It was a week before Dorian had the chance to finally use real magic.
During that time, he spent most of his days creating food, since it was the most reasonable thing to feed his floor with.
The week was peculiar, filled with moments that made Dorian reflect deeply on the choices he had made throughout his life and death.
Whether it was right to drag Eva's soul here without her permission, or if he would succeed through the challenges ahead and bring her back, weighed heavily on Dorian's mind.
The uncertainty and the magnitude of his actions loomed over him, making him question his decisions.
He had yet to see Gregory since being imprisoned, something that drove him nearly mad.
The only thing he could interact with was the vile book, which made his head hurt with its endless unnecessary incantations.
[Oh, have you come for the final test? We should start soon, you know. It's been:
07H:26M:46S
since the last spell was completed. Chop, chop—your girlfriend's soul can't wait forever, you know…]
Dorian opened the book and was suddenly confronted by the dreadful timer.
He knew that the next lesson would be the hardest thus far.
Closing the book, he looked around the room, his soul radiating a stronger light than before.
It was his only motivation.
Each time he succeeded in a test, the shade of red, which had started as a faint pink, seemed to pulsate with a healthy, vibrant energy.
This was a testament to the power he was about to wield.
[Seems you are ready, huh?
Alright, let's begin right away.
Your new challenge is to actually form a door with your newfound magic.
No one said you had to stay in this small room for a whole week, did they?]
Dorian began to tremble.
The crystal in the middle of the room sensed his emotions and began to make the room shake.
This caused the book on the floor to open in response.
[Whoa there, okay, calm down.
You weren't ready to go out yet.
Chill before you create a black hole in this room!]
Looking down at the book, Dorian tried to calm his breathing.
He knew that while the book made fun of him, it was also an important guide that had helped him so far.
Remembering a technique that Eva had taught him, he began to inhale and exhale slowly, taking in deep breaths, and trying to steady his trembling hands.
The room's shaking slowly subsided as he focused on calming his emotions.
[Remember, magic is based on emotions.
You are very sensitive right now.
Calm yourself, since you're like a newborn with a nuclear weapon under his armpit.
You drop it, and this place blows.]
"Magic is emotions, yes, yes I know…" He settled himself and picked a wall to start using magic on to make a door.
Concentrating intently, Dorian channeled his energy, feeling the raw power flowing through him.
He focused on the wall, visualizing a door forming as his magic responded to his emotions.
[Isn't it nice that you can cast without chants now?
Let me tell you, I was around two hundred years old before I could do the same.
Aren't you glad I taught you how in no less than a week?]
Dorian couldn't help but smirk. "Yes, I am. It's impressive, isn't it?"
[Okay, okay don't get cocky and concentrate on what you're doing.]
With a newfound confidence, he continued to channel his energy into the wall.
Slowly but surely, the outline of the door became more defined, the surface shimmering with the magic he wielded.
As soon as the outline was finished, he created a knob on the door.
"If it was this easy, why didn't I just do this earlier?" he spoke aloud.
The book beside him suddenly showed new words.
[Why would we want the walking nuke to exit without fail-safe measures?
You needed to settle your short fuse mind.]
Dorian chuckled before kicking the book away.
He knew that something had changed with his emotions—they were more pure, more primal, but they also strengthened his magic.
As he stared at the newly formed door, he took a deep breath, ready to face whatever lay beyond it.
He turned the nob and opened the door, a small click was heard and the room shone, a blinding light that made him cover his eyes.
As everything settled, there was a large open space filled with light and darkness, both mixed in.
He tried walking out of the small room, only to sense there was no floor outside, making him almost drop into an endless abyss.
"What is this?!" he yelled out, holding onto the small room's edge with one hand, hearing a long, hollow echo ring out through the vast, endless space.
Using all his strength he lifted himself back up while sitting on the edge of his small room, breathing while staring at what seemed to be a universe.
"Rafflesia, erudos!" Lifting his hand, he pointed towards the book and pulled it after mumbling a few words.
The book flew towards him, sliding across the floor and into his grasp with a hard thud.
"You almost killed me, you mother…" He held the book over the edge of the precipice, gripping it by the corner of one page that was slowly ripping under the weight of the book.
[Sorry, sorry, let me explain!] The book pleaded, as the page was on the verge of tearing completely.
Dorian hesitated, his anger simmering just below the surface.
He took a deep breath and loosened his grip slightly, allowing the book to dangle precariously. "You have one chance. Explain."
The book's pages fluttered, and new words appeared on the open page, ready to provide the information Dorian demanded.
[This is your new home.
It wouldn't have killed you, moron, but it would have made me fall into an endless void where it would have taken centuries to find me, you fool.]
Dorian sighed, pulling the book back from the edge. "Alright, alright. Just tell me what I need to do next."
[Well, it's your space just like before.
Get a feel for it.
Unlike the other room, this one is your dungeon.
It will be created as you wish and grow stronger.]
Dorian stared at the vast, open space filled with light and darkness.
He felt a mix of excitement thinking about what he could create.
[Well don't just stand there, how about you create a floor and start exploring before I die of boredom]
Having nothing else to do and after observing the mysterious space for a good while, Dorian began concentrating on creating a floor.
With his experience, he could now use magic through his feet without needing to chant.
He focused his energy downward, feeling the power flow through him.
Slowly, the space beneath him began to solidify, forming a stable surface.
The floor spread out from his feet, creating a path forward in the vast, enigmatic space.
Dorian took a few steps forward and decided to create a ceiling and two walls as he walked.
He didn't like the feeling of being exposed to the vast, open space.
Channeling his energy, he formed a ceiling above him and walls on either side.
The newfound structure provided a sense of security and familiarity, allowing Dorian to concentrate on his next steps without the looming fear of the abyss.
With each step, his confidence grew, and the space around him began to take shape, becoming more defined and manageable.
"Well, what should I do now?
What would be the next trial or test?" he asked, turning to the book that lay wide open.
The pages of the book began to flutter, and new words started to appear on the once-blank pages.
[Well, it's a dungeon, so how about starting with a first floor?
Once you have that, we can begin bringing in monsters to populate the area.]
"What monsters? Why?" Dorian questioned, not understanding the purpose of bringing beasts into his space.
[To defend your home, of course.
A new dungeon near a powerful kingdom is like calling out to adventurers and invaders.
You'll need monsters to protect your domain and ensure it remains under your control.]
Dorian nodded slowly, starting to understand the necessity of having monsters in his dungeon.
[Oh, and there's one more thing.
You need souls to fuel your core.
With enough of these, you will be able to revive your beloved.]
Dorian's heart skipped a beat at the mention of reviving Eva. "Wait, but you don't mean… human souls?" he asked, his voice trembling slightly.
[Well, not only human.
You will need the souls of intelligent beings to have strong guardians and to make your core stronger.]
The book explained before continuing.
[Also you should hurry, I believe the first adventures to reach here will be within a couple of days.]
"Oh, and what will they do? Fall into the abyss like you almost did?" Dorian retorted.
[Not exactly.
You see when the kingdom finds out they will be coming with a couple of arch mages to lockdown the dungeon if it doesn't have enough use for the kingdom.
When that happens, you won't be able to leave this place.
That means you will slowly consume your own mana until you die.
And no, Master Gregory won't come to save you.
This is your first trial.]
"Ah, shit…" Dorian muttered, realization dawning on him.