Hidden Dungeon (Part 3)

A thick, purple miasma that smelled like the flesh of a decayed rodent surrounded the pit of the abyssal land the intruder has found. Under the magnificence of the Aclarian castle—lies an underground dungeon. Siegren held the grip of his sword tightly, which reacted to the thick miasma in the atmosphere.

The miasma was no doubt corrupted mana shrouded with lingering malevolence. As he rigidly lifted his sword, he plunged its hilt to the cobbled ground. The soulless began to absorb the thick miasma. This resulted in the purple fog clearing up—and in just a matter of seconds, Siegren was finally able to gaze upon the spectacle before him.

What awaited him was a place that completely deviated from the well-lit interior of the castle above. Below the engraved insignia was a place shrouded with moss and corroded structure from many years ago. The pillars are entwined with dirt and embossed within those pillars are cracked carvings of the fire hawk statue.

Siegren then looked around.

Why was he alone?

The moment he gained consciousness was when he took notice of the foul stench of rot. However, he had awoken alone.

Siegren lifted his head and looked upwards, only to see nothing but darkness above. Just how deep did he fall for him to not see anything above?

Siegren then ambled his way towards one of the numerous aisles of several corroded pillars. Though the miasma wasn't as thick as before, the stench of decay was still there. A strange, purple hue shrouded the surrounding area in place of light. He strode amid the dungeon vigilantly. With this thick mist, anything can sprout from the undead to any other monster.

The silence of the dungeon was eased by his footsteps that echoed at every corner possible. It was as if he was the only breathing person out there.

He was certain that the guards would also arrive here any minute now—yet there was no sign of them coming.

He closed his eyes to feel the energy within the place, but the thick miasma seemed to act like a mantle that covers all other forces around the field.

Scattered malevolence. That was what he was sensing.

Other than that, there was nothing.

"Siegren."

Siegren then turned cautiously, his blade pointing to the person who now appeared soundlessly behind him. They faced each other—fog surrounding the other for a short moment. As the vapor cleared, he saw her.

Crystal blue eyes with hints of purple looked back at him, alarmed. A girl with pale blond hair that fell freely on her waist; wearing a clean, white dress that tumbled just by her knees.

"I-It's me!"

Siegren stared.

It was Lumi, hands hidden on her back as she stared at his eyes fearlessly. Though, she looked a little stunned the moment she realized the tip of his blade was by her neck. As he lowered his greatsword, and drew it away from her, she was able to finally sigh in relief.

"Where were you? I've been looking everywhere," the girl said. "I've been calling your name. You won't even answer me. Where were you all this time?"

"…You look pale." He simply remarked.

"Do I?" The girl then touched her face, fingertips covered by the loose strands of blond locks around her cheeks.

Siegren then grabbed the girl's hand, which made her eyes widen in response. "W-what are you doing?"

She immediately snatched her hand back from his grip, "what's the matter with you?"

Siegren was silent, gaze fixed on his own palm.

"We should go, I found it already," she said. This caught his attention, which painted a small smile on her face.

She then turned around and began to walk past him. She looked sideways, grinning.

"Come. I'll lead you to it."

**

Siegren and Lumi arrived in a place that was filled with even thicker miasma. With grey eyes squinted, he followed the girl who looked unbothered by the purple haze.

She then stopped in the middle of the cobblestone paths.

"We're here," she said.

Siegren was only silent, a meter away from her.

"Come, Siegren," she turned sideways, smiling. "What we're looking for is here."

Siegren stared at Lumi without taking another step.

"Siegren? What's wrong?" She asked. "Come here."

"Who are you?"

The girl frowned. "What are you talking about?"

"You…" Siegren narrowed his eyes. "Have no ounce of divinity."

The girl's smile disappeared.

He couldn't be mistaken. The girl in front of him had a paler complexion, like life was depleted out of her face. Her nails, which she callously hid, were decaying and blackened with grime. She was also leaving a faint putrid smell on her trail, like a corpse.

This girl…

Was not Lumi.

"Who are you?" Siegren repeated.

"I told you, it's me. Lumi," the girl said, with her unwavering sweet smile.

Siegren did not reply, clearly not buying the girl's claim.

Her sweet smile slowly faded.

"What a shame," the girl said with a frown. "It would've been easier for you if you believed."

Siegren's grey eyes stared at the girl's appearance slowly transitioning into something that was far more sinister. As the image of Lumi faded away, Siegren was welcomed with a monster covered in a murky, tattered cloak that gave the shape of a legless, slender and tall creature; it floated, with its long, sharp bony fingers being the only visible part in its body.

His intuition was right. This was not Lumi, but a ghost-like specter—a soul that is tainted to the point of no return.

The lowest class of the Undead.

A wraith.

"Where is Lumi?" Siegren asked, grey eyes blank. Wraiths can only take on forms they have seen. It also knew his name, meaning it had seen Lumi searching for him.

A chuckle, which sounded like a deep voice below the earth came from the wraith. Its bony fingers cracked as it clenches and unclenches its fingers.

"Lumi, Lu…mi," the wraith whispered, mimicking. "Where is Lumi?"

It flawlessly impersonated Siegren's voice.

Siegren then took a step, and then another, until he was running after the specter as he unsheathed his greatsword.

The specter vanished as soon as Siegren reached it, then it appeared behind him in the blink of an eye. As its bony fingers reached to grab his neck, Siegren turned around to evade the attack by quickly slashing backward, but it vanished yet again.

Suddenly, multiple wraiths appeared one by one. As they finally revealed themselves, they proceeded to ambush him—as if they were waiting to devour him all this time. They attacked Siegren with their bony fingers ready to lacerate his flesh. The mist clouded his vision, limiting his aim. Then, in the middle of warding off wraiths, he felt something.

A manifestation of a certain power.

Divinity.

Lumi.

She's near.