The dungeon was silent and the shadows did not stir.

"We're clear." Cyrus shot a look at Jinyoung. Even in the darkness of the underground subway station, everyone saw it. Especially Hana.

"Johann, scout ahead and make sure we're alone here. Take Seah with you as backup. Be back in five minutes."

The two of them nodded and quietly made their way down the stairs until they disappeared from sight.

"I'm going to backtrack and check out some of the alternate pathways. You two stay here."

It was standard practice for parties to split up when scouting a dungeon. Two players venture ahead to make sure there weren't any monsters nearby while one backtracks to check some of the smaller branches that they skipped. And in the middle, two players hold down a temporary base and act as backup if anyone gets into trouble.

Hana knew all that. But she also knew she messed up and Cyrus left her to be scolded by her big brother.

She sighed. "I know I messed up."

Jinyoung looked at his little sister. Hana was growing into a capable adventurer, but she was still a kid. And it's hard to be mad at a kid.

"Okay, then. Where did you mess up?"

"I should've pulled my swing so I didn't cut into the floor and make all that noise."

Jinyoung smiled in the dark. "And?"

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She looked back at him. "There's more?"

"Yes, you could've been quieter. In fact, cutting its head off would've taken less effort and resulted in less noise, but that's not it. Everyone makes mistakes in the field. That wasn't the problem."

Hana was quiet as she thought back. She remembered getting into position and marking her target. Watching for Cyrus' signal and then making her own move. The weight of her shield as she ran, the resistance when she cut through the monster and then the rattle when her sword tip hit the ground. Then...

image [https://i.imgur.com/Qwo7zF4.jpg]

"I froze."

Jinyoung nodded, knowingly. "You should've brought your shield around and gotten back into a ready position. Next time you make a mistake like that, worry less about what just happened and more about what comes next."

Then she heard it. Or felt it. It was hard to explain, but Hana whirled on her feet and looked back the way the team had come. Back through the darkness. She couldn't make it out through the inky shadows, but something was there. Watching.

A voice drifted at the siblings through the darkness. "Well, at least we know your senses work."

Slowly, Cyrus walked into view thoroughly pleased with himself.

"Give 'em a break, Cy." From the other end, Johann ambled up the stairs followed by Seah. "You don't have to worry none, lil' sister. We've cleared loads of dungeons just like this one. Otherwise, we'd have never brought a froshie along."

Hana looked at Johann questioningly.

"We've been on ride-alongs with other cadets for their tests, too. It's a tradition. By the time you get to senior status at the academy, anyone worth their salt 'as already been through at least ten dungeons. Normally, we'd have brought along a sophomore, but Jinyoung 'ere was blathering on about wanting to be there for his lil' sister's first level-up."

"My first-"

Hana’s hand flew up to cover her mouth and she realized what was going on. She quickly activated her status screen and saw it.

Hana Shin

No Class - Level 2