As I navigated the dimly lit corridors of the temple, I had to admit that I was essentially groping in the dark. The web novel only briefly described Célestin mysteriously waking up in a dark room with the 'Mirror of Lysandra.' It gave me no concrete clues about its location in this labyrinthine temple.

I couldn’t help but feel the weight of uncertainty over me. My plan was starting to feel more like a gamble than a well-thought-out mission.

"I guess I'll just have to rely on my luck here," I muttered, trying to shake off the growing doubt.

A slight glint on the floor caught my eye as I continued forward. I halted abruptly, my foot hovering just inches above a pressure plate.

"Oops," I whispered, realizing how close I'd come to triggering a trap.

Carefully, I stepped around the potential hazard and continued on my path. Now, it wasn't just about finding the artifact—I had to be vigilant of the myriad traps designed to thwart unwelcome visitors.

-RUMBLE!

As I pondered my next move, the ground beneath me suddenly trembled. My heart raced as a sense of foreboding gripped me.

"What now?"

I barely had time to process the thought before a sickening crack echoed through the corridor.

-Squelch!

Without warning, grotesque tentacles burst forth from the newly formed cracks in the ground, their slimy appendages writhing through the air with an unnatural hunger. One surged toward me from below.

!

Instinctively, I leaped to the side, narrowly evading its grasp. But I wasn't fast enough to dodge another. I felt the cold, slimy embrace of a tentacle wrapping around my ankle, sending a chill of disgust up my spine.

-Crumble!

The ground beneath me gave way, and I was pulled down along with the collapsing earth and the ensnaring tentacle.

"Tch!" I hissed, my mind racing for a solution.

I drew both of 'Galahad's Judgement' during mid-fall and fired directly at the tentacle.

-Bang! Bang!

The shots found their mark, severing the tentacle and splattering green goo everywhere. With quick reflexes, I adjusted my fall, landing on my feet in a crouch upon hitting the ground below.

Standing up, I felt an unnatural weight on my ankle. Looking down, I noticed the severed piece of the tentacle still clinging to me. I grimaced and peeled it off, the sticky green residue dripping from the broken flesh.

"Tentacles… why does it always have to be tentacles?" I muttered, shaking my head in disgust.

As I surveyed my surroundings, I realized I had fallen into a large, shadowy room. At its center floated an ornate mirror bathed in a soft, isolated pool of light.

"Wait, is that the Mirror of Lysandra?" I whispered, my heart pounding with anticipation.

This had to be the dark room where Célestin had mysteriously teleported in the web novel. Cautiously, I approached the mirror, my pulse quickening. I carefully lifted the delicate artifact when I reached it, feeling its cool weight in my hands.

The mirror played a crucial role in the Manaficial ritual, as it would separate the Soul and the Magic Power of an orb. I couldn't believe how smoothly things were going.

"This was a lot easier than I expected," I murmured, a small smile creeping onto my face.

But just as I prepared to leave, a chilling sound echoed through the room.

-Squelch!

From the darkness, tentacles surged toward me. Instinctively, I rolled under their grasp, jumping to my feet and sprinting away.

-Squelch!

Glancing back, I saw three tentacles slithering after me with unsettling speed. With one hand clutching the mirror tightly, I drew one of 'Galahad's Judgement' with the other.

-Bang! Bang! Bang!

Each shot was precise, severing the tentacles and sending sprays of green goo splattering across the stone floor.

"Shreeeeaaark!"

The eerie scream halted me in my tracks, reverberating through the chamber.

-Flick!

Slowly, from the deeper shadows, a massive shape began to emerge into the light. A purple giant octopus, its bulk massive and menacing, moved towards me. A distinctive red diamond glinted on its forehead, catching the dim light.

"Is the diamond on its forehead its weak spot?" I muttered, eyeing the shimmering gem as the creature drew closer, its intent hostile.

"Shreeeeaaark!"

The octopus uttered another piercing scream, launching three tentacles directly at me.

Instead of retreating, I sprinted toward the incoming tentacles. As the first tentacle swung toward me, I slid into a slide, smoothly gliding beneath it.

The coarse, slimy surface brushed just inches above me as I passed underneath. Regaining my footing, I continued my charge forward, keeping my momentum.

"Activate!" I commanded.

-Tick-tock!

When the 'Chrono Pendant was activated, time seemed to crawl. The world around me moved slowly, giving me the advantage I needed. I leaped onto the next tentacle, using it as a makeshift springboard to propel myself into the air.

Mid-jump, I carefully aimed at the gleaming red diamond on the octopus's forehead.

-Bang! Bang! Bang!

I fired three shots, watching as the bullets inched their way toward the target in the slowed time. After releasing the shots, I twisted in the air to land smoothly, rolling on the ground to cushion my impact.

