Chapter 309 - The Archbishop of Rose Eyes
Nathan Evenhart:
The day of the excursion had finally arrived. I stood in my academy dorm, adjusting my uniform in front of the mirror. We would start off wearing regular clothes, but on the first floor of the dungeon, there would be a resting point where we would switch into the standard military attire.
"Do I look good?" I asked, turning toward the gray cat stretched out on the bed.
"You always do," Cylla replied without lifting her eyes from the book she was reading.
Lately, she had developed a habit of reading. She spent hours immersed in books about history, archaeology, and even ancient structures. I felt that, little by little, she was maturing, though she still retained her protective nature and slight jealousy.
"Can you store a book for me in your storage bracelet?" she asked, glancing up for a moment.
"Of course. We'll be setting up a tent at the camp, so bringing a few extra things won't be a problem. We'll also have backpacks for when we explore the caves," I replied, checking the items stored in my bracelet.
She closed the book gently with her paw and looked at me, her gaze seeming a bit distant.
"I've been thinking a lot lately… Ever since that man with the crow spoke to you."
"What's on your mind?" I asked, sitting beside her on the bed.
She hesitated, her voice softer than usual.
"I… I don't have memories of my past life. Just… fragments. Scattered information. What if… what if they weren't good people? I don't want anything to happen to you because of me. I don't even know what I planned before reincarnating. I gave you those eyes… but I don't know where I got them from. What if someone comes to take them back? I don't even know if there's a safe way to remove Jormungandr's Eyes from you… They're not physical. They're tied to your soul."
I took a deep breath, absorbing her words. Gently, I reached out and ran my fingers through her soft fur.
"Cylla… I trust you. With or without your memories, I know you'd never do anything to harm me. Yeah, I've thought about it too. And the answer is… I don't know. Some things are beyond our control. But no matter what… when Siegfried shows up again, or any other strange being like him, we'll deal with it together. We'll figure out what's going on, together."
She tilted her head into my touch, her eyes reflecting the light of the room.
"I can't take those worries away from you," I continued, keeping my voice gentle. "But just like you asked me to trust you when I feel scared or lost… I want the same from you. You're strong, Cylla. But I know that emotional wounds can cut deeper than any blade."
She closed her eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath before opening them with a small smile.
"Thank you for talking to me, Nathan… I just… I'm scared. But thank you for being with me. Always."
***
We were all lined up at the academy, ready for the dungeon excursion. A buzz of excitement spread among the students as we waited for our turn to descend through the tower. We would spend a week exploring that ancient place, and each day, we would be assigned a different task, with the mission of delivering whatever was requested to the professor at the camp set up on the lower floor.
I observed the group around me. Many students were bringing their familiars, which surprised me, as having one was quite rare. Even so, I saw a wide variety—owls, cats, and even a small blue lizard with shimmering scales.
"I'm really excited to go, Lord Nathan!" said Frederick, trying to keep his composure, but the excitement in his voice was clear.
"Here, I'm just Nathan," I corrected.
The massive elevator—the same one I had used in my first year when I first arrived at the academy—finally opened. The platform was enormous, and it seemed even more imposing as we took in the intricate magical engravings along its edges. It was our turn to descend.
"I'm a little excited," Chloe admitted, adjusting her coat as she stepped in beside me.
"I hope we get to do a few things together in the first few days," Kinue said. "I want to show you guys some special places. There are even waterfalls down there. I used to go during the holidays."
"No spoiling the surprises!" exclaimed Nora, the daughter of the Norfolk family, flashing a playful smile.
We continued following the line, and one of the staff members waved at us while giving instructions. "Be careful. Follow the professors' guidance."
Professor Adrihna, always vigilant, waved from afar. "I'll take a bit longer, but I'll meet you all down there," she assured us confidently.
The area we were in looked like a massive gymnasium, but it was entirely dedicated to students exploring the dungeon. As we stepped onto the central platform, towering stone statues stood silently, watching us like ancient guardians. The heavy iron doors closed shut behind us.
The ground trembled beneath our feet. Slowly, the massive elevator began its descent, gradually picking up speed. The atmosphere grew darker, heavier. With each meter, I felt an increasing weight, a strange nausea forming in my stomach. The mana in the area seemed to press against my body, an invisible force growing stronger as we went deeper.
Suddenly, I felt a hand on my shoulder.
