Wandering Ranger

The job was done.

Lucien was returned.

The Balek family was happy.

So, naturally, I did what any sane adventurer would do—

I turned around and started walking away.

But, of course—

Lucien refused to let me go.

This kid was like a gum I stepped on, it won't fall no matter how much i try to throw it.

——

The moment I tried to leave, he latched onto my side, matching my pace effortlessly.

"Come now, Gunavor," he said smoothly, grinning like a damn idiot. "You're not really going to run off before we properly celebrate my glorious return, are you?"

I sighed. "Yes. Yes, I am. And don't can me by my name, we're not familiar"

Lucien gasped dramatically. "How heartless!"

I ignored him and kept walking.

But then—I noticed something.

Edward, Silvia and Blaire weren't following me.

In fact, they turned back toward the Balek family.

Edward grinned. "Actually, meeting the parents doesn't sound so bad."

Silvia smiled politely. "They do seem really grateful."

I froze.

Stared at them.

Then sighed deeply.

"You traitors."

——

And just like that, I was dragged back into the Balek estate.

The mansion was as luxurious as expected—high ceilings, elegant chandeliers, walls lined with expensive paintings.

It was a noble's house, through and through.

And at the center of it all—

Lord and Lady Balek.

Lucien's parents were an elegant couple in their late forties, dressed in fine, dark-toned clothing.

They carried themselves with refined grace, but their eyes—

Their eyes lit up with relief the moment they saw their son.

"Lucien!" Lady Balek rushed forward, hugging him tightly.

Lucien, looking lazy, simply sighed. "Mother. You're suffocating me."

Lord Balek chuckled, shaking his head. "You gave us quite the scare this time, son."

His eyes when he looked at his son exposed his thoughts, he want to strangle him.

Lucien smirked. "Come now, Father. You know I always find my way home eventually."

___

While Lucien lounged like this wasn't a big deal, Edward and Silvia were already engaged in polite conversation with his parents.

Lord Balek smiled warmly.

"You have our deepest gratitude. I imagine finding our son wasn't an easy task."

Edward grinned. "Oh, it was easy. Catching him was the fun part."

Silvia giggled. "We had to be a little direct."

Lord Balek laughed. "Good. If you were too polite, he would've slipped away again."

I just sat there, nodding occasionally.

Because, honestly?

I wasn't built for noble pleasantries.

But then—

Lucien dropped a bomb.

——

He, who had been silent for a while, suddenly sat up.

Then, with a lazy grin, he said:

"Oh, by the way—I think I'll be sticking with them for a while."

Silence.

The entire room froze.

Lord and Lady Balek stared at him.

Edward blinked. "Wait. What?"

Silvia tilted her head. "Lucien, what do you mean?"

I closed my eyes.

Because I already knew where this was going.

He stretched, completely unbothered by the reactions.

"Simple, really. I find them entertaining. And honestly?" He glanced at us, well me specifically.

Then he grinned like an idiot. "You guys are the first who actually managed to catch me without playing giving me enough time to prepare."

I groaned.

Lord Balek frowned. "Lucien, you can't just—"

Lucien waved a hand. "Oh, come now, Father. You know I'm not suited for noble life."

Lady Balek sighed. "That doesn't mean you can just run off with a group of adventurers!"

Lucien shrugged. "Why not? I've already lived in the Night Market for months. What's the difference?"

That's not even the Worst Part.

Edward looked like he actually liked this idea.

Silvia seemed genuinely curious.

Blaire, of course, just exhaled sharply.

And me?

I rubbed my temples.

This was going to be a problem.

Lucien wasn't just some random noble.

He was smart. Manipulative. A wildcard.

And if he stuck with us, things were going to get messy.

…But at the same time, he was useful.

He knew Nightale's underground world.

He had connections.

He was someone who could get things done in ways we couldn't.

So the real question was—

Did I really want him on the team?

I sighed.

Then looked at Blaire, whispering.

"Thoughts?"

She glanced at me.

Then at Lucien.

Then back at me.

And after a long pause—

She simply said:

"He's your problem now."

Great.

Just great.

Lucien Balek: The New Problem

I sighed.

Lucien had basically received our agreement.

Not because we explicitly said "Yes, join us."

But because this team is weird and there is no fixed leader and they go based on their interests .

Edward (who sometimes acted like the leader) agreed.

Silvia followed Edward's decisions.

Blaire followed Silvia.

And i just went with the flow.

So, yeah.

We had a new teammate.

And Lucien?

He was thrilled, this bastard.

___

The moment he realized he was in, he practically sprinted out of the room.

Before we could even process what was happening—

He returned fully dressed in adventurer gear.

Like.

What the hell?

That was too fast.

Silvia blinked. "You… changed already?"

Lucien smirked. "Of course. One must always be prepared for sudden life changes."

Edward laughed. "I like this guy."

I muttered, "This is going to be a problem."

Now that he was dressed like an adventurer, I finally got a proper look at him, after all i really didn't care much when i carried nor even took a good look at him

His hair is messy mix of silver and black, short and stylish.

His eyes are golden , sharp, and full of mischief.

He's about the same height as Edward, but he carried himself with a lazy arrogance that made him seem taller.

His clothes are mix of high-quality noble fabrics and practical adventurer gear.

Apparently his weapon is dual daggers strapped to his belt. Well it seems we have one thing in common.

Everything about him screamed rogue.

A noble who had abandoned formality in favor of street-smart cunning.

And honestly he fit right in with our chaotic group.

That was the problem.

——

Edward grinned as he looked Lucien up and down.

"Alright, let's get your adventurer status updated at the guild, then."

Lucien smirked. "No need."

Then, casually, he pulled out a guild badge.

I froze.

Because that wasn't just any badge.

That was a Steel-rank adventurer badge.

Silvia's eyes widened. "You're already Steel rank?"

Lucien grinned. "Of course."

Edward whistled. "Damn, you were really serious about this adventuring thing."

I?

I just stared at the badge.

Because let me get this straight—

I started as Wood rank.

I struggled my way up.

Now I'm stuck at Bronze and don't know when will i get a promotion (the guild leader didn't mention it so i didn't ask, but seriously do i need to save the world to get to iron?)

And now?

Now I was pushed down again the lowest-ranked person in the group, even thought i always was.

Lucien casually tossed his badge in the air. "Impressed?"

I sighed.

"Why is everyone better than me?"

Blaire, without missing a beat: "Because you're an idiot."

I glared at her. "I didn't ask you."

Edward laughed.

Lucien smirked. "Don't worry, Gunavor. You'll catch up… eventually."

I looked at him with blank eye, did this grandson really thought rank determined power? I was just holding him like a chicken in less than an hour.

Silvia, ever the kind one, patted my shoulder. "At least you're improving!"

Great.

Just great.

I went from being the 4th guy in the group to being the 5th guy.

