The evening sky above Aetherial Institute glowed with shades of gold and crimson.
The setting sun painted the ancient city surrounding the academy in warm colors.
Shadows stretched across stone streets.
The sounds of merchants closing their shops mixed with the distant laughter of students enjoying their free time.
At the center of the academy district stood the City Square.
An enormous circular plaza paved with white stone.
At its center stood a magnificent fountain.
Crystal-clear water rose from sculpted sea dragons before cascading into glowing pools illuminated by magical crystals.
Many students gathered nearby.
Some chatted.
Some relaxed after classes.
Others prepared for nighttime adventures.
And among them—
Five figures slowly gathered.
Kel arrived first.
As always.
The silver-haired young man stood beside the fountain.
His black academy uniform fluttered gently beneath the evening breeze.
One hand rested casually upon the hilt of his sword.
His expression remained calm.
Observant.
Patient.
Far beneath Scarder Lake—
Seiren's voice echoed.
"You've gathered quite an interesting group."
Kel silently agreed.
One by one—
The others arrived.
The first was Karos.
The black-haired noble waved from afar.
His casual grin immediately stood out.
A large backpack hung over one shoulder.
Several weapons protruded from it.
Most adventurers carefully organized equipment.
Karos apparently believed in bringing everything.
"Aedon."
Kel nodded.
"Karos."
The young noble stretched lazily.
"I still think this is a terrible idea."
A pause.
Then he grinned.
"Which is exactly why I came."
Kel expected nothing less.
Next came Luna.
The black-haired girl walked through the square carrying several books beneath her arm.
A staff rested against her shoulder.
Unlike everyone else—
She looked prepared for an academic conference rather than dungeon exploration.
The moment she noticed the group—
She sighed.
The sigh of someone accepting fate.
"Good."
Karos laughed.
"You already sound exhausted."
Luna pointed at him.
"I haven't even entered the dungeon yet and I already regret everything."
The noble immediately liked that answer.
Then—
An explosion echoed somewhere in the distance.
BOOM.
Everyone turned.
A cloud of black smoke rose above one section of the city.
Kel sighed.
Karos sighed.
Luna sighed.
Almost simultaneously.
A few moments later—
Lucien appeared.
Covered in soot.
His silver hair looked slightly burned.
One sleeve was missing.
His eyebrows appeared suspiciously shortened.
The young noble smiled proudly.
"I solved the instability problem."
Karos stared.
"Lucien."
"Yes?"
"You are smoking."
Lucien looked down.
"Oh."
A pause.
Then—
"That's probably not ideal."
Luna covered her face.
Kel suddenly understood why Karos claimed Lucien exploded regularly.
Then—
The final member arrived.
Valeryn.
The crimson-haired swordswoman crossed the square with confident steps.
The shape-shifting weapon rested across her back.
The evening sunlight reflected beautifully through her crimson hair.
Several nearby students immediately became distracted.
Some stared.
Others quickly pretended not to stare.
Valeryn ignored everyone.
Naturally.
Her crimson eyes swept across the gathered group.
Then settled upon Kel.
For a brief moment—
The corners of her lips moved upward slightly.
Only slightly.
Then she returned to normal.
Karos noticed.
Lucien noticed.
Luna noticed.
Kel did not.
Far beneath Scarder Lake—
Seiren laughed.
"He's hopeless."
The party was complete.
Five students.
Five future legends.
Five individuals whose names would one day shake kingdoms.
And currently—
A collection of academy students heading toward a haunted dungeon.
The irony wasn't lost on Kel.
Eventually—
The journey began.
The haunted dungeon stood several kilometers away from the academy.
Deep within a forest.
A forest avoided by most travelers.
The trees grew unnaturally tall.
Their twisted branches blocked much of the moonlight.
Ancient roots emerged from the earth like skeletal fingers.
The deeper one traveled—
The quieter the forest became.
No birds.
No insects.
No wildlife.
Only silence.
The unsettling kind.
The kind that made ordinary people instinctively turn back.
Eventually—
The dungeon appeared.
A massive stone entrance built into a cliffside.
Ancient ruins surrounded the entrance.
Broken pillars stood like forgotten guardians.
Faded runes covered the weathered stone.
Darkness spilled from the entrance like living mist.
The sight alone felt ominous.
Luna immediately stopped walking.
The black-haired girl stared.
Then stared harder.
Then pointed.
"Aedon."
Kel looked at her.
"Yes?"
Luna pointed again.
"That."
"The dungeon?"
"Yes."
Her expression became flat.
"It looks exactly like the kind of place where people die."
Karos nodded.
"She has a point."
Lucien nodded.
"An excellent point."
Valeryn simply stared at the entrance.
The crimson-haired noblewoman's hand naturally rested upon her weapon.
Instinct.
Experience.
Wariness.
Meanwhile—
Kel smiled.
Unfortunately.
Luna immediately noticed.
"Aedon."
"What?"
