Chapter 151 – The Pioneer

Chapter 151

The Pioneer

Date : Day 1 of Lunaeve 1024 Aethellgard Concord Year.

Morning came for Hyoren once again. It was the start of a new month—month of Lunaeve. The arrival of winter.

Above the surface, Luna should have already replaced Sol in the sky completely now, bathing the world in its cold silver light. The air outside was probably growing colder with each passing day.

But inside the dungeon—nothing changed. The ancient stone corridors remained the same. The pale blue magical lamps still glowed endlessly from the ceiling.

Hyoren wake up. Not because of Luna's silver sunlight filtering through the fabric. The inside of the tent was still illuminated only by the pale blue glow of the dungeon's magical lamps outside.

But because their internal body clocks were still functioning properly, waking them naturally after getting enough rest. The familiar sensation of sufficient sleep gradually pulled them from unconsciousness.

For a few moments, both Hyoren and Elise simply blinked sleepily while looking around the unfamiliar tent interior.

The fabric walls seemed strange at first—their minds struggling to place themselves in space and time. Confusion briefly filled their faces. Then realization slowly returned. The goblin. The disorienting labyrinth. The battle. The Monster Room. The camp they had made in the heart of the dungeon.

Dungeon.

Hyoren slowly sat up before cracking his neck. The vertebrae popped in quick succession, releasing small pockets of tension that had accumulated during the night.

"I was wondering where I am…"

He rubbed his forehead tiredly, his fingers pressing against the lingering ache.

"I already woke up, but outside is still dark…"

Then he lightly shook his head to dispel the lingering sleepiness clouding his thoughts. The motion helped slightly, though the disorientation refused to fade entirely.

"The dungeon is truly disorienting."

His gaze drifted toward the faint blue light outside the tent flap.

"We never know what time it actually is."

A helpless chuckle escaped him.

"Is it still dawn? Or almost noon?"

Then he stretched his sore shoulders, feeling the muscles protest and then slowly release their tension.

"My body says I got enough rest, but…"

Beside him, Elise rubbed her eyes softly before stretching languidly. Her arms extended above her head, her spine arching slightly as she worked the stiffness from her limbs.

Her disheveled silver hair cascaded messily around her shoulders from sleep, the strands tangled and disordered.

"Yeah…"

She let out a small sigh afterward.

"We truly need to buy a watch after this."

Both of them then exited the tent, ducking through the entrance with movements that were still slightly stiff from sleep. The dungeon air still felt cold and stale against their skin.

Elise headed toward the makeshift washing area first to wash her face with cold water.

Meanwhile, Hyoren walked toward Jackey's tent to wake him up.

He parted the tent fabric open slightly—but to his surprise, Jackey was already awake. Well, partially awake.

The Beastkin still looked extremely sleepy, his golden eyes unfocused and half-lidded while his messy orange hair stuck out everywhere.

"Oh, you are already awake, Jackey?"

Jackey's head immediately snapped toward Hyoren after hearing his voice.

Then he grinned wryly.

"Oh! Big Bro! Morning!"

They quickly washed their faces with cold water while Elise prepared breakfast nearby.

The meal was simple. Leftover stew from last night alongside several pieces of bread warmed over the magic stove.

The three of them ate quickly without much conversation.

Then, immediately afterward, they began dismantling the camp. Their entire morning routine of dismantling camp was completed surprisingly fast.

The hidden Monster Room chamber that had briefly become their safe campsite slowly returned to its original empty state once more. The only evidence of their presence was the faint impressions in the dust where the tents had stood and the lingering scent of stew that still hung faintly in the air.

Even the scattered goblin clubs, broken sticks, and filthy rags they had intentionally left behind inside the narrow corridor yesterday were now gone.

The corridor looked unnaturally clean again. The stone floor was bare and smooth, as if no battle had ever taken place there.

Hyoren stood afterward with his gear fully equipped . Shield strapped firmly to his left arm. Sword secured at his hip. Armor tightened across his chest and shoulders.

Then he looked toward Elise.

"How is the mapping progress, Elise?"

Elise closed her emerald eyes for a moment while mentally accessing her Mapping Skill. Several seconds passed quietly. Then she opened her eyes again.

"Only twenty percent…"

She traced her fingers on her bow, the motion absent and unconscious.

"But that is expected."

Her silver hair swayed lightly as she shook her head.

