"This is unlike anything we've seen before, Noah. I've been watching you fight since we entered this monolith."

"At the beginning, you were not that much faster than the average academy third year, but as we go deeper, you keep changing."

"Your movements, your strength… it's like you're evolving as we go."

Noah tilted his head, pretending to consider it. "Maybe I am."

"What's more," Cecilia continued, her eyes glinting with curiosity, "it's your spells."

She paused.

"They're too strong and refined for a first-year mage. I could swear one of your spells was S-rank, but that shouldn't have been possible."

"But the truth is undeniable. If it was anyone else, they'd be dead. But you... you're not surviving because of brute strength. You're surviving because your spellwork is perfect."

She folded her arms, studying him. "You've got S-rank mana capacity and control, don't you?"

Noah hesitated, then gave a small nod. "Yeah. I do."

"I thought so."

The phoenix dissolved behind her, its fire retreating into the air. The golden light faded, replaced by the light from the scattered burning fires around the cavern.

Cecilia's gaze fell to his arm, the one still bleeding from the Alpha's bite.

The armor there had been shattered, revealing torn flesh and blood slowly knitting itself back together.

"That wound is deep," she said softly. "We should head back to the academy and heal it properly."

Noah shook his head. "No."

Cecilia frowned. "No?"

He turned toward the deeper tunnel ahead, knowing there was a higher chance of seeing more abyssal energy inside.

"Not yet," he said. "There could be more of what I need deeper in. If we leave now, it might not be there when I return. I can handle this."

She looked at him, conflicted. "Your hand needs medical attention, Noah. You can't just—"

"I'm fine." He flexed his fingers, summoning a wisp of shadow that curled around his hand like smoke. "I can feel it. There's more power here. I'm not leaving until I find it."

Cecilia's golden eyes softened, but her tone stayed firm. "You sound like someone who's addicted to all this. You keep pushing for more, even when your body is breaking."

He gave a faint, humorless chuckle. "Addicted? Maybe. But if I stop, I die. So tell me, Professor, what would you do?"

That silenced her. She sighed, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "You're going to drive me mad."

"Then it's mutual," he said lightly.

Cecilia smiled faintly despite herself. "Fine. But if you take any more damage, I'm dragging you back, whether you like it or not."

"Deal."

They began to walk again, their footsteps echoing through the dark tunnel.

This time, there was moss on the wall, lighting the way with their bioluminescent glow.

After several minutes of silence, Noah finally spoke. "Professor," he said quietly.

Cecilia glanced at him. "What is it?"

He frowned slightly, his expression serious. "Why are the monsters in this monolith so strong?"

"The one the royal guards were protecting was far weaker. Even its boss monster barely scratched me. But here, every creature feels like it could kill me if I make one mistake."

Cecilia's expression darkened, her gaze shifting towards the faint glow ahead.

For a moment, she didn't answer. Then, finally, she spoke.

"No," she said softly. "This dungeon isn't abnormally strong, Noah. It's normal for an A-rank monolith to be like this."

"Then what—"

"It's the other one that's strange."

He turned to her, brow furrowing. "Strange how?"

Cecilia's eyes flickered, the firelight in them dimming. "Because there's something… special about that monolith."

Noah turned towards Cecilia, curiosity burning in his chest.

"What's special about that monolith?" he pressed, his tone low but intent.

Cecilia didn't look at him. Her gaze remained fixed ahead of her.

Silence filled the air for a few seconds.

"You'll know when the time is right," she said finally, her voice calm, as if they were discussing something of no consequence. "For now, let's focus on surviving this one."

That was all she offered, and her tone made it clear she wouldn't say more.

Noah frowned but let it drop.

They kept walking, and eventually, they reached a fork in the path, where the tunnel split in two. One path led to the left and the other to the right.

Both paths were lit by the same flickering glow from the moss.

"Which way?" Noah asked, scanning both directions.

Cecilia studied the air for a moment, then pointed to the left. "That way."

They took the left branch. The tunnel wound downward for several minutes before opening into a large cavern.

Noah's eyes widened.

The walls were covered in strange, glowing sigils, long, curling shapes that pulsed softly with blue and gold light.

They weren't runes he recognized, nor any known magical script he'd seen.

The glow bathed the cavern in an ethereal light, filling it with a quiet, serene atmosphere.

Their footsteps echoed off the stone, but it wasn't normal echoing.

The sound rippled, bending and warping, transforming into an almost musical hum that undulated through the air.

It was faint but strangely beautiful, as if the cavern itself were singing.

Noah slowed, his hand brushing one of the glowing symbols. The sigil was warm beneath his fingertips, the energy thrumming like a heartbeat.

Cecilia's brows knit together. "These symbols…" she murmured, walking along the wall. "They look familiar."

"I've seen something like this before, but where…" Her words faded as her eyes darted from one sigil to another, as if searching her memory.

The melodic echo of their footsteps continued, weaving through the air like a lullaby.

Noah frowned. "Professor?"

She didn't respond.

"Cecilia?"

Still nothing.

He turned fully, watching her standing perfectly still before the wall, her hand pressed against a sigil that glowed brighter beneath her touch.

"Cecilia," he said again, stepping closer, his voice more alert this time. "What's wrong?"

No movement.

He took another step, and her head turned slightly, slowly, in an unnatural manner.

Her eyes were no longer golden. They'd turned milky white, glowing faintly in the blue light of the cavern.

"Cecilia?"

Before he could react, she lunged at him, fire bursting from her palms.

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