Lucien grinned. "Well then, shall we go to the guild?"

Edward nodded. "Let's go."

Silvia smiled. "I hope they have some interesting quests today!"

Blaire exhaled sharply.

I just sighed.

Because my life just got even more complicated.

But whatever.

I was used to it.

So, with one final groan, I followed my team toward the guild.

Time to see what chaos awaited us in the guild again, i hope to receive a good news at least.

____

The moment we stepped into the Nightale Guild Branch, I could feel the Guild Leader's stare.

Not at me.

Not at Edward or Silvia.

Not even at Blaire.

No, his eyes were locked onto Lucien.

Which made sense.

Since he was literally the target of the mission he gave us just an hour ago.

(Or maybe two. I lost track of time.)

The way he squinted at Lucien, then glanced at our group, then looked back at Lucien—

Yeah.

I got it.

So, in the most understanding way possible, I just patted him on the shoulder.

He sighed heavily.

Then shook his head and waved us over.

Before we could even say anything, the Guild Leader gestured toward my Bronze badge.

Then, with a surprisingly neutral tone, he said:

"You've met the requirements for advancement."

Silence.

I blinked.

Edward raised an eyebrow.

Silvia clapped her hands together. "Oh, that's wonderful!"

Blaire just exhaled sharply.

Lucien grinned. "Ah, so he's not going to be bronze forever."

I ignored him.

Instead, I focused on what the Guild Leader was saying.

He continued:

"We received confirmation from Wither City's branch. Given your contributions here in Nightale, you're eligible for promotion to Iron Rank."

Finally.

Finally!

___

I looked at the new badge in my hand then at my teammates badge.

Silvia → Gold.

Edward → Silver.

Blaire → Silver (marked with red)

Lucien → Steel.

And now, at long last—

I wasn't at the bronze anymore.

I had climbed up from Bronze to Iron.

It wasn't a huge leap, but still—

It felt damn good.

Lucien chuckled. "Congratulations, Gunavor. You're slightly less useless now."

I flicked him on the forehead causing it to turn red.

He laughed.

Edward grinned. "Well, now that you're Iron, you can finally stop complaining."Silvia nodded. "It's a big milestone!"

I smiled.

But then, I glanced at Blaire's badge.

Silver.

But with a red marking.

I murmured "i wonder what's that red thing on your badge?"

Blaire didn't react.

But it seems that she heard me and just said, "Later."

Alright.

___

After a few minutes of enjoying my promotion, I turned toward my lovely, chaotic team.

"Alright," I said, ready to move forward. "What did you guys pick for the next quest?"

Then I looked at the quest they were holding.

And froze.

Because what the hell was I looking at?

Silvia smiled a little too brightly. "It's an interesting one!"

Edward smirked. "We figured something unique would be fun."

Lucien just grinned like a menace. "You'll love this one, Gunavor."

I stared at the paper.

Then at them.

Then back at the paper.

And after a long pause, I muttered—

"You're kidding."

But no.

No, they weren't.

Because this quest—

Is not something we should do now, even if we have Blaire.

I grabbed the quest paper, my eyebrows twitching as I read through it.

Slowly.

Carefully.

Hoping—praying—that I was misreading something.

But no.

No, I wasn't.

Because the next quest my team had picked was pure insanity.

——

The Merchant Union of Nightale had issued a high-reward expedition request.

The mission?

Go underwater.

To search for a lost artifact.

A sunken ruin off the northern coast of Nightale had recently been discovered by divers.

The Union believed it held valuable relics from an ancient civilization.

It took me less than a minute to connect it with the dungeon in my memory that the sea dragon was supposed to be guarding.

However—

All attempts to retrieve these artifacts had failed.

The first group of divers disappeared.

The second group returned, but refused to go back.

The third group reported strange sights—lights in the deep, unnatural whispers.

And now?

They needed strong adventurers to take on the job.

——

I stared at the parchment.

Then at my team.

Then back at the parchment.

Then, finally, I said what needed to be said.

"WHAT THE HELL IS THIS??? WHY DID YOU PICK THIS SHIT??"

I turned to Edward, Silvia, and Lucien, ready to complain until my lungs gave out.

But before I could start, Edward casually tossed something at me.

A small, heavy purse.

I caught it, confused. "What's this?"

Edward grinned. "Your share."

I blinked. "My share of what?"

Then he explained.

Apparently, the guild had already processed our earnings.

The city had given us a generous reward for resolving the sea fog disappearances.

The guild had bought the entire thing for a hefty sum. (Apparently, its bones and scales were valuable.)

Lord Balek had paid handsomely for the return of his runaway son.

Altogether?

It was a ridiculous amount of money.

I opened the purse and felt the weight of the coins.

Gold. Lots of it.

I immediately shut my mouth.

Edward smirked. "Still complaining?"

I shook my head. "Nope. Not anymore."

Lucien chuckled. "Ah, the power of money."

I just ignored this idiot.

Silvia giggled. "It is a lot."

Even Blaire looked vaguely satisfied.

As for me, i just sighed.

Because at this point, I realized something.

No matter how ridiculous the quests got—

As long as the pay was good and high,

I could tolerate it.

Even if it involved going underwater into a cursed ruin.

So, fine.

Fine.

I'd do it.

____

The quest was set for tomorrow.

Which meant we had the rest of the day free.

Edward, Silvia, and Lucien decided to explore the city, with Lucien acting as their personal guide to Nightale's best locations.

That left me and Blaire.

And, unsurprisingly, she had only one plan in mind.

Training me.

——

It was still early.

The sun was high in the sky, not like last night's moonlit session.

The ocean breeze carried the scent of salt, mixing with the distant sounds of waves crashing against the cliffs.

Unlike yesterday, when I was already exhausted from battle, today I was fully rested.

Which meant…

I was about to get beaten even worse.

Great.

——

The moment I got into a stance, Blaire moved.

Fast.

Precise.

Completely effortless.

And me?

I was trying my best not to get thrown into the dirt every five seconds.

Because this wasn't just training.

This was me getting dismantled piece by piece.

Again.

While also holding a conversation.

Because, apparently, Blaire believed in multitasking too.

__

Between dodging (badly) and countering (even worse), I finally brought it up.

"So," I muttered, ducking under a sharp strike, "what's with the red mark on your badge?"

Blaire didn't stop attacking.

But she did answer.

"It means my rank is conditional."

I barely dodged a low sweep. "What does that mean?"

"It means I'm recognized as Silver-rank."

She stepped forward, blade flicking toward me.

"But I can't take quests freely like normal adventurers."

This isn't a problem at all, after all there is a Gold ranked one in our team who can break the rule and can take anyone with her for missions, I'm the best proof, my rank was wooden and i joined their team easily, so I automatically figured (maybe) that being gold will make you privileged in some ways which is reasonable, so if i was alone i won't be getting quest from the guild master but will be like my fellow same ranker, nevertheless that's not what i need to think about now.