"We spent almost the entire afternoon dealing with the Monster Room, so our progress slowed considerably."

Then she tapped her chin thoughtfully, her pointed ears twitching slightly as she calculated.

"If we do not encounter more complications after this… We should finish mapping the first floor within two more days… or three days at most."

Hyoren looked toward Elise and Jackey again, his gaze moving between them with quiet assessment.

"Ready for the second day of dungeon diving?"

The two of them nodded immediately. Jackey's response was enthusiastic, his golden eyes gleaming with barely contained energy. Elise's was more measured, but no less determined—her emerald gaze steady and resolute.

Hyoren nodded back, satisfied with their readiness.

"Let's go."

Elise naturally took point once more.

Her pointed ears twitched lightly while her Tracking Skill searched for nearby threats. At the same time, Silent Step muffled her footsteps almost completely against the stone floor, allowing her to move quietly through the corridor without attracting attention.

Hyoren and Jackey followed carefully behind her. Their footsteps were heavier than Elise's, but still measured and deliberate—each footfall placed with intention rather than carelessness.

Soon, they backtracked through the hidden corridor they had used yesterday. Then stopped. A dead wall blocked their path once more.

Hyoren blinked in surprise, his forward momentum halting abruptly.

"Huh?"

He stepped closer and touched the solid stone wall. His fingers pressed against the cold surface, finding only unyielding rock where an opening had been the day before.

"The wall closed again…"

His brows furrowed slightly, concern flickering across his features.

"Are we trapped?"

Jackey immediately stepped forward confidently, his posture radiating absolute certainty.

"Don't worry, Big Bro! This kind of hidden corridor in dungeon always closes again after a while!"

Then he pointed toward the wall proudly.

"There should be another mechanism to open it from this side too!"

Hyoren slowly nodded in understanding. The mechanic truly felt exactly like hidden rooms inside RPG games—secret passages that sealed themselves after use, requiring specific actions to reopen.

"Okay."

Then he looked toward Elise, his expression expectant.

"Elise, can you find the mechanism? Pressure plate maybe?"

Elise nodded calmly, her silver hair swaying softly with the motion. She slung Moonveil Bow behind her back before unsheathing her short sword.

Then she began carefully examining the dead-end area. She tapped the stone floor methodically one section at a time using the flat side of her blade, listening for any variation in sound that might indicate a hidden mechanism beneath. But nothing happened.

Then Elise shifted her attention toward the walls instead, her emerald eyes scanning the cracked stone surface with renewed focus.

The trap mechanism dismantled by Elise yesterday was still visible on the wall. But it was just a hollow hole now. Inert.

Her emerald eyes narrowed slightly while searching carefully, her gaze moving across every crack and crevice with methodical precision. Then finally.

"I found it."

Near the edge of the wall was a tiny stone button almost perfectly blended into the cracked stone surface. Without hesitation, Elise pressed it. A heavy grinding sound echoed throughout the corridor as the hidden wall slowly slid open once more, revealing the passage beyond.

Hyoren touched the moving wall curiously while it slid aside.

"So hidden corridors basically become safe passages after clearing the Monster Room, huh…"

He looked toward the now-open path, his mind working through the implications.

"If the wall stays closed, nobody can enter."

Then he chuckled lightly, the sound carrying a note of wry appreciation.

"Well… unless they know the mechanism."

Jackey nodded enthusiastically, his tabby cat tail spiraling behind him with animated agreement.

"Yeah!"

Then he laughed loudly, the sound booming through the corridor.

"Though eventually, once dungeon becomes well-known, Monster Rooms and hidden corridors usually become public knowledge anyway! HAHA!"

Elise nodded thoughtfully before looking toward Hyoren.

"So… What should we do? Report this hidden corridor… Or hide it and monopolize it ourselves?"

Hyoren tapped his chin thoughtfully.

His grinding mindset immediately weighed the possibilities. A Monster Room every six days. Guaranteed treasure chests. Steady experience that could accelerate their growth.

The temptation was undeniably huge.

But after several moments, he slowly shook his head, dismissing the temptation with visible effort.

"I think we should report it."

Both Elise and Jackey looked at him, their expressions curious.

Hyoren glanced back toward the hidden corridor leading into the Monster Room, his gaze lingering on the passage that had nearly become their grave.

"Our goal is to become stronger."

His voice remained calm and practical.

