After emerging from the dungeon's dark maw, Huey took a deep breath of fresh air.

“I’m alive…Somehow.”

***

Standing on a small hill, he looked down at the verdant valley below. “Breathtaking, isn’t it?” He said, glancing at his feet. The valley ahead was a sea of green, rolling gently with the breeze. "I didn’t know anything about you," Huey said softly, "not even your name. Even less what kind of place you wanted to be buried at but I’m sure you like it here better than being left to the dungeon.

He paused, glancing around. One thing he first noticed about this half a day journey away from the dungeon was how it was devoid of monsters. "No monster will desecrate your grave here," he continued. "I’m sure in the world you came from, that must have not been a worry since, my grandfather told me, your world was a monsterless world. But well that’s how it is here… even in death there’s still a way for you to end even more miserably."

Huey knelt by the grave, recalling his grandfather’s stories. His grandfather had come from another than this one, a place where science bent the world to human will, a monsterless world. In his grandfather's diary, he had read about Otherworlders—people offered a chance of redemption and reincarnated into this world from the place they'd been trapped. The entity that freed them introduced itself as K.R.U.L., which his grandfather described as a true god.

"K.R.U.L.," he muttered, remembering his grandfather's description of the entity as a true god. "I wonder…Did you feel the same burden of your mission as my grandfather did? Because I can tell you too failed to complete it. Did you feel afraid to return to that place? … It didn’t look like you were to me… Or perhaps you were, and I couldn’t just see it."

He sighed, feeling down. He wished he could have asked her more about Terra, their original world, and the place they had been rescued from.

"I’ve always wanted to know so much more about him and his people. And the day I found another Otherworlder, like Grandpa, she died before I got to ask any question, just how unlucky I am,” He lamented," He sighed again, "But lamenting this isn’t not going to improve my situation. It’s just a waste of my precious time.”

Casting a last glance at the grave he made for, he said,“I suppose this is where we’re parting ways. It’s truly regrettable that our meeting ended up like this but at least you granted me the ultimate proof I could’ve dreamed about so thank you, and frankly sorry for what happened. I hope you find the rest you deserve.”

On these made his way to his vehicle. He climbed into his two-horses-drawn wagon, ready to head home.

As he made his way outside the dungeon, he noticed something strange, something he initially didn’t see at all. The usual monsters, the Draklars, that should have been outside the dungeon were missing. Dungeons typically produce two types of spawns: one within the dungeon domain and another that roams outside the dungeon's surroundings. The spawns outside are usually the same as those inside, meaning he should have encountered some Draklars. But he did not.

It didn’t raise much suspicion at first; since there's nothing restricting the spawns to a specific area, they can wander around. He assumed that not encountering any monsters outside was just an extra stroke of luck. This should have made him suspicious, but it didn’t. It was only as he continued his way out of the dungeon that he realized the spawns were simply missing.

Despite everything that had happened, he was still planning to mine manacytes. Part of his initial plan was to fill his wagon with low-grade ones that could be found in a safe spot near the entrance. However, the realization that the dungeon's weirdness wasn’t confined to its domain made him abandon this plan.

"No way I'm getting killed in that place," he muttered, focusing on his next destination – home.

The journey home took five days.

He traveled through varied landscapes, stopping only at small villages scattered here and there for rest and food. The path led him through a dense forest, the towering trees casting dappled shadows on the ground, creating a serene and mysterious atmosphere.

He passed by a vast meadow, filled with wildflowers of every color, their sweet fragrance carried by the gentle breeze.

The road then took him along the edge of a sparkling lake, its crystal-clear waters reflecting the sky and surrounding mountains like a mirror.

Further along, he traversed rolling hills, covered in lush grass that swayed gently with the wind, providing a sense of peace and tranquility.

Finally, he moved through a rocky gorge, the towering cliffs on either side echoing the sound of his wagon wheels, making the place feel both grand and imposing.

After seven days of travel, his destination, Ashton, finally came into view.

***

Huey led his wagon down the winding dirt road, finally arriving at the outskirts of Ashton. The town sat nestled in a lush valley surrounded by dense forests, its wooden structures blending harmoniously with the natural landscape. Despite its remote location, Ashton exuded a certain charm, with its timber-framed buildings, thatched roofs, and vibrant greenery. From what could be harvested locally, the town had great potential to become a proper city, but its lack of direct routes connecting it to major cities relegated it to a mere detour, rather than an actual destination.

As Huey approached the center of Ashton, the lively Grand Plaza came into view. The plaza, though not paved with cobblestones, was bustling with activity. Stalls filled with fresh produce, handmade crafts, and various goods lined the area, creating a colorful and inviting atmosphere. The townsfolk moved about with a sense of purpose, their friendly banter and laughter filling the air. Despite its size, Ashton had a tight-knit community, where everyone more or less knew each other and worked together to keep the town thriving.

