They walked down the road toward the city gates. The sound of people grew louder—voices, carts, tal armor, and animals. After days of silence and danger, it felt strange to be back among normal life.
Guards at the gate noticed them and straightened.
"Adventurers?" one guard asked, looking at their gear.
"Yes," Rhys replied calmly. "The mountain dungeon is cleared."
The guard looked surprised. "Already?"
Caria shrugged. "Wasn’t easy."
After a short check, the guards let them through.
Inside the city, everything felt busy and alive. rchants shouted prices. People moved through the streets. Food slls filled the air.
Puddle looked around in wonder. "So many people. So many slls."
Lyra smiled slightly. "Welco back."
They headed straight for the guild hall. The familiar building stood strong, lanterns hanging by the door.
Inside, the receptionist looked up. Her eyes widened when she saw them. "You’re back already?"
Rhys nodded. "Dungeon cleared. All guardians defeated. No remaining threats."
She studied their faces, then nodded seriously. "I’ll mark it as complete."
She paused. "Anything unusual?"
Rhys shook his head. "Nothing that concerns the guild."
She accepted the answer. "Very well. Your reward will be processed."
Caria exhaled. "Finally."
After finishing the report, they stepped outside again.
Sophia looked relieved. "That’s done."
Aria nodded. "And no questions we couldn’t answer."
Lyra crossed her arms. "Good."
Rhys looked at the group. "We rest today. Tomorrow, we plan our next move."
Caria grinned. "Food first."
Puddle raised both little tendrils. "Food!"
They walked toward the inns together, tired but steady.
The mountain was far behind them now.
But none of them had forgotten it.
And none of them doubted they would return one day—stronger, ready, and together.
They chose a familiar inn near the main road. It was warm inside, with wooden tables, soft light, and the sll of cooked at.
Caria dropped into a chair right away. "I’m not moving again today."
Lyra sat across from her. "Agreed."
Sophia placed her staff against the wall and relaxed her shoulders. "This feels good."
Aria looked around, alert out of habit, then finally sat down. "No danger here."
Puddle floated above the table, excited. "Food soon?"
A server ca over. "What’ll it be?"
"Everything," Caria said without hesitation.
After a short while, plates filled the table. Hot soup, bread, at, and drinks. Everyone ate quietly at first, enjoying the simple comfort.
Rhys watched his team as they ate. Tired, but smiling. Safe.
Sophia spoke after a while. "What should we do next? Another dungeon?"
Aria shook her head. "Not right away. We need ti. Training. Information."
Lyra nodded. "And to stay low. If the mountain really is a seal, we don’t want attention."
Caria wiped her mouth. "Fine by . I could use a break."
Puddle floated happily. "Rest ti!"
Rhys nodded. "We’ll stay in the city for a while. Take small jobs if needed. Get stronger. Stay ready."
Everyone agreed.
Outside, the city carried on as normal. People laughed. Lights glowed. Life moved forward.
Far away, hidden by distance and cloud, the mountain remained silent.
And the secret stayed with them.
They stayed at the inn for a long while after eating.
Caria leaned back in her chair. "I forgot how good normal food tastes."
Lyra nodded. "No ice. No monsters. Just food."
Sophia smiled lightly. "We earned this."
Puddle floated in slow circles, clearly full. "City nice. Warm. Loud."
After resting, they rented rooms for the night. Nothing fancy—just clean beds and solid walls.
Later, Rhys gathered everyone in one room.
"We’ll take tomorrow easy," he said. "Sleep in. Then we check supplies and gear."
Aria agreed. "I want to study what I felt on the mountain. Not the danger—just the structure of the magic."
Sophia nodded. "I’ll recover mana fully and adjust my spells."
Lyra added, "I’ll keep an eye on the city. If rumors start spreading, we’ll know."
Caria cracked her knuckles. "And I’ll eat. A lot."
Puddle floated proudly. "Puddle help by resting!"
That night, everyone slept deeply.
No dreams of ice. No pressure. Just quiet rest.
The next morning, sunlight filled the inn. The city woke slowly, unaware of how close it was to sothing far greater.
Rhys stood by the window and looked outside.
For now, life was normal.
Rhys stepped away from the window and turned to the others as they slowly woke up.
Caria yawned and stretched. "I could get used to this. Beds beat frozen rocks."
Lyra sat up and checked her gear out of habit. "City sounds are loud, but I prefer them to howling wind."
Sophia rubbed her eyes and smiled. "Mana feels full again. That helps."
Aria was already awake, sitting quietly. "The mountain’s magic is still in my thoughts. Not calling us—just... present."
Puddle floated near the ceiling, cheerful. "Morning again! Food ti?"
"Yes," Caria said imdiately. "Food ti."
They went downstairs and ate breakfast together. Simple food, but filling. People around them talked about normal things—work, trade, small dungeon rumors. Nothing about the mountain.
That was good.
After eating, they split up for a while.
Lyra walked the streets, listening. No strange rumors. No talk of glowing peaks or sealed power.
Sophia visited a supply shop to replace used items and restock potions.
Aria spent ti at a quiet corner of the guild library, reading old records about seals, ancient structures, and guardian trials.
Caria went straight to the food stalls. Twice.
Puddle stayed with Rhys, floating happily as they walked through the city.
By the afternoon, they regrouped near the guild hall.
"Nothing unusual," Lyra reported.
Sophia nodded. "Supplies are good."
Aria closed her book. "The mountain fits old seal patterns. Long-term. Very long-term."
Rhys listened and then nodded. "Good. Then we keep doing what we planned."
Caria grinned. "Easy jobs. Good pay. No freezing."
Puddle bounced. "Team calm. Team ready."
Rhys looked at them all. "We don’t rush. We don’t forget. We grow stronger."
Everyone agreed.
The city carried on around them, unaware and unchanged.
They didn’t stay at the guild hall long.
Rhys checked the job board and pointed at a few simple notices. "Courier work. Monster clearing near farms. Nothing deep."
Caria nodded. "Perfect. Easy money."
Lyra scanned the area once more. "And it keeps us active without drawing attention."
Sophia agreed. "Good balance."
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