"To continue diving deeper. Then eventually move toward stronger dungeons once this place stops giving worthwhile experience. We do not want to keep returning to the first floor every six days just for one golden chest."

Then he smiled toward the other two.

"We are going to make plenty of money from magic stones anyway."

A faint grin appeared afterward.

"If we encounter another Monster Room, sure, we clear it. But we do not need to hog information."

Jackey immediately raised one axe high into the air enthusiastically. His golden eyes gleamed brightly with infectious energy.

"YES! Getting stronger so I can whack stronger monsters! WOHOO!"

Elise giggled softly, the sound musical against the oppressive silence of the dungeon.

"Pragmatic as usual, Hyoren. Fufu."

She tucked another strand of silver hair behind her pointed ears.

"But I agree. This hidden corridor will eventually be discovered sooner or later. Either accidentally… Or by experienced scouts capable of finding the mechanism."

Then she smiled softly, her emerald eyes warm with understanding.

"So our advantage would never last forever anyway. We should focus on our real goal."

Hyoren smiled, glad that both of them agreed with his decision.

"Okay then. Let's continue."

A faint grin appeared on his face again, the expression carrying a hint of anticipation.

"Time to fully map the first floor."

***

The morning wore on, their progress swift and steady.

Elise would detect goblin groups inside chambers long before the monsters could ever notice them. Her Tracking Skill picked up the subtle signs of their presence.

Their formation shifted naturally depending on the situation—Elise taking point during exploration, Hyoren moving to the front when combat loomed, Jackey positioning himself for flanking maneuvers without needing verbal instructions.

When they met a group of goblins, Hyoren stepped forward and immediately activated one of his newly acquired skills while aiming toward the clustered monsters.

"Provoke!"

A pulse of Aethell spread outward from him.

Instantly, five goblins snarled violently as their eyes turned bloodshot. Their attention snapped entirely toward Hyoren. Then the goblins charged him recklessly, their crude weapons raised and their throats emitting harsh battle cries that echoed through the chamber.

Hyoren calmly activated his buffs.

"Magic Blade."

Pale blue Aethell coated his broadsword.

"Enchant Maledict."

Dark Aethell wrapped around the blade afterward, carrying weakening curse energy.

Then he braced himself. His shield rose into position, the steel surface angled to deflect incoming blows rather than absorb them directly. His weight settled into his stance, distributing evenly between both feet.

THUMP.

The first goblin slammed into his shield and staggered from the impact.

Hyoren's eyes sharpened. Then he activated another newly acquired skill.

"Quick Slash!"

Unlike normal sword swings, the motion was unnaturally fast. The skill itself seemed to guide his arm, accelerating the blade beyond what pure muscle could achieve.

He did not even need proper stance preparation. The technique bypassed the usual wind-up entirely, launching directly from his ready position into a devastating strike. The skill itself guided the slash.

SQUELCH.

A sharp horizontal slash instantly cut open two goblin throats at once. Blood sprayed in arcs before both monsters dissolved into particles before they even fully realized they had died.

Meanwhile, Jackey had already charged into battle from the side. His Flying Kite Axe spun through the air first.

SWOOSH.

CRACK.

The spinning axe split open a goblin skull before instantly returning to his hand.

Then Jackey followed with a brutal sweep of Bloody Axe. The black weapon carved a wide arc through the air, its red-streaked metal gleaming.

SCREECK.

One goblin was instantly decapitated. The head spun away from the body.

The Beastkin laughed loudly while continuing his assault, his golden eyes gleaming with battle frenzy.

At the backline, Elise calmly provided support. She drew Moonveil Bow smoothly. Then released.

THUMP.

An arrow pierced directly into a goblin archer's eye socket. The creature had been attempting to draw a bead on Hyoren's exposed side, its crude bow raised and arrow nocked. It never got the chance to fire.

Another arrow followed immediately.

THUMP.

Another goblin died. This one had been circling around the flank, hoping to catch the party from an unexpected angle.

Then another.

THUMP.

A third goblin collapsed, an arrow sprouting from its chest.

Freedom Party coordination had sharpened dramatically since yesterday's endless grind, each member anticipating the others' movements and covering gaps without conscious thought. In barely a minute, eleven goblins had already dissolved into particles, their existence erased as thoroughly as if they had never been.

