It's been a week since we got Anna's staff back and the events of those days still echo in my mind. The journey we embarked on, not only brought us together as a group, but also shaped us as individuals. Anna, who provides support with her determination and sometimes sharp mind. Monika, whose pragmatic thinking and unerring instinct always saves us from tricky situations. And then there's me. Sometimes I wonder how I got into this group, what my place is, in this new world, where everything is so different.

We were on our way to the next town, when a woman's shrill scream startled us. It was a call that cut through the air and immediately put us all on alert. We quickly ran towards the direction the scream came from and came upon a fearful scene.

A carriage surrounded by four goblins, their ugly grimaces and shaking weapons circling a slightly wounded animal like a hyena.

“Do you see that too?” whispered Anna, her eyes narrowing dangerously as her hands tightened around her staff. Her resolve was evident, when she slowly leaned forward, ready to cast a spell.

Monika wordlessly drew her shortswords. The calm but deadly expression in her eyes revealed that she was already inwardly analyzing the goblins weak points. Lately, Monika had remained silent and inconspicuous, but when the right moment came, she was very energetic to attack. Her ability to grasp the situation and react with precision made her a strong fighter and an indispensable member of our group.

I, on the other hand, felt a tingling in my fingers. It was the mixture of nervousness and adrenaline that always rose in me when a fight was imminent. Although I could rely on my skills, I felt naked without a weapon. But at that moment, there was no time to think about it. Those goblins had to be stopped.

“Let's go, we have to help!" I shouted ambitiously, suppressing my uncertainty.

We charged forwards, and the goblins didn't notice us until it was too late. Anna shot a flaming ball that ignited one of the goblins and brought it to its knees, while Monika attacked the next one with quick steps. I attacked the third goblin, using my Skill and tore through its leather armor with a powerful movement. The fourth goblin, who had hidden behind the carriage, tried to ambush us, but before he could start his attack, Monika had already killed him.

The elderly couple in the carriage breathed a sigh of relief when the danger was over. The woman, a petite lady with silver hair, falling like a veil over her shoulders, looked at us through tears in her eyes.

“You saved our lives...” she said in a trembling voice.

I turned to her and tried to keep my tone calm.

“Alright, that clears the way now. You are safe.”

The elderly gentleman, his eyes shining with gratitude, stepped alongside his wife and added: “How can we ever repay you? We have nothing valuable with us, but please, let us at least thank you in some way.”

“Oh no.” I turned down the offer. “It's not worth mentioning. We're just doing what any decent person would do in this situation.” I could see the relief on their faces, that was thanks enough.

The couple got back into their carriage, still visibly moved, thanked us again and then drove on. Anna, who always wore her heart on her sleeve, waved happily after them.

“Have a good trip!” she shouted happily, like she could just wipe all the heaviness and danger away.

I watched her thoughtfully for a moment, then realized that we had to move on too.

“We should slowly set off too,” I said, taking one last look in the direction the carriage had taken.

Monika, who was often the one to critically question our plans, paused and looked at me skeptically. “Um... I hate to ruin your joy, but... Weren't those travelers also on their way to the next town?”

For a moment, an unsettling silence settled over us. I tried to process her words, but it took me a moment to realize what she meant. My heart skipped a beat.

“Wait!!!” I suddenly shouted as I realized the meaning of her words. In a mixture of panic and desperation, I ran as fast as my legs would carry me. We couldn't let the carriage leave us, since we had no other way of reaching the town quickly.

I reached the carriage with my remaining energy and stopped it, out of breath. “Please... could we... could we get a ride?” I panted, and when the elderly couple, who had gratefully shaken our hands earlier, nodded immediately and helped us to get in. When we were finally seated in the carriage and the silence of this ride faded, I couldn't help but to think about what I had just experienced. A quiet dissatisfaction gnawed at me, something I had successfully ignored until now.

“I noticed something during the fight earlier...” I said, feeling the knot in my stomach slowly loosen as I said the words. Monika turned to me, her eyes piercing and full of interest. “Like what?”

I hesitated, suddenly feeling unsure. “Well, Anna has her staff, and you have your shortswords. And what do I have? I've only fought with my hands so far.” It wasn't easy to say. But it had to be mentioned. How much longer could I go on without proper equipment?

