Part 3
The group moved cautiously down the corridor leading to the reward chamber. Although the tension had eased, anticipation still hung in the air.
The walls, adorned with carvings of heroes facing formidable creatures, were lit by warm lights that flickered gently.
—Do these hallways always have to be so solemn? —Haruto commented, breaking the silence with a light tone, though visibly exhausted.
—It's tradition —Thalindra replied, studying the carvings carefully—. Each dungeon honors its guardian.
Melodía, walking behind them, let out a dramatic sigh.
—I wish they'd honor our legs too. These endless hallways are killing me. —She suddenly stopped and pointed ahead—. Simmone! Why are you clinging to Haruto's arm!?
The group froze. Her outburst echoed through the corridor.
Haruto, with a mix of resignation and fatigue, looked down at his arm. Simmone was still latched onto it, unmoved.
—Hm. What a vulgar woman —Simmone said in her usual tone, not even bothering to look at her.
The comment hit Melodía like an arrow. She took a step back, placing a hand dramatically over her chest as if she'd been mortally wounded.
—Vulgar!? VULGAR!? —she repeated, on the verge of collapse—. Haruto, say something! This is an injustice!
Unfazed, Simmone adjusted her grip slightly.
—Where I come from, this is a normal way to walk. Besides, when I sat on his shoulder, no one said anything.
—T-that's different! A shoulder is way less... intimate!
Yuna, smiling from the back, couldn't hold back a laugh.
—Melodía, I think you just found your biggest rival.
—I don't need rivals! —she protested, turning away with her arms crossed—. Especially not ones so... so tiny!
Kizuna fluttered around with a mischievous grin.
—Melodía is bigger in every way! Well… except in patience —she added with a giggle.
—You shut up too! —Melodía shouted, trying to catch Kizuna, who nimbly dodged her while laughing.
Haruto let out a long sigh, looking up at the ceiling.
—Can we focus on the reward room?
And he resumed walking, with Simmone still holding onto his arm as if nothing had happened.
The group followed. Kizuna's laughter and Melodía's grumbling filled the corridor.
When they reached the door, it opened slowly with a deep sound, revealing a wide chamber bathed in golden light. In the center, a large hammer floated above a pedestal, radiating powerful energy.
A hologram activated instantly. The image of a red-haired dwarf with a braided beard and rune-engraved armor appeared before them.
Thalindra stood frozen. Her eyes locked onto the figure.
—It can't be… —she whispered, her voice trembling slightly.
The hologram bowed his head solemnly.
—Welcome, travelers. I am Durnir Terrafist, guardian of this chamber —he said with a deep, authoritative voice that wasn't hostile—. You have overcome the trials. Now, you are to claim your rewards.
Thalindra stepped forward, still in shock.
—Grandfather… how…?
Durnir, from within the projection, gave a faint smile that seemed to reach across time.
—I'm sorry I can't answer your questions. If you're seeing this… it means I'm no longer among you.
Yuna, sensing Thalindra's sadness, gently placed a hand on her shoulder. The dwarf girl didn't look away from the hologram. Though visibly moved, she held her composure.
—I knew the hammer was here, but I never imagined I'd see an image of my grandfather —
Thalindra said, her voice filled with both pride and nostalgia—. He was a great hero… and the reason the Terrafist name is known among master artisans.
—He must've been a great man —Melodía added, her voice soft and respectful—. It's an honor to stand before him.
Thalindra nodded slowly, discreetly wiping away her tears before turning her gaze back to the hologram.
—I wish to offer you the finest of my creations —Durnir continued, pointing toward the pedestal before him—. This is the Gaia Imperium hammer, my most powerful work. A two-handed weapon infused with six elemental runes.
The group fell silent. The weight of his words settled heavily over them.
—This hammer accompanied me for many years in Celestaris. I hope it now accompanies you.
Thalindra stepped up to the pedestal. As she took the hammer, a surge of energy ran through her. Her essence resonated in harmony with the weapon.
The group watched silently, respecting the bond forming before their eyes.
Thalindra lifted the hammer, admiring its design as a renewed determination lit up in her eyes.
—Thank you, Grandpa —she whispered.
Durnir's hologram lingered a moment longer before speaking again.
—Lastly, I would like to give you one more item. I obtained it after defeating the Demon King...
The group froze. Haruto reacted first.
—Your grandfather... defeated the Demon King? —he asked, eyes wide.
All eyes turned to Thalindra.
She nodded calmly, her gaze still fixed on the projection.
—He was part of the group that defeated him a thousand years ago.
The silence that followed was solemn. They were not just standing before a relic—but before a legacy that had changed Celestaris's history.
—This is a forbidden grimoire —Durnir said, gesturing to a chained book inside a glass case—. It holds magic from the era of the First Hero.
The chains around it pulsed with latent energy, as if the magic within still breathed.
—I don't know the exact spell inside —Durnir continued—. Only someone who commands both light and darkness can unlock it. We called that affinity "Twilight." Unfortunately, the Lunarias—the only ones capable of wielding such balance—went extinct centuries ago.
