Marcus, under the guise of Lucius, stood silently before the glowing markings etched into the damp cave wall. The faint, pulsating light they emitted was barely visible, but Marcus's heightened awareness of mana let him sense their energy clearly.
He reached out, his gloved fingers brushing lightly across the rough surface of the markings. A faint trace of mana buzzed beneath his touch, sending a tingling sensation through his hand. It wasn't just mana, though—there was something else intertwined within the markings, something foreign yet strangely familiar.
Curious, Marcus summoned his Aetheris, the blue holographic interface flickering to life beside him. With a quick mental command, he initiated a scan of the wall. Lines of text and data filled the screen as his Aetheris worked to decipher the composition of the markings.
[Analysis Complete]
• Residual Energy Detected: Mana - 65%, Unknown Energy - 35%
• Classification: Ancient Runes
• Status: Dormant
Marcus allowed himself a small smile. "Bingo," he muttered. The presence of unknown energy confirmed his suspicion—these markings weren't just random carvings. They were ancient runes, possibly tied to artifacts or mechanisms of this historical scenario.
Before he could delve further into his findings, the sound of footsteps approaching broke his concentration. Marcus quickly closed the Aetheris interface and wiped the faint smirk from his face. His expression shifted into Lucius's default cold and dismissive demeanor, his eyes blank as he continued staring at the wall.
"Hey, Lucius," Chester's voice echoed through the cave. The older man approached with a raised eyebrow, his curiosity evident. "What's so fascinating about a damp, moldy cave wall?"
Lucius gave him a sideways glance, his face betraying nothing, before turning back to the markings. Internally, Marcus noted that Chester—and likely Clara, too—could neither see nor sense the glowing runes. That only solidified his theory.
Clara followed close behind Chester, her nose wrinkling as she stared at the wall. "He's right, you know. It does smell like mold. Ugh." She turned her attention to Lucius, her brows knitting together. "Seriously, what are you staring at? The wall's not going to get any drier."
Lucius shot her a dismissive look before turning away and heading toward the cave's entrance without a word.
"See what I mean?" Clara huffed, crossing her arms. "He's so irritable."
Chester shrugged. "He's still a kid. Probably just brooding or something."
Clara's irritated frown softened, and she tilted her head thoughtfully. "Well, I guess he's… kind of handsome, in that brooding, mysterious way."
Chester winced visibly, his face twisting in discomfort. "You're weird."
"What? What's weird about that?" Clara shot back, her irritation returning.
Chester raised a hand, counting off his points on his fingers. "First of all, he's at least ten years younger than us. Second, he barely talks. Third, he's probably the grumpiest person I've ever met. And fourth—"
"Okay, okay!" Clara snapped, swatting his arm playfully. "I get it, geez. You don't have to list everything like you're giving a presentation."
Chester smirked, though his triumph was short-lived as Clara turned on her heel and stalked back toward the cave's depths. "I'm going to check on the equipment," she said curtly, her tone making it clear she was done with the conversation.
Chester sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Guess I hit a nerve," he muttered. He glanced over his shoulder at Lucius, who stood at the cave's entrance, staring out into the storm.
For a moment, Chester studied the young man's silhouette, the way his posture seemed both relaxed and guarded. What's a kid like him doing in a place like this? he wondered silently. And how is he so damn skilled?
Shaking his head, Chester decided it wasn't worth speculating. He turned and followed Clara into the depths of the cave, leaving Lucius alone.
...
Lucius, still leaning against the cave's entrance, let out a long, heavy sigh. "So noisy," he muttered under his breath. "Especially Clara."
Despite his complaints, Marcus knew he couldn't afford to push them away completely. Chester and Clara were his only reliable sources of information in this scenario, and their presence could prove useful in navigating the challenges ahead.
His gaze shifted to the sandstorm raging outside. The howling winds and swirling sands made the world beyond the cave seem like an endless, chaotic void.
Summoning his Aetheris again, Marcus began jotting down notes about his objectives, potential strategies, and, most importantly, how to avoid unnecessary complications.
"This exam isn't just about completing the objectives," he reminded himself. "There's a chance I could find something valuable—artifacts, items, knowledge. Anything that could give me an edge after the tournament ends."
But as he considered the possibilities, a troubling thought crossed his mind. If he wasn't careful, he might inadvertently stumble into plot points that didn't involve him—like, say, a chance encounter with one of the protagonist's major love interests.
A shiver ran down his spine at the mere idea. "Yup, nope," Marcus muttered, shaking his head. "Not dealing with that."
…..
As Lucius sat near the cave's entrance, the faint glow of the markings on the wall caught his eye again. He glanced back, his brows furrowing slightly.
His curiosity piqued despite his better judgment.