Just like that, a whole week had passed by. A lot happened.

Nothing really happened during my bodyguarding duties. Just some good ol´ games with playing cards. Not everything was boring, though. For the first two days, most of Metis´ classes were spent trying to figure information out about this ´attack´. I had, of course, told Metis about it, the second she came back from getting dinner. It was too late, though, seeing as the guys were nowhere to be found. Metis had searched through everybody at the cafe´s minds, trying to figure out how they looked. A couple of people had heard them talking, but, unfortunately, none had looked over at them.

That only left Metis and me to do one single thing. Digging for information. There weren't any camera tapes to look through, though, so we had to do it with external help. Metis talked the Head Diviner teacher into trying to give us some clue as to who the ´attackers´ were. Like the others, the plan fails, the Head Diviner failing to get us any information about them.

“I'm sorry, dear, but I can't help you. These people are wearing Talismans, preventing me from Divning their whereabouts. Even if I used all of my power, and compressed it into a single second, for it to break through the Talismans, I would still need a little more information about them than ´somebody is planning an attack on someone´”, he had told us.

We tried a couple of other things, each of them crazier than the other, but nothing was gained from it. Whoever these guys were, they weren't slacking around on security. If not for other people hearing their voice, both I and Metis would have been suspecting that I had had a stroke.

Giving up on the information gathering, we simply continued practicing. My control of other creature´s bodies slowly increased. By the end of the week, my control of flying creatures had surpassed the point needed to be able to do aerial tricks. With the right conditions, I could make loops continuously spin my body so fast I became a blur, and, with the right amount of wind, fly at extremely high speeds. Doing all of these things felt so good, like the high you got from doing drugs. That fight for the high motivated me, making climb the ladder of advancement faster and faster. By the end of the week, I had gained enough control to instantaneously Shapeshift parts of the body. Still needed more practice for the Full-body.

Things started to move in a pattern. Card games for a couple hours with the others, a few hours of practice with Metis, sleep for the rest of the day and repeat the next day. Nothing new came to break this pattern for some time.

Then, a few days later, while handling my bodyguarding duties, the bodyguards were asked to come into the classroom. This was a big surprise, seeing as we had been clearly told to never come inside.

“Students!”, the old teacher croaked, his crackling voice high. “And bodyguards! Tomorrow, we are doing something a little different than the usual. Instead of having you students reading an old, dusty book, and the bodyguards playing their stupid card games, we are gonna go on a field trip! A place this school is known around the world for having. Can you guess what this place is?” The students were shaking with excitement, some already knowing what he was gonna say. The bodyguards didn't, though, knowing fully how many times this little speech had been used. “Tomorrow, we are going to… The Abyss Dungeon! The dungeon renowned for its variety of different demons, the dungeon renowned for its ability to conform to every student's needs, and the dungeon is known for its ability to bring out everything a student has!”

The small group of students cheered, the excitement of adventure clear in their voice. The bodyguards though... not so much. While the newer ones, me included, were a little anxious about having to bodyguard our clients inside, the older, and more experienced, bodyguards shook it of as a normal Tuesday. Some even began to smile at it, sweet memories coming forward in their heads.

It took some time, but, finally, everybody quieted down, allowing the old teacher to continue his well-practiced speech.

“Now, we won't be dungeon diving the ´normal´ way. Your Talent simply isn't equipped to handle that yet.” The students, of course, didn't like that. Some of them had Dual-Talent allowing them some Offensive capabilities. While somebody tried to ask questions, the old teacher simply continued his speech. “No, we will be going a little different route of dungeon diving. Instead of killing every creature you come about, your assignment will do the opposite. One of your greatest capabilities is the ability to remain undetected. Why would you be forced to attack a creature, if it doesn't even know you're there? You could simply walk up to it, and stick a dagger in its throat. We won't be doing that though. Your assignment is to reach the end of the third floor without being detected in the slightest. Those who remain undetected by any creature the whole way will get a perfect score. Those who don't, though, will get a lesser grade and a discussion with me on where to improve.”

Again the students immediately grew louder, each of them wanting to ask a question. They were, unfortunately for them, silenced for a spell.

“Questions will be asked and answered after I am done”, the old teacher said, his voice showing the slightest hints of irritation. He didn't like being interrupted.

“Before you try to solo the whole dungeon in ten minutes, you will, unfortunately, have to wait some time to be allowed to do that. While this will be a test of your skill, we wouldn't want any chance of serious harm to come to you. That's why you all will be in groups of three, with each group having at least one bodyguard. And, before you ask, no, the bodyguards won't have to sneak. Spells that turns one invisible will be cast on them. You are not allowed to leave this group during any time inside the dungeon. If you do, the punishment will be harsh. Is that clear?”

Everyone nod in confirmation. Nobody wants to anger an old man with the power of Illusion.

“Good. Now of with you! Groups are already decided, and won't be changed under any circumstances. Be here early”

A day quickly passes, and everyone meets up outside the class building. Not a single person was late. Everybody was, in fact, early. Instead of the usual school clothes, all of the twenty students were clad in leather that was, according to Mana-Sight, heavily enchanted. All of these kids were rich, so expecting anything but the best would be heresy to them.

All the students were bickering amongst themselves. Some were discussing tactics on how to Sneak, some were making bets about who would be first, and some who they would be in a group with.

That all stopped when the old teacher stepped out of the building. This time, though, he wasn't alone.

“Alright, students. Please welcome the headmistress, and teacher in the Space Talent, Morgan Denholm”, the old teacher said, which was met with mild applause. “She will be the one taking us to the dungeon, seeing as it's too far away for any normal means. Is there anything you would like to say, headmistress?”

“Not really, Phil. Just need to get this over quick. Have some stuff to do”, Morgan said, stepping forward. “If you would all please hold hands with one another, this will be over quickly.”

We all do as she says, quickly forming a circle.

“Good. Now, let's get to the fun part”

The Teleportation ended quickly, with most not even noticing. You would need a keen eye to see it, which I luckily had.

Looking around, I began to take the place in.

We seemed to be in a massive underground cave, with almost everything around us is made of a weird, red stone. Some areas had spikes growing out of the walls, but they were rare. The stench down here was horrible, with everything smelling of sulfur. In the distance, I could hear soft growls. They seemed… unnatural.

My spacing was cut short, with the old teacher forming a weird circle around us. Outside of it, everything seemed translucent.

“To give everyone an equal chance, we are teleporting all of you to a different spot on the first floor. These spots will not have any monsters in a couple of minutes, so you will have enough time to cloak yourselves. The people you see after being teleported will be your group. Are there any questions?” Nobody raised their hands. “Good. Morgan, if you will.”

“Sure.”

And just like that, the games had begun.