I blocked (barely) and stumbled back. "Why?"

She tilted her head slightly.

"Because I don't belong to the guild."

——

That made me pause.

"You're not… a registered adventurer?"

Blaire exhaled sharply.

Then, in one smooth motion, she knocked me flat on my back.

I groaned.

She stood over me, arms crossed.

"I was given a rank for practical purposes."

"But I never went through the formal ranking process."

I stared at her. "So, what? You just… exist in the system without actually being part of it?"

She nodded.

"A ghost rank," I muttered. "You get access to missions, but you're not bound by the guild's rules."

"Exactly."

"And they let you do that because…?"

Blaire didn't answer immediately.

Then—

"Because of the princess."

I looked at her in surprise, i mean i know Silvia identity but i don't remember her saying it directly, did i miss something?

She studied my expression for a few seconds then chuckled."i know it, you guessed it or…?"

I didn't know how to answer this.

——

Blaire wasn't just a bodyguard.

She was a hidden force.

Her role didn't fit into normal adventurer categories.

She was neither mercenary nor knight.

Neither official nor outlaw.

She was just Blaire.

And that was enough for the guild to look the other way.

I sighed.

"Must be nice," I muttered. "Not having to grind your way up like the rest of us."

Blaire just looked at me.

Then, after a pause—

"Your way is better."

I blinked.

Did she just…?

She continued.

"You earn your place."

"You prove yourself step by step."

Then, quieter—

"That's something I never got to do."

——

That hit differently.

Because I realized—

Blaire wasn't proud of her position.

She didn't dislike it.

But she acknowledged that she had never needed to prove herself.

Because her place was decided for her.

She was trained.

She was assigned.

She became what she was because she had no other choice.

Meanwhile, me?

I had nothing when I arrived in this world.

No background.

No training.

No safety net.

But I clawed my way up anyway.

And Blaire…

Blaire respected that.

Even if she didn't say it directly.

——

I sat up, rubbing my bruises.

"So," I muttered, "did I improve at all?"

Blaire just stared at me.

Then—

She exhaled through her nose.

Which, from her, was the equivalent of saying 'barely.'

I groaned. "That bad, huh?"

She turned away.

"Training resumes tomorrow."

Then she walked off.

But before she could go far, I called out.

"Hey, Blaire."

She stopped.

Didn't turn around.

Just waited.

I hesitated for a moment.

Then, before I could stop myself—

"Would you mind telling me your age?"

I didn't know why I said it.

I wasn't the type to randomly ask personal questions.

And yet—

It just… came out.

Blaire finally turned, her red eyes unreadable.

"Twenty."

Her voice was calm, neutral.

But I noticed it.

The faintest hint of curiosity in her expression.

Like she was wondering why I cared.

And honestly?

So was I.

——

But for some reason, I didn't stop there.

"And how long have you been with the princess?"

Blaire's gaze didn't waver.

But I could feel it.

Something shifted slightly in her stance.

A small, almost imperceptible hesitation.

Then she answered.

"Since I was five."

I stared at her.

"Fifteen years?"

If i remember correctly, Silvia should be around 16, which means…. She's been with her since she was one year old.

She nodded.

And suddenly, it made sense.

Blaire hadn't just been trained for this.

She had lived it.

For most of her life.

Since childhood, she had been raised to be someone else's blade.

While other spent most of their life doing whatever they wanted, she had spent hers following a single path.

Her role hadn't been a choice.

It had been decided for her before she even knew what it meant.

I didn't say anything for a while.

Just processed it.

Then I muttered, more to myself than anything—

"I see."

Blaire watched me.

Then, finally, she asked:

"Why did you want to know?"

I blinked.

Paused.

Then, after a moment, I sighed.

"…I don't know."

Blaire narrowed her eyes slightly.

Then, to my complete shock—

She let out a small, quiet exhale.

Not a sigh.

Not a scoff.

Something closer to—

A silent chuckle.

Then, without another word, she turned and left.

——

I sat there for a while, watching the ocean.

I still didn't know why I had asked.

Maybe because I had never met someone like her before.

Maybe because, despite how different we were, I was starting to understand her.

Or maybe—

Just maybe—

I was finally realizing that Blaire wasn't just some untouchable force.

She was human.

And for some reason, that felt important.

____

After laying there like a mat for a while, I finally stood up, dusting myself off.

Training was over.

Blaire had left.

And now i had nothing to do.

So, naturally, I did what any rational person would do—

I wandered around aimlessly.

——

I wasn't expecting to run into anyone.

But as I walked through the quiet streets, I spotted Edward.

Sitting alone on a bench.

Staring at an empty square.

Completely blank-faced.

Which was weird.

Edward was never this quiet.

So I walked up and hit him with a chat.

"Why are you sitting here like some lost old man?"

——

Edward barely reacted.

Just sighed.

"Blaire found us and took Silvia with her."

I blinked. "Huh?"

"Something about preparing for tomorrow's mission," he muttered. "Didn't give me details."

Okay.

Yeah.

That sounded like Blaire.

"And Lucien?" I asked.

Edward shrugged. "He went to grab some stuff from the Night Market. No idea what."

"So you just… sat here?"

He stretched. "Had nothing better to do."

I nodded slowly.

Then, without another word, I sat down next to him.

For a while, we just sat there.

No rush.

No real conversation.

Just watching the quiet square.

Then, before I could stop myself, I asked—

"Edward. Before I joined you, how long did you know Silvia and Blaire?"

He glanced at me, a little surprised.

"I mean, going on adventures together."

He leaned back, thinking for a moment.

"Silvia?" He smiled a little. "I've known her for years. Since we were kids, actually."

That made sense.

Silvia and Edward were way too comfortable with each other for it to be a recent thing.

I nodded. "And Blaire?"

Edward exhaled. "Blaire's different."

"How different?"

Edward smirked. "Well, let's just say I didn't 'meet' Blaire. She was just… there one day."

I frowned. "What does that mean?"

Edward tilted his head, thinking.

"One day, Silvia and I were already adventuring together. Doing minor jobs, hunting monsters, standard stuff."

He stretched his legs out.

"And then, out of nowhere, Blaire started tagging along."

I blinked. "Just like that?"

He chuckled. "Yeah. No introductions, no warnings. Just 'I'm coming with you now.'"

That…

That sounded exactly like her.

So based on what she told me, she was following the princess was 1, so the whole time this duo fooled around she was watching from the shadow, then she joined later?

"So she just inserted herself into your group?" I asked.

Edward nodded.

"But why?"

Edward shrugged.

"At first? I didn't know. She wouldn't tell us anything."

I raised an eyebrow. "And you were okay with that?"

He smirked.

"Not really. I tried to fight her once, just to see what her deal was."

"And?"

His grin faded slightly.

