What Happened in the dungeon

After finishing dinner, Asher said his goodnight to Arthur and departed to his room.

Once inside, he sank into his comfy king-size bed, the soft sheets and plush pillows inviting him to relax. Yet, despite the comfort, his mind refused to settle.

He had avoided thinking about everything that had happened today for too long, but now, as he lay still in the quiet of his room, memories and questions came crashing down on him like a tsunami.

Sigh…

Asher exhaled, staring up at the ornate ceiling illuminated faintly by the moonlight filtering through his window. He couldn't shake the lingering disbelief.

Is this life truly real? Or… is it just a dream?

The thought came unbidden, spiraling deeper into his mind.

Could this all be some kind of fantasy created in my last moments before death?

But if this world was real, that raised an even bigger question: How did I end up here?

Did I take over Asher's body, or… am I Asher himself?

His brows furrowed at the thought. This was a question he had pondered countless times since regaining his fragmented memories of Earth. Yet, despite his doubts, he already knew the most likely answer.

No… I'm not just some random soul who replaced Asher. I am Asher, he concluded firmly. The memories weren't just memories—they were lived experiences. He remembered growing up as Asher, the relationships, the struggles, the pain, and even the joys.

That explains why my personality feels so similar to my old self, he thought, closing his eyes. Even though our lives were so different…

Another sigh escaped him. His hand reached up, running through his hair as his thoughts turned to the immediate future.

What will happen tomorrow?

Arthur hadn't pressed him about what happened in the dungeon, but Asher knew better than to think the matter was over. This is just the beginning. Things are only going to escalate from here.

Frankly, he didn't want to deal with it. He knew he was mostly at fault. If I'm being honest… Elvin's a nice guy. I shouldn't have gone that far.

The thought surprised him. He frowned, shifting uncomfortably.

Maybe I can make things right with him… he mused. Maybe… we could even become friends.

The word tasted foreign on his lips. Friends.

Then another thought surfaced—one he had avoided confronting directly. How did I regain my memories of Earth?

He frowned, turning on his side.

And how am I even alive after what happened?

Yes, his mother had given him a protective charm for emergencies, but it shouldn't have been capable of fixing his shattered ether core.

A possible answer stirred at the edges of his mind, but he dismissed it. He didn't have enough information to confirm anything yet.

With a heavy heart and a whirlwind of unanswered questions, Asher's thoughts eventually quieted. Slowly, he drifted into a restless sleep.

---

Meanwhile, at Aetherion Academy…

Elvin sat quietly in the infirmary as Professor Ariana Emberfell, his master, looked at him with concern.

"Tell me everything," Adriana said, crossing her arms.

Elvin hesitated for a moment, his gaze dropping to his hands. Then, with a deep breath, he began to recount what had happened in the dungeon.

---

Flashback

As the twenty-two students entered the dungeon, they were greeted by the sight of eight branching paths ahead. The air was damp and carried a faint metallic tang. Shadows danced along the rough stone walls as the faint light of glowing crystals illuminated their surroundings.

Sarah, one of the students, spoke up, her voice echoing faintly in the cavern.

"As the instructors said, we should move in groups of three for fairness."

Everyone murmured in agreement, and soon, seven groups of three had formed. The students had mostly decided on their groups beforehand, so it didn't take long.

Just as they were about to move forward, a voice broke the calm.

"Wait," someone said. "Something's wrong."

The students turned toward the speaker and saw Asher standing there, his arms crossed and a casual yet pointed look on his face.

Sarah frowned. "What's wrong?"

Asher gestured toward one group with a nod. "One team has four people. It's not fair."

The group in question consisted of Elvin, Aria, Jacob, and Cassandra.

"It's not going to be fair if one group has an extra person," Asher continued. "Especially when that group has Elvin—the winner of the entrance ceremony."

Aria's eyes narrowed. "So what? You're not far behind him anyway. Besides, there's no way to reshuffle the groups now."

Asher shrugged. "Then isn't it simple? Elvin can take the last path alone. I'm sure he can handle it."

Aria bristled, taking a step forward. "You—"

"It's okay," Elvin interrupted, placing a hand on her shoulder.

He offered her a small, reassuring smile. "He's right. It wouldn't be fair. I'll take the last path."

"But—" Aria began, but Elvin cut her off.

"Don't worry," he said gently. "It's not a big deal."

The other students exchanged looks. Some appeared indifferent, while others smirked with poorly hidden schadenfreude. As a commoner in an academy filled with nobles, Elvin had few allies.

And no one dared oppose Asher, the son of an Archduke.

---

Elvin walked alone down his assigned path. The faint sound of dripping water accompanied his footsteps. Occasionally, goblins and other small creatures lunged at him from the shadows, but he dispatched them effortlessly.

Why did I even join this academy? Elvin thought bitterly as he swung his sword, cutting down a lunging goblin.

Master was right… I should've stayed home and focused on my training.

He sighed, wiping blood off his blade.

I wonder what Mom is doing right now… Is she worrying about me again?

His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps behind him.

Frowning, he turned around, his grip tightening on his sword.

A familiar figure approached.

It was Asher.

---

Elvin's brows furrowed. "Why are you here? Shouldn't you be with your group?"

Asher stopped a few steps away and crossed his arms, giving him a pointed look. "Why don't you guess?"

Elvin's expression turned troubled. "I don't want to fight you."

Asher scoffed. "Do you think I want to talk?" His voice dripped with irritation. "If you didn't want to fight, you should've stayed down at the entrance ceremony. But you didn't. So why refuse now?"

For the past month, Asher had repeatedly challenged Elvin to a duel, but Elvin always refused.

Elvin's gaze softened. "I'm… sorry. For that time."

Asher's teeth clenched, his frustration boiling over. "I don't want your sorry, you stupid protagonist-type character!"

Elvin blinked, confused. "What does that even mean?"

"I don't know!" Asher snapped. "Sometimes I just say weird things. It doesn't matter—fight me!"

Elvin turned away, his tone calm but firm. "I won't fight you if it's not necessary. Please… go back."

"You coward!" Asher yelled, his voice cracking with frustration. "I don't even understand what she sees in you!"

Elvin froze.

Seeing his reaction, Asher pressed on. "You only have your mom, right? Do you even understand what a Duke's son can do to someone like you?"

Elvin's expression darkened, some memories horobel memory's that he wanted to forget but couldn't. came to his mind. his calm demeanor shattering. His eyes burned crimson, and a terrifying light began to glow around him.

Asher feeling something was wrong tried to Flud his body with aura so he could react but it was too late.

---

In an instant, Elvin's sword pierced Asher's chest. His ether core shattered, and the blade emerged from his back.

-----------

Whoa you finished reading the chapter.

Your a Ducking Beast....😲

I'll cut you a deal.

Add this book to your library for free and that's a great price...😎