A familiar chime echoed in Nael's mind as he walked away from the hospital. A translucent blue window materialized in his vision, the text shifting and solidifying.
[ The skill [Invest] has been activated. ]
[ Target: Kael & Lia ]
[ Resource Invested: 50 Silver Crowns, 1 Basket of Sun-Apples, Actionable Advice ]
[ Investment Grade: Speculative* (High Risk, High Potential Return) ]
[ Return on Investment: Calculating...* (Determined by Targets' Survival and Growth) ]
"I see..." Nael read the message, a wry twist to his lips.
It seems like his class had recognized the impulsive act of charity as a formal 'Investment' once again. It had even been assigned a grade: Speculative. But that felt accurate. Because he had no idea if the boy, Kael, would even follow his instructions, or if it would be enough to save his sister, Lia. The return was entirely dependent on their will to live.
He dismissed the window with a thought. The fate of that investment was out of his hands now, just like the one he'd made in Mira.
He pushed the thought aside. Right now, he had his own survival to manage. His steps were no longer aimless. They carried a new, single-minded purpose, carrying him through the bustling streets toward the lyceum.
Twenty minutes later, he finally arrived at his destination.
"Hm..."
Nael pushed open the heavy doors, half expecting the grand hall to be as empty. Instead, he was met with a wave of noise and constant movement. The cavernous space was filled with young Awakened, their voices creating an eager hum.
It seemed the promise of the dungeon exam had drawn out almost every graduate in the city, not just the elite Awakened. There were also the Uncommon and Common classes, the ones with everything to prove and nothing to lose. And small parties had already been formed, the members chatting nervously or comparing the basic gear they'd just received.
He joined the end of a line snaking toward a registration desk, his eyes scanning the hall. Tanners and Weavers were pairing with Stonecarvers and Gardeners, trying to cobble together party synergy. That's right, he was not the only one starting from the bottom.
When his turn finally came, he stepped up to the table. A weary-looking instructor with a data-slate didn't even look up.
"Name, Class, and are you registering with a pre-formed party?"
"Nael, son of Korbin. Class: Investor. Solo."
The instructor's head snapped up, his eyes wide with surprise. "Investor? So you are that boy, huh? And you're… going in alone?" He leaned forward, his voice dropping to a more serious, concerned tone. "Son, I have to advise against that. The tutorial dungeon is safer than most, but it's not exactly a walk in the park. Monsters are real. They can and will try their best to kill you. Parties exist for a reason: to watch each other's backs. A solo delve, especially with a… non-combat class… is incredibly risky."
Nael met the man's gaze, his expression neutral. He appreciated the warning; it was more kindness than he'd expected. "I understand the risks, sir. I still wish to register."
The instructor studied him for a long moment, seeing the resolve in his eyes. He sighed, tapping on his data-slate. "Alright. It's your decision."
"Choose your weapon." He gestured to a rack behind him holding basic training weapons: simple swords, maces, a bow, and a few staves.
Nael's eyes moved past the obvious choices.
He didn't know how to use a sword properly. A bow was a good choice, but his aim wasn't that good. He was somewhat good with daggers, but he already had one. So, he needed one that would suit his strategy.
'Hm...'
His gaze landed on a simple, sturdy quarterstaff. It was versatile: it could be used for defense, for keeping enemies at a distance, for probing ahead, and so on.
Not to mention the fact that the Basic Weapon Combat course was taught using it. Although he wasn't exactly proficient, he knew how to use it well.
"The staff," he said.
The instructor nodded, handing it over along with a set of worn but serviceable leather armor and a temporary arconometer. "It will track your level progress, status, and has a basic mapping function. Try not to break it. Good luck."
"Thank you for the advice," Nael said, shouldering the gear.
The instructor gave him a final, grim nod. "Be careful in there."
Turning away from the desk, Nael found a quiet corner to strap on the leather armor atop his long-sleeve shirt. He moved and stretched around a bit, getting himself comfortable with it.
Then he hefted the quarterstaff, getting a feel for its balance, and made a few swings.
'Hmm, not bad.'
Nael slung the staff over his shoulder and made his way out of the noisy Lyceum hall.
Outside, a line of simple, open-topped wagons waited, each hitched to a patient, sturdy-looking beast of burden. They were clearly meant for mass transport, not comfort.
The one at the front was already packed with students, their chatter excited and nervous. Wanting to depart as soon as possible, Nael didn't hesitate; he headed for the most crowded wagon and found a small space on a wooden bench near the back, placing the quarterstaff across his knees.
A few students already seated glanced his way, having to shuffle to make room. He heard the whispers start almost immediately.
"...Isn't that the guy from yesterday? The one with the weird class?"
"Investor, right? What does that even do?"
"He's going alone? Is he crazy?"
"He chose a staff? Can he even kill monsters with it?"
"..."
Nael ignored them all.
He kept his gaze fixed on the passing cityscape, watching the marble buildings of the central district give way to simpler stone structures. The whispers eventually died down, swallowed by the general anxiety and excitement of the impending exam.
Soon, with the wagon now full, the driver clicked his tongue and the beast lurched into motion, joining the convoy heading toward the city's outskirts. The ride was bumpy and quiet, the usual tension before a life-changing event settling over the group.
After about thirty minutes, the convoy rolled to a stop. The air itself felt different here, colder, charged with a faint, metallic tang.
'We have arrived.' Nael jumped out of the wagon, landing on the ground skillfully. Then he turned in the dungeon's direction.
'Whoa...'
Before them lay a massive, cleared field that served as a staging area, and beyond it, carved into the base of a sheer mountain cliff, was the entrance to the [Howling Caves of Aethelgard].
A low, almost subsonic hum seemed to emanate from within, living up to the dungeon's name. The air around the entrance shimmered slightly, distorting the view of the dark passage within.
"..."
A wave of silence fell over the graduates as they disembarked, all of them staring at the imposing structure.
Nael tightened his grip on his quarterstaff, his heart hammering with anticipation mixed with adrenaline.
'This is it, the ch-!'
SWOOSH-!
Nael's thoughts were cut off as a sudden, powerful gale whipped across the staging area, kicking up dust and sending cloaks and hair flying. The unnatural wind came from behind them.
Everyone turned as one, a wave of murmurs and shouts rising from the crowd at the commotion. Their eyes widened as they saw the source.
Two massive, sleek-winged griffons descended from the sky, their powerful wings beating the air into a frenzy as they landed gracefully near the dungeon entrance, well away from the common wagons. Their feathers were groomed to a shine, and their tack was adorned with silver and blue, the colors of the top academies.
Figures began dismounting one after another
Nael's eyes widened, his grip on the quarterstaff tightening. He instantly recognized them.
From the first griffon descended Brennon, his Sun Knight armor gleaming even in the overcast light. He was followed by a muscular boy with his shield slung over his back, and a boy wearing black clothes and a mask.
And from the second griffon...
'...Mira.'