Siegfried Fors
The news during dinner yesterday came as a surprise. I never expected them to consider taking me into a Time Dungeon. The most unexpected part was Granny agreeing. Grandpa and Uncle looked unconvinced at first, but Mother managed to change their minds.
Personally, I agreed without much hesitation. Normally, I would think longer about something like this. But after learning Mother was at the level of the 'Throne', how could I doubt her? If she believes I will be alright, then I will be.
Now morning has come. Preparations are almost done. There is only one thing left.
Someone I needed to speak with.
There he is. Walking down the hall, talking to Baloo and Faux.
"James," I called out.
He flinched like my voice stung, turning toward me with stiff shoulders.
"S-sieg..." His voice carried nerves and distance.
Is he still upset because I raised my voice that day?
"I did not see you at all yesterday."
"I-i was not feeling well..." His eyes stayed glued to the floor.
Seeing him like that... maybe I was too harsh.
"Granny told me about that. I had my evaluation ritual yesterday."
"C-congratulations. I heard from Grandmother that you have amazing Arcanas. You are always incredible..." His hand tightened into a small fist beside his pants.
The compliment felt heavy instead of warm.
"... I am leaving for the Time Dungeon." I glanced at Faux. "You are coming with me." With a light swirl and a 'Fuuuaaa,' Faux landed on my head.
"And I am leaving Baloo with you."
The little bear cub met my gaze before releasing a low, understanding growl. James nodded.
"O-okay. G-good luck." His voice trembled, his eyes refusing to rise and meet mine.
I turned, steps quiet against the floor. A single thought echoing louder with every step. Should I apologize?
My steps slowed.
Without turning around, I spoke quietly. "James, I may have said hurtful things... but you are part of our family. If there is something you want to say to me, say it. I will listen."
I continued walking.
"S-sieg."
I looked back over my shoulder.
This time, his eyes finally met mine.
"C-come back safe."
Something softened inside me, and a small smile formed before I could stop it.
"I will."
Above my head, Faux was grinning. I could feel his thought, clear in my mind: "You are such a shy boy."
"Whatever."
I made my way outside the front door. Cool morning air slipped through the doorway as I stepped outside. Waiting near the steps stood Ashar, Blake and Aifa. All three were dressed in unfamiliar gear. Not armor of knights, but it reminded me of the adventurers I saw from time to time.
"Good morning, young lord." Ashar waved casually.
Blake bowed with the usual polished formality.
Then Aifa moved before anyone else and wrapped her arms around me without hesitation.
"Young lord, you look adorable in that. Like a tiny warrior~"
Heat crept across my face.
She really has no hesitation. Well, I don't mind, I always welcome hugs from beautiful women.
"Thanks. Mother picked it."
Aifa's eyes lighted up. "Of course she did. Lady Valka has flawless taste. She is great as always"
Eh? What?
Before I could ask what that meant, a familiar voice cut through the air.
"Aifa."
She flinched like someone had yanked her soul out of her body. Tavian approached, expression cool as always, but his eyes flicked over Aifa with a warning she clearly understood.
"What exactly are you doing?"
Aifa stiffened and quickly let go of me. "...I am Sorry."
Tavian sighed, then turned to me with a clean respectful bow.
"Apologies. I wasn't here to congratulate the young lord yesterday."
"It's fine," I replied. "I heard you were preparing for today."
He nodded. His posture remained straight, but his voice was softer than usual.
"Yes. There was much to finalize. Lady Valka also left early this morning to verify the dungeon's condition."
"Condition?" My brows furrowed. "Did something happen?"
Tavian folded his arms behind his back as if making sure his words were precise.
"After the previous incident ten days ago, Lady Valka asked the Adventurers Guild to seal the entrance. Making sure no one is allowed to enter."
"She can just… do that?"
"Normally it would be overstepping. But Time Dungeons are unpredictable. When something that unstable appears, the ruling family has the authority to restrict access and decide who may challenge it."
