13 Clearing The Labyrinth (3)
Argenti City: Silverfall Mansion
"It's Young Master Cale's first day here in Argenti. He said he wanted to start exploring. If only the two of us were going, it would be like a date. But unfortunately, Alvara is going to guard. As much as I want to be selfish, I know I don't have enough strength if Young Master is in danger. So, it's better to have Alvara," Lilith thought as she made her way to Cale's room.
Arriving, she knocked on his door.
*Knock knock.*
"Good morning, Young Master. You said you wanted to go out early today. I've prepared breakfast for you. I hope you'll like it," Lilith said excitedly.
But after 5 minutes, there was no response.
"Young Master, are you awake? Is he so tired from yesterday that he's still sleeping? He should at least respond with, '5 minutes more, Lilith.' But now there's no response at all. Should I go in? It's necessary, right?" Deciding, she entered the room. However, after seeing his bed, she walked towards the bathroom, but he wasn't there either. Lilith started to panic.
"Young master!"
After looking everywhere in his room, she went outside and started asking the other maids, but no one saw him. She went outside and asked the guard, but got no sure response.
Realizing that Cale was missing, the whole mansion was in turmoil.
---
Day 1 after discovering that Cale went missing, Clara dispatched all knights to search the whole of Argenti.
Day 2, Clara finally contacted Corrine in a panic about Cale being missing. After knowing Cale went missing in just a day, Corrine arrived in Argenti within a day without stopping.
Five days had passed since Cale went missing.
Clara's Office
There were two women with silver hair conversing with each other.
"It's been 5 days, 5 days and there's still no sign of Cale!" Corrine said in anger.
"Sis, I didn't expect that Cale would go missing, not just here in the mansion but in the whole city. I thought we would be able to find him after he went missing because the city is under control, and I didn't expect that someone would be crazy enough to offend the Silverfall. We have tight security, but if there's really someone who kidnapped Cale, they are skilled. Right now, we have 5 A-rank patrolling the whole mansion and 5 A-rank outside with C-B Rank under them. So, it's impossible for someone to enter and exit the city without being noticed. And those ranks are under me, so I can guarantee that they are doing their job right. If someone really kidnapped Cale and was able to pass the security without being noticed, then we can say that they are a powerful individual," Clara said.
Corrine, believing in Clara's judgment, said, "How dare they do this to Silverfall!" Corrine said while releasing her pressure and killing intent.
Clara, because she was weaker than Corrine, an SS rank, couldn't help but feel the weight of a mountain on her whole body while coughing blood. Corrine, noticing Clara struggling, as she retrieved her killing intent and sat on the sofa, her eyes on the brink of crying.
"Sorry Clara, I couldn't control my anger. I just don't want to lose Cale. I just don't want to lose anyone again. I fail again!" Corrine said while holding herself in anger and sadness.
Clara, just recovering, walked towards Corrine and comforted her. "Sis, it's not your fault. I'm at fault too. I should have kept an eye on him. I shouldn't have let my guard down.
---
At the same time, in the training ground, there was a woman with long grey silky hair. She had tan skin and a thin but muscular body, sweating profusely as she swung her sword non-stop.
''It's my fault. I can't protect someone again. Is this a curse? I quit being a knight commander because I couldn't protect everyone I cared for, and now I became a teacher, and still nothing changed. I still can't protect someone. I still need to get stronger so I can't become useless and helpless anymore,' Alvara kept swinging her sword with her expressionless face to hide her guilt and anger towards someone who she thought kidnapped Cale.
---
Katherine's Room
It's been 4 days since Mom left to where Cale is. She's still not coming back. I'm a little worried because of her expression on the day she left. She only said that she was going to Argenti and said I should live in the mansion or train outside while she's away. I'm getting bored now. If only Cale were here, I could just eat the dessert Cale made. I wish they'd be home soon.
---
While outside, where there is turmoil and a lot of people going mad because of him missing.
here he is inside the reward room. He just bypassed clearing the 10th floor while he's in front of a chest called Reward Chest. Only on the higher floor has a Reward chest. You can obtain what's inside even if you don't clear the floor, but because of the Chest's location at the end of the floor, the only way to obtain it is by clearing it. But for Cale, it's different. He already knows everything about this floor and the whole Labyrinth because of the large space and hidden passages. He was able to bypass all the monsters that he should defeat to obtain the chest. He already opened a total of 7 reward chests. The only hardest part is the 2-3 floor because of the small space and non-existent hidden passage.
Kneeling, I flip the chest open and saw one of the most key items I need for me to get stronger. It looks like a clear white crystal. If I break it, I'll be able to obtain a random ability.
"This is it. It really exists after all!" My body filled with excitement. I can't help but tremble in anticipation. Exhaling and inhaling deeply, I gather my resolve.
"All I can do now is break it. I need to get ready. I'll be able to tell what ability I obtained depending on my body's reaction. It's going to be painful if I obtain the Phoenix essence; my body will be enveloped by flames. As for the others, I still don't know yet because players only flex their abilities and don't explain how. Some of you might say I should just break it after I come back home, but if I go home now and do it in my room, others will notice. So, the only option I have right now is to do it here."
With trembling hands, I twist and break the Fragment.
.
.
.
After 3 seconds, my body starts to be engulfed by flames, and I begin to burn.
"Arrhhhhhhh!" I scream in pain. The smell of burning flesh irritates my nose, but I don't care because of the burning pain. But after 2 minutes, the pain starts to disappear, but the fire is still there. Instead of burning pain, the only thing I feel is warmth and comfort. My burn flesh start to regenerate too. My body is so anxious; I feel like I'm about to collapse but -
"Arrgggggghhhh! My eyes!" I thought it's over now, but why are my eyes burning, and my head feels like it's going to explode? The blood inside my body feels like it's boiling. What's happening to me? I already know the flame, but this... this is the worst pain I ever felt. After an unknown amount of time, finally, the pain has gone, maybe because of the traumatic pain. I ready myself because I won't let my guard down again. I expect other pain, but nothing happens. Maybe because of my exhausted body, my body collapses on the floor, and my eyelids start to get heavy, and my vision starts to darken. But before my vision becomes completely darkened.
Ding!
My system notification appears in front of my eyes after that I lost consciousness.