Afterward, they quickly gathered the valuable loot. Magic stones. Rusted weapons. Anything worth selling. The items disappeared into their storage bags with practiced efficiency, each object vanishing into the void with a faint ripple.

Meanwhile, worthless rags and crude clubs were left behind once more.

Jackey rested one axe over his shoulder afterward while grinning widely. His tabby cat tail swished behind him with barely contained energy.

"Big Bro! Your new skill is great!"

Hyoren smiled wryly.

"Yeah…"

He glanced toward the area where the goblins had charged earlier, his dark eyes tracing the path of their reckless assault.

"Provoke makes gathering aggro much easier."

He lightly tapped his shield with his knuckles, the sound ringing softly through the chamber.

"I can force five or six goblins to focus on me simultaneously now."

Then he chuckled.

"I no longer need to attract attention with mindless shouting and shield clanking."

Jackey laughed loudly, his booming voice echoing off the stone walls until it faded into the depths beyond.

"HAHA! But your shouting yesterday was cool though!"

Hyoren snorted slightly while Elise giggled softly nearby, her silver hair swaying with the motion.

Then the three continued their dive once more. Their footsteps fell into a natural rhythm as they moved deeper into the dungeon's labyrinthine corridors. Slowly but surely. Continuing to fill the map of the first floor little by little.

***

The morning slowly bled into the afternoon. Or at least, what Hyoren assumed was the afternoon based on the growing heaviness in his limbs and the persistent ache that had settled into his joints.

The three of them continued working together smoothly, their coordination becoming more natural with every battle and every corridor they crossed.

Elise remained at the front the entire time. Her slender figure moved through the corridors with quiet grace.

Her sharp senses continuously scouted ahead for enemies while her Mapping Skill steadily filled the mental image of the dungeon floor inside her mind.

Sometimes she also stopped briefly to dismantle simple traps hidden along the pathways.  She would crouch beside each trap with practiced efficiency, her fingers working with delicate precision to neutralize the mechanisms before they could harm anyone.

Tripwires. Small arrow traps.

Nothing too dangerous yet, but enough to remind them that carelessness inside a dungeon could still become fatal.

And whenever enemies appeared—their formation moved almost instinctively now. Their teamwork flowed smoothly. A few minutes were enough for packs of goblins to be dissolved into particles.

Though Jackey's recklessness still showed itself from time to time. Especially whenever the goblin archer count exceeded two.

Sometimes arrows still struck him. One pierced his arm during a particularly chaotic engagement, the shaft protruding from his bicep as he continued swinging his axes without apparent concern. Another hit his thigh. One even lodged into his shoulder at one point.

Thankfully, none of them were serious injuries. The arrows rarely struck vital areas, and Jackey's seemingly inexhaustible vitality carried him through situations that would have felled a lesser warrior. And each time, Hyoren simply cast Healing Light afterward.

The wounds quickly closed before they continued onward again.

Their mapping progress steadily advanced through the labyrinthine corridors, each chamber and passage adding another fragment to the growing picture inside Elise's mind. Step by step. Battle after battle.

Eventually, when Hyoren's internal body clock finally began warning him that exhaustion was setting in again—maybe late afternoon, maybe already evening. The distinction had become meaningless.

Hyoren decided enough was enough for today.

"We should rest."

Jackey instantly nodded while rolling his sore shoulders. His axes cut through the air lightly as he stretched.

"Yeah! My shoulders already ache, Big Bro!"

Then his stomach suddenly growled loudly.

"And I'm starving!"

Hyoren immediately chuckled, the laughter coming easier than expected despite his fatigue.

"Haha… Yeah…"

He rubbed his own tired neck.

"I'm hungry too."

Then he looked toward Elise, his gaze settling on her silver hair in front of him.

"Elise. Find us a good dead end and defensible spot to rest."

Elise briefly peeked back toward him before nodding. Her silver ponytail swayed softly behind her with the motion.

"Roger that, Hyoren."

Then she focused on the mental map inside her mind while continuing to walk through the corridors.

Her emerald eyes grew distant for a moment as she consulted the three-dimensional image she had been constructing throughout their journey with Mapping Skill—examining pathways and chambers, calculating distances and evaluating defensive positions—the image was vivid in her mind.

She carefully guided them toward a previously mapped dead-end location. One far away from main pathways where other adventurers might travel. Far from monster chambers where goblins spawned with relentless regularity.

