The instant his spirit vanished, the dungeon exit shimred into existence, an eerie blue glow illuminating the damp cave walls.
A rush of cool, fresh air greeted Rael and Eon as they stepped out of the cave, their boots crunching against the gravel-strewn path. The contrast between the suffocating, mana-choked, and magma-ish atmosphere of the dungeon and the open air made Rael pause, inhaling deeply as if he had been drowning all this ti and only now surfaced for breath.
"The air slls good." Both of them collectively voice it loud, taking a deep breath.
However, their relief was short-lived.
A sea of knights rushed to them. Not just the four who had initially escorted them, but an entire unit clad in Garcia House’s insignia—the Radiant Knights, strongest knight unit of Freyles Duchy.
The shining armor of the knights reflected the last remnants of daylight, making them appear even more imposing. At the forefront stood a familiar figure—Val, his father’s right hand and personal guard.
"You’re alive." Val exhaled, stepping forward. His voice, steady as ever, held an edge of disbelief.
Rael frowned. "Was there any doubt?"
Val sighed, shaking his head. "You two disappeared for six weeks."
Rael and Eon froze.
"Six... what?" Eon blinked, her usually sharp deanor faltering.
"You’ve been missing for six weeks," Val repeated, arms crossing. "After you went missing into the dungeon, Princess Artaigne sent word to Garcia House, pleading for aid. The Duke himself ca but was powerless to enter. Even the King sent Grandmage rlin, yet even he failed to breach the dungeon."
Rael exchanged a look with Eon. They hardly felt like a day had passed. Six weeks have passed?
Knight Kaelith stepped forward, bowing slightly before speaking. "Young Master, Young miss, in your absence, Royal Knight Remia forcibly took Princess Artaigne back to the city. She insisted that the princess had no place lingering in this wilderness."
"Remia did a good job." Rael nodded calmly in satisfaction. "So, she was staying in our rented mansion?"
Kaelith hesitated. "Uhh... Not really. It’s just Remia."
"What do you an?" Rael’s brows furrowed.
"At first, the Princess did stay in the mansion," Val replied for him. After a brief pause, he continued. "But then four weeks ago, soone attempted to assassinate her inside the mansion."
"What?" Rael’s voice ca out sharp, a quiet fury simring beneath his usual composed deanor.
"Remia managed to fend them off," Kaelith explained, his jaw tightening. "After that, Princess Artaigne was moved to the academy dorms for safety. Remia remains at the house since Young Lord had already paid for a full year. But, the princess has been coming here to check up on the situation every evening and sotis, alternate days."
Rael’s fists clenched, but he exhaled slowly. King Arthur indeed warned him of the possibility of their abduction by Jotunns, but he didn’t expect it to be assassination instead.
Val watched him closely. "What happened inside that dungeon?" He asked.
Eon’s gaze flickered, choosing his words carefully. "It’s a long story, Val."
Val’s eyes narrowed, but he didn’t press. "Then let’s return ho. You both look like you’ve been through hell."
Rael’s stomach growled. "Yeah, I’m quite hungry, feeling like I could eat an entire beast today."
Eon clutched her stomach. "Sa."
The knights exchanged glances, but no one questioned it.
The journey back was quiet, save for the occasional exchange between the knights. When they reached the mansion, the sun had begun its descent, painting the sky in shades of orange and crimson. The large iron gates creaked open, and the familiar sight of the mansion appeared in their eyes.
Remia, having received Kaelith’s ssage through a communication scroll, t them at the entrance. Her stance was rigid, arms crossed, as if prepared to scold them. But the mont she saw them, her shoulders relaxed. Relief softened her expression.
"Young Lord Garcia, Young Lady Garcia, you’re back." She ca forward and gave a knight salute.
Rael barely managed a nod before the scent of food hit his nose. "Lunch prepared?" He asked.
"Yes. The food has been prepared for everyone." As soon as Remia uttered those words, Rael and Eon stord the dining area, throwing themselves onto the seats and digging into the al Remia had prepared while self-serving themselves.
