By the time Sam returned to his dormitory, the sun was already beginning its descent.
His mind remained occupied by two equally horrifying thoughts.
The first was that Sophia apparently possessed enough former romantic partners to establish a small kingdom.
The second was that he was actually considering joining the exploration program.
Both thoughts were deeply concerning.
His dormitory sat on the edge of the academy grounds, far away from the noble residences and luxurious student quarters.
It wasn't particularly large.
And it wasn't particularly impressive either.
Especially if were to be compared to the luxurious mansions occupied by some students, it could generously be described as existing.
Still, it was his and Sam was content with that. After all the situation could have been worse. Luke him sleeping in a barn or something.
Sam entered his room and immediately sat down behind a cluttered wooden desk.
Books covered most of its surface.
Sheets of paper with half-finished diagrams occupied every available corner.
Reaching for a blank sheet of paper, he began writing.
Exploration Program Requirements
He stared at the title.
Then immediately added another line.
Things Required To Avoid Dying
That felt more accurate.
The list quickly grew.
Refined sulfur.
Iron powder.
Green mana crystal.
Red mana crystal.
An advanced beast core.
Mana ore.
Distilled alcohol.
Charcoal.
Saltpeter.
Protective goggles.
Sam paused.
Then underlined the final item twice.
Experience had also taught him the value of possessing functional eyesight.
Most mages relied upon mana.
Mana strengthened their bodies and powered their spells.
Sam possessed none of those luxuries.
According to magical theory, that should have left him completely helpless.
Sam had responded to that information by becoming extremely stubborn.
If mana could not power spells, then something else would.
If magical formulas could manipulate reality, then there had to be other ways to produce similar results.
After years of experimentation, occasional success, and numerous explosions, he had developed an entirely different approach.
A school of magic unique to himself.
A revolutionary system capable of producing effects similar to conventional spellcasting.
Sam called it Science of Blue Gliiens.
Unfortunately, convincing other mages of this fact had proven difficult.
Mostly because every demonstration ended with something catching fire.
Sometimes him.
Still, the results spoke for themselves.
While other mages carried enchanted artifacts, Sam carried inventions.
While they manipulated mana, he manipulated natural laws.
And while they spent years memorizing magical theory, Sam spent years discovering increasingly creative methods of ignoring it.
The paper soon filled with notes.
Chemical mixtures.
Mechanical designs.
Possible field equipment.
Emergency contingencies.
Emergency contingencies for the emergency contingencies.
One could never be too careful.
Especially when ancient ruins were involved.
Ancient ruins had an unfortunate habit of containing ancient problems.
Once he finished writing, Sam leaned back in his chair.
Then he spoke.
"Sebastian."
The room remained silent.
A moment later, a figure appeared beside the door.
Sam jumped.
Despite this happening almost every day he was still startled.
The man was tall and impeccably dressed.
Sebastian possessed the unnerving ability to materialize out of nowhere.
Sam didn't know if it was invincibility or teleportation but he knew it was one of both.
Sam strongly suspected that it was the later.
"Young Master Sam."
"I told you not to call me that."
"As you wish, Young Master Sam."
Sam sighed.
There was no winning this battle.
Sebastian had originally served the Theon family.
More specifically, he had served Sophia.
And after one incident with the nobles that nearly left Sam on the death door Sophia had easily handed him to serve as Sam's attendant.
A fact that continued to confuse everyone involved.
Officially, Sebastian existed to assist him.
Unofficially, he existed to prevent noble students from arranging unfortunate accidents.
Apparently dating a princess generated enemies.
Who knew?
Sam handed over the paper.
"I need these materials."
Sebastian glanced at the list.
One eyebrow rose.
A rare event.
The last time Sebastian had raised an eyebrow, an alchemy laboratory had exploded.
Twice.
"May I ask what these are for?"
"Science."
Sebastian looked at the paper.
Then at Sam.
Then back at the paper.
"Of course."
The response carried the tone of a man who had long ago abandoned the pursuit of understanding.
"Can you acquire them?"
"By tomorrow."
"Excellent."
Sebastian folded the paper.
"Will there be explosions?"
Sam considered the question.
"Probably."
"I see."
"Possibly several."
"Naturally."
Neither appeared concerned.
This was not a healthy relationship.
Sebastian gave a slight bow.
Then vanished.
Sam stared at the empty space.
"I hate it when he does that. But l do say that l envy his ability. "
With preparations complete, exhaustion finally caught up to Sam.
The day had been unusually long.
He changed clothes, collapsed onto his bed, and closed his eyes.
Sleep arrived quickly.
Then the dream began.
There was darkness everywhere.
Sam stood alone.
While the world around him felt cold and wrong.
The air itself seemed heavy.
Then he heard it.
Clink.
A metallic rattling sound echoed through the void.
Clink...Clink...Clink.
The noise grew louder and louder.
Sam began to follow the sound and eventually he found its source.
Sam stared at the dark well im front of him.
The well appeared ancient and weathered.
Its stone walls were covered in cracks and black chains emerged from the darkness below.
They were many chains.
Each disappearing into the depths.
The rattling continued until a voice spoke.
"Don't come."
Sam froze.
The voice sounded distant.
"Don't enter the ruin."
A silhouette slowly emerged from within the darkness below.
Sam could discern a human shape that was barely visible due to the sorrounding darkness.
Sam couldn't make out any features and also coudn't identify whether it was a man or woman.
Only the outline remained visible.
"Who are you?" Sam asked.
The silhouette trembled and chains shook violently.
"Leave."
The voice sounded terrified.
"Its Sophia. All of it, its all Sophia"
Sam frowned.
"How do you know Sophia?"
The figure suddenly grabbed one of the chains.
Its movements became frantic and desperate.
"Listen to me. Don't trust her."
The voice cracked.
The darkness around the well seemed to writhe.
Something moved below.
Then the figure screamed.
The scream was filled with fear and certainty.
"They are all going to die!"
The chains rattled violently.
Then the well trembled.
The darkness surged upward.
"And you will be blamed for it!"
The scream echoed endlessly through the void.
Then everything shattered.
Sam awoke instantly.
His eyes snapped open and old sweat covered his body.
The room was dark and silent.
For several moments he simply layed there staring at the ceiling.
His heart pounded in his chest.
Slowly, he sat upright.
"...Well."
He rubbed his face.
"That's one weird dream."