"Someone needs to have the power to help others. Now that you have the power of a clan, you should also learn how to handle it, shouldn't you?"
It wasn't a wrong statement.
However, the problem was that since Christina had mentioned 'punishment' instead of 'training,' it was unlikely to be a purely innocent lesson.
"Yeah. I want you to experience what kind of lesson it will be now."
'Maybe it's just some preparatory training?'
Even if he didn't know what the lesson was, it might be better to prepare mentally.
Christina added an explanation to his hesitation.
"In this space, you can reveal all the power you possess without any harm. Do you understand what that means?"
The answer to Christina's question was very easy.
[In this place made of light magic, it means I can draw out as much darkness as I want.]
Encouraged by her confirmation, Rune enveloped himself in darkness.
The undulating black curtain stood out particularly in the space filled with light.
"Darkness is very powerful, but it's also a cruel force that devours everything. Use it freely and to your heart's content."
Christina swung her hand lightly with a relaxed smile.
A wave of light, like mist, shook the air, and the white wall, which had been empty, distorted and formed into cities and towers.
It was an ancient city without a crowd.
Buildings that might have been popular a thousand years ago.
It was desolate in some ways, but it was an elegant and beautiful landscape.
"The means and methods don't matter. Just find me within this city of light."
[Hmm... Is it like hide and seek?]
'Such a simple thing would be a bit boring.'
Thinking inwardly, Rune felt a gentle smile from Christina, who emitted a faint aura.
It was definitely a controlled aura, yet it felt suffocating.
A sense of danger as if he had entered the territory of a predator.
At the same time, a thrilling sensation ran from his tailbone to the top of his head.
But unlike before, it wasn't just a feeling of tension.
This... was the anticipation of having a chance to do something with a strong opponent.
'Sure, it's much better than before.'
If it were the Rune from a while ago, he would have been overwhelmed by the pressure she gave, but he naturally spread darkness around him.
It was a silent territorial war between light and darkness.
Rune's magic invaded her domain, quietly expanding its territory without being overwhelmed by Christina's aura.
Though young, it was a force that threatened the light Christina possessed.
Christina gently lifted the corners of her mouth.
"To have a vessel of darkness this large. Your innate talent is truly remarkable."
The black undulation swallowed the light greedily and spread.
The places swept by the shadows were erased as if by an eraser, revealing the original white walls.
As the darkness passed, light gathered again, reviving the ancient cityscape.
"Can I expect you to do well?"
Christina's figure distorted and multiplied, becoming two, then three.
Christina with slightly different appearances, expressions, and clothing began to stroll around the city.
Various hairstyles and ages, each of her forms was lively as they roamed the city.
A perfect mirage created by the power of light.
The Christina closest to Rune spoke affectionately.
"Within the next hour. Try to find the real me within that time."
Rune glanced around before trying to grab her.
Everything was a mirage, but the city also contained non-mirage elements.
Rune stood in the middle of a square.
'With multiple targets, this is perfect for practice. I should start with the simplest method.'
He decided to warm up by gradually drawing out his power, beginning to dye the entire space with darkness.
The city's day turned into a dark night without the leisure of twilight.
The scene looked like magic that transcended time.
The darkness ran rampant, greedily devouring the city's light.
However, the darkness didn't last long. When the young Christina waved her hand, light fell through the gaps in the darkness from the sky, revealing the city again.
Rune, who remained unchanged, admired the shining city and fell into thought.
'One hour. Maintaining this space for that long is no big deal for her.'
He already knew the answer to the problem Christina had given him.
Though it might be unfair to her, the power of darkness, curses, and poisons was something he had handled since his wyrm days.
'I might as well confirm it since I need to test my power anyway.'
It was a rare opportunity to use darkness to its fullest, so he intended to take his time and make the most of it.
He pretended not to notice and poked the body of a Christina walking with an umbrella, using his forelimb filled with condensed darkness.
Suddenly, a strong light fell from the ceiling.
Sensing an ominous aura, he quickly moved his body, and the spot where he had been was scorched black by the light, as if splashed with acid.
The spot was soon covered by a faint light and transformed back into a clean city street.
'This is quite something.'
The indiscriminate light-based attack magic, combined with the space surrounded by illusions.
Even the dragon skin was useless against the light beams.
Rune, who had seen the fierce attack, changed his mind about taking it easy.
I need to use that method.
'Since I need to show my power to go to the <Cursed Dungeon> in the Blue Dragon's lair anyway.'
