The wind moved gently across the hillside as Kael, Lyria, and Lyra stepped out from the hidden dungeon entrance.
For the first time in hours, sunlight touched their faces.
Kael paused near the edge of the slope and looked out across the valley below. The narrow dirt road that wound back toward Ardent City cut through tall grass and scattered trees.
And right in the middle of that road stood a group of armed people.
Kael let out a long sigh.
"Well," he said quietly, "that answers the question of whether today was going too smoothly."
Lyria followed his gaze and immediately grinned.
"Oh good. I thought the day was ending without a fight."
Lyra narrowed her eyes slightly as she studied the figures below.
"There are ten," she said calmly. "Eight mercenaries and the two individuals we encountered earlier."
Kael already knew who she meant.
Even from this distance he could recognize the posture of the Shadow Twins.
Nyra and Sylis.
They stood at the front of the group like two calm predators waiting patiently for their prey to wander closer.
Lyria rested her hands on her hips.
"You think they've been waiting here the whole time?"
Lyra nodded.
"That would be the most logical explanation. News of an active dungeon tends to attract scavengers."
Kael rubbed his face.
"So they let us do the hard work, then planned to take the rewards afterward."
Lyria smirked.
"Classic adventurer strategy."
"Pretty sure that's just called robbery."
"Details."
The trio began walking down the hillside toward the road.
They didn't try to hide their approach.
If the ambushers wanted a confrontation, there was no point pretending otherwise.
As they got closer, the mercenaries shifted slightly. Hands moved toward sword hilts and staff grips.
Nyra pushed herself off the rock she had been leaning against and stepped forward with a lazy stretch.
Her black hair swayed slightly in the breeze as she flashed them an easy smile.
"Well, look who survived," she called up the hill.
Kael stopped a few paces away from her.
"You sound surprised."
Nyra shrugged.
"Dungeons can be unpredictable."
Sylis stood beside her, silent but attentive. Her silver eyes flicked between Kael and the twin sisters beside him.
Lyria crossed her arms.
"Let's skip the part where we pretend this is a friendly reunion."
Nyra laughed softly.
"Straight to business, huh? I like that."
She gestured toward the road.
"You three cleared the dungeon. Congratulations."
Kael didn't respond.
Nyra's smile sharpened slightly.
"Which means you probably have something valuable."
Lyra calmly reached into her satchel and pulled out the glowing fragment taken from the dungeon core.
The crystal glimmered faintly in the afternoon sunlight.
The mercenaries behind Nyra immediately stirred with interest.
Nyra's eyes lit up.
"Ah," she said. "That would be the core fragment."
Lyria tilted her head.
"You're very observant."
Nyra spread her hands casually.
"So here's the deal."
She stepped a little closer.
"You hand over the fragment and any rare dungeon drops, and we all go our separate ways."
Kael stared at her.
"You're asking us to give up the reward for the dungeon we just cleared."
"Exactly."
"And if we say no?"
Nyra smiled wider.
"Then we take them."
The mercenaries behind her began spreading out across the road.
Not rushing.
Not attacking yet.
But slowly forming a loose half-circle around the trio.
Kael glanced sideways at Lyra.
"How many mages?"
"Two," she replied quietly. "Both preparing spells."
Lyria cracked her knuckles.
"Finally."
Sylis spoke for the first time.
Her voice was soft but clear.
"Conflict would be inefficient."
Nyra rolled her eyes.
"Oh please. Don't start."
Sylis ignored her and looked directly at Kael.
"You are stronger than when we last encountered you."
Kael blinked.
"That obvious?"
"Yes."
Her gaze shifted briefly to Lyria and Lyra.
"The resonance between you three has deepened."
Lyria grinned proudly.
"We've been practicing."
Nyra sighed dramatically.
"Alright, enough analysis."
She flicked a hand toward the mercenaries.
"Let's wrap this up."
The first mercenary charged.
Steel flashed in the sunlight.
The road exploded into battle.