I guess it makes sense. Seeing a demon king's servant walked out of it a few days ago, who knows what else might pop up.
The door behind me shifted and light footsteps followed. I turned just enough to see Granny and Uncle step outside.
Granny's gaze warmed when it landed on me.
"All ready?"
I nodded.
Looks like Grandpa has already left. He said he and Silas had some work on the farm and would leave early.
Uncle squinted, looking me over like someone examining a suspicious individual.
"Alright hold on. What is with the outfit?" His voice edged between confusion and disbelief.
"Valka prepared it for him." Granny supplied before I could speak.
Uncle let out a long sigh and rubbed his forehead.
"So she was planning this. If she already had clothes waiting... then she decided the moment she heard of the dungeon."
He wasn't wrong. I thought the same when I first put them on.
The vest hugged my frame, dark navy with gold lines tracing patterns I couldn't name. It felt formal, but not stiff. A pair of belts crossed my torso, securing two small brown magic satchels at my waist. The right one contained books/grimoires, and the left one contained the wand Mother gave me and alchemy vials. The red gem set into its clasp pulsed faintly, as if waiting to be used.
My left arm remained bare, wrapped only in thin fabric straps for grip, while my right arm was protected. Gloves layered under delicate plated armor shaped to curve with the wrist and fingers. It didn't feel heavy. It felt precise.
My pants were fitted but flexible, black with straps and pockets at my thighs. My boots rose high, trimmed in gold, wrapping securely around my calves. On the tongue of each one, a crest with tree was engraved.
Before I could admire or second-guess anything further, a familiar voice drifted from above.
"Oh? Looks like everyone is here."
I lifted my eyes just in time for a heavy thud beside me. Fatty landed on the ground with a wobbling shake of feathers. Faux hopped off my head and onto the bird's, both of them greeting each other.
Mother slid off Fatty's back, landing lightly before straightening.
"Is everyone ready?" Her gaze swept over the group before settling on me.
I was planning to say, 'I am,' but I saw Tavian move forward. Before he could speak, Aifa burst forward first.
"I am ready, Lady Valka! I will slay every enemy and lay down my life for you!" She declared in a single breath loud enough to scare birds from trees three fields away.
Mother nodded, pleased. "Good. Good."
Behind her, Tavian's brow twitched, jaw tightening in silent pain. Ashar looked like he might explode from holding back laughter. Blake stared forward as if nothing happened and this level of chaos was normal.
Granny stepped closer.
"How did it go?"
Mother's expression shifted. Not dramatic, not panicked. Just a subtle downturn of her lips.
"There's a problem..." Mother said, shaking her head. "The Guild lost contact with the adventurers they sent to guard the dungeon."
Ah, here comes the trouble.
Uncle crossed his arms.
"They didn't go inside… did they?"
"Highly possible," Tavian muttered, stepping forward. "Adventurers are notorious for ignoring orders if treasure is involved."
"That cannot be. Those adventurers are affiliated with the Guild, and I have talked to them. I don't think they went in," Mother argued, shooting down the possibility.
"So now what?" Granny asked the question on everyone's mind.
Mother lifted her head, eyes narrowing slightly as if staring at something far beyond clouds and sky. "One way to find out."
Half an hour later, Aifa and I cut across the sky atop Fatty's back. The wind rushed past, and Faux sat perched proudly on Fatty's head, seemingly enjoying the rush of the wind. Below us, the river shimmered from the rays of the sun.
According to the reports, the dungeon lay behind a waterfall northwest of the barony. We were ahead to scout, while the others followed at a slower pace.
"There. The waterfall." Aifa pointed.
"Fatty." I called.
A loud, enthusiastic 'Queeh' answered, and in an instant we were dropping. The wind burst, and the ground rushed up to meet us with Fatty's usual chaotic grace. Dirt and dust exploded around us.
A cough escaped before the air settled around us.
