CHAPTER 254: CHAPTER 254

The realization hit me like a thunderbolt—soulcrystals.

Wait, so these crystals come from the trapped souls in a dungeon? I had never written that into the novel! I had simply described them as materials used for magic seals and enchantments. The crystals’ colors and brightness varied, giving each a unique appearance, but I hadn’t considered their origin beyond that.

I was momentarily stunned, then my gaze shifted to Rex and Christian. They seemed to sense my thoughts, their glints reflecting my hesitation. Neither Rex, Christian, nor I seemed eager to use or keep them; the weight of what they truly represented hung heavily in the air.

"We’ll have to give them to their families," I said quietly, almost as a command to myself. That felt like the only right choice.

"I’m okay with that," Rex nodded in agreement.

"Right," Christian said as he carefully wrapped the crystals and placed them gently into his bag.

Despite our consensus, none of us truly felt happy about it. We were all painfully aware of what these crystals represented—the memories and grief of parents who had lost their children.

"Let’s open up that chest first," I walked towards the chest sitting in the middle of the open field.

I opened the chest, expecting a bright light to shine on my face, some epic glow or fanfare to mark our hard-won victory. But what greeted me was a puff of dust straight to the nose, causing me to sneeze loudly, "Achoo!" and stumble back a step. Well... that’s anti-climactic. The dungeon really knew how to kill the mood.

When I looked inside, rubbing my watering eyes, there were three dusty-looking items nestled in the mud: a bow, gloves, and a pair of boots. They looked like they’d been sitting there for ages, covered in a fine layer of swamp crud, but the faint magical hum told me they were worth the trouble.

"I’ll take this," I said, brushing off the bow and testing its draw.

The two looked at me as if I had gone crazy, their eyes wide and brows furrowed in disbelief.

"All the trouble just for these trash?" Rex can’t help but exclaim, gesturing at the dusty items like they were yesterday’s garbage.

"These aren’t trash, you idiot—these are ancient artifacts," I shot back, rolling my eyes. "They’ve got mana woven into them, probably from some old swamp guardian. Don’t judge a book by its dust."

"You’re only taking that? I thought it’s 60:40?" Christian said, crossing his arms, still eyeing the boots and gloves like they were the real prizes.

I shrugged, slinging the bow over my shoulder. "Nah, I’m good with this. You guys split the rest—fair’s fair after that boss fight."

Christian claimed the boots, shaking off the dust and slipping them on, while Rex grabbed the gloves, flexing his fingers inside them.

"You should switch," I suggested, scanning the items with the help of the system and the items wouldn’t benefit from each other as much as they could with the right users. But they waved me off, stubborn as ever.

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Mudstride Boots

Enhances the user’s mobility by providing extra stability and quick movement over any terrain (additional bonus points if the terrain is muddy), allowing swift retreats or ambushes.

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Grappling Grips

Improves the user’s grip strength, increasing attack precision and allowing for faster, more controlled swings, especially useful when fighting in tight, slippery spaces.

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"These boots are perfect for my style," Christian said, taking a test stomp that sent mud flying.

"And these gloves? Spot on for slippery fights," Rex added, grinning.

I shook my head at them, crossing my arms. "You are fit to take the gloves since your weapon is a sword and Christian should take the boots since his weapon is heavier than yours," I said, not bothering to elaborate further. The gloves’ precision boost would amplify Rex’s quick slashes, while the boots’ mobility would help Christian maneuver with his spear’s weight.

They looked reluctant to switch, exchanging glances like kids not wanting to share toys. So I sighed, exasperated. "Rather than wasting your time and money to get your items appraised, I’m telling you the truth," I said, tapping my temple. "Trust me on this—I’ve got an eye for these things."

Rex hesitated, then shrugged. "Fine, witch. If you say so." He tossed the gloves to Christian and took the boots, lacing them up with a nod. "These do feel lighter already."

Christian slipped on the gloves, testing a spear thrust that felt smoother. "Yeah, not bad. Thanks for the save."

"Oh right, you’re main weapon was bow before you switched right?" Rex said, snapping his fingers as if just remembering.

