The last thing Theo remembered was the strange tugging sensation. Then, everything around him went dark.
He blinked, trying to focus, but his head spun as though he'd been dropped from a great height. The familiar bright lights and chatter of Arcadia High's hallway were gone, replaced by dim, pulsing shadows. His surroundings were strange, with cavernous walls lined with bioluminescent fungi that cast an unsettling glow. Tendrils of dark mist floated through the air, drifting across twisted stone pathways. Somewhere close by, a distant, almost metallic growl echoed, sending a chill down Theo's spine.
Theo's heart raced. He knew immediately where he was: a dungeon.
Somehow, he'd been pulled through the gate at Arcadia High. But he didn't know how or why. He'd been close to the gate before, and he'd never felt anything like this pull before. This was his first time inside a dungeon, and he was entirely unprepared. He remembered all the news reports and rumors about dungeons — realms filled with dangerous creatures, mysterious artifacts, and lurking horrors that few ordinary people survived. Panic clawed at him.
Gulping, he backed away, scanning for any sign of an exit. But the more he looked around, the more he realized how deep inside the dungeon he must be. A low growl rumbled through the walls again, closer this time. He tensed as a shadow slithered toward him, coalescing into something vaguely humanoid, its red eyes gleaming with malice.
Theo stumbled backward, but the creature moved fast, slinking forward with elongated limbs and sharp claws that scraped the dungeon floor. Instinctively, Theo raised his hands in a futile attempt to defend himself. But just as the creature lunged, a searing light erupted beside him, illuminating the dungeon with a blinding glow.
Aria Sinclair materialized beside him, her expression sharp and focused. Without a word, she extended her hand, and a bolt of light shot from her palm, striking the creature square in the chest. The beast shrieked, recoiling from the impact, its form flickering and melting back into shadow before it dissipated entirely.
Theo could barely process what he'd seen. His heart pounded as he glanced at Aria, who stood calmly, her eyes scanning their surroundings with precision. She looked back at him, frowning.
"What are you doing in here?" she asked, her voice low but demanding. "This is no place for a civilian, especially not one without training."
"I… I don't know," Theo stammered, still in shock. "One second I was outside, and then… something pulled me in. I didn't mean to come here."
Aria's eyes narrowed, her gaze sharp with suspicion. "The gate shouldn't be able to pull anyone inside without a considerable energy signature." She studied him for a long moment, as if assessing whether he posed a threat — or something else entirely.
Theo felt a spark of embarrassment under her scrutiny. "Look, I don't know why this happened, but I'm here now. Can we just… get out?"
Before Aria could answer, another low growl echoed through the chamber. She moved quickly, positioning herself in front of him, her gaze fixed on the shadows.
"Stay close," she instructed, her voice low but commanding. "If we encounter anything else, don't try to fight. Just keep your distance and let me handle it."
Theo nodded, feeling a mix of relief and frustration. He was grateful for her help but irritated at feeling so powerless. He couldn't stop himself from wondering why he had been drawn here, and more disturbingly, why Aria was able to navigate this place with such confidence.
They made their way through the narrow stone corridors, Aria's steps light and sure, her senses attuned to every sound. Theo trailed behind, struggling to keep up as they moved deeper into the dungeon. The air was thick, filled with the scent of damp earth and something more metallic, almost coppery.
"Why were you even near the gate?" Aria asked, breaking the silence. Her tone was suspicious, though not unfriendly.
"I… well, I was curious," Theo admitted. "I wanted to see what you were doing." He hesitated, feeling awkward. "I didn't know it would… pull me in."
Aria frowned. "That doesn't make sense. The gate's distortion field usually only affects those with high energy readings or people trained to enter dungeons."
Theo shifted uncomfortably. "I didn't think I had any energy abilities. I'm a Warden, but my abilities never… amounted to much."
Aria's expression softened slightly, though her eyes remained wary. "A Warden? With no abilities? That's… unusual."
"Tell me about it," Theo muttered, a touch of bitterness in his voice. He was used to being overlooked because of his weak awakening. But now, standing in a dungeon, facing creatures that could rip him apart in seconds, he realized just how small and vulnerable he felt.
They continued walking in silence, the only sounds their footsteps and the distant echoes of something shifting in the shadows. The dungeon's oppressive atmosphere seemed to close in on them, and Theo struggled to keep calm, fighting the instinctual urge to run.
Then, suddenly, the path widened into a larger chamber, its walls lined with strange, glowing symbols that pulsed with a faint, ethereal light. In the center of the room stood a pedestal, on which rested a small, intricately carved stone. The air around it shimmered with energy, and Theo felt a strange pull, similar to what he'd felt earlier.
Aria's eyes lit up with recognition, and she tightened her grip on his arm. "That's what they were after," she murmured. "An artifact."
Before Theo could respond, a new set of footsteps echoed through the chamber. They turned, and Theo's heart sank as three figures emerged from the shadows, each dressed in dark, lightweight armor, their faces obscured by masks. They carried weapons that glinted in the dim light, their postures relaxed yet predatory.
