Ignis' First Firesday of Harvestfall, 1442, city of Umbraholme.

The dim light of Umbraholme's perpetual twilight cast long shadows over the archery range, the scent of damp earth mingling with the sharp tang of cut wood.

An arrow landed on a target with a satisfying twang!

Bullseye!

Leoric smiled, looking down at the bow in his hand; crafted from a piece of elm, reinforced with ash wood, and wrapped in hard leather. The extra tension from the flexible ash wood made arrows fly faster, while the leather wrapping reduced vibration and protected the bow from wear.

He had traded his former bow back to the guild store, recouping only a fraction of its original price, but he had no reasons to lug two bows around. Thanks to his carpenter profession—now level sixteen—Leoric could perform field maintenance and repairs on his weapon, if needed.

Satisfied with his creation, he slung it over his shoulder and adjusted the leather strap of his quiver.

Vaelith's probably lost in some project at the weaver's guild. I should go check on her.

He chuckled at the memory of how, not so long ago, he had to drag her out of the cooking guild. He headed off to fetch her, knowing they would need to start their long trek to Luminara soon. According to his party interface, both Elyssia and Kaelyn were there already, and he did not want to make them wait too long.

Once again, Leoric stood in awe in front of the imposing edifice. The weaver's guild was far larger than anything he could have possibly conceived, its immense size dwarfing even his most fantastical expectations. Given the city was hidden deep within a dense, mysterious forest, he had expected the carpenter's guildhall to be the largest structure.

This is yet another lesson about assumptions…

A bell above the door jingled as he stepped inside. Leoric made a beeline for the burrovian lady waiting behind a counter across the room. The floorboards creaked softly beneath his weight; the lady paused mid-calculation, rising to meet his gaze. "Ah, good evening to you. Can I assist you with anything?"

His eyes darted around the room, quickly picking up on the fact he was now the focus of everyone's attention. "I'm looking for my party member—Vaelith. Is she somewhere around?"

The lady behind the counter relaxed upon hearing those words and smiled. "Ah yes, your dracan friend is still inside. Liranel? Would you let her know a certain gentleman—?" she trailed off, waiting for Leoric to complete the sentence.

"Leoric."

"—her friend Leoric is here to get her?"

One of the Shadow sylvani in the room stopped what she was doing and nodded in agreement. With barely a sound, she vanished into the darkness beyond a door at the back of the room.

While waiting for her return, Leoric spent his time aimlessly wandering around the shop, pausing to closely examine each mannequin and the outfits they were dressed in. His mind wandered to the painstaking processes and incredible skill likely needed to fashion garments of such complexity without the help of modern invention, sewing machines, and other tools. Maybe magic helped bridge the gap? A smile touched his lips; he felt confident that, should she choose to play the game, Melanie's time would be completely consumed by discussions of trade and technique with the many skilled craftspeople within the building's walls.

"Your bow. That's quite the fine craftsmanship."

Leoric turned around and noticed the burrovian lady now standing right before him. Taken aback by her unexpected closeness, he reflexively took one step backwards, his shoulders tensing up, and one hand automatically reaching for his bow. He exhaled when he recognised her, forcing himself to relax.

How did she sneak up on me so easily… Was I simply too focused to notice her walking?

He smiled faintly, his cheeks warming at the uncharacteristic praise. "Ah. Thank you. I gave it my best shot," he said, glancing at the bow on his shoulder. "Made it just a few minutes ago, fashioned from elm and ash harvested in this very forest. Believe me, I adhered precisely to the botanist's guild's instructions to the letter."

The woman tilted her head, her large, expressive ears shifting slightly. "A fine piece. And your armour?" With a sharp glance, she gestured toward his breastplate, her eyes narrowing as if intensely scrutinising the intricate detail of the stitchwork.

A little embarrassed to be bragging about his handiwork, Leoric confessed, scratching the back of his neck, "I made this piece earlier today too, in fact. I like to be as self-sufficient as I can."

A softening of her smile did little to disguise the knowing, almost insightful quality residing in her gaze; it was a look suggesting a deeper understanding. "A noble pursuit. Many young artisans share this ambition, especially in their early days. But," she said, approaching and lowering her voice in a conspiratorial tone, "the real significance lies not in severing ties of dependence, but in harnessing the potential arising from collaborative efforts."