Monika, who often had a pragmatic view of things, nodded thoughtfully. “Now that you mention it, you're right. You need some equipment. Without a weapon, you'll be in trouble, the next serious confrontation.”

Equipment, it sounded so simple, and yet it was complicated. When I reincarnated into this world for the first time, I magically received a standard set of equipment. It consisted of an , an and . But when I became Kaito, these items suddenly disappeared almost like they never existed. They had simply vanished into thin air and I hadn't seen them since.

While I was lost in thought, Anna suddenly spoke with an enthusiasm that could only come from her: “Let's go shopping then!”

I blinked in surprise, not just because of that word alone, but that she knew it. “Shopping?” I repeated, unsure of what she meant.

Anna nodded vigorously. “Yes, certainly! You not only need weapons, but also new clothes. My hero can't wear such an... uh... 'outfit' like that.” She cast a meaningful glance at my tattered shirt, which barely looked like one. Monika agreed with her. “That's right, he's just wearing this ridiculous shirt.” Her grin showed that she was enjoying her little joke, and I couldn't help but feeling a bit embarrassed.

I sighed softly. “Nrgh... Did you have to say that?”

After driving for about three hours through a picturesque, although long, stretch of road, we finally reached the next town. The high stone walls towered imposingly above us and the gates were manned by guards who waved us kindly in. The elderly couple who gave us such a generous ride, were kind enough to drive us straight to a weapon store. We said a grateful goodbye to them when we stepped out.

In front of us was an old but solid weapon store, its signs scarred by the wind and weather. The windows were narrow, and you could only catch a glimpse of the inside through the panes.

“Alright then.” I said and opened the door, which announced our arrival with a slight ting-ding.

“Welcome to my store. What can I do for you?” asked a chubby man in an apron and goggles, standing behind the counter. He, had a full, thick beard that gave him a rustic look.

“I'm looking for a weapon,” I said firmly and looked around the store. Weapons of all kinds were lined up on the shelves and on the walls. Swords, axes, daggers, bows... an impressive collection that would make any adventurer's heart beat faster.

“Well, let's see what I've got for you.” The shopkeeper scrutinized me from top to bottom. “Do you have a preference?”

I was about to answer with 'sword', but then I changed my mind. “I'm not sure... Maybe something that sits well in the hand and is versatile?”

Monika and Anna stood next to me and watched with growing curiosity.

“Something for close combat, but also useful for ranged combat? Hmmm...” The shopkeeper seemed to ponder and then began to rummage through the shelves. Finally, he pulled out an elongated weapon. “How about this?” he asked, showing me a slender, silver blade that looked almost like a cross between a sword and a lance. “This is a Naginata. A hybrid between a lance and a sword. It has the reach of a lance and the mobility of a sword.”

I took the weapon in my hand and felt the weight and balance. It felt... right. Like it was exactly what I had been looking for without knowing it. “This could be it.” I said, my voice firm.

“Then I guess it's settled.” said Monika with a sharp smile.

Anna jumped for joy. “Wonderful! Now my hero has become even stronger!”

With renewed courage and a newly acquired weapon at my side, we left the store. The town in front of us was alive with people going about their business and merchants selling their wares. There was a sense of adventure in the air, and this time I felt ready to face whatever was to come.

Full of pride, with my new sword on my back, we strolled through the bustling streets of the town. The sun was high in the sky and its rays cast a warm glow on the colorful facades of the buildings. Anna and Monika walked on in front of me, and I could see them talking enthusiastically about the displays in the shop windows. It didn't take long before we stopped in front of a large clothing store.

“That's the place!” exclaimed Anna, pointing to the shop window where magnificent robes and robust adventuring gear were displayed. “Here's where we'll find what we're looking for!”

Monika nodded in agreement and Anna pulled me by my arm. “Time for new clothes! Then you can say goodbye to this disgusting shirt.” Monika said to me.

“All right, all right,” I mumbled as I followed them into the store. In my head, I was already going through the possible scenarios that could play out in the next few minutes. From experience, shopping with Anna and Monika was a double-edged sword; it could either be a quick and painless experience or turn into a seemingly endless torture.

Inside, we were greeted by a friendly store owner with a broad smile. He was a short, chubby man with a bushy moustache that gave him an unmistakable charm. “Welcome, welcome! Are you looking for something specific?”

