A couple of days after the battle of the guilds, things started to return to normal. Piper and Anna’s family returned home to Arvendon. There was a buzz around the city of Arcross as the dungeon was now visible to magical senses and would be spawning monsters very soon. The teams were already chosen by the guildmasters of the city. There have only been three official teams created by the guilds so far. It was the Wintoar brothers, the Rangers that Levi battled, and Levi’s team. Levi’s team was given priority as it had the highest average star rank, being 3-star.

Levi’s time at the summoner’s guild was coming to an end. He had surpassed any potential that the professors had thought he would have being a student here. Not only was Levi a great summoner, but he was also one of the best students the professors ever had. Levi was sadden by the prospect of leaving; they had taught him so much, and this place was all he had ever known on this world.

He spent time with the professors as they were preparing for their final goodbyes.

“For the time you are always welcome to come and stay in your room, I hope we get more students, but it is not likely.” Egret said.

“Thank you, but I will rent if we need one,” Levi said. “I know at least two new summoners will be coming next year.”

“Oh?” Bertrum asked.

“Karin Onyx and Victor- I don’t know his last name,” Levi said.

“The princess Onyx? She’s young.”

“So is Victor; they are both sixteen,” Levi said. “Why is there such a wide age gap? I’m 25, Piper and Anna are also in their early twenties, but you accept 16-year-olds?”

“We do. It’s not about age. Parents pick and choose when they want their children to come to the guilds. Most parents wait until their children are 2-star but that’s not always the case.”

“I see. That makes sense so a personal preference?” Levi said.

“Yes,” Egret responded. “Are you ready for the dungeon? You depart next week, right?”

“Yes, we do, and I think so,” Levi responded. “At the very least Piper and I are ready,” Levi chuckled.

“Did things calm down with you and her family?” Bertrum asked.

“Yeah,” Levi said. “The goddess of fertility speaking to Aunty Maddi was helpful. It took a bit but before they left, she figured out what the goddess meant by her last question. After that she found me and apologized.”

“What did she mean?” Egret asked.

“Not all chaos is bad chaos,” Levi said. “A message I have been saying for a while and not all order is good.”

“And she works in the birthing unit,” Egret mused. “That must have been an easy question to answer but a hard one to figure out the meaning.”

“Exactly,” Levi said. “I think we’re fine, Piper is still super upset and doesn’t want anything to do with them for a bit. We’ll see after the dungeon how she feels. I ain’t going to push either way.”

“But you should,” Bertrum said.

“Why?” Levi asked.

“You have experience with missing family because of one moment that led to a ton of other distancing moments. You have told me, and I have seen how hard it is for you. Don’t let her go down that path.”

“I guess that makes sense,” Levi said.

“Do you care what they think of you?”

“At this point no.”

“Even more reason for you to steer her in the right direction. Levi, you want them to think you’re a good guy, be that good guy and bring their daughter home to them.”

Levi sat for a moment, thinking about the words his professor told him. He appreciated both Professor Egret and Bertrum. They had taught him well in the ways of magic. Now, he was being taught in the ways of family. He wouldn’t push away the advice by any means; he would take it into deep consideration.

“Yeah alright, fine,” Levi said. “I’ll talk to Piper.”

“This might be forward Mr. Winters,” Professor Egret. “Are you planning on marrying young Lady Piper?”

“Uhh,” Levi thought. “I don’t know. Haven’t really thought that far but it’s not something that I wouldn’t hate. I mean, we’ve talked about aristocracy and how I want no parts of it or to start my own.”

“Very good,” Egret said. “I imagine love on this world is very different than yours. Here, it is more duty than heart. Marriages are arranged, babies are planned, and houses are formed; this is how things go. I suspect the fissure between young Lady Piper and her mother was due to the fact that Piper is planning on marrying you.”

“Yeah, I bet that’s right,” Levi nodded.

“That doesn’t scare you?” Egret asked.

“Nope,” Levi said. “We’re trending in the right direction. But I guess I don’t know the traditions. Do I ask permission? Do I propose? No one wears wedding rings here so is that even a thing?”

“No,” Bertrum said. “You don’t need to do any of that. There isn’t some large ceremony or procession; it just happens.”

“Damn,” Levi said. “Marriages are a lot bigger deal where I’m from. At least the performance of is.”

“Do people get married?”

“Oh yes, it's a huge deal. Proposals are big; there are different celebrations, the actual wedding, and after-parties, which cost an exorbitant amount of money.”

“People must be married for a long time,” Egret mused.

