Volume 03, Chapter 41

  Mirror of Lysandra [2]

  As I navigate the dimly lit corridors of the temple, I admit that I am essentially groping in the dark. The web novel only briefly described how Célestin mysteriously woke up in a dark room with the 'Mirror of Lysandra.' It gave me no concrete clues about its location in this labyrinthine temple.

  I cannot help but feel the weight of uncertainty pressing down on me. My plan feels more like a gamble than a well-thought-out mission.

  "I guess I'll just have to rely on my luck here," I mutter, trying to shake off the growing doubt.

  As I continue forward, a slight glint on the floor catches my eye. I halt abruptly, my foot hovering just inches above a pressure plate.

  "Oops," I whisper, realizing how close I have come to triggering a trap.

  Carefully, I step around the potential hazard and continue on my path. Now, it is not just about finding the artifact—I must remain vigilant of the myriad traps designed to thwart unwelcome visitors.

  -RUMBLE!

  As I ponder my next move, the ground beneath me suddenly trembles. My heart races as a sense of foreboding grips me.

  "What now?"

  I barely have time to process the thought before a sickening crack echoes through the corridor.

  -Squelch!

  Without warning, grotesque tentacles burst forth from the newly formed cracks in the ground, their slimy appendages writhing through the air with an unnatural hunger. One surges toward me from below.

  Instinctively, I leap to the side, narrowly evading its grasp. But I am not fast enough to dodge another. I feel the cold, slimy embrace of a tentacle wrapping around my ankle, sending a chill of disgust up my spine.

  -Crumble!

  The ground beneath me gives way, and I am pulled down along with the collapsing earth and the ensnaring tentacle.

  "Tch!" I hiss, my mind racing for a solution.

  I draw both of Galahad's Judgement mid-fall and fire directly at the tentacle.

  -Bang! Bang!

  The shots find their mark, severing the tentacle and splattering green goo everywhere. With quick reflexes, I adjust my fall, landing on my feet in a crouch upon hitting the ground below.

  Standing up, I feel an unnatural weight on my ankle. Looking down, I notice the severed piece of the tentacle still clinging to me. I grimace and peel it off, the sticky green residue dripping from the broken flesh.

  "Tentacles… why does it always have to be tentacles?" I mutter, shaking my head in disgust.

  As I survey my surroundings, I realize I have fallen into a large, shadowy room. At its center floats an ornate mirror bathed in a soft, isolated pool of light.

  "Wait, is that the Mirror of Lysandra?" I whisper, my heart pounding with anticipation.

  This must be the dark room where Célestin mysteriously teleported in the web novel. Cautiously, I approach the mirror, my pulse quickening. When I reach it, I carefully lift the delicate artifact, feeling its cool weight in my hands.

  The mirror plays a crucial role in the Manaficial ritual, as it will separate the Soul and the Magic Power of an orb. I cannot believe how smoothly things are going.

  "This is a lot easier than I expected," I murmur, a small smile creeping onto my face.

  But just as I prepare to leave, a chilling sound echoes through the room.

  -Squelch!

  From the darkness, tentacles surge toward me. Instinctively, I roll under their grasp, jumping to my feet and sprinting away.

  -Squelch!

  Glancing back, I see three tentacles slithering after me with unsettling speed. With one hand clutching the mirror tightly, I draw one of Galahad's Judgement with the other.

  -Bang! Bang! Bang!

  Each shot is precise, severing the tentacles and sending sprays of green goo splattering across the stone floor.

  "Shreeeeaaark!"

  The eerie scream halts me in my tracks, reverberating through the chamber.

  -Flick!

  Slowly, from the deeper shadows, a massive shape begins to emerge into the light. A purple giant octopus, its bulk massive and menacing, moves toward me. A distinctive red diamond glints on its forehead, catching the dim light.

  "Is the diamond on its forehead its weak spot?" I mutter, eyeing the shimmering gem as the creature draws closer, its intent hostile.

  "Shreeeeaaark!"

  The octopus utters another piercing scream, launching three tentacles directly at me.

  Instead of retreating, I sprint toward the incoming tentacles. As the first tentacle swings toward me, I slide into a low glide, smoothly slipping beneath it.

  The coarse, slimy surface brushes just inches above me as I pass underneath. Regaining my footing, I continue my charge forward, maintaining my momentum.

  "Activate!" I command.

  -Tick-tock!

  When the Chrono Pendant activates, time seems to crawl. The world around me moves slowly, giving me the advantage I need. I leap onto the next tentacle, using it as a makeshift springboard to propel myself into the air.

  Mid-jump, I carefully aim at the gleaming red diamond on the octopus's forehead.

  -Bang! Bang! Bang!