“This guy here, with no style whatsoever, urgently needs new clothes,” Monika explained without further ado and pushed me forward. “Something to match his status as an adventurer.”

The shopkeeper looked me up and down and then nodded like he already knew exactly what I needed. “Ah, I see. Something fashionable but practical. Please, have a look around. We have an excellent selection.”

Anna and Monika immediately pounced on the shelves, while I followed a little unsteadily behind them. It took less than five minutes for the two of them to select a pile of clothes for me. They pressed the items into my hands and energetically pushed me towards the changing rooms.

“Please try this on first!” Anna called out, while Monika nodded.

I sighed inwardly, but I was not going to start an argument. So I did as I was told and put on the first outfit. It was a long, blue robe with golden knitting that made me look like a magician. When I pushed aside the curtain of the changing room, Anna looked at me with a sceptical eyes.

“Too noble,” she eventually said. “You're not a mage, but a warrior!”

The second outfit consisted of a light leather armor with shoulder pads and a cloak. It was much more practical, but Monika frowned when she saw me in it. “Hm, that's better, but somehow there's still something missing.”

I changed my clothes again and this time came out in a light traveling cloak, combined with a plain shirt and sturdy trousers. I also wore gray boots adorned with something resembling, say, a mini-belt to fasten the boots. It was simple, but it had a certain charm.

“That looks much better,” Monika said approvingly. Anna nodded eagerly. “Perfect for my hero!”

I turned in front of the mirror and looked at my reflection. It felt just right. The coat was made of a thick, black fabric that shimmered slightly in the sun, even with my fluffy tail I had no problems and there was no need to tailor a hole in it to fit. The store owner said that this coat was a special design for demi-humans and that there was a kind of empty space inside the coat, so that their tail didn't stick out. Convenient, in my opinion, and it doesn't feel a bit weird either, so I quickly got used to it. I also had a shirt underneath, which was a bold dark blue that made an interesting contrast. The boots were comfortable yet sturdy, perfect for long hikes and adventures.

“All right.” I eventually said, unable to suppress a small smile. “I'll take that.”

Monika and Anna were both shining with satisfaction, and as I put my travel bag back on, I noticed Monika give my new coat a quick tug and then quietly say, “It looks really good on you.”

“Thank you,” I said with flushed cheeks and nodded to her. It was a simple gesture, but I could feel that it was important to her.

After we had paid, we left the store. I felt not only changed on the outside, but also strengthened on the inside. With my new sword and in my new outfit, I was ready for whatever was coming.

“How much money do we have left?” Monika asked when we were back on the street.

I pulled out my wallet and opened it. “Three gold coins and twenty silver coins,” I replied, after sneaking a look in my item box to save myself the trouble of counting. “Not much at all. Does anyone have any idea how we can get some money?” I asked the group.

Monika was the first to answer. “We could go to the Adventurers' Guild and take on a quest.”

“Adventurers' Guild?" I repeated, feeling my interest piqued. I wondered why I hadn't thought of it before. Even in the games I used to play, joining an adventuring guild was one of the first steps you take before you can go on an adventure and call yourself an adventurer. This sounded like a perfect opportunity to not only earn my first money through quests, but also to practice my skills.

“Yes, I'm sure we can find something suitable there,” Anna added, nodding enthusiastically. “I think accepting a quest would be the best choice.”

“Okay.” I agreed.

“Then we'll go to the Adventurers' Guild. But before we go... Do you both have your Guild Card with you?” asked Monika.

Anna grinned proudly and pulled her card out of her pocket. “Of course I have.”

“What's a Guild Card?” I asked, confused. The two of them looked at me in disbelief, like I had just asked them what water was.

“With a Guild Card, you can accept quests from the Adventurers' Guild,” Monika explained patiently. “The card is also used to display your status and register your achievements. If you don't have one, you'll have to get one.”

“Got it.” I said and nodded. “ I'll get a Guild card then.”

“Great!” exclaimed Anna enthusiastically. “Next stop: Adventure Guild!”

So this is the Adventure Guild. As we stepped through the heavy wooden doors, we were immediately greeted by a lively and bustling atmosphere. The hall was filled with voices, the clink of weapons and the murmur of conversation filled the air. Adventurers of various ages could be seen everywhere, either talking to their companions, checking their equipment or discussing their next missions.

