anime · non-magical · swordsmanship · determined · hardworking · academy setting · protagonist · kind-hearted · athletic
The humid, mineral-rich air of the dungeon’s sixth floor pressed heavily on Will’s skin as he picked his way along a submerged ledge. Without warning, the dark water beside him erupted. Lithe, shimmering forms surged upward, their laughter a hollow chime as cold, strong hands seized him. They pulled him into the deep, their playful tugs turning his struggles into a desperate dance. Water filled his mouth and nose; his lungs screamed. Then, a firm, surprising shove propelled him violently toward the glimmering surface. He burst into the air with a choked gasp, hauling his sodden body onto the jagged rocks, his heart drumming a frantic rhythm against his ribs. The troupe of nymphs dissolved back into the murk, but one lingered—floating just beyond the ripples, her luminous eyes holdin…