Nyx was perched on James's shoulder, her wide eyes flickering with interest at the ongoing conversation. James hadn't even noticed when she leaped onto him amidst the chatter, her little claws gripping just enough not to hurt. He reached up, giving her a gentle scritch under her chin. She leaned into his fingers, her purrs vibrating softly against his neck.

James looked over at Joey, who was eyeing the pair of short swords on the ground. The young man let out a long sigh, then bent down, picked up the swords, and held them out toward Joey.

"Do you want to use them?" James asked, his tone inviting but cautious.

Joey eyed the swords warily, his brows furrowing. His face twisted into a plaintive grimace. "Honestly, I think I’m going to stick with my fists." He gave a small shrug before adding, "Besides, it's just like what happened with the trident and flail. You saw how it went—couldn't swing them properly. It just doesn’t work for me."

James smiled, nodding knowingly. "Fair enough. But here, why don't you at least give it a try? You never know until you try, right?"

Joey took the sword, weighing it in his hand with clear hesitation. He tried to lift it, and instantly, it was as if the weight of the blade tripled in his grasp. He lost control of it and went sprawling backward, landing heavily on the ground.

"Ouch!" Joey grumbled, rubbing his sore rear. Nyx’s purr transitioned into something that suspiciously sounded like a giggle—a tiny, high-pitched rumble that had James chuckling in response.

James shook his head, still chuckling as Joey glared up at him, his face flushed with embarrassment. "See? I told you, man! I just don't get it. How am I supposed to get better with these weapons if I can barely hold them?"

"Yeah, yeah," James said, offering Joey a hand to help him up. "Maybe it’s because this sword’s a ranked item? Let me check." He focused on the sword still in his hand, activating his ‘Inspect’ skill.

James cleared his throat, reading aloud the information that appeared:

- Short Sword of Bleeding (Ashen)

Crafted by an inexperienced blacksmith, this short sword carries a crude enchantment that induces a light bleeding effect on enemies. The blade, while unremarkable in design, shows signs of rust and uneven sharpening. Despite its imperfections, the enchantment lingers—possibly a fluke, possibly a spark of hidden talent in its creator.

Effect:

- Bleeding Strike (Minor): Attacks have a small chance to inflict a bleeding effect on the enemy, dealing minimal damage over time for 10 seconds.

- Requires: {Basic Sword Proficiency}

"It’s not the best sword, but if you poke 'em enough, they’ll feel it eventually." - Torvin the Apprentice Blacksmith, trying to market his very first creation.

Joey snorted as James finished reading. "Sounds like something an apprentice who barely knows how to swing a hammer would make." He got up slowly, dusting himself off, the weariness evident in his posture. "Alright, let’s put it with the rest of the loot. Honestly, I’m better off just using my fists. They haven’t failed me yet."

James gave him an understanding nod. "Sometimes, simple works best. Besides, your fists seem to pack a punch these days." He gave Joey a teasing grin.

"Yeah, yeah. You keep laughing," Joey muttered, but a small smile tugged at his lips, and he gave James a playful shove.

The two of them made their way back to the cave—a small refuge they had found amidst the chaos of the rift. It wasn't much, but it was dry and sheltered, and the walls provided some comfort. The pile of items they'd gathered glimmered dully in the dim light, casting odd shadows.

James took a deep breath and then turned to Joey. "Alright. We need to decide what we're taking with us. We can’t carry everything, and we need to go in prepared—ready to face the rift guardian."

Joey, ever stubborn, crossed his arms over his chest. "We can take it all! We’ll just carry as much as we can," he insisted, his voice rising with determination.

The intensity of Joey's voice startled Nyx, who let out a startled squeak and darted behind James's legs, her tail puffed out like a bottle brush. James closed his eyes, shaking his head with a sigh. "Joey, think about it for a moment. How are we going to fight the rift guardian with our arms full of random loot? We don’t know if we can come back here, but if we try to take everything, we might not even make it to the guardian in one piece."

Joey's expression shifted, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. "Yeah, but what if we bring everything and just set it down before the fight? We can carry it all and—"

James raised a brow, giving him a dubious look. "So, let me get this straight. We’re going to march right into the lair of the strongest monster in this place, and we’ll just ask it to hold off while we put down our bags and unpack?" His tone was teasing, but the underlying concern was evident.

Joey paused, realizing how ridiculous it sounded when James put it that way. He shifted on his feet, glancing at the pile of loot. "Maybe..." he murmured, trailing off as a frown tugged at his lips. The bravado seemed to drain from him, replaced by reluctant acceptance.

James softened his tone, stepping closer. "Look, Joey. I understand. I really do. We worked hard for all this stuff. But we have to be smart. We need to be fast, and we need to be ready. We can't afford to be weighed down."

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Joey let out a huff, his shoulders sagging. "Fine. But I’m telling you, we’re taking as much as we can carry without slowing us down." He stomped over to the pile, starting to gather the smaller items—carefully putting them into pouches and tucking them away in the folds of his dress. He tried to wrap the swords with part of his veil, but the blades sliced through the delicate fabric, clattering noisily to the ground.

Joey stared at the torn veil, his frustration evident. He clenched his fists, his eyes shimmering as the emotion began to overflow. He sank down onto a nearby stool, his face crumpling. "It’s not fair, James," he whispered, his voice thick with unshed tears. "I didn’t even want to come here. And now I don’t even get to keep any of it."

James’s heart clenched at the sight of his friend. Joey was still young, and despite everything, the exhaustion, the fear, and the pressure were all becoming too much. James moved closer, kneeling down beside Joey, and pulled him into a firm hug.

"Hey. It’s alright," James murmured, his voice low and soothing. "It’s okay to feel like this. We’ve been through a lot, and it’s been hard. But we’re almost done. One more fight, and then we can go home. We just need to hold it together for a little bit longer."