***

They found a suitable dead end not long after. The chamber was small but serviceable—a natural cul-de-sac carved into the dungeon's labyrinthine structure, its single entrance providing a natural chokepoint that would make defense straightforward if anything tried to surprise them during the night.

And without wasting time, the three quickly moved into their now familiar routine. Not long after, the temporary camp was fully established once more.

A faint shimmering barrier protected the dead-end chamber from outside intrusion while the warm smell of food spread through the stale dungeon air.

The three of them sat together on the tarp with dinner in hand.

Tonight's meal was a bowl of hot squirrel meat noodle soup. The noodles glistened beneath the broth, their surfaces catching the light from the magic stove. Chunks of tender meat floated alongside soft vegetables, everything swimming in a rich amber liquid that steamed gently in the cool dungeon air.

After an entire day of dungeon diving, the simple hot meal felt heavenly.

For a while, they simply ate in silence, quietly enjoying the peace and comfort that came from shared rest after shared danger. Only the faint clinking of bowls and distant humming of dungeon lamps could be heard.

Eventually, after finishing the last spoonful of noodles and broth, Hyoren slowly lowered his bowl.

His voice broke the comfortable silence.

"Hey… Did you two not find it strange?"

Jackey immediately put down his empty bowl before tilting his head exaggeratedly. The motion was almost comical—his neck craning to one side like a confused puppy.

"Huh?"

His golden eyes blinked in confusion.

"What do you mean, Big Bro?"

Then he grinned proudly, his chest puffing out with characteristic bravado.

"Our progress was good, right?"

He flexed one arm confidently.

"We moved like a party that already worked together for years! Those hundreds of goblins had no chance against us!"

Clearly, his muscle-brained mind completely missed what Hyoren was referring to.

Meanwhile, Elise slowly gathered the empty bowls beside her before nodding quietly. It seemed she had noticed it too.

Her emerald eyes sharpened slightly.

"I know… Other adventurers… right?"

Hyoren closed his eyes briefly. Then opened them again and looked toward Elise. His dark eyes met her emerald ones.

"Yes… Exactly… Elise."

Jackey still looked utterly confused. His brows furrowed harder, creating deep creases across his forehead as he struggled to comprehend what the other two were discussing.

"What about other adventurers, Big Bro?"

He spread his hands innocently, his palms open and his expression genuinely puzzled.

"We have not met anyone yet, right? So there is no problematic encounter yet. Why are you worried?"

Hyoren smiled wryly at the question.

"Exactly, Jackey… We have not encountered a single adventurer."

He slowly looked around the dead-end chamber. The cracked ancient stone walls that had witnessed countless passages before theirs. The uneven flagstones worn smooth by feet and time. The pale blue magical lamps glowing endlessly from the ceiling.

Then he continued quietly.

"When we entered the dungeon… In the Starting Room, there were already two adventurer parties preparing to dive at the same time as us."

He paused briefly, letting the observation settle.

"Then there was Jigor's party who planned to dive after us. And outside, the growing dungeon town was bustling with adventurers."

Another pause.

"So where are they?"

The question hung heavily in the air, its weight pressing down on the small chamber like a physical presence. Hyoren looked toward the corridor outside their camp.

"We should have encountered at least one party by now."

Jackey's mouth slowly opened wide. Realization finally dawned on him, his expression shifting from confusion to understanding with almost visible clarity.

"OH… True… that is weird, Big Bro!"

He scratched his cheek while thinking.

"Usually bustling dungeons like this would be packed with adventurers…"

Hyoren then looked toward Elise. His dark eyes met her emerald ones.

"Elise, do you have any idea?"

Elise tapped her chin thoughtfully, her pointed ears twitching slightly as she organized her thoughts.

"I think I somewhat understand… Currently, the people entering this dungeon are mostly adventurers from Akela."

Her expression became more serious afterward.

"And there are barely any truly experienced dungeon divers among them."

She paused briefly, allowing the implication to settle.

"Even Jigor's party… Despite being veterans, they normally do not dive dungeons."

Her emerald eyes slowly wandered toward the corridor outside, her gaze distant.

"And honestly… The encounter rate inside this dungeon is abnormally high."

Her brows furrowed slightly.

"We encounter goblins almost every one hundred to two hundred meters. That means we fight every five to ten minutes constantly."

Then she added quietly.