Leoric blinked, taken aback. "What do you mean?"

She gestured toward the surrounding room. "This guild does not make its shadow-touched silk alone. It requires shepherds and botanists to nurture the right spiders and plants. Alchemists provide us with the finishing solutions and dyes. Spinners work in harmony with the weavers. Without that collaboration, the silk would remain an untapped possibility—a resource with no purpose."

Leoric frowned thoughtfully, his gaze drifting to the mannequins dressed in intricate designs. "It's not that I'm against working with others. I just... prefer to handle my own needs myself. I hate to be a burden on others."

"And that's commendable," the woman said with a small nod. "But your talents—your craftsmanship—could go beyond yourself. A bow like yours in the hands of another marksman could make all the difference. An armourer who shares their craft doesn't just protect their own skin; they forge bonds, trust, and a sense of community."

Leoric considered her words, his grip on his quiver strap tightening. "You seem to misjudge me. I've made things for my team, and I'm eager to share the fruits of my labour with everyone; I'm not against helping others."

Her smile returned, warm and encouraging. "Then you already understand. But think of what more you could achieve. Every artisan has a choice—to create only what serves them, or to weave themselves into something greater."

He nodded slowly, a flicker of understanding dawning in his expression. "I see your point. It's not just about independence—it's about... interdependence."

The woman chuckled softly. "Precisely. And if you ever need proof of what that kind of collaboration can achieve, look no further than this guildhall."

The door behind them creaked open, and the sylvani called Liranel stepped out of the shadows, Vaelith right behind her. The fabric of her new robe and cloak shimmering faintly in the twilight, its intricate pattern catching Leoric's eye.

"Leoric, hi!" she called, waving when she made eye contact.

He smiled at her, but nodded at the burrovian. "Thanks for the reminder. About... working together."

Her eyes twinkled. "You two take care of each other—and keep weaving your story together."

When Vaelith reached them, Leoric nodded to the guild master and made his way out of the guild. The mage said some hasty goodbyes, blinked next to him to catch up, and matched his pace.

Once they were some distance away from the guildhall, he stopped and faced her. "We better go now, if we still plan to hit a dungeon tonight. It's a long return trip to Luminara."

He was about to turn around and walk off when Vaelith grinned. "Or—"

"Or?"

She smiled and tapped the grimoire in her satchel. "—or, give me a few minutes and I'll get us both back to Luminara."

"Since when can you do that?" he asked, raising an eyebrow in surprise.

"It's all in the grimoire," she said, looking at the book fondly. "I've never used the ritual so far, so I'll have to study it for the first few times."

As was her usual, Vaelith sat herself seemingly in midair, a barely visible red cushion of air beneath her. "Since we've both visited Luminara, I can use the ritual spell Recall. Assuming both the caster and the target meet the requirement of having visited the city before, I can send you or anyone else in moments. It'll only take me a few minutes to cast."

Leoric blinked incredulously. "So you can send us wherever we've been before?" he asked, counting the possibilities on his fingers, still hardly believing what he had just heard.

She snapped open the buckle of her satchel, and with a simple gesture, levitated the heavy grimoire out of the bag, landing softly on an invisible lectern in front of her.

"Yep. I just have to visit Frostspire and Altansuun at some point. Then I'll be able to send people everywhere they want! Cool, huh?"

Leoric stared at the thick book. "Anything else handy in there you have told no one about yet?"

She shrugged. "There're loads! Creating a force-field tent to sleep within at night, magically locking or unlocking doors, making force bridges or force walls, message spells, magical brooms to clean up your room, magical quill to write for you, spells to clean off muck, mud and blood, invisible trip-wire traps…"

His ears twitched at one of those. "Message spell? We could let our teammates know we're coming, then?"

Her grin widened. "Yes—But why bother when the spell to take us there will take just as long to cast?"

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Leoric shook his head, a grin tugging at his lips. "You're just full of surprises, aren't you?"

She let out a cute giggle and then beamed at him. "What did you say about being impressed earlier? 'I know I shouldn't be anymore', was it?"

Leoric raised his hands in defeat and rolled his eyes.

First Elyssia, then Vaelith. Know what? She's right. I shouldn't be impressed anymore. They're really one-of-a-kind, both of them.

