Chapter 13: Chapter Eleven: Fractures

As soon as Mark regained consciousness, he immediately tried to call his friends, but got no response. The rubble had transformed the ground, creating new paths and breaking existing ones. He noticed almost immediately that his return bracelet, as well as Vanessa's, were completely destroyed.

Vanessa still lay unconscious. He noticed that, in addition to the head wound, her left leg was also in pretty bad shape.

The mages' uniform is long and cape-like. Mark tore off the lower part of it, gathered some elongated stones and tried to construct a rudimentary brace for Vanessa's leg. He used the rest of the fabric to bandage her head.

While he was intent on dressing her, Vanessa awoke.

“Ah...are we alive?” she asked, still stunned.

“Yes, a little bruised, but alive,” Mark replied, continuing to adjust her leg.

“I just remember hitting the ceiling above the dragon and ... then nothingness.”

“The floor collapsed. We fell for a long time before we landed,” he explained.

“How did we survive?”

“Leo saved us. He slowed the fall with his skill. Without him, we would have died,” said Mark, now intent on bandaging her head.

Then he stood up and said in a firm tone:

“We have to start moving. If we stay here, we will be easy prey.”

He knelt down and removed the top of his uniform. He tore the fabric in half, not noticing that Vanessa was staring at him, completely embarrassed. No boy had ever undressed in front of her, and certainly not in such a desperate situation--nor with those abs.

“Wh-what are you doing?!” she exclaimed, blushing.

“I'm making a band to tie you to my back. That way I'll have my hands free to fight,” Mark replied, completely unaware of the reason for her upset.

Carefully, he lifted her up and settled her on her back, securing her with the improvised band.

“Comfortable back there?” he asked, trying to play it down.

“Oddly enough, yes...” replied Vanessa, unexpectedly serious.

“I'm glad,” replied Mark, smiling.

They walked down a narrow tunnel, lit only by phosphorescent mushrooms shining in shades of purple, blue, yellow and green.

Time passed, but they found no fork or sign of an exit. The silence between them was beginning to grow heavy.

Vanessa, with her head resting on Mark's muscular, scarred back, could hear his heartbeat: slow, steady, almost a melody. Sometimes she would close her eyes, lulled by that calm, but then embarrassment would suddenly wake her up.

Mark, for his part, felt her heart speed up. Perhaps out of fear.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

“Yes yes... I'm just a little afraid of enclosed spaces,” lied Vanessa, avoiding confessing that his smell reminded her of a caramelized strawberry.

“What about you? You've been carrying me for hours. Do you want to rest?” she asked.

“I don't need it. I grew up with very hard workouts. Carrying forty kilos on my back is almost relaxing.”

Vanessa blushed. Nevertheless, Mark had just paid her a nice compliment.

“Are you hot?” he asked again, noticing her blush.

“N-no, I'm fine,” she concluded, clearing her throat.

Another three hours passed. The course seemed never-ending.

Until Vanessa said:

“Wait, Mark. Something is wrong. We've been through here before.”

“You're right. I noticed it too, but I didn't pay any attention to it.”

“Put me down,” he asked softly.

“I activate a skill of mages: Search. It allows us to detect traps, monsters and poisons.”

He touched the ground with his right hand. A blue aura began to emanate from his body.

“Mark...we've walked into a loop trap.”

Loop traps create infinite paths. They serve to confuse smaller prey, delaying their arrival at the boss or pushing them toward more powerful monsters.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

“Strange...these traps should not be there. Floors 1 through 10 have been secured,” Mark reflected.

“You're right. Something doesn't add up.”

“Can you get us out?”

“I can try.”

The entire tunnel lit up-and vanished.

In front of them now lay dozens of new paths.

“That's it,” Vanessa said, satisfied.

Mark took her on his shoulder again. And together, they set off again.

-Break-

Meanwhile, Leo, Nayra, and Aaron...

“MARK!” shouted Aaron, moving the stones off of him.

“VANESSA!” shouted Nayra.

“Shut up you two!” interrupted Leo, plugging their mouths with both hands. “Screaming will only serve to attract monsters.”

“You're right...” admitted Aaron, removing Leo's hand from his mouth.

