Rolland’s POV

  After our first delve into the dungeon, we begin walking back to town to sell some of the miscellaneous items we picked up. Around the halfway mark, we encounter a group of guild staff heading toward the dungeon.

  After a brief conversation, we learn they’re setting up a small guild outpost just outside the dungeon to better regulate its activities. I guess Leah wasn’t lying when she said the guild planned to announce the dungeon’s existence tomorrow.

  During the final stretch to town, we make small talk to pass the time.

  “So, who wants to turn in the items we agreed to sell to the guild?”(Rolland) I ask.

  Leah, skipping happily along the path at the front of the group, chimes in. “Shouldn’t we wait until tomorrow? No one really knows about the dungeon yet, and if we show up with a bunch of weird items, people might look at us funny.”(Leah)

  Hearing the end of Leah’s little speech, I sigh and rub my face in exasperation as May responds to her. “Look at us funny? I’m pretty sure that’s one of the better outcomes, Leah. Besides, the dungeon’s getting revealed tomorrow anyway, so what’s the point in hiding it?”(May)

  Both Liam and I nod in agreement with May as we continue walking. After a short moment, Liam speaks up. “Would anyone mind if I turn in the loot? I’m expecting a letter from my mom, so I can pick it up from the guild after turning in the items for our reward. Plus, I’ve got the magic bag to carry everything.”(Liam)

  With everyone agreeing, we eventually reach town and split up. Liam heads to the guild while the girls visit their families, who live next door to each other in town. I’ve never met their families, nor do I know exactly where they live, but I’ve heard bits and pieces about them.

  As for me, I start heading back to my tower, thinking about what I should do before we meet up again tonight. Maybe I should stop by the enchanter’s to get a quote on repairing the tablet? No, I can already guess it’ll cost at least a few gold coins.

  I suppose I could stop by the bookstore again. It might be a long shot, but maybe they have a book or two about the guild’s [Rare]-rank advancement test. Even if I don’t find anything, we only reached the [Uncommon] rank a week ago, so it’s not urgent.

  With that thought, I changed course toward the larger bookstore. A few minutes of walking later, I arrive, immediately stepping inside to scour the shelves for any interesting books.

  As expected, there’s nothing about the guild tests. The closest I find is a semi-famous adventurer’s retelling of their journey, but the guild tests are mostly glossed over. With nothing else on the topic, I browse the dusty shelves for other interesting subjects.

  Leaving the bookstore, I carry a few new books on dungeons and an intriguing one about rare herbs found in the surrounding area. A short walk later, I arrive at the front gates of my tower.

  Glancing at the sun to gauge the time, I unlock the gate and head inside, making my way to my study. I should have enough time to finish at least one book before we meet back at the guild.

  I manage to finish a book on dungeons just as the sun dips below the horizon. Placing it atop a pile of completed books, I get up and start walking toward the guild.

  When I arrive, I spot everyone already seated at a table in the corner. Leah waves at me enthusiastically, flashing a bright smile as I make my way over and sit next to her. Shortly after I sit down, a waiter brings our food to the table before leaving.

  “You were a little late, so we all ordered food,” Leah explains. “I got you the same thing as me!”(Leah)

  Looking at the plate she ordered, I see chicken drenched in some kind of sauce with a side of vegetables. Shrugging, I dig in as everyone enjoys their meals, chatting lightly.

  Midway through the meal, Liam perks up and turns to me. “Oh, right, I almost forgot—we earned a few silver coins from the loot we sold.”(Liam)

  The topic at the table quickly shifts to the dungeon, with May speaking first. “Speaking of the dungeon, are we going back tomorrow?”(May) Her gaze settles on me as she asks.

  After thinking for a moment, I respond. “I say we wait at least a day after the guild announces it.”(Rolland)

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  May nods at my answer, and Liam gives a thoughtful but noncommittal nod. Leah, however, tilts her head, her ponytail swaying as she questions me. “Why? Shouldn’t we go in as often as possible to grab the good loot first?”(Leah)

  Meeting her gaze, I explain my reasoning. “Normally, I’d agree. But we’ve already found a spot with a special item and gotten the item that attracts the floor boss.”(Rolland)

  May and Liam nod along, but Leah tilts her head even further, clearly confused. Seeing this, I continue. “First, I’d rather wait until other adventurers collect the rabbit’s foot and fight the boss. That way, we can gather some information before tackling it ourselves. Also, rare loot in dungeons usually takes time to respawn. The longest I’ve read about was a full day, so we might as well wait and let others pave the way for us.”(Rolland)

  Leah seems to process the important points, nodding with a serious expression. “I totally understand! Rolland is super smart, so I agree.”(Leah)

  After making her declaration, she promptly returns to her meal. Watching this, I facepalm for the second time today as May giggles quietly and Liam grins broadly at my reaction.

