Another student fell. Screams again. The group was unraveling.
And Kael?
Kael stood back, doing exactly what he always did: nothing special
Finally, the beast's attention wavered.
Elara shouted, "Now!"
Four students hurled enchanted net at it—glowing ropes flew through the air, wrapping around the beast and trapping it in a magical cage.
Adam cheered, and the students all breathed a collective sigh of relief. Elara even managed a tired smile, and they awkwardly hugged each other like survivors of a terrible group project.
The beast twitched, snarling in its glowing prison.
Then Kael suddenly shouted, "Let me help, guys!"
Before anyone could stop him, he leapt forward and unleashed three Moon Blades—each slicing through the air in a deadly arc aimed straight at the net.
The blades cut through the enchanted ropes, shattering the cage.
The beast roared—free and furious once again.
Everyone froze, dumbfounded, as Kael landed coolly, hands ready for the next move.
Some muttered, "What the fuck?"
"Did you just see that? He used magic!"
"Yeah, but that's not the point, idiot. What did he just do to the nets?!"
"Wait… is he with us or the beast?"
Adam grabbed Kael by the collar, shaking him roughly.
"What the hell did you do, fucker?!" he screamed, eyes wide with panic.
Elara shouted from behind, "Watch out!"
But the beast was already moving, its heavy steps shaking the ground.
The group, exhausted and terrified, broke into a desperate run.
"Run! Run for your lives!" someone yelled as chaos erupted.
Chaos erupted as everyone scrambled toward the narrow path, screams echoing in Kael's ears.
Elara narrowed her eyes, glaring daggers at him.
"What did you do?!" she demanded.
Kael shrugged, innocent. "I just helped."
Elara's voice hardened. "Don't pretend."
Her shout cut through the panic:
"Everyone, scatter! Run in different directions!"
Kael ran, muttering under his breath, "No good helping others…"
A dry laugh escaped him — only he, Adam, Elara, and three others remained here.
Probability of snagging the treasure just got better.
But suddenly, he heard that same melodic voice from his dream, softly calling him:
"Come, come…"
Kael snapped his head toward the front of the path and spotted a narrow crevice in the wall. The voice seemed to be coming from there.
He almost thought about entering—almost.
But then, he shook his head, recalling the master's warning: Never follow whispering voices.
Still, the voice grew more persistent, "Come… come…" —echoing in his head and throat.
Before he could think twice, the pull was too strong.
He didn't hesitate. He slipped into the crevice and vanished into the darkness beyond.
He didn't notice, but someone else slipped quietly behind him, following into the crevice.
***
Kael hit the water hard, the cold shocking him to full alertness. He groaned as his side struck a submerged rock.
"Shit…"
He pulled himself upright, coughing, and looked around. A wide underground cave stretched before him, lit faintly by glowing moss.
Rippling water surrounded him, and just ahead, a craggy path led deeper in.
No sign of the others.
"Hello?" he shouted. "Anyone here?"
No reply.
Then—a sound. Behind him.
He spun around, Moonblade summoned, gleaming faintly in the darkness. Nothing.
A trickle of water? A pebble? Or footsteps?
He stood still for a beat, then shook his head. "Get a grip."
He pressed forward, water sloshing at his boots, the cave growing colder and darker.
After some time, the narrow passage opened into a massive cavern—and at its center stood a colossal stone door, ancient and cracked, bound with thick, rusted chains.
It wasn't guarding something.
It was sealing something in.
Kael stepped closer to the ancient door, eyes narrowing as he inspected the glowing runes and rusted chains binding it.
It looked impossibly old—older than anything he'd seen, older than the kingdom itself, maybe.
He sighed, running a hand along the cold stone surface.
"No keyhole. No handles. Just this... thing." He glanced around. The cave was silent, damp, and suffocating in its stillness.
"Is this what the academy's after?" he muttered. "Then how the hell am I supposed to open it?"
Kael sighed, exhaustion heavy in his limbs, but his mind still ticking.
Then it clicked — that girl from the dream. She was connected to all this. The runes, the door, the voice… If he could reach her again, maybe she'd show him the way. He just had to sleep.
But just as he was about to sit and rest, his gaze drifted—corner of the cave, shadows clinging too tightly.
Something… off.
His eyes narrowed.
"Of course," he muttered, a low breath of annoyance sharpening into realization. "Why that bastard hiding?"
He knew Adam had followed him. He'd sensed the little rat trailing behind since the last turn. Earlier, with Elara present, Adam had kept his act together—restrained, even. But now?
Kael's fists clenched.
Here, in this sealed-off place with no one to watch or intervene, it became clear. Adam wasn't just tagging along.
He was waiting.
Using him.
Like some expendable probe to trigger traps or test paths.
Kael's lips twisted in a dry smile.
"Fucker really thought I wouldn't notice."
Kael exhaled slowly and sank to the stone floor, ignoring the dampness seeping into his clothes.
The ancient door loomed behind him—silent, chained, oppressive.
But if the girl from his dream was truly tied to this place, then sleep might be the key.
"I better not wake up dead," he muttered, and closed his eyes.
The cold cave bled away.