"This is..." Aifa's voice cracked.
My eyes followed hers.
Beside the churning white water of the waterfall, five bodies—adventurers by the look of their gear—lay collapsed in a sprawled formation. Still and unmoving. But they were not dead. They were alive; I could hear their slow, faint breathing.
Aifa and I slid off Fatty's back and hurried toward them. She knelt, fingers finding a pulse with practiced calm.
"They're unconscious." Her expression hardened, scanning the area. "There's no mana trace, no signs of a battle, or..." She sniffed the air, then moved closer to the mouth of one of the fallen females. "No signs of drugs either."
She stood slowly, confusion tightening her features.
"They aren't injured. Not even bruised. It's as if they just fell asleep mid-step." She whispered the words.
I moved closer to her side.
"What do we do?"
"We call Lady Valka."
She slid her bow from her shoulder, drew from the quiver, and nocked a single arrow. Her voice shifted into command, steady and clear.
"O arrow, spread into light."
Her fingers released.
The arrow shot upward, then burst into radiant fragments, scattering across the sky like falling stars. The light clung to the air illuminating the sky.
We waited for the others, trying without success to rouse the unconscious adventurers. After some time, the rest of the group jumped down from above the waterfall.
"Aifa, what happened?" Tavian's voice tightened when he saw the five bodies lying still on the ground.
Aifa gave a quick but clear explanation, her words clipped by worry.
"...and while we waited, we tried waking them, but they're out like stone."
I noticed Granny pulling some vials from her pouch. "I already poured anti-sleep potion in their mouth, but nothing worked," I informed her.
"Oh." Granny quietly put the vials back, her eyes narrowing at the still faces.
"Just what happened to them?" Tavian knelt beside one of the adventurers, his hand hovering over the chest to check breathing. "There's no trace of magic. No marks. Nothing at all."
"Hmm? You people can't feel the mana traces?" Mother, who had been staring at the waterfall until now, finally spoke, drawing everyone's attention.
"You can feel mana traces?" Granny asked, sounding surprised.
"Yes. They were knocked out by magic. I can feel the remnants of the spell." Mother said it casually, as if she were commenting on the weather.
Wait. If Mother can feel it and we can't, does it mean...
Granny seemed to reach the same conclusion. "If you can feel…"
Mother smirked and moved closer to the waterfall. "They even put a magic barrier around the dungeon's entrance..." She lifted her fist toward the rushing water. "Looks like it's someone strong." She jerked her arm, and with unbelievable force, the entire waterfall split apart in an instant.
For a heartbeat, even the air felt stunned.
WOW. So that's 'Throne' level strength.
I looked at the cave that appeared from behind the waterfall. It resembled a monster's maw, waiting to gulp us down.
"Then we should send Sieg back." Granny turned to me, her gaze heavy with concern.
What? Absolutely not.
"No," Mother cut in before I could speak. "There's no turning back. He needs to learn this. Once you take on a job, there is no turning back for true adventurers."
Adventurer? That isn't anywhere on my current life plan. I'm aiming to be a strong mage, maybe a master alchemist if the stars are kind...
"So, follow me..." Her axe appeared in her hands as she raised it high. "And become the heroes who will have their names written in history for clearing a Time Dungeon." She brought the axe down, and a line appeared in the air.
A violent crack split the air as the invisible barrier tore apart. Fragments of magic scattered like shattered glass, flung in every direction.
So this is a... dungeon.
Despite the overwhelming presence of the dungeon and the chilling sight of the collapsed adventurers, I could feel the hair at the back of my neck standing up with a sudden, sharp excitement.
"Let's go. Fatty take care of those five until we return." Mother declared, stepping into the cave without hesitation.
Fatty saluted with a 'Queeh' as everyone else moved after her. I felt Aifa's hand settle gently on my shoulder.
"Young lord."
A small push, steady and warm. We followed the others inside.