"Let's just say…" He sighed. "I learned my place real quick."

I chuckled. "Yeah, sounds about right."

Edward continued.

"But over time? We got used to her. She didn't talk much, but she was always watching Silvia. Like, always."

"Protectively?" I asked.

Edward nodded.

"Eventually, we figured it out. She was assigned to Silvia. Not as a 'bodyguard' or anything official. But as her shadow."

I thought back to my conversation with Blaire earlier.

Yeah.

That checked out.

"So you never questioned it after that?"

Edward chuckled.

"At first, sure. But after a while…?" He shrugged. "It just became normal."

Edward turned toward me, smirking.

"Then you showed up."

I raised an eyebrow. "And?"

"And suddenly," he grinned, "she wasn't just watching Silvia anymore."

That made me pause.

"What?"

Edward leaned back, stretching.

"You think I didn't notice? Blaire started watching you too."

That…

That wasn't something I expected.

"Since when?" I asked.

Edward smirked.

"Since you fought her the first time."

I went silent.

Because now that I thought about it…

Blaire had been watching me a lot.

Not in a threatening way.

Not in a suspicious way.

But in a way that felt like—

She was waiting to see what I'd become.

Like I was something worth observing.

And that?

That was…

I didn't know how to feel about that.

Edward nudged me with his elbow.

"Guess you made an impression."

I sighed. "Not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing."

He laughed. "Guess we'll find out."

I chuckled.

Then leaned back on the bench, watching the empty square again.

Things were changing.

I just sat here.

And let myself think.

We sat there for a while.

Not rushing.

Not thinking too hard about anything.

Just watching the quiet square.

Then, suddenly—

Edward started talking.

Out of nowhere.

About Silvia.

——

"It's funny," he said, leaning back slightly. "I don't think I've ever told you how I met Silvia."

I blinked. "You haven't."

He smirked. "Want to hear it?"

I shrugged. "Sure."

So he told me.

——

"It wasn't here," Edward began.

"It wasn't in Wither City or any other place you'd recognize.

"It was in the Royal Capital."

My expression didn't change.

But inwardly, I thought, Of course it was.

Because I already knew this.

Silvia wasn't just anyone.

She's a princess of a neighbor country called Ardnal.

She was a noble here too, in this country called Sithor, i didn't know the name of this country till recently and saw it by accident in a map, after all I'm not interested in knowing anything troublesome, and i simply know what i should know from the game (a little bit)

Her situation is like this, Her father (the house she belongs to which is Larse, is a high ranking noble family here) married the second princess of Ardnal, which mean she has high status here and there.

And in the game, she played a major role in the story's later arcs.

But here, I was just a guy pretending I didn't already know.

So, naturally, I played along.

——

Edward exhaled.

"Silvia… she's not just some random adventurer, you know."

I raised an eyebrow. "Obviously. She's Gold-rank. That doesn't happen by accident."

Edward chuckled. "True. But there's more to it."

Then he said it.

"Silvia is a princess."

I widened my eyes.

Not too dramatically.

Just enough to make it believable.

"A what?"

Edward smirked. "You heard me."

"A princess? Like… an actual one?"

"Yeah. Princess Silvia of Ardnal."

I whistled, shaking my head. "Damn. And here I thought I was just traveling with a normal Gold-rank."

Edward laughed. "Yeah, she's full of surprises."

But as I reacted accordingly, something shifted in Edward's expression.

Just for a second.

Something subtle.

Like he was watching me carefully.

Testing something.

And that's when I realized—

They already knew I had figured it out.

Just like how Blaire knew.

Silvia and Edward must have noticed too.

Maybe from the way I never really questioned their backgrounds.

Maybe from how I never acted shocked about certain things.

Or maybe—

Just maybe—

Because my behavior was too unnatural for a normal adventurer.

And yet—

They never pointed it out.

Because, in the end, everyone had secrets.

And just like how I didn't push them for details—

They didn't push me.

Reading Me Too Easily

Edward kept talking, telling me more stories about their adventures.

I listened, asked casual questions, kept the conversation going like normal.

But underneath it all—

We both knew.

I wasn't the only one hiding things.

And that was fine.

Because in this group,

Everyone had their own past.

And no one needed to explain themselves.

Not yet.

Not now.

Maybe one day.

But for today?

We just talked.

Like nothing was out of the ordinary.

——

Just as I was getting comfortable, Edward suddenly turned to me with a smirk.

And said, completely casually—

"You should work better on hiding your thoughts from showing on your face."

I froze.

Blinking.

Processing.

Then I slowly turned to stare at him.

"…What?"

Edward chuckled.

"You're not as unreadable as you think, Gunavor."

What the Hell.

I didn't move.

Didn't react.

Just sat there, staring at him.

Because what. the. hell.

First Blaire notices everything.

Then Edward already figured I knew something about Silvia's identity.

And now?

Edward is telling me to hide my thoughts better?

These people were psychos.

Absolute psychos.

Why were they so good at reading me?

Do i look that obvious?

Was my face that easy to read?

Or were they just so fucking good at picking up on things??

Lucien hadn't said anything yet, but now I was paranoid that he knew something too.

At this rate, I might as well just announce all my secrets out loud.

I cleared my throat and tried to act normal.

"…I have no idea what you're talking about."

Edward smirked even harder.

"Sure you don't."

I glared at him.

He just chuckled.

Like he had won something.

Damn dog.

I sighed deeply.

These people were going to be the death of me.

——

After that, I simply refused to acknowledge the topic any further.

Edward, still amused, didn't push it.

And just like that, we went back to watching the empty square.

Like nothing had happened.

Like he hadn't just destroyed my sense of privacy.

Tomorrow we were diving into an underwater ruin.

So I really needed to stop thinking about this.

Or else, at this rate—

I was going to drown from stress before we even got there.

___

Morning came too fast.

One second, I was sitting in the quiet square, getting mentally harassed by Edward's mind-reading nonsense.

The next thing i know, i went to the inn and slept like a pig, and now here i am.

I was standing at the dock, staring at the waves crashing against the shore.

Because today we're going underwater.

——

The Merchant Union had provided everything we needed.

Special breathing potions (supposedly good for an hour).

Weighted diving gear (to keep us from floating up).

Basic waterproof storage bags (for whatever we found).

Lucien grinned as he inspected one of the potions. "Well, at least they didn't cheap out."

Edward stretched. "Yeah, I was half-expecting them to hand us fishbowls and call it a day."

Silvia giggled. "It's good quality. These should last us long enough."

I stared at the potions.

Because, let's be honest—

Nothing in my past prepared me for diving into a ruin at the bottom of the ocean.

——

A Merchant Union official stood nearby, explaining the situation.

"The ruins are located about half a mile off the coast."

He pointed toward the open sea.

"Preliminary reports indicate strange magical activity in the area. Some divers reported hearing whispers. Others saw lights moving in the depths."

