The dungeon was much like the others, a familiar network of dark, winding caves. Silas stepped inside, buzzing with the hope of facing another powerful monster, but his excitement quickly fizzled. The cave was filled with low-level Shadow Wolves, common E-rank monsters. His face fell in disappointment.
Beside him, Draven noticed the shift in his expression and chuckled softly.
Not wanting to waste any time, Silas didn't even give Draven a chance to act. He drew his sword and moved, a blur of motion and precise technique. The wolves lunged, using the shadows to mask their approach. A few even broke off and charged toward Draven, but they were cut in half by Silas's blade before they could even get close. In a matter of minutes, he had single-handedly dispatched the entire pack of hundreds.
He sheathed his sword and walked back to Draven, who was watching him with a proud smile. Together, they proceeded to the boss room.
The boss was a Level 18 Shadow Wolf, larger and more menacing than the others, but it was still no match for Silas. He combined his lightning element with his sword techniques, ending the fight quickly.
As he knelt to collect the drops from the boss two fangs and a pelt of shadow-infused fur a series of notifications chimed in his mind.
[Ding! Congratulations host for killing 574 Shadow Wolves from Level 8 to Level 11.
Gained a total of 7,532 experience points.]
[Experience points: 7964]
[Ding! Congratulations host for killing the boss monster, Level 18 Shadow Wolf.
Gained a total of 3,600 experience points.]
[Total experience points: 11,564]
[Ding! Congratulations host for reaching Level 10. Gained 50 free points.]
[Ding! Congratulations host for unlocking new power - Divination.]
He found the treasure box after a few minutes of searching. Inside were 743 gold coins and, strangely, a single, elegant pen.
"System, what's this pen doing here?" he asked in his mind.
[Ding! This pen is connected to you, host. It was placed here by the book.
The book knows everything... it knew that you would come here in the future. You will understand the pen's function in time.]
Silas didn't dwell on it. This was the second time the book had directly interfered in his life first by bringing him here, and now by giving him this pen. It must be something special. He stored it in his system pouch.
He walked back towards Draven, a new thought sparking in his mind. 'Let's try out my new power.'
He had no idea what Divination actually did, so he decided to test it on the most interesting subject nearby. He focused his intent on Draven.
"Divination."
"Silas?" Draven asked, noticing his boyfriend had zoned out.
As Silas looked up at Draven, the world shifted, and a panel of text appeared in his vision.
[Draven (Non-human)
Bloodline: Suppressed
Real Identity: Cannot be detected at host's current level.
Level: 49 (Sealed)
Class: Knight (Sealed)
Strength: 330 (Sealed)
Stamina: 320 (Sealed)
Agility: 220 (Sealed)
Mana: 440 (Sealed)
Intelligence: 140 (Sealed)
Gains 25 free points per level advancement.
Stores mana in the heart.]
The information stunned Silas. He immediately checked his system space for a description of his new ability.
[Divination: Can see through each and every thing in the universe. Can see through past, present, future, truth, and lies.
Can see through anyone or anything in this universe.
At the host's current level, you can see through truth and lies, and perceive the nature of people and inanimate objects without hindrance.]
After reading the details, Silas's gaze on Draven sharpened with a new curiosity and a flicker of apprehension. He took a small step back, his expression serious. "Who are you, Draven?"
Draven looked completely lost. Seeing Silas's grave face, he answered, "Silas? You already know who I am. I'm Draven, your boyfriend."
With his new ability, Silas could feel the undeniable ring of truth in Draven's words. He wasn't consciously trying to deceive him. But the panel in his mind screamed a different story.
Silas didn't move. "No. I mean, who is your family? Where did you come from?" For Silas, nothing mattered as long as Draven was honest. But that one line 'Non-human' had put him on edge.
Draven's confusion deepened, but the fear of losing Silas was stronger. He answered with complete sincerity. "Silas, I'm an orphan. I grew up in an orphanage here in the Valerius Archduchy my whole life, until I turned nineteen and entered the Argent Spire. I don't know why you're asking this, but I'm telling you the truth. Please, believe me."
Silas felt it again the pure, unadulterated truth. Draven genuinely didn't know anything about the secrets his own status panel revealed. The tension drained from Silas's body in a rush. He closed the distance between them and wrapped his arms around Draven, hugging him tightly.
Draven, sensing the shift from tension to relief, hugged him back just as fiercely.
"Draven," Silas said, his face still buried in Draven's shoulder. "I just unlocked another power from my class. And... and I saw some things in your details."
He explained everything the sealed level, the suppressed bloodline, the "non-human" status. The more Draven heard, the more bewildered he became. He gently lifted Silas's face, kissed him deeply for several minutes, and then rested his forehead against his.
