Before leaving the dungeon, Nyx approached the treasure chest that appeared after the Voidshade Amalgam’s defeat. It was sturdy and unassuming, with faint engravings that glimmered faintly in the dim light of the boss chamber. She knelt down, brushing her fingers over the cool metal, but didn’t open it.

“Uriel,” she murmured, her voice steady despite her exhaustion. “Can you store this?”

“Of course,” Uriel replied, its tone as calm and precise as always.

Nyx watched as the chest shimmered with a radiant silver glow, vanishing before her eyes.

The sensation of the dimensional space unfolded in her mind, a surreal vision she hadn’t been prepared for. The space within shimmered like liquid starlight, an infinite expanse where reality seemed to bend and flow. Intricate runes floated in a slow, deliberate orbit around the boundaries, glowing softly in hues of white and violet. Each rune pulsed with ancient energy, resonating with the very essence of magic.

Nyx’s amethyst eyes widened in awe. “I didn’t know you could do that.”

“Dimensional storage is one of my integrated abilities,” Uriel explained. “A secure space outside of conventional reality. It ensures the preservation and safety of your belongings.”

Nyx shook her head slightly, a faint smile tugging at her lips. “You’re full of surprises.”

She stood, dusting herself off as the reality of her surroundings returned. The air in the dungeon was still and heavy, but the weight of the battle had lifted.

“Let’s get out of here,” she said, her tone lighter now.

The cool evening air hit her as soon as she exited the dungeon, a welcome contrast to the oppressive energy of the labyrinth. The sky above was painted in hues of deep blue and violet, the first stars twinkling faintly.

It was late—almost night—and the quiet hum of crickets filled the air. The farmland stretched out before her, the soil marked with the remains of slime attacks.

Nyx sighed, her eyes scanning the area. A few stray slimes still lingered near the edges of the fields, their gelatinous forms quivering as they sensed her presence.

“I guess we’re not done yet,” she muttered, drawing her twin blades.

Len and Ryu materialized beside her, their forms shifting like shadows under the faint starlight. Without needing instruction, they moved in sync with Nyx, slicing through the remaining slimes with swift precision.

The slimes didn’t stand a chance. Their gelatinous forms quivered in fear as they were cut down, one by one, magic stones clinking softly as they fell to the ground. Len and Ryu moved seamlessly, picking up the stones and handing them to Nyx as she worked.

It didn’t take long to finish clearing the fields. By the time the last slime had fallen, the stars above shone brightly, their silver light illuminating the now-silent farmland.

Nyx tucked the final stone into her bag and exhaled deeply. “That’s it,” she said, more to herself than anyone else.

Len and Ryu stood silently beside her, their forms fading slightly as they awaited her next command.

“Good work,” she said softly, patting their shoulders before they disappeared back into her shadow.

By the time she reached the village, lanterns had been lit, casting warm glows across the cobblestone streets. Nyx made her way to the guild hall, the familiar hum of activity greeting her as she stepped inside.

Near the entrance, Till stood anxiously, his bright blue eyes scanning the room until they landed on her. He rushed over, his expression a mix of relief and exasperation.

“Nyx!” he called, his voice loud enough to turn a few heads. “Are you okay? Did you get hurt? What happened?”

Nyx raised a hand to calm him, a faint smile softening her features. “I’m fine, Till. Just tired.”

“Just tired?” Till echoed, his hands on his hips. “You went into a dungeon all by yourself, Nyx! That’s not just tired, that’s—”

“Till,” she interrupted gently, her smile widening slightly. “I’m okay.”

He let out a long sigh, muttering something under his breath about reckless friends, but his shoulders relaxed.

As Nyx approached the counter, the room grew quieter. Whispers rippled through the gathered hunters, their gazes fixed on her.

“She cleared the dungeon?” one murmured.

“By herself?” another added, incredulous.

“Albeit a slime dungeon,” someone else chimed in, though their tone still carried a note of respect.

Lyssandra was waiting for her at the counter, her sharp features softened by a rare smile.