“Wow, so many people.” I murmured in awe as I looked around the room with wide eyes. It was overwhelming to see all the different personalities in one place, each one of them looking like they had their own story to tell.

“Let's apply for Kaito's Guild Card at the front desk.” Monika suggested, taking aim at a particular spot in the room.

“Yes, we should do that.” I agreed, although my eyes were still wandering back and forth between the various figures in the hall. I could hardly concentrate on one thing, there was so much to see.

The reception desk that Monika was aiming for was manned by a young girl who looked almost doll-like. She had long, blonde hair that fell in soft waves over her shoulders and eyes of such a clear blue that they seemed almost crystalline. Her uniform was perfectly groomed and appeared to be part of the guild. A red hat sat slightly askew on her head, matching a red and white jacket with gold buttons and a plain white skirt. Under the counter, only her legs could be glimpsed, presumably in white stockings, but this remained hidden by the countertop.

“Welcome to the Adventure Guild. How can I help you?” Her voice was soft and polite, almost melodic.

“That one needs a Guild Card.” Monika replied promptly, pointing at me.

The girl nodded and pulled out a form, which she handed to me with a smile. “Please fill out this form.”

“Okay.” I replied and took the paper. But when I picked up the pen, I paused. Wait a minute. I could read the writing, thanks to the automatic translation in my head, but writing in this foreign language? Not a chance. I started to panic. What should I do now?

Maybe my writing would change if I wrote normally in my own language. It was possible. I concentrated on the form again. I mentally scanned through it.

Name: Kaito

Age: 16

Profession:

Profession? A brief hesitation came over me. Did I even have a profession in this world? I opened my status window to check. A chime sounded and the blue transparent display appeared, showing my status.

Name: Kaito

Level: 12

Job: Wanderer, fighter, salamander conqueror

Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

HP: None

MP: None

ATK: None

DEF: None

CRIT: None

ITEMS

SKILLS

I am level 12 now? Not bad. My job had changed too. But ? What was that supposed to mean? I shrugged my shoulders and simply entered and in the appropriate field.

The next question was my origin. Should I just enter ? For a moment I was unsure, but then I decided to go for it. Whatever.

Origin: Japan

And that's it. I handed the completed form to the receptionist. She took it and skimmed the contents. Suddenly she furrowed her brow and looked at me with a questioning look.

“Excuse me, but I have a question.”

“Yes? Is there a problem?” I asked, feeling a certain tension building up in my chest.

“You wrote ‘Japan’ under ‘Origin’. Where exactly is this Japan? I've never heard of it.”

Damn. That's exactly what I was afraid of. Come on, Kaito, think! I put on my best poker face and answered as calmly as I could.

“It's a faraway place in the east.” I remembered some manga where that sentence had often been used. It better work here too.

“Oh, I see. Then everything is fine.” she said reassuringly. “Now please hold your right hand over this crystal so we can check your status.”

The receptionist pulled out a crystal ball that glowed mysteriously in its soft light. I hesitantly placed my hand over it, wondering if this sphere would actually show my full status.

As soon as I placed my hand over the sphere, it began to glow in all the colors of the rainbow. But instead of my status, only a single word appeared, written in red letters.

What the... Error? Like this was a computer.

“That's strange.” said the receptionist, frowning. “Please try again.”

“All right.” I replied and held my hand over the ball again. Once again it began to glow and then it reappeared:

Of course it did. Goodness knows.

“So don't I get a Guild Card now?” I asked, trying to hide the annoyance in my voice.

“No, no, that just means that we were unable to check your status. But don't worry, you'll get your Guild Card. The Guild just wants to make sure you're strong enough to fight monsters.”

“Don't worry, he's strong enough.” Monika suddenly said from the background, with a confident grin.

“My hero fought a giant salamander and won!” added Anna proudly.

“I- I see." the receptionist stuttered a little uncertainly. “Please wait a moment, I'll be right back.” She disappeared into a neighboring room.

It took her several minutes to return, holding a small card in her hand. “Here's your official Guild Card. Congratulations.”

“Thank you,” I said, accepting the card. It felt cool and slightly heavy, like it was made of metal, not plastic like a credit card. My name, age, profession and origin were engraved on it. I finally had my Guild Card and could accept quests!

I turned to Monika and Anna and proudly held the card out to them.

“Congratulations, my hero.” Anna said with a big smile.

