Joshua wakes up to find himself in a house ,made out of stone furniture details alien to him. There are picture frames of creatures resembling humans albeit of a shorter stature.
"Dwarves?, how come..."
Dungeons sometimes mirror real life locations and people of a bygone era this phenomenon remain unexplained for a dungeon could take alien shapes as well.
Joshua continues probing the house in search of more clues, he finds plenty of tools of dubious purpose in one room before wincing and putting it back to where it belonged. Later on his stroll takes him in what seems to be an office room with stone tablets lined up in shelves. As Joshua touches a tablet it glows to show holographic imagery though in dwarven runes letting go of the tablets disables it's functions, as he returns the tablet to its shelve he notices a miniature tablet on the desk fitting the palm of his hands.
Touching it proved to be the right choice as it shows icons each seemingly familiar to the ones used in the Academy's personal terminals.
These were the app icon , message icon and the line icon to name a few.
"This could come in handy." Said Joshua as he takes the tablet and leaves
Joshua moves out of the house and finds a city of stone the underground network of tunnels and the tall stone buildings built by dwarven masons and craftsmen intrigued Joshua.
"I need to find Aida, there's a time and place to admire craftsmanship and now isn't one of them."
Joshua walking down through the empty city tunnels suddenly hears an explosion and groans betraying the silence he had just experienced.
"It's coming from that way!."
He runs towards the sound as he heard a familiar sound it could only mean...
"that she is here too, Aida."
A few hours ago
Aida finds herself in what appears to be an abandoned market
"Where am I?, obviously I'm not in the Caverns anymore. I'll remember my training keep i have to keep my composure , and analyse the situation I'm in."
Tools and goods of a bygone civilisation lay scattered on the floor. She had heard a great deal of the dwarven kingdom from her tutors. It is said that their civilisation had perished following the warring era with the humans and demons.
"I was deactivating the circle and now I'm in a market of a lost civilisation the great Aida von Lumere fell victim to a booby trap rather embarrassing... hmm what's that?"
Aida curiously picks up an item with a curious shape at a single glance it looked like an eggplant but it's texture and it's vibration suggests otherwise.
"T-this might be...nooo!."
She throws the tool away in apparent repulsion as she cusses the minds of these Dwarves to come up with and create these devices.
When suddenly Aidas thoughts are suddenly interrupting by footsteps and groans
"What's that .. creatures heading this way."
The steps got closer and closer by the second revealing a silhoutte
The silhouettes take shape revealing a group of disfigured Dwarves their flesh rotten and their eyes lifeless they groan in pain looking to consume a soul.
"Ghouls of all things , is this the dungeons way of making me angry especially after what I witnessed the abhorrent device... you all deserve punishment!."
The ghouls collectively lunged at Aida perhaps to overwhelm her with their sheer numbers.
Ghouls are a type of undead making them weak to holy and fire based spells.
Aida smirks at that realisation and preps a plethora of magic circles.
"You unlucky lot are ill matched!"
Aida said haughtily befitting her stature.
-Phoenix Flare-
An explosion occurs as fire seeps through the magic spells and collides with the enemy ghouls.
"low and behold peasants this is the power of von Lumere."
Aida says triumphantly as she unleashes fire spells upon the dwarven undead.
"Aaargh!."
The ghouls let agonised screams as they are burnt in batches.
-moments later-
The battle raged on as the undead show no signs of retreating Aida having consumed more of her mana heaves heavily
"They aren't slowing down, odd. It's more like i'm fighting a whole city on my own."
"More are coming this way, I've got to run."
Aida mulls over her chances, as fighting seemed futile she releases another spell to clear a line for an escape.
-dragons breath-
A great fire engulfed much of the ghouls in its trajectory flames rise as it spreads through the perimeter distractig the ghouls nearby, Aida takes this chance to file a retreat of her own.
-meanwhile-
"The fire it came from up north"
Joshua runs to the source of the commotion and finds Aida running to his direction rather she passed him.
"Not the time to be talking Joshua." She says gesturing behind him as she continues running.
"Whaa!."
