Safira, Aaron, and Freya are sitting in the guild, chatting amongst themselves.
"And Freya, why did you join the guild?" Safira asks.
"Right, what are you doing here? I know the elf race is mostly wealthy, I don't think it's out of necessity," Aaron says, looking at Freya attentively.
"W-well, my family has a strong culture of being combatants; they have a very ingrained idea of justice," Freya says, her voice low and hesitant.
"That's why you're amazing, like my sister. Your family is talented for sure, I have an incredible team," Aaron places his arm on Freya's shoulders, which makes her blush, but she doesn't say anything.
A canine hybrid with four arms approaches them with armor that creaks as he moves. The canine head observes them.
"Hello, guys, are you Safira's team, right?"
"Yes, what is it?" Safira asks, tilting her head upwards to look at him.
"Who told you Safira was the leader, big guy? I'm the leader!" Aaron shouts crossly, approaching the man in an intimidating manner.
"I didn't even mention the word 'leader,' but anyway. The guilds have just discovered a rare dungeon; it is said to have a fragment of the sleeping demon stone inside."
"Wow! Are you serious?" Aaron's eyes widen, and a huge smile forms on his face.
"Yes, all the teams in this guild have the mission to go and bring the stone to the kingdom."
"Why do they want that stone?" Safira asks, not understanding much.
"All the kingdoms are looking for it because they say that by joining all the pieces, they give you incredible power and grant you wishes," Freya answers. The canine's face nods.
"Seriously? That's something I didn't know, now I get it, thanks Freya," Safira smiles at her, which makes Freya feel proud and happy.
"So what are we waiting for? Let's go now!" Aaron jumps with excitement, his voice sounding euphoric.
"I hope you don't chicken out like you did the day before yesterday, Aaron," Safira laughs, which also makes Freya laugh quietly.
For a moment, Aaron's face changes. Memories of that time he couldn't kill a monster return to him; he looks sad. In his mind, "I was so scared," he thought. But in a few seconds, he changes that face and continues with his cheerful and enthusiastic personality.
"Hahaha, shut up Safira! It's just that it's impossible for me to kill, I'm not cold-blooded. What I experienced that day made me realize I'm not like that, not like you, murderer!" He points at his sister mockingly while sticking out his tongue.
"Well, guys, I'll give you the map. In an hour, we'll be ready to leave for the dungeon," The guy gives them the map and says goodbye to the three.
The three begin to prepare for their departure. They prepare their backpack and start packing food, water, healing potions, among other things.
After a long journey, everyone from the guild reaches the destination, the dungeon. This is a deep, endless cave. Everyone enters the dungeon. Upon entering, they realize it is a very long corridor with several paths and entrances. It has a disgusting, acidic smell, and is in complete darkness.
"We'll have to split up, everyone choose an area and start investigating," orders Porco, who is the leader of this mission.
Everyone disperses throughout the dungeon. Aaron and his team choose a path and start walking. Freya uses her powers to illuminate the entire corridor.
"We have to be attentive, we don't know what might be around this area," Safira whispers.
"Don't worry, Safira, if something appears, we'll destroy them!" Aaron says with excitement in his voice.
They continue roaming. As they keep walking, they find a dark room.
"Let's go into that place, maybe the fragment is there," Freya says, pointing to the door.
"Yes, let's go!" Aaron runs towards the entrance of the room.
"Aaron! Idiot! Wait!" Safira also runs behind Aaron, and so does Freya.
Aaron enters, but sees absolutely nothing because of the darkness. There are crunching sounds and sounds as if they are running across the walls.
"Quickly, Freya, light up here!" Aaron shouts.
Seconds later, Safira and Freya enter. As they illuminate the place, they notice some insect humanoids, with four long legs, on the walls and ceilings. These become agitated upon sensing the light and head towards them.
"Be careful, there are many!" Safira separates from Aaron and Freya, a few follow her.
"Good idea, Safira!" Aaron does the same, and Freya too. The insects disperse throughout the room.
A black-red aura appears in Safira's hand. She quickly blows the head off one of the insects. Instead, Freya throws her magical bursts, managing to knock down some of the insects. Aaron only dodges the insects and escapes from them.
"Aaron, don't be ridiculous, attack them!" Safira shouts at him, while continuing to destroy more insects.
