The sun hung low over Aramode as Tolu and Ore walked through the familiar streets.
Neither of them spoke much.
After everything that had happened beneath the Old Stone Hills, ordinary conversation felt strangely difficult.
Eventually they reached the crossroads where they usually parted ways.
Ore stopped first. "I’ll head this way."
Tolu nodded. "See you tomorrow."
She smiled before taking a few steps away, then suddenly turned back. "Oh... and Tolu."
"Hm?"
"Don’t do anything reckless."
He chuckled. "I should be the one saying that to you."
Ore laughed softly. "I’m serious."
"So am I."
They looked at one another for a moment before smiling. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight, Ore."
She waved and disappeared into the evening crowd.
Tolu watched until she was out of sight before turning toward home.
The familiar scent of spices drifted from Uncle Aremu’s small provisions shop.
Wooden shelves lined the walls, neatly stocked with sacks of rice, beans, dried peppers, cooking oil, salt, soap, and other daily necessities.
As Tolu entered through the back door, he heard Aremu’s voice. "Back already?"
"I’m home."
"Good. Dinner will be ready soon."
"I’ll wash up first."
Aremu nodded without looking up from the ledger he was balancing.
"Go on."
A few minutes later, Tolu stepped out after a cool bath.
The dust from the hills had disappeared, but his thoughts remained just as heavy.
Without thinking, his fingers brushed against the silver ring.
It looked as ordinary as ever.
Yet every time he touched it...
He remembered the altar.
The dungeon.
The words that had echoed in his mind.
A Dungeon Lord...
He quickly lowered his hand as Aremu called from the dining room.
"Tolu! Food’s getting cold!"
"I’m coming!"
The two sat across from one another, bowls of steaming yam porridge between them.
For a while, only the sound of spoons breaking the silence filled the room.
Finally, Aremu looked up.
"So..."
"How was your first real field commission?"
Tolu smiled.
"It went well."
"You look like you learned something."
"I did."
Aremu nodded knowingly. "The first mission usually teaches more than weeks of training."
Tolu laughed. "I believe that."
"Were you scared?"
He thought back to the darkness...
The fall...
The dungeon.
"...A little."
"A little fear is healthy. "Aremu pointed his spoon toward him.
"The day an adventurer stops fearing danger is the day he makes a mistake he can’t undo."
Tolu quietly nodded. "I’ll remember that."
Aremu smiled. "I’m glad."
He leaned back in his chair. "Your parents were the same when they first became adventurers. They weren’t the strongest. They weren’t the most talented. But they always came home because they respected danger."
Tolu listened silently.
"I hope you’ll do the same."
"I will."
Aremu smiled warmly. "Good. Now eat before your food gets cold."
Tolu grinned. "Yes, Uncle."
As they returned to dinner, Tolu found himself glancing once more at the plain silver ring.
He wondered...
How long would he be able to keep its secret?
Ore quietly pushed open the door to her room.
The familiar scent of cedarwood greeted her as she stepped inside.
She closed the door gently behind her and leaned against it for a moment.
"...What a day."
Dropping her satchel onto a chair, she sat on the edge of her bed and let out a long sigh.
Her eyes drifted to the ceiling.
The images from earlier replayed in her mind.
The hidden entrance.
The fall.
The dungeon.
The ring.
Then...
Tolu "Ore!"
She could still hear the panic in his voice.
A small smile found its way onto her face.
"He really is hopeless..."
She laughed quietly to herself. Thinking
’The sensible thing would’ve been to run back to the guild. There were veteran adventurers there. They would’ve known what to do.’
Instead...
The moment he saw her fall...
He jumped.
No hesitation.
No plan.
No thought for his own safety.
Just...
Tolu.
She shook her head, a little amused.
’You idiot.’
Her smile softened.
’He didn’t even think. He only saw that I was in danger.’
A faint warmth spread across her cheeks.
For a moment she wondered...
Would he have done the same for anyone else?
She smiled again. "...Probably."
That was simply the kind of person he was.
Always putting others before himself.
Sometimes to his own detriment.
She lay back on the bed, folding her hands behind her head. "He still doesn’t have a clue..."
Years of growing up together. Years of shared meals, training, and knowing each other.
And somehow...
He still hadn’t realized how she felt.
She closed her eyes."That’s alright. We still have time."
Another gentle smile crossed her lips.
"One day...I’ll make that hopeless boy realize."
With that comforting thought, the events of the day slowly faded from her mind, and before long, sleep quietly claimed her.
The moon hung high above Aramode.
Silence filled Uncle Aremu’s modest home.
Tolu shifted beneath his blanket.
Something felt...
Wrong.
He slowly opened his eyes.
The room was dark.
Only pale moonlight filtered through the small window.
"...What woke me?" He rubbed his eyes before turning over. Then he felt it. Warm.
His gaze drifted to his left hand.
The plain silver ring rested quietly on his finger, giving off a gentle warmth.
Not painful or uncomfortable. Just enough to make him notice it.
Tolu frowned. "It’s just my imagination."
He closed his eyes again. "I need sleep."
He rolled onto his side.
Several minutes passed.
Then...
The warmth returned. This time it lingered longer.
He sighed without opening his eyes.
"No. I’m not getting out of bed."
He pulled the blanket over his shoulder.
"I’ve had enough excitement for one day, disturb me Tomorrow." The warmth faded.
A small smile crossed his face.
"See? It gave up."
Just as he began drifting back to sleep...
The warmth returned once more.
Stronger.
More persistent.
Tolu opened one eye. "...You’re serious."
The ring remained warm against his skin.
Not demanding.
Simply...
Waiting.
He sat upright, running a hand through his hair.
"I suppose I’m not sleeping tonight."
Carefully climbing from bed, he dressed as quietly as possible.
He slung his sword across his back more out of habit than expectation.
Before leaving, he paused outside Uncle Aremu’s room.
Soft snores drifted from within.
Tolu smiled.
"Sorry, Uncle. I’ll be back before sunrise."
He quietly slipped out the back door.
The streets of Aramode were almost deserted.
A lone watchman nodded politely as Tolu passed.
The city gates stood partially open for patrols, allowing him to leave without difficulty.
The cool night air accompanied him all the way to the Old Stone Hills.
Everything looked exactly as it had that afternoon.
The towering boulder.
The tall grass.
The hidden entrance.
He stood before it in silence.
"I really came back..."
Shaking his head, he stepped inside.
The familiar passage welcomed him with cool, damp air.