Joey sniffled, his body trembling as he leaned into James’s embrace. "I’m sorry, James. I really am. I didn’t mean for us to get into this mess. I just wanted to see the pond," he said, his voice cracking as he squeezed James tightly, as if afraid James might disappear.

James winced slightly, feeling the strength in Joey’s arms. "Oof, ease up a bit, will ya?" he joked softly, patting Joey’s back. "You’re a lot stronger than you used to be. I mean it—one more fight, and we’ll be out of here. Nyx will lead us, and we’ll finish this together."

Nyx let out a soft meow from James’s shoulder, her ears perking forward with a spark of determination, as if she truly understood every word they were saying. James chuckled softly, giving her a gentle scratch on her tiny head. "See? Even Nyx believes in us, Joey. And remember, you’re not the same person who first walked into this rift. You’ve grown so much, and you’ve got all these new skills. We’re going to face that guardian, and we’re going to win. And then, we’ll come back for all this treasure."

Joey sniffed, the tears slowly receding as he pulled back and looked up at James. His eyes were still rimmed with redness, but there was a spark of hope glistening there. "You really think we’ll be able to come back for it?" he asked, his voice a little unsteady but filled with longing.

James nodded, the sincerity of his belief reflected in his eyes. "Absolutely, Joey. We’ll beat that guardian, we’ll make it out of this rift, and we’ll come back for whatever we want. Trust me, this isn’t the end."

Joey managed a wavering smile, his spirits slowly lifting. "Alright," he said, his voice steadier now. He rubbed at his eyes with the back of his sleeve, then attempted to lighten the mood. "But when we’re done, I still get first pick of the donuts, alright?"

James burst into a hearty laugh, reaching over to ruffle Joey’s already disheveled hair. "Yeah, yeah, all the donuts you want, buddy. Let’s just get through this first." He flashed Joey a broad smile, then turned to the pile of loot. "Now, let’s get ready. We need to travel light. We’ve got a rift guardian to beat."

Joey gave a resolute nod, the earlier sadness giving way to determination. He got to his feet and began gathering the essentials—the lantern, the quill, and the small bag of beans they’d managed to save. He carefully stowed them away, adjusting the torn remnants of his wedding dress, even as the piece of straw still stuck awkwardly out of it. He glanced at James with a sheepish grin. "You know, I really wish I had something more like armor."

James laughed again. "That wedding dress has gotten you through thick and thin. It might not look practical, but it’s got character," he said, smiling at his friend.

Nyx had climbed back onto James’s shoulder, her eyes alert and shining with excitement. James took a deep breath, glancing at Joey and then at Nyx. The tension was still there, thick like the air before a thunderstorm, but beneath it all, a current of hope surged.

"Alright," James said, his voice steady. "Let’s do this." He looked at Joey, who took in a deep breath and squared his shoulders.

"Together," Joey said, meeting James’s gaze with a newfound strength.

"Together," James echoed, his lips curving into a confident smile.

With that, they turned and stepped out of the cave, the air crackling around them with an almost tangible energy. The rift loomed ahead, swirling in its chaotic, dark beauty—a reminder of everything they had faced, and of everything they had overcome to get this far. James cast a sidelong glance at Joey, then at Nyx, and his resolve hardened.

Nyx’s body tensed slightly as they continued onward. She led the way with a purpose James hadn’t seen before, her movements quick and decisive. James raised a brow, curiosity piqued. As they neared a familiar chamber—the one with the flowing stream—James began to wonder if they’d need to navigate the treacherous, watery slides once again. Memories of their harrowing tumble through the caverns surfaced, but Nyx surprised him.

Instead of leading them toward the stream, Nyx turned down a different corridor—the same one they had first entered the rift in. She moved confidently, and James could see her ears twitch as if sensing something he couldn’t.

James lifted the lantern, the beam which was not working before now leading to danger or points of interest now illuminating into the passageway in full force. The bright light shone ahead, revealing the jagged rock and uneven terrain that they had grown used to. They walked until they reached what Joey had jokingly called the "Giant’s Mouth" weeks ago. James furrowed his brows, his curiosity getting the better of him. "Nyx, this is where we started," he said cautiously, his eyes scanning the dark corners for any signs of danger.

Nyx paused, glancing back at James with an almost amused expression. She gave a simple "Mew," as if to say, "I know," before turning back towards her intended path.

James frowned in thought, the strange sensation that had lingered the first time they had come through here nagging at the back of his mind. He realized there was something they might have missed—something they hadn’t noticed with their limited visibility before. But now, with the lantern casting its glow, the passage seemed somehow different, as if it was hiding a secret in plain sight.

They followed Nyx further down the corridor until they reached what had previously been shrouded in darkness. At the very start of the rift, a great set of ornamental double doors stood—elegant, carved from dark mahogany or some similar wood. They loomed in front of the boys, intricate engravings telling stories of old adventures, battles fought, and won. It was as if the door had been there all along, simply waiting for them to find it, daring them to enter and see what lay beyond.

James and Joey exchanged a look—equal parts apprehension and excitement. James stepped forward, the lantern in one hand and the enchanted dagger in the other. He glanced at Nyx, who was watching the doors with a determined intensity. "This is it," James murmured, mostly to himself.

"You ready, Joey?" he asked, his voice steady.

Joey nodded, stepping forward to stand beside James. "Yeah," he said, his voice carrying a hint of nerves but also a firm resolve. "Let’s end this."

James looked at Nyx "You ready?"

"Meow" was all he got in reply not really understanding.

James gave a small smile, then faced the door. Together, they reached out, placing their hands on the cool wood, feeling the energy pulsing beneath it, and pushed.