“Congrats.” Monika added in a monotone.

“Thanks. Now shall we look for a quest?”

They both nodded and we made our way to the quest board to look for a quest with a big reward. It was a large board with countless quests on it, from simple errands to dangerous monster hunts.

Let's see what we have here...

Hm, nothing special. But then something interesting caught my attention.

“How about this one?” I pointed to a quest.

“NEVER!!!” Monika and Anna shouted in sync.

“No Slimes!” added Monika with a shudder.

“Those things are so disgusting!” Anna grimaced in disgust.

“But it pays well,” I argued, but my words seemed to fall on deaf ears. The two girls rushed up to me almost simultaneously and spoke firmly: “No way!"

“A-all right. I get it.” I raised my hands in defense. Honestly, I knew exactly what would happen if we had accepted this job. A big part of me hoped that maybe we could try it after all.... Too bad, maybe next time, Mr. Slime.

Just as I was saying goodbye to the disappointed imagination, another quest caught my eye. “Monika, Anna, take a look at this!” I pointed to one of the quests again.

“If that has anything to do with Slimes again, I'll punch you,” Monika threatened, and I winced. Monika and Anna read through the quest.

Both girls exchanged a glance and nodded.

“That sounds better,” Anna agreed.

“What do you think, Monika?” I asked.

“Let's go!” she grinned.

Together we accepted the quest and made our way to the exit of the guild. The town, outside, was just as lively as the hall we had just left. Street merchants offered their wares, children ran around laughing between the market stalls, and the smells of freshly baked bread and herbs filled the air.

“So, where exactly is this goblin cave?” I asked as we walked through the town.

Monika pulled out a small map that she had apparently taken from the guild. “It's a few hours from here, deep in the forest. We should be careful, this forest is known for its dangers.”

Anna nodded in agreement. “Yes, it gets scary there, especially at night. But we're well equipped, so we should make it.”

I could feel my heart beating faster. This wasn't going to be my first dangerous adventure in this world, but I was still overcome with nervousness. I had already fought the salamander, but who knows what else awaited us in this goblin cave except for the sandworm.

When we reached the western town gate, we stopped briefly to check our equipment. Monika checked her shortswords and took a good look at her supplies of medicinal herbs and other useful items. Anna made sure that her staff was undamaged and that her magic crystal, which was attached to the staff, could absorb mana. I drew my sword, called Naginata, from the sheath hanging on my back and looked at the blade, its glistening silver flashing in the light of the bright sun.

“Ready?” I asked the others.

“Ready,” Monika and Anna replied.

With one last look at the town behind us, we entered the dense forest. The sounds of civilization quickly faded and were soon replaced by the rustling of leaves, the creaking of old trees and the occasional chirping of a bird. The paths became narrower and the undergrowth thicker the further we went. The walk to the goblin cave was tiring, and the sun gradually began to dip towards the horizon. The shadows of the trees grew longer as time went on and a cool breeze whispered through the leaves. Eventually we reached a clearing where we took a short break.

“We should be careful, goblins are sneaky enemies, as we saw earlier.” Monika warned as she looked around.

“Yes, they may be small, but they often attack in groups.” Anna added, holding her staff with both hands.

I took a deep breath and tried to suppress the nervousness that was building up. “I'm ready. Let's get this done.”

As we approached the cave, we noticed that the entrance was lined with several broken bones and old, rusted weapons, an ominous sign of what awaited us. A musty smell hit us and the darkness inside the cave seemed almost impenetrable. Monika pulled out a small lantern and lit it. The warm light flickered across the uneven walls, revealing scratch marks and primitive drawings that were obviously made by the goblins. But strangely, there was no sound of goblins, no scratchy voice, no rustling of small feet.

“Where have they all gone?” whispered Anna, looking around skeptically.

A queasy feeling spread through me. The goblins were known to defend their caves aggressively. The fact that we hadn't seen a single one so far was more than unusual. They seemed to have left the cave in a hurry or been forced to leave.

“Perhaps... the sandworm scared the goblins away,” Monika muttered as she inspected the walls of the cave more closely.

Anna swallowed. “That's not a good sign.”

I nodded silently and drew my sword. The thought that something powerful had taken over this goblin cave made my heartbeat faster.

