Why_me_1373

Everyone dreams of living in a fantasy world—
Magic, swords, kingdoms, and adventure.

But no one talks about the weight of it all.
The fear. The choices. The lives that hang in the balance.

This is a story not of a destined hero, but someone who found himself in a place where fantasy meets reality.
And once you’ve crossed that line, there’s no going back.
"Not every summoning leads to glory."

Ashes of Mana

"About time you showed up, Sir Alve."

I wasn't surprised. I had a feeling she would be.

Somehow, she always _knows_—as if she can sense my thoughts, my intentions... even the timing of my steps.

This woman, Lady Sera—the oracle of the Central Church—isn't someone ordinary.

An oracle, directly connected to the gods, who speaks to the people with divine clarity... she can't possibly be normal.

I looked at her, my voice calm but heavy with questions.

"Is there something you can tell me? _Anything?_"

She smiled softly. Calm. Composed. Mysterious.

"I can't say much yet," she said gently. "But I believe I've already told you once before… _maybe your summoning wasn't a mistake after all._"

Her words echoed in my mind, stirring a storm of thoughts.

If it wasn't a mistake, then _what was it?_

I _knew_ she was hiding something.

I sighed. "Fine... as you see fit. I'll ask that question again—later."

There was no point pushing her now. She wouldn't answer.

Changing the subject, I asked, "Like before… can I ask you something else? I want to know more about Dungeons."

Her smile shifted slightly. "Very well," she replied, gesturing for me to sit.

I sat on one of the wooden chairs, its old frame creaking softly beneath me. The church was silent, almost sacred. Her voice carried through it like an echo of truth.

"Do you know what a mana crystal is?" she asked.

"Yeah," I nodded. "It's a condensed form of mana at a single point. Over time, as it grows denser, it solidifies into a crystal."

She smiled. "Then imagine what happens when _a large_ mana crystal forms."

Then slowly, understanding dawned.

She continued, "It doesn't just sit deep in caves or mines. When mana is in surplus, it begins to _create_… magical beings. What we call monsters."

"Wait—so with the birth of monsters that possess intelligence…"

She nodded. "Yes, Sir Alve. That's when a _dungeon_ forms. From a once ordinary cave."

Her voice turned more serious now. "A dungeon is like a living creature. It creates monsters, absorbs external magic, and it continues to grow—always growing. At its core lies a powerful crystal. That's the heart of the dungeon."

I recalled hearing something similar before.

"Then, what about the monsters that attacked the capital?" I asked sharply. "They weren't inside a dungeon. They came from outside—how did that happen?"

She paused, as if weighing her next words.

"Dungeons… created by demons. The most dangerous of all. They aren't limited by shape or structure. They can form _anywhere._ Even in the open sky."

Demons creating dungeons? Artificial ones that don't follow any natural law?

Is that supposed to be even possible?

Chapter 45 - Dungeons and Secrets