"Deactivate!" I called out.

-Chime!

Time snapped back to its normal pace.

-Crack!

The sound of the diamond cracking was crisp and loud.

"Shreeeeaaark!"

The octopus uttered another agonized scream, its voice filling the chamber with despair.

If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

-Crack!

Under the stress of the damage, the octopus's body began to distort, its form disintegrating into a cloud of red particles that coalesced into a gem. The gem cracked and shattered, leaving no trace of the once fearsome creature.

I stood there for a moment, slightly dazed by the suddenness of the octopus's demise. The creature's transformation and subsequent destruction had been astounding, but I had little time to ponder it.

With the danger passed and the artifact safely in my possession, it was time to head back home.

"Well, that's that. Time to go back." I muttered, already planning my next steps as I began to leave the temple.

════ ⋆★⋆ ════

As Dominic began walking away, his thoughts already focused on the journey back, he remained unaware of the figure watching him from the shadows.

Cloaked in a long, pale robe with tattered edges and intricate red and gold trim, the figure exuded an aura of menace. Its face was concealed behind a mask resembling a golden skull, the hollow eyesockets glinting faintly in the dim light.

"It looks like Lord Malignor was right… a boy with black hair and blue eyes would take the mirror," the figure muttered, its voice low and contemplative. But what did he see in him?"

The figure couldn't fathom why Lord Malignor, a being of immense power and influence, would be interested in someone like Dominic.

'A Manaless,' the figure thought with a hint of disdain. 'Aside from being skilled with guns, there's nothing else extraordinary about him.'

"But alas, I am merely following his orders," the figure whispered, accepting the mystery as one of many that came with serving such an enigmatic master.

With a slow, deliberate motion, the figure raised its right hand.

-Flick!

As the figure flicked its fingers, its form dissolved into a swirling mass of dark feathers, transforming into a flock of crows. The birds cawed softly as they took flight, scattering into the night sky and disappearing into the shadows, leaving no trace of their presence in the temple.

Still oblivious to the figure's presence and intentions, Dominic continued, unaware that his actions had already drawn the attention of powerful forces far beyond his understanding.

════ ⋆★⋆ ════

After navigating through the temple's intricate corridors for a while, I finally spotted the familiar entrance where I had first entered.

"Activate!" I commanded, invoking the 'Chrono Pendant' once more.

Instantly, time began to crawl, allowing me to swiftly exit the temple without alerting anyone to my presence.

As I hurried out, something unexpected caught my eye—a gift shop near the temple's exit.

Seizing the opportunity, I sprinted towards it.

My plan was simple: pretend I had purchased the 'Mirror of Lysandra' from the gift shop, blending the extraordinary with the mundane.

I reached the gift shop and quickly said, "Deactivate!"

-Chime!

Time resumed its normal flow, and the bustling noise of tourists and cash registers filled the air again.

Warning!

Overusing 'Chrono Pendant' will result in self-destruction!

The system's warning flashed across my vision just as I entered the gift shop.

But I only used it a few times today. Why is it giving me the warning?

Master, the Chrono Pendant is still recovering its mana reserves after your training with Maurice.

A wave of realization hit me. The intense training session with Maurice must have drained the pendant's mana reserves more than I had anticipated. I needed to be more careful with its usage, or I could risk catastrophic consequences.

Taking a deep breath, I composed myself and quickly surveyed the shop. I needed to make my next move look as natural as possible. I grabbed a few random trinkets and a bag that matched the mirror's size and headed to the counter.

The cashier rang up my items without a second glance. Within moments, I was walking out of the shop, the 'Mirror of Lysandra' safely tucked inside the bag, hidden among the ordinary souvenirs.

As I stepped back into the open air, the weight of what I had just done began to settle in. But there was no time to dwell on it. I needed to get back home fast.

I began walking out of the bustling tourist area, ready to return to the train station. My mind was already on the journey home, eager to leave the Greenwood Region behind with the first crucial artifact securely in my possession.

As I was lost in thought, a familiar taxi pulled beside me. The window slid down, revealing the same taxi driver who had driven me to the temple earlier.

"Oy, going back to the train station?" he asked, recognizing me with a nod.

"...Yes," I replied, slightly startled by the coincidence but grateful for the timely ride.

"Get in," he said, his tone gruff but not unfriendly.

I opened the door and settled into the taxi, sinking into the seat with relief. As we pulled away from the temple and the Greenwood Region faded into the distance, I couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment. The first crucial artifact, the 'Mirror of Lysandra,' was safely in my possession, and the day's adventures were now etched into memory.

As the taxi rumbled toward the train station, I allowed myself a moment to relax. The road ahead was still uncertain, filled with challenges and mysteries yet to be unraveled. However, for now, I was content to have taken the first step on this difficult journey.

