His body still ached even with the regenerative properties of the potion handed to him by Calvain. But it was enough to get down quick enough to the others. Turning the corner, he immediately dropped down to the nearest person - Anne - and slipped the potion's substance into her mouth.
He then moved to Albert.
He then moved to Alice.
Then to Rufus and Ivan.
He then dropped down, leaning back into the wall. Everything around him felt so hazy and lukewarm. As if he was sitting between the boundaries of illusion and death.
Just as he was about to crash unconscious like the rest of the cohort, Grace saw something in front of him, shining under the effervescent moonlight.
They were faint wisps of something ethereal danced above.
"Thank you..."
It was a small, brief whisper into his ears before a faint and momentary flash of blue appeared before Grace. In all dungeons--there were destined points.
The beginning and the ending.
However, the overall process to get to the end can have positive or negative impacts to what occurs afterwards.
Burning the manor.
Burning the guards.
And the death of Avodus Crylo--
It all led up to this instance.
The reward bestowed upon the dungeon would manifest through the arduous efforts shown by the people who fought bitterly to the end.
"I'm sorry," Grace told bitterly. "Taking the reward for myself." Had the dungeon been something that led to multiple rewards being given, then Grace wouldn't have felt so guilty.
There may be a small pillow of guilt that wandered briefly in the deepest pits of his stomach. But he could not reject the reward that was being given to them--him.
Despite the severity, this was a small price to pay for strength.
Once the flash of effervescent blue dispersed into oblivion, a relatively small, inconspicuous necklace was left hanging. It was silver with no true other notable traits other than the a small canine that hung at the center.
Using the item identifier that he took from Ray, he saw the full contents.
[Crylo's Sin]
[Grade: B]
[Description: The Crylo Family, established within this land for centuries, have resisted their urge to eat flesh and blood for as long as each member stood. And when they couldn't no longer--the village started over. Now, as the last line of the family, Avodus does the same one last time. However, the cursed has been shattered. And all that was left was the village--the remnant sins of Crylo.]
[Effect: Enhanced vision]
Grace didn't know how to feel. The effect was good, but he was dissatisfied with it because of everything they had to go through. Especially during the last part of the dungeon.
Where their deaths had been inching and closer.
However--
"I'll accept it."
In the end, this was a dungeon that wasn't relatively high on the difficulty scale. They were just much weaker than it. And that was the harsh truth that they had to live with--especially Grace.
Everything from now on needs to be more calculated. His plans lacked security and the off-chance of it going wrong, he had nothing to prepare for afterwards.
But for now--
He'll stay just like this.
Surrounded by the cast.
Thump!
He finally relented just like the others and he collapsed on the floors of the dungeon.
~~~
The white ceiling. And the sound of people walking all around him. As Grace stared into the white ceiling that had a strong light looming overhead, he pushed himself upwards.
"The academy infirmary."
It was rather infamous in the novel due to how many times Ivan was going to the infirmary during his tenure in the academy. Beside him - to his right and left - were white curtains that hid him from other estranged eyes.
"Ah, you're awake."
There was a nurse that was holding a clipboard, offering a kind smile. Though it was reserved as she was a staff member. Not a friend that was joyous to see him.
"You're the last one out of everyone to wake up."
Grace nodded.
"How long?" He asked plainly.
"Three days."
Grace couldn't help but inwardly groan at that information. That meant the field trip had ended two days ago.
"It was bad, wasn't it? The injuries?" Even now, as he tried to move--everything hurt and everything ached as if he was getting punched and punched repeatedly.
"Absolutely," she confirmed. "I was surprised that you managed to live. Sir Calvin told us that he gave you all regeneration potions--your bones were still broken in the end. And for awhile, it was on the verge of shattering."
Grace didn't say anything for a moment, merely leaning back and resting his head on the head board of the infirmary bed that had been subjected to for three days straight.
"I see..."
Was all he could say.
"Thank you for your hospitality." He tried to get up and persevere through the aching bones, but the nurse immediately went to his side and stopped him.
"Headmaster told us to not allow you free until you're all able to function normally without pain. You were hurt. Bad. Much more than the others. Practically half-dead. You're lucky your ribs didn't shatter and puncture your lungs."
"What about the others?"
"They got set free about... 8 hours ago?"
"And what time is it?"
"A bit after midnight."
Grace groaned outwardly.
"Okay," Grace responded. "How about Assistant Professor Ray?"
"Professor Pinch had rescued him. He made a full recovery before everyone and has resumed his duties."
Grace nodded his head, satisfied.
"That's good... may I rest now?"
"Yes, you may. And please, for your sake, take it easy for awhile."
Grace nodded, offering a small smile.
I don't have that luxury. Grace thought once the nurse left him his own devices.
There was not a moment in the day that Grace did not think about the past, the present, and the future of the narrative that he now stood in. And because he knew that the future had so much peril and disgust--he couldn't just "take it easy."
Not now. And not anytime in the future.
Rest could not be done.
"Though I do have something to look forward to," Grace muttered. He looked at his hand, sensing the power that exuded from his palm.
The dungeon was enough to push him through the barrier.
"I can advance."
~~~
"You're the least person I'd expect to visit me first," Grace uttered as he stared at Alice. Standing beside the bed, Grace was trying to walk without pain. And he was inching towards his goal nicely.
"I was curious about something."
In life: there is many things to be curious about. But Grace had a sneaking suspicion about what this young lady had to be curios about.
"The Magic Amplification Circle, I'm guessing?" Grace answered for her.
Alice nodded.
"Correct."
"What is there to be curious about?" Well, he knew the exact details, but he didn't really want to dive into the full details regarding the true nature and background the circle.
"You made that circle?"
Grace pondered for a split second before he answered.
"First person to use it."
"Who's the creator?"
Grace shrugged.
"I don't know. Probably one of our ancestors."
Alice narrowed her eyes.
"Liar."
"Believe what you want."
"I will. Though that doesn't mean you believe it yourself."
"Don't worry--I do."
He did not, but whatever he said she couldn't necessarily refute or say it wasn't the "truth." She could disagree and think it's a lie, but unless she knew concretely--his words are the "truth."
"It seems I wasted my time," Alice spoke. "Have a good day and recover well."
"Thank you for the concern."
She turned and left.
Grace shook his head as the soft and subtle wind from outside swung into the room from the open windows.
Refreshing.
Rejuvenating.
"Accessible," Grace spoke aloud. "But it's not something we can do consistently at our current level." He frowned.
My mana control... it had gone completely haywire. He had been lucky that he was even able to summon a dagger of light during the ending sequence of the fight with Avodus.
Luck was a factor.
Though it can be argued that luck is a skill itself.
Summoning even one was a struggle... Grace groaned.