I can feel the cold wind as I step out of the car, a wave of nausea still lingering from my car sickness. But before I can recover, my secretary drags me forward. "There you are! The meeting's about to start. We need to head in now. All the guild leaders and the association president are already here." He rushes through the association's entrance, pushing open two large doors before we finally arrive at the conference room. I greet the association president before taking my seat, getting comfortable just as the meeting begins.
"Alright, since it seems everyone is here, let's start," the president says, picking up the remote and clicking to display a slide with a picture of the gate and its open conditions.
[Sealed Dungeon 2]
Dungeon details:
Sealed dungeon, assumed difficulty of S rank or higher.
Type of dungeon:
N/A
Open conditions:
"Not forged in fire, nor cast in stone,
I am the key the sea has grown.
In shell I slept through ages deep,
Guarding what the gods still keep.
When moonlight strikes the coral floor,
Place me whole at the ocean's door—
And what was lost shall rise once more."
Murmurs ripple through the room. "Was the last one a riddle?" I whisper to my secretary.
"I guess? The last one said—
'When moonlight stains the temple floor,
And silence stands at fate's closed door,
A chosen vein must freely give—
For blood alone commands to live.
The gate of gods, asleep in stone,
Shall open where the blood is known.'"
I nod, then turn my attention back to the screen. Something catches my eye: "I am the key the sea has grown. In the shell I slept through ages deep." I raise my hand. "Could it be a pearl?"
All eyes turn to me, and the association president looks my way. "Do you care to explain, Ms. Aeloria?"
I clear my throat. "In the lines, 'I am the key the sea has grown, in the shell I slept through ages deep,' it could be referring to a pearl—something that forms inside a shell, often hidden deep beneath the ocean's surface."
I see nods of agreement, feeling a brief moment of satisfaction before a voice interrupts.
"I disagree with your statement." I turn to see none other than the vice guild leader of Myth. I roll my eyes, deciding not to engage.
"Do you have another theory, Mr. Laen?" The president gestures for him to present his thoughts.
Laen stands, clearly relishing the spotlight. "It's clearly a snail. Snails have been inside shells for centuries!"
I ignore the ensuing debate and focus on the oracle again. My mind races as I try to piece the puzzle together. Finally, I turn to the official who assessed the dungeon. "Mr. Pol, was there anything resembling a keyhole near the gate?"
Pol, surprised to be acknowledged amid the chaos, answers. "Well, yes. The gate was suspended by two stones, and there were slots on those stones. It's hard to see in the photo, but they were definitely there."
I thank him and respond, "That could mean there are different keys for each corresponding slot on the stones."
The president nods thoughtfully and raises his hand, signaling for silence. The room quiets, awaiting his decision.
"Alright, we'll take everything into consideration. Let's continue. The gate will break in two weeks, and assuming it takes at least one week to clear, we'll have less than one week to prepare and open it."
Everyone nods in agreement. "That said," the president continues, "we still don't have a raid team."
The room falls silent, tension thick in the air. The president sighs. "We're looking for volunteers. Of course, you'll be compensated according to the difficulty of the gate and exempted from the dungeon tax for this raid."
Murmurs fill the room, and I raise my hand. "I volunteer."
Suddenly, all eyes are on me. My assistant whisper screams, "Are you insane? Do you have any idea how dangerous sealed gates are??"
I barely hear his protests. "Yes, I know. But nothing you say will change my mind."
His voice grows louder. "Clearly you don't! Two S-rank hunters barely made it out alive, with promising A-rank hunters dying! And that was an A-rank gate!"
I can feel the heat rise on my face, but I try to maintain my composure. "Clearly, they got the evaluation wrong."
I see some of the officials' faces flush, realizing how harsh my words sounded. I quickly mouth an apology, but they've already turning back to the president.
"Do you have any other volunteers?" The president looks around.
A hand goes up. "I'll do it." A wave of surprise spreads across the room as another volunteer steps forward, sword saint another one of the S-rankers.
With that, the raid team quickly begins to form, and soon the president announces, "The raid team will meet tomorrow. Please arrive before 1 p.m."
My secretary hands me a key card for the meeting room. I thank him quickly and leave, not feeling like socializing today.
As I step outside, I decide to walk home. The clear weather is a welcome contrast to the tense atmosphere in the room. Stopping at a bridge, I find myself caught by the beauty of the sunset. I take out my phone and snap a picture. Click.
The moment stirs up memories. It's been ten years, but it feels like yesterday. Without thinking, I cast a spell. [Light Fragment] The small orb shoots toward the setting sun, exploding into a cascade of rainbow particles. My mother would've loved that sight. I let out a quiet sigh, watching the colors dance in the sky.
"Almost her birthday," I murmur. "I should call Uncle Ma."
I dial the number—one I rarely call, filled with too many memories. He picks up on the second ring, his voice full of warmth. "Lyris! How are you, kid?"
I grip the phone tightly, trying to steady my voice. "Hey, Uncle… I'm sorry I haven't called in a while. Life's been busy."
"You don't have to apologize, Ris. I get it. Just knowing you're doing well is enough."
I can hear the understanding in his voice, but it only makes me feel worse. I try to change the subject. "I'm fine. I'm more worried about you. How are you?"
"I'm good, kid. Life's treating me well."
I know he's lying. He's struggling too, just like me. But I don't press. "Mom's birthday is soon... should we meet at her resting place?"
The line falls silent for a moment. "Yeah, let's do that."
I stay quiet, unsure of what to say next. "You okay, kiddo?" Uncle Ma asks.
"Yeah… I'm fine. Just lost my train of thought for a moment. I'll see you then."
"Alright, take care, kid."
"You too.." My voice catches, but I manage to hang up without another word. I stare at the phone screen for a moment longer, then shut it off, my thoughts swirling.
By the time I get home, I collapse onto the couch, too exhausted to think straight. Without realizing it, I drift off to sleep