Rei sat in the library, his leg bouncing under the table as he stared at The Abyssal Records. He had read about dungeon monsters before, but this book made them feel real. Too real.
Dungeons terrified him. The idea of stepping into one—of being trapped in the dark, surrounded by things that shouldn't exist—made his skin crawl. He didn't want to go into a dungeon. Ever. But the creatures inside them? He couldn't stop thinking about them. If he could just understand them, maybe they wouldn't seem so horrifying.
Maybe.
As he flipped through another page, voices from the next table caught his attention.
"Have you ever heard about the Rotten Knight?"
Rei froze.
Kajala, who had somehow found him in the library, leaned in. "Oh, this sounds good," he whispered.
The students kept talking.
"They say he used to be a knight, one of the strongest, but he was sent into a dungeon that never let him leave. His body rotted away, but he never stopped fighting."
Rei's throat went dry.
"He's different from normal undead. He's skilled. He fights like he's still alive, using two massive swords heavier than most people can even lift."
"Yeah," another voice added. "They say no one's ever cleared the dungeon because he learns from everyone who fights him. He doesn't just kill—he improves. And when someone fails, he keeps their weapons."
Rei's breath came in shallow. His hands clenched the book.
That wasn't just a mindless monster. That was something worse. A thinking monster. A learning monster.
A knight that never stops getting better. Even in death.
A monster that was once human.
Rei swallowed hard.
The idea of meeting that thing in person—of stepping into its dungeon, hearing the scrape of those massive swords against stone—made his whole body tense. His imagination painted horrible images: a rotting corpse moving like a seasoned warrior, unreadable and merciless.
If he ever saw it in person…
No. He never wanted to. Not even for a second.
Kajala nudged him. "Dude, you're way too into this."
Rei flinched, quickly looking down at the book. His hands were shaking.
"I-It's just… interesting," he mumbled.
Kajala smirked. "You got that creepy look again."
Rei didn't answer.
He didn't want to meet the Rotten Knight. He never wanted to set foot in a dungeon at all.
But now, he wouldn't be able to stop thinking about it.Rei shut the book with a soft thud, his fingers lingering on the cover for a moment longer than necessary. He had learned enough for one night. The image of the Rotten Knight still lingered in his mind, unsettling and dark. He could feel his heart racing, a tightness in his chest.
Kajala, oblivious to Rei's internal storm, stood up, stretching and yawning. "Come on, we have to go get some rest. Big day tomorrow. We've got to find a guild. No more hiding out here."
Rei nodded quickly, standing up and trying to shake off the weight in his chest. Joining a guild. That was important too. A requirement for his training. He still wasn't sure what kind of guild would take him in, but with Kajala by his side, at least he didn't have to face it alone. That thought offered a small comfort.
The library door swung open, and a gust of cool air swept inside. Rei followed Kajala out into the hall, the flickering lanterns casting long shadows on the stone walls.
"Do you even know which guild you're going for?" Kajala asked, his voice light as he leaned against the wall.
Rei paused for a moment, thinking. "Not really. I mean… I don't even know what kind of guilds there are. I just want to be in one where I don't get… killed in a dungeon." His voice trembled despite himself.
Kajala snickered. "Yeah, that would be a good start. But don't worry about it. We'll find one, no problem. You're tough enough for this, right?"
Rei tried to smile, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. "I guess."
They walked to their assigned room in the knight's dormitory, a small but comfortable space with two cots and a single window. Rei immediately pulled the blanket off his cot and tossed it on the floor, trying to make himself comfortable. He couldn't stop thinking about the Rotten Knight, the idea of it endlessly adapting and learning. He turned on his side, burying his face in the pillow.
Kajala flopped onto his own cot with a loud groan. "I swear, this place is going to be the death of me."
Rei didn't respond. He was already halfway asleep, his mind refusing to calm.
Sleep came in fits and starts, disturbed by fleeting nightmares of dark dungeons, rotting knights, and endless battles. Every time he started to drift off, his body would jerk awake, breath quick and shallow.
In the early hours of the morning, he finally managed to fall into a deeper sleep, though even then, his dreams were restless. But when morning came, bright and early, it was time to face the day.
Kajala was already up and pacing, looking for breakfast. "Wake up, Rei! We've got guilds to join, and I'm starving!"
Rei groggily rubbed his eyes. He could only hope the day would be a little easier than the night had been. But deep down, he knew there was no escaping the dungeons. Not now. Not ever.
And somewhere, deep in his chest, a cold, gnawing fear whispered that the Rotten Knight would find its way into his path eventually. He just hoped that day wouldn't come too soon.