Remia and the remaining bunch of knights just stood there in silence, staring at the pair of siblings as they devoured the food as if they were starved for months. There was no noble elegance or following any etiquette. They looked like a pair of human-looking gluttons who grew up in the mountainous areas.
Within twenty-odd minutes, the food was gone. Everything made for twenty-one knights ended up in their little stomachs.
Eon looked at the stunned royal knight, "Bring up more food, Remia."
Remia blinked. "You... ate everything."
Eon’s brows lifted. "What? There’s no food left?"
Rael leaned back, unsatisfied. "Not enough."
Eon placed her hand on her tummy. "I’m still hungry."
Val sighed and turned to the knights he brought with him. "You heard them. What you lot standing here for?" He shouted at them, his voice making their bodies tremble for a mont. "Fetch more food. Get ingredients from the market, order from the best inns—whatever it takes. Now, go."
"Yes."
The Knights rushed out of the mansion, going into the city for the shopping while the siblings of Garcia House waited patiently.
Val took this ti to converse with them, probing into the matters of the dungeon.
"Young Master, it will take a while for them to return. So, why don’t we take this ti to go over the specifics of the dungeon? You know, I have to write a report to the Duke." He sat nearby, asking Rael.
Remia also curiously stared at the pair of siblings. She couldn’t help but ask. "Was the dungeon you were stuck in—an inheritance dungeon?"
Rael looked at her and nodded.
Eon went on explaining what she and Rael had agreed on beforehand. "Long story short, we stumbled in the dungeon of a demigod. We were put into a series of trials, and both of us inherited a portion of his power. I inherited the mace, and he inherited the sword."
"Inheritance of Arcana spirits?" Remia and Val wondered aloud at the sa ti. Val went into thinking, grabbing his chin for a mont. "Do you know his na?" He asked seriously.
Rael and Eon collectively answered. "Marduk."
"Marduk? Never heard that na." Remia comnted. Val also nodded in agreent. He then rose to his feet. "I understood. I’ll write the report to the Duke and wait for the next set of orders."
For the next hour, dish after dish arrived. Roasted ats, fresh bread, steaming soups—Rael and Eon devoured them all. The knights, initially amused, soon grew uneasy. This wasn’t normal hunger.
At first, when Rael and Eon ate food made for more than twenty grown adults, they felt like perhaps this pair of siblings starved for six weeks in the dungeon. But now, they felt like their hunger was too much to the point that so of them beca worried that their charges might have been cursed that alleviated their hunger.
Fortunately, both of them eventually stopped after eating monthly rations all by themselves. As Remia and a few more female knights proceeded with the cooking for their fellow knights, Rael and Eon went to their room and slept soundly.
A couple of hours later.
"Rael!"
A loud call abruptly disturbed their sleep. Rael and Eon opened their eyes, finding the door opened, and Artaigne was seen standing there.
Princess Artaigne stord inside, her golden eyes ablaze with emotions. "Rael!"
Behind her, Remia followed, hand gripping the hilt of her sword as if expecting another battle.
Rael groggily looked at her, his eyes only half open. He looked as if he would go back to sleep again. "Oh, Artaigne! You are back from the classes?"
A beat of silence stretched between them before she moved. Without replying anything, in the blink of an eye, Artaigne rushed forward, slamming her fists into Rael’s chest—not hard enough to harm him, but enough to vent her frustration instead.
"Six weeks!" she shouted, her voice breaking. "Do you have any idea what it was like? Every day, I ca back! Every day, I waited, hoping you’d return!"
Rael blinked, sobering up by her actions.
"I thought—" Her voice wavered, and she looked away, swallowing hard. "I thought you were dead."
Rael exhaled, reaching up to grasp her wrist gently. "I’m here now."
Artaigne closed her eyes, her breath shaky. "Yeah, you are here now. That’s what it matters."
As Rael let out a smile, feeling happy that soone apart from his sister was also concerned for his well-being, Eon groggily spoke. "Artaigne, I’m happy for these reunions, but we need so sleep. You can have those talks later. Your future husband isn’t going anywhere."
"Future hus... Yes... I’m sorry." Artaigne hurriedly got away from the bed, her ears flushing in embarrassnt.
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