════ ⋆★⋆ ════

After a long and eventful day, I finally stood in front of my house. The familiar sight of the door brought a mix of relief and anxiety. I glanced at the time on my Commlink—it read 7:34 PM. I had been away in the Greenwood Region for about six hours.

"Haa!" I sighed, the weight of the day's events pressing down on me.

Standing there, I couldn't help but feel a growing sense of unease. What if one of my parents somehow knew that I had raided the temple and taken one of its artifacts? The thought gnawed at me—would they kick me out? Would they disown me?

I shook my head, trying to dispel the rising panic. Now's not the time for overthinking, I told myself firmly. If they ask about the mirror, I'll say Arthur gave it to me as a gift.

Taking a deep breath, I opened the door and stepped inside.

"Ahhhh, you killed me!"

"Hehehe!"

The sounds of André and Clark's voices drifted from the living room, piquing my curiosity. What were they up to?

I walked toward the noise and found the living room transformed into a battlefield of pillows, built up like forts. André lay on the ground, pretending to be dead, while Clark stood triumphantly, surrounded by animated shadowy stuffed toys. He held a wooden sword, the victorious knight in his imaginary battle.

Given the shadowy nature of the toys, it was clear André was using his 'Dark' magic to enhance their play.

"Now that I have defeated you, I am the strongest swordsman in the world!" Clark declared with glee.

"Squeak!" The shadowy stuffed toys squeaked in unison, jumping up and down in celebration.

A smile spread across my face at the sight. It was heartwarming to see André and Clark enjoying each other's company, especially knowing that Clark was having a great time here before we had to send him back to his universe.

"Welcome home," a soft voice greeted me.

I turned to see Celine approaching with a warm smile.

"Hey, Mum," I replied, feeling a wave of calm over me.

"How was school?" she asked, her tone casual.

"It was okay," I responded calmly, trying to keep the conversation light.

"What took you so long? Also, what's that mirror?" she inquired, nodding toward the artifact I still held.

I quickly concocted a story. "Well…Arthur gave it to me."

"I see. He has good taste; it's a beautiful mirror," she remarked, seemingly satisfied with my explanation.

I couldn't help but feel a surge of relief that she accepted my reasoning so easily. But as I thought the situation was under control, André noticed the mirror.

"A mirror..." André muttered as he took the mirror from my hands, analyzing it with interest.

A wave of anxiety washed over me. Is he going to figure out where I got it? I can feel my heart pounding.

After a moment, André smiled. "It is indeed a beautiful mirror. Arthur has good taste."

I exhaled quietly, relieved that he also seemed to accept the story.

"Dominic!" Suddenly, I felt a tug on my legs as Clark hugged me tightly.

I reached down and ruffled his hair. "Hey, Clark, how are you doing?"

"I'm doing fine!" he chirped, pointing his wooden sword at André, who was playfully groaning as he got back up. "We were playing Swordsman versus Dragon!"

"Oh? Did you have fun?" I asked, amused by the scene.

"Yes!" Clark's eyes lit up as he grabbed my hand. "You should play with us."

I chuckled, warmed by his enthusiasm. "Sure, let me just put this down first."

He nodded eagerly and scampered back to André.

After setting the mirror on a nearby table, I joined them in their makeshift arena.

"So, how does this game work?" I asked, pretending to be clueless, though the premise was obvious.

"It's simple, Dominic! A knight has to fight the dragon and defeat them!" Clark explained with enthusiasm.

"Oh really?" I played along.

"Yeah! And the knight always wins!" Clark added with a grin.

I couldn't help but smile at Clark's infectious joy. It starkly contrasted to the life I had known before, where moments like this were rare. This younger version of myself will have more fun than I ever did.

Curious about the origins of their game, I asked, "So, who made this game?"

"You did, Dominic," André replied with a chuckle.

"Eh? Really?" I blinked in surprise.

"Yeah, you and Arthur created this game when you were younger," he elaborated.

That was news to me. Dominic and Arthur had a history of crafting adventures long before I took over his life. Learning about Dominic's past, bit by bit, was intriguing, and it gave me a deeper connection to the life I was now living.

"Come on, Dominic, let's play," Clark urged, snapping me out of my thoughts.

"Sure," I replied, smiling broadly as I joined in.

We spent the rest of the evening immersed in their playful world. I took on the role of the knight, wielding an imaginary sword against André's formidable dragon, who roared and growled with dramatic flair. Clark cheered from the sidelines, his laughter ringing through the living room.

The day's worries faded for a moment, replaced by the simple joy of being part of this family. And in that moment, I felt a sense of belonging that I hadn't realized I was missing.