"I'm going in alone," I declared, standing before the mouth of the cave.
The air was tense. A faint hum of mana pulsed from inside, brushing against our skin like a whisper from another time. The knights behind me immediately tensed.
"I'm afraid we cannot allow that, Young Master," Sir John said firmly. His hand rested on the hilt of his sword out of instinct. "We were tasked with your protection, and something about this cave… it feels wrong. Dangerous."
I sighed internally.
'This is troublesome.'
I couldn't let them follow me inside—not because I didn't trust them, but because what lay inside wasn't meant for their eyes. Not now. Not yet.
"I'm sorry," I muttered under my breath.
The knights looked puzzled. "Pardon, Young Master?"
Before they could react, I activated Flash Step.
In a blink, I surged forward and slipped past the cave's threshold. The rush of air, the sudden shift in pressure—it was like piercing through a veil.
The moment my foot crossed the edge, the cave's entrance trembled—and slammed shut behind me like a vault.
A low rumble echoed, followed by an eerie silence.
"Young Master!" Sir Leon banged on the rock with the hilt of his sword. "Can you hear us?!"
"I'm fine," I shouted back through the stone. My voice bounced against the sealed rock. "I'm safe. The entrance just… closed."
I could hear the shuffle of their armor, the scraping of metal as they examined the sealed wall from the outside.
"We'll find a way to open it! Just stay safe!"
"I will," I said. "I'll check the cave and come back as soon as I can."
Even through the thick rock, I could hear the worry in their voices. It was comforting, in a way.
But there was no going back now.
I turned to face the cave. A dim blue glow lined the walls, tracing veins of ancient magic. It wasn't torchlight—no fire could burn that steadily. No, this was mana—pure, untouched, and potent. The entire cave pulsed with it. I could feel it in my skin, in my bones, as if the very air was thicker.
'This feels… unreal.'
I walked slowly, each step echoing in the silence. I could even hear my own heartbeat.
The cave I had once seen on a screen was now surrounding me. It wasn't just a background asset or a plot point anymore—it was real. And that made everything feel heavier. More meaningful.
Back then, it was part of a quest in the game, a hidden area where the original protagonist would stumble upon the item. Only if you had high enough perception could you find the item tucked inside.
Now, I stood at the heart of it.
There were no monsters. Not even a single rat. It wasn't natural—but neither did it feel threatening. It was more like the cave itself was protected, kept untouched for centuries. As if waiting.
Waiting for me.
I walked deeper, my boots echoing softly against the cold stone.
Every step made my heart race. This place... it was sacred.
The further I went, the more serene it became. The faint mana hum grew louder—not in volume, but in presence. It filled the space like a quiet chant.
I soon stumbled across a chamber. The density of mana i feel from inside was unimaginable.
I entered the chamber, my heart racing.
It was then that I saw it.
At the center of a hollow chamber, resting in a faint circle of silver light, was a sword.
It stood upright, stabbed into the ground.
It was unlike anything I'd ever seen.
No ornamentation. No colors. No engravings. It was... colorless. As if the blade had been drained of every hue in existence.
And yet, it stood there with presence. With dignity.
I stepped closer, cautiously.
The air around it shimmered faintly. I could feel something within the blade—power, yes—but not just that.
Grief.
Resolve.
Memories.
A story locked within the blade.
"Haah"
I took a deep breath, calming myself, and reached out to grab the sword.