I exhaled slowly. "Fantastic."

Lucien patted my shoulder. "Getting scared already, Gunavor?"

I gave him a blank look. "Can you shut up."

Edward laughed.

Blaire just exhaled sharply.

——

Once everything was ready, we stood at the edge of the dock, potions in hand.

Silvia went first, downing hers like it was nothing.

Lucien followed, taking a sip and making a face. "Ugh. Tastes like old seaweed."

Edward took his next, grimacing. "Yup. That's disgusting."

Blaire just drank it without a word.

I stared at mine.

Then sighed.

Then drank.

And yeah.

It tasted like saltwater mixed with regret.

——

We dived in.

The moment we hit the water, I felt the potion take effect.

I could still breathe, even as the ocean closed around me.

Bubbles drifted past. The world became muted, eerie, weightless.

Ahead of us, in the far distance—

The ruins loomed.

Dark. Silent. Waiting.

And as we swam toward it, I had only one thought.

"It's kinda charming, this place, so calm."

___

The deeper we go, the colder it became.

Sunlight barely reached this far down, casting faint, wavering beams over the ruins below.

Everything was silent.

No fish.

No movement.

Just us and the darkness stretching ahead.

The ruins were massive—stone structures buried beneath layers of coral and sediment.

Columns stood half-broken, covered in strange runes that pulsed faintly with an eerie glow.

And the deeper we went, the more I realized—

"Why does every fucked up place have glowing runes."

——

Lucien swam beside me, his golden eyes scanning the ruins.

"Quiet, isn't it?" he muttered.

I nodded. "It was, till you opened your mouth."

Silvia and Edward were ahead, motioning for us to follow.

Blaire was at the back—watching our surroundings carefully.

And that's when I felt it.

A prickle at the back of my neck.

That gut feeling.

The one that screamed—

"Something is watching."

——

As we reached the entrance of the ruins, Silvia stopped.

She turned, frowning, her eyes narrowing.

I could tell.

She felt it too.

Then, just as Edward reached for the first door—

A shadow moved in the distance.

A flicker of something just outside our vision.

Something watching. Waiting.

And that's when we heard it.

A low, distant whisper.

Muffled. Distorted.

Like words spoken through water.

Lucien grinned nervously. "Well. That's not ominous at all."

I sighed. "Here we go again."

The whispering grew louder.

Not from one place.

But from everywhere.

The water distorted the sound, making it impossible to tell how far—or how close—it really was.

I turned my head, scanning the ruins, but—

Nothing.

No movement.

No figures.

No source.

Just the ruins, standing cold and lifeless.

——

Lucien drifted slightly closer to me, his golden eyes sharp despite his usual smirk.

"Alright," he muttered, "I'll admit… I don't like this."

I raised an eyebrow. "Oh? The great King of the Night Market gets nervous?"

He clicked his tongue. "It's different when you're surrounded by thieves and killers. At least you can see them."

Fair point.

Edward, however, wasn't fazed at all.

He grinned, clearly enjoying the tension. "If you're scared, Lucien, you can hold Gunavor's hand."

I looked at him with disgust. "The hell you're taking about"

It seems Lucien at least agrees with me on this one.

Lucien put a dramatic hand over his chest. "How dare you? If I must hold a hand, it will be Silvia's, thank you very much."

Silvia sighed, clearly tired from to this.

Blaire, as always, just exhaled sharply.

——

Edward finally moved forward, placing his hand on the massive stone door leading into the ruins.

It was covered in carvings.

Strange symbols, partially faded by time, yet still pulsing faintly with an unnatural glow.

Then—

With a low, grinding sound, the door shifted open.

And the inside is pure darkness.

A corridor stretching downward into the unknown.

A place where no sunlight reached.

Where nothing should be alive.

Yet something was.

Silvia turned to us. "Stay close."

Lucien grinned. "Oh, don't worry. I have no intention of getting separated."

I sighed, adjusting my grip on my weapon.

Then, before stepping inside, I muttered—

"I hope nothing grabs my leg, or at least take Lucien first."

Edward laughed.

And with that, we entered the ruins.

——

The moment we passed through the door, the temperature dropped.

The water felt… heavier.

Like it was pressing in on us, urging us to turn back.

The whispers?

They didn't stop.

They just became clearer.

Still distorted.

Still muffled.

But now, they sounded almost… familiar.

Like voices we should have recognized.

Like echoes of something long forgotten.

I instinctively reached for my bow—only to pause.

…Right.

I was underwater.

The pressure is heavy here, if not for the potion maybe it will be a bit hard, and i can't shoot an arrow that far with this pressure.

Which meant—no arrows.

Fantastic.

I let out a slow breath, then reached for my short sword and dagger instead.

They felt strange in my hands.

Not because I wasn't used to them—but because underwater, every movement was slower, heavier.

Fighting like this was going to be a nightmare.

And as we moved deeper, one thought became clear.

Whatever is lurking in the dark—

It knew we had arrived.

____

The further we moved into the ruins, the more I could feel it.

The water pressed down, making every motion feel sluggish, every step heavier.

My dagger and short sword felt unnatural in my hands, not because they were unfamiliar—but because everything was different underwater.

Slower swings.

Dulled impacts.

Less reach.

Fighting like this was going to be difficult.

——

The corridor stretched ahead of us, vast and empty.

Tall pillars lined the walls, covered in carvings that glowed faintly with a pale blue light.

The whispers still there.

Still weaving through the water, impossible to pinpoint.

Lucien swam beside me, tilting his head.

"Alright," he muttered, "does anyone else feel like they're being watched?"

Silvia nodded slightly.

Edward grinned. "Oh yeah. But that just makes it exciting, right?"

Lucien shot him a flat look. "You're insane."

I sighed. "That's what I've been saying."

Blaire, as usual, didn't react.

She just moved forward, unbothered.

Like whatever was watching us didn't concern her.

——

We reached the end of the hall, where a wider chamber awaited us.

And that's when we saw it.

A soft glow, pulsing faintly in the distance.

Like something was calling to us.

Lucien squinted. "That's not ominous at all."

Silvia frowned. "It feels… unnatural."

Edward cracked his knuckles. "Only one way to find out."

I gripped my short sword tighter.

Something about this didn't feel right.

And the closer we got—

The stronger that feeling became.

——

Then It Moved.

The glow shifted.

Not like a trick of the light.

Not like something drifting naturally through the water.

It reacted.

Like it knew we were here.

Like it was waiting for us.

Lucien inhaled sharply. "Okay. Yeah. That thing is alive."

Silvia murmured, "Be ready."

I adjusted my stance, cursing the way the water dulled my movements.

And then—

The glow rushed toward us.

Fast.

Unnaturally fast.

Like something that wasn't just swimming.

It was a blur of movement, cutting through the water like a phantom.

