Dungeon (Part 1)
['Important Events in History' revised]
[2. Fourth Dungeon Record in History]
The notification still lingered in front of me. The important event was highlighted for seven days starting today.
After reading the message Khiel had sent me, I could infer that he had probably asked someone about it.
Did Khiel tell on me?
It didn't seem so as the instructors were calmly guiding us inside the guard houses for the barriers surrounding the blocked shelter.
As we finally passed through the initial barriers, my mana was slowly being replenished. Aside from that we were greeted by a massive space.
"Woah."
It was an underground city. Residents were running from place to place, helping the other students or instructors to move the passed out others.
Three layers of mana barrier was grained on top of the high ceiling. As the students gather, it didn't really seem small since we still had plenty of spaces to move over.
The residents had laid out blankets on the ground or their own beds were dragged out to accommodate the fainted students. They were kind beings.
There was also an empty altar-like area which took over a quarter of this massive underground plane when we first came in, but even that couldn't escape being used as a refuge site.
"Can anyone do a detailed electric-based magic?!" An instructor I've seen only once yelled out.
I slowly stood up and walked over, "I can do it. May I ask what for?"
"Okay good! We have a student that experienced a sudden cardiac arrest. We need you to input electric mana in this artifact. Can you do it?"
I nodded and we raced over to the patient.
As we got closer I saw that it was Clerifa, charcoaled black in some parts and a female instructor kept pumping beats with her hand on my friend. "Clerifa!" I couldn't help but be shocked.
I instantly produced a mana string and connected it to the artifact. Using magic formula modification through the system, I casted [Dioxazine: 14%] hoping that it should be enough.
The instructors tested out the charge before giving an okay sign to the others and proceeded to place the artifact on Clerifa's chest.
"Add more power!" She yelled.
[Dioxazine: 15%]
They stopped after the charge coursed through Clerifa's entire body. Even I didn't know what happened.
"Rifa…?" I sat down beside her.
At first I suspected that the magic spell that tried to obliterate me earlier must've been from her. In other case, it raised suspicions.
[Sensory: Clerifa F'yoras: Analysis]
Hmmm. My violet mana covered her body. "What are you doing?" The librarian, Uno, narrowed her eyes at me.
"Calm down Miss. I was just checking up on her condition."
A holographic screen popped out in front of me although it was invisible to the others. A faded version of mana string connected itself to the screen and my brain did all the system work rather than my hands.
Let's stay discreet.
[Traces of Electricity Magic (Black Mana) found in body]
[Clerifa F'yoras Mana Color: Icy Blue]
What a relief. The mana that attacked me wasn't the same as her mana. But unfortunately, she was attacked by the same person.
"Rifa!" I immediately dispel my magic when Yuri's voice came from behind me.
She was running over with the Erazubeth, who wasn't Master.
Yuri replaced me in hugging Clerifa's body. I stood up and almost immediately fell over only to be caught by a bear hug.
"Are you okay?!" Khiel who looked like he was about to cry, questioned me. The pale masculine face made me think that he's truly showing his real face.
Rakhiel flailed me around as he hugged me. Damned puppy-like swan-looking bear. I couldn't help but smile.
"I'm fine, cous'." I told him sincerely.
"Why are you exhausted like this?!" Nessa scolded me from beside Khiel as their other classmates just gave a concerned look.
Mariah popped out with her friend too. "Her mana levels are low. You should sit down and let the others do the work."
I nodded at her lifeless advice.
Kadrina Lukas walked over with a wooden rocking chair, "I borrowed this" and Khiel immediately placed me on the chair comfortably.
The fake Erazubeth stayed by Yuri's side, glancing at Lanessa with a poker face but her seafoam eyes had a glint of what seemed like a hostile look, glowing orange. Her dull blonde hair was covering a part of her face that made her unapproachable than usual.
The other didn't seem to notice nor mind, but Lanessa was strikingly staring back. An anxious tremor passed by her face for only a tiny moment before noticing me looking at her and turning away.
'What was that all about?'
When I observed the fake Era back, she smiled at me. Those weirdly smiling eyes appeared forced.
"Students! Is everyone here?" The teachers started a headcount and confirmed that everyone was safe including the civilians that was working in the Park and faculty members.
I could see from where I was that Instructor Weiss tweaked at the mana screen that continued to hold my gravity manipulation spell in place.
He turned around, scanning the area and when he found me, the professor signaled the dispelling of the magic.
I nodded at him and called back my mana, the violet swaying smoke of mana was fading in the area and I could feel some of my strength coming back.
The earth shook for only a mere moment before the noise humbled down again.
