Charles watched Nora step out of Lila's shop with two black lanterns in her hands, each with a sturdy design that looked like it could survive a fall.

The sun had almost fully set, and the village streets were lit by streetlights casting long shadows over the dirt.

The cries of children had faded to a distant murmur, but the air still carried the scent of wood and freshly baked bread.

Nora walked with determined steps, holding the lanterns like trophies, and Charles couldn't help but raise an eyebrow, feigning confusion.

"What're those lanterns for?" he asked, his tone trying to sound casual but tinged with a hint of mockery. "Thought you were a natural-born slacker."

Nora stopped dead in her tracks, turning to look at him with narrowed eyes.

Her gray eyes glinted under the streetlights, and for a moment, she just stared at him in silence.

"Seriously, Rian?" she said finally, letting out a sigh. "Weren't you the one dragging me to explore that cave earlier? Or did you already forget your big plan?"

Charles blinked, surprised by her response.

He hadn't expected her to take the lead so quickly.

"Well, yeah, but…"

He paused, tilting his head with a crooked grin.

"I thought stuff like that was too much effort for you. You know, crawling into dark caves, getting your boots dirty. Not exactly your style, is it?"

Nora sighed, shaking her head.

"Stop spouting nonsense, Rian," she said, her tone serious, leaving no room for jokes. "Keep that up, and I'll really regret deciding to help you. So shut it and walk, got it?"

Charles couldn't help but laugh, raising his hands in surrender.

"Alright, alright, I'll zip it," he said, his tone a mix of amusement and resignation.

But as they started walking toward the edge of the village, where the path led to the Stormy Forest, a question nagged at him.

It didn't make sense for Nora to do this without a clear reason, and though her carefree attitude could be deceptive, Charles knew there was more behind her choice to tag along.

He stopped for a moment, looking at her with curiosity.

"Hey, Nora, why are you helping me with this?" he asked, his tone more serious. "Not that I'm complaining, but… why bother?"

Nora turned to him, one eyebrow raised and a smile that was half genuine, half teasing.

"Because I like you, Rian," she said lightly.

Then her smile widened, and she added with a touch of sarcasm, "And, you know, because you're a Cole. That's gotta count for something, right?"

Charles let out a short laugh, caught off guard by her answer.

"A Cole? Seriously?" he said, crossing his arms. "Thought that kind of stuff didn't matter to you."

Nora laughed, shrugging as she toyed with one of the lanterns in her hand.

"Well, I might be a little scatterbrained…" she admitted, her tone playful. "But I'm not stupid. I know being a Cole carries weight, even if you're…"

She paused, eyeing him up and down with a mischievous grin.

"Let's say, the least shiny gem in the family."

Charles rolled his eyes but couldn't help smiling.

"Wow, thanks for the compliment," he said sarcastically. "But seriously, Nora, you're making a bad investment. I'm at the bottom of the family ladder. Not much to gain from helping me."

Nora looked at him for a moment, her expression hard to read.

Then her smile softened, and her voice took on a more serious tone.

"From what I saw yesterday, you're not as low as you think," she said, pointing the lantern at him. "That fight of yours… I don't think it was just luck."

Charles fell silent for a few seconds at her words.

Yesterday's fight had just been a way to gain experience and level up in the system, not a show of ambition.

But he couldn't tell Nora that.

He couldn't explain that a mysterious system was helping him control these powers.

Instead, he pivoted the conversation.

"Speaking of yesterday…" he said, keeping his tone casual, "I ran into Kaira before the fight. We talked a bit."

Nora's eyes widened, and she took a step toward him, clearly surprised.

"Kaira?" she repeated, her tone a mix of curiosity and suspicion. "What was she doing there? I'd swear she doesn't hang around that area unless she's got a fight scheduled."

Charles nodded, recalling the encounter with Kaira.

"Yeah, she was there for a fight," he said, keeping his tone neutral. "Or at least that's what she said."

Nora frowned, clearly puzzled.

"That's weird…" she said, crossing her arms. "I didn't see her fight yesterday. And trust me, if Kaira was in the arena, I would've noticed. That woman doesn't go unnoticed."

Charles hesitated for a moment.

Lira's betrayal—drugging his food to stop him from fighting—still weighed on his mind.

He wanted to tell Nora, but something held him back.

He didn't fully trust her yet.

Not because he thought she'd betray him, but because he didn't know how she'd react if he started raising questions he couldn't answer.

"I'll fill you in later…" Charles said finally, trying to sound nonchalant.

He switched on the lantern Nora had given him, its white beam lighting the path ahead.

"Let's hit that cave first."

Nora looked at him for a moment, her expression making it clear she knew he was hiding something.

She frowned but didn't press.

Instead, she turned on her own lantern and pointed at the path leading into the Stormy Forest.

"Fine, Rian," she said, her tone a mix of resignation and curiosity. "But don't think I'm gonna forget about this. Let's move."

They walked in silence along the path, the forest closing in around them.

The tall trees blocked out what little light remained in the sky, and the air grew cooler, carrying a faint scent of damp earth.

The lanterns cast beams that barely illuminated a few meters ahead.

When they reached the cave's entrance, Charles felt a chill.

The opening was massive, a dark maw that seemed to swallow the lantern light.

The interior was so vast that the beams didn't reach the walls, fading into the blackness.

"This is… bigger than I expected…" Charles said, his tone trying to sound confident but betraying a hint of nerves.

He glanced at Nora, who was studying the entrance with a mix of curiosity and caution.

"Yeah, not exactly a spot for a casual stroll…" she replied dryly. "But we're here now, so don't start shaking in your boots."

Charles laughed, though the sound came out tenser than he intended.

He remembered the system's warning: the cave was inhabited by guardian beasts.

But with Nora by his side—a Master—what did he have to fear?

She was far stronger than him, and though her jokes and carefree attitude could be misleading, Charles knew he could count on her skill.

"Let's do this, then," he said, taking a step toward the entrance. "If there's something in there, we can handle it."

Nora nodded, following his lead, but before they could go further, a loud noise echoed from inside the cave.

RUMBLE!

It was a deep, heavy sound, like something massive had shifted in the darkness, and both of them froze.

Charles's skin prickled, and for a moment, the beam of his lantern trembled in his hand.

He looked at Nora, who had furrowed her brow, her eyes fixed on the darkness.

"What the hell was that?" Charles muttered, his voice low, as if afraid something might hear him.

Nora didn't answer right away.

Her lantern swept across the cave's entrance, but the light revealed nothing but rock and shadows.

"I don't know…" she said finally, her tone more serious than usual. "But stay close. That didn't sound like just an echo."

Charles nodded, gripping his lantern tighter.

The blue system arrow still glowed in his vision, pointing to something inside the cave.

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