Argus starts calling Alicia.
Ring!
The Holowatch just rings ones and it was immediately answered. What appeared in Argus's Holowatch is a projection of a whole body of a person, unlike a normal videocall that only the upper body of a person can be seen.
Argus saw a striking vision of beauty, a woman that has dark, waist-length hair that cascades in silky waves down her back. Her eyes are a deep, almost black shade, holding an intensity that can pierce through the soul. Her complexion is smooth and fair, contrasting sharply with her raven hair.
The soul piercing eyes of the lady was gazing at his eyes. Argus also just stared at her without moving. The two has a staring contest for a while when the lady turns her head a way. A blemish of crimson can be seen on her beautiful face.
"Cough... I... I need information. You are the only one who can help me."(Argus)
"You did not even greet your fiance after a very long time and just be direct, huh? My heart is starting to bleed."(Alicia)
Argus did not let her continue as he send his quest of collecting of cores to her. Alicia received a message from the man in front of him as she read it. Her facial expression did not change after reading the content and she just close her eyes to think. Alicia opened her eyes and a mesmerizing smile appeared on her face as she gaze at Argus.
"You owe me one."(Alicia)
"Yes."(Argus)
"A date then."(Alicia)
"But..."(Argus)
"A date then."(Alicia)
Argus just stared blankly at her.
"A date then."(Alicia)
"Sigh... Fine."(Argus)
Alicia's smile intensified when she heard Argus's answer.
"It's a deal. I will set up a time and place. Do not worry, I'm pretty busy this month and the next so it would probably take a while for that to happen.."(Alicia)
"Yes... Do not forget the information."(Argus)
Argus was showing an annoyed face outside but inside he was sighing. Of course he wouldn't reject the offer of his fiance and her fiance is a cruel person to booth. Anyway his problem on finding dungeon can be considered done since the person in front of her is trustworthy like her little brother.
"Goodbye then, I have a bit of something to do before clearing the dungeon. It would really greatly help me."(Argus)
"I understand see you on the Arcana Academy then. Don't do anything reckless."(Alicia)
"I won't..."(Argus)
'I won't promise.'(Argus)
Alicia stared at Argus and sighed since he knows what he's thinking. Alicia gave her a one last look as she turned off the call. When the call was terminated Argus also sighed.
'Women's intuition is very frightening.'(Argus)
Argus pack his things again as it would taken him a while to come back here in the city. Argus walks out on the room and saw that they already calmed down with the two being beaten of course.
The 4 of them goes out of the apartment. Rex, Astelle, and Astrea send him at the South outer gate.
"I'm finished preparing and I'll be going. I'm gonna be a bit busy for a while as you have already known. See you on the enrollment."(Argus)
"Goodluck. Remember our match I will surpass your level at the enrollment hahaha."(Rex)
Argus just rolled his eyes on him.
"Be careful out there. The dungeon is a dangerous place do not let your guard down."(Astelle)
"Yes, I know. Thanks for that."(Argus)
"Sigh... You are the most busiest person here in this house. You rent one the room and you did not even sleep here everyday what a cliche. Anyway goodluck. We cannot help you after all."(Kelvin)
"Thanks... Then I'm going."(Argus)
Argus immediately dash on the forest.
"He's gone again. Well I will also leave now. I have a match with him and I do not want to lose. See you on the enrollment."(Rex)
"See you."(Astelle)
"Yeah see you brother."(Kelvin)
***
{Argus's POV}
Summon:Astrea
Argus stopped running when he was in the forest and he summoned Astrea. She comes out of the magic circle and began stretching her body.
"Astrea, are you sure?"(Argus)
"Yes master, it just happened this morning. My body wants to go somewhere near the City so I can break through. I felt like there is something I really need there. I just need to follow my senses to reach that location."(Astrea)
"You lead the way then. I plan to made you breakthrough first before we go dungeon diving. Your help will be greatly needed this time."(Argus)
"I will do my outmost best to help you."(Astrea)
Argus patted her head and her tail started swaying.
"Let's go."(Argus)
Astrea dash on the direction where her body wants to go. Argus followed her just a bit behind. The two sprinted for an hour. As the scenery change Argus slowly discovered something.
'This direction is...'(Argus)
"It's here master. Eh... Isn't this..."(Astrea)
Not long after Astrea stopped on a very familiar location. The place where they are right now is the place they have stayed for more than a week, the clearing besides the waterfall.
"I didn't think that the place you want to go is here."(Argus)
"It's not here master it's below that. I sensed a very familiar aura below here. I want to get it. My body starts to get excited by just thinking about it I do not know why."(Astrea)
Astrea was pointing at the waterfall.
"Below the waterfall? Astrea I will unsummon you for a while. I would like to check what's below the waterfall of there is an entrance or something."(Argus)
"Yes master, I can help you even when I'm in the Soul Sea since it's very near so I can still guide you."(Astrea)
"Very well."(Argus)
Astrea returned and Argus took a deep breath and dove into the clear, cool waters below the waterfall. The roar of the cascading water above was muted. It was replaced by the gentle murmur of the river currents.
The light from the sun above barely reached the water below. Looks like Argus eyes possess a night vision so he can clearly see his surroundings.
'Astrea can you sense it?'(Argus)
'Yes... It's below, slightly deeper from where you are.'(Astrea)
Argus followed her guide.
'In front Master! I sense that we are very near.'(Astrea)
Not long after Argus saw a cave and immediately swims there. The mouth of the cave was just large enough for him to squeeze through. Without hesitation, he pushed himself inside.
The cave is not dark as Argus expected since there is a luminous stone on each side of the cave. The cave is wide unlike the hole he entered. Argus realized that the cave has no water and was breathable so he immediately rised from the land and he summoned Astrea.
"Master it's deeper inside, I can feel it."(Astrea)
"Let's go then. I know you have strong sense but be careful, we are not familiar in this place."(Argus)
"Yes."(Astrea)
Argus intuition told him that there is a dangerous thing living in here. He did not now if he can kill that thing or if he can escaped if that thing attacked Argus but he has to continue.
Astrea walks slowly in the front while Argus was behind. He did not summon his weapon yet though. As the two walks deeper the cave became more wider and wider. Astrea's feeling also increase more and more and she almost lost control of herself.
Fortunately Argus notice this. He tried to pat her head to calm her down and it was very effective. The two reach the end of the cave and was shocked on what they saw.
The cave walls, once rough and natural, began to take on an otherworldly purplish glow, illuminated by a faint, pulsating light. At the center of the chamber lay a massive, fallen star core, its once brilliant light now reduced to a dull, flickering glow.
The core was cracked and weathered, its surface marred by deep fissures. Despite its diminished state, it still radiated a powerful, otherworldly energy that seemed to pulse in the air around it.
The environment of the chamber was unlike anything Argus had ever seen. Strange, luminescent plants grew around the star core, their leaves and petals glowing with a soft, eerie light.
'Spiritual Plants?'
The ground was covered in a fine, sparkling dust that seemed to dance and shimmer with every movement.
"Master I want that... I really want to get that."(Astrea)
Astrea was about to run into the fallen core but Argus stopped her.
"Do not go there yet, there is an enemy here. Can you sense it?"(Argus)
Astrea tried sensing the chamber with her keen nose but there is not other smell of beast here.
"Master there is nothing here other than us."(Astrea)
Suddenly the ground they are standing started to shake.