And then—

I saw it.

A massive creature, its body wide and flat, its wings rippling like dark shadows against the ruins.

A manta.

It wasn't a normal one.

This thing was unnaturally large, its body almost twenty feet across.

Its skin was midnight black, blending into the depths, with strange, glowing lines tracing its wings.

But the worst part?

Its tail.

A long, whip-like stinger, curling behind it like a dagger poised to strike.

Lucien let out a sharp breath. "Oh. That's big."

Edward grinned. "I like a challenge."

I did not.

——

The manta moved first.

One second, it was hovering.

The next second,

It lashed forward, its tail flicking toward us like a whip.

FAST.

Too fast.

I barely managed to twist away, feeling the water shift violently as the tail passed inches from me.

Edward blocked with his sword, but the force sent him tumbling backward.

Silvia pushed Lucien aside, dodging another swipe of its wings.

Blaire?

She moved effortlessly, slipping past the creature's attack like she was born underwater.

——

I tried to swing my short sword, but the water resistance made it slow, clumsy.

Lucien darted in with his daggers, but the creature twisted at the last second, swiping him aside with its wing.

Edward went for a heavy strike, but the water dulled the impact.

Silvia sent out a blast of light magic, illuminating the area, but the manta darted back, staying just outside her range.

It was playing with us.

Testing us.

Waiting for an opening.

And that tail?

That tail was lethal.

One hit could paralyze or kill.

——

I gritted my teeth.

"Fighting normally won't work."

I needed to use the environment.

I glanced at the pillars around us.

They were tall, sturdy… and close together.

An idea formed.

I swam toward them, calling out—

"Get it between the pillars!"

Silvia caught on first.

She blasted the ground beneath it, forcing the manta to shift position.

Edward charged from the right, cutting off its escape.

Lucien?

He was already waiting on the left, ready to strike.

And Blaire?

She was above it, watching for an opening.

The manta realized too late.

It was cornered.

——

The creature lashed out in desperation, its tail whipping toward me.

I didn't dodge.

I stepped in.

The tail scraped against my rib armor, but I was already moving forward.

And before it could retreat—

I drove my short sword straight through its head.

The manta twitched violently, its glow flaring bright—

Then fading.

Its massive body went limp, drifting downward.

The water around us grew still.

And just like that—

It was dead.

——

For a moment, no one spoke.

Then—

Edward laughed. "Well, damn. Gunavor actually got the last hit this time!"

Silvia smiled. "You did well."

Blaire just nodded.

But I could tell.

She wasn't disappointed.

I leaned against a pillar, catching my breath.

Then muttered—

"Underwater fights are hell."

___

The manta's massive body slowly drifted down, its glow fading into nothing.

I expected some kind of final struggle, but no.

It was over.

Just like that.

Surprisingly… easy.

I frowned. Did we get stronger?

Because something felt off.

This should've been harder.

Or maybe I was just overthinking it.

Lucien swam beside me, tilting his head. "That felt a little too smooth, didn't it?"

Edward grinned, cracking his knuckles. "Maybe we're just that good."

Blaire, as usual, didn't comment.

Silvia, however, studied the dissolved remains of the manta. "It wasn't weak," she murmured. "We were just faster."

I wasn't sure how to feel about that.

But before I could dwell on it, something shimmered beneath us.

Where the manta's body had once been, a large gem remained.

It was roughly the size of my palm, a deep blue-green color, glowing faintly like the ruins themselves.

Lucien swam forward and snatched it up, turning it over in his hands.

"Well, well," he mused. "Looks valuable."

Silvia nodded. "It's brimming with magic."

Edward grinned. "A rare material, maybe?"

Blaire simply gestured toward the bag provided by the Merchant Union.

Without argument, Lucien placed it inside.

I sighed.

At least we got something.

Just as we secured the gem, a low rumbling echoed through the water.

The walls of the ruins shuddered.

Then, from the side—

A large stone door appeared.

It slid open slowly, revealing a dark passageway.

Lucien smirked. "Ah. Classic dungeon design. Beat the boss, get the door."

Edward chuckled. "Makes it easier for us."

I wasn't sure if I liked how predictable this was.

But at this point?

I wasn't about to complain.

——

We moved forward.

The hallway beyond the door was narrow, the walls lined with more glowing symbols.

The whispers still there.

Still unsettling.

But now, they were fainter.

Almost as if…

Something stronger was blocking them.

Whatever was waiting ahead… it wasn't going to be as easy as the manta.

——

As we advanced through the ruins, the next wave of creatures appeared.

Not monsters.

But giant seahorses.

Each one was about as tall as me, their bodies twisting elegantly through the water as they moved.

But these weren't the harmless creatures from storybooks.

The moment we entered their territory, they attacked on sight.

And surprisingly?

They were fast.

Darting through the water like arrows, weaving between the ruins with inhuman precision.

Their bodies shimmered, their long tails lashing out like whips.

It wasn't a hard fight—

But it was annoying.

——

One by one, the seahorses fell, disappearing in bursts of dim light after being hit on the head once, so fragile.

And every single one of them…

Dropped a small gem.

Lucien grinned as he picked one up. "Well, at least they drop a lot of gems."

Edward nodded. "Let's grab them all before we move on."

Silvia studied the gems, eyes narrowing slightly. "They're all the same material as the big one we found earlier."

Blaire remained silent while helping us collect the gemstones.

By the time we finished, our bag was significantly heavier.

Not bad.

Not bad at all.

____

After clearing out the seahorses, we finally reached the next large chamber.

The moment we stepped inside, I knew.

This was a boss room.

The space was huge, almost like a grand hall, with massive broken pillars and a tall, domed ceiling.

And at the center of the room—

A figure stood.

It was unlike any Murlok I had ever seen before.

Most Murloks were thin, fast-moving, their bodies covered in slick scales.

But this one?

It was huge.

Larger than Edward (I'm tired of using myself).

Maybe even larger than the Manta.

Its body was covered in full bronze armor, the plating worn by time but still intact.

And in its hands?

A massive, rusted anchor, thick chains wrapped around its grip.

It stood motionless.

Waiting.

____

None of us moved rashly.

Because we could feel it.

The tension in the water.

The sheer presence of this thing.

Lucien let out a low whistle. "That… is a big fish."

Edward cracked his neck. "Finally. A real fight."

Silvia frowned. "Something's different about this one."

I tightened my grip on my short sword.

We didn't need words.

This thing was strong.

It wouldn't be like the Manta.

And as we moved forward, the Murlok slowly lifted its anchor.

Its glowing eyes locked onto us.

And then—

Without a sound—

It charged.

Fast.

Faster than anything that big should be able to move.

I barely had time to react.

One second, it was standing still.

The next second, It was a blur, its massive anchor swinging through the water with horrifying force.

I twisted my body, narrowly dodging as the weapon smashed into the pillar behind me.

