Sunder lifted both arms up before Alexander's hardened expression.
"I don't mean it that way," added Sunder.
He then crossed his arms on his chest, his eyes going up in thought.
"When I received my archetype and opened my inner path, I was told I was a cultist, and was basically attacked on sight. You need to tell me what this is all about," said Alexander.
"It comes from you, I believe you can't feel it yourself. You have an 'aura', and it's not the nice flowery kind. Being close to you feels like having tendrils slithering over my body. When you use your powers, it feels like those tendrils are forcing themselves down my throat and through my eyes. When you use your spells…"
"An aura? I have no aura activated," replied Alexander.
He then opened his profile, a slight glitch running through the floating screen as it appeared.
"Look," said Alexander.
Sunder walked over to Alexander's side and sat beside him.
[ Name : Veil ]
[ Level : 1 ]
[ Archetype : Specialist ]
[ Class : Beholder ]
[ Fate : Command, — ]
[ Effects : Darkness, Will Breaker's set, — ]
"Interesting," said Sunder while looking at Alexander's profile.
"What is?"
"A command fate, what was the other choice?"
"It was between control and power," said Alexander.
He closed his profile. Sunder nodded, a look of relief on his face.
"From now on, whenever the option arises, you will have to make a similar choice."
"Why?"
"You need to take control, or you'll be the one controlled by this entity — and my rune won't always be enough to protect your mind from its influence. Had you chosen strength or power, it could've very well been your last coherent thought."
Alexander glanced at Fae who stood still, her gaze fixed on him.
"This… Person, you have accompany you, how did you find her?" asked Sunder.
"She was in the room I woke up in, sleeping on an altar. I woke her up, and she's followed me since," replied Alexander.
"Isn't there anything strange about her?"
"She didn't speak. Didn't even nod, that was until we found the mask."
"She's been overwhelmed. I can tell you that much. The runes I used to protect you won't do anything for her, she's too far gone."
"But she's getting better."
"She's not. The mask she's wearing somehow alleviates her condition, yet the darkness from the mask is almost as deep as the one emanating directly from her…" said Sunder, trailing off in thought.
After a minute of silence, Alexander spoke up.
"What happens now?" asked Alexander.
Sunder got up, and walked around the room, picking lone pages around the shelves and on the covered desks.
"Now, is time for you to become a real Dungeon Runner," he said, his voice muffled by the noise he made.
"After everything you just said?" said Alexander.
"Power always comes at a price. Anyone C-rank and above is able of great destruction, what makes you more dangerous than the thousands of dungeon runner of those ranks and above?" he said over his shoulder.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm looking for upgrades! I'll try to rework this rune on your chest… You'll need to give me some time, it won't be easy."
Sunder then suddenly turned around, his eyes fixed on Alexander.
"Also, you can't use your powers against other people like you did earlier. Only monsters in dungeons," said Sunder.
"What if I'm attacked again? I might need to defend myself."
"I've already made it clear with the organization that you were to be left alone. But if it comes down to it… you still can't use your powers against others."
Alexander took a few steps forward.
"They attacked without notice, treated me like an enemy without hearing me out. Those arrows weren't aimed at my legs, Sunder."
"You were gone for months. I gave them a description of what you looked like before, but you've changed a lot. They must've thought you were another cultist randomly appearing."
"Months?"
Sunder went back to his shelves, hunting for more pages that he piled up in his left arm.
"Yup!"
That room made me fall asleep for that long?
"What now?" asked Alexander.
"Now? Your evaluation, you'll be placed somewhere between the F and E ranks. After that, you'll be able to join a guild, run dungeons, and more."
"When is it?" asked Alexander.
"Now, you should hurry," said Sunder.
"Thanks."
"Don't worry about it, just go. Remember, no using your powers against others."
"Got it," said Alexander, heading toward the exit with Fae.
They walked through a tight corridor framed by more bookshelves, careful not to step on any books or pages left laying around.
They took the elevator down, Sunder residing on the top floor of a tall building that was less prestigious than it seemed.
Alexander pondered Sunder's words carefully on his way down and while walking through the downtown area toward the Adventurer's Guild.
He glanced at Fae who walked beside him, her eyes staring at his.
I wonder how she's able to walk straight while looking at me like that.
"Don't worry. He just confirmed what we already knew. It's not like I couldn't feel the presence at all, in there. I just need to find ways to control this class better, but if I choose control over power, I might have to keep relying on you. You're fine with that?" asked Alexander.
Fae nodded.
As they walked through the streets leading to the guild, everyone they came across on the sidewalk gave them a side eye.
Civilians couldn't help but notice his flashy attire, just the hat itself was already attention-grabbing.
Then there must've been this Aura Sunder mentioned, which was the reason why most looks weren't wonder or amazement.
"I'll prove to them that I'm not some sort of monster," said Alexander.
Fae nodded once more.
"We'll complete the evaluations, start running dungeons, and prove our worth. My father became a Dungeon Runner at a time where they were regarded as danger to society, he overcame that appearance, I can too."
She nodded once more, her reactions warming his heart.
He gently played with her hair, then came to a stop as they reached the Adventurer's Guild.