  I fire three shots, watching as the bullets inch their way toward the target in the slowed time. After releasing the shots, I twist in the air to land smoothly, rolling on the ground to cushion my impact.

  "Deactivate!" I call out.

  -Chime!

  Time snaps back to its normal pace.

  -Crack!

  The sound of the diamond cracking is crisp and loud.

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  "Shreeeeaaark!"

  The octopus utters another agonized scream, its voice filling the chamber with despair.

  -Crack!

  Under the stress of the damage, the octopus's body begins to distort, its form disintegrating into a cloud of red particles that coalesce into a gem. The gem cracks and shatters, leaving no trace of the once fearsome creature.

  I stand there for a moment, slightly dazed by the suddenness of the octopus's demise. The creature's transformation and subsequent destruction are astounding, but I have little time to ponder it.

  With the danger passed and the artifact safely in my possession, it is time to head back home.

  "Well, that's that. Time to go back," I mutter, already planning my next steps as I begin to leave the temple.

  ════ ?★? ════

  As Dominic begins walking away, his thoughts already focus on the journey back, and he remains unaware of the figure watching him from the shadows.

  Cloaked in a long, pale robe with tattered edges and intricate red and gold trim, the figure exudes an aura of menace. Its face is concealed behind a mask resembling a golden skull, the hollow eye sockets glinting faintly in the dim light.

  "It seems Lord Malignor was right… a boy with black hair and blue eyes has taken the mirror," the figure mutters, low and contemplative. "But what does he see in him?"

  The figure cannot fathom why Lord Malignor, a being of immense power and influence, would be interested in someone like Dominic.

  A Manaless, the figure thinks with a hint of disdain. Aside from being skilled with guns, there is nothing else extraordinary about him.

  "But alas, I am merely following his orders," the figure whispers, accepting the mystery as one of many that come with serving such an enigmatic master.

  With a slow, deliberate motion, the figure raises its right hand.

  -Flick!

  As the figure flicks its fingers, its form dissolves into a swirling mass of dark feathers, transforming into a flock of crows. The birds caw softly as they take flight, scattering into the night sky and disappearing into the shadows, leaving no trace of their presence in the temple.

  Still oblivious to the figure's presence and intentions, Dominic continues, unaware that his actions have already drawn the attention of powerful forces far beyond his understanding.

  ════ ?★? ════

  After navigating through the temple's intricate corridors for a while, I finally spot the familiar entrance where I had first entered.

  "Activate!" I command, invoking the 'Chrono Pendant' once more.

  Instantly, time begins to crawl, allowing me to swiftly exit the temple without alerting anyone to my presence.

  As I hurry out, something unexpected catches my eye—a gift shop near the temple's exit.

  Seizing the opportunity, I sprint towards it.

  My plan is simple: pretend I had purchased the 'Mirror of Lysandra' from the gift shop, blending the extraordinary with the mundane.

  I reach the gift shop and quickly say, "Deactivate!"

  -Chime!

  Time resumes its normal flow, and the bustling noise of tourists and cash registers fills the air again.

  The system's warning flashes across my vision just as I enter the gift shop.

  But I only used it a few times today. Why is it giving me the warning?

  A wave of realization hits me. The intense training session with Maurice must have drained the pendant's mana reserves more than I had anticipated. I need to be more careful with its usage, or I could risk catastrophic consequences.

  Taking a deep breath, I compose myself and quickly survey the shop. I need to make my next move look as natural as possible. I grab a few random trinkets and a bag that matches the mirror's size and head to the counter.

  The cashier rings up my items without a second glance. Within moments, I am walking out of the shop, the 'Mirror of Lysandra' safely tucked inside the bag, hidden among the ordinary souvenirs.

  As I step back into the open air, the weight of what I have just done begins to settle in. But there is no time to dwell on it. I need to get back home fast.

  I start walking out of the bustling tourist area, ready to return to the train station. My mind is already on the journey home, eager to leave the Greenwood Region behind with the first crucial artifact securely in my possession.

  As I am lost in thought, a familiar taxi pulls up beside me. The window slides down, revealing the same taxi driver who had driven me to the temple earlier.

  "Oy, going back to the train station?" he asks, recognizing me with a nod.

  "...Yes," I reply, slightly startled by the coincidence but grateful for the timely ride.

  "Get in," he says, his tone gruff but not unfriendly.

  I open the door and settle into the taxi, sinking into the seat with relief. As we pull away from the temple and the Greenwood Region fades into the distance, I cannot help but feel a sense of accomplishment. The first crucial artifact, the 'Mirror of Lysandra,' is safely in my possession, and the day's adventures are now etched into memory.

  As the taxi rumbles toward the train station, I allow myself a moment to relax. The road ahead is still uncertain, filled with challenges and mysteries yet to be unraveled. However, for now, I am content to have taken the first step on this difficult journey.

