Lumigryphs, though initially time-consuming, offered the advantage of instant teleportation back to the entrance.
Alec gained some insight into the dynamics of the dungeon, and soon, they spotted Jace approaching. He carried a massive translucent butterfly-like creature encased in frozen ice.
[Lumigryph Lv19]
"Ready? I'll be dispatching it now," Jace announced as he neared the group. Lorelei reached out to touch one of his hands, and with a gesture, the frozen Lumigryph shattered into a frosty explosion. The winds howled, and a silvery storm soon engulfed them.