Chapter 113: The Outside World
Sam is walking back to his car. His head is filled with things that don’t make sense. Things that shouldn’t exist in this world. Yet, he saw them with his own eyes.
And when he woke up, he saw his boss, Master Arthur, changed.
He can’t quite explain it, but sohow, Master Arthur feels more mature. And at the sa ti, more free. Like he’s no longer restraining everything inside himself.
He’s not the only one. All three young Masters have changed. And Sam is certain it’s for the better.
Master Arthur ordered him to return to the outside world, update their parents so they wouldn’t worry, and tell them they would return after clearing the dungeon.
He said it with such confidence that Sam didn’t doubt him for a second.
Master Arthur had always been confident. But sotis, there was a hint of uncertainty. Like he was gambling on the outco.
Not this ti.
This ti, he felt... solid.
Like a ruler.
Like a true king.
Sam shakes his head. You’re imagining things.
The real problem is this: how is he supposed to explain all of this to Mr. and Mrs. Montrose? What does he even say?
And is Miss Thea really at ho? I was sure Aldriana was Thea. But...
Sam sighs.
Her brothers must have noticed, right? And why would she hide her identity from her own brothers?
And how in the world can she use magic like that?
Sam almost scoffs when the word magic crosses his mind.
It still feels ridiculous.
Surreal.
------------------------------
"What just happened convinced
of a few things," Aldriana says as they pack up, preparing to go find the Dungeon King.
"One, both Arthur and Liam have extrely high elental resonance. We’ve already seen Arthur’s."
"Yeah, but Arthur’s should be fire," Julian says, ever the scholar. "Yet it turned into lightning. How does that even happen? Is it common?"
"There is a group of magi my people call the Ascendant," Aldriana explains. Everyone is listening closely now.
"It ans they can go one step beyond their basic elental resonance."
"With Arthur, that step is lightning. But," she adds, glancing at him, "he can’t use it yet. He needs to fully master fire before he can even begin to touch lightning again."
"And ?" Liam asks, curiosity shining in his eyes.
"Judging by how high your elental resonance is, you should be an Ascendant too."
Liam’s eyes widen. "So I’ll go through what Arthur went through? Go berserk?"
Aldriana grins and lightly taps his butterfly bone. "That depends entirely on you."
Arthur stays silent.
He’s had ti to think. To process what happened. Aldriana’s explanation makes sense. And more importantly, he can feel it. Sothing fundantal inside him has shifted.
"Okay," Julian says after a beat. "That’s one. What’s two?"
"Huh?" Aldriana blinks.
"Earlier you said a few things. One is that Arthur and Liam are Ascendants. What’s the second?"
"Oh." Aldriana smiles.
"That Arthur and Liam will be the ones to kill the Dungeon King."
She grins wider and walks toward the cave’s exit.
------------------------------
"There he is!"
"That’s Mr. Mora!"
"He’s safe!"
Sam hears the voices before he sees them.
Several park rangers and police officers are fast approaching him.
"Mr. Mora! Thank God you’re safe!"
"Where were you? We circled this area multiple tis and found no trace of you, and now you just suddenly appeared!"
Sam lifts one hand. The crowd quiets imdiately.
"I’m fine," he says calmly. "I was inside a dungeon. Master Arthur and the rest of the missing people are believed to be in there as well. Master Arthur has asked
to return and inform you that this area is now off-limits."
Silence hangs for a beat.
Then everyone starts talking at once.
"Please," Sam says, raising his voice just enough. "My priority right now is to report back to Master Arthur’s parents. After that, I’ll go to the precinct and answer any questions you have."
"Mr. Mora." A man who clearly looks like the one in charge steps forward. "I understand your priorities, and I don’t bla you. But at least tell us where this dungeon is so we can secure the area."
Sam nods. "Do you have a map?"
------------------------------
"Are you sure, Sam?"
Leila grips the phone like it’s her lifeline.
"Yes, Mrs. Montrose," Sam says, his voice steady and reassuring, just like it always is. "I was with all of them, including Master Liam."
"Oh, thank God!" Leila breaks down sobbing, her knees buckling. Miranda and Claudia rush to help her sit.
Maurice takes the phone and switches it to speaker. "Are they safe, Sam?"
"Yes, Mr. Montrose. They’re perfectly safe. Aldriana is with them. I believe she’s the reason they’re safe."
Sam pauses, swallowing.
"The dungeon... it appears to be another mutated one. I was able to enter and exit before it was cleared."
Silence falls on the Montroses’ end.
"So... it wasn’t Thea that I saw," Maurice says slowly, "but Aldriana?"
"It seems very likely, sir," Sam answers carefully. "And I believe Miss Thea is still in her room."
Maurice glances at the clock on the wall. "It’s almost ten in the morning, and she hasn’t co out yet."
Leila sniffles, wiping her face. "Let her be, Reese. She might be exhausted after training nonstop with Liam and her brothers."
"Right," Maurice murmurs.
But sothing still doesn’t sit right with him.
"So, what are you doing now, Sam?" Leila asks.
"Master Arthur said he’ll clear the dungeon and try to bring any survivors out," Sam replies. "But he’s not very optimistic. For now... all we can do is wait, ma’am."
Leila nods, glancing at everyone else in the room.
"Okay, Sam. Thank you. Please keep us updated."
Maurice ends the call.
"Oh, Reese!" Leila throws her arms around her husband. "Thank God they’re safe! We need to invite that Aldriana and thank her properly for protecting our children."
Maurice nods, but his thoughts are elsewhere.
"Sweetheart," he says gently, "I want to check on Thea. Just stay here. I need to see with my own eyes that she’s safe."
Reviews
All reviews (0)