The morning sunlight streamed through the cracks in the wooden walls of Rina's shed, casting slanted beams of light across the small room. Rina sat cross-legged on the floor, a piece of old, dry bread in one hand and a small handful of shriveled fruits in the other. She chewed slowly, her face scrunching slightly at the tough texture of the bread.
Keitaro, from his place in the corner, spoke up. "Another five-star breakfast, huh?"
Rina smirked faintly. "You've got a lot to say for a toilet. It's not much, but it keeps me going."
Keitaro's rim glowed slightly as he replied, "If we ever solve this mystery, first thing I'm doing is making sure you get something better than stale bread. Maybe even some warm rice or fresh pancakes."
"That sounds nice," Rina admitted, popping a piece of dried fruit into her mouth. She glanced toward the window, her gaze thoughtful. "Speaking of the mystery, I've been thinking… if we're going to investigate that cave, we should do it during the day. As far as I know, the monsters there are more active at night. If we go now, we might have a better chance of avoiding them."
Keitaro hummed in agreement. "Makes sense. Classic RPG logic: explore dangerous places during the day when the enemies are less aggressive. Smart thinking, Rina."
She tilted her head at him, her brow quirking. "Is that more of your anime wisdom talking?"
"Maybe," Keitaro admitted. "But it's also just common sense. Better lighting, fewer monsters—it's a win-win."
Rina chuckled softly and stood up, brushing the crumbs from her lap. "Alright then. Let's get ready. The cave isn't too far from town, but we'll need to pack a few things just in case."
"Packing supplies for a dungeon crawl—how exciting!" Keitaro said, his voice dripping with enthusiasm.
Rina shook her head, suppressing a smile. "It's just a cave, not some grand adventure. Let's not get ahead of ourselves."
Despite her words, a small flicker of excitement lit up her expression as she began gathering her belongings.
Rina extended her hand, murmuring the incantation to summon her translucent disc. With a soft shimmer of light, the glowing platform materialized, hovering just above the floor. She placed Keitaro on it and adjusted her staff against her shoulder.
"Alright, let's get moving," she said, opening the door carefully and peeking outside.
The morning in Willowweil was quiet, but a few villagers were already out and about, going about their routines. Rina frowned and stepped lightly, doing her best to avoid being seen. With Keitaro floating silently behind her, they wove through the narrow paths and out of the village, heading toward the forest.
Once under the cover of the trees, Rina let out a small sigh of relief. "Okay, we're in the clear for now."
Keitaro chuckled. "Sneaking around like this really makes me feel like we're in a spy movie or something. All we're missing is disguises and code names."
The duo continued through the forest, the air cool and filled with the scent of damp earth. Birds chirped in the canopy above, and the crunch of leaves underfoot marked their progress. As they walked, Keitaro broke the silence.
"So, Rina," he began, "what's the plan once we get to the cave? Do we just waltz in, guns blazing, and take down every monster we see? Or do we have a more… refined strategy?"
Rina gave him a sideways glance. "First of all, we don't have guns. Second, that's a terrible idea. I told you—I'm just a trainee mage. I can handle a few weak monsters, but if there's anything strong in that cave, we'll have to avoid it."
Keitaro hummed thoughtfully. "Okay, so no action hero stuff. Got it. But what's the actual plan? Are we just looking for something unusual, or do we have a specific goal in mind?"
"We'll start by examining the water inside the cave," Rina said. "If the contamination is coming from there, we might be able to find its source. But if we run into monsters…" She paused, gripping her staff a little tighter. "...we'll need to be careful. Avoid fights if we can. Only engage if there's no other choice."
"Stealth mode activated," Keitaro said with mock seriousness. "Don't worry, I'll keep a low profile."
Rina couldn't suppress a small laugh. "You'd better. I'm already nervous enough about this."
They pressed on, the forest thinning slightly as the ground began to slope upward. Ahead, the foot of a hill came into view, and with it, a dark opening in the rock—wide and foreboding.
"There it is," Rina said quietly, stopping to take in the sight of the cave entrance.
Keitaro's voice dropped to a dramatic whisper. "Our first dungeon… I mean, cave. Let's do this."
Rina took a deep breath, steadying herself. "Alright. Let's hope we find some answers in there."
Rina and Keitaro stood at the edge of the cave entrance, the looming darkness seeming to swallow any light that dared to enter. Cool air wafted out, carrying with it a faint, damp smell that reminded Keitaro of an old basement.
"Yep, that's a cave alright," Keitaro remarked. "Dark, creepy, and smells like mold. All the hallmarks of a classic monster lair."
Rina frowned, peering into the black void. "It's too quiet… except for those sounds."
They both fell silent, straining to listen. From deep within the cave, there was the faintest hint of noise—a soft shuffle here, a faint scrape there. It wasn't constant, but it was enough to set Rina on edge.
"Maybe it's just the wind," Keitaro offered halfheartedly.
"Wind doesn't shuffle," Rina said, her grip tightening on her staff. "There's something in there."
Keitaro decided against making a joke this time, sensing her unease. Instead, he said, "Well, good thing you have that light spell. No sense in stumbling around in the dark."
Rina nodded. "Right. Let's not waste any more time." She held her staff out in front of her, muttering a soft incantation under her breath. The gem embedded in the top of the staff began to glow, faintly at first, but soon casting a steady, warm light that pushed back the shadows near the entrance.
"Much better," Keitaro said approvingly. "And here I thought you couldn't get any cooler. Mage with a built-in flashlight feature? Awesome."
Rina smiled faintly. "It's just a basic illumination spell. Don't get too excited."