“What do we do now?” asked Nayra, looking around.

“We have to find Mark and Vanessa. We all fell into the same plan, I'm sure-I felt it the moment my skill went off. If we find them, we can-”

Leo suddenly interrupted. A flash of fear lit up in his eyes.

“Your bracelets...?”

“Broken.” replied Aaron, showing his wrist.

“Mine too.” said Nayra, in a worried tone.

“Then that makes three of us. This is a huge problem-it means we have to complete the test in order to go back.” concluded Leo, frowning.

“We've fallen for a long time,” Aaron observed. “We are probably already on the 10th floor.”

“It's possible, yes...” confirmed Leo, thoughtfully.

“We definitely need to find Mark and Vanessa,” insisted Nayra. “There are three of us, but there are only two of them ... and Vanessa is bound to be hurt. They won't last long.”

“Maybe their bracelet didn't break. They might have used it,” speculated Aaron.

“No, that's impossible,” Leo shook his head. “That bracelet is enchanted with a very powerful skill. Its use would release a huge amount of magical essence all over the floor--and I don't feel anything. They must be in the same situation as us.”

“We must hurry before it's too late,” Aaron concluded in a strained voice.

Leo, Nayra and Aaron ran down the dark corridors of the dungeon, their pulse racing and the weight of uncertainty on their shoulders.

-Break-

Meanwhile, from another part of the dungeon....

“Mark, would you like to pass the time by talking a little?” asked Vanessa, in a quiet but tired voice.

“Yes...but isn't there a risk of a monster surprising us?”

“Since I used Search, I left it active. So I can help in some way.”

“Good idea.” nodded Mark. “What do you want to talk about?”

“I don't know. Why do you want to become a Protector?”

Mark barely smiled. “I love helping people. That feeling you get when someone's face lights up because of you, or when they thank you sincerely.... it's priceless. And then there's my grandfather: he spent the last years of his life coaching me. I don't want his effort to go to waste.”

“That's a nice thought... You are a kind person, Mark.” said Vanessa, looking at him gently.

“What about you? Why do you want to become a Protector?” he asked, curious.

“Eh...it's a long story.”

“We have all the time in the world,” replied Mark, smiling.

Vanessa inhaled deeply, then began to narrate.

“My parents abandoned me when I was just born. Maybe they thought they couldn't give me a decent life ... they left me in front of a house. Kayla, the mistress, took me in like a daughter. She was a special woman, full of love. She was also a Protector. At first I hated that job ... because it forced her to leave for weeks at a time. Each time I was afraid she would never come back.”

He paused briefly, his voice trembling a little.

“Then, one day, I saw Kayla in action. A horde of creatures invaded our town. She was so strong, but it was not enough: she tried to stop them while protecting me. Finally, they surrounded us. Kayla was exhausted, and I-I was paralyzed with fear. Then, something strange happened. Time stopped. I heard a voice whisper, “You have been chosen. Invoke my power, little Vanessa.”

Vanessa lowered her gaze. A tear lined her cheek.

“In that moment I unlocked my Oneness. I don't remember what happened next ... but when I opened my eyes again, all the creatures had been swept away. Kayla was holding me in her arms. From that moment, I knew what I wanted to do: to become what I once hated. I wanted to protect those who cannot do it alone. And so ... here I am.”

Mark was silent for a few seconds, stricken.

“Wow...what a story. You gave me chills. And Kayla, how is she now?”

“She's fine. At least, fine for me. She's retired now-but she hates it. She would like to go back to fighting.”

“I understand the feeling. When my grandfather disappeared, I didn't even know how to face a fight alone. I suffered a lot because of my inability to put myself out there.”

“Well, at least she's only old,” Vanessa said with a chuckle.

“You're right,” Mark replied, bursting out laughing.

Suddenly...

“Stop!” whispered Vanessa, raising her arm.

“What's going on?” asked Mark, alarmed.

“That... is a safe zone! Do you see it?”

“Safe zone?” Mark asked.

“These are areas created by the Protectors to rest and regain strength. They are usually located before areas with a high density of creatures. But... they are never used in the plans that have already been secured.”

“So...?”

“So, we are definitely located below the tenth floor.” concluded Vanessa, her eyes wide.