Netherbeast Academy {REBOOT}

Twilight: The dungeons

Chapter 3

"Welcome to the canteen," Rachel said as she opened the door to another large and spacious room. "It's one of the best places in the whole Academy."

"One of?" I asked, giving her a confused look.

"Yes. I'll show you the best one later—let's say after class, tomorrow," Rachel said as she jumped on top of a table.

"What else is there, besides the canteen, of course?" I asked.

"Hmm," she pondered, hopping off the table. "I know. Follow me!" Rachel said, grabbing my hand. We ran out of the canteen with smiles on our faces. I didn't know where Rachel was taking me, but when we got there, my jaw practically hit the ground.

In front of me was a beautiful garden, full of different kinds of flowers. From roses to daisies, and sunflowers to violets, a variety of flowers were being grown by trolls.

"Who are those colored people?" I asked, pointing towards two trolls doing... something that made the flowers around them grow faster than usual.

"Firstly, those 'colored people' are trolls. And secondly, aren't you supposed to know this?" Rachel replied, raising an eyebrow.

"About that... when I said my brother and I are new here, I meant it. Like, literally. We're not from here. Not long ago, I lived among humans... as one of them," I said, lowering my gaze.

"Huh. It's okay," Rachel said, patting my shoulder. "I'll help you fit in. No questions asked. Anyway, back to the trolls. Do you know what they're doing? Guess not." She smiled knowingly. "These trolls are the healers of the Netherbeasts. They have a strong connection to nature. They can use nature's power in battle—and not just for offense. Trolls can also heal the injured using spells that no other Netherbeast can cast. It's a gift, really," Rachel explained, clearly proud of her knowledge.

"If you liked this," she said with a mischievous smirk, "you're definitely going to love our next stop."

I didn't quite trust that smirk of hers, but I followed her anyway. If she said I was going to like it, I had to see for myself.

We wandered through corridors and past many closed rooms until we reached a dark corner where torches flickered on the walls.

"What is this place?" I asked, staring up at the massive, mysterious door.

"It's the entrance to the Dungeons. No student is allowed down there," Rachel said casually. "But... I thought you might want to see it."

"Okay..." I said, stepping closer to the door.

Suddenly, I felt a sharp pain in my head—like something was clawing inside my mind. A voice echoed through my skull:

"Come to me, Twilight. You have to. Help me!"

"Ahhhhh!" I screamed in agony as I collapsed to the ground. Everything went black.

When I woke up, I found a tall, pale man speaking with Rachel. A short troll healer stood beside me, checking my condition.

Seeing I was awake, the pale man called in the troll and stepped outside with Rachel, closing the door behind them.

The troll sat beside me and said, "If you haven't found your powers yet, this shouldn't affect you too negatively." He handed me some blue powder. "Inhale this."

I sniffed the powder and instantly, my hearing sharpened—I could hear the conversation happening outside the room.

"Ms. McKenzie, you know very well how dangerous it is to take students near the Dungeons. Especially freshmen," the pale man said sternly.