The closer they got to the core chamber, the more Cole started freaking out. He not only told Hazel that he was running the dungeon, but he told her what the dungeon was for too and even showed her the Ember Cavern! What was he thinking? He was definitely going to get a talking to from Dave when he showed up and he deserved it. This was supposed to be the biggest secret in the dungeon and he just blabbed it to Hazel like it was nothing.

He glanced over at her walking beside him with a happy smile on her face. No. It wasn't nothing. Telling her who he really was meant everything. Now there weren't any secrets between them or reasons to avoid seeing her. When she asked Sweet Potato for something, she'd know she was really talking to him. And he could answer her in his own voice.

As they got closer to the core chamber, nerves made his steps slow.

Nobody had ever seen this room besides him and the Daves. His true flame was inside and he had no idea how to explain it. Sorry Hazel, but he was secretly a ball of fire?

"Everything okay?" Hazel asked, pausing outside the door. "You seem unsettled."

Cole shook his head. "Just nervous. There's something I have to explain when we get inside. Something you might find kind of weird."

"Weirder than me being a soul who was wrapped in a cocoon of light before being sent out to level up in a dungeon?" She raised an eyebrow, a smile tugging at her lips. "I think I can handle whatever you need to show me."

"That's fair," Cole said with a laugh. "Welcome to the dungeon's Core Chamber then."

He threw the door open, revealing the dungeon's innermost sanctum. Warm light spilled into the corridor and Cole held his breath as Hazel stepped inside. This was the moment she truly learned everything. She wandered over to the large hearth that took up the majority of the room, trailing her fingers along the outer ring of stones. The flickering flames illuminated her face as she leaned over it, staring at the embers within.

"These look like what's in the walls of the dungeon," she said softly. "Are they connected?"

"Yes. They're how the system sees what's going on." Cole took a deep breath, joining her in the room. "They're how I see what's going on, to be more precise. That fire is me."

She tilted her head, glancing over at me. "The fire is you?"

"Well, not me right now, but usually, yes." Cole stumbled over his words and scratched the back of his head. "I mean, my soul is usually in the form of the dungeon core, which is that fire. My flames fuel the system. This body I'm using now is just a temporary avatar."

He motioned at himself, then shrugged and looked away. There was no way she'd understand or feel the same things he felt for her after learning that. He wasn't human, not like her, and this body was just his way of pretending. Her silence was too much to bear though, so he peeked at her. She was gazing into the flames, holding her hands out like she was warming them. A smile lit up her face and her shoulders shook with silent laughter.

"Sorry," she said, "I just realized why the fire slimes keep piling on you like you're their leader. You're literally made of fire!" Her laughter finally spilled out, filling the room with the wonderful sound. "Remember when they followed you to my cafe like ducklings? Then slime piled you and wouldn't leave your side? Fire knows fire!"

She doubled over like that was the funniest thing she'd ever said and even wiped tears from the corners of her eyes.

Cole couldn't help but laugh with her, shaking his head. "You are so weird."

"What did you expect? For me to freak out and scream because you're a dungeon core?" She gave him a pointed look. "Come on, you know me better than that. I've befriended everything I can in this dungeon, so why wouldn't I befriend a dungeon core too?"

"I guess that's true."

Hazel walked over, putting her hands on his shoulders. "Whether you're a dungeon core or an adventurer, it doesn't matter. You could be a soul still in the cocoon and I'd be your friend. You've more than earned that."

He swallowed hard, daring to meet her gaze. Her eyes crinkled at the edges as she smiled at him. She really didn't find it off-putting at all. She even stood on her tiptoes to hug him. Cole just stood there for a moment, dazed, then wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. Her body felt good against his, comforting.

"Thank you," he mumbled against her hair. "Thank you for being here with me."

Her hands pressed into his back, holding him tight. "Thank you for watching out for me all this time."

They stood like that for a while, just holding each other and smiling. Cole pulled back just enough to see her face, softly lit by the flames. She was beautiful and kind, strange and alluring. All the things he never thought he'd crave, but he did. He was one smitten dungeon core. Hazel bit her lip, a faint pink blush spreading across her face.

A man cleared his throat and Cole leapt back, staring at Dave who held his hands up. "Sorry, sorry, didn't mean to interrupt...whatever that was."

"It was just a hug," Hazel said, her blush growing redder. "What are you doing here anyway?"

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"Cole summoned me." Dave leaned forward, pinning them both down with a stare. "Better question is, what are you doing here?"

Hazel opened her mouth, but snapped it shut. She turned to Cole, as if he would have the answers, but he just circled the hearth, running his fingers along the stones like he'd seen her doing.

Dave sighed. "Not going to tell me then, huh? Well, I suppose her finding out the truth was bound to happen, but did you really need to bring her here?"

"Circumstances demanded it." Cole paused, meeting Dave's gaze. "She sort of broke the automated system."

"Hey, I didn't–" Hazel paused with a frown. "Actually, yes, I did mean to break it this time. But I wouldn't have had to if the dungeon had better classes in the first place."

Dave's eyebrows shot up. "Ohh, so this is about that class change quest then? How'd you break it?"