Joshua's legs shook as he holds the sight of ghouls hungrily chasing their prey to which he turns tail just as fast as Aida.
"Aida, don't tell me these are undead."
"Ghouls to be specific they either regenerate or expand their numbers fighting them is futile especially in their own territory we might as well be fighting against the whole dwarven kingdom, *sigh* give me a break." She says heaving a sigh
"I see , that means our course of action is set." Said Joshua giving Aida a solemn look
"We find the boss and avoid dealing with the ghouls as much as possible."
"Avoid is stretching it , let us fight when we have to and try to run for the most part." Said Joshua
"Then we are in agreement Joshua."
"Which reminds me , here Aida take a look at this." Says Joshua as he throws the tablet her way.
"This is a terminal? , to think those perverted dwarves had something like that."
"Yes and look at the map."
"We're currently in the middle of the city's residential district and we're closing in on the big building in the middle of the city."
"I think the boss is there."
"What makes you so sure?." Asks Aida
"Call it an intuition if you want , that building looks to be important. "
"Well we can't do much when I'm exhausted, let's get to a higher ground first we must lose our pursuers. " Said Aida
"That building over there let's get up there."
Joshua points at a buildings window as a point of entrance before looking at Aida for affirmation.
Aida wastes no time and propelled both herself and Joshua using a wind spell.
-a few moments later-
Lux Gladius
Joshua casts the holy based enchantment infusing his sword with light energy slicing through the enemies in his path.
-fireball-
Aida proceeds to burn the fallen dwarven corpses as a failproof measure ensuring they'd never regenerate.
"Phew, that takes care of it." Said Joshua as he sits on the ground.
"Here." Aida throws Joshua an elixir
"Oh, where did you get this?." He asks confused
"Eric handed me some before departure , isn't my butler thoughtful gentleman."
"Haha, he truly is." Says Joshua as he downs the elixir
"That's one to put it, these Dwarves seem to be particularly drawn to you compared to me why is that?."
"It could be my elven heritage that made them so, after all the Dwarves and Elves always had animosity between themselves."
"Until we humans arrived and usurped them both that is, the old Eizenburgh Kingdom upended all non-human civilisation."
"It's a shameful part of the royal family's history we've eliminated much of our neighbours in our bid to expand. And now all that exists of them is this distorted misshapen proof of their existence."
"And yet we are expected to make the same harsh calls when we grow into our respective roles as members of high society." Says Aida self deprecating
"That we do, however if I could I don't want to go down my forefathers including my fathers path."
"You've always been gentle Joshua. I remember you've always wanted to be a hero ufufufu."
"You could say that about yourself too, Eric is lucky to have you by your side." He says smiling
"Whaa- why bring Eric into this." She says blushing
"To get back at you."
"Why you!."
The two continue to banter as time passes they both rejuvenate and after a much needed rest. They race towards towards the towering building to find an army guarding it's entrance.
"We don't have time let's combine our elements Joshua."
"Alright Aida, ready when you are."
Arrows fly out
At the same time ghoul soldiers swarm towards Joshua and Aida as the pair tap into their mana pool unleashing spells of their own.
-Aquatic Wave-
-Roaring Gale-
The wind and water element combine creating a frost similar to that of Albert (see prologue).
The environment froze along with the enemies as frost rooted them in their place spreading throughout their ankles up to their torso eventually incasing them in ice.
"We should get going now." Said Joshua not giving the ghouls a single glance
"Yes." To which Aida replies as they both tread towards the giant door pushing it to open from both ends.
"Let's avoid using major spells until we reach the boss, I'll resort to armed combat so I expect you to cover my blind spots." Says Aida discussing the battle strategy
"My sword enchantment holds and I'll take that you'll use a magic weapon spell."
"You know me too well Joshua."
Aida puts up a smirk as she summons a magic circle and unleashes her magic weapon.
-Fire Whip-
Joshua and Aida run across the courtyard as encountering a slew of ghouls.
Joshua leaping headfirst expertly slices through a.group followed by Aida fiery whip burning through each ghoul it touches. The duo refrain from staying in the area as they retreat through the stairs they face more enemies this time of the armored variety.
