“What do you mean?” Caesar frowned.

“I don’t know how much Mary told you about the noble houses. But you should know that I belong to one of them.”

He quirked a brow.

“It’s just a warning. All of us are currently competing for something important. We recruit people to help us, so the more people that know about your association with me, the more they might target you or block your progress like they did to me.”

He nodded.

Arnold continued. “This is your last chance to leave and not get too involved.”

“I have no problems with you. And I won’t worry about the dangers.”

Arnold smiled. “Good. My goal is to take control of this area and find a reliable way to connect with other people from the Wilderness or the Expanse. I believe there’s a much wider world beyond.”

“That’s… a great goal. Mine’s similar, but a lot more personal.” Caesar was reminded of his parents, who had abruptly left him and wandered away into the wilderness, running from some unknown threat.

“I know. That’s why I’d like you to join me. You’re trustworthy and reliable. Not too many people I can trust here, thanks to the current state of things with my brother.”

He hesitated a little. The threat of other factions might distract him from finding his parents, but they’d give a good opportunity to level up. “I’ll wait and see.”

A little wary, Caesar followed Arnold and Lily as they went to pick up elemental materials and catalysts from the remains. Mary tiptoed behind, wringing her hands. She opened her mouth, wanting to speak, but closed it when she looked at him.

Arnold handed a green peach over to Lily. It was a catalyst – rare – on the same level as the purple grape. Presumably, it’d be great for plant-type abilities. He looked up at the dark ceiling and smiled. With fewer motes floating around, the place had become much darker.

“Here’s a glimpse of what I can provide, Caesar. Attack that spot, Mary. With a light spell, thrice.”

She looked a little confused but acquiesced. A light lance shot toward the ceiling, illuminating most of the area except for a small dark spot. Caesar forced the expression of surprise down and maintained an inquisitive face. Two more lances struck the same spot in succession, causing it to disappear. Arnold crossed his arms and looked around the room.

A pitch-black, smoky mantis stepped out from the darkness and stared at the group. Its beady eyes glared at them and focused on Mary. It flickered up the hill. Slashing claw met flashing blade as Arnold intercepted its movements. Mary took a step back, eyes wide, but regained her composure quickly. Under the duo’s luminescent abilities, the mantis’ form grew more solid.

Shadow Elemental – Rank 2

[Rarity]: Rare

It backed away from the group and disappeared. Caesar turned to glimpse wriggling in the shadows and called it out. Light bolts shot toward the elemental, but none hit. Suddenly, it vanished from view. He strained his senses to find it, guarding his back. A shriek sounded out from Mary’s direction.

Arnold had struck the monster with a light greatsword, leaving a gaping wound. Caesar’s eyes narrowed as he lunged. His spear pierced into the injury on the elemental’s back. It dashed away, but not before a few more attacks landed on it. He grabbed a thorny spear Lily had grown and kept watch for the monster again.

Mary began to cast her spell of fiery rain again, trusting Arnold to watch her back. This time though, it came from Lily’s shadow. Yet, Arnold still predicted it and sliced cleanly into the mantis’ waist, disabling it. She finished her spell far away, letting the energies brighten the shadows around them. Caesar savagely struck the monster until it died.

[Notice]: Congratulations! You have leveled up to Level 16! +2 Free Stat Points

Arnold smiled and nodded at him in approval. He pocketed the elemental core and they left the dungeon. Behind them, the portal closed and disappeared. A few floating particles remained, signifying when it’d be available again.

The four of them walked to the market inside the university gates where Arnold asked an alchemist to create a few potions for him. Eager to serve, the elderly man called to his apprentice to retrieve a few tools. The old man squinted at each elemental core, eyeing them closely. Arnold handed over the shadow elemental core as well. At that point, Caesar knew he had to suspect each and every market for any spies for the noble houses. Not being able to do anything with his loot yet frustrated him a little, but there were other options.

The old man nodded without looking surprised. He picked up a few blossoms from the storage in the back and sat back down. Each elemental core was placed in mortars with the corresponding colored blossom and crushed with pestles, one by one. Arnold watched patiently, smiling. The rest of the group stood still in respect.

The earthen blend was finished first. The alchemist moved on to the fiery blend, letting it stand for a few minutes. He made some small talk with Arnold while he finished the watery blend. The apprentice returned with three vials of bubbling liquid, which the alchemist took and began to place the mixtures in. Water. Fire. Earth. A cork stopped each vial. He had his apprentice shake them manually and went to the back with the shadow elemental core.

