“Garnet…” I took a step forward. “Are you okay?”

She waved her hand. “I’m fine, Master. What’s wrong?”

She glanced at my blade and her expression dropped before her eyes flickered back to me, the smile returning to her face.

“Where is Terra?”

“She’s in here.” She chuckled. “Come, Master. Hurry.”

I took another step forward. “What happened? Why haven’t you returned home?”

“Master, there is far too much treasure and supplies in here to take home!” She responded. “We needed Master to come and help us carry it all.”

“I’m… not in a position where I’ll be able to help carry as much,” I admitted.

She shook her head. “That doesn’t matter. Master will be enough. Come, Master.”

There was something suspicious about it, yet my feet kept moving me forward. I halved the distance between the door and myself. I carefully looked at Garnet, and even used skills to check her. There was nothing suspicious. I activated my dungeon store and rearranged my skills to give me Illusion Immunity. She was still there.

“Show me, Terra,” I instructed.

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

“Master… you’re being silly. Terra is right here.”

Another head poked out, which was undoubtedly Terra. “Hello, Master. I’ve missed you.”

“Terra… you’re okay?”

She smiled, beckoning with her hand. “Everything is fine. Master worries too much. Come on. Come in.”

My feet kept moving forward. Was I under an effect like Provoke? Whatever it was, I didn’t seem to be able to stop it. I was getting closer and closer to the door. I was getting closer and closer to the darkness. Furthermore, I was walking there of my own will.

At that exact moment, something fell from the ceiling. I didn’t even dodge as a rock struck me hard in the head. It was quite large, and the fall had been substantial.

“Ahhh!” I cried covering my head as it throbbed.

After casting a quick heal spell, I realized I felt something pushing against my chest. I opened my eyes and looked down to see Sapphire standing there. She was pushing against my chest with all of her might, her body at an angle into the ground. I could see scuff marks on the stone, where her feet and been forced back as I continued to move forward. I looked up to see the doorway to the palace only a few feet away. However, the door was not open, and neither Terra nor Garnet were present.

“Sapphire, I’m better now,” I reassured her.

The girl let go, nearly collapsing to the ground as she tried to recover. I did a quick heal on her too.

“Master…” She looked up at me, her eyes tearful.

“I’m sorry I worried you.” I sighed. “I take it I just suddenly couldn’t see you, and then started walking toward the palace.”

She nodded, a slightly angry expression on her face.

“And what about the girls. Did you see anyone else?”

She cocked her head for a moment and then shook it. So, it had been an illusion. Except, that it was one the highest tier of my dungeon skills couldn’t deflect. Did that mean that it was something that wasn’t an illusion, but like an illusion or something so powerful that even the dungeon skills couldn’t override it?