Inside the Goldvien Family's study, the dim candlelight flickered against the polished mahogany desk, casting long, restless shadows across the room.
Kael's expression darkened, his fingers curling tightly around the armrest of his chair as if restraining an impulse to lash out.
"Not dead?" The words left his lips slowly, measured, yet edged with fury. His eyes bore into the butler, demanding an explanation that wouldn't disappoint him.
The butler swallowed, his posture rigid under the weight of his master's glare. The room felt colder.
Kael leaned forward slightly, his voice dropping to something even more dangerous. "Are you telling me the assassin failed?"
The butler fought to steady his breathing, but the weight of Kael's glare bore down on him like an iron fist.
"I" He hesitated, choosing his next words carefully. "The report stated he was eliminated. But…"
Kael leaned forward, his golden-ringed fingers tapping against the mahogany desk with slow, deliberate precision. "But what?"
The butler swallowed hard. "Aaron was spotted outside the dungeon but that's not all. He entered alone… and came out alive."
A cold silence blanketed the study.
Kael's jaw tightened, his fingers pressing into the armrest as his mind raced through the implications.
"Alone? Surviving a dungeon? That shouldn't be possible at his level."
The candlelight flickered, but the fury in his eyes burned brighter.
"Where is he now?"
The butler's expression stiffened, a flicker of hesitation crossing his face. "He… joined an adventurer group."
Kael's eyes darkened. "And? Is there something unusual about this group?"
The butler swallowed, his posture tense under Kael's piercing gaze.
The butler hesitated, his voice carrying a rare note of uncertainty.
"The adventurer group… they have ties to a noble family," he admitted. "But for now, I can't determine which one."
Kael's gaze darkened, his fingers tapping rhythmically against the desk as he processed the information.
"A noble family… That complicates things."
His patience thinned. "Find out. Immediately."
.....
Aaron's breath hitched as he took in the majestic sight of Blueish City. Towering structures adorned with intricate carvings lined the bustling streets, their rooftops reflecting the warm glow of the afternoon sun.
His gaze drifted from the grand archways to the lively marketplace, where merchants called out their wares exotic spices, shimmering fabrics, weapons forged with masterful craftsmanship. Every detail felt vibrant, alive, as if the city itself pulsed with magic.
"Everything here looks so beautiful. Just like a fantasy…"
He murmured to himself, his voice barely audible amid the hum of city life.
Auriel's tone was firm, leaving no room for debate. "David, let's return to the Dusk Inn. We'll stay here for the night."
She turned to Aaron. "You should stock up on rations and any supplies you need. Tomorrow morning, we head to Blueish Forest for our quest."
Aaron blinked, confusion flickering across his face. "Quest?"
Auriel barely reacted to Aaron's confusion, her tone unwavering. "You'll understand tomorrow."
David let out a short chuckle. "You look like a lost puppy."
Aaron frowned, eyeing them both. "A little context wouldn't hurt."
Auriel merely glanced at him, then turned toward the bustling marketplace, her silence carrying an air of finality.
David smirked. "Consider it a surprise. Just don't die too quickly."
Aaron realized he wouldn't be getting any answers from them, so he pushed aside his curiosity and glanced at the sky it was still afternoon.
After a brief pause, he spoke. "Auriel, is there a time difference between the real world and the dungeon?"
Auriel barely spared him a glance, her tone as cold as ever. "Of course. One minute in the real world equals ninety minutes inside the dungeon."
Aaron's brows furrowed. That means he had barely spent a few minutes in the real world since entering the dungeon.
Yet inside, hours had passed perhaps even a full day.
The carriage rolled to a halt, its wheels settling into the dusty street outside the Dusk Inn.
David secured the reins before stepping down, Auriel and Aaron following close behind.
Without hesitation, David approached the counter and booked three rooms for the night.
Turning to Aaron, he handed him a key. "Make sure to prepare your own rations. At least enough for a week."
Aaron nodded. "Yeah, I will."
Although he had agreed to prepare his own rations, Aaron's gaze lingered on the middle-aged woman who appeared to be the owner of the Dusk Inn.
"Ma'am, what's on the menu for lunch?" he asked.
Ruth, the innkeeper, offered a warm smile. "What do you want, Aaron? Veg or non-veg?"
Aaron hesitated for a moment, his gaze shifting toward the cozy warmth of the inn's dining area. The subtle aroma of freshly baked bread and simmering spices lingered in the air, blending with the quiet murmur of patrons enjoying their meals.
Ruth's ability to remember his name so quickly wasn't just impressive it spoke of sharp observation, something Aaron instinctively respected.
He glanced at David and Auriel. "What do you guys want to eat?"
David stretched, his usual smirk playing at his lips. "Something heavy. Meat, preferably. We've got a long day tomorrow."
Auriel crossed her arms, scanning the menu briefly. "Anything simple will do."
Aaron turned back to Ruth, but just as he was about to speak, a flash of memory hit him the corpses of the Red Adventurer Team, lifeless and cold.
A strange heaviness settled in his chest.
"I'll have veg," he said, his voice quieter than before.
Ruth nodded knowingly, offering a warm smile before disappearing into the kitchen.
David immediately picked up on Aaron's shift in demeanor and couldn't resist teasing him.
"Are you really that afraid of corpses, Aaron?"
Aaron shot him a look, his tone measured. "I'm not as experienced as you."
David's playful smirk faded, his expression turning serious. "Listen being an adventurer isn't some grand, beautiful life. You'll be surrounded by death more than you realize. You don't have a choice but to get used to it."
Aaron recognized the harsh truth in David's words. Sooner or later, he would have to face it himself.
Death wasn't just a possibility it was a constant. And as an adventurer, he would walk alongside it every step of the way.