"It's normal to feel this way," Tiffania said calmly. Her palm glowed faintly with a golden light, and the nausea vanished instantly. "When entering a dungeon, you're stepping into a place saturated with mana. The tower itself is maintained by ancient magic. It's like climbing a mountain, but in reverse. Your body needs time to adjust to the magical pressure."
Prince Duncan stepped closer, looking exhausted. "I've been down this tower five times and still get sick. Can you help me too, Tiffania?"
"No," she replied coldly, without even hesitating.
The room fell silent for a moment… and then, all of us burst into laughter, including Syvis.
"Don't be so grumpy, Tiffania. Help Duncan," Syvis teased, laughing openly.
The Saint sighed, crossing her arms. "As you wish, my lady." She then touched the prince's shoulder, and once again, golden light radiated as Duncan sighed in relief.
The elevator continued descending, taking us deeper and deeper into the ancient magical fortress.
The platform came to a stop, and the students rushed forward excitedly as the doors opened.
"Welcome to the Inverted Tower," Nora announced, leading us into the new environment.
The moment I stepped through the doorway, I was astonished. We had entered a massive cavern that looked like a full-fledged forest. The sound of a waterfall echoed in the distance, birds flew overhead, and sunlight illuminated the space. However, the light was artificial, coming from a gigantic glowing orb suspended in a metal framework on the ceiling.
"All of this was created with magic and technology from a civilization so advanced that we seem like children in comparison," Nora explained.
"Impressive…" I murmured, captivated.
Syvis grinned and smacked me on the back. "Now do you understand why I want to be an archaeologist? These are the places we explore. This is one of the four major dungeons on the continent. We need survival skills, combat experience, and deep knowledge to uncover the secrets of ancient civilizations."
We walked toward an area where students were already organizing themselves, changing into military-style uniforms. Further ahead, I spotted a small village with stone houses and tents being set up. The place was also used for recreational activities, with waterfalls and lakes scattered throughout.
"Everyone!" called a voice. When I turned, I saw Professor Beatrix, a beautiful elf carrying a stylish scythe on her back. "Follow the trail to the academy village. I know you're eager to explore, but I recommend familiarizing yourselves with the village first. There are restrooms and accommodations. Boys can use any restroom they want… as for the girls, well, you get the idea."
As we walked, I felt a hand rest on my shoulder.
"Nathan Evenhart…" the professor called, her tone firm but carrying a slight tremor that I almost didn't notice.
"Professor… did something happen?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
She looked at me for a moment, then glanced at my group.
"You can go ahead. I need to have a private conversation with him," she said, motioning for them to continue.
They walked away, even Cylla, who hesitated a little before finally going along.
Beatrix remained silent as we walked side by side, the sound of our footsteps echoing. Then, I noticed the subtle movement of her hands, and in an instant, we were surrounded by a wind barrier. A perfect square. She had conjured an isolation spell so that no sound could escape.
What is going on?
She took a deep breath, seeming… nervous?
"I… I…" she began, avoiding my gaze. "Thank you… for helping me get home that day."
The uncomfortable pause made her clear her throat as if trying to regain her composure.
"And… I hope that… I didn't say anything weird… while… while I was… drunk…"
I stared at her in silence, and the red on her cheeks became even more obvious.
"Professor… why are you turning your back to me…?" I asked, realizing that she was completely facing away as if avoiding my gaze.
She spun around suddenly, raising her hand with a frown and flicking me on the forehead.
"I was just… admiring the view," she said, crossing her arms and looking away.
"Wait… you're embarrassed, aren't you?" I commented, noticing the even deeper blush on her face.
"W-w-what are you talking about?! Of course not!" She took a step back, her posture stiff, but her voice wavered. "I just came… to formally thank you for helping me! That's all!"
I held back a smile, remembering that night.
"I'm glad I could help… but honestly, I think we both needed to vent to someone that day, didn't we?"
"I guess you're right… And who knows, maybe on my next birthday, I'll invite you for a drink, to celebrate life's little victories, huh?" She smiled and, with one last glance, walked away.
Elara Asalon:
The tower door had just closed, and the professors had accompanied the students down on the same elevator to the lower floor. I walked through the gymnasium alongside Director Victoria and Professor Adrihna, enjoying a few moments of calm before the expedition officially began.
"Looks like you two just earned a few days off," I joked, trying to lighten the atmosphere.
Victoria shot me a cynical look, crossing her arms with a faint smile. "Days off? I haven't known what that is for the past twenty years."
