The moon cast long, eerie shadows as Luis darted between trees, his new Feathered Leather Armor whisper-quiet with every step. [Wind Dancer] pulsed beneath his feet, making him glide like a shadow—almost.
"Wow," Zyx said, floating lazily beside him. "You only tripped twice that time. Progress!"
Luis ignored him—until his boot snagged on a vine.
Whump.
Face-first into the dirt.
"Three times," Zyx corrected.
Luis spat out a mouthful of leaves—then froze.
Just ahead, carved into a jagged rockface, yawned a dark cave entrance. Its rim pulsed with blood-red runes, like veins pressed against the stone.
"Uh. Zyx?" Luis said slowly. "What is that?"
Zyx squinted. "Either a monster buffet or the gods' idea of a prank toilet. Hard to say."
"Can you read it?"
Zyx puffed up. "Obviously. I am a god." He drifted closer—then immediately recoiled. "AGH—MY DIVINE EYES! WHO CARVED THIS, A DRUNK GOAT WITH A CHISEL?!"
After an exaggerated sigh and several minutes of muttering curses in what Luis assumed was Ancient Cosmic, Zyx finally translated:
"'Cave of the Forgotten. Filled with monsters of unknown level. Enter, and you cannot leave until the last one is dead.'"
Luis stared into the gloom. "...That sounds like a terrible idea."
"Oh, you'll die," Zyx agreed cheerfully. "Like, 'screaming while your spleen turns into confetti' die."
Luis took three steps back. "Yeah, no. Let's… come back never."
By the time they returned to the village, the celebration had faded. The fires had burned low, the laughter gone quiet. Only the sound of crickets and distant waves remained.
Luis passed the square—and stopped.
Yuna sat alone on the stage, bathed in moonlight, her fingers gliding across a lute. The melody was soft and aching, a song of lost homes and forgotten stars. It was beautiful.
But that wasn't what caught Luis's attention.
Yuna was arguing with the air.
"No, that verse goes after the chorus," she muttered to no one.
A beat of silence. Then she huffed, "Because it flows better, Selune!"
Luis blinked. Right. Her patron goddess.
Zyx grinned beside him. "Oho. Looks like someone's got a backseat bard for a god."
Yuna's fingers slipped on the strings. Her head snapped up—and she turned crimson the moment she spotted him.
"O-Oh! I didn't think anyone was—" She shot a glare at the empty space beside her. "Yes, I know I messed up! Stop critiquing me!"
Luis smiled. "Tough crowd?"
Yuna groaned. "Selune used to be a choir goddess. She's... particular." She gestured vaguely beside her. "Apparently my cadence was 'uninspired' just now."
"Wow," Zyx said, floating closer. "And I thought I was annoying."
Yuna blinked. "Wait. Is your god... talking right now?"
Luis nodded. "Yeah. He says your god sounds worse than Icon's dancing."
A furious voice snapped from thin air: "HEY!"
Yuna burst out laughing. "Okay, now Selune's offended."
They talked for a while—about music, about gods, about how Zyx and Selune would absolutely murder each other if they could physically meet.
When Yuna finally yawned, she stood. "Goodnight, Luis. And... Zyx."
Zyx gasped. "She acknowledged me! I'm famous!"
As she walked away, Luis heard her muttering:
"No, Selune, we are not adding a harp solo..."