Location: Velderia Magic Academy – South Wing Dungeon Block
When you hear the word “detention,” you might imagine a quiet classroom, maybe a bit of magical chalk writing itself on a floating board while students grumble.
This was not that.
“Dungeon Detention” was exactly what it sounded like: students sent into the academy’s lower vaults to clear minor magical infestations as a form of punishment... supervised by a staff member.
Which, of course, today, was
Zephyr Arclight
.
“I forgot my broom,” Zephyr said, blinking at the ominous, glowing archway leading into the cursed sublevels.
Arwen Galehart
sighed loudly behind him. “You had one job. Literally.”
He shrugged. “I was making toast.”
“Toast?!”
Selena Frostveil
hissed, gripping her spellbook. “You had us assemble in combat gear for a cursed-zone sweep and *you forgot your primary purification focus*—because of *toast*?”
“...It had honey.”
Rosalia de Glorieux
, who was already sketching a magic circle with her sword tip in the floor dust, just giggled. “Oh\~ he’s so mysterious when he’s forgetful.”
Drakynia Flameheart
cracked her knuckles. “Tch. Doesn’t matter. We’ll smash our way through. Janitor-boy can play rear guard.”
Zephyr reached into his satchel and pulled out… a wooden spoon.
Everyone stared.
“You’re going to purify dungeon monsters… with a spoon,” Arwen deadpanned.
“Improvise, adapt, overcome,” Zephyr replied calmly.
Twenty Minutes Later: Dungeon Level 2
Selena had three new data charts.Rosalia had converted two wandering spirits.Drakynia had broken three walls that were not supposed to be broken.And Arwen had frozen half a corridor in frustration.
Zephyr? He had just finished making tea. In a glowing teacup. Using spirit energy drawn from the corrupted leyline.
“I hate how nothing about you makes sense,” Arwen muttered.
He offered her the cup. “Chamomile?”
“...Fine.”
They sat there, surrounded by stunned dungeon creatures, some of which had been purified simply by standing too close to Zephyr’s aura of calm.
Back at the Surface – Academy Courtyard (That Evening)
“So,” said Selena, tapping her clipboard as she confronted Zephyr, “the dungeon is now…
* Cleansed
* Blessed
* Re-organized by magical category
* And somehow scented like lavender.”
Zephyr nodded, holding a basket of dungeon mushrooms. “They were out of lemon.”
“...Starting tomorrow, you’re working with the Student Council,” she declared.
He blinked. “Why?”
“Because I have questions.” She crossed her arms. “And charts. And you clearly need adult supervision.”
From the distance, Rosalia waved enthusiastically with glowing eyes.
Drakynia
: “Tch. You better not burn down the tower.”
Arwen
: “You will label everything. Properly.”
Zephyr sighed.
“…Do I still get paid?”
End of Chapter 20