The next morning, Belle and Kai stepped through the heavy wooden doors of the Dawnstead Adventurer's Guild, expecting nothing more than the usual routine—submitting reports, scanning the quest board, and enduring the daily antics of the adventurers. The guild hall, as always, was bustling with energy. The air was filled with the rich scent of ale and roasted meat, the murmurs of adventurers swapping stories, and the occasional burst of laughter from a winning hand of cards.
But today, something was different.
The moment they crossed the threshold, the noise around them faded. Conversations came to a halt, heads turned, and all eyes in the hall were drawn to the center of the room.
There, in full view of every adventurer present, stood the three members of Trinity Blade—Lena, Garron, and Darin.
And they were bowing.
A deep, full ninety-degree bow, their backs straight, their arms at their sides. It was a posture of utmost sincerity and humility, one that no one in the guild had ever imagined witnessing from them.
A stunned silence swept across the hall like a wave. Even the rowdiest adventurers, those who usually reveled in chaos and noise, found themselves speechless.
Then, in perfect unison, their voices rang through the hall.
"We sincerely apologize!"
Belle blinked, momentarily taken aback. She hadn't expected much after the events in the dungeon—perhaps some awkward avoidance or begrudging respect. But this? A full, public apology? That was beyond anything she had anticipated.
Kai crossed his arms, a smirk playing at his lips. "Well, this is new. Didn't think I'd live to see the day Trinity Blade actually bowed their heads."
Garron, still bent forward, clenched his jaw but did not rise. "We have been arrogant. We disrespected not only you,, but the entire guild with our attitude. We looked down on others when we had no right to. Yesterday proved that."
Lena's voice followed, strong despite the weight of her words. "We were reckless. Because of our overconfidence, we nearly lost our lives. If not for you and Kai, we wouldn't be standing here today. That's the truth."
Darin, usually the loudest, exhaled heavily. "We realize now that our strength was nothing but an illusion. We acted as if we were above everyone else, but in reality, we were just ignoring how vast the world is… how much stronger people out there really are."
The impact of their words settled over the guild like a thick fog.
Trinity Blade—the self-proclaimed strongest adventurers of Dawnstead, the ones who had once scoffed at those beneath them—were admitting their shortcomings for all to hear.
A low murmur rippled through the gathered adventurers. Some exchanged glances, stunned beyond words. Others shifted uncomfortably, recalling past encounters where Trinity Blade had dismissed them, ridiculed them. This was not just an apology to Belle and Kai—it was an apology to the entire guild.
Behind the main desk, Garrick stood with his arms folded, observing quietly. His sharp gaze held no trace of surprise. Perhaps he had seen this coming. Or perhaps, he had been waiting for it.
Belle studied the three before her. Their words weren't empty. She could see it in the way their shoulders tensed, the way their breaths were measured, controlled. They had been shaken to their very core by what had happened in the dungeon.
She let out a quiet sigh. "Raise your heads."
The trio hesitated before finally straightening. Their gazes met hers, steady, unwavering.
"I accept your apology," Belle said simply.
A ripple of relief passed through them.
Kai, however, wasn't about to let them off the hook so easily. "This is great and all, but don't think a single apology is enough. You guys have a long way to go."
Darin nodded immediately. "We know."
Lena, turning her gaze toward the rest of the guild, spoke loudly and clearly. "To everyone here—we apologize for our arrogance. We don't expect forgiveness overnight, but we'll prove through our actions that we can change."
The weight of her words lingered in the air.
Some adventurers grumbled under their breath, skeptical. Others gave small nods of approval. But whether they accepted it or not, one thing was clear—Trinity Blade had taken their first step toward change.
Just as the tension in the guild was beginning to ease, the heavy double doors swung open with force.
The sound of armored boots echoed through the silent hall as two men in full plate armor strode inside. Their armor set adorned with the Dawnstead Knights' emblem, their expressions unreadable.
The guild, already hushed, fell into an even deeper silence.
Belle's eyes narrowed slightly as she exchanged a glance with Kai. Something was coming.
