In the center of the room, Elara spotted four wolves, their fur gleaming with white crystals. She focused her inspect skill on one of the creatures. The words "Ivory Wolf [Level: ??]" appeared before her, causing her to pause. The strikingly similar appearance of these wolves made her wonder if they were connected to the Ashen wolves she had encountered before.

The mention of “Ivory” in the title stirred an unsettling thought. If the Ivory Blanclume was involved, not only spreading the infection but also warping the creatures as well.

Stepping into the chamber with Isolde right behind her, she felt a small push from behind. Isolde led her to a boulder by the entrance, hiding them from the wolves’ view. With her side pressed against the uneven exterior, Elara scanned the surroundings. To her right, Gilvanis stood tall, his bow at the ready. With precise skill, he shot arrows at the wolves, capitalizing on each chance that arose. Throughout the chamber, the twang of his bowstring mixed with the snarls and growls. She was in awe as his arrows found their marks, the wolves yelping and stumbling as they were struck. She couldn't help but admire his skill.

Her gaze followed the trajectory of his arrow, zeroing in on the lone wolf that Tirn was up against. Worry etched on her face, she quickly surveyed the battlefield, her heart racing. Her eyes quickly moved around until they landed on Esme, who was alongside another wolf, also facing it one-on-one. Close by, Ignatius remained composed and serene, standing in an open space amidst the turmoil. Puzzled by his seemingly exposed position, her brow furrowed in bewilderment.

However, as the battle unfolds, her concern began to dissipate. Esme and Tirn's strategies became clear; they aimed not to inflict severe harm on the wolves but rather to kite them toward Ignatius's location. Tirn exhibited remarkable agility, as he deftly dodged the beast's lunges. He used quick footwork to stay just out of reach, occasionally tripping the wolf with well-timed maneuvers. His fluidity was mesmerizing, each motion perfectly timed to evade the snapping jaws and razor-sharp claws of the ferocious creature.

Esme, on the other hand, employed a more defensive approach. With precise timing, she swung her hammer, not to crush but to nudge and deflect, causing the wolf to stumble and lose balance. Every move she made was calculated, her frame weaving in and out of the wolf's reach with practiced ease.

Ignatius stood at the ready, his calm demeanor masking the readiness in his stance. As Esme and Tirn maneuvered their respective wolves closer to him, he began to chant softly, the air around him shimmering with arcane energy. It was then that she realized Ignatius was far from vulnerable; he was the linchpin of their strategy. The wolves, drawn towards him by Esme and Tirn, would soon find themselves within the range of his magic.

The battlefield was a flurry of movement and sound, but within that chaos, there was a methodical rhythm to their plan. Her worry began to fade, replaced by a sense of admiration at the seamless coordination between her companions. Each of them played their part with precision, their actions synchronized as they lured the wolves into Ignatius's trap. As the wolves were lured closer to him, she held her breath, anticipating his next move. He raised his hands, his fingers crackling with energy.

In a sudden display, flames erupted from Ignatius’s outstretched hands, quickly spreading throughout the surrounding area. The wolves, now dangerously close, were surrounded by the raging inferno. The intense heat of the fire caused their crystalline fur to shatter, and their anguished howls filled the chamber, creating a chilling symphony of despair. She witnessed with a mixture of fascination and horror as the wolves disintegrated. The scent of charred flesh and burnt fur permeated the air, causing her to wrinkle her nose in disgust. As the flames subsided, she saw Esme and Tirn approach Ignatius. They exchanged nods of acknowledgment, a silent recognition of their well-executed plan.

Her focus snapped back to Gilvanis as he redirected his aim away from the smoldering piles. Once again, she followed his action of releasing an arrow; her gaze locked on its journey through the air. The arrow found its mark, striking a wolf that was surrounded by scout Selly and Velma.

Velma stood her ground, her stance firm and unwavering as she faced the beast head-on. She moved with purpose, her actions calculated, striking the beast’s face to keep the wolf's focus solely on her. Her movements were a dance of sorts, a choreographed sequence of feints and dodges that kept the creature's attention fixed upon her. As Velma kept the wolf occupied, scout Selly seized the opportunity to strike. With nimble footwork, she circled the beast, her daggers flashing in the dim light of the chamber. She targeted the wolf's legs, her blades finding the vulnerable spots where the crystalline fur gave way to flesh.

Elara was in awe as Selly's daggers struck true, the wolf's legs buckling under the precise attacks. The beast stumbled, its movements becoming increasingly labored as the injuries took their toll. The coordination between Velma and Selly was remarkable, a testament to their experience and skill. Velma's ability to command the wolf's attention allowed Selly to exploit its weaknesses, each of them playing their role to perfection. As the wolf struggled to maintain its footing, Velma pressed her advantage. She lunged forward, her weapon striking the beast's flank with a resounding impact. The wolf let out a pained howl, its crystalline fur shattering under the force of the blow.