  We continue discussing the dungeon until night falls. After paying for our meals, we go our separate ways for the day. I watch as Leah, Liam, and May head upstairs toward their guild lodgings before stepping out of the guild myself. A cool night breeze greets me as I make my way home.

  At home, I finish reading a book titled The Dungeon Mind: Theories on a Dungeon’s Intelligence before heading to bed.

  The next morning, I wake up early, reaching over to my nightstand to grab my glasses before getting dressed. After pulling on my clothes, I head down the stairs of my tower, grab my small satchel bag, and step out into the crisp morning air.

  The streets are mostly empty at this hour, save for a few early risers. I greet a couple of people as I pass and eventually arrive at the guild. The building is nearly deserted, with only the guild staff and one other group present—they seem to have just returned from a quest outside of town.

  Finding a table, I sit down to wait for the guild’s announcement about the dungeon’s existence. To pass the time, I open my notebook and review a few arcane magic formulas I’ve been studying recently.

  After some time, Liam is the first to come downstairs. He comes down wearing a simple shirt and pants with her hair only slightly ruffled and spots me and makes his way over, taking a seat across from me. We sit in companionable silence for a while, letting him shake off the remnants of sleep. Once he’s more awake, Liam gets up and returns shortly after with breakfast for both of us.

  Liam returns, balancing two wooden plates laden with a simple yet hearty meal. Slices of toasted bread, generously topped with creamy butter, sit beside a small pile of crispy bacon that carries a faint smoky aroma. A handful of freshly picked berries adds a splash of vibrant color, their sweet and tangy scent mingling with the warmth of the meal. Each plate is accompanied by a steaming mug of herbal tea, its gentle fragrance soothing and inviting as Liam sets everything down.

  Looking up from my notebook, I break the long silence. “You didn’t have to get me breakfast, you know.”(Rolland)

  Liam starts eating, offering me a faint smile. “Do you really want May and Leah to scold you for skipping breakfast again?”(Liam) He leaves me to ponder that slightly ominous statement, and with a reluctant sigh, I close my notebook and start eating as well.

  The guild slowly begins to fill up over time. The next to come down is May, dressed casually in a loose shirt and shorts. She scans the steadily growing crowd, her sharp eyes quickly spotting us. After grabbing some breakfast, she joins us at the table, sitting to my right.

  As she eats, May looks at me briefly before turning to Liam. “Liam, did Rolland eat breakfast?”(May)

  Liam chuckles softly and nods. “Yeah, I made sure of it, so don’t worry.”(Liam)

  Hearing their casual conversation, I address May in an exasperated tone. “Why did you ask Liam? Couldn’t you have just asked me?”(Rolland)

  “Well,” May replies with a smirk, “usually when I ask, you either claim you’ve eaten when you obviously haven’t, or you try to justify skipping it to save a few copper and say you’ll just wait until lunch.”(May)

  Recognizing the futility of arguing, I quickly change the subject. “So, how long are we letting Leah sleep in this time?”(Rolland)

  May narrows her eyes at my obvious topic shift but eventually takes pity on me and answers. “I’ll give her another hour before waking her up. I think the guild is going to announce the dungeon soon.”(May)

  May finishes her breakfast with time to spare and stretches before heading upstairs to Leah’s room. Half an hour later, she reappears, guiding a groggy Leah down the stairs. Leah stumbles along, looking like she’s still halfway asleep.

  “She looks like an undead that just crawled out of their grave,”(Rolland) I whisper to Liam.

  He snickers and leans closer. “Yeah, but don’t let her hear you say that when she’s actually awake.”(Liam)

  Leah, wearing sloppily thrown-on clothes, slumps into the chair May pulls out for her. Her long hair is a wild mess, her usual ponytail absent. May leaves briefly and returns with breakfast, setting it before Leah. The enticing smell slowly revives her, and soon she’s digging in with enthusiasm.

  As Leah finishes waking up, a male receptionist approaches the quest board and pins up a new poster. Nearby adventurers immediately flock to it, reading and rereading it with shock. Murmurs of excitement ripple through the guild until the receptionist raises his voice.

  “Everyone, Guild Leader Dorin will be out shortly to explain the announcement’s contents. Thank you for your cooperation.”

  The receptionist’s mention of Dorin quiets the room, halting the pushing and shoving. Those closest to the poster shuffle aside after reading it, sharing the news with others. The guild quickly devolves into a chaotic game of “message,” with details becoming garbled. By the end, the only widely understood fact is that a new dungeon has been discovered near town.