We went deeper into the cave and the silence around us became more oppressive. There was no sound except the occasional drip of water from the walls and the crunching sound of our footsteps on the uneven floor.

Suddenly, without warning, I felt a strange sensation in my chest. My heart began to beat faster and a cold sweat broke out on my forehead. Like an invisible hand was clutching my heart, squeezing it and sharpening all my senses. An intense dizziness came over me and my head felt like it was about to burst. A bright light broke through the darkness in the cave, but it wasn't coming from the lantern. It flickered inside my mind's eye, blinding me for a moment, and then I saw it... a sword. A mysterious sword, surrounded by an indescribable aura, almost like it was forged from light itself. It seemed to float in the air, far away and yet frighteningly close. The light emanating from it pulsed in time with my heartbeat, trying to tell me something.

“What is that...?” I whispered, unable to take my eyes off the sword. It seemed to be calling me, to be alive, to have a consciousness that longed for me.

The light became more intense, almost overwhelming, and I had to blink to collect myself. When I opened my eyes, the vision was gone, but the feeling of unease remained.

“My hero? Are you all right? You're so pale in your face.” Anna's voice sounded worried but also tense as she turned to me. Her eyes sparkled in the light of the lantern that illuminated the cave.

“It's... It's nothing.” I managed to say, even though I knew that wasn't true. “Let's just keep going.”

Monika looked at me skeptically, but she nodded eventually. “If you say so... Just so you know, this cave is no place for fooling around.”

We continued on our way, but the feeling that something was wrong, remained. It was like something, or someone, was waiting for us in the darkness, watching us, following each step we took.

After a seemingly eternal time, we finally reached a large room. The walls here were higher, almost like an underground hall, and the ceiling was barely visible. Strangely, the room was almost empty. There were no signs of life, no goblins, no sounds other than our own breathing and the occasional drip of water.

“That's... strange.” Monika muttered as she looked around. “This is where the sandworm should be, right?

“Maybe it escaped.” Anna suggested, but her voice sounded uncertain.

It was weirdly quiet, too quiet. The room in front of us was vast, and yet there was nothing to indicate the presence of a creature as large as a sandworm. No scratching, no growling, not a single sign of being in imminent danger.

“No.” I denied Anna's reasoning and sensed an ominous aura. “He's here. I know it.”

At that moment, the ground shook beneath our feet. It was a quiet but steady vibration coming from underneath us. Then I heard it... a dull, rumbling sound that seemed to come from the depths of the room. It was like the echo of distant thunder slowly approaching.

“There! Look at that!” Monika suddenly shouted, pointing to a spot at the end of the room.

We all turned around and what we saw froze us. The floor began to bulge as if something huge was pushing up underneath. The moment lasted only seconds, but it felt like an eternity. Then the ground broke open, and with a thunderous roar, the sandworm rose from the earth. It was gigantic, even bigger than I had imagined. Its massive body was covered in thick scales that glistened in the dim light of the cave.

“That... that's the sandworm!” I stammered, my heart sinking into my pants.

Monika and Anna were speechless, and I could feel the panic rising inside me. This was an opponent we could never beat in our lifetime, at least not with our current resources.

The sandworm let out another deafening roar that made the walls tremble. Then it turned its attention to us and raced towards us.

“Get back!” I shouted and leapt forward, my sword in my right hand, ready for a counterattack. I quickly held the sword to the left side of my body, trying to change the sandworm's course. At least that was my plan, but as soon as the silver blade of the hybrid sword touched the monster's hard scales, I saw something metallic fly past me.

The sandworm ran past me and I stood there petrified like a statue. My eyes looked questioningly at my right hand, where there was nothing but a meaningless piece of metal, a symbol of helplessness.

“Ah.”

The more I stared at the broken blade in my hand, the more I realized how powerless we were against this creature. The remains of the blade fragment sparkled in the dim light of the cave, but they offered no solace. Meanwhile, the sandworm raced towards us again, but it seemed to be faster than we thought.

“Retreat!” I shouted as the monster came closer.

Both nodded and ran ahead. But before I could follow them, the worm rushed at me with one last mighty advance. I jumped to the side, just in time to avoid its mouth, with thousands of razor-sharp fangs, but the force of its movement made the walls of the cave tremble. The sandworm then plunged back into the ground with a thunderous rumble, and the earth gradually calmed down. The danger seemed to have passed, but the feeling of powerlessness remained. The broken sword in my hand was useless, a testimony to our failure.