The other teachers gathered at the altar-looking area and at the center was the headmasters with a serious look on their faces. Even the usually cheerful Headmaster Angelyka Sun was quiet.
Beep.
[New Message: Master]
[The duchy heads have sent details on the headmasters already. Stay with them. They'll explain the situation. For now, this is the last message I could send before an anti-interference barrier gets built.]
I couldn't understand her message at all.
Just as I focused back on the headmasters, a majestic red creature entered the shelter calmly, astonishing wings as big as the span of its long lizard-like body was draping from its sides.
"What is that?!" My mouth exclaimed unintentionally. The others were the same yet the only calm ones were the residents. It was safe that's for sure.
"It's okay everyone. This is a dragon just like in the picture books when you were kids." Instructor Lyka explained. The headmasters went down and walked up to the altar again with the dragon.
Red flame-like smoke was swaying away from his body. It was a familiar mana. The smoke thickened around the dragon and as it dissipated, recognizable figure of the Grand Headmaster replaced the dragon.
His eyes remained reptile-like and he was looking much younger than usual.
The commonly seen neatly tied maroon hair was all over him, raining down like strings down his white robe.
And there was also a familiar boy in a robe behind him. Damn it. I was too preoccupied with our own issues that I forgot I've sent a messenger here.
Just as I've internally struggled, the boy looked my way and a notification entered my view.
[New Message: Xavi]
[Forgive me, Lady Tabitha. The Grand Headmaster caught me and I had to relay the message to him. I didn't tell him about you, I swear on my life.]
I gave a discreet smile.
Aside from trusting the security of this particular information guild, I knew for a fact that they were bound by a crimson gem to not speak of who asked their information and other customer related things.
The four headmasters stopped in front of their fellow instructors and turned to us. As he explained the situation, the residents had started giving us lunch packs.
"Excuse me for the surprise, however we have other pressing matters right now. First of all just as some of you may have theorized, a dungeon has appeared." The Grand Headmaster Constance Dhuvel Eiz Dragon announced, his face doesn't have a tinge of anxiety.
"To give you the background of the issue, there are only three records of dungeons and one has appeared today."
"It is a closed-off area formed by corrupted mana. As you have learned, the continent was originally a desolate and corrupted land where beasts roamed around the place. But it wasn't only for beasts…" He continued.
His explanations had gotten grim reactions from the student body. Now that my head's clearer I realized that the student council staff weren't here.
"Demons are also our enemies. Dark entities from black mages to actual spawns of the devil. They are trying to get rid of the blessing of the Sacred Tree. Unfortunately now, the nemesis of the dark past had resurfaced again and we must vanquish them again." The determined voice of the principal washed away the fear of the students including me.
This is getting more and more complicated.
My fingers rubbed my temples, another issue needs to be solved from the long-list of shit to do.
"This is gonna be a shit show." I could hear Louille curse next to me and even Mariah was visibly frowning.
"Taby?" Khiel placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder and gave a concerned look, lips forming a frown already as he examined me. "You okay?"
I don't know how many times I've heard that question today, but it was reassuring.
I beamed at him. "I'm completely fine. My mana's already halfway recharged. We'll be fine…" I squeezed his hand on my shoulder.
The headmasters continued to explain the situation.
"The student council members along with other instructors are currently waiting for the MTA by the school gate. According to their data, we have twelve hours before the dungeon starts and the fainted students will be sent out during that time. To those who want to help with clearing this dungeon, please approach the headmaster Angelyka Sun of the Magic-Technology department." The Grand Headmaster's speech had finished and the students moved accordingly.
It didn't look good though.
More than half of the student body were unconscious. The quarter-half that were responsive was trembling, looking like they were on the edge of breaking down.
"I'll offer my help…" Lanessa stepped up and all of her classmates followed except Khiel. She turned back to us, "Binding-specialty mages can be helpful in encountering unexpected opponents."
"I'll help out too." I stood up confidently, checking on the system my mana gauge. It had already reached back to at least 73%.
Lanessa didn't respond but instead turned her gaze to the person behind me. "Khiel?" my hand reached for his cheek. He was pale, eyes were trembling. "Hey, are you okay?"
Ah, damn it!
He kept on asking me how I was but I forgot to ask about him… I'm such a useless cousin.
Ugh! I'm really bad at comforting people. Shit.
"Hey… Rakhiel, stay with us now." Even Nessa walked over to check on him.
He looks really frightened.
My arms instantly circled around him. Although I was quite tall for my age, my chin could only rest on his shoulder. I drew shape patterns on his back to calm him down.
