As soon as they got out, they heard the servants who had previously guided them here. "Young lads, you are finally here. It's been so long since you guys went in, our guild master thought something had happened to you."
Lowell paid them no mind as his master looked as if he were about to collapse at any passing second.
Lowell gave the baby dragon, now in his human form, to one of the servants. "Please watch him."
He ran towards his master and grabbed his shoulder as Gabriel's body slumped forward. 'Clank!' The sword fell from Gabriel's hands.
Though Lowell paid no mind to anything else other than his master's condition. "Please follow me, I will show you your resting headquarters." A servant hurriedly led Lowell, who was almost carrying Gabriel at this point.
"gasp, gasp" Gabriel's tired and painful gasps reached Lowell's ears with each step he took forward.
'My head hurts, my body is numb, it hurts!' Gabriel wanted to mumble out loud but all that came were ragged gasps.
'Screech!' The servant opened the door to a beautifully yet simple room. "Please come in, the bed is right here. The young lad seems to be in bad condition, I shall call a doctor."
Lowell gave a nod to the servant as he left. The other servant came in with the still sleeping baby dragon.
He placed him on a different bed far from them, as if not to disturb Gabriel. "Young lad,I shall take my leave. If there is anything that you need my help with, do not hesitate to call me."
Seeing that Lowell was not paying attention to him, the servant just left silently.
Lowell looked at his master still gasping heavily for air, his brows scrunched up as if he were in pain.
He touched his master's forehead and realized his master was soaked in sweat and had a high fever.
Lowell closed his fist, his nails almost digging into his skin. 'If only I were more competent and strong, master would not be suffering like this. If only I had managed to break that core myself, master would not have strained himself.'
'Knock, knock' Disturbing Lowell's thoughts was a light knock on the door.
"Hello, I am doctor Jevon. Please allow me to assist yo-" "Come in!" Interrupting him was Lowell's worried voice from the other side.
As Jevon entered the room, he saw Lowell sitting by the side of the bed. On the bed was Gabriel, heavily panting and looking very uncomfortable.
As Jevon got closer to them, he sensed a heavy disarray in the air the nearer he got to Gabriel.
Lowell stood up, giving the doctor space to check Gabriel. Jevon gave a slight nod and immediately went to check Gabriel's pulse, as if to confirm his suspicions, he felt Gabriel's mana all over the place.
He then took out a brown leather bag and opened it, revealing all sorts of miscellaneous tools.
Lowell looked as the doctor took a strange-looking needle out of the bag and inserted it into Gabriel's neck.
He wanted to say something, fearing his master would get hurt. Jevon, as if sensing Lowell's worry, calmly explained.
"Do not worry, this needle will not hurt the your friend in any way. This is an instrument called a Stabilizer, and its function is to either turn off or stabilize the patient's mana. Your friend's mana seems to be in disarray and cannot stabilize itself."
"But how could this be? Master was just fine a few moments ago, and this has never happened before." Lowell asked, his voice filled with worry.
"Hmm, I see." Hearing Lowell's confusion, Jevon began to think. "Well, it could be that he might have used a weapon whose sigil was way above his own, or he is having a breakthrough, which affects your body. The higher the sigil you are breaking through, the harder the symptoms are, or-"
Seeing Jevon's stern face, Lowell began to worry more. "It could be that he was affected or influenced by external or demonic mana."
Hearing this, Lowell's heart began to thump faster in worry. Could it have been that his master met a strong demon when they were separated?
This had a high possibility, as Anomaly Dungeons were not well-known, and anything could happen in there.
Pulling Lowell back to reality was Jevon's reassuring explanation. "But that does not seem to be the case here, as the Stabilizer not only serves as a calming tool but also as a detector. The moment it touched his neck, it would have turned black and disintegrated."
This statement eased Lowell's heart.
Seeing this, Jevon started packing his bag. As he stood up, he reassured Lowell. "Do not worry, young lad. With the help of this tool, the patient's condition will get better. When the tool senses the mana is stabilized, it will disintegrate by itself, leaving no marks. All your friend has to do now is rest to recuperate."
The doctor just gave a slight nod and left without hurry, leaving Lowell at full ease.
Gabriel found himself standing in a tranquil meadow, the gentle breeze rustling the tall grass around him. Ever since he arrived in this place, he had been walking non-stop for days.
Yet strangely, it never became day—the sky remained a deep shade of twilight, stars beginning to twinkle. A strange sense of peace settled over him, but beneath it lay an undercurrent of tension, as if something important was about to happen.
As he walked through the meadow, he noticed a figure sitting on a fallen log, gazing up at the stars.
The figure turned and smiled, its eyes twinkling with mischief. Gabriel recognized the face immediately—it was a familiar figure he had encountered before.
"Ah, Gabriel. It's been a while," the figure said with a teasing smile.
Gabriel frowned, confused. "What are you doing here? Why are you in my dream? And why do you look like me?"
The figure chuckled, a playful glint in his eyes. "Dreams are a funny thing, aren't they? Sometimes they reveal more than we expect. And I don't want to look like you."
He stood up, circling Gabriel, his presence both teasing and enigmatic.
"I'm here to talk about those new toys of yours. Mime Gaze, for instance. Quite the power, isn't it? Copying abilities with just a glance."
Gabriel's confusion deepened. "How do you know about Mime Gaze?"
