Chapter 35 : Magical Explosion And Dungeon Door

We all run across the vast plain, Alfira in the lead. I could easily catch up to her in an instant, but I prefer to take my time, enjoying the landscape before us. The large white walls of the capital of Iveralmn grow smaller and smaller, an imposing sight under the clear sky. The silence of this expanse is suddenly broken by Elvaria’s voice, which resonates in the bright sunlight.

"Alfira, where are you heading, exactly?" she asks calmly, despite the wild speed at which she moves.

To our great surprise, Alfira comes to an abrupt halt. She creates a massive shockwave, a real gash of wind extending behind her. Valentin, already struggling to keep up with our pace, is hit full force by the gust. It knocks him off balance, and he collapses to the ground. The poor guy...

Alfira’s clear voice then resonates: "We’re heading to Pienat, the village north of Iveralmn, at the border with Voltruite. That’s where the dungeon is," she explains, her innocent gaze contrasting with the immense energy she had just unleashed. Under the sunlight, her white robe seems to glow with an almost divine light.

"Th-that makes sense..." Valentin stammers, struggling to get up after his fall, breathless.

"Say, Alfira, don’t you think we should take a carriage? Valentin is having trouble keeping up at this pace," I suggest, trying to keep a conciliatory tone.

"Yeah, it would be easier for him," adds Elvaria, joining me. At these words, Valentin shows an expression of mixed frustration and embarrassment, clearly sorry for slowing the group down. He surely wants to be more useful, but his physical limits are obvious.

"Well, alright," Alfira finally says, a little disappointed. "Let’s go back to a normal pace." She seems disheartened by the change of plan, but Valentin, on the other hand, looks at her with a mixture of gratitude and anger. It’s clear she doesn’t really think about what he’s enduring to try and keep up...

We head toward a large dirt road, the same one I had taken the first time. This road is apparently heavily trafficked by merchants, so we hope to find someone willing to take us aboard their carriage and take us to Pienat.

This time, our walk is slow. The air is calm, and for once, I feel like I’m fully experiencing a real adventure with my companions, like in a video game. We walk side by side. Valentin talks with Alfira, enthusiastically discussing different types of alcohol.

Elvaria, on the other hand, seems fascinated by the beauty of the surrounding nature. She observes the scenery with a peaceful expression. I, too, feel this tranquility. I wish this moment could last forever, but deep down, I know it’s impossible.

We walk along the dirt road, occasionally laughing together. Even though Valentin seems on guard, worried about being a burden, the mood is light. We pass through a forest, a small plain, walk by a large lake, a river, and many other natural wonders. This path seems endless.

"It’s starting to wear me out..." Valentin murmurs, out of breath. Without any movement magic, it must be really exhausting for him.

"It’s okay! I see a carriage!" Alfira suddenly exclaims, pointing to a vehicle approaching quickly from a plain. At the sight of it, we start waving our hands frantically to catch the driver’s attention.

The carriage finally stops in front of us, and a young man steps out. He looks at us with a nonchalant yet welcoming gaze.

"Do you need something?" he asks in a relaxed voice.

"Indeed, would it be possible to drop us off at Pienat?" Elvaria asks politely.

"I just left there… But if you can pay, I’ll take you back," he replies, looking slightly embarrassed.

"Of course!" Alfira exclaims before pulling out a huge bag of gold from under her robe and placing it on the ground in front of the carriage. At this improbable sight, Valentin, Elvaria, and I are stunned. The young man, however, is delighted. His eyes gleam as he stares at the imposing sack.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

"Sure, hop in, hop in! And come back whenever you want!" he exclaims joyfully, motioning for us to take our seats at the back of the carriage.

Valentin climbs in first, exhausted from the walk. He is closely followed by Elvaria, Alfira, and then me. We sit at the back, while the young man takes the reins again and turns around, heading toward Pienat.

As the carriage moves steadily, a distant memory comes to mind. A similar scene had unfolded with Elvi, Veron, and Oscar. I wonder if Elvaria remembers it too, if she saw the same things I did.

Silence reigns in the carriage. No one speaks, we all admire the scenery. Alfira, who has spent much of her life locked away in the castle, marvels at every detail. Valentin, for his part, gazes at the sky as if searching for something he’s missing. And Elvaria... She’s looking at me. Intently. It makes me a little uncomfortable, so I turn my gaze toward the plain and forest we just passed through.

