My Family in the Novel?

Chapter 157: First Act 27: Into the Climax 10

Sparks danced and scattered in the air, a mesmerizing display accompanying the bonfire's lively flames as they consumed the charcoaled wood.

The small clearing was enveloped in the warmth of the fire, surrounded by the eerie silence of the dark forest, where fried dead woods and branches lay scattered.

In this obscure haven, four people lay, seeking rest after a somewhat weary and challenging travel.

As the flames flickered, casting shadows over the makeshift camp, the group had succumbed to their well-deserved rest.

Aria stirred from her slumber.

Rubbed her Crimson eyes free of sleep, she yawned and stretched, casting a tired glance around.

Her companions lay sprawled across the uneven ground, their forms silhouetted by the dancing firelight.

The realization dawned upon Aria that the entire group had succumbed to sleep after securing this seemingly safe area amidst the twisted branches and gnarled trees.

The safety of this spot was deceptive, surrounded by the remains of the forest's decay.

"This place was cozier than I expected"

'Even this BITCH is surprisingly comfortable' thought Aria as she glanced at the sleeping Elena beside her. Although she didn't want to admit it, sleeping next to Elena really helped with her insomnia.

As Aria herself realized that she couldn't sleep without hugging someone anymore.

'This is all Louise's fault!'

Gazing upward, Aria's eyes widened in recognition of the profound darkness that enveloped the surroundings. The lumine crystals, their usual source of illumination, were absent here on the sixth floor of the dungeon. It was a stark revelation that left the group in an abyss of obscurity. However, thanks to Alex's fiery aura and Aria's magical prowess, they had fashioned a makeshift human torch that allowed them to navigate through the oppressive darkness.

The oppressive quiet of the dungeon puzzled them.

'But just why are there no monsters here?'

In a realm where monsters were expected to lurk around every corner, the unsettling absence prevailed. Even after traversing this desolate floor, not a single creature had crossed their path.

Aside from their footsteps and occasional conversation, they hadn't heard a single sound. The land was dry, full of cracks, and all the plant life they found was either dead or in a dying state. It wasn't long before they encountered this safety area here. Although they had to use points to pay for it, as they had more than enough, they didn't mind.

Aria looked at her party members' sleeping figures, and seeing how peacefully they slept, Aria made a clumsy smile. She hadn't imagined witnessing a scene where they could just casually sleep in the dungeon like this. It was all thanks to the snoring Alex who jumped into action whenever they asked. He was a really reliable vanguard, even though Aria hated to admit that.

Elena was also one of their party's key members, as they became practically invincible with her healing and buffing abilities. Aria had already experienced and seen the level of healing the priests and paladins from the church could do, but it paled in comparison to Elena, who could casually clasp her hands together, healing everyone in the process. Even Princess Christine received her attention.

In the flickering firelight, Aria's thoughts drifted to Princess Christine, who lay peacefully asleep beside the others. Aria couldn't shake the lingering question: Why had the princess insisted on joining their party and visiting the dungeon? She had inquired about it several times during their journey, but the princess always deferred her explanation, promising to reveal the reason once they arrived at their destination.

As Aria observed the slumbering princess, a mix of gratitude and reluctance filled her. The princess had become an integral part of their group, but the weight of responsibility weighed heavily on Aria's mind. Any mishap that befell the princess wouldn't just affect her but also resonate through the lives of everyone in their party and their respective families.

'Why did she even want to join our party in the first place?' Aria questioned silently; her brow furrowed in contemplation. Though the princess had approached her with apparent kindness, the tone of the request felt more like an order than a mere inquiry.

Aria pondered whether there was a hidden agenda behind the princess's decision to venture into the dungeon with them. 'Did elder sister Lilliana perhaps?' Aria thought however she quickly rid of such thoughts as she knew even her sister can't make her highness like this.

Aria found herself growing accustomed to the eerie and frightening aspects of the dungeon environment. Her past experiences, particularly the haunting memories of a terrifying entity that often visited her nightmares, had given her a threshold for fear. Adrian's assistance during those distressing times played a crucial role in preserving her sanity.

While Aria was aware that Adrian might have a connection to the monstrous figure in her dreams, the certainty of his unwavering reassurance brought her a sense of comfort.

'Compared to whatever that monster was, this place and the number of monsters we've encountered feel cute in comparison'

Aria mused to herself. The dungeon's ominous atmosphere, combined with the lurking creatures, paled in comparison to the psychological horror she had faced before. Aria's ability to confront these fears head-on reflected her resilience and the strength she had gained through her past ordeals.

Aria delicately opened her hands, and with a flash of translucent blue light, a staff materialized in her grasp. The mere sight of the staff exuded majesty and power; its presence alone resonated with an undeniable aura.

Adrian had given her specific instructions: to use the staff only in unforeseen circumstances. Aria cherished this gift, but the sheer strength and magnificence of the staff made her hesitant to employ it. With her heightened sensitivity to mana, she could sense the high-grade magics intricately engraved into the staff, ranging from formidable defensive spells to potent offensive enchantments.