"Yeah," I said, staring at the bow in my hands. I’ll infuse this bow with my original bow—combine their mana to enhance its power.

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Nightshade Bow

Primary Effect:

Grants the wielder a brief, almost instinctive glimpse into the hidden truths of the target, revealing weaknesses, secrets, or concealed information. Blessed by the moon itself, the bow’s arrows are infused with lunar energy, making them particularly effective against evil spirits and dark entities.

Additional Effect:

The wielder can shoot arrows to specific coordinates, which then manifest as a semi-permanent barrier or shield in that location. This barrier provides protection and can be shaped or directed as needed, functioning as a defensive wall or dome.

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After getting out of the dungeon, we headed to a nearby restaurant in the outskirts of Murkifen, the kind with greasy burgers and cold drinks that hit the spot. I thought I could eat in silence, letting the food soothe my hunger but with these two, no way—they were noisy as hell, Rex cracking jokes about the mud in his boots and Christian debating the best spear techniques, their voices bouncing off the walls until we finished eating dinner. The chatter was annoying at first, but it lightened my mood.

After that, I said goodbye, waving as I stood to leave, Glacier padding beside me and Macaron on my shoulder. But they stopped in front of me, blocking the path with determined looks.

"Can you answer our question now?" Christian said, his voice firm, arms crossed.

"You thought we forgot about that, have we?" Rex added, grinning but serious.

Glacier, who was beside me, immediately growled at them, his icy breath frosting the air.

The two flinched but didn’t back away, standing their ground despite the chill.

I smirked at them, laughing softly. "Considering you two, yes," I said, teasing them for their forgetfulness in the heat of battle.

"Oh come on, just tell us," Rex said, gulping as Glacier glared at them, the Frostbane’s eyes like shards of ice.

"Treat me ice cream first," I said, then walked to a nearby bench and sat there, crossing my legs.

They exchanged glances, sighing but smiling. Rex pulled out his wallet. "Fine, witch. Ice cream it is." Christian nodded, and they headed to the vendor cart nearby, Glacier settling at my feet with a satisfied huff. The evening air was cool, the stars starting to peek out.

Christian handed me a matcha ice cream, the green swirl looking almost too perfect against the evening sky. They sat by my side, Rex on the left with his chocolate cone, Christian on the right with vanilla. We were eating ice cream for a while, the silence comfortable at first, filled only with the occasional slurp or crunch. Glacier lounged at my feet, Macaron perched on the bench back, and the stars overhead twinkled like they didn’t have a care. But the question hung there, unspoken until I finally decided to break the silence. "I’m leaving."

They froze mid-lick, then burst out laughing. "Nice one, witch!" Rex said, clapping me on the back. "Take your time, just make sure don’t be late for class—"

"I’m dropping out," I cut him off, the words hanging in the air like frost.

This time they finally froze, the ice cream dropping from their cones onto the ground with soft thuds. "Are you serious? You’re the top one in the Academy! You’ve aced all our exams and you’re dropping out just like that?" Rex exclaimed, his eyes wide, voice cracking a bit.

"Why?" Christian only said calmly, his gaze searching mine, the laughter gone from his face.

I looked up at the sky, the stars blurring a little. "No reason. I just realized that I don’t want to become a Hero anymore."

We were silent for a while again, the night air thick with unspoken questions, the distant hum of the city a faint backdrop to our thoughts. The ice cream cones lay abandoned on the ground, melting into puddles that mirrored the uncertainty hanging between us.

"Did the others know you’re leaving?" Rex said finally, breaking the quiet, his voice laced with a mix of disbelief and concern.

I shook my head, staring at the stars. "Can you guys keep it a secret?"

"We’ll try," Rex said, his usual bravado softened, though I could tell he was wrestling with it.

"When will you drop out?" Christian said gently, probing without pushing.

I stood up and smiled at them, a genuine but bittersweet curve of my lips. "That will be my secret. And if that day comes, don’t miss me too much." I said laughing lightly before leaving them in mixed emotions, Glacier padding at my side and Macaron fluttering overhead as I walked away into the deepening night.