MISTAKE

knock knock

Um what now?

- "Raiden...Raiden wake up!".

Huh, Dara?!

What does she want this early.

I got up and opened the door,

-"Good morning".

- "Good morning, Rayden, have a quick breakfast."

Ugh, I want to go back to bed and sleep.

Dara was rubbing my hair that was tousled.

She continued in a cheerful voice:

- "Don't you want to go with Edgar to explore the surroundings of the dungeon?".

- "... huh, what did you say?!".

-"Edgar agreed to go with them."

- "Really !! ,cool, I'll get ready quickly."

I quickly ran to get dressed and prepare my bag, finally I would be on a real mission in which I would use my magic.

After I had breakfast, I met the rest.

-"Good morning all"

-"Good morning ".

Horner said with a smile:

- "Look at him smiling happily."

Donelle said sarcastically:

- "Stop smiling a little, or your mouth will tear."

Ah, I can't control my feelings, I'm so excited.

Edgar looked embarrassed, but he smiled lightly as he said:

-"Don't do anything dangerous and stay with us."

- "Thank you Edgar."

Dara said while pointing at Alvis:

-"All this thanks to him, Edgar was stubborn and he was the only one who could overcome his stubbornness".

Alvis was smiling proudly, I could see his sharp nose rising with pride.

-"Thank you, Alvis, you are the best negotiator and strategist I have ever known."

-"Hohohoho, no need boy, this is my job as the best negotiator and strategist, hohoho"

-"If you had to praise him, he will annoy us for the next three days."

- "Are you jealous Donelle Hohohohohoho?".

Haha, it's okay, he really commendable .

My eyes caught Ethan standing behind the pillar of the building, with looks of fear and caution over him, he must have been confused by what happened yesterday, I looked at him with the same smile that had risen on his face before and moved my lips saying:

- "Did you have a good dream?".

His facial expressions changed and he became terrified. This would make him confused and afraid. He wouldn't come near me for a while.

-"Where are you looking... that boy from the orphanage?"

Dara said.

-"Nothing I smile at my friend".

- "Oh, you made friends, that's good."

-"Yes, a good friendship..."

Edgar said out loud:

"We're done, let's go."

Some elite people accompanied us, those will stay at a certain distance as I will open the escape gate, while the four of us will approach the dungeon.

It was a little cold, thick black clouds completely covered the sky. It looked like it was going to rain soon.

We arrived at the dungeon, it looked like a black hole inside the mountain, no sign of another monster coming out, and that monster that came out came back inside as soon as the sun rose.

We explored the surroundings and found nothing. I sensed a strange mana in the air that seemed to belong to a monster.

-" Hey Horner, can't you sense that there is a strange mana in the air?".

-"No, I can't feel the type of mana, I can only feel it moving."

-"truly??".

"Tell me what this mana looks like."

- "It looks weird, and it's unfamiliar. It moves wobbly."

-"Is that so...".

I thought I had the same mana sense ability as Horner, but it was different.

Going to try something, I closed my eyes and contemplated the mana surrounding me.

This Horner's mana flowed differently though. It was a bit similar to the mana of others, but different from the mana of the surrounding creatures.

This means that I can recognize an object by the type and mana flow, wow, that would definitely be helpful.

-"Why are you smiling ?".

-"Oh nothing".

Donelle said after she took quick check up on hidden areas :

-"Boss, we haven't found anything. Should we go into the dungeon?".

Edgar looked in my direction, his eyebrows furrowed.

- "No, it's dangerous. Let's go back."

-" We haven't done anything and we'll back off."

Horner put his hand on Edgar's shoulder and said:

- "Let's just explore the beginning of the dungeon to get an idea about it. As for Raiden, I will protect him."

The two exchanged glances for a while.

Edgar sighed

-"Well, I trust you."

Wow Edgar really trusted Horner, so much so that he agreed directly.

Now let's explore the dungeon...

As soon as we entered, I felt a thick mana pressuring my body and penetrating my bones. I lost my balance and fell to the ground.

Edgar rushed towards me and said in a worried tone:

- "Are you alright? As I expected, we should go back."

-"Oh, don't worry, I just lost my balance."

Horner approached me and said:

-"Can you stand?"

-"Yes I can".

I quickly stood up and continued walking, but Edgar was still worried.

-"Edgar, you trusted me and entrusted me with his protection, so focus on the task and stop exaggerating".

Edgar took a deep breath and continued walking.

The place was very dark, even with the light bulbs that Dara had made, we could not see clearly. Every time we walked a distance, I would open the gate to make sure we could escape.

We couldn't sense the existence of any object, suddenly we heard a loud sound of insects, they are here.

Everyone became worries, we couldn't feel them, because the cave was full of their dense mana, it would be difficult for me to feel them, but it wasn't hard for Horner, because he could feel the movement of mana, I was practicing this skill but it was difficult for me especially here...

Horner pulled out his sword and shouted:

- "Get ready, they're coming."

they ?!? more than one!!.

I hid behind Horner, Donelle lit a luminous spell with Dara's magic on it, the vision became clear.