"Looks like we're not the only ones who found the artifact," one of the raiders sneered, his gaze shifting to Theo and Aria.
Theo's pulse quickened. These were raiders, dungeon criminals who operated outside the law, scavenging artifacts to sell on the black market. He'd heard of them before, but he'd never thought he'd face them in a dungeon.
Aria's expression hardened, her stance shifting as she prepared for a fight. She glanced back at Theo, her voice low and urgent. "Stay behind me. If things get bad, find cover."
The raiders advanced, their weapons gleaming in the strange light of the chamber. Theo's heart pounded, fear gripping him as he tried to think of anything he could do to help. He felt a faint, warm sensation in his hands, a tingling that was both familiar and unfamiliar. Desperate, he raised his hands, hoping to summon the barrier he'd somehow managed to create earlier.
One of the raiders lunged toward them, his blade aimed at Aria. She moved with lightning speed, deflecting the attack with a burst of light that sent the raider staggering back. But the other two moved in, flanking her from both sides.
Theo's instincts took over. He raised his hands, focusing on the strange warmth in his palms. A faint, translucent barrier flickered into existence between Aria and the nearest raider, just as he swung his weapon. The blade struck the barrier, bouncing off with a sharp crack. The impact jarred Theo, and the shield flickered, but it held.
Aria seized the moment, dispatching the first raider with a precise strike before turning to the others. She moved with deadly precision, her attacks swift and efficient, each movement flowing into the next. Within moments, the raiders lay defeated, their weapons scattered across the chamber floor.
Theo lowered his hands, breathing heavily, his heart racing from the adrenaline. He glanced at Aria, who looked at him with a mixture of surprise and something else — a hint of respect.
"Not bad," she said, a small smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. "You managed to hold your own, at least for a moment."
Theo felt a rush of pride but quickly brushed it aside, trying to keep his composure. "Thanks… I think."
Aria turned her attention back to the artifact on the pedestal, her expression turning serious. "We need to get this out of here before any more raiders show up."
As she approached the artifact, Theo felt the strange pull intensify. It was as if the stone was calling to him, reaching out with a quiet, insistent whisper. He took a hesitant step forward, unable to resist the lure of its energy.
Aria noticed his reaction and raised an eyebrow. "You feel it too?"
Theo nodded, unsure of how to explain the sensation. "It's like… it's pulling me in. Like before."
Aria studied him for a long moment, her gaze thoughtful. "This isn't normal. Artifacts shouldn't react to people with low energy readings, especially not to someone who claims they can't control their abilities."
Theo opened his mouth to respond, but before he could say anything, the dungeon began to tremble. Dust rained down from the ceiling, and the walls shook as cracks spread across the stone.
"Dungeon collapse," Aria said, her voice tense. "We're out of time. Grab the artifact, and let's get out of here."
Theo hesitated, then reached out, his fingers closing around the cool, smooth surface of the stone. The moment he touched it, a surge of energy coursed through him, filling him with a strange, almost electric sensation. He felt his senses sharpen, his body humming with newfound strength.
Aria grabbed his arm, pulling him toward the exit. They sprinted through the corridors, the dungeon collapsing around them. Theo's heart pounded as they dodged falling debris, the exit just barely visible in the distance. As they reached the gate, Aria pushed him through first, and he stumbled into the bright light of the school hallway, gasping for air.
Aria followed a moment later, her face pale but resolute. Around them, a crowd had gathered, teachers and officials rushing forward, shouting questions and pulling them aside.
Theo felt dazed, barely processing the chaos around him. He glanced at Aria, who looked equally drained, though her expression remained composed.
One of the officials, a stern-looking woman in a DDR uniform, approached them, her gaze shifting between Theo and Aria. "What happened in there?"
Aria straightened, her voice steady. "There was a raid. Raiders trying to steal an artifact. We managed to stop them, but the dungeon was unstable. We barely made it out."
The official's gaze shifted to Theo, her eyes narrowing. "And you? How did you end up inside?"
Theo hesitated, glancing at Aria. He wasn't sure how to explain the strange pull he'd felt, the feeling that had drawn him into the dungeon. But before he could say anything, Aria stepped in.
"He was caught in the gate's distortion field," she said smoothly, her tone leaving no room for argument. "I managed to pull him out before it closed."
The official nodded, though her expression remained skeptical. She turned to Theo, her gaze piercing. "Next time, stay out of restricted areas. Dungeons aren't places for civilians."
Theo nodded, still feeling dazed. The officials eventually dispersed, leading Aria away for questioning, but not before she gave him a final, lingering glance.
As the crowd began to disperse, Theo's mind buzzed with questions. He had survived his first encounter with a dungeon, but something inside him had shifted. He had felt the call of the dungeon, an undeniable pull, and somehow, he had used his Warden abilities — abilities he thought he'd never be able to harness.
He didn't know what it meant, but one thing was clear: his life would never be the same.