At the front was Gale Valtor, the Vice-Captain of the Dawnstead Knights. His silver hair, neatly trimmed, reflected the morning light seeping through the windows. His sharp green eyes scanned the room with a calculating gaze, taking in every face, every whisper. Though younger than most high-ranking knights, his reputation as a tactician and combatant was well-known.
But it was the man walking beside him that truly made the air in the guild feel heavier.
Roderic Lorne.
The Captain of the Dawnstead Knights.
Unlike Gale, Roderic was a man who bore the weight of countless battles. His physique—broad shoulders, thick arms lined with old scars—spoke of a warrior who had fought on the frontlines longer than most had been alive. His short brown hair, streaked with strands of gray revealing a face carved by experience. A heavy cloak draped over his polished armor, but the blade strapped to his hip was what caught the most attention. A greatsword—etched with runes, worn from use, yet still radiating undeniable power.
The guild hall had gone completely silent.
Few men could command such respect without speaking a single word, and Roderic Lorne was one of them.
Some adventurers stiffened, unconsciously straightening their postures. Others exchanged uneasy glances.
"Why is the Captain here?" someone whispered.
"They never send him for guild matters..."
Belle, standing near the mission board, narrowed her eyes. She wasn't sure what to expect, but she could feel the weight of their presence. Something about this wasn't normal.
Kai, beside her, scoffed under his breath. "Tch. Didn't think the big dogs would show up personally."
Garrick exhaled heavily, rubbing his temples. He had been expecting visitors from the Knights, but not both the Vice-Captain and the Captain.
That meant this was serious.
Roderic's heavy boots echoed as he approached Garrick, his expression unreadable. When he finally spoke, his voice was low and firm, carrying the weight of authority.
"We need to talk. Now."
A statement, not a request.
Garrick met his gaze for a long moment before nodding toward his office. "Alright. Follow me."
With a silent exchange of glances, the three men disappeared behind closed doors.
As soon as the door shut, the murmurs started again, now louder than before.
"What the hell is going on?"
"The Captain of the Dawnstead Knights doesn't just walk into the guild like that."
"You think it's about the dungeon?"
Kai crossed his arms. "No doubt. Word must've gotten out."
Belle remained quiet, but her mind was already running through the possibilities.
Inside the guildmaster's office, the air was thick with tension. The walls, lined with old maps and bounty notices, seemed to close in around them as Roderic Lorne, Captain of the Dawnstead Knights, took a measured step forward. His heavy boots thudded against the wooden floor, a stark contrast to the near-silent presence of his Vice-Captain, Gale Valtor.
Garrick, seated behind his sturdy oak desk, folded his hands and studied the two knights before exhaling a slow breath. He already knew this meeting wasn't going to be a simple discussion.
Roderic wasted no time.
"We received your report about the miasma corruption in the dungeon." His deep voice carried a weight that made even the sturdy walls of the office seem smaller. "We need every detail."
Garrick leaned back, his usual easygoing demeanor nowhere to be found. His eyes, sharp and knowing, met Roderic's with an unspoken understanding.
"It's exactly as I wrote," he said grimly. "The dungeon is no longer a normal monster nest. Something has tainted it."
Gale's arms remained crossed, his expression unreadable. "Miasma isn't something that should be appearing this close to a human settlement."
"And yet, it has," Garrick countered. "The adventurers who came back from that dungeon reported unnatural phenomena. Distorted mana flow, erratic monster behavior, and worst of all…" He hesitated, then leaned forward. "They are adapting."
Silence stretched between them.
Roderic's expression hardened. "Which means we're dealing with something far worse than an anomaly. If left unchecked, this corruption could spread beyond the dungeon and into the surrounding areas."
Garrick sighed, rubbing his temples. "The guild is halting all operations related to that dungeon until further notice. No quests, no exploration, nothing."
"A wise decision." Roderic nodded. "The Knights will conduct a full investigation. If this miasma spreads, it won't just be a guild matter—it will be a town-wide crisis."
Gale's gaze sharpened. "If this poses a serious risk to Dawnstead, we may need to collaborate again—like during the last subjugation."
