Moonbounce floated a little higher, its soft silver glow brushing against the misty skyline. The faint hum that followed was almost like a song—quiet, ancient, familiar. Rhys exhaled slowly, his breath curling into the cool night.

"Seragon Caves, huh…" he murmured. "Didn't think I'd be heading back there so soon."

The little spirit pulsed once in reply, a flicker of light that almost felt amused.

By the time they reached the inn, the others had already gone inside. The lamps by the doorway swayed gently in the breeze, scattering their glow across the cobblestones. Rhys lingered outside for a moment longer, listening to the sound of the city—the muffled laughter, the distant music, the quiet pulse of mana threading through the air.

It was peaceful in a way battlefields never were.

He finally stepped inside, climbed the narrow stairs to his room, and sat down by the window. The sky was a dark blue river, stars drifting slowly above the faint silhouette of the far-off mountains. Somewhere within those peaks, the Seragon Caverns waited—an old place, older than even the Basin. A place that had once been sealed not by hands, but by intent.

Rhys rested his sword against the wall and leaned back, letting the silence settle.

He could still feel it—a whisper at the edge of perception, like the steady beat of something alive beneath the earth. A call not of danger, but of memory.

He smiled faintly. "So that's what you meant, Aria."

Moonbounce's glow dimmed to a soft pulse, mirroring his calm.

Morning came quiet and clear. The rain had passed, leaving behind air sharp with the scent of stone and pine. Rhys fastened his cloak, checked his gear, and stepped into the golden light spilling across the square.

Aria was waiting by the cavern gate just as she had promised. She wore a light travel coat this time, her usual composed demeanor softened by the early light.

"Morning," Rhys greeted.

She turned to him, her lips curving slightly. "You're early."

He shrugged. "Didn't want to miss whatever secret you've been hiding down there."

Her smile deepened. "You'll see soon enough."

The two of them began the trek down the worn path leading to the Seragon Caves. The entrance yawned open ahead, framed by old stone and moss, the faint sound of dripping water echoing from within.

As they stepped inside, the air shifted—cooler, thicker with mana. The walls shimmered faintly with veins of crystal, pulsing in rhythm with something deeper still.

Rhys ran a hand along the nearest wall. "Feels alive."

"It is," Aria said softly. "The Seragon Caves aren't just tunnels—they're part of a creature that once slept beneath this range. The Second Floor is closer to where its core used to be."

He glanced at her. "Used to be?"

Aria's eyes met his, calm but knowing. "You'll understand when we reach it."

The deeper they went, the fainter the world above became. Light dimmed into a soft, bluish glow from the crystal veins, and the path curved downward in gentle spirals.

Then, as they turned one final bend, the space opened.

Before them stretched a vast underground lake, its surface still as glass. From beneath it glowed a faint light—pale, golden, and steady—like the slow heartbeat of something ancient and immense.

"The Seragon's Heart," Aria said quietly. "Or what's left of it."

"Your guild conquered it?" Rhys asked.

She nodded. "Yeah. That's why the Second Floor was off-limits for so long. They declared it sealed after the final expedition ended."

Her voice softened. "But… it didn't stay sealed. The Seragon Caves still connect to the old mana streams somehow. I didn't think it would react again—but it did."

She led him forward along a narrow bridge of stone. The tunnel opened into a vast chamber bathed in pale blue light. At its center lay what looked like an island surrounded by shimmering water—water so clear it reflected the ceiling like a mirror. Gentle ripples danced across its surface, where faint golden patterns pulsed beneath.

"What is this place?" Rhys asked, puzzled.

"It's a rest area," Aria explained. "Our guild set it up years ago when expeditions were still allowed. A safe zone, of sorts. But over time, people stopped coming down here… and no one found anything new."

She smiled faintly as they approached the shore. "Looks like Sophia and Caria are already here."

Across the water, the two were lounging near the island's edge under the soft glow of mana lamps—Sophia calmly reading, Caria lying back, clearly enjoying herself.

Aria exhaled, setting her pack aside. "Guess we're joining them."

With an easy motion, she shed her coat, revealing a sleek, dark swim outfit beneath—practical, but surprisingly stylish.

When she caught Rhys looking slightly uncertain, she tilted her head, a teasing smile curving her lips. "What? You thought we were going to fight something today?"

Rhys chuckled lightly and shook his head. "Didn't expect… this."

"Good," Aria said, stepping toward the water with a faint shimmer of mana trailing her steps. "Then consider this your first proper rest since the Basin."

The cool scent of water filled the air as Aria waded in, ripples spreading outward in soft concentric circles. The liquid shimmered faintly, glowing where her fingers brushed against the surface — as if the water itself recognized her mana and responded in kind.

Sophia looked up from her book, her tone even but warm. "You took your time."

"Had to make sure the path was clear," Aria replied, lowering herself into the water. "The mist's thicker than before. The Guardian must've stirred."

Caria stretched lazily, her tail flicking in the water. "Then let it stir. We earned a break after climbing through all that stone dust." She grinned at Rhys. "You look like you could use one too."

Rhys smiled faintly, glancing down at his reflection rippling over the mirrored surface. "Not going to argue with that." He sat at the edge, letting his boots dip into the water. A faint tingle ran up his legs — the mana currents were alive here, whispering against his skin.

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