"You smiled again."
The girl narrowed her eyes.
"That smile never leads anywhere good."
The party eventually entered.
The moment they crossed the entrance—
The atmosphere changed.
Instantly.
The temperature dropped.
Cold air brushed against their skin.
Darkness swallowed the corridor.
The faint scent of damp stone filled the air.
Water dripped somewhere in the distance.
The sound echoed strangely.
Like whispers.
Like breathing.
Like something watching.
Luna immediately moved closer toward the center of the group.
Not because she was afraid.
Because she was practical.
Completely practical.
Absolutely practical.
Far beneath Scarder Lake—
Seiren laughed.
"She's afraid."
Kel replied.
"Reasonably afraid."
"Fair."
The corridor stretched endlessly before them.
Ancient stone walls surrounded them.
Strange symbols covered portions of the structure.
Most had faded with time.
Others remained surprisingly intact.
The darkness felt oppressive.
Heavy.
Unnatural.
Then—
Kel looked toward Lucien.
"Lucien."
The young noble looked up.
"Yes?"
"Light."
Lucien grinned.
"Finally."
Mana gathered instantly.
Several glowing spheres appeared above the party.
Brilliant white light flooded the corridor.
Darkness retreated.
Ancient walls became visible.
The oppressive atmosphere lessened slightly.
Luna visibly relaxed.
Only slightly.
The group formation naturally settled.
Karos walked at the front.
A large sword rested upon his shoulder.
His relaxed expression disappeared.
Professional focus replaced it.
Beside him walked Lucien.
The young inventor constantly adjusted floating light spheres while occasionally scribbling notes.
At the center stood Luna.
The party's primary support mage and healer.
Protected from every direction.
Beside her walked Valeryn.
The crimson-haired noblewoman continuously observed the surroundings.
The shape-shifting weapon remained ready.
And at the rear—
Kel walked quietly.
One hand resting upon his sword.
Watching.
Observing.
Monitoring everything.
The role suited him perfectly.
Far beneath Scarder Lake—
Seiren spoke again.
"You're really not going to use your power?"
"No."
"Not even a little?"
"No."
The goddess sounded skeptical.
"Why?"
Kel looked toward the party.
"They need experience."
A pause.
"They need victories."
Another pause.
"They need confidence."
The answer made Seiren silent.
Because she understood.
The dungeon wasn't the goal.
The growth was.
Several minutes passed.
The party ventured deeper.
Then—
Movement.
Karos stopped instantly.
Everyone froze.
A low growl echoed through the corridor.
Another.
Then another.
Red eyes appeared within the darkness.
One pair.
Two pairs.
Five.
Ten.
More.
Luna gripped her staff.
Lucien immediately prepared spells.
Valeryn drew her weapon.
The atmosphere tightened.
Then—
The monsters emerged.
Shadow Hounds.
Creatures formed from darkness and corrupted mana.
Lean bodies.
Sharp claws.
Glowing crimson eyes.
Predators.
Dangerous predators.
Karos grinned.
Finally.
Something familiar.
"Contact."
The noble stepped forward.
The first hound lunged.
Its jaws opened.
Aimed directly toward his throat.
CLANG.
Karos intercepted instantly.
Steel met claws.
Sparks exploded.
Another hound attacked.
Valeryn moved.
Her transformed sword flashed.
The monster collapsed.
A third approached Luna.
Before it could reach her—
A firebolt exploded against its side.
Lucien.
The creature crashed into the wall.
Meanwhile—
Luna raised her staff.
Support magic spread across the party.
Strength enhancement.
Reaction enhancement.
Defensive reinforcement.
The team immediately felt lighter.
Faster.
Stronger.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Kel watched from behind.
Observing everything.
The strengths.
The weaknesses.
The habits.
The mistakes.
The future heroes fought.
And they fought well.
Not perfectly.
But well.
Far beneath Scarder Lake—
Seiren sighed.
"You look like a professor evaluating students."
Kel ignored her.
Another hound broke through.
Aimed directly toward Lucien.
Before anyone reacted—
Kel moved.
One step.
A single motion.
His sword flashed.
The creature crashed into the ground.
Defeated.
Then he stepped back.
As though nothing happened.
Lucien blinked.
"Thank you."
Kel nodded.
"No problem."
Then returned to observation.
The battle continued.
The monsters fell one after another.
Karos dominated the frontline.
Valeryn adapted brilliantly.
Lucien's destructive magic proved effective.
Luna's support maintained the party.
And Kel quietly ensured mistakes never became disasters.
The deeper they ventured—
The stronger the monsters became.
And the more experience the future heroes gained.
Exactly as intended.
Because tonight wasn't merely a dungeon raid.
It was preparation.
Preparation for the disasters approaching.
Preparation for the demons.
Preparation for destiny itself.
And as the party descended deeper into the haunted darkness—
Kel silently wondered whether this small expedition would be enough to change the future that awaited them all.