A few months had passed since Alex's descent into the Dungeon—months filled with blood, lessons, and revelations he couldn't have imagined when he first arrived.
During that time, Alex and his party finished commission after commission, all while he tried to unravel the mysteries of the world he'd been thrust into.
The past still lingered, but Alex chose to not stay looking back at something he can't change, but instead to move forward.
Alos, once a bustling town, had thinned out. Fearing the rising danger across Aeloria—especially near Alos—many fled to safer lands.
The marked Corrupted beasts and Hollows which roamed around that place in particular had been mostly cleared out by Alex's party, through hard work and determination.
Alex suffered, but he had also learned many types of things.
But now, something far greater loomed ahead.
A loud noise erupted from the closet in Alex's room, a deep ringing that rattled the wooden frame.
It kept ringing for some time, until the closet door was finally opened.
Alex yawned, his eyes still half-shut as he slid the closet door open.
His garnet eyes widened in realization as he noticed that the object ringing was the artifact he'd been given by a young recruit for a tournament months ago.
The Royal Tournament hosted by the Princess was something that Alex had forgotten because of how much he had to deal with.
He snatched the still-ringing golden artifact and set it on the wooden table with care.
Remembering what he had to do, he stretched his finger and put it on the artifact. Slowly, he started channeling his mana from his core to the artifact.
The ringing stopped.
Then, just a moment after the ringing had stopped, the artifact opened like a cracked seashell.
'The hell?!' Alex internally thought as he threw himself in a defensive position.
Inside the artifact, a gem started glowing as it revealed a glowing blue screen.
Like a mirror, but the person on the other side of the mirror was somebody that Alex couldn't recognize.
"Greetings. You've been nominated for the Royal Tournament." the person behind the screen spoke with an intimidating yet respectable voice.
Alex stood normally again and observed silently.
"Please make your way to the Royal Capital as the tournament shall begin soon. Upon your arrival, head to the Clovis Section and introduce yourself thoroughly."
Alex then raised a brow hearing what the person behind the screen was saying, growing even more confused.
"And lastly, a slight warning, the tournament will not be friendly. Advanced healers will be on standby, letting the competitors fight with their full power. Please take notice, and farewell."
The screen grew smaller as it fell back inside the gem, disappearing completely.
Alex stared silently at where the screen was before snapping back to reality,
He had to tell the others.
***
Alex stood in front of the Adventurer Guild's building, above him was a cloudy sky and a cold wind bit at him.
Alex shivered for a second as he put both arms on his body, hugging himself for warmth before he thought:
'It must be winter by now.. I've lost count of how long I stayed here.'
In his recent days, it was mostly cloudy and on other days it would even rain. Slight snow would also appear, but not as much as the rain. It was only the start of winter.
Alex was wearing a tunic reinforced at key points, paired with durable trousers and boots. A black colored cape hung over his back and a belt wrapped around his waist.
At his side was the sword he'd grown attached to.
Noise of footsteps walking on the cobblestone grounds came from near Alex as he was still waiting.
The party of Alex had finally come, Lara and Ros. Ros was waving his hand as Lara stood next to him.
Both of them were wearing casual clothes, fit for the winter, leaving them confused on why Alex was geared up.
"I am pretty sure the hunt ended. What are you wearing?" Lara asked with an unamused face.
The hunt was a monthly event, made to finish the commissions handed out by the Guild as soon as the adventurers could. Alex participated in them, but not each one since it didn't help him grow much.
"I need your help with something. It's important." Alex said with a serious expression.
"Let's talk inside." Ros suggested, then Alex nodded wordlessly.
After heading inside, they sat down on one of the tables far in the corner to hide what they were talking about.
Alex explained his situation about the Royal Tournament and asked them for help once more.
Alex could've gone alone, but without even knowing where the Royal Capital was, it was hopeless.
"I could guide you there. I've gone there before with Alde, before Lara joined. We got our licenses there and stayed for some time, so I know the place pretty well." Ros said, rubbing two fingers on his chin.
"I'd certainly appreciate that." Alex thanked Ros.
Lara, on the other hand, was born far from the countryside. She too had no knowledge about the Capital despite being an adventurer for so long.
"If both of you are going, I'm coming as well." Lara broke her silence, revealing she also wanted to go. "I don't want to stay alone." She muttered.
Ros smiled slightly and Alex had no problem with Lara coming, in fact it was what he needed.
Turning his head back to Alex, Ros spoke seriously:
"Why would you risk yourself for that Princess? I've heard a lot of rumors about her."
His brow furrowed, "Rumors? What kind of rumors?"
"I heard this from one of my friends, from a nearby town. He said that the Princess apparently suffers from illnesses, some say she's psychopathic too."
Alex frowned hearing about it, because by now he thought he had no means of backing out. A slight feeling of regret swelled up inside him.
"Well, in the end they're just rumors." Lara interrupted as she had both arms on the table, holding her head high.
Alex shook his head slightly before he finally decided that he was gonna go. He also was slightly worried, he wasn't sure why, but it was just a feeling.
"You're right." Alex agreed as he got up from his seat. "Let's go by the end of this week."
"Sure." Ros accepted without much trouble and Lara followed as she'd been dreaming to see the Capital.
However, in the Royal Capital, Epilun, things were not so bright.
Mass protests occurred in the streets occasionally as the civilians practically begged for the disposal of the Princess.
News of this hadn't reached Alex and his party, as Alos was to the far south of Epilun.
The Princess was accused of many different crimes, and the people roared throughout the streets holding out signs calling for her disposal.
Exile wasn't enough. They demanded her death.
They roared through the streets, but little did they know they were accusing with no proof.
Was it someone from the Royal Family? Or a Sovereign? It could even be something orchestrated by a neighboring country, but the people were gullible.
Inside the castle, specifically inside the Princess' room, she stood silently in front of the window, gazing at the city.
Aurora stood frozen at the window, the city's hatred screaming below. Tears welled up in her jade eyes, slowly dropping over her pale cheeks.
She fell down on her knees and put both hands on her face, mumbling to herself as she kept sniffing:
"Why.. What have… I done?"