Just as officials described it, it's a giant armored bug.

Edgar attacked one of the monsters. His sword pierced the monster's shell, but not that deep.

Is it that tough?

Donelle fired an arrow charged with mana to increase the accuracy and strength of the hit, directly at the wound caused by Edgar, the monster became weak, she put poison in it

The other monster tried to attack us, but Horner did not disappoint me. The claws of the monster were tougher than his shell.

He was defending against Horner's blows as if he knew what he was doing. He was watching the other monster while he was getting killed, then attacking us.

To make it easy for Horner,I opened gates on the ground where the monster was standing in order to unbalance it ,a few more hits until the monster died, we were able to eliminate the two monsters...

Suddenly Horner shouted:

-"Hey!! Where is the third one ?!"

Third one? Wasn't there only two?? where is the other??

Donelle said in a tense tone:

-"it escaped".

Edgar shouted :

-"Let's go out".

The monster crept out. I opened a gate outside to make it faster, and we followed the monster's footsteps, only to collide with a horrible sight.

We were late.

The monster has already found its prey.

The blood everywhere,

The victim's head was separated from the body, the limbs were thrown around, and the monster was eating the intestines.

But there's a guy sitting by the tree, he looks familiar, hey, it can't be...

Tyrone was sitting on the ground covered in blood, silently watching with both of his empty eyes overflowing with tears, his face pale, he didn't say a word.

Horner and Edgar ran towards the monster and killed it with one blow.

Donelle rushed towards Tyrone and tried to talk to him:

-"Boy are you okay?!!, he's not responding".

He was holding something in his hands.

-"What is this you're holding between..."

Her eyes widened and froze in place. I approached her to see what was wrong with her.

What is this!??.

Don't tell me, please...

He was carrying Sophie's head.

The body belonged to Sophie.

My heart hurt, a sense of nausea and fear filled me, my vision became blurry.

Donelle covered my eyes and told me to step away.

Edgar and Horner were furious, thinking it was their fault for letting the monster escape.

How did this happen??

- "Hey leaders... oh leaders!".

The rest of the elite came with Ethan, he also had blood on him and his shirt was torn.

When he saw the sight of her, his strength collapsed, he fell to the ground and began to cry and scream so loud until he passed out. As for the rest, they were stunned ,some of them started crying, and some of them vomited from the horror of the scene.

They Immediately take Tyrone, they were surprised by what he was carrying, but Donelle took care of them.

It started raining...

We returned to the headquarters, Tyrone and Ethan were taken to the clinic, Tyrone was in shock, did not eat or speak, even his arms remained in that position.

Ethan was the only one who we could communicate with him. We entered the clinic. His eyes were empty and red from crying.

Edgar asked him:

- "Tell us what happened."

He hesitate a bit, Dara approached and grabbed his hand and said:

-"Don't worry it's not your fault, tell us what happened so we can find a solution".

Ethan said in a weak, tired voice

"It all started when you left..."

....

After you left I met Tyrone and Sophie whispering.

-"What are you whispering about?".

Tyrone was surprised and nervous, Sophie grabbed his arm and said:

-"Nothing just talking".

No way they must be planning something.

I pressed them with my insistence until they confessed.

- "We're going to join the leaders."

-"What?!, Sophie, are you crazy?!".

- "Ugh, that's why I didn't want to tell you, you're just a coward."

-"I'm not a coward but I'm careful, do you realize how many people died because of this dungeon?".

-"Then why did they take that boy Raiden with them?".

-"but...".

Tyrone interrupted me:

- "Don't worry, we'll be near the leaders, so we'll be safe."

Sophie grabbed my shoulder and said with a creepy smile and wide eyes:

- "It is time for us to prove ourselves to them, that we are better than that boy. If it were Dara, she would have agreed to go."

I don't know how I agreed, maybe because of my anger at Raiden, or my desire to prove myself, I didn't realize the situation until I found myself with them exploring the mountain.

We were looking far away for the dungeon, but we didn't find anything.

- "Strange, I thought we'd meet the leaders."

- "Maybe they got close to the dungeon."

Tyrone said.

-"Let's get closer"

- "Huh?! No Sophie it's dangerous?".

- "Tsk you coward I'm going with Tyrone".

Sophie approached Tyrone and began to fill his head with fantasies.

- "Come on, Tyrone, let's go and you will be the leader. If something happens, you're as strong as Edgar. You can handle it."

Tyrone smiled, he ignited with enthusiasm, she knows his weakness and how to manipulate him.

- "Sophie's right, let's go. I'll protect you. Ethan, if you're afraid, come back. You'll only be a hindrance."

That idiot easily believed her words, I couldn't leave them alone so I accompanied them.

The closer we got, the more we felt a strange sensation, and we did not find traces of the leaders.

-" They must have entered the dungeon."

Tyrone said angrily:

-"What? With that boy!!"

Sophie stood near the dungeon and said with a smile:

-"Shall we enter the dungeon, and fight side by side with the leaders?".

- "Sophie, go away and stop being reckless. Let's go ba..."

huh is it raining??Why would my face get wet?...