“Nyx,” she said warmly, gesturing for her to step forward. “I see that you’ve finished clearing the dungeon, hopefully no injuries was caused?”

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Nyx nodded, placing the bag of magic stones on the counter. “It’s done and no injuries whatsoever,” she said simply.

Lyssandra opened the bag, her eyes widening slightly at the sheer number of stones. She glanced up at Nyx, a hint of amazement flickering in her gaze.

“You’re full of surprises, aren’t you?”

Nyx shrugged lightly, a faint smile tugging at her lips. “Just doing my job.”

Behind her, the guards who had seen her off earlier stood near the entrance, their expressions a mix of disbelief and admiration.

“She really did it,” one of them muttered, shaking his head. “The kid’s something else.”

The farmer who had escorted Nyx to the dungeon stepped forward, his hat clutched in his hands. “Thank you, little miss,” he said earnestly, his voice thick with gratitude. “You’ve saved us. I don’t know how we’ll ever repay you.”

Nyx gave a small nod, her tone steady but kind. “Just keep an eye out for more slimes. If they come back, let the guild know.”

Lyssandra cleared her throat, drawing Nyx’s attention. “The reward will be ready tomorrow,” she said. “Come back then to collect it.”

Nyx nodded. “Alright. I’ll be here.”

With that, she turned toward Till, who was still hovering nearby. “Let’s go,” she said softly.

He fell into step beside her, his worried expression slowly giving way to his usual cheerfulness. “You did great, you know,”

he said as they walked toward the orphanage. “I mean, I was worried out of my mind, but… you’re amazing, Nyx.”

She glanced at him, her lips curving into a faint smile. “Thanks, Till.”

The streets grew quieter as they approached the orphanage, the warm glow of its lanterns welcoming them home. As Nyx stepped inside, a sense of calm settled over her. The day had been long, but she felt a quiet pride in what she had accomplished.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The next morning, Nyx adjusted the hood of her cloak as she stepped out into the crisp air. The village buzzed with activity, carts rattling by, townsfolk rushing about with bundles of cloth, flowers, and decorations in hand. She paused, tilting her head curiously. It wasn’t usually this busy so early.

“What’s going on?” she murmured under her breath, her amethyst eyes glinting faintly beneath the veil.

Uriel’s voice hummed in her mind. “Likely preparations for something significant. Best not to linger on it now.”

Nyx nodded, adjusting the small pouch at her side and making her way toward the guild.

The guild hall was lively as usual, hunters gathered in groups, their voices a blend of boasting and laughter. But as Nyx entered, a ripple of whispers spread through the room. She ignored the stares, her steps steady as she approached the counter where Lyssandra waited.

Lyssandra spotted her immediately, her warm smile a welcome contrast to the murmurs in the hall. “There you are,” she said, her voice soft yet clear. “I’ve been waiting for you. Come, let’s settle your reward.”

Nyx stepped closer, watching as Lyssandra pulled out a small pouch and placed it on the counter. The soft clink of coins within caught her attention.

“This is based on the amount of magic stones you brought back,” Lyssandra explained, pushing the pouch toward her. “You’ve earned two gold coins and five silver coins. Quite the haul.”

Nyx’s fingers brushed the pouch as she picked it up, the weight of it heavier than she expected. She nodded, her voice quiet but firm. “Thank you.”

Behind her, the hushed murmurs of the hunters grew louder.

“She really cleared the whole dungeon? Alone?”

“Probably exaggerated. No way a kid pulled that off.”

“Slimes or not, that’s ridiculous.”

“She’s just a kid. Something’s not right.”

Nyx glanced over her shoulder, catching a few hunters narrowing their eyes at her. Their disbelief and jealousy hung thick in the air.

Lyssandra leaned in slightly, her voice low but reassuring. “Pay them no mind,” she said, her gaze firm. “If anyone gives you trouble, let me know. I’ll make sure it’s handled properly.”

Nyx nodded, her grip on the pouch tightening slightly. “I will.”