If he touched a fake Christina, the light beams would indiscriminately target him.
An hour was far too short to check each one individually.
'I need to use that method, even if it's crude.'
Rune condensed darkness around him.
Pitch-black darkness poured out of Rune's body and extended to all of Christina's clones.
At the same time, light beams fell from the sky, piercing his entire body savagely.
The ground and city walls burned white from the light.
Fountains and decorations began to melt from the light.
The only thing that repelled and blocked the light was Rune's darkness.
Rune, surrounded by darkness, focused his senses on the feeling of power crossing the space.
'I found it. The darkness Christina possesses.'
In the distant place where the undulating darkness reached.
Rune found the only Christina among the illusions in this fabricated city who possessed a 'real shadow.'
Instantly, Christina's shadow wrapped around her body.
While touching the body of a light-made Christina would trigger light beams, her shadow was different.
Everything was an illusion created by the refraction of light, but the 'shadow' possessed by the real Christina was not an illusion.
Christina, wearing a white triangular hat and dressed as a wizard, smiled slightly with a slight eye twitch.
In response, Rune also slightly lifted one corner of his mouth in a smile.
Just like her, who could manipulate light at will, Rune could use his power to manipulate darkness and control the real Christina's shadow.
This was a place to gauge the atmosphere before the real lesson.
Since it was intended as a warm-up before the lesson, she wouldn't have used it as a standard for proficiency.
The only solution within such limitations was to find the real darkness in this space filled with light magic.
"I'm amazed. I didn't expect you to grasp the core so quickly."
It was a genuine expression of admiration.
'Just understanding the basic essence and having a bit of sense is enough. Perfect.'
Understanding his attribute and using it accurately.
Manipulating a tool he had never used before to achieve a successful result usually required multiple trials and errors.
It was easy for Rune, but as a task that required an untried idea, it was quite challenging.
Moreover, the light beam attack was different from the way Christina had controlled it to avoid hurting him directly.
An attack that could damage the skin, indiscriminately applied, was a lesson that was impossible to start without the courage to face life-threatening danger.
It was curious enough to wonder why she, who prioritized safety, would use such a method.
'...I need to ask her seriously.'
Rune transformed into a human form, putting on a bracelet.
"Christina. What's the real intention behind this lesson?"
"It seems you've already noticed. Truly, you're a quick-witted child."
Christina approached, holding her staff, and smiled slightly at Rune's question.
She pushed her golden hair behind her ear with one hand and continued in a clear, warm, yet calm voice.
"Rune, do you want to go to the Water Clan's <Cursed Dungeon>?"
Surprised by the unexpected question, Rune waited for the story to continue.
"Yes. The situation isn't good. I don't want the remaining darkness to continue tainting their dungeon. The best method would be for you to recover the power. But it's really dangerous there."
Christina sat next to Rune as she approached.
The scenery had changed from an ancient city to a hill overlooking a small rural village.
"Before coming back, I met with the Amelia family and had a thorough conversation. To put it simply, the Water Clan has formally requested you to dispel the curse and darkness from the <Cursed Dungeon>."
Rune, who had properly resolved the darkness of Amelia's parents.
The Water Clan, suffering from the curse and exhausted, needed the purification of the dungeon to reclaim their original lair.
'I knew they would come asking for help, like a chain of sweet potatoes.'
As expected, he was satisfied that the Water Clan would seek his help.
Regardless of his feelings, his expression remained stoic.
Christina looked at him with a slightly regretful gaze.
"Rune, your choice is already made, isn't it?"
Knowing that trying to dissuade him would be futile, her clear blue eyes showed a worried smile.
"Christina said that I'm an excellent Black Dragon, no matter what anyone says."
Rune smiled and repeated her words.
"The Dark Clan has always been like that. They move silently in the darkness, never turning their backs on those who are broken, wounded, or bravely fought but lost."
Her deep gaze looked at Rune.
The duty to protect the young hatchling and the remaining danger to the Water Clan, who had just recovered.
Christina must have had her own dilemma in choosing between the two.
The young boy, facing her, suddenly said as if he had just thought of it.
"By the way, you said that to help someone, one needs to have the power, right?"
Answering her unspoken concerns wasn't difficult.
"I'll solve the Water Clan's problem. This lesson is dangerous if you enter the dungeon unprepared, so you made it to help me train, right?"
"Yes. In fact, I already had a hunch about how you would decide."