The old man came back out with a pale mixture in a vial just as the apprentice finished his set. Those potions glowed blue, red, and brown for elemental resistance. He handed over the Uncommon Invisibility Potion to Arnold and inspected the Uncommon Elemental Resistance Potions, studying its viscosity. Satisfied, the old man handed the potions over and accepted payment in the form of a dozen gold coins and a bright silver gem.

Arnold led the group further into a blacksmith. A long line waited outside the shop, but he walked straight to the front and went inside. Nobody protested once they saw who had entered. The blacksmith bowed his head for a moment in deference.

“I need a very good spear by tomorrow for my friend here.”

“I can do that, sir.”

Arnold handed over a few gold coins as pay and left. Caesar thanked him and handed over his spear to the smith for appraisal. The blacksmith nodded, gave it back, and returned to work.

The group split up to take care of personal affairs. He walked around campus but felt eyes on him from many directions. Glancing around, he saw a few turn their heads away. An old shopkeeper. A young lady. An impassive student. A burly adventurer. Unnerved, he lingered a little around public markets but did not go in. Oppression seeped into his skin. Out of his element, he sat down in a quieter place to await the others’ return. What could he even do? Anything he bought would be tracked. Anything he did would be known.

Mary returned first, waving goodbye to a group of peers around her age. She sat next to him and hummed, waiting patiently. He continued to close his eyes to rest.

Arnold and Lily came back with their satchels bulging. The group departed for a pleasant and opulent home in the center of campus, where various portraits of Arnold, Lily, and a middle-aged couple hung on the walls.

“Lily drew these.” Arnold gave her a doting smile. She glanced away from the group, tracing the intricate patterns on the walls with her eyes.

------------------

They rested until daybreak. Caesar woke up early to retrieve his new spear and practiced the basic movements his parents had taught him until his teammates awoke. It cut through the air nicely.

A drowsy Mary looked out the window at him and made her way down. She yawned and relaxed on the grass, rolling over while he continued practicing. Arnold and Lily followed her a while later, ready to depart.

They rode the carriage to a place where rotted trees and deadwood crept into the forest like a disease. Even the midday sun could not prevent the gloom from seeping into their hearts. But the teams patrolling the area did lighten the atmosphere somewhat, standing at the ready in response to Arnold’s greetings.

Glittering lights flashed and whirled, signifying the birth of a new dungeon as the carriage came to a stop. But Caesar’s heart dropped. Another group of four had already arrived and were loitering around the area. One of them looked up at Arnold’s arrival and smiled vainly.

“Welcome, Arnold. And the rest of you.” He glanced at each member of the party, disdain evident in his eyes. Lily glared at him.

“None of that.” The arrogant man glanced toward a muscular bodyguard who stepped forward and frowned with crossed arms. “This dungeon is here for all of us, not just you.”

Arnold looked upset. “Where did you get this information?”

The man chuckled. He didn’t answer but instead shared a knowing glance with another opulently dressed noble.

An enraged Arnold stepped forward. But reason calmed him down. There was no guarantee other nobles wouldn’t come for this dungeon soon. Exploring the place quickly and leaving was a much better idea than fighting here.

But when the particles finally settled into the shape of a large oval portal, it shocked all eight present.

Dungeon Detected!

Mansion of the Lost

[Type]: Domain

[Level]: Rank 2

That's massive! Caesar steeled himself to do whatever it took to succeed in this next dungeon. Similar to Field type dungeons, Domain dungeons were the next stage of progression and came with an increased size and their own set of rules, like amplified spells from a specific school of magic. They often contained greater dangers but also greater opportunities. An artifact or skill book to cement his stat growth direction was likely contained inside. While understanding dawned on the others' eyes, he instead quirked his eyebrows and asked Arnold for information.

“I’ll explain it to you once we’re in.”

The other group snickered at Caesar’s foolishness. The two groups rushed into the portal, not willing to delay a moment longer.

Caesar found himself standing in a field of grass and flowers, light and sunny. But ahead of him stood a dark, misty forest where the scarcity of sunlight and the emptiness between sunrays signaled dread. Glowing mushrooms littered the path, providing minor sources of relief for weary travelers.

Mocking laughter interrupted his admiration. “Fool.”