The late afternoon sun hung low in the sky, casting long golden rays over the village. Outside my house, my father had set up a sturdy wooden table and a few worn-out chairs, their once-bright polish dulled by years of use. The warm breeze carried the scent of freshly baked bread and roasted meat from the neighboring homes, mixing with the earthy aroma of the soil and the faint traces of sweat and dust clinging to my skin.
Elise stood stiffly beside me, her expression unreadable, but I could tell she was uncomfortable. She wasn't used to this—casual family gatherings, idle conversation, and being the center of attention outside of battle.
My mother, Evelina, a woman with sharp brown eyes and long black red hair pulled into a loose braid, placed a tray of snacks on the table. Slices of freshly baked bread, cured meat, and a simple bowl of fruit sat invitingly in the center. My father, Darius, a broad-shouldered man with graying hair and calloused hands from years of labor, leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, observing Elise with quiet curiosity.
"So," my mother started, setting down a clay mug filled with cool water in front of Elise, "how did you end up becoming a dungeon diver?"
Elise hesitated, her fingers gripping the edge of her chair. She wasn't good at socializing, and it showed. After a brief pause, she exhaled and spoke, her voice steady but reserved.
"I wanted to become stronger." She looked down at her hands, as if searching for the right words. "I needed to... so I could accomplish something important."
My parents exchanged a glance, their expressions unreadable, but they didn't press her for more details.
"That's admirable," my father finally said, nodding approvingly. "Diving isn't easy work. It takes guts."
Elise gave a small nod, still stiff, still awkward.
Before the conversation could continue, a blur of motion slammed into my side.
"Big bro! Play with us!"
Lyra's tiny arms wrapped around my waist, her face beaming with excitement. Aiden was right behind her, his red eyes shining with mischief.
I sighed, rubbing my temples. I should've seen this coming.
"Can't you see I'm busy?" I muttered.
"Nope!" Aiden grinned, tugging on my sleeve. "You promised to play with us yesterday!"
I groaned, glancing at Elise, who was watching the scene with mild amusement. My mother, on the other hand, smiled warmly.
"You should go," she said, picking up a cup of tea.
I clicked my tongue but stood up anyway, much to the twins' delight.
Elise raised an eyebrow as I stretched. "Are you really going to play with them?"
"What, you want to join?" I teased.
She scoffed, crossing her arms. "Not a chance."
I smirked and followed the twins toward the open space near the house. The dirt ground was packed down from years of use, the occasional patches of grass clinging stubbornly to life. The twins had already grabbed a small ball, their excitement infectious.
We played a simple game of catch-and-chase, their laughter echoing under the fading sunlight.
As we played, I noticed the new neighbors approaching from their home across the way. A couple and their son, around my age, carried a tray of food. The father, a tall man with short black hair and a tired but kind expression, held a bowl of steaming stew, while the mother, a petite woman with soft features and a gentle smile, carried a plate of freshly baked pastries. The son, a lean boy with dark brown hair and an observant gaze, trailed slightly behind them.
They walked up to my parents, offering a respectful bow.
"We just moved in recently," the father said in a polite, deep voice. "As is custom, we'd like to offer a small meal as a greeting to our neighbors."
My mother stood and smiled warmly. "That's very kind of you. Please, have a seat."
My father gestured to the table, pulling up extra chairs as the couple settled down. The son, however, remained standing slightly off to the side, his gaze flickering over to Elise and me with mild curiosity.
I walked over, catching my breath from playing with the twins. Elise followed reluctantly.
"So, you're the ones who moved in," I said, rubbing the back of my neck.
The boy nodded. "Yeah. I'm Adrian."
I studied him for a moment. He had a calm aura about him, like someone who didn't talk much but noticed everything.
"Kael," I introduced myself. "And this is Elise."
Elise nodded at him, but didn't say much. She was still clearly uncomfortable with all the socializing.
The adults continued talking, exchanging pleasantries, while the twins eagerly tried to sneak bites of the pastries. Elise and I sat back down, listening quietly as our families got to know each other.
For a moment, everything felt... normal. No dungeons, no exhaustion, no fighting—just an evening spent with family, neighbors, and food.
And while I wasn't sure what to think of these new people, one thing was clear—life outside the dungeon wasn't so bad.
As the conversation continued, I turned to Adrian, my curiosity getting the better of me.
"So, are you a diver?" I asked.
Adrian, who had been listening quietly, nodded. "Yeah, I am."
Both Elise and I perked up at that. It wasn't every day we met someone our age who was also diving.
"Really?" Elise said, leaning forward slightly. "I thought you just moved here. How long have you been diving?"
Adrian gave a small shrug. "I graduated from the Dungeon Diver Academy recently. Just got my Silver Rank certification before we moved."
Both Elise and I exchanged surprised looks. It was the first time either of us had spoken to someone our age who actually went through academy training.
"A silver-ranked diver already?" I muttered, rubbing my chin. "That's impressive."