Garrick grunted. "Yeah, I had a feeling it'd come to that."
Roderic exhaled slowly. "We'll mobilize our best knights, but we need adventurers with firsthand experience dealing with the miasma. Fighters who won't crumble under its effects."
Gale's expression darkened. "You're talking about Belle and Kai."
Garrick shook his head with a wry smirk. "That girl just keeps getting involved in everything, doesn't she?"
Roderic didn't respond immediately. He cast a glance at the reports stacked on Garrick's desk—documents detailing Belle and Kai's actions in the dungeon. The sheer destruction, the speed, the precision…
Finally, he spoke.
"If she's as strong as the reports claim, she might be the only one capable of handling what's ahead."
The room fell into a heavy silence. Gale frowned but didn't argue.
The implications of Belle's power were becoming clearer with each passing day. What she had accomplished in the dungeon wasn't normal—it was something beyond what a typical adventurer should be capable of.
Garrick rubbed his chin, lost in thought. "We'll need to plan this carefully. If the situation gets any worse, we might not just be dealing with a corrupted dungeon—we could be facing something far more dangerous."
Roderic's eyes darkened.
"Then let's make sure it doesn't come to that."
While the guild was buzzing with tension and discussions about the miasma-corrupted dungeon, Belle and Kai had already left.
The two strolled through Dawnstead's bustling town center.
Dawnstead was alive with its usual morning bustle, the town center a vibrant sea of movement and sound. The streets, paved with timeworn stone, echoed with the rhythmic clatter of carts rolling by and the lively chatter of merchants advertising their goods. The scent of fresh bread from the baker's stall mingled with the rich aroma of sizzling meat skewers, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
Belle and Kai walked at a leisurely pace, letting the energy of the town wash over them. It was a rare moment of peace—one without the looming threat of monsters, collapsing dungeons, or near-death experiences.
Kai stretched his arms behind his head and let out a satisfied sigh. "Man, it's been a while since I've had a walk like this. No goblins, no insane traps, no death-defying piggyback rides—just fresh air and good scenery."
Belle raised an eyebrow, giving him an amused glance. "You're never letting that go, are you?"
"Not a chance," Kai shot back, shaking his head. "That was the single most humiliating moment of my life. You have any idea what it's like to be carried like a sack of potatoes? I'll be having nightmares about it until I'm eighty."
Belle smirked. "You're welcome, by the way."
Kai groaned, rubbing the back of his head. "Yeah, yeah… I guess I should thank you for not letting me die a dumb death. But still—never again."
Their banter carried them through the heart of the marketplace, where colorful awnings provided shade for an array of merchant stalls. A fruit vendor, an elderly beastman with large, rounded ears, waved them over with a grin. "Freshest apples in Dawnstead! Good for the body, great for the mind! Come, take a look!"
Kai, ever the opportunist when it came to food, snatched up a bright red apple and tossed a coin onto the vendor's stall before taking a loud bite. "Mmm, not bad. What do you think, Belle?"
She reached for one as well, giving the vendor a polite nod before taking a bite. The crisp sweetness filled her mouth, and she had to admit—it was good.
"Not bad at all," she murmured, savoring the taste.
As they continued walking, Kai's playful demeanor shifted. His expression turned more thoughtful, his gaze flickering toward Belle as if debating something.
"Actually, since we're talking about crazy moments…" he started, voice tinged with curiosity. "There's something I've been meaning to ask you for a while now."
Belle glanced at him, sensing the change in his tone. "Go on."
Kai's usual smirk faded. "Back in the dungeon, when you one-shot that minotaur, what exactly was that? That wasn't just speed or strength—it felt like something completely different."
Belle's steps slowed slightly.
She had been expecting this question. It was only a matter of time before Kai—or anyone else—brought it up. What happened in the dungeon hadn't gone unnoticed. It couldn't be brushed off as a fluke.
She let out a quiet sigh, weighing her words carefully. "What do you think it was?"
Kai exhaled through his nose, his grip tightening around the apple in his hand. "That's the thing—I don't know. It wasn't like any magic I've seen before. No chants, no casting circles, no elemental traces. Just… raw power."