A deep shockwave rippled through the water, kicking up a cloud of sand and debris.

Lucien darted to the side, daggers in hand. "Fast for something that big!"

Edward grinned. "Good! This'll be fun!"

I did not share his enthusiasm.

——

The fight was hard.

Underwater combat was already a nightmare, but this thing?

It fought like it wasn't affected at all.

Every swing of its anchor sent powerful currents blasting through the water.

Every movement was heavy, calculated.

It didn't fight like a mindless beast.

It fought like a warrior.

Like something that had fought hundreds of battles before this one.

I darted in for a strike—

But the Murlok twisted, using the chain of the anchor to deflect my attack.

A second later, its foot lashed out, sending me tumbling backward.

I gritted my teeth. "This thing is smart."

Silvia nodded. "It's combat experience is not low at all. Be careful!"

Edward went in next, meeting the creature's charge head-on.

Steel clashed against bronze, sending out sparks even underwater.

Lucien darted around, looking for an opening, while Blaire moved like a shadow, staying in the creature's blind spots.

She didn't use her strength, one reason is that she doesn't trust Lucien yet, the second one is that it's not a hopeless situation.

I adjusted my grip on my weapons.

"We can't just brute force this."

This wasn't just about strength.

This was a technical fight.

——

I studied the Murlok carefully as we fought.

Its armor was heavy.

Its movements, while fast for its size, were still predictable.

Then I noticed something.

The joints.

The arms and legs weren't fully covered.

There were gaps in the plating.

That was our opening.

I called out, "Go for the joints! The armor is weakest there!"

Silvia responded first.

She raised her hands, channeling magic—

A concentrated blast of light struck the Murlok's elbow joint.

The creature staggered, its movements jerking unnaturally.

Edward didn't hesitate.

He dashed in, sword flashing, and landed a clean hit on its exposed knee.

Lucien followed up, his daggers cutting through the other arm joint.

I saw my chance.

——

The Murlok roared, thrashing wildly, but its movements were off.

It was losing control of its body.

The moment its guard dropped, I rushed forward.

My short sword drove straight into its chest, bypassing the armor completely.

The Murlok froze.

Its glowing eyes flickered.

Then, finally—

Its body began to dissolve.

Just like the manta before it, the Murlok's body faded into light.

And in its place A large gemstone floated in the water, pulsing faintly.

And The armor and helmet dissolved completely.

The anchor disappeared as well.

But—

Two things remained.

The bronze arm guards and The heavy boots.

I didn't think, i just swam forward and grabbed them.

Before anyone could even comment, I started putting them on.

——

The moment I placed them on my arms and legs, something unexpected happened.

The metal shifted.

Like it was alive.

It wrapped around my limbs automatically, adjusting perfectly to fit me.

No need for straps.

No weight imbalance.

Just… a perfect fit.

Lucien watched, eyes wide. "Alright, that's kind of cool."

Edward grinned. "Looks good on you."

Silvia smiled. "It suits you."

Blaire just nodded approvingly.

I looked down at myself.

My outfit was now officially even weirder.

Half rib-like armor, half ancient bronze.

I probably looked like a walking relic pile.

But honestly?

I didn't care.

Because free armor was free armor.

——

Before we could even process what just happened and make a plan, the ruins trembled again.

Another door appeared.

But this time—

It was different.

It wasn't just a simple stone gate.

It was a massive entrance, covered in runes, glowing brighter than anything we'd seen before.

Lucien let out a low whistle. "Now that… that looks important."

Silvia narrowed her eyes. "This is no ordinary passage."

Edward smirked. "Good. That means we're getting close."

I took a deep breath, stepping forward.

___

The massive rune-covered doors slowly grinded open, revealing the chamber beyond.

The moment we stepped inside, I knew—

This was different.

The water itself felt heavier, the pressure intensifying the deeper we went.

And the whispers?

They weren't whispers anymore.

They were echoes.

Louder. Clearer.

Like something ancient was waking up.

Lucien floated beside me, his usual smirk gone. "Alright. I don't like this."

Silvia exhaled slowly. "Something powerful is here."

Edward grinned, gripping his sword tighter.

Blaire didn't say anything like usual, but her hand was already on her weapon.

We all felt it.

Something was waiting for us.

The chamber was huge, far larger than any of the ones before it.

Tall, broken pillars lined the edges, reaching toward a ceiling so far above that it disappeared into darkness.

And at the very center—

Something shifted.

Something massive.

The water shuddered, and then—

It opened its eyes.

Two pairs of them.

Glowing cold blue, locked onto us with an unnatural intelligence.

The creature stirred, its enormous form finally coming into view.

A sea dragon.

But not just any sea dragon.

A twin-headed one.

——

I froze.

Not from fear.

But because I recognized it.

Not completely—my memory was fuzzy—but I remembered this thing from the game.

"Sea Terror."

That was its name.

A legendary beast, an optional boss in a late-game event.

And yet—

Here it was.

Right in front of us.

Too early.

Too soon.

Too real.

But I didn't say anything.

Because game knowledge didn't matter here.

What mattered—

Was that we were about to fight for our lives.

The Sea Terror was easily the largest creature we had faced yet.

Its scaled body stretched nearly forty feet, its long serpentine tails curling around the ruins.

Both of its heads moved independently, each one adorned with serrated fins and jagged teeth.

Glowing blue veins pulsed beneath its scales, giving it an almost ghostly appearance.

And then—

It moved.

——

One second, it was still.

The next one it lunged.

Fast like the other two bosses, maybe faster.

The left head snapped toward Edward, its massive jaws opening wide.

Edward barely raised his sword in time, bracing himself.

The impact sent him barreling backward, smashing into a pillar.

Silvia thrust her hands forward, chanting a spell—

A bright holy barrier formed just as the right head lunged at her.

The creature crashed into the magic shield, snarling as the light burned against its scales.

Lucien flicked his daggers, darting around the beast's massive coils, searching for an opening.

Blaire was like a shadow cutting through the water, she shot forward, her blade slicing toward the dragon's throat.

But the right head twisted at the last moment, its eyes locking onto her.

Then, to my horror—

It exhaled.

I expected fire.

But instead—

A blast of dark, freezing water erupted from its mouth.

A concentrated jet of pressurized liquid, moving so fast that it carved through stone.

Blaire twisted away, barely avoiding it, but the sheer force sent her spinning backward.

The water around us boiled, not from heat.

But from pure, magical energy.

I gritted my teeth.

It was too fast for its size.

Too coordinated with two heads.

And that breath attack?

It could kill us instantly if we got hit directly.

We needed a plan.

I took a deep breath, scanning the Sea Terror as it circled us.

Its heads moved separately, but its body was still a single entity.

Which meant—

It had a blind spot.

I turned to Edward, who was shaking off the last attack.

