A/N: Hi guys. Sorry for the lack of updates recently, I was ill, but now I'm back.
...
"Hey, where'd the gate go? I'm sure it was here when I turned away." Someone said, looking quite confused and puzzled as he looked from left to right, his eyes sweeping all around.
"I swear it was just here. Have the strike team even gone in yet?" Another asked before stopping as he looked at the obvious anomaly before his very eyes. Cautiously, he tapped his partner on the arm gently. "Hey. What are the criteria for a dungeon break again?"
While he still watched vigilantly, his hand already morphed into some kind of single claw that looked like it could tear into steel, his partner patted him on the shoulder. "Look closer, there's a boy on the floor, perhaps a fresh intake. Those are most likely his summons." He said.
While he said so with all seriousness, no one who heard him could believe he wasn't spouting rubbish, after all, who would believe that skeletons were summons? Undead as summons had never happened in history.
Leon, seeing the cautious looks casted on him, released his summons.
The person standing closest to him, who appeared to be a non-academic staff approached. "Good evening. You must be a student, right?"
"Yes. I'm among the new batch of students who arrived two days ago." He explained, noticing that at least that much was needed, given the fact that he wasn't wearing uniform.
"You're one of us. Come, I'll help you up." The staff said, but Leon pointed to his leg, drawing up his baggy trousers to reveal his broken leg. The staff looked like he would throw up after seeing the leg, but he held it in, shouting for medics.
Following that short exchange, everyone approached Leon where he was on the ground, surrounding him in such a way he began to feel claustrophobic. There was so much been said around him, he didn't quite catch in detail what was being said, not to mention, he was in pain.
"Everyone give way!" A voice shouted from behind the gathered crowd.
Hurrying through, some people came with a stretcher and after placing Leon carefully on it, jacked him away. It was only then when they carried him to the infirmary, that he felt a strange exhaustion come over him, forcing his consciousness to drift away until his world went dark.
…
Waking up, he found himself lying on a bed, and beside him on both sides were such beds, some with curtains darn fully to cover up, others half drawn or open. Clearly, this was the academy's infirmary.
While he was still getting himself, he noticed the nurse looking over at him for a moment, then a knowing look appeared across her face and she turned away and left. Seeing that, Leon was certain was it meant. Looking at the time, it was already 11 am the following morning.
A short while later, the door opened, and walking through was the headmaster, he recognised him immediately from when he gave a speech some days ago. The headmaster walked with steady measured steps as he made his way to Leon, and behind him, Leon could see another man who looked clearly younger than the headmaster following behind. He wore a two piece suit and a professional expression behind his eye glasses. He followed behind in similar strides.
The headmaster approached with a smile, his body language seeming to get more gentle as he arrived before Leon's bed. He pulled a chair and took a seat, and the man following him did the same.
"How are you feeling?" The headmaster asked, a warm smile on his face.
"Not so great." Leon answered frankly.
The headmaster looked at the leg briefly, as did the one that came with him. "I can see that." He said in a lower tone, before returning his gaze to Leon. "Tell me what happened."
Leon nodded, pulling himself to sit-up a bit before he started. Knowing before hand this would happen and he would be asked this question, he had naturally prepared something ahead of time. It was still mostly the truth of what had happened, just a bit adulterated.
According to what he told them, he had been outside when the dungeon spawned and immediately he found himself within it. He had called his summons and moved forward because standing still in an unknown dungeon seemed worse than the alternative.
When asked about the summons, whether it was so from before the dungeon, during, or after, he answered that he didn't understand why there had been two skeletons rather than one, it had simply happened and he had no explanation for it. He kept the door entirely out of the account.
The headmaster and Joseph exchanged a look that lasted exactly long enough to communicate something between them.
"You cleared the dungeon," Joseph said. It landed somewhere between a statement and a question.
"It was definitely a green dungeon. The ogres weren't easy but they were manageable with two summons."
Another exchanged look happened. Leon held his expression steady and waited.
With no way to confirm the two skeletons detail, and no evidence to contradict his account, they accepted it. Joseph made a note, while the headmaster moved on.
"The cores you extracted. They're secured in our possession. If you'd like to liquidate them, we can arrange a transfer at fair valuation."
Leon said yes without hesitating.
A figure was mentioned, which he agreed with. He kept his face neutral and filed the number away. It wasn't a fortune, but it was considerably more than nothing, which was precisely what he'd had before walking into that dungeon.
The headmaster leaned back slightly. "Your leg needs time. We can arrange for you to remain in the infirmary until you're mobile, or if you prefer, you're welcome to take a month's leave and recover at home." He paused. "The choice is yours."
Leon thought about the studio apartment, then thought about the Carter family estate and his stepmother, the questions that had been sitting unanswered since his first night in this world.
"I'll go home," he said.
…
Even then, he had to remain there until the following day before he could gather his things and travel.
Not surprisingly, word spread fast all over the academy, and from that alone, it looked like the quality of the gazes had improved in a few people. The reaction was even more when it was announced in his class.
There was no way it could have still been a rumour, right? After all, the teacher was the one who said it. This was what was going around for most of the time when the topic was brought up, and even more people genuinely believed, while a shadow was rising in the hearts of a few.
At this moment, quite a few people didn't look very happy with this piece of information.
That same morning, the arrangements had already been made.
The nurse took him to his room to get whatever he would want to take. He had a short discussion with his roommates, and after there was nothing left to do, they left. With his flight arranged ahead of time, the nurse delivered him to the one who was to bring him to the airport.