Selly capitalized on the wolf's moment of vulnerability, her daggers finding the soft spots between the shattered crystals. With a final, decisive strike, she brought the beast to its knees, its body crumpling to the ground in a heap of broken shards and lifeless flesh. Elara marveled at the efficiency and effectiveness of their tactics, the way they worked together seamlessly to bring down the creature.

Looking around the chamber, she sought out Kael, Josephine, and Arthur. She became aware of their fight against another crystalline wolf. Kael stood to the side, his eyes fixed on the fight, regarding the scene with a critical gaze. His stance was relaxed, yet there was an undercurrent of readiness in his posture, as if he was prepared to intervene at a moment's notice.

Arthur, on the other hand, was in the thick of the action. He faced the wolf head-on, his sword clashing against the beast's crystalline hide. Each strike was met with a shower of sparks. His movements were powerful and deliberate, his focus solely on the enemy before him.

Josephine, meanwhile, seemed to attempt a tactic similar to what scout Selly had employed earlier. She darted around the wolf, her daggers flashing as she sought to exploit its weaknesses. However, even to Elara's inexperienced eye, it was evident that there was a significant difference between Selly's expertise and Josephine's attempts.

She pondered the reason behind this disparity. As she watched the battle more closely, one glaring issue became apparent: Arthur's lack of consideration for Josephine's movements. Unlike Velma and Selly, who had moved as a cohesive unit, anticipating and complementing each other's actions, Arthur and Josephine seemed disconnected. They moved independently, each following their own plan, rather than working together.

Josephine's strikes often missed their mark, the wolf's quick movements and Arthur's unpredictable actions throwing off her timing. She couldn't help but note the frustration in Josephine's movement each time her daggers failed to find their target. In contrast, Arthur seemed wholly focused on his own offensive, his sword slashing and thrusting with relentless determination. However, his single-minded approach left openings that the wolf was quick to exploit, its crystalline claws raking across his armor, leaving marks in their wake.

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Elara furrowed her brow, trying to make sense of the scene before her. While she acknowledged her own lack of experience in combat, the stark difference between the two pairs was impossible to ignore. She couldn't help but wonder if Kael, who stood observing the fight, shared her assessment of the situation or if he saw something completely different.

She looked as Arthur's overhead slash struck the wolf, causing it to collapse to the ground. The impact of the hit caused a large pack of crystals on the wolf's body to explode, sending shards flying in all directions. He reeled back, trying to protect his face with his arm, but it was too late. Lines of blood appeared on his face as the sharp crystals found their mark. He cursed, his voice echoing through the chamber. Josephine managed to dodge behind a boulder just in time, avoiding the brunt of the explosion. She emerged unscathed, her quick reflexes saving her from harm.

Kael's voice rang out, calling for Krill, the group's healer. Elara, who stood near Krill, could hear him sighing and making his way over to attend to Arthur's injuries. As she watched Krill walk away, she spotted Esme approaching her, a grin plastered on her face. Esme's hammer was slung over her shoulder in a casual display of her strength. Isolde, who had been standing behind Elara, moved past them, heading towards Kael.

Esme reached Elara, her eyes gleaming with a mixture of satisfaction and amusement. "Well, that was quite the show, wasn't it?" she said, her voice laced with a hint of mirth. "I have to ask, are you impressed with how well our team worked together? Tirn and I make quite the duo, don't you think?"

Elara nodded, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "You two were amazing," she said, her admiration evident in her tone. "The way you lured the wolves towards Ignatius, it was like looking at a well-choreographed performance."

Esme chuckled, "well, we've had plenty of practice," she said, her eyes twinkling with pride. "But enough about us. How are you holding up? I know this is all new to you, and it can be a bit overwhelming."

Elara nodded, her eyes meeting hers. "It was overwhelming from the start," she admitted, her voice tinged with a mix of awe and trepidation. "To see everyone just rush in and take on a wolf like that, it was intense. I quickly lost sight of where everyone was."

Esme placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "That's normal," she said, her tone understanding. "Each of us here is in the dungeon for the same reason: experience points. Tirn and I had to be quick to snatch up a beast and lure it to Ignatius for him to kill."

Elara's gaze drifted to the smoldering remains of the wolves. "Your team was able to take down two wolves, while the others only managed one," she declared, her brow furrowed in thought. "You gained the most out of this fight."

Esme's expression softened, a flicker of guilt crossing her features. "I apologize, Alira," she said, her words sincere. "We left you alone in the back without explaining our strategy and just rushed in. That wasn't fair to you."

Elara considered her apology, her mind replaying the events of the battle. "I would have liked to be more prepared," she agreed, her voice measured. "But Isolde was by my side the whole time. Her presence made me feel more secure, even amid the chaos."