When Vaelith's location changed to Luminara on the party interface floating above the wooden table, Elyssia emptied the last of her chai in one gulp. The sharp, spicy aroma lingered as she set the cup down with a soft clink against the wood. Around her, the low hum of conversation ebbed and flowed, punctuated by the occasional clatter of mugs and bursts of laughter from nearby tables. The air carried the mingling scents of roasted meat, sharp spices, and the faint smell of salt carried by the ocean breeze slipping through the tavern's open windows.

She quickly added up the price for everyone's drinks and fished a handful of cuprum chips from her coin pouch—more than enough to include a generous tip for their friendly waitress. The coins clattered as she gently placed them on the table, forming a small, uneven pile.

She stood up, picked up her bag, and closed the party interface. Vaelith had obviously remembered to use her class' teleport ability. Elyssia's lips curved into a small smile. Her friend had figured it out on her own. A warmth bloomed in the sylvani's chest as she realised her friend had needed far less prodding than she had anticipated, a quiet pride filling her.

When the two others looked at her with puzzled gazes, Elyssia simply said, "The two others are back."

Kaelyn lowered her half-finished glass and asked, "Already? Where are they?"

Elyssia pointed towards the exit with her thumb. "They'll be at the mage's guild, portal room."

Kohana remained in her seat, looking at the empty tankard of dockfire. She shot a glance at Elyssia, but as soon as their eyes met, she turned back to her mug. She picked it up and waved it around, signalling she wanted a refill. Their waitress caught the motion from across the room and gave a quick nod before heading over.

Kohana slumped down, elbows on the table. She turned towards Elyssia, her tail swaying nervously behind her. "I'm going to stick around for one more drink, and then log off for the night. Tomorrow's an early start; I'm the one on cooking duty. Have fun in your dungeon, then. You are going to post the run online, right, Kaelyn?"

Kaelyn hesitated, her fingers drumming against her glass. "Hmm, maybe? I'll check if everyone's cool with it first?" She downed the rest of her drink, grimaced and then turned pleadingly towards Elyssia. "Are you okay with it, Elyssia?"

The sylvani shrugged. "A little late to ask after what you pulled yesterday, no? Anyway, I'm used to internet celebrity status. Just make sure to ask the other two how they feel about it before you publish anything."

The blonde priestess slung her satchel over her shoulder. She took a deep breath, her tail slowly brushing the seat behind her. She met Kohana's gaze with a faint smile. "I'll record it, anyway. In the worst case, I'll just DM you the file and it'll be our secret. Shoot me your contact info?"

"Sure, here you go! Make it a good one for me, yeah?" Kohana said with a wink. "You've got a reputation to uphold now, don't you?"

Elyssia walked out, waiting by the exit for Kaelyn to catch up. Then the two of them set out to the mage's guild. Kaelyn slipped through the crowd seamlessly, obviously at home in such settings. Elyssia locked on to her destination, weaving through the crowd with the single-mindedness of a sailor steering toward a lighthouse. She barely registered the jostling shoulders or the aroma of spiced fish skewers from a nearby vendor as she pushed forward.

The mage's guild hall in Luminara was a striking structure, its white stone facade glistening under the perpetual golden glow of the city's enchanted lanterns. Intricate runes carved into the arching doorframe shimmered faintly, pulsing with the rhythmic hum of magical energy. The bustling street outside was alive with the clamour of vendors hawking wares and adventurers checking their maps.

Elyssia and Kaelyn weaved through the crowd until they reached the guild's steps. Kaelyn, her blonde hair catching the lantern light, adjusted the strap of her satchel and looked around, her tail swishing absently. Elyssia, in contrast, stood straight and focused, her sharp blue eyes scanning the throng for their companions.

As soon as she spotted Vaelith and Leoric appearing at the main entrance, she nodded in their direction and remarked, "Ah, here they are."

She instantly noted their new equipment. Curious, she opened her interface and scanned her teammates, assessing the readiness of the party.

"Finally, we're all gathered up! Was long overdue," Kaelyn said. She raised a hand and called out, "Hey, los tórtolos!"

Still focused on the party interface, Elyssia still rolled her eyes at the nickname.

Leoric waved back, a new longbow slung across his back. "Looks like you were expecting us," he said, jerking his thumb at Vaelith with a teasing grin. "She thought we'd surprise you."

