Eruru POV
I was barely able to sleep at night. That girl who accepted the work gave me the chills, she was creepy, and even if she smiled I had never spoken to someone dangerous like her. I know people more powerful, but she was unpredictable, for some reason I feared for Kayle's life back there, if she wanted she could have taken us both down, and that would have been terrible! Damn, I have never been so nervous in my entire life, even if I did my best to hide it I believe she could smell it and treat me like a total amateur... and then I committed the mistake of an amateur, I didn't tell her where we will start the operation... luckily for me, our warrior, Thorsen had offered to search for her, it seemed like it picked his interest once he heard the fourth party member was a demihuman from the cat tribe with black hair.
I sighed relieved as we were almost there, it was the hour to start the incursion, and even if my master knew we would start, he just stared at me coldly and didn't say anything, but we were ready, Kayle was carrying the bags filled with food, medicine and potions, alongside some tools, he would ask as support. Then Thorsen and Raven will take care of the front, and I will work as a support and rear line.
'But it still bothers me' I was lost in thought ignoring Kayle who was chattering and reassuring me everything would be ok 'Neither of them wanted money'
Back there Thorsen didn't want anything, but he insisted he was going for his own good, and Raven wanted a favor. They were different than other people who would seek riches and fame, maybe even patronage from the mage tower...
"Lady Eruru! Look!" Kayle said in a panic.
Then I saw it and my jaw dropped.
End of Eruru PoV
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Outside the dungeon's southern gate, the air filled to the brim with music and laughter. A crowd had gathered, an unusual sight for the adventurers and mercenaries who typically kept to themselves to protect their secrets of the trade, but today was different,
At the center of the gathering, Raven danced. Her movements were wild, untamed, and raw. She twisted and spun to the beat of drums and strings, her dance provocative yet lacking any delicate grace. People laughed, cheered, and clapped along, some even threw a coin to for the artist. It was a small performance, but it had captivated the crowd. She didn't seem like the Raven I'd met before... calculated and dangerous... but something far more carefree, almost... joyful.
Among the spectators sat Thorsen near the broken fountain, laughing heartily as he played a game of dice with a few other adventurers. He tossed the cups with a relaxed, confident ease, his stone hammer leaning casually against the fountain, where many other weapons rested. He provoked others and taunted them to keep the bets rolling.
It was surreal. A scene like this, on the cusp of an expedition into the dungeon, where death was a very real possibility, felt almost out of place. But that was exactly what made it so magical. For a brief moment, none of them seemed to care about what awaited them inside the dungeon. They were simply enjoying the here and now.
"My lady... should I stop them?" Asked Kayle unsure, he knew that the expedition was important for her master, but she placed a hand on his shoulder.
"We are not in a hurry" She said with a faint smile on her face, it was good to see the hostile Raven having fun, and the stoic dwarf smiling.
Thorsen's booming laughter rang out over the music as he scooped up a handful of coins from the dice game, having won yet another round. The others groaned, but none seemed truly upset. Money wasn't a problem for skilled adventurers, the items from the dungeon sold well after all. His sharp jests kept the atmosphere light as more adventurers gathered around to join in the betting, each hoping to knock him off his streak.
As the music began to wind down, so did Raven's dance. She slowed her movements, coming to a halt with her chest heaving from the exertion. Sweat glistened on her brow, and her smile... a real, genuine smile... flashed across her face as the crowd erupted in applause. Coins littered the ground in front of her, but she didn't bother to pick them up. They weren't what mattered to her.
"Thank you!!" She screamed to the crowd. And gave a theatrical bow as the people started to disperse, she then talked with the musicians that had joined them, and they split the coins, Raven only taking a handful of them.
Then finally their eyes crossed and a mischievous smile spread across Raven's face. She wasn't nervous anymore, and for some reason, the elf wasn't nervous too anymore.
"Looks like the fun time is over" She said as she walked towards Thorsen who was finishing his last game, finally losing a round.
"Ho... that's why betting is bad" He said laughing, after a winning streak he lost the last one.
As the last people began to disperse, rejoining their respective parties, the four challengers came closer, each one of them looking at the others to the eyes, but the atmosphere wasn't dense anymore, which was a good thing for the elf mage, having everyone on the edges wasn't a good thing.
"So" Raven said crossing her arms under her breasts smiling devilish.
For some moments Eruru didn't understood, but Kayle cleared his throat returning her to the moment. She understood what the cat was saying, since she was the one who contacted them she was the leader of this expedition.
"We are aiming to reach the second floor, right now we don't know which scenario will be selected for us, but we will overcome whatever comes at us" Said the girl with confidence, this seemed like a party she could trust, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath "Let's go!" She said.
Then the group walked in silence and crossed the portal, this was the second time for Raven and the first for Kayle and Eruru.
<
A voice resonated in Raven's mind once again, this time she wasn't surprised.
<>
<
<
Even so, Eruru and Kayle didn't act like idiots like when Raven and Ito first entered, probably they already knew something like this would happen.
<