“We have to get out of here,” I said, panting, my voice barely more than a whisper. Monika and Anna nodded mutely, and without another word we began to retreat towards the cave exit, the oppressive silence broken only by our hurried steps and the rustling of the sand beneath our feet.

On the way out, I again felt that strange tingling sensation on the back of my neck that had worried me before. It was like someone, or something was watching me, following me, but when I looked around, there was nothing. Just the dark, silent tunnels of the cave.

Suddenly, voices reached my ears. Quiet, barely audible, like a whisper that seemed to come from the shadows. Pull me. Use me. Said this voice, while my heart felt like it was being clutched by something again, and that a particularly strong aura was lingering nearby. I wanted to stop, trying to find the source of these phenomena, but I kept walking.

The voice faded, and the feeling of presence became weaker the further we ran along the tunnel. Finally, we reached the cave entrance, the yellow-red glow of the almost-setting sun welcoming us as we stepped outside. The slightly warm air and the familiar sound of the wind were a welcomed relief after the oppressive darkness of the cave. Monika then turned to me, her eyes gleaming with anger and incomprehension. “What the hell was that, Kaito?” she asked sharply, the tension of the last few hours drained from her voice. “Just because your sword broke, you're running away? The other day, you were fine without a weapon when you fought the salamander. So why are you so cowardly now?”

“Stop talking to my hero with such a tone! How could he have known that this sword would break?”

“It's all right, Anna. Monika's right.”

I looked at the broken sword in my hand, the symbol of our, no, my defeat. “I thought I was strong enough and could manage things on my own, but I was wrong.” I admitted honestly as I looked at the broken pieces. “The sword... It was weaker than I thought. And those strange voices... I don't know what it was. It was like... Like something was watching me.”

Anna took a step closer, her brow furrowed. “Voices? What kind of voices?”

“I don't know,” I repeated, shaking my head. “At first I thought it was just my imagination. But when we were walking through the tunnel just now, I felt a strange presence for the second time.”

“Does that mean you really want to go back into the cave and look for this... Something?” Monika asked me, her voice breaking through the oppressive silence that had settled around us. I could see the concern in her eyes as she scrutinized me. Monika was the more sensible of us, the one who weighed up the risks before she acted. And now I stood here, intent on returning to this dark cave from which we had narrowly escaped.

A storm was raging inside me. The events of today ran in an endless cycle across my inner eye. The sandworm, the broken sword, the lost battle, none of that gave me any peace. But it was more than that. Deep in my chest, I felt an inexplicable call, an unbearable pull that drew me back, deeper into the unknown, where darkness reigned. But how could I explain to Monika that it was something more than just curiosity that was pushing me?

“Yes.” I answered. The word left my lips almost automatically, but I knew there was no other way. My voice was firm, I wanted her to know, that I had not made this decision lightly. A twinkle flashed in Monika's eyes, revealing that she had recognized my decision, even if she perhaps thought it, was insanity.

She sighed heavily, like someone who knows there's no point in discussing it further. “Then let's go to the cave again tomorrow.” she said as she continued to give me a stern look. “It's about to get dark, so we should get back to town and find a place to stay.” Her pragmatic attitude was admirable, and I was grateful that she kept a clear head even in this situation. I couldn't help but feel a wave of gratitude that overwhelmed me. Without giving it a second thought, I reached for Monika's hands, my fingers trembling slightly. “Thank you, Monika!” The words came from the bottom of my heart.

Monika's face immediately flushed and for a moment she seemed speechless. But this surprise quickly faded from her typical temperament. “What are you doing? Are you stupid?!” Her voice cut through the air before I could even react.

Suddenly, her fist hit my face with such force that I immediately lost my balance and landed roughly on the cold ground. The hit was unexpected and I felt the pain immediately, but at the same time I couldn't help but laugh at my own stupidity.

“I'm sorry,” I mumbled as I rubbed the sore spot. Monika was standing over me, her hands on her hips, but there was a hint of relief in her eyes, as if she had been worried about me despite everything.

----------------------------------

The next morning, we set off for the cave again. The night had been short and my sleep restless. My thoughts kept circling around this inexplicable call that wouldn't let me go. As we stood in front of the entrance to the cave, it seemed even darker and more threatening than the day before. The stone walls seemed to move like living creatures, waiting to devour us.

