A/N: ^^Elnora's Rea^^

  Elnora colpsed to her knees on the sixtieth floor, a siear trailing down her cheek. Her body trembled as the entire dungeon shook violently, mana thick as a storm cloud flooded the chamber.

  A—she felt lighter.

  “R…Ryn” she whispered, struggling to steady herself, ging to the memory of his warm smile.

  “I—I have to get up. e on, Elnora.” She muttered to herself, willing her body to move.

  Then, her gaze nded on Alex.

  His body hanged limply over a jagged hole in the wall. His bone pierced the skin, his arm twisted the wrong way, his face a mask of blood and agony.

  Elnora’s stomach twisted.

  Then—

  “Agh.. that hurt.”

  Elnora froze.

  Alex’s voice was weak, but unmistakable.

  Her breath caught ihroat, as he shifted.

  “Hey! No—don’t move!” she yelled, panic surging through her as she sprioward him, weaving over debris and corpses that littered the floor.

  As she reached him, something ged.

  A surge of pink maed from Alex’s body, crawling like veins along his broken limbs. His shattered bones snapped bato pce, flesh knitting together in a grotesque dispy eion.

  Elnora staggered back, eyes wide.

  “W…what…”

  Alex, now standing, flexed his arm, watg as the pink magic pulsed through his skin.

  “Huh.” He frowilting his head. “How strange…someoh low mana capacity shouldn’t be able to move in this atmosphere.”

  He tapped his in thought, then suddenly leaned close to Elnora, iing her.

  Elnora stepped back.

  “Uh… n-not so close, please.”

  “Oh! Yeah, sorry.” He shrugged, then smirked.

  “Well, I suppose the cat’s out of the bag now.” He let out a dramatic sigh. “I ’t believe Ryn exposed himself like that in front of Lilli and the Princess.”

  Elnora’s stomach ed.

  “A-are you sure you’re okay, Alex?”

  “Yeah, don’t worry about me.”

  Elnora then noticed a Sakura-shaped sigil that bloomed on Alex’s right shoulder, the petals shimmering, pulsating the same energy as his body. He tio mend himself in a grotesque way.

  “Ha! Seems like Ryn has finally awake,” Alex mused, humming to himself, arms folded behind his back.

  “Awakened what exactly?” Elnora asked, her voice above a whisper.

  “His true sigil,” Alex’s eyes flickered in amusement. “I suppose I’ll tell you. It only be awakened by those with strong magical power. All heroes and gods have them. Of course, whether they are true or false sigils is always up to debate.”

  “S…sigils…” Elnora stammered, hands g into her fist.

  Her mind fshed back—a memory blurry.

  “Do… you mean this?”

  Hesitantly, she lifted her skirt just enough to reveal a glowing sigil etched ihigh—a adorned with emeralds.

  Alex’s face turned red.

  “HEY!” He jerked back, filing. “Y-yep, that’s one, alright!”

  Elnora’s brow furrowed.

  “How.. how long have I had this?” she murmured

  Alex’s grin sharpened.

  “Perhaps, since Ry you out of that orb.”

  She frowoug the sigil absentmindedly.

  “I… think I’ve always had it.

  Alex chuckled. That guy was right. You’re intriguing, Elnora. A spells, unnatural mana levels, and now a sigil.” His eyes gleamed.

  Their brief moment of levity faded as the ground trembled again.

  Their thoughts quickly so Ryn.

  “We should probably do something useful while Ryn is fighting for his life down there,” Alex said his tone serious.

  “I’ll heal Lilli a her to a checkpoint. you hahe princess?”

  Elnora swallowed hard, gng around the duhe corpses of students and professors scattered throughout.

  “Y-yeah I .”

  She turoward the heart of the room, stepping over the bodies as she made her way to Princess a.

  “H..hey there, Princess,” Elnora called out gently. “I’m going to heal you now, okay? If you hear me.”

  “Y-Yes… thank you,” a replied weakly.

  “Heilen,” Elnora said aloud, eling her green magic. A soft glow surrounded her hands as she began to heal a. She repeated the spell multiple times, yering the effect.

  a’s eyes widened slightly. “H-how... are you stag that spell…? She whispered, barely audible. “T-that shouldn’t be possible..”

  “Oh.” It isn’t?” Elnora tilted her head. “I just figured I’d try it, and well it works.” She fshed a smile. “Sorry if I say something out of my station, Princess. I’ve never been around royalty before.”

  “You’re fine,” a assured her, her voice frail. “Again…. thank you.” She winced. “I…. don’t think I get up.”

  “I’ll help you,” Elnora said. “Stay close to me and you will be ued.”

  With effort, she carefully lifted a up, the princess leaning into her for support. a’s arms ed weakly around her.

  “Let’s get out of her.” Elnora said firmly.

  a nodded. “L-Lets.”

  “Hey, Alex!” Elnora called out. “How’s Lilli holding up?”

  “S-she’s fine—just pissed about Ryn!” Alex said with a chuckle.

  “You ready?!” he shouted.

  “Yeah! We’re going to start moving!” Elnora answered.

  With a arms ed around her shoulders, she took a step forward. Alex steadied Lilli, and together, the four of them made their way down the ruined hall, searg for a.

  As they made their way to each floor, they found each checkpoint demolished—ruins of resting points for students. a then gasped as she walked passed the lifeless bodies of her subjects, their limbs torn and scattered around the dungeon.

  Yet, there was no time to grieve.

  Elnora whispered a spell under her breath. “Rebe.”

  Thick vied from behind them as they walked, weaving into an impassable barrier. The enraged mohat prowled smmed against them, snarling and screeg, only to be ensnared by the magic.

  They pressed on, floor after floor, until at st they reached the tweh floor.

  And there—standing amidst the age—rofessor Redwood.

  His e rested firmly in his grip, his stanwavering. Behind him stood a group of surviving students, their expression mixed with fear, and exhaustion. Dark tendrils spiraled from the ground around him, his shadow twisting and shifting like a living abomination. Hundreds, of sin enraged monsters id at his feet. Their bodies slowly dissolving into magi stones.

  “You—you kids are still alive?!” he shouted, his voice ced with disbelief. His sharp eyes id on a. “Princess! I’m gd to see you alive.”

  “Hurry, e set the Princess and Lady Kirkwood here.” Redwood yelled.

  “You’re all barely injured…” His grip on his e tightened as he g the dungeon behind them.

  Alex and Elnora carefully set down the Lilli and the Princess, allowing them to rest.

  “I heal the wounded!” Elnora called out torofessor Redwood, already eling mana into her hands.

  “T-that should be fine…” he replied. “But we o—”

  He turo Alex. “Go alert the other professors Al—”

  Silence

  Alex was gone.

  Only thing that loomed was the darkness of the dungeon.

  I hope everyone ehis chapter! Thank you, for reading! - Stay Tuned for more!