Joshua unleashes a light based magic a dazzle spell blinding the enemies as he drives his sword into their throats and torsos ,Aida spins her whip producing a flame whirlwind swallowing the guards with its fiery intensity.
With the guards taken care of they run to the every edge of a corridor dealing blow after blow to every obstacle in their path.
And at long last beyond the heaps of ghouls they'd left behind is a door way to what seems to be the throne room.
Where the boss awaits the Dwarven King Novrir
With his bulging muscles and massive hammer he looks at Joshua with disdain eyes gleaming with what seems to be live alas it is just a memory of a bygone era created by unforseen forces controlling dungeons.
"Aida, this boss here Novrir is a legendary warrior we have to calculate our steps carefully."
"I'm well aware of that Joshua , you don't need to lecture me." She says haughtily to hide her nervousness her hands shake
As Novrir unleashes his killer instinct with a roar , a red hue covers his whole body it's a special Dwarven technique called a warrior wrath.
Novrir swings his hammer hitting it on the ground producing shock waves that shatter the ground.
"Too strong."
Joshua and Aida both leap to opposite sides avoiding the shock wave trajectory.
Joshua inhales and exhales air as he comes to a definite conclusion. Defending against him is futile.
"The best defense is an offense."
With this Aida follows.
"Took you long enough Prince."
She summons a fiery spells combining all her repertoire
-wind shield-
-Phoenix flare-
She surrounds herself and Joshua with a protective shield as she fires phoenix shaped fire projectiles at Novrir
Novrir hammer glows in ethereal red as it smashes through the fire spell.
Busied as he is , Novrir fails to notice a fast approaching Joshua.
Noticing him within a hair's breadth as he attempts to slash Novrir.
The two are locked in armed combat as the dwarven king hammer commits a collusion course with the human Prince sword.
Light based sword attacks and Dwarven warrior wrath empowered hammer produce defeaning explosive sounds as the clash.
Aida taking her chance readies a plethora of spells for when Joshua distances himself from Novrir.
It doesn't take long as the Prince kicks novrir in the abdomen creating a space .
-wind bullets-
Aida successively summons wind pellets shooting at novrir with high speed.
The king smashes through a few before getting hit with the many he'd failed to defend he swings his hammer again in desperation to create another shockwave this time.
Joshua uses the interval of when he picks up his heavy hammer again to his advantage as he slices up his arm.
The king roars as he picks up the hammer swinging it at Joshua with a frevor of frenzy however Aida's shield proved effective as it defends against the strike before breaking Joshua loses his balance as Novrir attempts another swing this time to crush Joshua.
"Do you think I'd let you harm you heir."
Aida stands in between the hammer and Joshua as her shield shatters from the hammer strike with a fire whip in her hand she strikes at novrir searing his bearded face.
"Tag , you're in." Aida says playfully to Joshua
"Haha, I'm sorry Aida." Joshua picks up on the momentum
As they both get to work overwhelming the now blinded novrir with their teamwork.
For every slice is followed by a whip
For every blinding light is followed by a burn
The two work in unison and before long Novrir is on his knees as Joshua delivers the final blow severing his head.
"The king of a fallen kingdom falls yet again by the descendant of his adversary. Poetic isn't it , life yet again snuffed by the ones he hate most."
"You're not your ancestors Joshua, I'll repeat it until you get it through your thick skull you're a kind hearted fool of a Prince who wants to be an adventurer and one who's a crybaby."
"Aida could you perhaps drop the crybaby part."
"Never , now let's get the treasure. We have to beat Eric after all a master has to outdo her retainer." She says beaming a beautiful smile
-meanwhile-
Micah watches the pair through his terminal with peaked interest, all the first years had proven to be cut from a different mettle. Amused he speaks
"Well looks like those two work well together , not bad for the Prince he has room to grow much stronger than he is now and the lady she is an excellent mage with a good control over her mana I look forward to seeing both of them progress. My last year will be a fun one ."
To be continued..