Broken Story: Reborn as a Villainess Author-Chapter 35: Winter of the Sky

[Three days later...]

Rustle. Rustle.

Acheron walked through the dense forest path alongside her mates. Around her were long trees with thin branches that blocked most of the sunlight from reaching the ground.

They were on their way to the Winter of the Sky Dungeon as today was the long awaited day of the expedition.

One of the academy professors, Vikram, guided the group towards the direction of the dungeon. It was a tricky one... to make sure students don’t by mistake wander into Elysium Reach and come across the dungeon.

The academy set up a loop spell around the area with only the professors knowing how to bypass it.

"Listen carefully!" He said as he tapped his staff on the ground continuously. "As you all know, the Winter of the Sky is a low ranked dungeon for now... the strong monsters inside had been cleared by some of your professors. So, it will take a while for them to respawn."

Monsters dying and respawning... was the only way Acheron could think of to make the dungeons last forever. The logic behind them is unknown... no one knows how they appeared, why they appeared.

Several mighty mages and knights have tried to destroy them, seal them... but nothing worked... hence, they adapted to them.

"However, do not play around the dungeon just because it is declared ’safe’." Professor Vikram explained. "Many mages have lost their lives just because they underestimated what they were up against."

The students all felt something shiver down their spine.

"But not to worry, these monsters should be your level so no need to panic." He reassured.

Acheron stayed in the middle of the group, her siblings followed behind her.

Earlier that morning, before they left the academy, Acheron was called on to announce her team selections as due to her victory in her duel with Alackster, she had earned the right to choose four other students to support her during the expedition.

Her first choice was her brother, William. The announcement raised everyone’s eyebrows. Why would she pick her younger brother when she could have picked the stronger students from the higher class?

Her second choice was Alackster... the very person she defeated to claim this right to choose. Her last two selections were Dalia and Arlo. Those selections confused the hordes of students even more... but no one could question her choices, even the student president Aurelia.

Acheron had deliberately decided not to pick Jamie and Arthur. Their Mirror Guardian ability was getting too much recognition. It would raise questions if the professors were to find out about it.

The group continued their journey, the forest path gradually opened up, revealing a clear pathway ahead.

Several trees behind them, the commoner students and their professors followed suit.

After a few more minutes, they arrived at the foot of the dungeon’s entrance.

The entrance was a large archway carved into the side of a mountain... ice covered the edges of the stone, glittering under the sunlight. Chilling air came out from the opening, visible as white mist. This was the only dungeon in the northern part of the kingdom.

The Winter of the Sky.

Beyond the entrance, darkness went deep into the mountain... no one could see how far it went. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

Several men stood outside wearing heavy armor and holding expensive-looking swords, while others strapped theirs to their backs. They weren’t alone; casually dressed individuals stood alongside them, carrying small weapons or none at all.

It was obvious... These guys were adventurers.

Unlike students who train in academies for years, then go on to become official mages or knights, adventurers made their living by raiding dungeons and selling the relics they found to rich nobles and organizations.

The academy had booked the dungeon for an entire day... most of the adventurers in Ironhills didn’t know and came... only to be stopped by guards of the Dungeon Oversight Bureau.

The body appointed by the King and Queen to oversee all dungeon matters across the kingdoms.

Unless the adventurers wanted to lose their license, they had no choice but to comply.

Professor Vikram raised his staff, signaling for a halt.

"Acheron, step forward with your team."

Acheron stepped out. William, Alackster, Dalia and Arlo followed from behind her. They formed a line in front of the dungeon.

Another professor, Julia, who was already waiting for them spotted them and came over. She carried two small ball-like devices that had wings. It was the Runic Eye.

On a large stone beside the dungeon, she had already set up the other half.

"This will record all your activities and will help us know how the expedition is going." She said as she handed one to Acheron, then one to Chiara who had just arrived with the commoners.

They were not much, just eight in total compared to the large amount the nobles brought. Most of the commoners had stayed back... they despise nobles as nobles despise them.

The commoner team stepped beside the noble team. Chiara stood beside Acheron. For a moment, their eyes met. Chiara gave a small nod. Acheron returned it with a smile.

She glanced at the four commoner students that stepped up behind Chiara. They were a weird bunch... but she was able to tell who they were just from their character appearance.

A boy stood with blue hair, his expression was carefree... he was tall also. This was an easy one to guess. Skye of the House Morwen.

Behind him was another guy with black hair. He was the tallest of both the nobles and commoners team going in. He adjusted his glasses silently, observing the dungeon. He was Lukene of the House Kyran.

Nieves stood behind them all, maintaining her composure. She did not remember much from the night of the Baron’s death. The information given by the ’Purple haired girl’ could have been anyone.

A thought came to her that it may be this weird noble who smiles all the time (Acheron). But then she brushed it off... There is no way Acheron was around then to know about the event of her parents’ death.

Nor did she know about Ten Faces. That was a mystery she left for Vincent to find out.

As she had deep thoughts about various things, a pink haired girl tried her best to disturb her. She was short and reckless, desperately trying to get Nieves’ attention who was lost in thoughts.

Acheron giggled inwardly as she remembered who the character was... Eilette of the House Helen.

Professor Julia stepped in front of both teams, getting ready to address them. "Okay... em... so, once you are inside... the path splits into two ways. Nobles will take the right route... while the commoners take the other."

She walked up to the dungeon, placing her hand on the ever-moving portal-like entrance.

"Otta... virem!" Professor Julia said out loud, opening the dungeon’s entrance.