Huey's destination was a shop known as The Trinketers. As he maneuvered his wagon through the narrow streets, the shop's sign came into view. The two-story building was constructed from sturdy timber. The sign above the entrance featured an emblem that would be unrecognizable to most—a gun and a bullet.

Huey guided his horse to the stable beside the shop, dismounting and securing the reins before heading towards the entrance.

Taking a deep breath, he pushed open the door, the bell above it jingling softly as he entered. The interior was dimly lit, with shelves upon shelves of oddities lining the walls. "You got a client, Charlie!" Huey called out, his voice echoing through the room.

The man behind the counter, namely Charlie, jumped at the sudden noise. In his surprise, he backed up, slamming his head against the shelf behind him, a flask falling right on his head, scattering golden dust on him.

Looking toward the cause of it all, the man—if one could call that a man, as it was more accurate to call what he was an elf, one with black hair and green eyes, with particularly shaped green eyes—looked at him angrily. "Dammit, what the hell was that for? Do you have any idea what that was? The ashes of a thousand-year incub—"

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Huey closed the door behind him. "Is that how you react to a customer? Jumping off like a scaredy cat."

Charlie, looking furious, did the wet dog shake, sending the ashes to fall off, and massaged his head. "Customer my ass," he muttered before looking at Huey with a frown. "What are you doing here?"

"What do you mean what am I doing here? I'm back home, of course," Huey replied.

If one were to describe the shop using comparison, the shop, known as The Trinketers, was an eclectic mix of an apothecary, a trinket shop, and an armory. Shelves lined with potion bottles and scrolls of parchment filled one corner, reminiscent of an apothecary’s workshop. The air was thick with the scent of various herbs and concoctions. Each vial and bottle seemed to hold a story, from healing potions to elixirs of unknown effects—known only by Charlie.

In another section, countless shelves and display cases showcased an assortment of trinkets and curiosities. From intricately carved figurines to delicate jewelry, the collection was vast and varied. Some items sparkled with a hint of enchantment, while others appeared mundane but held hidden secrets. There were ancient coins, bizarre artifacts, and even a few items that defied explanation.

The final area of the shop was dedicated to weaponry and armor. Swords, daggers, and shields were displayed with pride, each piece meticulously crafted and well-maintained. There were weapons for every type of warrior, from finely balanced rapiers to heavy battle axes. Armor sets, both new and old, lined the walls, some bearing the marks of past battles. Most of the objects of this section were what his grandpa called “loots.” They were objects Huey had gathered from continuously challenging the Dungeon.

"You know what I'm talking about. Why are you back already? Weren't you supposed to be out for at least a month?"

Huey walked up to him, sighing. "Unexpected shit happened."

Noticing the face Huey took, Charlie's expression shifted to one of concern. "What happened?"

Huey felt the beginning of a headache at that question. If there was someone he could talk fully about what happened in the dungeon and getting close to understanding the implication of it, it would be Charlie, however he knew it would take at least an entire hour to properly explain everything and twice that considering how nitpicky about details Charlie was. He felt exhausted already, wanting to take a nap first. To avoid getting stuck in a lengthy explanation, he decided to give the bare minimum and leave the rest to his future self.

"Someone died in the dungeon, so I had to bury her, then I decided to go home instead of proceeding as I planned. Which is why I'm back already and in much need of sleep," Huey said, making his way toward the back of the room where the stairs led to his room.

"Huey, Where are you going?"

"Didn't you just hear what I said? I need a nap. A long, long nap."

"No, no, you're not leaving me with just that. You owe me a better explanation than that. And what about what I asked you to do?"

"Oh, that." Huey retrieved a manacyte chuck. It was the size of a fist, glowing mostly blue like most manacytes but with a unique red hue to it. He placed it on the counter.

Charlie frowned. "What's this?"

"You told me to mine manacyte for you, right? Well, this is all that I've been able to mine."

"This is all?" Charlie asked, clearly not pleased.

"Yeah," Huey replied. "If you don't want it, I'll keep it."

"No, I'm—"

Charlie was reaching out for the manacyte chunk from behind the counter when the door opened, causing them both to turn around.

A girl who looked to be around 17 years old burst into the shop, her eyes immediately searching and finding Huey.

Her long, dark hair was tied back loosely, and her face was smudged with soot and sweat. She wore a worn, sturdy outfit with the sleeves rolled up to her elbows, revealing strong, toned arms. Several hammers and tools hung from her belt, clinking lightly with each movement. Her clothes were stained with soot and ash, hinting at her recent work.

