The late afternoon sun bathed the landscape in gold, stretching Kai and Belle's shadows across the dirt road. After two days of travel and monster hunting, Dawnstead's towering walls finally came into view, standing tall against the sky.
Kai let out a long, satisfied sigh, rolling his shoulders as he stretched his arms behind his head. "Finally. A hot meal, a real bed—maybe even a drink or two." He shot Belle a smirk. "You're paying, by the way."
Belle arched an eyebrow at him. "You didn't do enough work to deserve that."
Kai scoffed, placing a hand on his chest in mock offense. "Excuse me? I took down at least half of those monsters myself."
"You mean the ones I lured into your path?"
He clicked his tongue, but the grin on his face didn't waver. "Still counts."
Belle shook her head, but a small, almost imperceptible smile tugged at her lips. The banter was lighthearted, a natural rhythm between them after spending days in battle. Their conversations had become easy, even comfortable in their own way.
Yet, even as they talked, something felt… off.
Belle's steps slowed slightly. A subtle shift in the air, a weight pressing against the back of her mind. She didn't understand it at first, but as they neared the gate, the usual hum of the town's outskirts seemed muted.
The merchants packing their stalls were moving with an unusual urgency, their hands stiff as they stuffed their goods into sacks. A group of adventurers stood in hushed conversation, their glances darting toward the road—toward them—before they abruptly turned and walked away.
The town guards, who typically greeted them with casual nods, stood rigid, their eyes flicking toward the entrance.
Kai dropped his arms, his posture subtly shifting. He wasn't a strategist, nor did he have Belle's keen perception, but he wasn't an idiot. He felt it too.
"Feels weirdly quiet, doesn't it?" His voice was lower now, more alert.
Belle didn't respond right away. Instead, her silver eyes swept the road ahead, analyzing the tension hanging in the air.
Then, she saw them.
Just past the entrance, three figures stood waiting. Their presence wasn't casual—they were positioned deliberately, as if they'd been stationed there for hours.
Trinity Blade.
Garron stood at the front, the evening sun glinting off his heavy armor. He was a wall of muscle, broad-shouldered and rigid, like an immovable boulder planted in their path. His arms were crossed, his thick fingers tapping impatiently against his gauntlets. Then, with a slow, deliberate motion, he cracked his knuckles—a sharp, ominous sound that broke the silence.
Darin leaned casually against his staff, one leg crossed over the other, wearing his signature smirk. But there was something sharper in his eyes tonight—an amused curiosity mingled with something more unsettling. He wasn't just here to watch. He was waiting for something.
Lena, as always, remained a step behind them. She was quiet, her hands neatly folded in front of her robe, but her gaze was trained on Belle. It wasn't an open challenge, nor was it hostility. It was calculating—as if she were piecing together a puzzle that had been bothering her for far too long.
Kai stiffened slightly at the sight of them. His fingers twitched near his katana, his usual smirk slipping into something more wary. He let out a breath, tilting his head toward Belle.
"Oh, great. What do they want?"
Belle didn't answer.
Because she already knew.
They had been waiting for them.
The first one to move was Garron.
His boots thudded against the ground as he stepped forward, placing himself directly in their path. He didn't raise his weapon. He didn't even take a stance. He simply stood there, using his sheer presence as a blockade.
"Took you long enough to get back," he said, his voice as steady as stone.
Belle held his gaze, unflinching.
Darin was the next to speak, exhaling dramatically as if this entire conversation was a waste of his time. "Do you two have any idea how much trouble you've caused?" He rested his staff against his shoulder, his smirk widening slightly. "People are way too tight-lipped about you. It's almost like they're afraid."
Belle remained silent.
Darin's eyes narrowed. "So, I'll ask directly. What really happened during the subjugation quest?"
Kai crossed his arms, unimpressed. "Oh, is that what this is about?" He scoffed. "What, did nobody bother filling you in?"
"They did," Garron said, his tone clipped. "And none of it makes sense."
Darin nodded. "See, normally, when a group of adventurers take down a monster threat, the reports are pretty consistent. But this time? Not a single damn person will give us a straight answer." He tilted his head at Belle. "And you know what that tells me?"
Kai rolled his eyes. "That people don't like talking to you?"
Darin chuckled, but there was no humor in it. "That something is being covered up." His gaze flicked to Belle. "And you? You're right in the center of it."
Belle said nothing.
Garron's eyes darkened. "You were at the subjugation quest. You did something. Something big. And now, nobody wants to talk about it." His fingers curled into fists at his sides. "We want answers."
Kai exhaled sharply, his patience running thin. "Are we seriously doing this right now?" He threw his hands up. "Look, you're asking the wrong people. If nobody told you anything, maybe it's because there's nothing to say."
Garron's jaw tightened. "I don't buy that."
Kai clicked his tongue. "Then that's your problem."
Garron's patience was wearing thin. His posture shifted, and for the first time, his frustration bled through.
"We asked nicely before," he said, his voice colder now. "Now, I'm done asking."
Belle, who had been silent until now, tilted her head slightly.
And then, with a calm, unwavering voice, she said—
"I have nothing to say to you."
Silence.
And then—the last straw snapped.
The tension in the air was suffocating. The world around them seemed to hold its breath, waiting for the inevitable clash.
Garron's fists tightened, veins bulging as frustration contorted his face. He had enough.
"Fine," he growled. "Let's see if we can shake the truth out of you."
