The battle ended in a brutal silence. Blood pooled on the floor, and the bodies of goblins y scattered around us. I could barely catch my breath, my chest heaving with exertion.Elise leaned heavily against her shield, her face pale and covered in sweat. "That... was too close," she said between gasps.I couldn't even speak. My body was a mass of pain, the exhaustion flooding through me. But we had done it. We had survived.We took a moment to recover, catching our breath and cleaning our weapons. I felt a strange sense of relief washing over me, but I knew we couldn't rest for long. We had pushed our limits, but there were still deeper, more dangerous challenges ahead.After the grueling battle, we finally allowed ourselves a moment to breathe. I colpsed onto a nearby rock, feeling every ache and bruise settle into my body.

  Elise leaned against her shield, wiping the sweat from her forehead."That was insane," I muttered, still catching my breath.Elise let out a small ugh. "Yeah, but we pulled through. Good job watching my back.""You too," I replied, giving her a nod. "I would've been goblin food if you hadn't covered me back there."She grinned, but exhaustion was evident in her posture. After a few minutes of rest, we started gathering the loot.

  The usual—gems, weapons, and whatever scraps the goblins carried. As we sorted through the spoils, I hesitated before speaking."I feel kind of guilty for taking more of the gems," I admitted, running a hand through my hair. I had done most of the killing, and as a result, most of the loot naturally fell to me.Elise gnced up and shook her head.

  "No, it's only fair this way. You fought harder and took down more of them. It makes sense that you get a bigger share." She paused before adding with a small smile, "Besides, I'm having fun. It's nice having a companion. When I dived solo, I always ended up in life-or-death situations."I blinked at her words, thinking them over. Diving solo was dangerous. Sure, she was skilled, but no matter how good you were, there would always be a moment when luck ran out.A thought crossed my mind, and before I could stop myself, I voiced it. "Should we register as a party?"Elise's eyes widened in surprise. She stared at me for a moment, as if processing my words. Then, a grin spread across her face. "I like that."That settled it. We would register as a party.But first, we needed rest. Our bodies were battered, and pushing any further would be reckless. We agreed to take the next day off to handle the registration, then made our way toward the dungeon exit, our steps heavy with exhaustion but lighter with the knowledge that we weren't alone in this anymore.

  As the discussions about the recent dungeon dive buzzed around her, Luna found herself lost in thought. Her sharp blue eyes scanned the steady stream of divers leaving the dungeon, searching for someone—until they nded on a familiar figure.Kael.Her gaze immediately locked onto him, recognizing not only his stance but also the distinct left-arm guard he wore—the very one she had gifted him long ago. A flicker of emotion stirred within her as she observed him. He looked battered, as if he'd just come out of a grueling fight. Her lips pressed together.‘Did they run into trouble inside? she wondered. Are they a party? Or… something more than just party members?.’Then, just as she was pondering, she noticed Kael gncing around—and to her surprise, their eyes met.‘Oh? He's looking at me? Did he recognize me?.’Her heartbeat quickened for a brief moment, but then she noticed something. His gaze shifted slightly, focusing on someone else beside him.That girl again.Luna frowned slightly, studying the girl who stood at Kael's side. They exchanged words before moving toward the Diver's Guild, seemingly at ease with one another.Before she could linger on her thoughts any longer, a voice called out beside her."Lady Luna, we should get going. The briefing just ended."Luna blinked and turned toward the speaker. It was Shen, one of her trusted attendants and fellow divers.She paused for a moment before speaking. "Shen, did you see the girl with Kael earlier?"Shen gave a slight nod. "Yes, I noticed her."Luna's gaze sharpened. "I want to know everything about her."Shen hesitated only briefly before bowing his head slightly. "I'll do my best, Lady Luna."With that, Luna cast one st gnce in Kael's direction before turning away. If Kael hadn't recognized her yet, she wouldn't rush things. But she would find out more about this girl.And sooner or ter, Kael would have to face her again.

  —Kael arrived home just as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm glow over the modest family home. The moment he stepped inside, the comforting scent of freshly cooked stew and warm bread filled his nose, but before he could take another step, a hush fell over the room.His mother, Evelina, stood frozen by the dining table, a dle still in her hand, her eyes widening as she took in his battered form. His father, Darius, sat at the head of the table, arms crossed, his sharp gaze scanning every bruise and cut on Kael's exposed skin. Even Aiden and Lyra, his younger twin siblings, stopped mid-bite, staring at him with worried expressions."Kael!" Evelina gasped, setting the dle down with a ctter. "What happened to you?"Darius frowned. "You look like you picked a fight with a troll and lost."Kael sighed, raising a hand in reassurance. His limbs ached, and exhaustion clung to his body like a heavy cloak, but he forced a small smile. "I'm fine, really."Evelina stepped closer, her eyes searching his face for any sign of serious injury. "Fine? You look like you've been dragged through a battlefield!"Aiden, his little brother, leaned forward, his small hands gripping the edge of the table. "Did you fight a monster? A big one?"Lyra, his twin sister, frowned, her voice softer. "Did it hurt?"Kael chuckled despite himself. "It was a tough day, but nothing I can't handle. I had a companion with me, so I wasn't alone."Darius raised an eyebrow. "A companion? You mean you teamed up with someone?"Kael nodded as he stretched his sore shoulders. "Yeah, her name is Elise. I stumbled upon her yesterday. She was attacked by some elite goblins and I helped her. Today we spent the day testing our teamwork, figuring out our limits in the dungeon. It wasn't easy, but we made it work."