Vaelith shot him an accusing glare, crossing her arms. "Would you have preferred the scenic route? An extra hour trekking through the wilds, just for fun?"

Kaelyn laughed, stepping forward to greet them. "How was Umbraholme? I was worried we wouldn't get to run the dungeon until tomorrow, when you set out that way and I saw the time."

Elyssia stepped between them, her expression calm but with the faintest hint of amusement tugging at her lips. "We can talk as we move. Destination? Silvergale Strand."

Vaelith tilted her head, her fins perking slightly. "Is that where the first dungeon is? Right outside the city?"

"Yep. Investigating unusually aggressive sea wildlife," Elyssia said. She pulled out a small quest scroll from her satchel and held it up for everyone to read.

Once hailed as a natural wonder, Coralshade Cove Cavern was a sight to behold—its entrance glistened with sea spray, vibrant coral clung stubbornly to the jagged rock face, and a faint, otherworldly glow emanated from within, beckoning explorers to uncover its secrets. Early visitors spoke of the cavern as a place of eerie beauty, where the tides seemed to hum a haunting melody and the air carried the tang of ancient mystery.

Now, that beauty has turned to peril. The creatures that once peacefully inhabited the cove have grown dangerously aggressive. Anglers whisper of shadows in the depths, and the attacks on the shoreline have grown too frequent to ignore.

The Crusaders of Luminara have issued an urgent call to action for brave adventurers to eliminate the immediate threat and investigate the sinister force that has transformed this natural marvel into a death trap.

Leoric frowned, adjusting the strap of his quiver. "A whole dungeon for angry sea creatures? Feels a bit... underwhelming. There must be more to it than that?"

Kaelyn smirked, brushing a stray wisp of hair from her face. "Come on, Leoric. Dark, sea-side grotto, aggressive wildlife forced outside of their natural habitat? It's gotta be pirates!" Her grin widened. "Maybe we'll find some treasure while we're at it."

Vaelith leaned forward slightly, her amethyst necklace catching the light. "It's the first dungeon. It shouldn't be too hard, right? Can we handle it?"

Elyssia shook her head. "Should be nothing to worry about."

Kaelyn clapped her hands together. "Alright! Let's go crack some shells, scales, skulls, or whatever else jumps out at us."

The group set out towards the city gates. On the way, Elyssia walked up to Vaelith and handed her a small box. "Figured white goshenite would suit you. Boosts casting speed and magical attack."

Vaelith's eyes widened as she opened the box, finding multiple pieces of silver jewellery with colourless gemstones. "They match my hair…"

She sounded half-surprised, like the idea someone had hand-crafted something specifically for her had never occurred to her.

Elyssia smirked. "I hope you like them."

She then handed Leoric a box of his own. His were set with peridots, green gemstones that suited his outdoorsmen aesthetic perfectly. The accessories increased both his critical attack rate and ranged attack power.

Vaelith eagerly put on all her new equipment, but when it came time to remove her amethyst necklace, she took Elyssia aside. She paused as her fingers brushed the amethyst necklace Kaelyn had offered her yesterday. Her brow furrowed, eyes flicking to Elyssia. "Um. How do you make it so… it still shows? Even if I wear something better?"

Elyssia raised an eyebrow, catching the flicker of sentiment in Vaelith's eyes. "Ah. You don't want to take it off?"

Vaelith nodded, sheepish.

"Sure, let me show you how the visual armour system works. It's not complicated."

"Thanks," Vaelith murmured, tucking the necklace under her new gear like a secret.

Kaelyn's eyebrow shot up, a silent question forming in her keen eyes as she overheard the conversation.

As they got closer to their destination, Vaelith took gifts of her own out of her satchel. She handed out food to her party members, explaining the different attributes and experience bonuses.

To Leoric, she gave him portions of salmon meunière, sealed in wax paper. "Roric said this was a popular choice for the rangers. It should increase your dexterity and ranged attack power."

She handed portions of sautéed mushroom to Kaelyn. "Apparently, mushroom dishes clear the mind and open the spirit? Most healer foods are very, huh… organic? The tooltip says it'll improve your mana regeneration rate and healing potency. Figured that would help you out, since mana seems to be healers' biggest issue from what I saw earlier today?"