“Well, no… divorce rate is 51%” Levi said.

“Divorce?” Egret asked.

“They legally get unmarried,” Levi explained.

“So more than 1 out of 2 marriages end in divorce?”

“Yep,” Levi said.

“Our way is better,” Bertrum concluded.

“I take it by the confusion of the word divorce that is not a thing?”

“No,” Egret said. “If you choose to marry, you marry for life, for no more reason than duty if love is not present.”

“I imagine that they’ll fall in love eventually, folks live longer here,” Levi responded.

“That is typically the case yes,” Egret nodded.

“Are you two married?” Levi asked.

“Yes,” Egret said.

“Nice, to who?” Levi asked.

“To,” Egret said slowly in confusion. “Each other.”

“What the?!” Levi said.

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

Bertrum laughed.

“What did you think?”

“That you were work friends?”

“We are,” Egret said. “We also got married as a political peace offering between our two families. We’ve been married for nearly a century. We have several kids who are all professors now, much older than you, Levi.”

“What happens when you two make a baby?” Levi asked. “Sorry if that’s rude but I let the intrusive thoughts win.”

Bertrum chuckled. “We have magic using half elf, half falconine. They are adorable and all magic users.”

“This is blowing my mind,” Levi whispered. “Are they summoners?”

“They are,” Bertrum nodded. “Quite good but you are better.” Egret nodded in agreement.

“Okay okay okay,” Levi said, shaking his head, trying to understand the situation before him. “What is your last name then?”

“Arbor,” Bertrum said slowly.

“Arbor,” Levi said. “Why does that sound familiar… Arbor…?” Levi kept thinking, placing his chin in his palm and absently tapped his chin. The professors sat there patiently waiting for him to figure it out. Levi’s eyes shot open, and he pulled out a piece of old-looking paper. He held it up and was mumble reading. Levi’s eyes went wide. “ARBOR ARBOR??” He practically yelled.

“Yes,” Egret said. “That Arbor. What is that paper?”

“Wow, so where is your family now? It’s a letter from some dude named M. Veluvius. This was the second letter I got from him.”

“We are around and still have many members spread throughout the world. I’m surprised you never asked us about it,” Bertrum said. “Veluvius was one of the world's best summoners. He and the counsel of summoners all disappeared, and no one knows what happened.”

“Interesting,” Levi mused. “So, I take it you aren’t fans of the Onyx’s?”

“We’re not fans of the king, we have no quarrel with the children,” Egret said. “How are you getting these letters?”

“Randomly, I'll get this feeling of chaos energy, and I follow that energy. There is a chest there waiting for me. This letter about the Arbors was letter #6, and right before I was taken.”

“You randomly feel chaos energy?” Egret asked. “How strong is your affinity?”

“I’m a chaotic paragon now instead of otherworlder, so very?” Levi said.

“I think the thing that is important is recognizing that you are getting specific gifts, how?” Bertrum asked.

“Beats me, man.”

“It was the will of Veluvius. He allowed the letters to be sent randomly with chaos magic in hopes that his mistake couldn’t find them,” a chorus of creepy voices said.

“Y’all gotta stop doing that, man,” Levi said to the ghosts.

“Uhh Levi,” Egret said. “Do you know these ghosts?”

“We’ve met once, Professor Egret. We are guides, if you will, to help Levi,” they said.

“Okay. So Veluvius uses chaos magic to have his letters haphazardly appear?”

“You accepted our presence quickly,” they observed.

“I’m a professor of summoning this is hardly the strangest thing I have encountered, now my question.”

“Yes, but they are to appear with the one who has the strong affinity to chaos and only them. Their locations are varied on the location of the destined being.”

“Imma bet that I’m the destined being?” Levi asked.

“Just so,” the ghosts said. “You are the one who was summoned, not by random.”

“Wait a min,” Levi said, narrowing his eyes. “If I was summoned… Does that mean when things are done, I’ll get sent back?”

“No,” they said. “Think of your situation like a familiar summoning. Your soul was the one to accept the summon creating a bond with the summoner.”

“But Veluvius is dead,” Levi countered.

“He is,” they responded. “The situation is like a familiar summoning. Not A familiar summoning. You are not a familiar. You are a being who is not tethered like a regular summon is tethered.”

“Gotcha,” Levi said. “Hey, I can share the prophecy now?”

“You may, but we advise against it.”

“Yeah,” Levi said softly. “Piper is not in the right mindset to tell her; she’s been lied to her whole life… I’ll wait.”

