In the flickering lamplight of the Elera Village Guildmaster's room, Amelia and Sebastian stood before Eldrin, their faces etched with confusion and unease. The weight of their recent dungeon experience hung heavy in the air.
"So… you brought Alex back?" Eldrin asked, his gruff voice tinged with relief. A lost comrade returning was unexpected but welcome news.
Amelia hesitated, her voice uncertain. "Yes, in a way. But it wasn't what we expected."
Sebastian took over. "We found someone who looked like Alex, fighting for his life. But…" He paused, frowning. "He wasn't the Alex we knew, there's some Inconsistencies from what adventurer said."
Eldrin leaned forward, concern furrowing his brow. "Inconsistencies? Explain."
Amelia recounted their encounter the figure's strange appearance, cryptic words, and Frey's role in leading them to him. She also mentioned the shocking collapse of the dungeon entrance as they left.
When she finished, silence filled the room.
"The dungeon… collapsed?" Eldrin rasped, disbelief coloring his tone.
Sebastian nodded grimly. "And I don't think it was an accident. That figure… he seemed to orchestrate it somehow."
Eldrin stroked his beard thoughtfully. "A doppelganger? An illusionist?"
Amelia shook her head. "It felt deeper than that. He resembled Alex, could be..."
"And the woman?" Eldrin asked, turning to Amelia. "Frey?"
Amelia hesitated before explaining Frey's vague story and suspicious timing. "We believe there's more to her," Sebastian added, his tone grave.
Eldrin sighed deeply, rubbing his temples. "This is a tangled mess. A doppelganger, a mysterious woman, and a collapsed dungeon—it's no simple guild quest."
He rose from his chair, fixing them with a steady gaze. "You've done well to return alive. But this isn't over. We need answers. Investigate further. However, the Guild's resources are limited."
Amelia and Sebastian exchanged a determined look. They'd faced danger before and weren't about to back down now.
"We'll get to the bottom of this," Amelia declared firmly. "For Alex, whoever that figure is, and anyone trapped in the collapse."
"Very well. The Guild will assist where it can. But beware the path ahead will be dangerous. Are you prepared?"
They stood tall, replying in unison, "We are."
Eldrin leaned closer, lowering his voice. "Keep an eye on Alex, just in case. A week in that dungeon can change a person."
Amelia and Sebastian shared a glance, unease passing between them.
***
As they left the Guildhall, the bustling streets felt distant. Lost in thought, they walked in silence until Sebastian spoke, his voice uneasy. "Do you think we should watch him?"
Amelia sighed, frowning. "Master Eldrin has a point, but I don't want Alex to feel like a suspect. Maybe the ordeal changed him."
Sebastian chuckled nervously. "Right! Like me—I was once lost in a dungeon too."
Amelia stopped, surprised. "You were? You never mentioned that!"
Sebastian rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "It wasn't fun, but nothing like a week in an A-Class dungeon. Maybe Alex gained new abilities down there, like I did."
Amelia and Sebastian exchanged a look. They decided to keep an eye on him but approach with an open mind.
Sebastian frowned. "Where are they now?" he asked, his voice uncertain.
Amelia, distracted by thoughts of Alex, suggested without thinking. "Maybe at the hospital? Want to check?"
"Sure," Sebastian agreed.
They hurried toward the hospital, hoping to find Alex—and possibly Frey. But as they approached, unease crept in. Something felt off. The building seemed too specific—not a regular village hospital.
Sebastian stopped, suspicion creeping into his tone. "Wait a minute. This isn't the normal hospital, is it?"
Amelia's eyes widened as she noticed the distinctive markings. "No," she admitted, blushing slightly. "This is the Knight's Rehabilitation Center."
A tense silence fell. Neither had considered that Alex, as a seasoned adventurer, wouldn't be treated at a typical facility. The implication was clear: the figure wasn't just injured—he was likely a knight recovering from something severe.
"So… Alex is a knight?" Sebastian murmured.
Amelia shook her head, confusion evident. "Well… Master Eldrin said he saved this village by killing the Nightmare Goblin."
"Nightmare Goblin!?"
"Yeah. Pretty strong, right?"
