Morning light filtered softly through the worn curtains of the small tavern room, casting a pale glow over the wooden walls. The once oppressive air of exhaustion had lifted, replaced by a sense of calm, though the weight of the previous day still clung to Kalsei like a shadow.

He lay sprawled out on the bed, his limbs tangled in the blanket, eyes half-closed as the warmth of sleep still lingered. His chest still ached from the Minotaur’s punch, but thanks to Seikan’s healing runes and the Golem’s Core necklace, he had escaped worse. He groaned, stretching lazily, blinking up at the ceiling before turning to face the other bed.

Seikan was already awake, of course. He sat on the edge of his bed, his sharp green eyes focused intently on the relic he had retrieved from Kalsei's inventory while he slept. His fingers traced the edges of the mysterious object, and though his expression remained unreadable, Kalsei could tell his mind was turning with questions. He had seen that look before—when Seikan got like this, it was best not to interrupt unless absolutely necessary.

Kalsei chuckled softly to himself, shaking off the grogginess. "Still at it, huh?" he mumbled, his voice raspy from sleep. He rolled out of bed with his usual lack of grace, landing on his feet with a quiet thud. "Man, you could give an insomniac a run for their money."

Seikan didn’t immediately respond, his eyes still fixed on the relic. The dull, cursed glow that had once surrounded it had faded, but something about it still seemed off. "This relic... it’s not just a simple artifact," he said quietly, more to himself than to Kalsei.

Kalsei padded over, rubbing the back of his neck, the soreness still clinging to him. "Yeah, yeah, ancient evil magic, blah blah. I don’t care what it does, as long as it stays off my neck. I’m starving." He threw on his hoodie, taking a moment to adjust the sleeves before heading for the door. "Come on, Seikan. Let’s get some food before you turn into a statue, staring at that thing."

Seikan slipped the relic back into his pouch, his fingers lingering on it for a moment longer. He stood, his expression as calm as ever, though a small part of him itched to study the relic more. But he knew Kalsei had a point—his mind worked best on a full stomach, and they had much to discuss before deciding their next move.

They made their way downstairs to the tavern's common room, which was quieter than it had been the night before. A few early risers sat at tables, murmuring softly over their meals, and the warm smell of bread and roasted meat filled the air. Kalsei’s grin widened at the scent, his golden eyes gleaming with excitement. "Now this is what I’m talking about," he muttered, sliding into a seat at an empty table near the hearth.

Seikan followed, his movements calm and deliberate as he took his seat across from Kalsei. His gaze flickered around the room, ever vigilant, but for now, there seemed to be no immediate threats. It was a strange feeling to sit in relative peace, after everything they had endured the day before.

Just as Kalsei was about to dig into the bread that had been brought to their table, a soft voice interrupted his thoughts. "Do you need another member?"

Kalsei blinked, turning to see a girl standing beside their table. She had long black hair that cascaded over her shoulders, her skin pale and flawless, her dark eyeliner sharp against her eyes. Her lips, painted a deep shade of black, barely moved as she spoke, her expression cool and detached despite the fact that she was the one initiating the conversation.

He tilted his head, taking in her appearance with a mixture of curiosity and amusement. "Another member?" he asked, the corners of his mouth curling up into a grin. "Like, join this little party of two?"

The girl nodded softly, rolling her eyes as if the answer were painfully obvious. "Naturally. What else would I mean?" she sighed, her voice carrying a hint of boredom, as if this entire exchange was something she had expected to be more straightforward.

Kalsei chuckled, leaning back in his chair. "Well, I didn’t expect to be recruited while chewing on breakfast, but I’m intrigued. And you are...?"

"Steph," she said simply, her voice soft but with an edge of sarcasm. "I’m a healer class." She glanced over at Kalsei’s hoodie, then added, "I can tell you’re another worlder, just like me."

Kalsei’s eyes lit up with amusement, giving her another once-over. Her black nails, dark makeup, and pale skin gave her the perfect goth look, but it was her healer class that made him giggle softly. "A healer? You?"

Steph’s eyes rolled again, her sigh heavy with exasperation. "Yes, a healer. I didn’t pick the class," she muttered, her tone making it clear that she had no enthusiasm for her assigned role.

Unable to resist, Kalsei jumped up and, in true Kalsei fashion, threw his arms around her in an exaggerated hug. "Can we keep her, Seikan?" he asked, grinning ear to ear. "She’s funny, and we could always use a healer. Plus, she won’t take your job—promise," he added with a wink, his usual sarcasm coming through.

Steph stiffened slightly at the unexpected affection, her cheeks flushing a soft pink, but she didn’t pull away. Instead, she sighed again, her tone remaining as bored as ever. "Stop hugging me," she muttered, though she made no move to push him away.

Seikan, who had been watching the exchange in silence, finally spoke up. "Yes, she can join us," he said simply, his tone neutral as ever. He didn’t particularly mind adding another member to their party—especially a healer—but more importantly, it might mean Kalsei would stop making jokes about Seikan’s rune-based healing.