Sophie... Sophie's leg has disappeared!?

That's not rain , it's Sophie's blood!!

Sophie started screaming while she was leaning on the ground.

I was still in my place, I didn't understand what happened.

Tyrone ran towards her and carried her, he was trembling and crying, I went to Sophie after I rectified the matter, i tore my shirt and wrapped it on her leg, suddenly a giant claw came out of the dungeon, it's a monster.

Tyrone carried Sophie and we started running. The monster took a while to get out of the dungeon, as if he seemed hesitant.

Then he comes outside and insanely running towards us, we panicked.

Tyrone was slow unlike usual, because of fear and Sophie, she was in deadly pain and sweat filled her face, she could barely hold back her screams.

I remembered being near the elite

-"Tyron, hold on a little bit, I'll get help."

- "Well, count on me but please hurry."

I separated from them and the monster kept chasing them. I went to them and asked for help, but I was late

-"...it's all my fault, if I had stopped them, this wouldn't have happened."

He starts crying, and Dara hugs him and pats him on his back.

We left the clinic after Ethan fell asleep.

I still can't believe what happened, guilt cuts my heart, part of me blames me for what happened, if I didn't provoke them this wouldn't have happened, I thought it was better to get them out of the illusion they were living in, but I was wrong.

Donelle was looking at me then sighed and hit my back so hard.

-"Uggh why did you do this?

-"It's not your fault"

-"Huh?"

-"It's all our fault, we have to take responsibility for it in the best possible way."

The next day, we buried Sophie. All the children of the orphanage and mercenaries, in addition to Ethan, attended the funeral. He looked weak and tired. Everyone was silent and sad. They felt guilt and responsibility. Sophie left a great void because, as they say, she was the sun of the orphanage, while the soil was thrown on her coffin, it was raining as if the sky was crying over her.

Ethan came forward and placed a yellow tulip on her grave and said:

-"I'm sorry".

Days later, the elite of the headquarter were summoned, and they brought many weapons and magicians, in order to purify the dungeon.

Because of the incident, Dara realized that monsters do not come out in the sunlight, and the reason for his exit that day was because it was cloudy, so Elvis came up with an idea to clear the dungeon.

They destroyed the dungeon so that light could enter it, and they used the magicians of light.

The purge lasted a ten days, until they succeeded.

Everyone was exhausted, and the sadness was still there.

Tyrone has not yet recovered from the shock, a special room has been allocated for him, because every night he screams by Sophie's name and tries to escape from the monster that haunts him in his nightmares.

As for Ethan, he shut himself up and did not speak since that day.

After a week, we decided to go to the headquarters, because there is a backlog of work and also to solve some outstanding issues related to this dungeon, Marcus was sad for Dara's leaving.

I wanted to visit Ethan and Tyrone before I leave.

Tyrone was calm, like a body without a soul, a flame had gone out, he looked at me with a tired smile and said:

-"I knew it..."

-"..."

-" Sophie is a warm person, loved by all the children of the orphanage, despite being arrogant and hasty, but she is kind and courageous.

Since that time we spoke she had changed, the sparkle in her eyes had disappeared, I didn't like it.

When she suggested that we go, I was not convinced of her idea, but her eyes were shining. I did not want to destroy her more. I knew that it was a bad idea , I should have calmed her down and resolved the matter in a better way. I thought moving forward meant strength, but I did not realize that it would be a crushing weakness. Now I will not be able to see her or hear her voice or laugh with her, we used to fight but we were best friends, we were brothers."

-"I'm sorry"

-"Don't apologise, she's already dead...".

He said it, while his dead eyes staring at me .

I quietly left his room, then I went to Ethan, I knocked on the door of his room, but he did not answer, I could sense his presence inside, I had no choice , I entered using my gate, I found him sitting on the bed watching the wall, he looked at me with his black eyes and then looked back at the wall again.

-"It is inappropriate to ignore people".

He replied in a weak voice:

-"It is inappropriate to enter people's rooms without permission...".

He was silent for a while, then continue:

-"...What do you want".

-"Are you well".

"Huh, what's this question? Do I look okay to you?".

- "You know it's not entirely your fault."

-"Rather, it was my fault that I had to stop them. You were right from the beginning. We don't look like them. I didn't even know how to act. If it was Dara, she would have found a solution."

- "Everyone makes mistakes, and that includes all of them, Dara Edgar Donal Elvis Horner. The difference is that they trust each other's abilities. If someone has doubts, they withdraw. You knew your limits, but they didn't. It was a hard lesson, but you still have to take responsibility in a better way."

-"What?!"

- "You are limitiy your abilities by comparing yourself to Dara. You can get better than this. Be yourself."

Ethan suddenly fell silent, I got up and said my last words to him:

-"I'm leaving tomorrow. We may not meet again, but I hope you'll consider my advice. Goodbye."

The next morning we got ready to leave and were seen off ,a moment before we set off, I caught sight of Ethan , he was standing far away, waving his hand, I read the movements of his lips:

-"Let's meet again".

We left Medea, leaving painful memories, which time will help us get over it