While life as a dungeon master was peaceful and rewarding, I started to realize that it had been quite some time since I had a truly ordinary day, free from constant thoughts and concerns about the dungeon. So, I decided to take a day to relax and unwind. And here I am now, enjoying everything that our dungeon has to offer. Not to brag, but the services we provide are of high quality.
To kick off this day off, I opted to visit the restaurant, which at that time was operating as a cozy café, offering a variety of snacks and beverages. As I settled near the window, allowing myself to get lost in my thoughts, a cup of hot coffee kept me company. While lost in thought, a gentle breeze wafted in, carrying with it the subtle scent of fresh coffee, mingled with the soft sweetness of a perfume.
Looking ahead, there she was, Alexandra, making her way towards me. Perhaps because Matheus had teased me, my perception of her was now tinged with a new hue. She seemed a bit different from usual, in a captivating way.
A gracefully captivating aura seemed to envelop her, accentuating every feature of her beauty. The ambient lights seemed to dance around her, tracing a path illuminated solely for her. In that moment, my heart, as if following an unfamiliar melody, skipped a delicate beat.
Oh, the subtlety with which the feeling was born, or rather, a faint flame within my heart was being rekindled. But it happened so subtly that I couldn't quite grasp the reason behind that different heartbeat.
With a serene smile, she approached and asked,
"May I?"
"Of course, feel free."
With my consent, she pulled out the chair across from me and sat down.
After placing her order with the attendant who came to serve her, the table fell into a momentary silence—not an awkward one, but a calming one.
In this moment, it felt as if the conversations at other tables had transformed into a gentle background murmur. I was savoring every detail of that moment, feeling like time had slowed down. When her order arrived, our gazes met briefly, bringing me back to the present moment. I decided to break the silence.
"You seem a bit tired, are you okay?"
"Just finished coding, just a bit tired from stopping now."
Alexandra replied with a sigh.
"And you, what are you doing here at this hour?"
"Decided to take a day to relax and take my mind off the dungeon."
And there we were, conversing like two who shared a fleeting moment of tranquility. As we savored our beverages, the conversation flowed effortlessly. We talked about various things, and the connection between us deepened.
Amidst laughter and genuine exchanges of thoughts, time seemed to lose its importance. The café environment faded into the background, leaving only the two of us and the subtle magic of the moment. With each word she spoke, I found myself more drawn to her.
After finishing our snacks and drinks, we decided to leave.
"Would you like to continue this somewhere else?"
Taking the opportunity, we decided to enjoy a massage right there in the dungeon. After our massage, still feeling a sense of lingering connection, we decided to go to the cinema to watch a movie.
Exiting the dungeon, we were greeted by the city lights, the streets calm and serene, providing a perfect backdrop to continue our conversation.
We arrived at the cinema and chose a movie that both of us were interested in. During the film, we shared laughs and commented on funny or touching scenes. It was one of those moments where time seemed to fly by, but I didn't want it to end. The closeness between us was comfortable and pleasant.
"I really enjoyed today," Alexandra said with a sincere smile.
"Me too. It's been an amazing day."
And so, we said our goodbyes for now.
For the rest of the day, I decided to read a book. However, despite reading and understanding the book, my mind couldn't focus on it at all. Every moment, I was reminded of the time I spent with Alexandra.
"Who would have thought, life is truly a mysterious thing."
Little by little, I began to recall everything I was feeling and started to understand what it meant.
********************************** Change of POV *****************************************
Recently, the number of dungeons has seen a significant increase, and I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not.
Personally, I think it's a good thing.
Before this, dungeons were something that only groups of "Awakened" or very strong Awakened individuals would visit. This was due to the dangers of reaching them, as they were often located in remote areas populated by various monsters.
However, even with all of this, dungeons are worth every challenge to reach them.
Imagine being able to fight with all your might without fearing death and still come out stronger from the experience.
Due to the advantages they offered, some groups monopolized them, preventing other people from using them. I don't judge them; if I were in their position, I might have done the same.
Anyway, life for the Awakened has become much easier due to the availability of dungeons.
"Which dungeon are we going to visit today?"
"How about the Fox Shelter? Apparently, they've made changes to the dungeon, there are new monsters, and the layout is different."
"I'm excited to see the changes."
My group and I take the opportunity to visit various dungeons to find the best one.
The Fox Shelter is an interesting dungeon. Although there's a fee to challenge it, you don't need to share the space with other groups, avoiding the worry that another team might steal your monsters or loot.
In addition to the dungeon, they also offer other services—a trend that's growing.
"I wonder if I can get a massage? They could really expand into other leisure areas."
The only dilemma is that often we end up spending a portion of our earnings from the dungeon.
Upon arrival, we decided to challenge the dungeon right away.
After waiting for a while, it was our turn. Upon entering the dungeon, unlike other times, we're no longer in a cave but surrounded by walls.
We decide to explore the surroundings before deciding what to do. We discover that behind the walls is a forest, and it seems that the mobs are within this forest.
As we explore the forest, we hear a distinct noise.
"Griffin."
A monster found outside dungeons means money. The whole group at that moment had a greedy look in their eyes.
We spend two hours on that floor before deciding to check out the other floors.
The second floor, what can I say? Complicated. Perhaps if we were complete beginners, we wouldn't have been able to pass it. At the beginning, the number of monsters hardly poses a challenge. However, from the 8th wave onwards, things began to get serious.
When we reached the third floor, we decided to rest a bit. Unlike the previous floor, this one is much simpler. While waiting our turn, we discover that it's a collection floor.
"Oh, if only someone in the group knew how to mine."
After clearing the monsters from a few tunnels, we decide to look for the entrance to the next floor.
...
Terrifying, that's all I can say.
The exploration of the floor was going well until we were surrounded by a group of wisps, skeletons, and elves.
The number of monsters attacking at the same time was more than we could handle. Next time, I think it's better to challenge someone who won't scream in fear and attract the attention of the mobs.
"That's it, a little higher."
Well, it doesn't matter, now I'm going to enjoy my massage.