Clover’s gaze followed me as I extinguished the fire and began packing up camp. She’d been watching me since we woke up, her head nestled into my neck, my arms wrapped tight around her waist. Despite the grief trailing me like a shadow, a bubble of contentment pressed against my ribs. Everything was far from alright, but at least I wasn’t alone.

When Clover’s stare lingered after I finished packing, my armor in place and sword strapped to my side, I faced her and offered a smile that was only partially forced. “I know you’re worried about yesterday, and I appreciate it, but I got plenty of sleep, thanks to you. I'm not great, but in time, I'll be fine.”

The concern in her gaze lightened a bit as she took my hand, squeezing lightly. “I’m glad I could help. Let me know if you want to talk.”

Talking was the last thing I wanted to do, but I nodded, not wanting to spurn her genuine offer. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

She let go and picked up her pack, winking playfully over her shoulder to lighten the mood. “I don’t know about you, but that was the best night’s sleep I’ve had in years. If you have no complaints, I’ll be commandeering you as my personal portable furnace from now on.”

This time, my smile was genuine. “No complaints from me.” Sleep would probably continue to elude me, but if she was alright with our sleeping arrangements, I was more than happy to continue it.

Resolutely, I ignored the scorpion and the side room as we passed back through the third floor. Clover hovered nearby, her presence an anchor as we stopped in front of the stairwell leading down. Oppressive, dry heat slapped me across the face, growing worse the further we descended. Sweat built under my armor, sticking my clothes to me like a second skin as I set foot on the fourth floor.

I tugged at my chest plate, trying and failing to pull the rapidly warming metal away from my throat. “I don't like this,” I muttered, running a hand through my sticky hair with a grimace.

The heat down here was something else. Clover rolled up the sleeves of her robes and nodded. “Neither do I. I assumed the last level was warmer because of that scorpion, but this is a new degree of heat. Either we're about to face more of those menaces, or there's an exposed lava source somewhere down here.”

My stomach rolled. “For both our sakes, I'm hoping for the latter.” The memory of burns prickled along my back like needles, the sweltering heat of my armor reinforcing it. I shoved it aside to focus on Clover.

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She snorted. “I'm right there with you. I don't like monsters my magic is useless against, and those scorpions are something else.” She eyed my armor with a frown. “If it gets much hotter, you won't be able to wear that.”

I'd been trying not to think about that…

I sighed. “I know, but let's hope it doesn't come to that. I don't relish the idea of fighting the dungeon boss without it.”

Considering how tough fighting the scorpion was with my armor… it wouldn't be a fun time for me. Before the thought could spiral, I forced my focus to the present and strode forward, taking in the new level as we went.

Just like the last one, there were no enemies, and the hair on my neck stood to attention the further we went. Dungeons were dark and usually undisturbed, prime spots for monsters to spawn. Up until now, every floor had them. The lack of even the Deep Rats made my skin crawl.

The scorpion wouldn't have fit through the staircase to get down here, so what killed all the monsters?

Each room was much the same; Giant Spiders lined the walls, flipped on their back and curled inward. The stale scent of rot clogged my lungs, gaining strength the further we walked. When we wandered through the fourth empty room, I stopped short and frowned. “Am I the only one with a bad feeling about this?”

Clover shook her head, “No, it isn’t just you. Something had to have killed all these Spiders, but they don’t have the markings a scorpion would leave.”

Which meant we were up against something new. My knowledge of dungeon-dwelling monsters was nearly nil, and if Clover's furrowed brows were any indication, she was in the same boat. That wasn’t comforting, given the kind of things we’d dealt with so far. Enemies always got stronger the deeper into a dungeon you went, but what could possibly be worse than that scorpion?

It would have to be flame-resistant to live down here, unless this temperature came from the creature itself.

We didn’t have any information on this, but I knew a certain spirit who might. Turning inward while Clover examined the walls for traps, I reached for the invisible presence.

Spirit?

The responding hum was immediate. Yes?

It didn’t have the same urgency or dread as when we’d faced the scorpion. Hopefully, that was a good sign…

Do you have any ideas for what we’re about to face?

This time their response took longer.

The scorpion you fought is native to the Incendiary Dunes, in the Inbetween. It is rare for such things to move to Nexus without some kind of inciting factor. Be wary. I do not sense the presence of any creatures not born of Nexus, but they could be cloaking their presence.

Most monsters weren’t capable of that kind of spell, and the thought that we may be facing off with one who was didn’t help my unease.

Right…thanks.