"Silas, always remember this," Draven said, his amber eyes intense. "No matter what secrets I might hold, or what kind of creature I am, I love you. I love you from my heart. I will never leave you."
Silas looked back into those earnest eyes and replied, "Draven, it doesn't matter to me if you're human or not. It only matters that you told me the truth. I've already fallen for you, and I'll support you no matter what secrets you hold. Just... tell me whenever you find something out."
Draven nodded, and they fell into another heartfelt kiss that lasted for nearly ten minutes. When they finally separated, the exit vortex was pulsing steadily, waiting for them. They left the dungeon together and made their way back to the academy under the cloak of night.
Draven walked Silas to the front of his dorm. After a final, lingering kiss, Silas went inside, collapsed onto his bed, and fell asleep almost instantly.
The next morning, Silas, Rhys, and Jacob woke up, got ready, and headed toward the canteen for breakfast. On the way, Silas decided to discreetly test his new ability again. He focused on Rhys.
[Rhys Aurelian Lux (Human)
Real Identity: 7th Prince of the Luminus Imperium
Class: Apprentice Warrior
Level: 4
Strength: 50
Stamina: 40
Agility: 40
Mana: 60
Intelligence: 35
Gains 25 free points per level up.
Stores mana inside his heart.
Technique: Royal Technique of Luminus (9 forms)]
Silas absorbed the information, not overly surprised by Rhys's royal background. He then turned his attention to Jacob.
[Jacob (Human)
Class: Apprentice Mage
Level: 4
Strength: 40
Stamina: 15
Agility: 15
Mana: 75
Intelligence: 70
Affinity with elements:
Light (Excellent) - A rare element to have affinity with.
Wood (Excellent)
Water (Pro)
Stores mana in dantian.
Gains 25 mana points after each level up.
Spells:
1. Healing Spell of Light
2. Water Manipulation
3. Wood Control]
Silas's eyes widened. He never imagined Jacob was hiding such incredible power. A Light element user was one in a hundred thousand, and he had Excellent affinity with it, on top of two other elements. He kept his surprise to himself as they continued walking.
When they arrived at the canteen, they saw a new member waiting at their usual table: Instructor Theron. He was already sitting with Draven and Kael, and food had been bought for everyone.
"I just wanted to join you guys for breakfast, if you don't mind," Theron said with a welcoming smile.
Rhys didn't know him, so Silas replied, "No, no! Instructor Theron, you can join us anytime you want." As he spoke, he noticed something was off. Jacob's head was bowed, his gaze fixed on the floor as if studying invisible dust.
Rhys sat beside Kael, who made the introductions. "Let me introduce you, Rhys. This is Theron, a friend of mine and Draven's. We were in the same year at the academy. He's also Silas and Jacob's instructor."
Jacob moved to sit on the opposite side of the table from Theron, but Silas, sitting down next to Draven, casually blocked the seat. This left Jacob with no choice but to sit right next to his instructor.
"You don't need to be so polite with me," Theron said to the group. "Just use my name. No need for honorifics."
"Yes, that's better for my boyfriend," Kael nodded.
Theron's eyebrows shot up. "You already have a boyfriend? Who is it among these three?" His eyes flickered to Jacob for a fraction of a second, who still kept his head down.
"Hey! Can't you see him sitting right beside me?" Kael said, annoyed. "His name is Rhys, a first-year in the warrior academy."
Theron turned to Rhys with a charming smile. "Nice to meet you, Rhys. Please take care of this bad-mouthed friend of ours."
Kael glared daggers at him, but Rhys just chuckled. "Don't worry, Theron. I'll take good care of him." He took Kael's hand in his own, and Kael immediately stopped glaring at Theron.
Meanwhile, Silas and Draven were laughing together, sharing inside jokes about Kael and Theron's long-standing rivalry. They were archenemies on the surface, but good friends underneath it all.
Theron looked over at them. "Draven, I've never seen you this happy before. You never used to smile, to begin with," he asked, genuinely confused.
Kael sneered. "Obviously he's changed. He's been pursuing Silas since the registration day. Heh! Our ice prince has finally melted."
Draven snapped back, a proud smirk on his face, "Who said I'm still pursuing him? Silas is my boyfriend now. Your information is incorrect, Kael."
Rhys choked on his tea, sputtering. Even Jacob lifted his head for a moment to look at Silas in surprise.
"You... cough, cough... you dimwit!" Rhys managed to get out. "When did you accept his proposal?"
Silas smiled sweetly at Rhys. "Last night. He asked, and I accepted."
Kael laughed out loud. "Good! Good! At least we have two couples in our group now. No one has to feel lonely."