Esme nodded, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Isolde is someone reliable," she said, her eyes glinting with appreciation. "You were in good hands."

She returned Esme's smile. As they stood there, in the battle's aftermath, she realized that this was an opportune moment to seek answers to the questions that had been nagging at her mind.

"Esme," she began, her voice hesitant yet curious, "you and your team are here to get Ignatius to level 100, right?"

Esme nodded, her expression confirming her assumption. "Yes, that's the reason we're here," she said, her tone matter-of-fact.

Elara nodded, having expected that answer. However, her curiosity pushed her to delve deeper. "Why level 100 specifically?" she asked, her brow furrowed in thought. "I overheard earlier that Ignatius will go back to his granddaughter once he reaches that milestone."

Esme paused, her gaze lingering on her for a long moment. When she finally spoke, her voice was soft and measured. "Alira, your questions worry me," she said, her words laced with concern. "They often sound like inquiries a child would make. A few instances of naive questions would have been fine, but it seems to be a constant occurrence with you."

Elara was stunned by her words, her mouth falling open in surprise. She found herself at a loss for words, unable to formulate a response.

Esme, however, didn't wait for an answer. She continued, her tone growing more serious. "This isn't the right place or time to discuss this in depth, but to answer your question, reaching level 100 increases a person's life expectancy, slowing down the aging process. Ignatius is already in the later stages of his life, and he wants more time to raise his granddaughter without old age interfering."

Elara's eyes widened at this revelation, her mind struggling to comprehend the implications. "How much does one's life expectancy increase?" she asked, her voice filled with wonder.

Esme pondered for a moment before responding. "It depends on when one reaches level 100," she explained. "If I were to reach that milestone, my life expectancy would likely increase by around 50 years, give or take. But I'm no expert in this field, so I could be off in my estimation."

The magnitude of the increase shocked Elara. Her thoughts raced, wondering how old Esme might be. However, instead of voicing that question, she focused on Ignatius. "How much longer would Ignatius get?" she asked, her voice tinged with concern.

Esme considered the question, her brow furrowing in thought. "He would probably gain an additional 10 to 20 years," she said, her voice gentle. "More than enough time to take care of his family."

Elara felt a wave of sadness wash over her at the realization that even with the increased life expectancy, it didn't seem like a significant amount of time.

Esme noticed her sadness, grinned and swung her arm that wasn't holding her hammer around her shoulder, pressing Elara to her side. The sudden gesture and warmth provided surprised Elara.

Esme then turned her attention to Ignatius, who had approached them during their conversation. With a humorous tone, she called out, "Hey, Ignatius! Alira here is feeling sad about your old age."

Ignatius, surprised by Esme's remark, looked at Elara, who tried to deny it, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. Ignatius, noticing her reaction, chuckled and joked back, "I still have plenty of years left in me. I'm not that old yet."

Elara tried to deny Esme's claim, her face flushing with embarrassment. She stammered, "No, that's not what I meant. I was just—"

But he waved her off with a smile, his eyes twinkling with understanding. "It's alright, Alira," he said, his voice warm and reassuring. "I know you didn't mean any harm. In fact, I appreciate your concern for me and my old age."

She smiled back at him, her embarrassment slowly fading away. Ignatius then looked to Esme, "some people could learn a thing or two from Alira's compassion and consideration for my age."

Esme, taken aback by his remark, couldn’t suppress a laugh that escaped her lips. She grinned at him, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Well, well, well," she said, her voice laced with mirth, "looks like someone's feeling extra old today."

Ignatius rolled his eyes and made his way to Tirn, who was standing around the intact corpses of the wolves that were not burned to a crisp. They must have moved the two corpses as they talked. Esme, with her arm still around Elara, pulled her forward.

"Come on, let's go see what they're up to," she said, guiding them towards the others.

As they walked, Esme leaned in close to Elara and spoke in a quiet voice. "I want you to keep asking us questions," she said, her tone serious yet encouraging.

Elara, surprised at their earlier conversation continuing, looked up towards her face, but Esme did not look at her and only looked forward.

"If there's anything, no matter how silly the question might sound to you, ask one of us," Esme continued, her words carrying a weight of importance. "But please, keep your questions to our team and not whilst others are around. Your lack of knowledge would be suspicious to others."

Elara wanted to interject, but was shushed by her. "Even if you have nothing to hide, it will seem that way to others that something is not quite right," she explained, her voice low and cautious. "We want to avoid you gaining attention from anyone, as that rarely is any good."

Elara nodded, understanding the gravity of her words. She knows her naivety and lack of knowledge might make others question her, and she was thankful for Esme’s guidance. As they approached Tirn and Ignatius, her mind swirled with potential questions. She made a mental note to seek answers from her team when the time was right, heeding Esme's advice to keep her inquiries within their trusted circle.