Charlie was the first to react, his voice tinged with surprise. "Fia...."

Huey smirked. "Well, well, if it isn't my beloved sister."

The girl’s expression hardened. "Where have you been, Huey?"

"Just ran a little errand." Huey shrugged casually.

"A little errand?" she repeated incredulously. "You've been missing for a week! Mom was worried sick."

"What is there to be worried sick about?" Huey asked, feigning innocence.

"Do you think she doesn't know you went to that dungeon again? How do you expect her not to be worried?" Fia's voice rose in frustration, as she closed in on him.

"Oh, come on, I do that all the time," Huey replied dismissively.

"That's exactly the problem!" Fia shot back. "You do that all the time, and we never know when you're going to die because of it."

Huey sulked. "I've done it plenty of times and haven't died yet. I care a lot about my life, just so you know."

"Not enough, that's for sure." Fia crossed her arms, glaring at him.

Huey made a face, then glanced at Charlie, who was watching the exchange. Fia turned to Charlie, her expression softening. "Hi, Charlie," she greeted with a smile, making the elf blush.

"Hi, Fia," Charlie responded shyly.

Fia turned back to Huey, her tone serious again. "You need to go see Mom. She needs to see that you’re at least alive."

"I'm perfectly alright. Just tell her that," Huey protested.

"You can tell her yourself," Fia insisted. "You're coming with me whether you want to or not."

Huey raised an eyebrow, challenging her. "And how exactly are you going to force me to come?"

Fia's hand moved toward one of the hammers on her belt. "By force, even if you're a Verdenkind. I'll split your skull open if I have to, but Mom's going to see you today."

Huey taunted her, leaning his head forward. "Go ahead, try."

Fia's face flushed with anger, and just as she was about to react, Charlie intervened. "Come on, you two…please stop fighting."

Fia took a deep breath and looked at Charlie apologetically. "Sorry, Charlie. But I have to bring him to our mom. Try convincing him, perhaps this idiot will listen to you better."

Charlie nodded, then turned toward Huey, "Fia's right, Huey. You have to go see your mom."

This traitor... Huey thought to himself. But then he considered the situation. As much as he didn't feel like it, he admitted it was reasonable to do as they said.

He sighed, half-defeated. "Alright, I'll go. But can't I have a little nap first?"

"No," Fia said firmly. "We're going right now."

"You guys have no mercy… I just got back from a very long journey. Can I at least change into some clean clothes?"

Fia looked him up and down, then nodded. "I'll be waiting here. Hurry up."

"Yes, ma'am," Huey replied, casting a glance at his traitorous friend, who pretended not to see it. Huey headed to the back of the shop, climbed the stairs to the second story, and passed by Charlie's room before reaching his own. At the entrance, the skin of a bear-like creature known as a ThunderFlamme Ursus lay stretched out. Once, when it was still a living creature, its fur had shimmered with an almost ethereal glow. Now, serving as a rug, it looked no different from any other carpet.

Upon entering his room, he was welcomed with a familiar and reassuring sight. It was a space that reflected the same character as the shop below. The room was filled with shelves crammed with books, bottles, and various tools, much like a workshop. A large wooden desk sat by the window, strewn with papers, maps, and strange devices. One wall was adorned with maps, notes, and laid-out scrolls—“blueprints” as his grandfather called them. The opposite corner either stashed or hung tools, weapons, and shields of all sorts. Hanging above, attached to the ceiling, were manacytes that cast a blue light, acting as a candle and giving the room a bluish dungeon-like vibe.

The only thing that made the room look like an actual living space was the bed. Everything else made it seem like an extension of the shop. This was for a simple reason: the room, like the shop, had belonged to the same person—Huey's grandpa. He and Charlie had yet to change anything, preferring to keep it as it was when his grandpa was there. They had even added more items, making it look as though his grandpa still worked there.

Huey threw himself onto the bed, for a half a minute he remained there, imobile and actively fighting off the urge to close his eyes and give in to slumber. After a while he turned around facing the ceiling staring at the blue manacyte attached to the ceiling, he retrieved the reddish manacyte that Charlie, distracted by Fia's presence, hadn't noticed Huey didn't hand back. Lying there, he hovered above his face and let his mind drift back to the events of one week ago. The dungeon's weirdness, but most importantly, his encounter with that woman—a fellow otherworlder to his grandfather.

He remembered her last words, which were so clear back then. She had mentioned entrusting something to him. Huey wondered if this manacyte was what she was referring to. He put the violetish manacyte in front of his eyes, trying to see through it. As he examined it, he began to notice something strange, making him mutter, "What the fuck?"