"Wait, are you saying healers' food is going to make me high as a kite?" Kaelyn laughed. "Are you sure you want me all open-minded, relaxed and zen? What if I get so chill I forget to heal?"

"For a healer? I think I'd rather have you calm and collected than stressed out," Elyssia said as Vaelith handed her a wooden container. She popped open the lid to check the contents. Inside, she found a tasty-looking rabbit pie.

"And meat-based dishes increase hit points and melee attack strength. I figured you'd want something that helps both your offense and defence."

"You know me all too well, Vae."

Leoric squinted suspiciously, a grin forming on his lips. "What about the box of cinnamon buns the guild gave us?"

Kaelyn's ears perked up. "Oh, we've got some sweets? Nice…!"

"Well—," the dracan cheeks reddened as she started. "Sugary foods are… Well, they're good for offensive spellcasters. Like, brains crave sugar, you know? So… I was thinking, because they're best suited to me, I'd keep them to myself…"

"Oh…" The catgirl gave an exaggerated pout. "Are you sure you don't just have a sweet tooth, mi pequeña diosa? What do you think, everyone?"

Elyssia shook her head, but she could not hide her amusement. "Well, she's not wrong—it's mage food. Maybe after we beat the dungeon, we can all share some. I'm curious to try one, at least."

Just as they got to the Coralshade cove, Kaelyn approached Leoric and Vaelith. "For you," she said, handing each a healing potion. "In case of emergency."

She then pulled out half of her mana potions and gave them to Vaelith. "We're the only ones who need mana. So just in case you need some, I've made plenty."

"Oh. Thank you, Kaelyn. I really appreciate it."

The waters of the cove stretched out before them, reflecting the sunset-hued sky. The air smelled of salt and seaweed. Overhead, seagulls wheeled and cried, their calls sharp and insistent, a constant soundtrack to the seaside scene. Small waves lapped against the shoreline, their rhythmic motion soothing despite the undercurrent of tension about the upcoming mission.

Leoric knelt by a tide pool, examining a cluster of sea anemones swaying gently in the water. "Doesn't look like anything here's aggressive," he said.

Elyssia stood nearby, scanning the shoreline with a thoughtful frown. "We're close to the grotto. The reports said the attacks happened closer to the cave entrance."

Kaelyn crouched next to a cluster of rocks, her tail twitching as she poked at a crab with her staff. "This guy doesn't look aggressive either." The crab snapped at her staff, and she pulled it back quickly. "Okay, maybe a little aggressive."

Vaelith chuckled, adjusting her cloak against the ocean breeze. "Let's hope the dungeon mobs are a bit more exciting than cranky crustaceans."

As they approached the entrance to the grotto, the atmosphere shifted. The air grew cooler and the sound of the waves seemed to dull, replaced by a faint, pulsing hum. The rocky opening loomed ahead, its edges slick with algae and barnacles, and an eerie blue light flickered faintly from within. At the cavern's threshold, the team lingered, a wave of dread washing over them as if the cove itself exhaled danger. The uneasy feeling settled in their chests, urging them to pause and reassess, but curiosity and purpose drove them forward.

"You feel this?" Leoric asked as he unslung his bow, his expression sharpening. "It's time to get serious."

Elyssia nodded, stepping to the front of the group. "This is our group's first dungeon run. You all know your roles: Leoric and Vaelith, you're on damage, Kaelyn you heal and throw in attack spells when you can spare the time or mana, and I'll be tanking. For this first run, I'll try to avoid giving any instructions—I'll adjust my pace to match yours. I want to see what I'm working with before I throw out advice. So this is a dry run, just for vibe check, alright?"

Kaelyn snickered, twirling her staff once. "Dry run. Get it?"

Elyssia rolled her eyes at the groan-inducing pun, a silent, exasperated sigh escaping her lips as she refused to dignify the catgirl's attempt at humour with a response.

Vaelith's fins twitched, and she kept shooting nervous glances at the slightest movements in the darkness. "Kaelyn, Leoric and I got some practice working together earlier today… we'll be fine, right?"

Leoric placed one comforting hand on her shoulder and nodded. Elyssia stepped forward first. The group followed her into the gloom. Chill cavern air wrapped around them like a damp shroud, and the rhythmic hum now felt almost like a heartbeat pulsing through the stone. The mysteries of the cavern awaited.

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