Sebastian scoffed. "Strong? That's an understatement. Nightmare Goblins are rare and powerful. Slaying one makes you a hero, let alone a regular adventurer."
Pushing open the heavy oak doors, they were greeted by the sounds of training—metal clanging, grunts of effort, and shouted instructions. The air smelled of sweat and liniment, far from a typical hospital's sterile atmosphere.
Guided by a stern nurse, they navigated the corridors until reaching a large ward filled with beds occupied by knights in various stages of recovery. Among them lay the figure from the dungeon. His ragged cloak was draped over a chair, replaced by a loose tunic. A plate cuirass rested nearby, and a bandage wrapped his arm, hinting at recent injuries.
But what truly shocked them was Frey, sitting beside him. Gone was her disheveled appearance; she wore a simple villager's dress, her face lined with concern as she spoke softly to him.
Amelia and Sebastian exchanged bewildered glances. Their fragile understanding shattered. Here, in the Knight's Rehabilitation Center, sat the man resembling Alex, seemingly under Frey's care.
Hesitantly, Amelia stepped forward. "Alex?"
The figure stirred, his eyes fluttering open. Recognition flickered across his face before he winced, clutching his bandaged arm.
"Hey, Amelia… long time no see," he rasped weakly.
"Oh, please. We just met an hour ago."
"Right," he chuckled faintly. "An hour ago in the dungeon. Time feels… muddled."
"How are you feeling?"
"Just banged up," he replied, glancing at Frey. "Thanks to her, I'm getting some rest."
Amelia stole a glance at Frey, who seemed genuinely concerned.
A tense silence settled. Unanswered questions hung heavy.
"So," Sebastian began, his voice low, "what happened down there?"
Alex sighed, his gaze distant. "It's a long story. Right now, all I want is sleep."
Disappointment flickered across Amelia's face, but she nodded. "Alright. Rest up. But when you're ready, we'd like to hear your side."
Alex gave a weak nod. "Fair enough. Just… give me time."
As Amelia and Sebastian turned to leave, a stray thought crossed Amelia's mind. Glancing back, she caught the figure staring at her a moment too long. A faint blush crept up her cheeks—whether from exertion, the room's heat, or something else entirely, she couldn't tell.
Leaving the ward behind, they stepped back into the bustling corridors of the rehabilitation center. The heavy oak doors swung shut behind them, leaving the room cloaked in tense silence. As soon as they were gone, Frey—who had been the picture of concern moments before—leaned over and squeezed Alex's cheek with surprising force.
"Alright, enough acting," she hissed, her voice low and devoid of its earlier warmth.
Alex winced, rubbing his cheek. "Ow, that was unnecessary," he muttered. "But yeah, I think they're suspicious."
Frey's eyes narrowed. "Are they really? Or just unsure?"
"A little," Alex admitted. "But hopefully, the 'knight recovering' act will throw them off for now."
Frey sighed in frustration. "This whole charade is exhausting. How much longer do we have to keep this up?"
"Just a little longer," Alex said firmly. "We need them off our backs while we figure out what happened to the real Alex and why the dungeon collapsed."
Frey nodded curtly. "Fine. But the moment I get a chance, I'm changing out of these itchy villager clothes and back into my maid uniform. This 'concerned companion' routine is giving me a headache."
Alex chuckled, amusement flickering in his eyes. "Alright, alright. Just try to stay calm around Amelia. You know how perceptive she can be."
Frey rolled her eyes. "Easy for you to say. You're the one playing the damsel in distress."
A playful smile tugged at Alex's lips. "Maybe you should lighten up. Who knows? Maybe they'll even offer to help us with our investigation."
Frey scoffed. "Help? More like get in the way. We don't need meddling adventurers slowing us down."
Alex raised an eyebrow. "Maybe not. But for now, they think we're on the same side. Let's use that to our advantage."
Frey fell silent, considering his words. With a sigh, she conceded, "Fine. But if they start getting too nosy, I'm disappearing."
Alex grinned. "Deal. Now, get some rest. We've got a long road ahead."
Frey gave him a curt nod.
< Chapter 12 > Fin.