The Author's Playground Chapter 55: I’ll pave the way, you just need to tell me (2)

(Flash back to what happened back in the first dungeon. From Chapter 26)

With Victoria resting her head on his shoulder and Lucian sprawled across his legs, Elijah could only sigh.

(’Those people are taking too damn long to find us...’) His entire body ached, exhaustion seeping into his bones. (’I can’t even feel my legs anymore.’)

How was he supposed to carry three people back to the academy?

Should he leave them here and go find help? Probably. But was it really safe to just let them sleep on the cold, muddy ground?

Carrying them? Hell no. He could barely manage one person, let alone two.

(’Maybe I should just drag them...’)

Before he could entertain that absurd thought any further, a voice cut through the stillness.

"Anyone here?!"

Elijah’s head snapped up. Relief crashed over him as he shouted back, "We’re here!"

The bushes ahead rustled violently before Headmaster Percival erged, flanked by several professors. Their expressions shifted from concern to utter shock as they took in the battlefield around them.

Murmurs spread through the group.

"This place..."

"Don’t tell ... the boss area was cleared by these children?"

Elijah squinted at them, exhaustion tugging at his features, but he still managed a grin.

"It wasn’t ," he admitted, tilting his head toward Lucian and Victoria. "They did it. Shouldn’t you be helping them instead of standing around?"

Percival held his gaze for a long mont before exhaling sharply.

"...Bring in the dics."

At last, Elijah managed to stand, finally free from the weight of Victoria’s and Lucian’s unconscious bodies. He stretched his arms, feeling the stiffness in his muscles, and let out a deep breath.

"Phew."

Before he could relish the relief for too long, Headmaster Percival approached him with an unreadable expression.

"You..." her eyes bore into him. "Who are you, really?"

Elijah glanced sideways, then smiled. "Headmaster, you’ve already tried prying, haven’t you? Didn’t get the intel you wanted yet?" His voice showed amusent. "Did you really think I wouldn’t notice