Elise folded her arms. "You must have had proper training, then. Kael and I didn't go to the academy."
Adrian raised an eyebrow. "Really? Then how did you two start diving?"
Elise glanced at me before smirking slightly. "Kael saved me from goblin elites. That was our first dive together."
Adrian's eyes widened slightly, and he looked at me with mild disbelief. "Goblin elites? On your first dive?"
I shrugged. "I didn't have a choice. She would've died otherwise."
Adrian let out a small chuckle. "Sounds like you had a rough start."
"You have no idea," Elise muttered.
The three of us continued talking, for the first time in a long while, the conversation feeling lighthearted and natural. We talked about dungeons, the academy, the training differences, and even our best and worst fights so far. Elise asked Adrian about what academy training was really like, while I probed him about how strict their ranking system was.
Adrian, in turn, was curious about our unorthodox experience and how we managed without formal training. It was clear that, despite our differences, we all had one thing in common—we were dungeon divers, and we understood the struggle.
Evening Falls
As the sun dipped lower, casting a warm orange hue over the village, Elise finally stood up, brushing off her clothes.
"I should head home," she said, stretching her arms. "I'll see you tomorrow."
She turned to my parents and gave them a respectful nod. "Thank you for having me."
My mother, Evelina, smiled. "You're welcome anytime, dear."
Elise then glanced at Adrian. "Nice meeting you. Maybe we'll run into each other in the dungeon sometime."
Adrian nodded. "Yeah, maybe. Stay safe out there."
I watched as Elise walked down the dirt path toward her home, her armor faintly clinking with each step.
Introducing the Twins
I turned back to Adrian, suddenly remembering something. "Oh, before you go—"
Before I could finish, the twins rushed forward, each grabbing one of my arms.
"Big bro! Who's this?" Lyra asked, her bright red eyes full of curiosity.
"Is he a friend?" Aiden added, staring up at Adrian.
I sighed. "Yeah, yeah. This is Adrian, our new neighbor."
The twins both looked up at him, tilting their heads in unison.
"Hi, Adrian!" they chimed together.
Adrian blinked, caught off guard by their energy, but he managed a small smile. "Hey there."
The twins beamed at him before turning back to me.
"He seems nice," Lyra whispered loudly.
"I like him better than that scary girl," Aiden added, referring to Elise.
Adrian chuckled at that, while I shook my head.
Noticing how dark the sky was getting, both our families began wrapping up the conversation. My parents exchanged a few last words with Adrian's parents, Gregor and Marla, before we all stood up, stretching from the long talk.
Gregor, Adrian's father, a broad-shouldered man with short dark hair and a quiet but steady presence, gave a polite nod to my father. "It was nice getting to know you all. We'll see you around."
Marla, Adrian's mother, a tall, sharp-eyed woman who carried herself with confidence, smiled. "And if you kids ever need anything, don't hesitate to come by."
"Likewise," my father, Darius, replied.
Adrian nodded at me. "See you around, Kael."
I smirked. "Yeah. Maybe we'll test how strong that Silver Rank really is one day."
Adrian gave a small laugh. "We'll see."
With that, our families parted ways, retreating into our respective homes. The night air was cool, and as I stepped inside, I couldn't help but think—maybe having a new neighbor wouldn't be so bad after all.
Adrian stepped into his home, a two-story house that bore similarities to mine but with a different layout. While my home had a more open design with the living room extending into the kitchen, Adrian's house was more compartmentalized, with hallways leading into different rooms. The furniture was well-kept but slightly worn, and the faint scent of old parchment mixed with wood polish lingered in the air.
His father, Gregor, stood near the window, gazing outside as if deep in thought. As Adrian was about to head upstairs, Gregor called out.
"Adrian."
Adrian stopped mid-step and turned to face his father. "Yeah?"
Gregor's dark eyes settled on him, his voice steady yet carrying an unspoken weight. "Make friends with them."
Adrian frowned slightly. "You mean Kael and his family?"
Gregor nodded. "Them… and the girl. If my assumptions are correct, that friendship might save your life someday."
Adrian blinked, puzzled by his father's cryptic words. "What do you mean?"
His father didn't elaborate, simply giving him a measured look before turning back toward the window.
"Just remember what I said."
Adrian wasn't sure what to make of it, but rather than press further, he sighed and agreed. "Alright, alright. I'll befriend them."
His mother, Marla, who had been sitting nearby, watched the exchange with a thoughtful expression. She then turned to her husband.
"What is it, Greg? Are they someone you know?"
Gregor remained silent for a moment before finally speaking, albeit vaguely.
"It's the colors," he murmured. "That color is from a pure side."
Marla's sharp eyes narrowed slightly, as if she understood something deeper, but she didn't press the topic further.
Adrian, however, had no idea what his father was talking about. Colors? A pure side? He decided to pay it no mind, figuring his father was just being his usual enigmatic self.
With that, he headed upstairs to his room, plopping onto his bed and letting out a tired sigh. It had been an interesting day.