The moment Aeric and his team stepped into the Dungeon, they were enveloped in a suffocating darkness. It was not the kind of darkness that came with nightfall, soft and still dotted with stars. This was an oppressive void, very absolute and very alive, pressing against them from every angle.
However, Aeric was not unfamiliar with this darkness. In fact, he was rather impressed at how the Mock Dungeon had managed to perfectly imitate it. It was the same darkness that had encompassed him when he entered the Dungeon back in Starlight. It seemed like a mechanism used to terrify the challengers.
Aeric felt something brush against his hand before slender fingers wrapped around his own. From the soft feel of the skin, he could tell who it was, but glanced sideways anyway.
Celestia was holding onto him tightly, her body brushing close to him, breasts squeezing on his arm.