With the glowing staff lighting their way, Rina took her first cautious step into the cave. The rocky ground beneath her boots was uneven and slightly damp, and the sound of dripping water echoed faintly through the space. The air grew cooler the farther they went, and the glow of the staff cast strange, flickering shadows on the jagged walls.
"Stay close," Rina said, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Trust me, I'm not going anywhere without my ride," Keitaro replied, his voice low to match hers.
The faint noises from deeper in the cave continued, occasionally interrupted by the sound of dripping water. Every now and then, Rina paused to glance over her shoulder or freeze in place, listening intently. But for now, the path ahead seemed clear.
"Alright," Rina said softly. "Let's see how deep this goes."
The cave path twisted and turned, leading them steadily downward. The air grew cooler with every step, and the soft echo of dripping water became louder, suggesting they were nearing a source.
"So far, just a regular cave," Keitaro commented. "No ancient treasures, no secret doors, and best of all, no sign of a final boss."
Rina glanced at him with a smirk. "Maybe it's not as exciting as your 'dungeons' from stories, but it's better if nothing attacks us, right?"
"True," Keitaro admitted. "But don't let your guard down. That's exactly when something usually—"
Before he could finish, a faint squelching sound echoed ahead of them. Rina froze, gripping her staff tightly, her illuminated spell casting eerie shadows on the cave walls.
"What was that?" she whispered.
"I think we're about to find out," Keitaro replied nervously.
From the shadows, a gelatinous blob slid into view, its semi-transparent body undulating as it moved. It was a regular slime, nothing more, but its presence still sent a shiver down Rina's spine.
"A slime," she said under her breath, raising her staff.
"A classic enemy," Keitaro said, trying to stay calm. "But you've got this, right? I mean, you've handled one before."
Rina didn't reply, instead focusing on the creature as it moved closer. With a sharp motion, she pointed her staff forward and muttered an incantation. A gust of wind burst forth, slicing into the slime and causing it to ripple violently.
The slime retaliated, launching a glob of its gooey body toward her. Rina sidestepped it with surprising agility, her boots skidding slightly on the damp cave floor.
"Nice dodge!" Keitaro cheered.
Rina chanted another spell, and a small burst of flame shot from her staff, striking the slime directly. It quivered and shrank, its form collapsing into a puddle of harmless goo.
She exhaled, lowering her staff and wiping a bit of sweat from her brow.
"See? Easy," she said, though her voice carried a hint of lingering tension.
Keitaro's voice was practically gleeful. "Rina, that was awesome! You didn't even hesitate this time, and—most importantly—you didn't die!"
Rina gave him a flat look. "Thanks for the vote of confidence."
"No, seriously," Keitaro continued, "you're like a real adventurer now. That slime didn't stand a chance. If this were an anime, this is the part where you'd strike a pose, and I'd say something dramatic like, 'The heroine stands victorious!'"
Rina groaned, rolling her eyes. "It was just a slime. Don't make it a big deal."
"But it is a big deal! You've leveled up in my eyes!" Keitaro declared.
Rina let out a small laugh despite herself. "Alright, alright. Let's keep moving before more 'leveling up opportunities' show up."
She turned and continued down the path, her glowing staff lighting the way once more. Keitaro, still brimming with excitement, floated along behind her.
The narrow tunnel they followed opened into a vast cavern, its ceiling stretching high above them and disappearing into shadow. Rina's glowing staff cast a gentle light that reflected off the surface of an underground pool at the center of the room. The water shimmered, as if holding its own faint luminescence, painting the cavern walls with a soft, ethereal glow.
"It's beautiful," Rina whispered, taking a cautious step forward.
Rina moved closer to the edge of the pool, her light revealing its crystal-clear waters. At first glance, the pool seemed pristine, but as they peered deeper, a faint glow emerged from its depths.
"Do you see that?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Keitaro nodded—or would have if he could. "That glow… something's down there. A magical object, maybe? It has to be the source of the contamination."
Rina squinted, trying to discern what it was. "It doesn't look natural. But who would put something like that here? And why?"
Keitaro's tone turned grim. "Better question: how do we get to it?"
Before Rina could respond, a faint squelching sound echoed through the cavern, followed by a low hiss that sent a chill down her spine. She froze, her grip tightening on her staff.
"That sound…" Keitaro began, but he didn't need to finish.
From the shadows surrounding the pool, several small slimes began to emerge, their translucent bodies shimmering faintly in the glow of Rina's staff. Their movement was slow but deliberate, inching closer with each passing moment.
Rina turned her staff toward them, her voice low. "Looks like we're not alone."
"And we're not done," Keitaro added, his tone sharper now.
A louder sound broke through the stillness—a deep, rumbling hiss that reverberated through the cavern. The water at the center of the pool rippled violently, and a massive form began to rise from its depths.
It was a serpent, its scales gleaming like polished stone and its eyes glowing with an unnatural light. It uncoiled its body with slow, deliberate movements, its head towering above the waterline.
Rina took a step back, her eyes wide. "That's… not good."
"Nope, not good at all," Keitaro agreed, his voice unusually calm for the situation. "Rina, I think we just found the mid-boss."
The serpent let out a low, guttural growl, its gaze fixed on the two intruders. Around them, the smaller slimes inched closer, forming a loose circle.
Keitaro broke the tense silence with a dry quip. "So, uh, what's the plan, fearless mage?"
Rina swallowed hard, gripping her staff tightly. "Survive."
The serpent hissed again, the slimes quivering in response, and the cavern seemed to hold its breath, waiting for the battle to begin.