"I, um, added a trowel to the weapons' table," she mumbled. "I thought it was a great idea at the time! But then failure messages popped up and the sky filled with lightning and we got all ghostly and stuff." She turned to Cole. "We're not ghosts though, right?"

He nodded. "Right. Just souls getting a little rest."

"So, she knows everything then, huh?" Dave shook his head. "Honestly, it's like you're trying to get us in trouble."

Cole winced. "Sorry, but we've got an idea that might help." Dave didn't say anything, like he was waiting for Cole to explain. "Okay, so the reason we keep having issues is because Hazel's class is the only one that gets XP from non-combat skills, right?"

"So what if," Hazel jumped in, "we add other classes that don't need combat skills? Like gardeners and blacksmiths? Then I wouldn't be breaking the dungeon, I'd just be another adventurer with a non-combat class."

Hazel shifted closer to Cole, like they could be a united front if they stood together. He resisted the urge to take her hand, focusing on Dave and the dungeon instead. If they didn't set this up right, everything would fall apart. Her ideas were good though. They could improve the dungeon.

"Just think about it," Cole said. "You more than anyone knows how frustrated some of the adventurers are with their classes. So why don't we do something to change that? To make people happier?"

Dave scratched the base of his horns. "Well, I probably should say because this is how the dungeon's always been and we should keep following the rules, but honestly? I've been having a lot of fun on vacation and it's been so refreshing. If other people can feel that too and still make good progress, then I'm all for it."

Hazel grinned, grabbing Cole's arm. "See? He's on board! We didn't even have to tempt him with good food either."

"Good food? Now there's an idea." Dave tilted his head, studying them. "Okay, I'll help you change the dungeon, but only if you also make the food taste good."

Cole glanced at Hazel, whispering. "Is that okay? Will people still go to your cafe if–"

"Please don't tell me you think my food is only popular because it's the only food that has flavor." She crossed her arms, tossing her braid over her shoulder. "My food can handle a little friendly competition, thank you very much."

Dave laughed in a way Cole had never heard him laugh before, light and carefree. The vacation really had been good for him, like a weight had lifted from his shoulders. Changing the dungeon was the right decision, for all of them, and Cole would do whatever it took to make it happen. If the gods showed up, he'd handle it. As long as they saw the benefits of their plan, they'd go along with it. They weren't vengeful gods, just ones who wanted order and to make sure the dungeons weren't overflowing with souls.

This would work. It had to.

"So what now?" Dave casually leaned against the hearth, as if that was a totally normal thing to do. This new chill Dave was going to take some getting used to. "How many classes are we thinking about? And do we release them all at once or one at a time as new adventurers get classes?"

Cole stared into the flames, watching little snippets of daily life in the dungeon. "All at once. Let's give everyone the option to change their class and make it a big event."

"Like a game expansion," Hazel said, nodding. "I like it. Marvin deserves the first new class though, so let's figure out a gardening class for him."

"Think that's really what he wants?" Cole asked. "Or was that just the easiest way to break my system?"

Hazel chuckled softly. "Both? He seems really happy gardening with the slimes. And he could always change his class again if he doesn't like it, right?"

"Whoa now." Dave held up his hands. "There's got to be a limit. We can't have adventurers changing their classes every day, otherwise they'd never make it out of the dungeon. Keep in mind that that's still our main priority here."

"True, we need to find a good balance." Cole glanced around the room, wishing it had chairs. It wasn't really well suited for human bodies wanting to discuss big ideas. "Resetting to level 1 should prevent too many changes in the higher levels, but it won't prevent it in the beginning, which is where most adventurers get stuck in the first place. Maybe we add other quest requirements that take time to do?"

"That might just add to the procrastination," Dave said. "What do you think, Hazel?"

Her eyebrows pinched together. "What do I think? Are you sure you're the same Dave?"

"Of course, I am. The other Daves wouldn't even entertain this idea. They're a bit tight-laced if you ask me."

Hazel's eyes widened as she turned from Dave to Cole and back again. "Other Daves?"

Huh, apparently he hadn't told her all the secrets yet after all. This dungeon had been around for generations, so telling her everything would take time. Time he'd gladly spend with her, talking and baking and just enjoying their lives together.

"There are many Daves," Dave said proudly. "There's one of us for every safe zone and the tutorial zone, of course. We Daves keep everyone safe and sound, giving them a feeling of familiarity and solid ground."

"Do you share the same memories?" Hazel asked, leaning closer to study him. "You know, I remember thinking you looked fluffier a while back. Was that a different Dave?"

He sighed. "Oh yes, that's fifth floor Dave. We had him deliver the cafe key to you. He likes his fluff."

Hazel laughed. "I have so many questions, but I don't want to leave Marvin and Fiona waiting for too long. So we should probably figure this gardening class out first."

"Agreed." Cole scooted closer to her until their shoulders brushed up against each other. "What did you have in mind?"

She glanced at him sideways, a soft smile on her lips, before lacing her fingers through his. "Something wonderful."

The flames behind them burned brighter than ever before, dancing in the hearth like they couldn't be contained. Cole had found a person to spend his time with and he couldn't be happier.