Where am I? As I slowly open my eyes I see an old wooden roof with holes in it. Ah, its home. My old home, was it all a dream then? Finn, Loki, everyone, were they all a dream?
No. This is the dream, mama and papa aren't here. This place used to be so warm but now... it feels empty. I look down and see the hay we all used as a bed, the small fireplace mama would cook over, and the old dresser we kept all of our clothes in. Everything is here, everything except mama and papa.
The roof was suddenly blown away, as I looked up I saw it. The monster that killed them, and now it was coming for me.
As I realize this everything goes black. No it's black fire, burning everything up. The hay, the dresser, the old broken roof, the monster, and finally me.
I gasp and sit up as fast as I can, as I look around I see my room at Twilight Manor. An empty room, just a bed, dresser, desk, and bathroom. However when I look to the door I see Finn, sitting with his back against the wall asleep.
Seeing him makes me remember everything, getting my status updated, going to Finn's office, hearing what Riveria said, and finally my choice. That's right, I decided what to do from here on. There is no time to waste.
I walk over to Finn and shake his shoulder to wake him up. As I see his eyes slowly open I say "Dungeon." I don't need to say any more, Finn is smart. "You're a real piece of work, you know that Hana?" Finn says and lets out a sigh. Hana... that's what mama and papa called me. I guess that's fine. I know he's right, but I need to get a bit stronger before I stop relying on him.
We left my room and headed to the cafeteria, everyone was giving me funny looks, but no one said anything so I just ignored them. We sat down at an empty table with our food, I'm not really hungry so I don't eat much. I haven't really been hungry since mama and papa... "Hana, if you're done go get ready for the dungeon and meet me out front. And no running off on your own again alright?" Finn said breaking me out of my thoughts.
I nodded but soon tilted my head. Running off? What does he mean, I never left the manor. Whatever, I can finally go to the dungeon, that's what matters.
Meeting Finn outside we set off for the dungeon. It only takes us about an hour to get there, and it's still early so the streets aren't too crowded. "First we have to go to the guild to get you registered. It should only take a few minutes, normally you would be assigned an advisor but Riveria has taught you about the first floors already. She will also teach you about deeper floors as you get stronger." Finn explains as we turn away from Babel.
At the guild we met a rude red haired werewolf woman, but Finn didn't seem to mind so I just ignored her. Though she seemed to have a real problem with me going into the dungeon. After filling out some paperwork we set off for the dungeon, which is only a few minutes away.
On our way Finn quizzed me on the first five floors, I answered all his questions easily. How could I not after Riveria spent so long drilling the information into me.
I entered the dungeon with Finn a little behind me, he said he wouldn't interfere unless I was about to really get hurt. Before long we came across a group of about ten goblins, Finn tried to say something to me but I was already running at them. "Rage, Surtr. Immolation Raiment." I chanted my spell right before I reached the goblins, and something unexpected happened.
My magic has always covered my body and weapon in fire, and it still did. But now the flames were black, just like my dream...
Deciding to think about it later I lunge at the goblins, they saw me coming but it didn't matter. They flinched at the sight of me and that was more than enough of an opening for my to take. Goblins might be monsters but even un-blessed people can kill them. Weakest of the weak. My katana, also covered in the black flames, arced down at the first goblin cutting it from collar to groin.
The other goblins seemed to be stunned at the sight of the first dying so easily. They were wide open, Finn taught me to never overlook chances like this. Before the remaining nine goblins could prepare I started to cut through them just how Finn taught me. I keep my breath steady and make sure to use not just my arms, but my back and legs for the swings as well.
I cut through the necks of two goblins before they even started attacking me. Seeing this seemed to wake the others up, as they all ran at me at once. I jumped to the side in an attempt to get them to run into each other, which worked perfectly. As the small green creatures bumped into each other I stepped forward thrusting my black flame wreathed katana straight through the front two, piercing their magic stones. Five dead, five left.
One of the monsters managed to avoid the others crashing into each other and went around, I had yet to pull my sword back from my last thrust and it was raising it's stone club, preparing to swing at me. Instead of dodging or trying to get my sword back in time, I stepped towards it to get inside the range of the falling club. As my shoulder made contact with the goblin something interesting happened, my black flames spread onto it and started burning it up. In just a few seconds it was ash. I didn't know I could do that but it definitely works well.
Turning back to the remaining four goblins, who had just finished getting out of each other's way, I ran at them this time. A few swings later and they were all dead on the floor. I might have been outnumbered, and I might still be a weak level one, but after training with Finn these monsters were far too slow to be a real challenge for me.
It only took me a minute to kill all the monsters, but I didn't let my guard down. Finn said most new adventurers die because they get careless after killing a monster. After looking around and finding the only other one here is Finn, I look down at myself.
The black flames don't feel as hot as the normal flames did, but I can tell they are stronger. There is more mana in them, which means it is costing me more mind to maintain. Upon realizing this I try to turn them back to the red/orange they used to be, but it doesn't work, I'll have to ask Riveria later. Feeling my mind drain from the spell I turn my magic off.
I look back to Finn and see his eyes are wide, noticing my gaze he asks "Hana what happened to your spell? And are you sure you've never fought before?" I tilt my head and say "No Idea. And no." Finn is the one who trained me so shouldn't he know I'm capable of this much? I mean they were just goblins.
Finn sighed and said "We'll ask Riveria about your magic later, for now lets move on." I nod and pull out a knife Finn gave me for collecting magic stones from monsters I defeat. Just as I'm about to dissect the goblins to get their magi stones I hear a *Crack* from right above me.
I quickly put my knife away and redraw my blade just in time for a different monster to fall on me, a kobold. It looks like a small person but with a dog head and is covered in fur, I raise my katana and simply wait. The monster is bigger than me but with my sword I have better reach.
Before the monster can get it's bearings it's head is impaled on my sword, the weight of the beast makes me fall with it on top of me but it is already dead. "Hana!" I hear Finn yell and run over to me, he quickly moves the monster corpse off of me and says "Why didn't you dodge! If you had time to put your knife away and get your sword out you easily could have moved!" I tilted my head in response and just said "Faster."
Finn sighed and said "I guess we'll have to teach you common sense too." I tilt my head again but don't say anything this time.