The group exchanged glances. The weight of that revelation was impossible to ignore.
Yuna stepped forward, cautiously. She stared at the grimoire for a few seconds before lifting it with both hands.
As she touched it, a chill ran down her spine. The chains pulsed gently, as if recognizing her... or rather, someone close to her.
She turned toward Haruto, her expression calm but filled with meaning.
—The only one who meets those conditions... is you, Haruto.
The chamber fell completely silent.
Haruto stood still. His gaze shifted from the book to Yuna, then to the hologram, and back to the book.
—Me...? —he finally murmured.
The atmosphere grew even more solemn, as if fate had just placed a new burden on his shoulders.
—Be careful, kid —Thalindra said firmly—. If it belonged to the Lunarias, it might be dangerous. Like Grandpa said, they were wiped out for defying the goddess Mizuki.
—But Haruto is a chosen one of the goddess Mizuki —Melodía replied, lifting her chin slightly—. He should be fine.
He took the grimoire in both hands. Its surface was covered in ancient markings… but something about them felt familiar.
—I don't think it's dangerous —he said calmly, running his fingers along the markings—. I've read enough manga to know grimoires usually bring weird but useful knowledge.
He paused for a moment, frowning.
—This one in particular... has Japanese inscriptions.
The group looked at him, surprised.
Before anyone could speak, Haruto added:
—Olivia doesn't seem worried either.
—Confirmation! —Olivia interjected in her signature mechanical tone, briefly appearing on Haruto's panel—. The grimoire emits no hostile signals or dangerous magical disturbances.
—Also… —Haruto added, glancing at Durnir's hologram—. If it were something evil, I doubt he'd have given it to us with the intent to harm.
The hologram remained silent. Its serene expression seemed to affirm his words.
The group exchanged looks. Haruto's calm demeanor began to ease some of the lingering tension.
—I guess we have no choice but to trust it —Yuna said, relaxing her stance slightly—. But if anything strange happens, you let us know immediately.
Haruto nodded, holding the grimoire more firmly.
Suddenly, the chains began to vanish, dissolving into smoke. The book was now completely free in his hands.
—Dispel... —Haruto murmured, reading the inscription on the cover—. "Free the oppressed from their chains."
Curious, he opened the book and flipped through its pages. The group watched in silence.
Then, his expression shifted to a mix of surprise and disbelief.
—Wait a minute… this is… a manga —he said softly, flipping pages with growing interest.
—A what? —Melodía asked, frowning with her arms crossed—. Are you telling me this forbidden grimoire is some kind of weird book?
Haruto didn't respond. He was completely absorbed.
—Haruto? —Yuna pressed, stepping closer—. What are you seeing?
—It's a story… with pictures.
—A story with pictures? —Thalindra repeated, confused—. Isn't that for children?
—You mean this ancient grimoire is a picture book? —Melodía added, incredulous.
But Haruto kept flipping through the pages rapidly until he reached the end.
Then, a blinding light filled the room.
—What now?! —Thalindra shouted, shielding her eyes.
Olivia's voice echoed in Haruto's mind.
—Skill "Dispel" acquired. Attribute alignment: Light and Darkness.
When the light faded, the group fell silent. Haruto blinked and closed the grimoire with a smile.
—Definitely… the best magical manga —he said calmly, storing it in his bag.
Yuna looked at him with curiosity.
—What do you think you'll be able to do with that skill?
—Guess we'll find out when the time comes —he replied, his voice full of resolve.
A teleportation circle began to form beneath their feet, glowing with a soft blue radiance.
—Young adventurers, this world is full of challenges and wonders —Durnir said solemnly—. I hope you find many joys in your journeys.
—Live your lives freely, with no regrets. That way, when you look back… there'll be nothing to mourn. May the Moon always guide you on the best path.
The hologram began to fade, but not before offering them one last smile.
—Thank you, Grandpa —Thalindra murmured, a nostalgic expression on her face as she held the Gaia Imperium—. I promise to carry the Terrafist name to the highest peak.
The others approached the circle, offering Thalindra a warm smile.
—Count on us —said Melodía, extending her hand—. We're friends, after all.
—Heh, and here I thought a princess like you wouldn't know how to get her hands dirty. —
Thalindra teased as she shook her hand.
—That's what I get for trying to be nice —Melodía replied with mock indignation, letting out a contagious laugh.
Haruto, with Simmone still clinging to his arm, watched the scene with a calm smile.
The group gathered around the circle. Their faces showed fatigue… but also satisfaction.
—We made it through this together —Yuna said, looking at each of them.
—And we survived. That alone's an achievement —Melodía added with a light smile.
—Then we're ready for whatever comes next —Thalindra affirmed, raising the Gaia Imperium.
A light enveloped them, and in the blink of an eye, they returned to the surface.
The cold greeted them like an old friend. Snow had begun to gather around their feet. The wind howled through the mountains, kicking up clouds of ice that made it hard to see.
And yet, the air felt… full of possibilities.
—More adventures await us —Haruto said, smiling as they walked together back toward the city in the midst of the storm.