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It had been a fairly rote dungeon exploration, the only real challenges being that it was just the two of us and I had challenged myself to exclusively rely upon my swordplay. Still, it wasn’t like it was the first time we’d gone through this, in my exploits as an adventurer.
As much fun as utilizing magic to the fullest potentials I could imagine after going through my first life with a lower-than-average ki-pool was, handicapping myself and going up against magically-potent monsters with just a blade was downright exhilarating. It was a shame that I couldn’t spend more time with my parents and Eleanor, but I had no regrets choosing this path. Ten years was too long to go without focusing on my swordplay, and I’d felt myself falling into some sloppy habits-- not to mention the difficulties that my childish body and lack of muscle posed. Fortunately I’d always been a fast learner, and a little over a year as a refresher was more than enough time for me to start feeling more comfortable. Even without magic or my Beast Will to fall back on, this dungeon was proving to be a relative breeze. Just enough of a challenge to keep me engaged and entertained, even with Jasmine’s assistance. But the monsters were just weak enough that I could easily best them without magic.
No, the real problem was the twisting corridors. The Lost Caverns were quite aptly named, I couldn’t help but think. A short dungeon, but full of branching paths, and unique mirror-like rock formations. I found myself reminded of a long-abandoned carnival funhouse I encountered once, back in my first life.
As we sifted through a monster’s remains, evaluating the Beast Cores we’d collected, however, a few stones falling from the ceiling suddenly caught my eye. Idly, I glanced up, only to freeze. The walls shifted and rumbled, as more rocks began to fall.
“Earthquake,” Jasmine realized. I thrust out a hand, freezing the rocks with earth-element magic, when I realized that the situation was more serious. This far underground, the earthquake might actually close off our only route of escape, leaving us buried alive. I quickly switched to another of my abilities.
Static Void.
Golden runes blazed to life across my body. The colors of the world seemed to fade to greyscale, as far more vibrant specks of light came into view. The last time I had used Sylvia’s Beast Will on another person had been at the Helstea Auction House, when I threatened that lowlife guard. It hadn’t been the last time I used Sylvia’s Beast Will, even if I’d also briefly set those abilities aside in lieu of improving my swordsmanship, but I wasn’t sure if my limits had grown any alongside my body. It would be arrogant to assume they had.
The cave-in may have been delayed, but the clock was ticking on how long I could keep it that way.
Jasmine looked around the frozen world, mouth opening and closing like a dead fish’s. “Arthur… what…?”
“Not now,” I hissed through grit teeth. “I’ll explain later.”
She nodded once. She always seemed to catch onto a situation’s true gravity. Without much more prompting, we made a break for the exit.
Now the only thing that remained was navigating the dungeon to freedom.
We came across dead end after dead end. The rock formations that had just minutes ago seemed incredible and breathtaking now seemed to mock and taunt me. Jasmine took it all in stride, expressing little frustration at the turn of events with an impressive single-minded drive to find the way out. I wasn’t quite so focused.
My childish body had tripped me up repeatedly in the past. So had the crushing weight of containing a dragon’s will in a human vessel. Both were starting to get to me. It became difficult to put one foot in front of the other. As Jasmine dashed ahead on feather-light feet, I found myself stumbling and face-planting.
“Art…!”
My ears rang, but I still heard her echoing footsteps as she ran back to help me up. I gulped down a breath of air before responding, “I’m fine… We can’t stop. Keep going.”
Ugh. I sounded so groggy and weak.
Jasmine frowned as she examined me, then nodded to herself, apparently having made some kind of decision. I wasn’t left wondering what it was for long. In one smooth motion she scooped me up in her arms, then began to run for the exit again.
“Jasmine!” I yelped, “I can still walk!” No one had carried me like this since I was an actual infant, it was humiliating. My cheeks burned under my mask.
“Just focus on keeping everything frozen,” she responded.
She had a point. And I wasn’t about to inform her of how my vision was beginning to tunnel. Besides, no one was around to see this, and it didn’t feel awful being held like this… So warm. I could fall asleep like this. Try as I might to focus on the Static Void, I found my eyelids drooping and fluttering. Sleep just seemed so inviting…
“Art!”
“Mm--!? I’m-- I’m awake!” I gasped, then reached over to pinch my arm.
“Stay awake,” Jasmine reminded me. “Tell me what this ability is. An artifact?”
I shook my head, still trying to blink the sleep out of my eyes. “No, no… s’my Beast Will…”
“What kind of Mana Beast can do something like this…?”