The interior was tight; the cave walls pressed close, rough stone forming a narrow passage. Mother led. Uncle, Tavian, Blake, Ashar, and Granny followed in a single line. Aifa and I brought up the rear.
As we moved, I looked around, waiting to come across the mana crystals that usually sprouted inside a dungeon.
"Is something wrong, young lord?" Aifa whispered behind me.
"No. I was hoping to see mana crystals."
"We should see some soon," she replied. "They normally appear in the deeper parts of the dungeon."
We walked for another ten or so more minutes, but nothing changed. The tunnel stretched endlessly. It began to grow darker, so Ashar flicked his fingers and conjured small fireballs, sending them floating overhead like tiny lanterns.
"Stop," Mother ordered, and everyone came to a halt.
"Sis, what's this?" Uncle's confused voice came from the front.
I shifted sideways and peeked between Tavian and Blake.
The path ahead was black: complete, unnatural black, like a void. Not shadow, not dimness. Just… nothing. As if the world simply ended past that point.
"Ashar." Mother gestured.
His fireballs drifted forward and were swallowed whole. No light returned.
Mother stepped forward and tapped her foot gently into the darkness. From the looks of it, her boot met something solid. She withdrew her leg and turned to us.
"Everyone, this is most likely where the time distortion begins. Move carefully. There is footing, so follow me exactly."
A quiet ripple of unease passed through the group. No one argued.
This is exhilarating and scary at the same time.
Uncle followed. Then Tavian, Blake, and Ashar, their figures swallowed one by one as if the void was quietly drinking them in.
Granny paused at the edge, staring down at the place where stone ended and nothing began. She drew in a steady breath, her shoulders rising, then stepped inside with slow, deliberate resolve.
I found myself standing alone before the blackened space. No sound came from inside. No light escaped it. It felt like standing at the lip of a world that had decided it didn't need a future.
Now that I am standing here, it feels quite spine-chilling.
"Want to hold hands?" Aifa asked softly beside me.
Hold hands? That came out of nowhere. Does she think I am scared? That's embarrassing. No... I need to play it cool.
"...Sure. So that you wouldn't feel scared." I looked away as heat crept into my cheeks. My hand hovered awkwardly before I offered it to her.
She laughed quietly and took it.
"Yes. Yes. Of course, it's for me."
Her teasing made my ears burn even more, but her hand strengthened something inside me.
Together, we stepped into the void.
As we stepped in, my vision wobbled, the world tilting and trembling as if reality itself had forgotten how to stand upright. The hair stood up on the back of my neck as an electrifying feeling ran across my skin.
As the wobbling stopped, the world turned black, and sounds rushed in.
"Ma, where are you?" Uncle's voice echoed, distant and warped.
"I am here!" Granny answered somewhere in the dark.
"Everyone hold hands!"
Their voices floated unnervingly, stripped of direction. I tried to force my mana into my eyes, willing something to appear, anything… but the darkness swallowed every effort.
"Sieg? Sieg, are you here?" Mother's voice seeped through the void.
"I am here."
"Sieg, come here." Granny called out.
I stepped toward the sound, keeping Aifa's hand tightly in mine. Her grip anchored me. Just follow the voice. Just get closer.
Suddenly, I felt nothing beneath my feet, and my body was in freefall.
Air rushed past my face. My stomach lurched. My fingers tightened around Aifa's as the two of us dropped.
"Young lord!" Aifa yanked me closer, but the pull only reminded me how fast we were falling.
"Ma!!" Uncle's voice cracked somewhere.
"Someone grab the young lord!" Ashar called out.
"I can't conjure any winds!" Tavian's voice carried panic I had never heard from him.
"Damn it!!!" Mother's roar tore through the void, followed by a violent surge of mana, sharp enough to sting my skin.
The sound of everyone calling, shouting, reaching for someone they couldn't see… all of it blended together, tangled and distant.
And then the darkness swallowed everything whole.