The figure laughed softly. "I know many things, Gabriel. The real question is, do you know how to use it to its full potential? It's a double-edged sword, you know. Copying abilities means you're always borrowing power, never truly owning it."
Gabriel felt a chill run down his spine. "I've been trying to understand it, but it's complicated. Each ability feels different, as if it has its own signature."
The figure nodded approvingly. "Very perceptive. Abilities are like fingerprints—unique to their original owners. When you copy them, you're merely mimicking, not mastering. That's where the real challenge lies."
Gabriel's eyes narrowed. "And what about the sword? 'Dancing Cloud,' they called it. It's an S-rank weapon, but I don't know its true abilities."
The figure's smile widened, eyes sparkling with amusement.
"Dancing Cloud? Hmm, that's strange. How come I have never heard of it? Though I must say, for a sword with such a terrifying rank, anyone would covet it. But even to me, its true power is a mystery."
His expression darkened slightly.
"Beware, Gabriel. An S-rank weapon comes with its own set of challenges. You must be worthy to wield it, or it will consume you."
Gabriel's heart pounded as he processed the figure's words.
"Why are you telling me all this? What do you want from me?"
The figure stepped back, his form beginning to blur at the edges.
"I'm here to remind you, Gabriel. To keep you on your toes. Remember, every gift comes with a price. Are you ready to pay it?"
Gabriel's mind raced with questions. "What price? What do I need to do?"
The figure's expression grew more serious, though still teasing.
"That's for you to discover."
"Life has a way of presenting choices, each with its own consequences. Be mindful of the paths you take."
Gabriel felt a sense of frustration. "I'll figure it out. I won't let these powers control me."
The figure's smile returned, a mix of approval and challenge.
"I expected nothing less from you. But remember, Gabriel, this journey is as much about self-discovery as it is about power. Use your abilities wisely, and you might just uncover their true potential."
Then—
The ground beneath Gabriel's feet began to crack, the grass withering around it.
"Just remember to be careful about the paths you decide to take in the future… and maybe try to change them this time, won't you?"
The meadow began to dissolve, and Gabriel felt himself being pulled back into consciousness.
"Gasp!"
Gabriel awoke with a start, his heart still racing from the unsettling dream. As he blinked his eyes open, he found himself in a cozy room at an inn.
The furnishings were modest yet comfortable—a wooden bed with soft linens, a small bedside table, and a window with curtains that fluttered in the breeze.
The evening sunlight streamed through the window, casting a warm, golden glow across the room.
The light painted everything in soft hues, creating a serene and almost magical atmosphere. Gabriel took a moment to steady his breathing, feeling the lingering effects of the dream slowly fade away.
As he sat up, the door to his room creaked open, and Lowell entered, carrying a tray of food. Upon seeing Gabriel awake, Lowell's eyes filled with tears, and he started to cry.
"Master! You're awake! I was so worried!" Lowell sobbed, tears streaming down his cheeks.
Gabriel managed a faint smile, though his voice was weak. "Lowell, how long was I out?"
Lowell sniffled, wiping his tears away.
"You were out for one and a half months, Master. We were so worried about you! The doctor said you just needed rest, but it felt like forever."
Gabriel's eyes widened in shock. "One and a half months? That's a long time… I'm sorry to have worried you, Lowell."
Amidst Lowell's crying, a small voice piped up from the corner of the room. "Crybaby."
Gabriel turned, spotting the baby dragon, now in his human form, sitting on a small chair. His ink-black hair shone in the sunlight, and his dark green eyes reflected a void-like depth.
Gabriel's eyes widened further. "Oh, right. I almost forgot we have you now," he said, feeling a mix of surprise and amusement. "How are you, little one?"
The baby dragon shrugged, his expression nonchalant.
"I'm fine. But seriously, why is he always crying?"
Lowell, still sniffling, looked at the baby dragon with a pout. "I can't help it! I was scared for Master! You would cry too if you cared about someone and they were unconscious for so long."
The baby dragon raised an eyebrow. "I highly doubt that. I'm tougher than you."
Gabriel managed a faint smile, the exchange between Lowell and the baby dragon helping to lighten his mood. "Thank you, Lowell," Gabriel said softly. "I appreciate your concern. And you too," he added, looking at the baby dragon.
The baby dragon crossed his arms, looking slightly smug. "Well, someone has to keep an eye on you. You humans are too weak and get into too much trouble."
Lowell sniffled one last time, trying to compose himself. "I brought you something to eat, Master. You need to regain your strength."
Gabriel nodded, grateful for Lowell's care. "Thank you, Lowell. I'm famished."
As he ate, he glanced at the baby dragon. "What's your name, by the way? We should call you something other than 'baby dragon.'"
The baby dragon tilted his head and shrugged. "I don't know. I never got one."
Gabriel smiled. "What about Kaida? It's simple and fitting."
The little boy tilted his head, unimpressed.
"Not only are you a weak human, but you are also bad at naming."
Yet, despite his words, Gabriel felt no refusal in his tone. "Alright, Kaida it is."
As the evening sunlight continued to bathe the room in its gentle glow, Gabriel couldn't help but think about the strange figure from his dream and the cryptic warnings about Mime Gaze and Dancing Cloud.
The dream felt more like a message than a mere figment of his imagination.