Belle remained silent, her gaze fixed on the path ahead.
Kai studied her for a long moment before looking away with a half-smile. "You don't have to tell me if you're not ready. I get it—everyone has their secrets. Just know that whatever it is, you're not alone in this."
Belle blinked, caught off guard by the sincerity in his voice.
She looked at him then, truly looked at him—not as the reckless swordsman who constantly got himself into trouble, but as someone who, despite his bravado, had a steady core. Someone who, in his own way, was offering his trust.
"That power," she began, "is something I call Aura."
Kai frowned slightly, the term unfamiliar. "Aura?"
Belle nodded. "It's different from magic. While elemental magic manipulates external mana to create fire, ice, or lightning, Aura is an internal force. It's the energy that exists within the body itself, separate from mana."
Kai's brows furrowed as he tried to process the distinction. "Internal energy? So it's like a buff?"
"Not exactly," Belle corrected, shaking her head. "Aura is more than just boosting my stats. Currently, it has two primary applications—Aura Sense and Aura Amplification."
She let the words linger, giving Kai time to absorb them before continuing.
"Aura Sense allows me to feel the presence of living beings around me. It's not just sight or hearing—it's an instinctual awareness of everything in my surroundings. I can tell how strong someone is just by sensing the flow of their aura."
Kai's eyes widened slightly. "So you can basically gauge someone's power just by being near them?"
"Exactly," Belle confirmed. "The stronger the aura, the stronger the person."
Kai let out a low whistle. "No wonder you always seem one step ahead in fights. That explains how you react so fast."
Belle simply nodded.
"Now for the second part—Aura Amplification."
She lifted her hand slightly, flexing her fingers. "This is where things get more interesting. Aura Amplification lets me reinforce my body and attacks far beyond normal human limits. It enhances my strength, speed, and durability—pushing them past what magic reinforcement alone can do."
Kai's mind reeled as he recalled the moment Belle struck the minotaur. Her body had moved like a blur, and the sheer force behind her attack had been overwhelming, almost unnatural.
Belle continued, her voice steady. "When I used it against the minotaur, I focused all my aura into a single point—my fist. That's why it looked like I completely overpowered it in one hit."
Kai exhaled sharply, shaking his head in disbelief. "So you're telling me you can amplify your physical abilities at will?"
Belle gave a small shrug. "It takes focus, but yes."
Kai ran a hand through his hair. "Damn. No wonder the minotaur didn't stand a chance. That thing was supposed to be a high-level dungeon boss, and you just crushed it like a training dummy."
Belle didn't respond, letting him process it.
After a long moment, Kai narrowed his eyes. "But here's the thing—I've never heard of anyone using something like this before. Not in this kingdom, not in any adventurer's stories. Where the hell did you learn something like this?"
Belle kept her expression unreadable.
She wasn't going to tell him the full truth. Not yet.
Instead, she gave him a half-truth. "I just figured it out on my own."
Kai blinked. "You… 'figured it out'?"
Belle nodded. "It's not something I was taught. It's something I discovered through experience. Trial and error."
Kai folded his arms, clearly unconvinced. "And you're telling me no one else in the world knows about this?"
Belle shrugged. "Maybe they do. Maybe they don't. But I've never met anyone who uses Aura the way I do."
Kai's look turned from skepticism to excitement. "Do you think I can use this Aura too?"
Belle glanced at him, taking in his eager expression. She let her gaze drift down, studying him from head to toe, as if evaluating him. Finally, she offered a noncommittal, "I don't know. But you can try."
Kai's eyes gleamed with interest. "Can you teach me how?"
Belle smirked slightly. "Depends on how good you are."
Kai studied her for a long moment before sighing in resignation. "Fine. Keep your secrets."
Belle's smirk deepened. "I will."
Kai chuckled, shaking his head. "You really are full of surprises, aren't you?"
Belle simply kept walking, her silver hair catching the morning sunlight as the two of them moved deeper into the marketplace.
But in Kai's mind, one thought lingered like a stubborn ember refusing to fade.
Just how strong is she really?
End of Chapter 47