I don't know what I did but this was Regan's way of calming me down after waking up from the havoc phase.
It seemed to work just fine with Khiel as his breathing pacified after that. "I'm sorry for being a bad family but I really want to help." To be saying words of honesty instead of comfort.
I truly was hopeless outside of working and fighting.
He nodded and and his chin dug on my shoulders. It stings a bit but maybe it was a form of punishment.
I feel like I was hugging a tall skinny bear. "Is that alright? I'm sorry."
He nodded again.
"No one's gonna get injured badly. Just make sure of that." Mariah even said that, irritation could be heard in her voice.
I finally let go of him and he looks composed compared to earlier. He sighed and gave us a smile, "Sorry… Hahaha! I was probably freaked out than I thought. I'll be fine now!"
"Either way we still have at least ten hours to decide whether we join the raid team for the dungeon." Jean Ponce walked up to us and pat the both of us on the shoulders.
"Don't touch my delicate cousin!" Khiel growled at him.
"When did I become delicate?" I ended up frowning.
"We can't really say otherwise, can we? We've seen you injured more often than normal for a sixteen-year old." Lanessa grinned.
"Yeah! The first time I heard news of Lady Tabitha was due to the ribbon attack too. Tsk tsk, so careless." Even Louille added to their gimmick.
Everything went back to normal. Except…
"I acknowledge your will to help but there are stronger mages here. I, of course, am not saying that you're weak but experience-wise, the others can handle the work you can provide." Seraphim Vox uttered, behind Jean Ponce.
Ever since classes had started, the honorifics had dropped significantly especially among the nobles. I was welcomed as a noble and proved myself to be a great mage however it still seemed like I was being underestimated.
I could understand but somehow it pisses me off.
If I was back in my eight-year old self, they may have probably tasted my wrath. Thankfully my family was able to take my sanity back after the war.
My lips formed a thin smile and tilted my head, "I'll be fine! I promise I'll be of help."
Wasn't helping the natural thing to do as long as there was danger or were these people too comfortable in peace?
For the first time, I was grateful and honored about the gap in timeline. At least we've lived both peaceful and dangerous moments together in my time period so we naturally choose to help everyone.
This timeline has yet to know the pain of war.
The Tragedy and the main introduction of Ribbons hadn't happened. I wasn't going to let it be either.
"It's not really a matter of who–" Louille, the companion of Mariah, shut his mouth as Headmaster Weiss Frauleen System walked over to us.
"I believe Lady Tabitha will be a great help. In case you didn't know, the students are only to provide backup and the frontliners are going to be the MTA or instructors." His serious voice shattered views of others.
"And if you haven't heard, it was student Tabitha's magic spell that restricted further damages of the buildings and injuries to the students." I started averting my gaze from them. Ugh! It's kinda embarrassing to hear it from others.
He sounded like he was boasting the achievements of his own kid as he resumed, "If it wasn't for her genius detailed spellcasting, there would have been casualties and the buildings would have collapsed." The students remained to look at him suspiciously and he almost choke on his words.
"It was beautiful! She made the land and building stay still! Only the building and lands while the students can freely move! Even the rocks were floating mid-air! It was so fasc–"
Second-hand embarrassment was legit.
"Anyway! This dungeon officially opens at midnight. The MTA announced that it should remain here for a week. If we fail then it reappears in another area, and if we succeed then we'll probably take home rare materials." He continued.
"I'll be going too, Instructor." Mariah lowered her head in respect to him.
"The help is appreciated. It's not everyday that the heirs can let loose of themselves. But you'll stay at the back." He narrowed his eyes back to her before turning away.
"What?! You're still a kid, you know." Khiel's outburst surprised the others even the professors around us.
Mariah only stared at him before turning back and speaking in her casual emotionless voice, "Then Brother Khiel should guard me well so I don't get injured", and she walked away with Louille who was visibly smiling secretly.
Ah, I see.
Mariah was technically killing two birds in one stone unconsciously. Is that how it is?
Khiel would be willing to accept the others from joining the raid if he was there. And it also guarantees his participation.
Hmmmm. Mariah likes Khiel too, so they should be fine with each other.
I stopped myself from grinning.
It seems Lanessa had also noticed it as well.
"I'm going too…" Polisha popped out of nowhere while sticking next to the fake Era and everyone nodded as if it was a natural thing.
It seems she haven't noticed at all.
If there would be an issue regarding her identity then we can just pull off an appropriate excuse.
It appears that I shouldn't have worried over it though.
Six hours of strategizing, scouting, and recovering had passed by and the fake Era perfectly acted like how Master would have done if she was in disguise.