"They're just ugly, I don't even want to touch them," Aaron also shouts, but starts attacking the insects using his fist. They fall, but he doesn't manage to kill them, they just writhe on the floor from the pain.
"How disgusting! Do I really have to kill them?" His face shows displeasure and disgust at seeing the insects writhing.
Freya keeps attacking and sees Aaron who is only watching with disgust. "Aaron, watch out!"
One of them manages to scratch Aaron's arm, and he backs up and dodges the insects.
"Aaron, you must kill them, or they will kill us," Safira, already a little furious with Aaron, goes towards him and kills those on the floor.
More and more insects keep appearing. Safira again moves further away to disperse them. Aaron feels his arm going numb. He looks at his arm and notices it is bleeding; his arm is useless.
"Damn it!" Aaron's despair is noticeable. His whole arm fills with a green aura. This aura begins to form, becoming harder, and pointy at the end of the fingers. His arm turns into a sword, thus showing Aaron's first technique.
"I must kill them, or they will massacre me…" he says in his mind. The insects rush towards him. Aaron manages to pierce some, but more and more keep appearing.
Freya keeps shooting, but notices that many of these insects keep appearing.
"Damn, I'll have to use my maximum, or we die here." She clears the area by giving the last shots. She starts to concentrate; dozens of ghosts appear from the ground, and they begin to attack the monsters, showing Freya's first technique.
Safira shows a relieved smile when she sees that the insects are fewer and fewer, but she still has dozens attacking her.
"That's it!" she shouts while she also activates her technique. She fills with her aetherian in some parts of her body; these take the shape of ears, claws on her nails, and cat feet, making her look like a cat. She moves at great speed, managing to decapitate dozens of these monsters.
The intense attack continues, but after several minutes only five remain. They escape and venture further into the room, which appears to be more than just a single room.
"We have to follow them!" Safira shouts.
"Wait, Safira! Aaron doesn't seem well," Freya shouts to Safira. She looks at her brother, who is on the ground, unconscious.
The two head to where Aaron is. He doesn't open his eyes. Freya takes a potion from her backpack and makes him drink it, but he doesn't react.
"Let's rest here until Aaron is well." Freya takes out bandages and starts bandaging Aaron's injured arm.
"The insects might have been venomous," Safira says, furrowing her face with worry as she looks at her brother.
"Maybe so, but with the potion, he will recover, we just have to wait."
Several minutes pass. Aaron slowly opens his eyes and sits on the floor.
"W-what happened to me?…"
"You woke up, Aaron," says Freya, who is next to Aaron.
"Aaron! Are you okay? Doesn't your arm hurt?" Safira goes to Aaron and leans down to see him.
"My arm just hurts a little, and I feel a little dizzy…"
"That's a good thing… You're an idiot, Aaron! You could have died!" Safira grabs Aaron by the shoulders and shakes him.
"Wait, Safira, I'm sorry! Yes, it was my fault! Stop shaking me!"
Safira stops shaking Aaron. Aaron looks at Safira; she has a sad face, a tear almost coming out.
"I don't want to lose you too, brother." Safira hugs Aaron. He remains silent for a few seconds. Safira stops hugging him.
"I wasn't going to die, silly, we have Freya who knew to give me the potion in time and she probably bandaged my arm, because you're useless at that," Aaron laughs lightly, with a slightly sad and awkward laugh.
Freya blushes a little upon hearing Aaron's compliment. "Ah, it was nothing, Aaron, I just gave you the potion and poorly bandaged your arm."
"Thank you, Freya, without you, my brother could have died." Safira smiles at Freya; she also smiles shyly.
Suddenly, a noise is heard, as if rocks were moving and the place was collapsing.
"That sounded close to the dungeon entrance, we have to go see what happened." Safira gets up and helps her brother up.
"Yes, let's go," says Freya.
Upon arriving at the place, they see how the entrance is sealed. A group tries to open the door, but it is useless. They approach the group.
"Can't it be opened?"
The group, made up of two elves, a demi-human, and a dwarf, look at them, but upon looking at Aaron and Safira, they make faces of disgust.
"Can't you see? It won't open even with magic," says the dwarf of their group.
"There's no other choice, we'll have to look for another exit." Safira's face shows seriousness.