"You're really going to abandon the students down there?" I continued, keeping my tone light.
She sighed, shaking her head. "There's too much work to do up here. Your family and the other royals have been giving me quite the headache lately."
Adrihna, walking a few steps behind us, seemed more reserved. I turned to her. "And you, professor? Are you planning to rest these days, or are you going down with the other professors?"
"I'm going down," she answered with a small smile. "I have a few dear students to protect, even when I'm off duty at the academy."
I knew she was probably referring to Syvis and Tiffania, as both were sacred nobles to the elven kingdom. Professor Adrihna, being the daughter of a duke from the elven royal guard, took that responsibility seriously.
"I wish I had soldiers as dedicated as you," I murmured playfully, making her chuckle softly.
We continued toward the academy corridor, where the soft glow of mana globes illuminated the colorful stained-glass windows. I wouldn't be descending into the dungeon, at least not for the first few days. I had too many obligations—both as student council president and in my role as ambassador.
Victoria seemed about to make some sarcastic remark when, suddenly, her entire demeanor shifted. The amusement vanished, replaced by an icy, lethal gaze. Her pupils narrowed, and her entire body tensed like a coiled spring ready to strike.
"Adrihna!" she shouted, her tone sharp and urgent. "Prepare for battle!"
Everything happened too fast.
Before I could grasp the reason for the alarm, Director Victoria shoved me with such force that I nearly fell. My body was thrown backward. Only then did I feel it. That spine-chilling sensation, a visceral, primal fear. An overwhelming, suffocating presence.
The killing intent was unbearable. A hatred so dense it seemed to warp the very air around us, as if pure malice had taken form.
That was when the gymnasium doors exploded.
A man dressed in black shot forward in a blur of speed, the gleam of his blade catching the light. He was so fast that, for a moment, my mind couldn't keep up.
The weapon in his hand was precisely where I had been standing a second ago.
I was going to die!
The force of Victoria's push sent me rolling across the floor. Instinct took over. Even as I was getting up, I could already feel mana surging through my body. In one swift motion, I unsheathed my sword.
The blade shimmered as I raised it defensively. My heart pounded wildly, but my senses were razor-sharp.
The man in black halted, stepping back.
"Well, well… You have good instincts, Director Victoria," he said, his voice carrying a theatrical echo through the hall.
Standing between the three of us, the man's black cloak seemed to absorb the surrounding light. His face was partially concealed by the hood's shadow, but what I could see left me stunned. His skin had a grayish, almost lifeless hue. But the most striking feature was the pair of black horns curving backward from his head, resembling those of a beast.
Horns?
Then, his eyes. A pink glow, almost as if radiating light from within. Intimidating.
"Who are you?" I asked, keeping my grip on the sword firm, though I could feel sweat trickling down my temple. The pressure was unbearable. The killing intent emanating from this being coiled around me like invisible chains.
"You've got a lot of nerve attacking a student in my academy," Victoria's voice rang out, unwavering. She shifted into a combat stance, mana swirling around her like a storm on the verge of eruption.
I caught sight of Adrihna a little farther back, her hands forming a spell-casting stance. She was ready to strike at the slightest provocation.
And yet, the man merely stood there, studying us. Something was wrong… He wasn't just threatening us.
Then, at last, he smiled.
"I just wanted to have some fun killing, Elara Asalon," he said, as if the name itself was a bitter joke, laughing right after.
Me? He wants to kill me?
I narrowed my eyes, trying to make sense of the situation.
He isn't human.
"Identify yourself!" the Director commanded, her voice laced with authority. "How did you enter the academy grounds? How did you bypass the magical barriers?"
The man didn't respond immediately. Instead, he slowly raised his arms.
The ground trembled beneath our feet. A deep cracking sound echoed through the hall as fissures spread across the stone floor.
With a thunderous impact, a massive chunk of rock was ripped from the ground, floating in the air as if defying gravity itself.
And then, atop that suspended stone fragment, he stood, lifted high above us, his pink eyes glowing even more intensely.
"A pleasure…" he declared with a mocking bow, his lips curling into a cruel smile.
"My name is Vaelor. I am one of the Demonic Archbishops, blessed with one of the Celestial Aspects."
His voice echoed in a distorted chorus, as if multiple voices spoke in unison.
"And today…" he continued, his eyes narrowing, sparking with malicious intent.
"I came to kill the three of you."