  Then Evelina asked, “Her? A girl?.” Her hands hovering over his arms as if she wanted to check him for injuries but knew better than to fuss too much.

  "You shouldn't push yourself so hard, Kael. You're not used to diving like this yet.""I know, Mom," Kael said with a small smile. "We just needed to know how far we could go together. It's better to find out now than in a real crisis."Darius grunted, his expression softening just a little. "Hmph. Smart. But next time, come home looking less like you crawled out of a colpsed tunnel."Kael let out a tired chuckle. "I'll try my best."Evelina sighed, shaking her head before giving him a gentle push toward his room. "Go put your things away and wash up. You're not sitting at my table covered in dungeon grime."Kael didn't argue. He trudged to his room, unfastening his armor piece by piece, his muscles protesting with every movement. His axe handles were worn from the day's battles, and his throwing axes had dulled slightly from repeated use. He made a mental note to sharpen them tomorrow before he crashed onto his bed for just a moment, staring at the wooden ceiling.That was a tough fight today… but we really did improve.After a deep breath, he forced himself up, washed the dirt and sweat from his skin, and changed into fresh clothes before heading back to the dining area.The warmth of the fire and the rich aroma of stew made his stomach growl. He took his usual seat, and Evelina wasted no time in pcing a steaming bowl in front of him, along with a thick slice of bread."Eat up," she said firmly. "You need to regain your strength."Kael didn't need to be told twice. The first spoonful of stew, thick with chunks of tender meat and root vegetables, sent warmth spreading through his tired body. The rich broth, seasoned just right, soothed his aching muscles in a way potions never could.Lyra watched him curiously. "Was it really dangerous today?"Kael paused between bites and nodded. "Yeah. We ran into a group of goblin elites with proper weapons. It took everything we had to beat them."Aiden's eyes lit up. "Did you use your axe like this?" He mimed a wild swing, nearly knocking his spoon out of his hand.Kael smirked. "Something like that. Though, I had to use my throwing axes too. And stamina potions. The fight sted way longer than we expected."Darius let out an approving grunt. "Good. You're learning how to manage your resources in a real battle. That's what separates the dead from the living in those dungeons."Evelina shot her husband a look. "Darius, do you have to say it like that?""It's the truth," Darius said simply, taking another bite of his bread. "He's not a kid anymore. If he's diving, he needs to think like a real diver."Kael swallowed another spoonful before nodding. "I know. That's why I suggested something to Elise before we left the dungeon."Evelina raised an eyebrow. "What did you suggest?"Kael leaned back slightly. "We're pnning to register as an official party tomorrow. That way, we can take on tougher fights with more coordination."The table fell silent for a moment.Darius leaned forward, scrutinizing Kael's expression. "You're sure about this?"Kael met his father's gaze. "Yeah. Elise is strong, and we work well together. She's reliable."Evelina's lips pressed together, clearly weighing her thoughts. "I suppose… if you're forming a party, that means you won't be diving alone, which is safer."Darius nodded. "A smart move. Parties survive longer than solo divers." He gnced at Kael's arms, noting the fresh bruises.

  "Though judging by today, you two still have a long way to go."Kael let out a tired chuckle. "Yeah, no argument there."Evelina sighed but eventually smiled. "If this is what you want, then just be careful. And don't overwork yourself."Lyra grinned. "Does this mean we'll get to meet your new partner soon?"Kael smirked. "Maybe."Aiden pumped his fists. "I hope she's cool! Like big sister Abigail."Kael ughed, shaking his head before finishing off the st of his meal. As the conversation drifted to lighter topics, he felt a sense of warmth settle deep within him.

  The dungeon was brutal, and the battles were only getting harder, but for now, surrounded by his family, he allowed himself to enjoy the simple comfort of home.

  After dinner, Kael found himself pulled into his younger siblings' endless energy, pying with them in the dimly lit room.

  Aiden excitedly swung a wooden stick, mimicking Kael's battle stances, while Lyra cpped and cheered, giggling whenever Aiden exaggerated his movements."Take this!" Aiden shouted, pretending to ssh at an invisible enemy. "And this!"Kael chuckled, dodging dramatically and ruffling Aiden's hair. "You need to hold your stance better, or you'll trip over yourself before you even nd a hit."Lyra giggled, hugging Kael's arm. "Big brother is strong, but one day, Aiden will be strong too!"Aiden puffed out his chest proudly. "Yeah! I'll be even stronger than Kael!"Kael smirked. "Oh? Then I better start training harder, or you'll surpass me too soon."They pyed for a little while longer until their energy finally ran out. Kael tucked them into their shared bed, watching as their eyes drooped with exhaustion. Lyra yawned, snuggling into her bnket."Goodnight, big brother," she mumbled sleepily.Aiden peeked one eye open. "You'll tell us more stories tomorrow, right?"Kael chuckled, patting their heads. "Of course. Now sleep."