Kalsei grinned, releasing Steph from his hug and plopping back down into his chair. "Welcome to the team!" he declared, pulling a chair out for her. "Have a seat. We were just about to discuss how to save the world—again."

Steph, still slightly flushed, sat down at the table, smoothing her black dress. "Thanks, I guess," she muttered, though a faint smile tugged at her lips. She folded her hands in her lap, casting a quick glance between the two boys. "So, what’s next on the agenda?"

Kalsei leaned back in his chair, his golden eyes sparkling with energy. "Well, let’s see. We broke a town-wide curse, retrieved an ancient relic that Seikan won’t stop staring at, and nearly got squashed by a Minotaur. So, you know, generally anything that's not that. Especially the Minotaur part."

Steph raised an eyebrow, her expression as calm as ever. "Sounds thrilling," she deadpanned, though there was a glint of amusement in her dark eyes. She glanced at Seikan. His lack of engagement had not gone unnoticed by her. "Thoughts?"

Seikan shifted in his seat, his attention still on the relic in his pouch. He had spent most of the night thinking about it, and though they had technically completed the quest, he couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to it than they had uncovered. "I have a feeling we’re not done with the relic just yet."

Kalsei, who had already started tearing into a loaf of bread, paused long enough to shoot Seikan a playful glance. "Still obsessing over that thing, huh? Come on, Seikan, we broke the curse! We’re heroes! Can’t we take a break from saving the world for five minutes?"

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Steph watched the interaction with a small smile, her eyes flicking back to Seikan. "He’s right, you know," she said softly, though her voice carried the usual detached tone. "You need to relax."

Seikan didn’t respond immediately, his fingers absently tracing the edge of his rune-etched cloak. The curiosity burning inside him was hard to ignore, but he knew they needed to regroup, to rest and prepare for whatever came next. "Fine," he said after a moment, his voice calm. "We’ll rest—for now."

Kalsei grinned, raising his bread in mock triumph. "See? Even Seikan knows when it’s time to take a break."

They spent the next hour enjoying a meal, the warmth of the tavern easing some of the tension that had built up over their recent trials. Steph, while mostly quiet, chimed in occasionally with dry remarks, her dark sense of humor fitting in seamlessly with Kalsei’s sarcasm. Seikan remained his usual stoic self, though there was a slight relaxation in his posture as the meal continued.

Once they had finished eating, Kalsei leaned back in his chair, stretching his arms above his head with a satisfied groan. "Alright, what’s the plan? Now that we’re all rested up and fed, I mean."

Seikan glanced at him, his mind already racing with possibilities. The relic, the townspeople, the system—they were all pieces of a larger puzzle, and he needed to figure out how they fit together. "We’ll need to gather more information about this relic," he finally said, his voice steady. "Something about it still feels... off. And we can’t afford to let our guard down just yet."

Kalsei sighed, rolling his eyes but grinning nonetheless. "Of course. More ‘research.’ You’re never going to relax, are you? But fine, I get it. We can do a little digging—after all, we’re the big heroes now."

Steph, sitting quietly across from them, raised an eyebrow at Seikan. "So, what exactly does this relic do, besides looking mysterious and making you look so broody?"

Seikan’s gaze flickered toward the pouch where the relic was stored, his mind turning over the possibilities once more. "It’s hard to say. It was tied to the curse in the Catacombs, but its exact nature... I haven’t figured that out yet. The magic surrounding it is strange, unlike anything I’ve encountered before."

Kalsei leaned forward, resting his chin in his hands. "So, basically, it’s dangerous, and we don’t know why. Sounds like our kind of fun."

Steph rolled her eyes. "Great. An artifact that could probably kill us all, and you want to keep it around for kicks?"

Seikan’s expression remained unreadable, though a flicker of curiosity danced in his eyes. "We won’t hand it over until we know what we’re dealing with. There could be more to this relic than the townspeople realize."

Kalsei, ever the joker, smirked at Seikan. "Oh, so it’s not just because you’re curious about it? You’re not fooling anyone, you know."

Seikan gave him a flat look. "I don’t need to explain myself to you."

Kalsei chuckled, leaning back in his chair. "Alright, alright. I’m just messing with you. But seriously, we’ll figure it out—eventually. Just don’t let it drive you crazy."

Steph crossed her arms, her gaze shifting between the two of them. "So what’s the next move, then? Research the relic, or should we be worried about another Minotaur showing up?"

Kalsei winced slightly, touching the spot on his chest where the Minotaur had hit him. "Please, no more Minotaurs. I’m still feeling that one."

Seikan stood, adjusting the strap of his pouch. "We’ll invstigate the town, gather what information we can, and figure out our next step from there. No more rushing into danger without a plan."

Kalsei gave a mock salute. "Yes, sir. No more heroics without a proper strategy. Got it."

Steph sighed softly but stood as well, her dark hair falling into her face as she pushed her chair back. "Fine. Just don’t expect me to do much beyond healing. I’m not exactly cut out for the whole ‘charging into battle’ thing."