Giving timid smiles to the others but randomly coming back to her serious and expressionless face when alone with either me or Polisha.
Although sometimes when that Era comes over and acts completely different, like she knows I already know she wasn't Lilith.
"Nessa, aren't you jealous of Master?" Curiosity poured out after I drank from the mug of cocoa given by the residents.
"You're really getting used to calling her that. But no, there's nothing to be jealous of Lili." She snickered.
"Ohhhh! She also said that." I teased but it didn't look like it worked since she continued staring off into the square of the underground city.
"Anyway I was curious of that too. You talk formally to her but you revert to calling his by a nickname when with us."
She finally turned to me and smiled albeit looking somehow gloomy. "Tabitha. You're an approachable person and even though I act like this, I'm sure you're already aware that I've gotten quite fond of you…"
I nodded. I had a feeling that my questions during this whole ordeal will be rejected whole heartedly.
"But I can't tell you this, for now. I'll tell you some time later. I'm sorry if that offended you."
This girl really is… I could only sigh.
"You know... when I got to know you, I really thought that you were more strict and spiteful. Like a brat who doesn't care about anything as long as she gets what she wants." My sentimental talk started. It was a death flag to talk about things like this before a big fight but I have no plans on letting anyone die tonight.
Thus, I continued. "Master too, but rather than bratty she was mature. You're both strict and usually harder people to crack but are also really kind and sweet when I got to be close to you."
She looked down and a crumpled look was the last thing I saw before she buried her head to her knees. And once she looked up, I could see where she narrowed her eyes.
Her gaze wandered to Erazubeth Kalil.
Have she noticed? Master and I actually haven't told anyone else that she's specifically disguised as Erazubeth Kalil.
I doubt Polisha would have told her too.
Of course, one could hypothesize that the few people I hang out with would be the hidden Lilith Aurelia.
"That girl… she's not Lilith right now, isn't she?" her voice was weak, as if breaking, but she looked fine. Her eyes had a speck glint of hostility.
It was the same for the fake from earlier.
I shrugged the thought away. "You have good observation skills. That is the disguised look of Lady Lilith here." I whispered just for her to hear. Even to the point that I made a small layer of [Barrier: Noise Block].
"I'm saying, that's not Lilith right now." Nessa turned to me, frustration and annoyance were written on her face.
"Yes… you're right" I replied defeated.
It was the first time I saw her gave me that look since we became closer to each other.
"She's familiar. Her mana smells familiar…" Nessa lowered her head and spitefully stared at the ground.
"Nessa…?"
She didn't answer me and quietly walked away, on the opposite direction of the fake Erazubeth Kalil.
The time passed faster than we thought. Everyone was divided into groups and took turns in resting. In the next span of six hours, I fully recharged my mana, even storing a 50% extra mana through the system.
"Taby, keep this with you." Khiel pulled me aside for a second and a short sword appeared out of a magic circle. "It's one of my creations and it's filled with defensive magic. I wanted to give this as a present to you but the situation calls for it."
The short sword was made out of high-grade metal, shining as if it was silver. Even though it looked quite slender, one touch on the blade could give the feeling that it was an accumulation of pounded strong metals together.
The hilt was made of rose-gold colored metal and there was a gem at the center, it was a familiar gem.
"The gem is a family heirloom so keep it a secret from grandmother. Listen well, the wielder will earn excess mana once you activate it and aside from optimizing the whole weapon's defense system, you will also be asked by the system to receive its healing abilities. Two times, Taby. You can only be healed two times so time it wisely."
He continued on and on about the dangers of the situations and if things go wrong, I should escape on my own. Yeah, not gonna happen.
Either way, the gem alone was too precious to just casually give to me. Three months and a couple of days. It was the span of time that I've appeared and remained in his life but why.
The gem was red just like its name. Crimson Gem.
It was purer than any other Crimson Gem too. I still remember the invaluable treasure of our family even in 1173.
The Crimson Gem of the late Rosalie and Dharvo Obiel. On the day of their deaths, Rakhiel as a child was targeted, and the parents self-destructed while making a joint pact such as the crimson gem and creating one of the strongest gems in the history of Soledad Empire.
In other words, It was too precious.
The raid team moved back on the surface and the residents had prepared various delicacies to take with us for the dungeon.
I kept on thinking for ways to refuse the endeavor the whole way up but he didn't let me. A chain made out of mana was attached at the hilt of the sword and Khiel silently tied the chain around my hand.
[Registering owner. Name: Tabitha Obiel]
"Oh no… Khiel this is too precious." I became flustered after seeing the notification. It's a really well-made weapon.