“Sensible,” the ghosts said. This will likely be one of the last times we interact, Levi Winters. Take this as a gift.” Chaos energy formed at Levi's feet, and a medium-sized chest manifested. Levi opened the chest and found three items. There was a pair of bracers, a necklace, and an orb. Levi picked up the orb.

Item: Orb of the Void

Legendary

Familiar Item

Use this item with a familiar who is related to the void. This will provide an additional effect to the familiar.

Levi hadn’t reacted quite yet to the orb, but that was helpful for sure, as he loved additional effects on his familiars. He felt like he was able to repay them slowly for all that they did for him. He held the bracers next.

Item: Chaotic Bracers

Legendary

Magical Item

A set of bracers infused with chaos energy. All chaos spells have their mana cost reduced in half.

Levi whistled. This was a great help. The void storm spell was a chaos spell, and it was a massive mana drain. He would be able to use it more frequently with the bracers. Levi held the bracers, and it looked like a dark sky with gray clouds and red lighting. Each bracer went up half his forearms and held tight. The last item was a necklace.

Item: Necklace of Veluvius

Unknown

Magical Item

A necklace with the infused mana of M. Veluvius. Mana pool will double whenever the summoner is wearing this necklace.

The necklace was a simple gold chain with the round symbol of the summoner’s guild on it. There was another pendant on it, one that Levi didn’t recognize. He figured it was Veluvius’ personal crest. The bonus effect of this item was insane. Doubling the mana pool while also halving the mana usage would be a deadly combination. Levi frowned at the items he was now wearing. The sheer power of the gifts troubled him.

“What is wrong?” the ghosts asked. “Do you not like the gifts?”

“I do,” Levi said. “You warned me of dangers ahead; these items are insane. This tells me that you’re underselling the danger I’m in or I suck and need more help. I’m willin to bet it’s not the latter. I’m in for a damn near impossible task huh?”

“Yes, Levi Winters, you are.”

“Well, balls,” Levi said. “I guess I have to get stronger.”

“And you will,” Professor Egret said. “You all will in that dungeon, it will not be easy. Expect every monster in there to be 3-star with 4-star boss monsters.”

“Fantastic,” Levi said sarcastically. “Ppreciate the gifts though. If anything, I’ve been thoroughly warned and that’s what’s important.”

Objective: Secrets of Arvendon #3 - Completed

You have learned that not all the Arbors are dead and have the Onyx family is not as loved. What will you do with this secret?

Reward: Familiar Essence

Reward: Magic Essence

Objective: Secrets of Arvendon #4 - Completed

You have learned that you are destined to receive the letters from Veluvius. You have learned why and unlocked a key clue to the prophecy.

Reward: Magic Essence

Reward: Trinket of Glimmers

Reward: History of Order Magic

“We will see you later Levi Winters,” the ghosts all said. “Good luck with your journey and stay safe.” With that the ghosts all disappeared and left the room they had occupied.

“If I was back home,” Levi said. “I would be having nightmares and locked up in an insane asylum telling people that I had a conversation with ghosts.”

“Are ghosts not real?” Egret asked.

“Like gods, it depends on who you ask and what they believe.”

“It seems your world has a lot of understanding they need to do as a collective unit.”

Levi chuckled, “I don’t think that is ever going to happen. If there is one reliable thing about my world is that people will argue no matter what.”

“That doesn’t sound productive.”

“It often is not,” Levi said. “So, I guess I will see you all when we get out of the dungeon?”

“Yes, we will be plenty busy here,” Bertrum said. “If Tycen is right, there will be a mass amount of monsters coming from the dungeon. So don’t dilly on conquering the dungeon.”

“We won’t,” Levi said. He said his final goodbyes and packed up his stuff. It was time for him to go grab his teammates and head to the dungeon. Excitement sparked through Levi as he was getting ready for his first big adventure. He was a freshly graduated summoner and had seemingly gotten two more to join the guild in the next year. He had won the battle of the guilds, he had fallen in love, and he had gained many new friends. All in all, Levi was proud of how this near year in his new home had gone.

There was a great, big world for Levi to explore, and he was ready to explore it. This was the day that he would be able to prove to the world that he wasn’t evil and that he was going to be the one to help the world be better. It would be a tough journey, but he had decided it was high time he got off his self-destructive path and moved forward. Move on from the pain and suffering he had experienced. Move forward from the time when he decided to sit and be still rather than push through the muck of life.

Levi was determined that he and his new gaggle of friends would be the best versions of himself—not the perfect versions, but the best versions. That was what Levi wanted, and that was what this dungeon represented. That was what he was chasing.