The morning sunlight filtered through the window of Lorelai’s dorm room, casting warm streaks across her rumpled sheets. She sat up slowly, groaning as the tangle of her silver hair fell in wild disarray around her shoulders. Her hands immediately flew to smooth it out, but the chaotic state of her braid was the least of her problems. Her cheeks burned as fragments of dreams resurfaced—impossible to ignore, impossible to forget.
Thrax, his molten-gold eyes gleaming with that infuriatingly smug grin, had been everywhere in her dreams. Aeryn, with her graceful, predatory movements and teasing smirks, had been just as present. The worst part wasn’t the memory of them; it was the way she had responded. Every stolen glance and whispered taunt had haunted her dreams as vividly as they had during the dungeon ordeal. She splashed water on her face at the washbasin, willing the coolness to chase away the lingering warmth in her cheeks. Even as she dressed, she couldn’t completely shake the images that had danced through her dreams.
Lorelai meticulously brushed her silver hair until it was free of the knots and tangles from her restless slumber. She replaced her sleek braids that she wore for combat with a wavy hairstyle that took advantage of her semi long hair, it framed her face and cascaded neatly over her shoulders. She inspected her reflection, tugging at her leather jerkin and pants to straighten them out, ensuring everything was perfect. Today, she’d be polished, confident, and ready to reclaim her dignity.
By the time she reached the cafeteria, the hubbub of the morning routine was in full swing. Students bustled between tables, and the clatter of dishes and hum of conversation filled the air, Lorelai felt their gazes on her but kept her expression cool and composed. She spotted Aeryn and Thrax at a corner table and approached them.
“Morning, Sunshine!” Thrax greeted, his grin as infuriatingly charming as ever. He tore into a loaf of bread with gusto. “Don’t you clean up nicely.”
Aeryn’s crimson eyes flicked up from her cup, a faint smirk curling her lips. “Indeed. Someone’s making an effort today. Special occasion, Lorelai?”
Lorelai raised an eyebrow, feigning nonchalance. “Not at all. Just felt like looking presentable for a change.”
Before Lorelai could respond, or roll her eyes, she noticed someone approaching the table. A young man from her year, clutching a folded note, hesitated a few feet away before summoning the courage to step forward.
“Um, miss?” he stammered, his cheeks flushed.
She blinked, caught off guard. “Yes?”
The boy thrust the note toward her with both hands, his face practically scarlet. “This is for you!”
Lorelai accepted the note cautiously, her fingers brushing the crisp parchment. The boy mumbled something unintelligible before darting away, leaving her staring at the folded paper.
“Wow,” Thrax said, his grin widening. “Fan mail already?”
“Interesting,” Aeryn murmured, her eyes gleaming as she leaned closer. “What’s it say?”
Lorelai unfolded the note, her face heating as she read the confession inside. Before she could respond, another boy appeared, holding out his own note.
“This is for you, Lorelai!”
Then another, within minutes no less than five young men nervously handing her folded confessions. Lorelai’s face turned a deep crimson as the stack of notes.
Thrax, for his part, looked torn between amusement and irritation. He leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. “I didn’t realize you were so popular, should I start a fan club?”
Aeryn’s smirk only deepened as she sipped her hot blood tea. “Jealous, Thrax?”
“Not at all,” he replied smoothly, though his molten-gold eyes flicked toward the latest admirer with a sharp edge. “Just wondering where all these guys were yesterday when we were fighting that overgrown plant-cat.”
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Lorelai, thoroughly mortified, failing to regain control of the situation slumped back in her chair, burying her face in her hands.
Aeryn chuckled, resting her chin on her hand. “Quite the morning for you, roomie. You might want to invest in some nice undergarments.”
Lorelai groaned loudly. “Why is this happening?”
“Because you’re stunning,” Aeryn said, her tone matter-of-fact.
“And,” Thrax added, his grin returning, “because those guys probably saw you naked yesterday and think they’ve got a chance with you.” He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial tone. “Not that I blame them. You do look spectacular today.”
Lorelai kicked Thrax's shin from underneath the table and she shot him a withering glare, though the blush creeping up her neck betrayed her. “Can we focus on the dungeon now?” she snapped.
“Suit yourself,” Thrax said, rubbing his shin, “but speaking of excitement, what’s the plan for today? Those dungeon doubloons aren’t going to spend themselves.”