Khiel smiled proudly while looking at the weapon's calibration, the chain was snaking itself around my hand but the grip was loosening until it stretched or minimizes its length based on my every move. "That way whether you put it in your inventory, you can pull it out really quickly even without thinking. Or just call out its name if you want to give it one."
"But Khiel…"
"No buts! I'd rather see you with this than nothing at all. If only we could have prepared more… but it's whatever now."
I smiled. Should've known I couldn't win with that serious look in his eyes. This 'many-greats-grandfather' of mine finally acted his age. "Thank you, Khiel. Then this will be my gift too."
There were three odd magic spells in my unconscious spells list. I didn't know how to use any of them but for this moment alone, I felt like I knew how to use one of them.
Khiel was confused.
[Blood of Life]
A small magic circle pricked my finger and a small drop of blood floated into the air.
[Alchemy: Tabitha Obiel's Blood: Crimson Gem]
I made a replica with my own blood. We didn't have time to do a ritual either so this was the best I could do. "Tabitha… this is…"
A mana string attached itself to the forming crimson gem floating in front of us. [Sensory: Crimson Gem: Mana Manipulation: Consummation], my system worked hard.
Using my sensory magic, I forged a path to create a system inside my crimson gem. Just like how his parents created a crimson gem with attributes that strengthen its owner, I did the same thing but without dying.
This was all possible through the sensory and mana manipulation.
Since sensory opened up a system inside the gem, I used mana manipulation to make the system consume the next few spells I dedicated for it.
This process didn't consume much mana as I thought.
[Gravity Manipulation: Defense Mode]
[Dioxazine: Defense Mode]
[Dust Palace: Defense Mode]
[Water Mirror: Defense Mode]
"You can make an actual bracelet with mana, right? So put this there." I gave the crimson gem to Khiel. It was as small as a finger nail, expanding from a small tear drop to being a confine of magic.
"Oh, okay?" He smiled at me. "We're really cousins." He chuckled at that and created a chain-like bracelet.
"Move to your places!" The instructors began to shout. Khiel and I separated ways, and I came back beside Erazubeth and Yuri since we were placed in the same group.
"Student Tabitha." I froze at the voice.
"Yes, Grand Headmaster?" Shit. He knows. Next to the guy was Xavi.
"Did you just create a crimson gem with attributes without doing the ritual?" Grandmaster Dragon creased his brow.
"Ah, yes. Was I not supposed to do that?"
"No. It's not like that. But if you were to make a living out of it then I advise you to sell it at a high price. It'll make you a lot of money. Of course, only if you want to. It's made of blood after all."
What the hell?
"No, sir. I don't plan on selling my blood somewhere." I bluntly told him.
"I thought so. Well to be honest, I just made a ridiculous reason to talk to you… My real reason is, of course, you should know." The handsome young-looking old man smiled at me and pushed Xavi gently closer to me.
"He decided to stay so I'll appoint you to him." Was all he said before moving back at the frontlines.
"Forgive me, Lady Tabitha. I don't know how he knew but I didn't tell him. I promise." The young boy Xavi said and bowed.
I patted him on the back. "It's fine. Anyways, why'd you stay?"
"Ah! The guild needed information about this event and since I was already here, they made me record it. There is another reason though…" Xavi took out a scroll of papers from somewhere inside his cloak.
"What's this?"
"Information about… that… family. And there is also about that group."
I unrolled the papers but before I could read the contents, the raid had started. "I'll look into it after the raid. Stay here." I pulled Xavi at the center of me, Yuri and Era.
"Who's the kid?"
"The Grandmaster asked us to go with him. He's a recorder of events…" I lied without blinking an eye.
Yuri only nodded and Era smiled at Xavi. He did the same. For some reason I felt like they knew each other.
Okay. Focus now, Tabitha!
My attention moved back to the front.
"[Barrier]!" The Grand Headmaster made one for everyone and his next spell made me feel ecstatic. "[Gravity Manipulation]."
"….."
I couldn't help but giggle silently. So this was why his red mana felt so familiar… He was the other person who bore half the burden of my spell from earlier.
It finally occurred to me how monstrous these beings truly were. That man was a dragon who can shapeshift into a human.
Dragons are usually labeled as the Emperors of Magic. How can such a majestic being confine all of those powerful abilities, in a human body, astounds me.
"Let's get ready." Just as Headmaster Angelyka's voice boomed from the front, another massive earthquake occurred and a cave protruded out at the center of the park within school grounds.
It was large enough for the whole group to enter together and in inspection, it could be seen that the dungeon flows down to the underground.
We all took one final breath of fresh air before diving into the unknown.