Years ago, a younger Varek, freshly graduated from the academy and brimming with ambition, stood before his closest comrades in the guild hall. The air was thick with the scent of wood polish and old parchment, the walls adorned with banners of various adventuring teams. Sun rays casting wavering shadows over their eager faces.
With a triumphant slam, he placed a parchment stamped with an official guild emblem onto the round table.
"Guys, we got approved!" Varek declared, his voice carrying the weight of excitement and pride.
The silence that followed was brief before Vahn, a tall, broad-shouldered youth with wild golden hair, jumped up, throwing his arm around Varek's shoulder. His eyes sparkled with uncontained glee.
"No way! You serious?" Vahn laughed, pulling him into a half-hug, nearly shaking Varek off his feet.
Across the table, another young man sat with his arms crossed, his expression a stark contrast to Vahn's enthusiasm. His spiky crimson hair giving him a sharp, almost predatory aura. His silver eyes gleamed, but not with joy—with scrutiny.
"You two should learn to compose yourselves," Sen muttered, shaking his head. "We're not students anymore. You're acting like you just won the academy tournament."
Though his words were sharp, there was an unmistakable smirk playing at the corner of his lips.
"Oh, come on, man. Don't act like you're not even a little excited," Vahn prodded, attempting to throw his arm around Sen's shoulder.
Sen, in true fashion, leaned back smoothly, dodging the gesture with practiced ease.
"Hmph," Sen scoffed, arms still folded. "Someone has to be the rational one among us."
Varek let out a chuckle, lifting the stamped parchment. His hands trembled slightly—not with fear, but with exhilaration.
"You know, the reason we got approved on the first try wasn't luck. It was because of our academy certificates and the fact that our ranks are already at a minimum of Rank 2," Varek said proudly. "I guess those years in school weren't a waste after all."
Sen rolled his eyes. "I told you—strength without understanding is nothing. You can have all the power in the world, but if you don't know how to use it, you're just another fool swinging a blade around."
Without missing a beat, he flicked his wrist, and a holographic display flickered to life above his wrist device. Lines of data scrolled past his narrowed eyes as he analyzed potential missions.
"Before we do anything reckless, we need a proper mission. Something to fine-tune our teamwork and make sure we're in top shape before we even think about tackling a dungeon."
But instead of agreeing, Varek and Vahn exchanged knowing glances.
Then they burst out laughing.
Sen frowned. "What?"
Vahn leaned against the table, grinning. "No need to look for a mission, bro." He threw an arm around Sen's shoulders, ignoring his attempts to shrug him off. "Varek here already picked the perfect dungeon."
Sen narrowed his eyes, his grip tightening around the handle of his black-iron battle axe. A creeping sense of unease settled in his gut.
"Huh? What do you mean?" he asked slowly.
Varek leaned forward, his fiery orange eyes alight with anticipation.
"I picked the Wyvern's Lair," he announced.
The color drained from Sen's face.
His fingers clenched around the hilt of his axe so tightly that his knuckles turned white.
"YOU. DID. WHAT?" he asked, his voice dangerously low. His usual calculated demeanor shattered as the weight of Varek's words settled in.
Vahn grinned. "Come on, man. You know we need a challenge to push ourselves. Our teamwork is unmatched! That dungeon is new, and it only has one beast in it." He pumped his fist. "With my water magic, Varek's fire magic, your brain and your axe—what wyvern could possibly stand against us?"
Sen exhaled sharply, closing his eyes as if pleading for patience. When he opened them again, they were sharp like steel.
"You absolute morons." His voice was like ice, slicing through their excitement. "That dungeon is classified as a High Rank 2 Gate based on the readings alone. If we factor in margin errors, the Wyvern inside could be close to a full-fledged Rank 3!"
He took a deep breath, forcing himself to stay calm. "I already know what you're going to say. That back in the academy, we took down a weakened Rank 3 disaster together with our teamwork and artifacts. But let me remind you—" he jabbed a finger at them. "That was a controlled environment. The beast was restrained. It wasn't anywhere close to its peak form!"
Varek tried to cut in, but Sen raised a hand, silencing him. His voice was rising now, something rare for someone so level-headed.
"This is real life. One mistake, one miscalculation, and we're dead."
The weight of his words hung in the air.
But Varek's resolve did not waver.
Instead, he spoke with a tone far more measured, his passion tempered by logic.
"Sen, I hear you. I understand the risks. But listen." He looked at his friend, his eyes steady. "This dungeon is new. Do you know what that means?"
Sen frowned but remained silent.
Varek continued. "It means the first team that conquers it gets the highest possible rewards. And do you know what kind of rewards a Wyvern-class disaster drops?"
Silence.
Varek pressed on. "Skill books. Rare ones. The kind that can define a person's future."
Sen's shoulders tensed.
Varek knew he had his attention now.
"And then there's the bounty—over 150,000 gold coins." He leaned back, letting the number sink in. "If we do this right, we won't have to do a dozen smaller missions to afford proper gear. We'll be set."
Sen exhaled slowly, rubbing his temple. "And you want to split that reward between only the three of us?"
Vahn nodded eagerly. "If we bring more people, the reward shrinks. More mouths to feed, more variables to consider. You know how it is."
Varek locked eyes with Sen, his voice steady, unwavering.
"We need this, Sen." His tone softened. "We need to get stronger—not just for ourselves, but for the people we care about. You've seen the state of the world. The disasters. Emberfall. If the worst happens, and our families are caught in it, do you want to stand there helpless?"
Sen remained quiet, his fingers gripping his axe so tightly that the veins on his hands bulged.
Then, finally—
"...How the hell did I end up with idiots like you?" He sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose.
Varek and Vahn grinned.
"So, that's a yes?" Varek teased.
Sen shook his head. "It's a maybe—and if we die, I'm haunting both of you in the afterlife."
Varek laughed, throwing an arm around his shoulders.
"Then let's make sure we don't die."
As the sun began to set, casting long shadows on the wooden walls, the three young warriors sealed their fate with reckless ambition.
The hunt for the Wyvern's Lair had begun.