Uriel’s voice resonated in her mind, calm yet firm. “Lyssandra is right to warn you, but heed my advice as well. Avoid further dungeon raids for now. Your success is drawing attention, and that could lead to questions you’d rather not answer.”

Nyx hesitated before replying silently, “You think they’ll figure out what I really am?”

“It’s possible,” Uriel said. “And if they do, it won’t end well. For anyone.”

Nyx exhaled softly, nodding to herself. “I’ll lay low. For now.”

After thanking Lyssandra once more, Nyx slipped the pouch into her cloak and left the guild.

The village’s activity hadn’t slowed by the time she returned. Nyx wandered past the bustling market stalls, her eyes scanning the crowd. She hadn’t seen Till all morning, which was unusual.

Her search led her to the village chief’s home, where she spotted him carrying a bundle of colorful fabric. He looked up just in time to see her approach, his face lighting up.

“Nyx!” Till called, setting the bundle down.

She crossed the distance quickly, her brows furrowed slightly. “Where have you been? I’ve been looking for you.”

Till chuckled, brushing dust off his hands. “Sorry about that. I’ve been helping out. The town’s getting ready for the Half Celestial Festival.”

Nyx tilted her head. “Half Celestial Festival?”

“You’ve never heard of it?” Till asked, his blue eyes widening. “It’s a celebration of the harvest season, to pray for good crops next year. There’s dancing, singing, traditional outfits, and—oh! A fire show too. It’s the best part.”

Nyx’s expression shifted, curiosity brightening her eyes. “That sounds… fun.”

Till grinned. “It is! We do it every year. The whole town comes together to make it happen. Actually—” he paused, rubbing the back of his neck, “—do you want to help? There’s a lot to do, but I’m sure they wouldn’t mind extra hands.”

Nyx nodded without hesitation. “I’d like that.”

Till’s grin widened. “Alright then! Let’s get started.”

For the rest of the day, Nyx found herself swept up in the preparations. She helped Till carry decorations, stringing up vibrant banners across the village square. She strung garlands with the children, carried heavy crates of supplies, and even tasted a few festival pastries offered by the village baker. For a moment, it was easy to forget the weight of her secrets and the danger lurking just beneath the surface.

But as the sun dipped lower in the sky, a strange sensation prickled at the edge of her awareness.

Uriel’s voice broke through her thoughts, cold and foreboding. “Something is coming.”

Nyx froze mid-step, her amethyst eyes narrowing as she scanned the horizon. The lively chatter of the villagers faded into the background as her senses sharpened.

“What is it?” she asked silently.

Uriel’s tone darkened. “I don’t know. But it is neither friendly nor far away. Be vigilant.”

Nyx’s grip tightened on the garland in her hands. For a brief moment, she considered brushing off the warning, but the chill in Uriel’s voice left no room for doubt.

“Nyx!” Till called, snapping her out of her thoughts. “You okay?”

She turned to him, forcing a small smile. “Yeah. Just… tired. I think I’ll head back to the orphanage soon.”

Till frowned but nodded. “Alright. Don’t push yourself too hard, okay? The festival’s tomorrow. You should rest.”

Nyx nodded, though her mind was already elsewhere. As she walked back toward the orphanage, the vibrant colors and cheerful laughter of the festival preparations felt distant, almost surreal.

As Till walked her back to the orphanage that evening, he glanced at her, a teasing smile playing on his lips. “You looked like you were actually having fun today.”

Nyx gave him a sidelong glance, her voice quiet but amused. “Maybe I was.”

“See?” Till said with a laugh. “You’re not all daggers and dungeons. You’ve got a soft side.”

Nyx shook her head but didn’t argue.

When they reached the orphanage, Till paused at the gate. “Hey, Nyx?”

She turned, her gaze questioning.

“Thanks for helping out today,” he said, his voice sincere. “It meant a lot.”

Nyx nodded, her lips curving into a faint smile. “Goodnight, Till.”

“Goodnight,” he replied, watching as she slipped inside.

The shadows seemed deeper, the wind colder. Whatever was coming, Nyx could feel its presence, like a storm gathering on the horizon.

And it was only a matter of time before it arrived.