"Edward!" I called. "We need to separate the heads! Force it to split its attention!"

He grinned. "Got it."

With a single motion, he charged forward.

Silvia, catching on, sent out another wave of light magic, targeting the left head.

The dragon snarled, jerking backward—

And in that instant, Edward lunged in, sword flashing.

Meanwhile, Lucien and Blaire moved toward the right side, forcing the other head to deal with them.

That left me.

And the opening I needed.

I took a deep breath.

Then rushed forward.

My target was as clear as the sun.

The Sea Terror's underside.

The softest part of any scaled beast.

The creature was too focused on the others to notice me slipping past its massive coils.

Then—

I struck.

My short sword drove into the exposed flesh, sinking deep.

The dragon let out a deafening screech, its entire body thrashing violently.

The shockwave sent me tumbling away, but I had done damage.

I saw it—

A wound, deep and bleeding.

It wasn't much—

But it was a weakness.

Edward, Silvia, Lucien, and Blaire kept relentless pressure, forcing the dragon into a defensive stance.

Its heads were jerking wildly, trying to track all of us at once.

But it was too late.

We had figured it out.

I swam back in, dodging past its thrashing tail, my grip tightening on my blade.

One more.

Just one more.

And as the dragon reared back, exposing its underside once again—

I drove my sword in deeper.

A final, full-force strike.

The Sea Terror froze.

Its entire body went rigid.

The water around us stilled.

And then—

A low, echoing wail reverberated through the ruins.

The creature shuddered, its glowing veins flickering—

Before its entire body began to dissolve into light.

Just like the others before it.

Just like the bosses before.

It was over.

We floated there, catching our breath.

The room was silent.

The water calmer than before.

And where the Sea Terror had fallen—

A large gem remained.

Lucien exhaled. "That… was insane."

Edward laughed. "That was amazing!"

Silvia smiled, relieved. "We worked well together."

Blaire, ever calm, simply nodded.

I just stared at the gem.

Then, without thinking, I muttered—

"I hate unexpected bosses."

Silence.

Lucien glanced at me. "What?"

I coughed. "Nothing. Let's grab the gem."

And with that, we prepared to move forward.

Because if this wasn't the last boss, then I really didn't want to know what was waiting next.

________

We expected another boss or at least more enemies.

But instead—

The next room was silent.

No monsters.

No eerie whispers.

Just… stuff.

A treasure hoard.

——

Piles of ancient artifacts were scattered across the chamber.

Weapons covered in coral and rust.

Armor pieces, some still gleaming despite the years.

Jewels and relics, their glow faint but persistent.

It was like the remains of an old civilization, forgotten beneath the waves.

Lucien let out a low whistle. "Now that's what I call a harvest."

Edward grinned. "Well-earned, I'd say."

Silvia smiled. "It's strange… there's no trap. No guardian. Just… this."

Blaire remained silent, scanning the room with caution.

And me?

I wasn't paying attention to any of it.

Because my eyes had locked onto something else.

——

At the very center of the chamber, resting on a broken stone pedestal—

A gem.

But unlike the others we found, this one was different.

Its aura was twisted.

Dark.

It pulsed, releasing slow, rhythmic waves of energy.

Like a heartbeat.

Like something alive.

I couldn't look away.

I was drawn to it.

Like a moth to fire.

I took a step forward.

Then another.

I didn't hear Blaire's concerned voice.

Didn't register Edward's questioning tone.

Didn't notice Silvia reaching out, or Lucien stepping closer.

The only thing in my mind—

Was the gem.

Its dark glow.

Its pull.

My hand stretched forward.

Fingers brushed against its smooth, cold surface.

And the moment I touched it—

Everything went black.

____

Darkness.

Then—

A space unlike any other.

It was familiar.

Yet wrong.

The same void-like realm that my future self had once pulled me into.

But this time—

I wasn't alone.

Because standing before me—

Was the Sea Terror.

The very creature we had just killed.

Its body was the same.

Massive. Powerful.

But its eyes…

They weren't the same.

Gone was the feral hunger from before.

Instead, they were filled with something endless.

Something far more terrifying.

Wisdom.

——

It stared at me.

Silent.

Judging.

Then, finally—

It sighed.

And when it spoke—

It was with utter disappointment.

"How… pathetic, after all my efforts, i only get this?."

I stiffened. "What?"

The creature tilted its heads.

"How can a dead person have a normal body like this? How does it even function properly"

___

I opened my mouth to respond.

But I couldn't.

Because before I could even begin to make sense of what was happening—

It continued.

"You ruined my plans."

Its voice, once cold and tired, now turned into frustration.

"I lost my only opportunity to get a new body."

Then its gaze sharpened.

"Since I can't leave, then neither will you."

Before I could even process the words—

Its entire body lunged toward me.

Faster than before.

Faster than anything I could react to.

One second, it was standing there.

The next?

It was crashing into me.

The sensation was indescribable.

Like being drowned in molten fire while being ripped apart and rebuilt at the same time.

Like I was a sponge absorbing an entire ocean.

I screamed.

I couldn't help it.

The pain was too much.

My body felt like it was collapsing in on itself.

Like I was ceasing to exist and becoming something else entirely.

——

At first, the creature's voice was arrogant.

It thought it was taking over me.

But then—

Its tone changed.

From confidence—

To shock.

From shock—

To horror.

"No… No—"

"It shouldn't be like this—!"

"No! NO! IMPOSSIBLE—!"

Its voice faded.

Dissolving.

Shrinking.

Until there was nothing left.

And then—

I woke up.

——

My eyes snapped open.

My heart was pounding.

I felt cold sweat on my skin—except…

My body wasn't even wet anymore.

And then, I realized—

I wasn't in the ruins anymore.

The first thing I saw was.

Purple.

Flowing like silk.

Moving gently with the wind.

A familiar color.

A familiar presence.

I was…

On someone's back.

And there was only one person with hair like this.

Blaire.

——

I opened my mouth to speak.

To ask what happened.

To ask where we were.

But before I could—

Her voice cut through the air.

Soft. Quiet.

Almost… gentle.

"You're awake."

A pause.

Then, with an uncharacteristically small voice—

"Don't move too much."

"Don't ask too much."

"Just rest now."

It was so quiet that probably only I heard it.

Maybe Silvia, who was walking beside us, heard it too.

But no one else reacted.

I blinked, my head still spinning.

Slowly, I glanced around.

We weren't underwater anymore.

We weren't in the ruins.

We were—

At the dock.

And from the looks of it—

We were headed back to the guild.

I felt too weak to even process it properly.

Too confused about what the hell just happened.

Because last I remembered?

I touched that twisted gem.

Then—

Darkness.

Then—

The Sea Terror.

And now—

I was here.

On Blaire's back.

Being carried.

And for once, instead of questioning everything immediately—

I just closed my eyes.

Because whatever happened—

It could wait.