"And they always appear in groups of eight to twelve. A mix of melee and archers too, which complicates the fights even further."

She smiled softly afterward, the expression carrying a hint of pride despite the serious topic.

"Our party composition is simply too good for this dungeon."

She gestured lightly toward Jackey first, her slender fingers indicating the muscular Beastkin.

"Jackey is an experienced dungeon diver. His dual axe style was also reliable."

Then toward Hyoren, her gaze warming slightly.

"You are a reliable tank who could even heal, Hyoren."

Then she touched her own chest lightly.

"And I can eliminate ranged attackers safely from the backline.”

She smiled softly.

“Not only our party composition was good for dungeon diving, most adventurers from Akela are not as prepared as us. For years, their work mostly involved gathering herbs…"

She paused, the words hanging in the air.

"And occasionally hunting weak goblins inside the Forest of No Return."

Hyoren slowly nodded.

"Right… The goblins from Forest of No Return were much weaker. At most around Level 3 to 5."

Then he glanced around the dungeon corridor again, his gaze sweeping across the ancient stonework.

"But the goblins here… they are Level 10. And the encounter rate inside the forest was nowhere near this high."

Jackey tapped his chin while thinking deeply for once. His tabby cat tail swished slowly behind him.

"Now that Big Bro and Elise explained it like that…"

His golden eyes widened slightly, understanding finally crystallizing.

"It makes sense! All dungeons I entered before were already established dungeons!"

He pointed at himself proudly, though the gesture carried more realization than bravado.

"So I never knew how newly discovered dungeons actually looked like! HAHA!"

Hyoren smiled wryly at Jackey's realization, the expression carrying a mixture of amusement and resignation.

"Right…"

He crossed his arms.

"Maybe those adventurers are still being cautious. They probably do not dive too deep yet. They stay near the safety of the Starting Room… Retreat whenever encounters become too difficult… And slowly map while exchanging information with other adventurers."

He exhaled softly.

"Their progress would naturally be slow."

Elise smiled proudly afterward.

"I do not want to sound too arrogant…"

A small giggle escaped her, the sound light and musical. Her emerald eyes gleamed faintly with quiet confidence.

"But you are right, Hyoren. We might actually become the pioneers of this dungeon."

Then she began counting softly, her fingers ticking off each point as she made it.

"The map… The traps… The hidden corridor and Monster Room… The enemy composition… All of that information would become treasure for the adventurers waiting outside."

Jackey immediately raised both arms high into the air excitedly. His golden eyes blazed with enthusiasm.

"WOHOO! As expected of Big Bro's party! My Big Sis Ina truly won big!"

He laughed loudly afterward.

"FREEDOM PARTY IS THE BEST! HAHAHA!"

His voice echoed proudly throughout the dead-end chamber, the declaration carrying enough conviction to fill the entire dungeon with his enthusiasm.

Hyoren could only chuckle helplessly at Jackey's over-the-top enthusiasm, shaking his head in wry amusement.

"Then I guess our goal just expanded."

His expression slowly sharpened again.

"We need to become pioneers. To fully map this dungeon…"

Then his gaze softened slightly.

"And bring back all this information to Ina as a gift."

Elise smiled warmly, her emerald eyes bright with agreement. Jackey nodded enthusiastically, his golden gaze gleaming with renewed purpose. Both clearly agreed with him.

Hyoren then slowly stood up. A tired sigh escaped him afterward, the sound carrying the weight of exhaustion that had been accumulating throughout their long day of exploration and combat.

"Alright. Let's sleep quickly. We still need to continue our diving tomorrow."

The three of them then moved into their now familiar nightly routine once more. They washed themselves with cold water from the Water Orb, the chill biting into their skin and washing away the grime of battle. Changed into more comfortable clothes that would allow proper rest.

Not long after, Jackey disappeared into his own tent. The fabric flap closed behind him with a soft rustle, concealing his large form from view.

And only moments later—his loud snoring immediately echoed through the chamber again.

Meanwhile, inside the other tent, Hyoren and Elise quietly snuggled close together beneath the blankets. The warmth of each other's bodies quickly soothed away the lingering exhaustion from the day, their shared heat creating a pocket of comfort amid the cold dungeon air. Sleep came rapidly afterward, pulling them down into darkness with gentle insistence.

Three of them were sleeping soundly deep inside the dungeon. Protected by the faint shimmering barrier created by the Ward Stones.