“Can’t tell you… secret… dangerous if you know…”
“Of course,” she said. Thankfully she didn’t pry any more. “What shall we have for dinner tonight? I want fish.”
“Fish… hmm…” I muttered.
“I’m going to dump a bucket of black pepper on yours.”
“Sounds… tasty…”
Despite her best efforts, Jasmine’s attempts to keep me awake were failing. Unconsciousness was no longer knocking at the door, and was instead breaking in through the window, ready to strike at any time.
“Art? Arthur!” Even Jasmine’s frantic calls sounded distant. I couldn’t put thought to words to respond to her, everything was slipping out of my grasp.
And then my eyes shut.
---
Next thing I knew, I was being awoken by frantic ‘kyuu-ing’ and telepath calls of Papa! Papa! Papa! I reacted instinctively, reaching out a hand to clumsily pet my bond and calm her down. It seemed to work, as Sylvie’s calls stopped being so frantic and fearful, the emotions replaced by a note of relief.
Papa! You woke up! Sylvie cried.
Slowly I forced my bleary eyes open, only to be met with Sylvie’s bright yellow eyes, now blurry with tears. She let out a little wail and buried her muzzle in my neck. I returned to petting her along her spine. It’s fine, Sylvie. I’m awake. I’m alive.
I’m… alive?
How did we survive that…?
I saved you! Sylvie responded. But I thought-- I couldn’t feel your mind anymore, I thought I was too late, I thought you--
No, don’t cry Sylvie. It’s all thanks to you I’m okay. You did it. I’m proud of you.
Maybe it was just because of our unique connection, but being open with my feelings seemed to come a lot more naturally with Sylvie than anyone else. Slowly, I felt her calming down, and felt a tension in my own chest ease as well. With Sylvie dealt with, my mind turned to other matters.
Where’s Jasmine?
I turned my head slightly to look around the room I found myself in, and then I had to smirk slightly. Found her. Slumped over in a chair by the wall of the tiny room, fast asleep. I wondered how long she and Sylvie had been waiting for me to wake up. I’ll let her have her sleep. Answers about how we survived could wait until she was better rested, and I felt sleep calling me again, too.
When I woke up again, I felt considerably more energized, aside from the kink in my neck from Sylvie camping out there all night. Carefully I stretched my sore muscles, while trying not to disturb her-- a feat in and of itself. My half-hearted morning stretches were interrupted, however.
“Art…!” Jasmine grabbed me in a hug, disturbing Sylvie who made a disgruntled squeaking sound. Despite the initial shock, I couldn’t help but smile and loop an arm around her in return. I could understand her relief. I’d really thought we were goners back then.
Then I heard a cracking noise, and winced. “Ugh, Jasmine… I barely escaped getting crushed once...”
After prying herself off of me, Jasmine explained how we had escaped the cave-in, in her typical terse fashion. When I stopped responding, she began to prepare wind magic, and as such was fully prepared when the Static Void failed. Even carrying me one-handed, she was strong enough to blast a small pocket in the rubble that was just big enough for us, with just enough air for us to keep breathing. She hadn’t been strong enough to completely blast her way out of the cave, and for a time had worried she saved us from being crushed, only to condemn us to a much slower death.
Fortunately, Sylvie had come to a timely rescue. Apparently hunting Mana Beasts for over a year had made my dragon bond much bigger and stronger. I had to admit, I was a little envious Jasmine had seen my bond’s true form before I could, but I really couldn’t complain. I resumed stroking Sylvie, to her absolute delight.
“We’re staying a friend of mine’s place right now,” Jasmine concluded. “Not an emitter. He’s a doctor. Trust him more.” She paused, then spoke up again, words a touch faster. “No offense to your mother. She’s a wonderful healer, it’s just--”
“No, no, I get it,” I quickly said. If the guy had tended to me after passing out from backlash, who was I to knock his skills?
Jasmine deflated a little in relief, then lowered her head. “It’s been three days, Art. Everyone was… really worried. Really worried.”
“It’s fine, Jas. All’s well that ends well?” I tried to comfort her with a slightly-goofy grin.
“I wrote your parents a letter about what happened.”
That knocked the grin off my face.
“If I don’t bring you back within a few days. I think your mother will hunt me down and skin me alive.”
I scratched my head awkwardly. Before this incident, I hadn’t intended on going back for a weak or two, but…. I really couldn’t endanger put my friend and mentor like this… “She would…” I muttered. “She really would…”