The next few days passed in a fog of quiet recovery. Marie kept to herself, rarely leaving the apartment except to refill her water or dump out trash. Her body ached less each morning, but the mental weight took longer to lift. She slept often—deeply, dreamlessly—and ate just enough to keep her energy from dipping too far. Time lost meaning.
Eventually, though, her credits dwindled.
After rent and groceries, she had barely over 50 credits left. That was enough for basic dungeon entry fees, maybe a cheap potion or two, but not much else. If she didn't act soon, she'd be broke again.
And this time, she didn't want to be helpless.
So she pulled on her cleaned and patched uniform, slipped her repaired boots over fresh socks, and packed her satchel with a single ration bar, her old datapad, and a glowstick she'd bartered for with a neighbor. No armor. No weapons beyond her utility knife.
Just her. And the skill she didn't understand.
She left before sunrise.
The train to the outer sectors was half-empty. Early risers and low-rank initiates mostly. Marie kept to herself, tucked into a corner seat, head down, datapad in hand. She read and reread the summary of the dungeon she had chosen.
Old Spire Sewer Runoff [E-Rank Dungeon]
Environmental Hazards: Mild Poison, Waterlogged FloorsDocumented Monsters:Sewer Slime [E]: Low mobility, no confirmed abilitiesRabid Rats [E]: Use basic skills such as Bite and ScratchTunnel Vermin [E]: Aggressive in groups, may cause infections
No elites. No known mutations.
It was perfect.
Or at least, it was the best she could afford.
She felt the weight of every stare on the train. Her gear looked secondhand and outdated. No armor patches, no mana-thread reinforcement, no emblem on her sleeve. Just a plain, faded uniform and a satchel that looked like it had been through one too many wash cycles.
She was painfully aware of it.
Which was probably why she flinched when someone spoke to her.
"Hey there. You heading out to Old Spire?"
Marie looked up sharply. A girl stood beside her, smiling warmly. She looked like she belonged on the cover of a recruiting brochure—tall, graceful, with long blond hair braided down one side and a pastel outfit that somehow looked both cute and reinforced. Magical threads shimmered subtly in the light.
Marie recognized her type instantly.
A guildie.
"...Yes," Marie answered after a pause.
"I thought so! Not many awakened go that direction this early. I'm Lea, by the way."
She offered a hand. Marie stared at it, then gave a small nod instead.
Lea didn't seem put off. "It's a rough dungeon for solo runs. The hazards are tricky, and the monsters tend to rush you. Are you sure you're heading there alone?"
Marie hesitated.
"I can manage."
"I'm sure you can," Lea said quickly, holding up her hands. "Didn't mean to imply otherwise. Just... I've been there a few times with my guild. If you ever want backup—or just someone to chat with—I'm happy to help."
Marie didn't answer.
Lea took the silence in stride. She plopped down in the seat across from Marie, chattering lightly.
"I like that place, honestly. Gross, yeah, but at least it's not full of jump-scare monsters. Once you learn the layout, you can clear a route pretty efficiently. Most of the slimes don't even react unless you poke them. It's the rats that are the problem."
Marie's eyes flicked back to her datapad. Lea's presence was overwhelming—too bright, too clean, too perfect. It made her painfully aware of her own frayed sleeves and scuffed boots.
Still, part of her appreciated the information.
Lea kept talking, but didn't push further. When the train slowed at the gate terminal, she stood.
"Well, this is me. My team's meeting outside the west checkpoint." She smiled again. "Good luck in there, mystery girl."
Marie gave a small nod.
Lea turned to go, then hesitated and looked back. "Maybe I'll see you around. Be safe, okay?"
Then she was gone.
Marie exhaled slowly.
She waited a full minute before exiting the train.
The gate to Old Spire Sewer Runoff was located behind a row of reinforced buildings, tucked into the edge of an old city district that had long been abandoned. The entrance was a circular steel hatch set into the ground, guarded by two automated turrets and a bored-looking clerk stationed in a small booth.
Marie scanned her ID chip.
"Solo entry confirmed," the terminal chirped.
"Warning: Enter at your own risk. No rescue protocols below Rank D."
She nodded once, then stepped forward as the gate shimmered—opalescent and oily—inviting her into the depths. Without hesitation, she walked through.
The world changed.
Marie emerged into stale, humid air. Stone walls stretched around her, damp with moisture and layered with the smell of rot and mildew. The ground sloped gently downward into darkness. Faint glimmers of bioluminescent fungi dotted the ceiling, giving just enough light to see a few meters ahead.
She activated her glowstick and clipped it to her collar. The greenish light spilled forward, casting long shadows.
She took a deep breath.
Then she pulled up her datapad one last time.
MONSTER SUMMARY – OLD SPIRE SEWER RUNOFF
Sewer Slimes [E] – Low mobility, no documented abilities. Avoid envelopment.Rabid Rats [E] – Use basic skills: Bite, Scratch. Risk of infection.Tunnel Vermin [E] – Aggressive in groups. Target legs. Sometimes flee when injured.
She scrolled further, looking for notes from other initiates. A few had left public comments:
"The rats swarm in threes. Don't get cornered."
"Slimes are harmless unless you're dumb enough to trip."
"Bring poison resist if you've got it."
She didn't.
Still, she wasn't here to clear the dungeon. Not really.
She was here to understand.
Understand her skill. Understand herself.
She pulled her knife from her belt and took her first step into the dark