Alina sat on a smooth rock, breathing in the fresh air. The sun was setting over the rolling hills, casting golden light across the landscape. After the chaos of the cavern, the open sky felt like a blessing.
Dante, sitting beside her, stretched his arms behind his head. "Well, that was a disaster."
Alina snorted. "You mean the whole 'getting attacked by a creepy shadow guy and almost getting buried alive' thing?"
"Yeah, that." He turned his head toward her with a smirk. "At least we didn't die."
Alina rolled her eyes. "That's the lowest possible standard of success."
Dante chuckled. "Well, considering how things have been going, I'll take it."
Their journey so far had been one close call after another. They had battled monsters, taken on dangerous quests, and now, they had encountered a powerful enemy who seemed to know something about Alina.
That part still bothered her.
"You are the one."
What did he mean by that?
She exhaled, shaking her head. No use dwelling on it now.
For the first time in what felt like days, they had a moment of peace.
---
Dante rummaged through his pack and pulled out some supplies. "We should eat before heading back to town."
Alina's stomach growled in agreement.
He tossed her a freshly baked loaf of bread and a bottle of juice. "Here. Try this. It's from the last town's market."
She took a bite, and her eyes widened. "This is… really good."
Dante grinned. "Told you."
For a while, they just ate in comfortable silence, watching the sunset.
---
After finishing her meal, Alina checked her status screen.
Her level had increased, and so had Dante's.
"Not bad," she mused. "We're finally making progress."
Dante raised an eyebrow. "We just fought for our lives, nearly got crushed, and are probably on some crazy villain's watchlist now. 'Making progress' is one way to put it."
Alina smirked. "That's the adventurer's life, isn't it?"
Dante sighed dramatically. "You make it sound fun."
Alina stretched her arms. "Maybe it is."
They had survived another battle. They were stronger than before. And, most importantly, they weren't alone.
Dante leaned back on the grass. "Alright. What's next?"
Alina glanced toward the horizon. "We head back to town, collect our reward… and maybe find out more about that guy we fought."
Dante hummed. "You sure you don't just want to rest for a while?"
Alina smirked. "Where's the fun in that?"
Dante chuckled. "Alright, alright. But let's at least enjoy this moment before the next disaster finds us."
For now, the sky was clear, the air was fresh, and for the first time in a while…
Everything felt okay.
Alina & Dante's Status So Far:
Alina:
Level: 12
Class: Farmer / Warrior ?
Weapon: broadsword
Boss Defeated: Abyssal Guardian
Relationship: Growing trust with Dante, a mix of camaraderie and playful banter.
Dante:
Level: 13
Class: Rogue
Weapon: Shadowfang Daggers (Twin daggers enchanted for speed and poison effects)
Boss Defeated: Abyssal Guardian
Relationship: A flirtatious friendship with Alina, filled with humor and battle-forged trust.
[ Season 1 End ]