“Here, we need this.” Said Lucy, tossing another magical item into the sack that Leah was holding.

“This is quite a bit, is it not?” Leah asked, looking into the void sack.

I held my palm out and Leah dropped the sack into my hand. I looked inside to see almost two dozen magical items of different sizes littered inside. One that caught my eye quickly was a stopwatch that felt would come along just nicely.

“From what you told me, there is a manticore in an undead dungeon correct?”

“Correct.”

“Why would a manticore be in an undead dungeon?” Lucy asked, looking at the confused Leah.

Leah held her hand to her chin and stroked it.

“You’re right, that doesn’t make sense… unless—“

“Unless the Manticore is also undead.” Lucy finished, giving Leah a wink.

“An undead Manticore would make it much more simpler than if it was alive.” I added on.

Leah turned to me and tilted her head.

“What? Why would that make it simpler?” She asked.

“The undead weren't just made from nature. They were infused with large amounts of mana to have them come back to the land of the living. If a Manticore of that size were to be brought back, I don't think any mage would be capable of such feats. It's most likely that the creature is not at full strength and had the same weaknesses as the regular Skeletons." I explained, causing Leah to blink rapidly at me like I just spoke in a foreign language.

“But what does that... Oh, whatever!” Leah yelled, stomping out of the magic shop.

Lucy turned to me and we laughed, lightly slapping my shoulder. She walked to the front, chuckling her way up to the counter. After purchasing the items with Lucy’s gold, we then followed after Leah.

We spent the rest of the day going through every shop on foot. We were supposed to follow Lucy because she knew the city more than us, but Leah ran around like a stray kitten and went into every shop.

We weaved through the ocean of people going to blacksmiths to purchase armor and weapons. More magic shops to learn our specialty spells. A scroll scryer where we purchased summoning and conjuration spells for quick combat.

The undead may have weaknesses, but a Manticore is still strong dead or alive because of its poison.

We visited every shop we possibly could until night finally came and we had to retire to an inn.

We walked through the door of our rented room and Leah flopped onto the bed in exhaustion. I scanned the room and noticed that there was only one bed. And just enough space for one more.

I glanced to my side to see the same sly grin on Lucy’s face. She walked over and laid next to Leah, to her surprise.

“What are you doing?” Leah asked with an innocent voice.

“There’s only room for two beds in here.”

“And so? Go sleep on Leo’s cloud, it’s quite comfy I can vouch.”

Lucy pouted and softened her eyes. Leah buried her head back down to the pillow.

“Fine, whatever. But, stay on your side of the bed.”

“Of course!”

I grew a grin myself before conjuring my cloud and laying on it in my pleasantries.

I swear I must have had the most amazing dream because by the time I woke up, I was standing in the midst of spells being flown through the air in the familiar grey room that was the dungeon.

“Leo! You’re finally awake it seems! Now hurry up and fight!” Yelled Leah to my right.

She was wearing her new violet leather gear that glowed with magic effects while fighting off a giant horde of skeleton.

“So glad you had your beauty nap!” Yelled Lucy to my left, fighting off her own horde.

Dressed in red leather armor with the same glow, it didn’t seem like she was using magic to fight however. She held a long sword between her hands, slashing and thrusting into the skeletons. The hilt was golden with a familiar crest engraved on it that I couldn’t quite put my finger on it.

What in the hell happened?

I outstretched both my arms to the hordes.

“Vine Binding!”

The hordes of skeletons crushed together inside my spell.

“Finally, I can use my spell.” Said Leah, “flame vortex!”

“Heaven’s Slash!” Yelled Lucy.

Leah’s horde charred inside giant flames sent from her palm while Lucy slashed the air several times, sending out the sword attack and slicing through the skeletons.

I looked at both piles on the floor with the girls huffing beside them.

“Umm, well done! I see your form has improved Leah, and I take it that you are in good shape as well Lucy.”

Both girls looked at me and I could feel my heart drop. Still tho, just what in the world happened?