  ════ ?★? ════

  After a long and eventful day, I finally stand in front of my house. The familiar sight of the door brings a mix of relief and anxiety. I glance at the time on my Commlink—it reads 7:34 PM. I have been away in the Greenwood Region for about six hours.

  "Haa!" I sigh, the weight of the day's events pressing down on me.

  Standing there, I cannot help but feel a growing sense of unease. What if one of my parents somehow knows that I raided the temple and took one of its artifacts? The thought gnaws at me—will they kick me out? Will they disown me?

  I shake my head, trying to dispel the rising panic. Now's not the time for overthinking, I tell myself firmly. If they ask about the mirror, I'll say Arthur gave it to me as a gift.

  Taking a deep breath, I open the door and step inside.

  "Ahhhh, you killed me!"

  "Hehehe!"

  The sounds of André and Clark's voices drift from the living room, piquing my curiosity. What are they up to?

  I walk toward the noise and find the living room transformed into a battlefield of pillows, built up like forts. André lies on the ground, pretending to be dead, while Clark stands triumphantly, surrounded by animated shadowy stuffed toys. He holds a wooden sword, the victorious knight in his imaginary battle.

  Given the shadowy nature of the toys, André is clearly using his 'Dark' magic to enhance their play.

  "Now that I have defeated you, I am the strongest swordsman in the world!" Clark declares with glee.

  "Squeak!" The shadowy stuffed toys squeak in unison, jumping up and down in celebration.

  A smile spreads across my face at the sight. It is heartwarming to see André and Clark enjoying each other's company, especially knowing that Clark is having a great time here before we have to send him back to his universe.

  "Welcome home," a soft voice greets me.

  I turn to see Celine approaching with a warm smile.

  "Hey, Mum," I reply, feeling a wave of calm over me.

  "How was school?" she asks, her tone casual.

  "It was okay," I respond calmly, trying to keep the conversation light.

  "What took you so long? Also, what's that mirror?" she inquires, nodding toward the artifact I still hold.

  I quickly concoct a story. "Well…Arthur gave it to me."

  "I see. He has good taste; it's a beautiful mirror," she remarks, seemingly satisfied with my explanation.

  I cannot help but feel a surge of relief that she accepts my reasoning so easily. But as I think the situation is under control, André notices the mirror.

  "A mirror..." André mutters as he takes the mirror from my hands, analyzing it with interest.

  A wave of anxiety washes over me. Is he going to figure out where I got it? I feel my heart pounding.

  After a moment, André smiles. "It is indeed a beautiful mirror. Arthur has good taste."

  I exhale quietly, relieved that he also seems to accept the story.

  "Dominic!" Suddenly, I feel a tug on my legs as Clark hugs me tightly.

  I reach down and ruffle his hair. "Hey, Clark, how are you doing?"

  "I'm doing fine!" he chirps, pointing his wooden sword at André, who is playfully groaning as he gets back up. "We were playing Swordsman versus Dragon!"

  "Oh? Did you have fun?" I ask, amused by the scene.

  "Yes!" Clark's eyes light up as he grabs my hand. "You should play with us."

  I chuckle, warmed by his enthusiasm. "Sure, let me just put this down first."

  He nods eagerly and scampers back to André.

  After setting the mirror on a nearby table, I join them in their makeshift arena.

  "So, how does this game work?" I ask, pretending to be clueless, though the premise is obvious.

  "It's simple, Dominic! A knight has to fight the dragon and defeat them!" Clark explains with enthusiasm.

  "Oh really?" I play along.

  "Yeah! And the knight always wins!" Clark adds with a grin.

  I cannot help but smile at Clark's infectious joy. It starkly contrasts with the life I knew before, where moments like this were rare. This younger version of myself will have more fun than I ever did.

  Curious about the origins of their game, I ask, "So, who made this game?"

  "You did, Dominic," André replies with a chuckle.

  "Eh? Really?" I blink in surprise.

  "Yeah, you and Arthur created this game when you were younger," he elaborates.

  That is news to me. Dominic and Arthur have a history of crafting adventures long before I took over his life. Learning about Dominic's past, bit by bit, is intriguing, and it gives me a deeper connection to the life I am now living.

  "Come on, Dominic, let's play," Clark urges, snapping me out of my thoughts.

  "Sure," I reply, smiling broadly as I join in.

  We spend the rest of the evening immersed in their playful world. I take on the role of the knight, wielding an imaginary sword against André's formidable dragon, who roars and growls with dramatic flair. Clark cheers from the sidelines, his laughter ringing through the living room.

  The day's worries fade for a moment, replaced by the simple joy of being part of this family. And in that moment, I feel a sense of belonging that I have not realized I was missing.