Aeryn tapped her fingers on the table, her expression shifting to something more thoughtful. “We need to be smarter this time. Start with the bulletin board, figure out what we missed last time, and track down a vendor. No more surprises.”
Lorelai nodded, grateful for the change in subject. “Agreed. Let’s focus on preparing for the next run.”
After breakfast, they headed to the academy’s central hall, where the bulletin board was pinned with a chaotic array of notes, maps, and warnings. Lorelai scanned the postings, her mind beginning to settle into the rhythm of strategy and planning.
“Here,” she said, pointing to a map detailing the second dungeon floor. “The second floor seems to change between three different environments; the stone caverns, the jungle we were just in, and a mountainous region filled with harpies. That one may be quite the challenge, only Thrax can fly and only for a brief while."
"Well, we do have our repertoire of ranged attacks, we should be ok," Aeryn analyzed.
“Perfect,” Thrax said, leaning over her shoulder to examine the map. His proximity made her acutely aware of the warmth radiating from him, and she straightened abruptly to put some distance between them.
Aeryn, ever perceptive, arched a brow but said nothing. Instead, she plucked a warning notice from the board. “Looks like we’re not the only ones planning an excursion. There’s a rival team, that goes by the name Black Fang. It says they’ve been ambushing others for supplies and other such atrocities.”
“Great,” Lorelai said, frowning. “As if the dungeon wasn’t enough of a challenge on its own.”
Thrax’s grin widened, his confidence practically radiating. “Let ’em come. I could use a warm-up.”
“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that,” Aeryn said, folding the warning into her pocket. “We stick to the plan. No unnecessary risks.”
The academy students had heard whispers about Black Fang; merciless, cunning, and opportunistic. One of the dungeon rules is that whichever team kills the boss or monster is the one to receive the loot, they go around the dungeon sniping the kills which, when left unchecked by instructors, grants them the loot and robs the other team of a decent amount of experience. Since they wait back and effectively snipe kills, the other teams are usually too exhausted to fight them over it.
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Meanwhile, in a dimly lit corner of the academy library, a member of the Black Fang, Daven, sat alone. His dark eyes glinted as he stared down at the confession note he had written earlier but hadn’t yet dared to deliver. The parchment trembled in his hand before he crushed it into a ball and shoved it into his pocket.
Lorelai had haunted his thoughts since yesterday, he saw her entering the academy grounds in all her glory, barely covering herself to get his attention. It had worked, the curve of her figure and the way her silver hair caught the light like liquid moonlight. Seeing her chest bounce and her hips sway yesterday hypnotized him into obsession.
“She’ll never take you seriously, Daven,” he muttered bitterly to himself, leaning back against the bookshelf. “Not unless you make her.”
The plan was already taking shape in his mind. The dungeon provided the perfect cover; where danger and chaos are aplenty, opportunity lies. His team would venture into the same area, and he’d ensure their paths crossed. It wouldn’t be hard to separate her from the others. Even though Thrax and Aeryn seemed formidable, and with the right tactics, he was confident they could be neutralized. And once Lorelai was alone...
His pulse quickened at the thought. He shook his head, trying to steady himself. “Focus. She’s not like the others. She’s not some trophy to take.” But even as he said it, the thrill of conquest burned in his chest.
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Back at the academy’s central hall, Lorelai and her team finalized their plans. Aeryn’s sharp eyes darted over every detail of the dungeon map, pointing out traps and potential shortcuts. Thrax offered his usual bravado-filled commentary, confident they could outmaneuver any obstacle.
Lorelai, however, couldn’t shake the strange unease creeping through her. She glanced around the hall, half-expecting to see someone watching her, but the crowd seemed preoccupied.
“You’re awfully quiet,” Thrax said, nudging her shoulder lightly. “Something on your mind, Lil’ Dragon?”
“I’m fine,” she replied, brushing off the nickname. “Just thinking about the Black Fang. We need to stay on our guard if we run into them.”
Aeryn gave a small nod of agreement. “We will be careful, but just because they're opportunistic doesn't mean they're strong. Stick together, and we’ll be fine.”
Despite their reassurances, Lorelai couldn’t shake the feeling that someone, somewhere, was already making plans to ensure that sticking together wasn’t an option.