'Just where did Adrian get this thing?' Aria pondered, the mysterious origins of the staff lingering in her thoughts.

"Why do you have that…?"

"…."

A sudden voice disrupted Aria's contemplation, causing her to swiftly redirect her attention. Her crimson red eyes met the intense gaze of Princess Christine, who was slowly rising from her slumber. The princess's eyes fixated on the staff in Aria's hands, a mixture of curiosity and calculation evident in her green eyes.

"Princess….?"

"Tell me, Lady Aria Tellus, why do you have our academy's most prized treasure?"

The weight of the princess's words hung in the air.

Aria's mind raced as she considered the implications. There was only one treasure that could hold such significance in the academy: the ancient relic left behind by the school's founder, the Archmage Estelle – the revered and sought-after "Staff of Estelle."

As Aria gazed down at the staff in her trembling hands, the realization of its true identity sent a shiver down her spine.

…..

Huff…!

Huff-huff…!

Liam ran like a madman, desperately attempting to escape the relentless pursuit of the monster. He didn't spare a moment to glance back or check whether his girls were following; he cared not about the ragged breaths escaping him or the pain coursing through his body. One singular focus was etched into his mind—survival. 'I MUST SURVIVE!'

"….lia—" A voice attempted to call out to him, but the words passed through his ears like a distant echo.

"…..Liam!" Jolted by the sudden scream, Liam looked behind to see Katia staggering, struggling to catch her breath.

"L-let's stop… let's take some rest first, and we should heal your wounds. Crystal and Jasmine are—"

Liam didn't allow Katia to finish her words; he swiftly grabbed her hands and attempted to run again. "Are you crazy, Katia? That monster is still after us; we should—"

Stumble…!

Liam fell to his knees as the stress overwhelmed him. His trembling legs betrayed him, succumbing to exhaustion. His stamina, depleted from the initial burst of aura-fueled speed, had pushed him past his limits.

Coughing up blood, Liam felt the encroaching darkness of unconsciousness.

"Liam--!"

Katia's surprise scream echoed in his fading awareness.

"Oh no, Liam!" Katia panicked.

"T-that's right, potions, healing potions. Jasmine, heal—"

Katia attempted to instruct Jasmine to retrieve healing potions from their bag, but Jasmine was nowhere to be found.

'T-that's right, we left them behind.' Dread engulfed the face of the beautiful Katia.

Unlike Liam, who ran straight ahead upon facing the monster, Katia managed to look back and saw the figures of Crystal and Jasmine frozen in place.

'They're probably—' Katia thought of the worst, and streams of water droplets escaped from her eyes.

Katia laughed, but it was more akin to a person crying, the fear and sadness in her cries echoed in the dungeon.

…. Tuck!

…...Tuck!"

Hearing loud footsteps behind her, Katia shivered with each step, the echoes getting closer and closer. Her body convulsed with every footstep, and the fear threatening to overwhelm her made her feel nauseous.

"I thought I heard a monster wailing, but it was just your pathetic cries, huh. Am I still not sober? Tsk..."

Katia was surprised by the annoyed yet somewhat warm voice. Looking back, she saw the figure of a woman with fiery red hair and eyes, rubbing the back of her head.

"Senior Evadne…?" Katia mumbled.

"Yeah?" Evadne tilted her head while looking at Katia.

Getting up quickly with trembling feet, Katia managed to stand, only to collapse against Evadne's chest. "P-please help us…!"

The glimmer of hope that Katia needed was now right in front of her. No matter what happens, as long as Evadne was with them, she was sure they would be safe.

…..

"Agh, help!"

"Robert!"

"S-save me!"

A chorus of screams echoed in the air as a minotaur with purple fur dashed forward, ramming right through three people with its right horn.

Due to its massive size, it easily kebabbed the three victims, and although they were alive, the pain they were feeling right now was beyond anything they had ever experienced.

"Please, I don't want to die!!!"

Suddenly, a straight flash of bluish-white light materialized before quickly dimming down in half a second.

The three victims all fell at the same time from the 10-meter height of the minotaur, along with its huge monstrous head.

They crashed on the ground before the minotaur disappeared in a puff of dark smoke, leaving behind a medium-sized magic stone. The minotaur was defeated.

"Quickly heal them!" one of their party members shouted as they all gathered around the three fallen comrades.

"What was that light just now?"

"Did someone save us?"

"Who did that?"

Tristan smiled in satisfaction as he cut off the minotaur's head in the distance. '

I still got it,' he thought, as even though he didn't want to admit it, he had doubted himself after the fight with the giant serpent. But seeing how his blade could still cut well, his confidence returned.

Walking away from the scene, Tristan expanded his senses, trying to find the strongest active mana signature around.

It would be highly likely that Evadne would be there.

With light steps, Tristan leaped through the various stones in the area, determined to locate Evadne.

The echoes of gratitude from the random students he saved faded as he ventured deeper into the dungeon.