“When we were here yesterday, I estimated the rough length of the cave,” I said as I pierced the darkness that lay before us. “The cave is about a kilometer long, and that aura I sensed was at about five hundred meters, so around the middle.” My voice echoed off the walls, as if the cave itself was trying to swallow my words.

Anna, who was walking behind me, held her staff tightly. Her usually reckless and overactive manner was tinged with an underlying nervousness today.

“I just hope we don't run into the sandworm first,” she said quietly, but I could hear the fear in her words. The sandworm had shaken us all to the core, and the memory of its gigantic form and the looming danger it posed was still all too vivid.

“That would be bad,” I agreed with her. “But this time we have to be ready...” My words were interrupted by a sudden, piercing pain that shot through my head. It felt like someone was cutting through my thoughts with a red-hot knife.

"Nrgh!"

“My hero!” Anna's worried voice came through to me, but it seemed distant, like it came from another world. A strange, tantalizing voice echoed in my head. It called out to me, like it wanted to pull me to it.

Come to me... Use me... The voice was soft, seductive, but also heavy and oppressive. It filled my mind, crowding out everything else. I couldn't recognize the source of those words, but they felt real, as something alive was standing right in front of me.

“Damn, this pain! Where is this aura coming from?” My words sounded desperate as I held my head and chest, trying to locate the source of the pain. It felt like my skull was about to crack. But suddenly I realized something... the aura I felt was very close. My eyes wandered around frantically, searching for the source until I finally found it. The aura was stronger from my right side than from my left. “It's coming from there...” I whispered, my voice trembling as I pointed to, what appeared to be, an ordinary wall. But I knew instinctively that there was more there than we could see.

“Behind there.” I whispered, my hand trembling as I pointed to this unremarkable wall.

Monika and Anna looked at me with questioning eyes, but before I could explain anything, Anna stepped forward. “Step back! I'll do it!” she raised her staff, which suddenly lit up in a glowing, red-colored light. “Fire Ball!”

With one fluid movement, she formed a glowing ball of fire that shot towards the wall with incredible speed. The impact was tremendous, and the wall shattered in a cloud of dust and debris, but fortunately the cave did not collapse as a result. When the dust settled, a narrow, dark passage was revealed behind it.

“That's...” Anna began, but Monika finished the sentence for her, ”...a corridor.”

Without hesitation, we stepped into the darkness. The pain in my chest became unbearable the further we went, as the thing that was calling me waited for me right behind that wall. The corridor was narrow and the air heavy, almost stuffy. Every step felt like we were going deeper into the unknown, into a place that wasn't meant for us.

Finally, we reached the end of the corridor. In front of us was a small room, sparsely furnished. An empty bookshelf stood against the wall, an old desk with yellowed papers on it and a lonely, dusty chair. Everything looked abandoned, forgotten, as a place where no one had been for years.

“Where are we?” Anna asked in confusion as she looked around.

“It looks like a study.” Monika replied thoughtfully as she surveyed the room, ”But what is something like this doing here?” Her voice was calm, but I could hear the tension in it.

“What are we going to do now, my hero?” Anna's voice sounded worried, almost pleading, but I could barely think straight. The pain was so intense that it almost brought me to my knees. But I knew we were in the right place. The thing that had called me was here, in this room.

“It must be here...” I mumbled, almost to myself, as I looked around the room in a daze.

Then I heard it again. The voice that was calling me, clearer and more distinct than ever.

I'm here...

Without me being able to control it, my body began to move on its own. My hand reached out, as an invisible force guided it, and touched a spot on the wall. The movement was mechanical, almost instinctive, as something inside me knew exactly what to do. A soft click was heard as I pushed one of the bricks into the wall. A hidden mechanism was triggered and the wall in front of me began to move with a low rumble. The floor trembled slightly beneath our feet as a hidden door opened, filling the room with a blinding light.

“What's happening here?” Monika shouted in shock, her voice sounding panicked as the light illuminated the room. It was like the darkness itself was receding, but the light didn't feel warm or welcoming, it was harsh, almost painful.

“My hero!” Anna's panicked voice reached me, but I froze, unable to react. The light enveloped us, and I felt how something that had been calling me, was finally revealed. At that moment, I knew there was no return.