And with a single stomp of his foot—the earth roared in response.
The ground beneath them trembled violently before massive stone pillars erupted from the earth, forming an enclosed ring around Belle and Kai. Jagged spikes jutted upward, closing off every possible escape route.
The sudden shift sent shockwaves through the area. Merchants cried out in alarm, scrambling away from the scene. A few adventurers, drawn by the magic, halted their conversations and turned to watch. Even the town guards hesitated, unsure whether to interfere.
Kai let out a low whistle, tilting his head as he scanned the stone prison. "So, we're doing this, huh?"
His hand drifted toward his katana, eager, almost excited.
But before he could unsheathe it—Belle raised her hand.
"No."
Kai blinked. "Are you serious?"
Belle's silver eyes remained fixed on Trinity Blade. She didn't even glance at him.
Garron's smirk widened. "Smart choice," he mocked.
Then, with a swift movement, he slammed his fist into the ground.
The earth responded immediately.
A wave of jagged stone surged forward, tearing through the dirt and hurling toward Belle at breakneck speed.
She didn't move.
The moment the rock reached her—it broke into pieces. As if it was hit by an invisible force.
A flicker of irritation crossed Garron's face. His fingers twitched, summoning more power. This time, he raised both hands.
The ground split open beneath them—dozens of sharpened rock spears shot out, aiming directly for Belle and Kai.
This time, Kai moved.
His katana flashed in a fiery arc—one swift slash.
The incoming projectiles shattered mid-air, fragments scattering harmlessly to the ground.
Kai flicked his blade, shaking off the dust. "Garron, buddy, if you're gonna attack us, at least put some effort into it."
Darin exhaled dramatically. "Tch. Looks like we'll have to push harder."
He twirled his staff, fire swirling at its tip. The air rippled with heat as a controlled inferno twisted around him, crackling dangerously.
With a flick of his wrist—the flames surged forward, roaring like a hungry beast.
Kai tensed, already shifting into a defensive stance—but Belle lifted a single finger.
And just like that—the fire vanished.
Darin's smirk froze. His fingers twitched as if unable to comprehend what had just happened.
Garron, however, had already lost his patience.
With a battle cry, he charged forward, his armor-clad bulk barreling toward Belle like an unstoppable force. His gauntlet-clad fist came hurtling down, aiming to crush her where she stood—
But just before the strike connected—he stopped.
No—he was forced to stop.
An invisible weight pressed down on him, locking every joint in place. His muscles strained, his breathing hitched. It felt as if the air itself had solidified, becoming an immovable force against his body.
His mind screamed at him—Move! Move! But he couldn't.
A flicker of uncertainty flashed in his eyes.
Darin's grip on his staff tightened. "What did she do?"
Kai sighed dramatically. "I was hoping for an actual fight, but this is just embarrassing."
Belle remained still, her cold gaze boring into Garron's. And then, in a voice like ice—
"Enough."
The pressure surrounding Garron vanished.
His body lurched forward from the momentum of his halted punch—only for his knee to buckle slightly as he barely caught himself. His breath was ragged now, and his mind was racing.
What the hell had just happened?
Before anyone could react further—a sharp voice cut through the standoff.
"That's quite enough."
The weight of authority in those words was unmistakable.
It wasn't shouted, nor was it laced with magic—yet it carried such weight that the atmosphere shifted instantly.
The presence that followed was undeniable.
Guildmaster Garrick Voss.
He strode into the scene, moving with the confidence of a man who commanded authority wherever he went. His dark coat, lined with silver embroidery, barely shifted as he walked—each step measured, deliberate.
Not a single soul in the area spoke.
Even the merchants, who had been cautiously observing from the sidelines, quickly turned their attention elsewhere. The town guards straightened their postures, pretending they hadn't hesitated to intervene.
But the ones most affected were Trinity Blade.
The moment Garrick arrived, Garron and Darin instinctively took a step back. Lena was the only one who remained motionless, though her fingers twitched against the fabric of her robe.
Garrick's eyes, sharp and unreadable, scanned the area before locking onto the trio. "The three of you."
His voice was calm. Too calm.
"You're causing a scene right in front of the town gates. Do I need to remind you what that means?"
The unspoken threat lingered.
Even Garron, still fuming from the fight, had enough sense not to argue. He exhaled sharply through his nose, the tension in his shoulders slowly easing.
Darin, ever the smug one, opened his mouth—then thought better of it when Garrick's gaze landed on him. He swallowed his words.
Lena lowered her eyes slightly, but there was no apology in her expression.
Garrick let the silence stretch for a moment longer before shifting his attention.
Then, his focus landed on Belle and Kai.
His expression gave nothing away.
"You two. Come with me."
Kai scratched the back of his head, glancing at Belle. "We just got back. Can't this wait?"
"No."
The firmness of that single word left no room for argument.
Garrick's gaze hardened. "A new dungeon has been discovered. And we need to talk."
A heavy silence followed.
Belle's silver eyes flickered with understanding.
A dungeon.
That meant unknown dangers. Powerful creatures. Maybe even something worse.
She finally nodded. "Understood."
Garrick turned his gaze towards Trinity Blade this time. "And you three as well."
Just like that—the confrontation ended.
Not because Trinity Blade had backed down. Not because Garron had accepted defeat.
But because something far more important loomed on the horizon.
A new dungeon.
And with it—new dangers.
End of Chapter 31