Soulless Soul

Chapter 14: Invitation Accepted

Sky blinked, staring at her in complete disbelief. What is she saying? A school?

Of all the things he had expected to hear after surviving a literal death trap, an invitation to a classroom was definitely not on the list. He was a creature of the slums, an orphan who had spent his entire life learning how to pick pockets, dodge guards, and scavenge for scraps. The word "school" sounded like a fairy tale meant for the wealthy elite of the upper districts, not someone like him.

Jane seemed to read the absolute confusion written all over his face. She leaned back, crossing her legs comfortably. "I know you might be confused, but listen to me. You might have felt totally weak and overwhelmed during your first solo dungeon run, right?"

Sky didn’t even have to think about it. The phantom sensation of cold terror and the overwhelming weight of monsters that could snap his bones like twigs flashed through his mind. "Yeah," he said, his voice dropping into a quiet, serious tone.

"Well... technically, I was completely helpless."

"Exactly," Jane nodded, her icy purple eyes flashing with a sharp, understanding glint.

"And that is exactly why the school exists. Our school will help you. We will prepare you so that you are actually ready and capable when the time comes to enter your second dungeon run."

She fell silent for a few seconds, letting her words sink into his head. The weight of her gaze was heavy, making Sky realize that this wasn’t just a casual pitch. She adjusted the dark blue uniform jacket resting on her shoulders and then added:

"More importantly, you will get acquainted with most of the people who will enter the dungeon Realm with you during the next phase. Some of them might become your companions for life. In a place where everything is trying to kill you, having someone you can trust with your back is the difference between life and death."

Sky rubbed his chin, his busy mind already picking apart her proposal. He had survived by being suspicious of everything and everyone. "How exactly would you train and prepare me?" he asked skeptically. "What can a school teach me about a shifting dungeon?"

"Well, we have resources you can’t even imagine," Jane explained smoothly, tapping her silver pen against her notebook. "We have instructors who have successfully returned from multiple runs. They give their full tales, breaking down the terrain, enemy behaviors, and strategies. There are other newly awakened individuals at the school too, meaning you can spar and gauge your own strength. Also... who knows? With the data we compile, you might just be sent to a dungeon sector where someone has already gone before. Having a map or a guide beforehand is a massive advantage."

"Oh," Sky muttered. The idea of having actual information before stepping into a deadly alternate reality was incredibly appealing. In his first run, he had been completely blind, stumbling through the dark like a lamb to the slaughter. Knowledge was power, and in the dungeon, knowledge was survival.

"But..." Sky started, his voice trailing off as a massive, glaring problem occurred to him.

"But what?" Jane asked, eyeing him carefully, her eyebrows raising in curiosity.

Sky shifted uncomfortably in his chair, suddenly feeling very conscious of his slum background again. "I don’t have any money," he admitted, looking away. "Won’t the fees be incredibly dear? I’m talking only about the basic school fees, let alone whatever equipment or materials you guys use. I don’t possess a single copper coin to my name."

Jane stared at him for a second, and then, a sudden sound broke the serious atmosphere.

"Buhaha!"

She burst into a genuine, loud laugh, her shoulders shaking as she threw her head back. It was a stark contrast to the cold, dangerous military officer who had nearly detached his jaw with a slap just a few minutes prior.

Sky’s face flushed with anger. He glared at her, feeling his pride taking another heavy blow. "What are you laughing at? Is being poor that funny to you?" "Sorry about that. Forgive me," Jane said, gradually composing herself as she wiped a tear of amusement from the corner of her eye.

She cleared her throat and gave him a reassuring look. "Technically, you won’t need to pay for any fees at all. Everything—and I mean everything, including your food, advanced training gear, and high-quality accommodation—would be fully provided for you. The money for all of it comes directly from the government."

"Really?" Sky said, his eyes widening in sheer surprise. The government giving out free handouts to a street rat sounded entirely too good to be true. "There’s no catch?"

"Yes, it’s real," Jane said, her amusement vanishing as her tone turned profoundly solemn. "As you know, humanity has its back against the wall. We have to venture into the dungeon world and conquer it. If we don’t, the dungeon gates will eventually overflow. If they fill up completely, they will break open and leak into our reality, destroying the world entirely. What happened decades ago, during the first awakening when entire cities were wiped off the map overnight... that catastrophe cannot be allowed to repeat itself. The government funds the school because we desperately need soldiers who can close those gates. We are investing in your survival so you can protect our existence."

The room became entirely quiet for some time. The heavy weight of her words hung in the air, a stark reminder of the apocalyptic reality they all lived in. The peace of the upper districts was a fragile illusion built on the bodies of those who fought in the dark.

Jane let the silence linger for a moment longer before she finally closed her notebook with a firm snap. "So, what do you say, Common Skies? Do you want me to take you to the school?" Sky thought about it deeply, his gaze dropping down to the clean metallic floor. His mind raced, checking all the pros and cons of the situation.

On one hand, entering a government institution meant being watched, monitored, and bound by official rules. His secret traits and his dangerous negative curse would be harder to hide. On the other hand, if he went back to the slums, he would be completely on his own. He would starve, he would lack information, and when the next dungeon call arrived, he would most likely die due to a lack of preparation.

More importantly, he focused on a single, undeniable fact.

Finally, he looked up, staring directly into the icy purple eyes of the powerful woman sitting in front of him. He made a definitive decision that might—and absolutely would change the entire trajectory of his life forever.

He let out a small, pragmatic smirk. "I can’t miss out on free things."

Jane smiled, a sharp, satisfied expression.

"Yeah," Sky confirmed, nodding firmly. "I want to go to the school."

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