CHAPTER 106: CHAPTER 106 - CONVERGENCE

"Before I check Julian’s resonance, I want to talk to you three about something else. Still magic, but a different side of it."

She turns to Liam. "Earlier, you said you didn’t know why you suddenly demanded to know how I got rid of the smell. Yes?"

"Yes." Liam nods. "I... really didn’t know why I was like that."

"What did you feel?" Aldriana asks.

"Like..." He pauses.

"Like there was a need to... chase a new high. I was excited about the whole magic thing. And when I saw you use wind magic, my brain shut down and just zeroed in on that."

Aldriana nods knowingly. She turns to Arthur. "And you? You suddenly turned into a human torch. How did you feel at that exact moment?"

Arthur takes a deep breath. "Like someone acting on impulse. Just like Liam said. My brain shut down and went straight to the anger. And if Liam hadn’t stopped me, I really would have burst into flames and hurt people."

Aldriana nods again.

"Can you guess what I’m trying to say?"

"You’re talking about the danger of getting addicted. Being controlled by your own magic."

All heads turn.

Maeve is standing there, looking unsure.

She takes a deep breath. "If it’s okay... I’d like to listen too. I want to learn. I don’t want to be the one dragging everyone behind."

Her voice is small but determined.

Aldriana smiles and gestures for her to sit.

Maeve brightens a little and sits down.

"Maeve is right. Everything has two sides. Magic is the same. That first euphoria from your first successful spell? I promise you, it will never come again. Be careful not to chase that high. Even if you cast stronger spells, it won’t return."

She continues, firm but calm,

"And like everything else, power must come with responsibility. Never let it go to your head."

Her aura shifts—heavy, suffocating.

"If you do, I’ll stop you."

Silence.

Arthur speaks first. "I understand. And I agree. We do need to continue with caution. This is new for us. I can’t believe I didn’t realize it."

"It’s okay. Like you said, it’s new. And the feeling is completely different from anything else. I understand it because I went through it too."

"That’s the first thing. The second thing is... I want to seal the dungeon from the inside so no one accidentally wanders in."

She looks at all four of them. "Honestly, I want all of you to leave the dungeon and let me clear it. It’s the fastest and safest way."

Their faces all shift the same way—reluctance. Even Maeve.

No one wants to leave.

Aldriana points at all four. "Because of those faces, I didn’t kick you out. I get it. And I’ll admit, this dungeon is an amazing opportunity for you to learn fast."

She lifts a hand before they get excited.

"But. You will promise me not to risk your life. Especially for me. No matter how bad it looks, I can always get out. Inside this dungeon, I am invincible."

She looks at Arthur first. She wants his promise before the others.

Arthur meets her eyes and slowly nods. "I promise."

She turns to Liam. "I promise."

Julian, "I promise. Even though I don’t really know why I’m promising since I’m the only one here who doesn’t know magic. I don’t have the ability to help. You don’t have to worry."

Aldriana just keeps staring at him.

"I said I promise!"

Maeve adds softly, "I promise." She looks at Aldriana a bit too intently. Aldriana catches the unsaid message: I’ll keep your secret.

Aldriana dips her head the slightest bit. I won’t reveal yours either.

"Okay. I’ll go seal the dungeon. All of you stay here. Don’t wander off. I’ll seal this cave too, you’ll be safe."

She points at Arthur and Liam. "You two, show Julian how to feel mana. If he feels it, he’ll know his resonance. When I get back, I’ll check him."

She turns to Maeve. "You too. Sit. Feel the mana. Listen to what it’s trying to say."

With that, she stands and leaves.

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Outside in the dark, a few haelions notice her exiting the cave and start clicking.

Strong, leave.

We report.

They scurry away.

Aldriana catches it instantly and sneers.

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Sam is riding the Montrose Horizon Pod. He feels genuinely grateful he decided to bring it. Now he’s hiking upward, following Arthur’s trail, heading toward the convergence spot the rangers pointed out.

He found Arthur’s car about an hour earlier, abandoned exactly at the same spot as Sam would if he was doing the same thing.

Sam sighed, but he wasn’t surprised. Arthur ignored the rangers’ advice to wait until morning, ditched his car, and hiked straight into danger. He would’ve done the same .

If the rangers gave him the correct direction, with this Pod, he’ll reach the location in just a few minutes.

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Aldriana dusts her palms together. Hah! Piece of cake. Serves you right.

In front of her lie several haelions — the same ones that tried to run off and report back. Not anymore.

"Because of you guys, I had to take a detour."

She looks entirely satisfied as she watches the carcasses sink slowly into the ground, absorbed by the dungeon.

Once they’re gone, she turns around and shoots into the air again.

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"I can’t believe it. There’s a dungeon here."

Sam’s voice is low but sharp with disbelief. "Is this why those people went missing? Are Master Arthur and the others inside?"

He’s just arrived at the clearing, and the first thing he sees is the gate — towering, ominous, unmistakable.

He immediately pulls out his phone to call for backup, but the screen flashes a dead signal. Of course. That explains why Arthur never sent any messages.

Sam guides the Pod closer to the gate, slow and cautious.

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Aldriana arrives at the gate at that exact moment. When she left earlier, she deliberately ensured the gate remained visible from the outside — a warning to anyone approaching, so they’d call the authorities instead of wandering in accidently.

She scans the surroundings, checking for haelions. She doesn’t want any surprises when the gate starts pulsing.

Huh?

A second later, an image appears beyond the shimmer.

What is that?

Aldriana instantly shifts her stance, ready to attack.