After some time, Pienat appears on the horizon. It’s a typical fantasy village, with wooden and stone houses, surrounded by lush green fields. It’s beautiful.

"Wow..." Elvaria murmurs, awestruck.

"It’s been a while since I last visited," adds Valentin with a smile. I remember what the other adventurers had said: it seems Valentin had already tried to enter this dungeon.

Alfira, on the other hand, remains silent, not out of disappointment, but because she’s overwhelmed with excitement. She struggles to contain the growing smile on her face, like a child who’s just been given a huge gift.

Excitement starts to build in me too. "We’re gonna crush this dungeon!" I shout, raising my fist in the carriage. For a moment, I forget my strength, causing the entire vehicle to shake. When I turn back, I expect to see my companions annoyed, but instead, they all wear broad smiles.

"Yes, leader!" they shout in unison. Even though it doesn’t really make sense, since Novus Obris is Elvaria’s guild and neither Valentin nor Alfira are part of it, I savor the title of "leader" for a bit longer. It’s music to my ears.

Once we arrive at the entrance to the town, the young driver stops and lets us off before speaking.

"You’ve arrived. Don’t hesitate to call on me again," he says with a smile before heading off, leaving us alone at the entrance of the medieval town of Pienat. The sun is still high in the sky, bathing the city in golden light.

I’m excited to start this little group adventure! Well, that’s what I’d like to think... But deep down, I know the truth: I’m not really Aley. My real name is Aleystria, and if the Holy War ended with the humans’ victory, then...

I killed the gods.

"Follow me, I’ll guide you to the dungeon entrance," Valentin announces, a confident smile on his face. He gives us an assured look before turning to lead the way. We silently agree and follow him through the town.

Pienat is small, modest. It’s the first time I’ve visited a rural village, having only known large capitals until now.

"Valentin, are we far?" I ask.

"No, not that much," he replies. "Pienat was built around this dungeon, like many other similar towns. It represents a potential source of income, thanks to the resources inside. But as you can see, the town is small because this dungeon simply never opened."

He pauses before continuing, "I tried to save this town by opening the dungeon, but I failed..."

"I see..." Elvaria murmurs, once again clinging to my arm.

After a few minutes of walking, we arrive in a secluded part of the town. Following a stone path, we move away from the hustle and bustle of the city. There’s no one here, but Valentin keeps walking confidently. Alfira, however, starts to worry about the isolation, but Elvaria reassures her.

"It’ll be fine, Alfie," she says gently, a new nickname for Alfira.

"Thank you, Elvie," Alfira murmurs, regaining her smile. It’s nice to see her relaxing again.

Since when did those two become so close? No matter. I then notice that Valentin has stopped. I run to join him, and there, I see it.

A massive door, adorned with flower motifs, glimmers before us. Inlaid with jewels of inestimable value—sapphires, and even mithril. But the most impressive thing is the strange, multicolored hue of the door. It’s undoubtedly the dungeon entrance. However, it doesn’t seem to lead to a physical place, but rather another dimension.

But... This isn’t supposed to be an S-rank dungeon. S-rank dungeons all have physical forms, like the one in Aqualida, which we destroyed, or the ones in Verdesable and Prism. So why...

"Why does such powerful magic emanate from this door? It sends chills down my spine," Elvaria murmurs, stepping back slightly, intimidated by the aura emanating from the entrance. Valentin also seems troubled, a bead of sweat running down his forehead, but he remains resolute, determined to conquer this door.

Alfira, however, is terrified. "W-What is t-this thing?" she stammers, hiding behind Elvaria.

"It’s our goal," I say, determined, as I approach the door. I reach out to push it, but the moment my hand touches it...

"STRIA," a voice booms from the door itself as my hand grazes its surface.

An explosion of magic bursts forth, sending Alfira and Valentin flying back from behind me. Elvaria and I remain unharmed, as if protected by some invisible force. Yet, a vision starts to form before my eyes—a memory or an illusion, it’s hard to tell. The world around me seems to distort, the colors swirl together, and the sound becomes muffled, as if I’m trapped inside a bubble.