Kalsei’s grin widened. "Hey, no worries. We’ve got enough reckless energy between me and Seikan to keep things interesting."

The three of them made their way out of the tavern, stepping into the cool morning air. The town of Meliora was beginning to stir, with merchants opening their stalls and villagers milling about, their expressions more relaxed now that the curse had been lifted. Kalsei stretched his arms above his head, breathing in the fresh air.

"Alright, time to play detective," he said with a grin. "Let’s see what we can dig up about this spooky relic of yours, Seikan."

Seikan, his expression as calm as ever, nodded. "Let’s not draw too much attention to it. We’ll ask questions, but subtly. The last thing we need is the entire town getting curious about what we found."

Steph raised an eyebrow. "Subtlety? You do realize you’re talking to Kalsei, right?"

Kalsei shot her a playful look. "Hey, I can be subtle! Watch this." He walked up to a nearby merchant, putting on his best innocent smile. "Excuse me, good sir! You wouldn’t happen to know anything about ancient cursed relics, would you?"

Seikan pinched the bridge of his nose, sighing deeply. Steph stifled a laugh, her usual bored expression softening slightly as she watched Kalsei’s antics.

The merchant, a middle-aged man with a grizzled beard, gave Kalsei a confused look. "Cursed relics? Can’t say I’ve got anything like that. Maybe try the temple, though. They deal with... well, strange stuff like that."

Kalsei nodded sagely. "Ah, of course. The temple. Thanks for the tip!"

He rejoined Seikan and Steph, grinning triumphantly. "See? Subtle."

Steph rolled her eyes. "That was the opposite of subtle."

Kalsei waved her off. "Are you sure? It worked, didn't it? Anyway, looks like we’re heading to the temple."

Seikan shook his head, but there was a faint hint of amusement in his eyes as he followed after Kalsei. The three of them made their way through the town, weaving through the narrow streets as they headed toward the temple on the far side of Meliora.

As they walked, Seikan couldn’t help but glance at the pouch hanging from his side, the relic tucked safely within. His mind was still racing with questions, but one thing was certain: the relic was no ordinary artifact. He could feel the lingering traces of magic, the faint pull it had on his own abilities.

Steph, walking alongside him, seemed to notice his preoccupation. "You’re really obsessed with that thing, huh?" she asked softly, her tone still carrying its usual hint of sarcasm.

Seikan didn’t respond immediately, his eyes flicking back to her. "It’s... unusual," he admitted after a moment. "I’ve encountered many kinds of magic, but this... it feels different. And that concerns me."

Kalsei, who had been walking ahead, spun around to face them, walking backward with his hands clasped behind his head. "Well, whatever it is, we’ll figure it out. We always do. And hey, if it turns out to be cursed, at least we’ve got a healer now!" He winked playfully at Steph.

Steph huffed, crossing her arms over her chest. "Don’t count on me for everything. I’m not some miracle worker."

Kalsei laughed, turning back around and continuing toward the temple. "Sure, sure. But you’re still going to save my butt when I do something reckless again, right?"

Steph rolled her eyes, but a small smile tugged at her lips. "Only because it’s my job."

The temple was an ancient structure, its stone walls worn by time but still standing strong. Tall, narrow windows lined the sides, letting in streams of colored light that danced across the floor. Kalsei whistled softly as they entered, taking in the quiet, almost reverent atmosphere.

A priest, garbed in simple robes, greeted them as they stepped inside. His expression was kind, though his eyes held a wary glint. "Welcome, travelers. How may the temple assist you?"

Seikan stepped forward, his voice calm and measured. "We’re seeking information. Recently, we encountered a cursed relic within the Catacombs. We were able to break the curse, but the artifact remains... unusual."

The priest’s eyes widened slightly, his demeanor shifting from one of cautious politeness to concern. "A cursed relic, you say? That is no small matter. Such artifacts often carry dark histories—and dangerous consequences."

Seikan nodded. "That’s what we’re trying to avoid. We don’t intend to keep it, but we need to know what we’re dealing with before we hand it over to anyone."

The priest stroked his chin, deep in thought. "I see. If you’ll allow it, I can examine the relic. Perhaps I can provide some insight."

Kalsei glanced at Seikan, raising an eyebrow. "You gonna let him take a look, or are you too attached to your new toy?"

Seikan hesitated for a moment, then slowly reached into his pouch, pulling out the relic. He handed it to the priest, who took it with the utmost care, his fingers brushing over the smooth surface.

The priest’s brow furrowed as he studied the relic, his eyes narrowing. "This is... no ordinary artifact," he said after a long moment. "The magic here... it’s old. Very old. And dangerous. I’m afraid I can’t tell you exactly what it does, but I can sense its power."

Steph, standing to the side, crossed her arms. "Well, that’s helpful," she muttered dryly.

Seikan’s eyes narrowed slightly. "Is it safe to hand over to the town’s authorities, or should we be more cautious?"

The priest hesitated, then shook his head. "I would advise against giving it to just anyone. Such power... it could easily be misused."

Kalsei groaned, rubbing the back of his neck. "Great. So now we’re stuck with it."