The dungeon’s doors closed behind them with a heavy, metallic cng, sealing them inside the dark, echoing depths. Raphael could feel his heart beating faster now, the weight of what had just happened still hanging in the air between him and Kael. The kiss—the quick peck on his cheek—lingered in his mind.

  He wasn’t sure why it affected him so much. It wasn’t as though he was new to physical contact, but Kael’s gesture had caught him off guard. It wasn’t just the kiss itself—it was the way Kael had looked at him afterward, eyes glinting with something more than just camaraderie. Raphael couldn’t quite pce it. It wasn’t love, not yet—but maybe... maybe something close?

  “Something wrong?” Kael’s voice cut through his thoughts, his tone pyful as they walked deeper into the dungeon, the faint glow from their shared Mana Ward lighting the path ahead.

  Raphael blinked, shaking his head slightly. “Nothing,” he said, his voice quieter than usual. He didn’t want to think about it too much—didn’t want to ruin whatever this... this thing was, with Kael.

  “You sure?” Kael shot him a teasing gnce. “You look like you’re carrying the weight of the world.”

  “I’m fine,” Raphael replied, clearing his throat. “Let’s just focus on the dungeon.”

  Kael shrugged, his lips curling into a smile. “Alright. But just know... if you ever need to talk, I’m here.”

  Raphael gnced at him, feeling a strange warmth spread through his chest at the sincerity in Kael’s voice. “Thanks,” he muttered, and the two of them fell into a comfortable silence, only the soft sounds of their footsteps and the occasional rustling of monsters nearby breaking it.

  Context: How They Met

  It wasn’t that long ago that Raphael had met Kael. It had been during the first dungeon they’d ventured into together, a much smaller, low-level dungeon designed for beginners. Raphael had been hesitant, unsure of himself, and overwhelmed by his Seraphim css, which he still didn’t fully understand. His doubts had been heavy, and he didn’t expect to find any allies in a dungeon filled with low-level monsters.

  But then he ran into Kael.

  Kael had been there on a whim, having recently switched to a more daring css—a Rogue—and was eager to explore, looking for dungeons that provided real challenge. When they met at the dungeon entrance, Raphael had been alone, standing there with uncertainty written across his face. Kael, noticing his hesitation, had offered to team up.

  “Hey, you look like you could use a hand,” Kael had said with a casual grin. “The name’s Kael. We’ll have some fun in there.”

  That had been enough to convince Raphael. He wasn’t going to make it through the dungeon alone, and Kael’s confidence had been a source of unexpected reassurance. They had exchanged numbers quickly, agreeing to keep in touch for any future dungeon runs, and soon found themselves facing their first real fight side by side.

  The dungeon had been a breeze, with Kael taking care of most of the combat while Raphael tested out his newfound powers. The two had worked well together, and after a thrilling series of victories, they both walked away with loot and a shared sense of accomplishment. Raphael, though, had found himself drawn to Kael—both his skills and his easygoing nature. By the time they were out of the dungeon, Kael had slipped a kiss on his cheek, a casual yet oddly intimate gesture.

  That first dungeon had bonded them. And now, as they prepared to face another, Raphael felt the same sense of camaraderie—but with something more beneath the surface.

  Back to the Present

  They reached a narrow hallway, dimly lit by flickering torches embedded into the stone walls. The air smelled of damp earth and decay, the perfect environment for whatever monsters awaited them. Raphael clenched his fists, feeling the faint hum of his Seraphim powers within him. His skills felt more familiar now, like an extension of his body. But he still didn’t quite understand how to fully wield them. Today, that would change.

  System Alert: Dungeon Quest Updated: “Eliminate the Goblin King.” Objective: Defeat the Goblin King and cim the Dungeon Heart for a chance at the dungeon’s reward. Reward: Unidentified Loot, Stat Increase, and Mana Crystal.

  Raphael quickly tapped the quest notification, his mind focused. Kael gnced over at him.

  “Objective’s simple enough. Goblin King, huh?” Kael said. “Shouldn’t be too hard with our skills combined.”

  “Yeah. Let’s take it slow though. We don’t know what kind of goblins we’re dealing with.” Raphael looked back at Kael. “I’m still figuring out my skills.”

  Kael raised an eyebrow. “Yeah? Well, I don’t know about you, but my Rogue css gives me some pretty nasty moves. I’ve got a few skills that’ll help us clear out most of the smaller ones.”

  Raphael nodded. He wasn’t entirely sure what Kael was capable of, but he could tell the Rogue was confident. And that confidence, oddly enough, helped settle his nerves.

  They continued walking down the corridor, and just as they reached the first rge chamber, they heard a low growl. It echoed off the stone walls, reverberating in the quiet.

  "Looks like we’re not alone," Kael said, a grin tugging at the corner of his lips. "Ready?"

  Raphael took a steadying breath. “Yeah. Let’s do this.”

  A group of goblins burst from the shadows, snarling as they rushed forward. There were five of them—smaller than Raphael expected, but ferocious. They wielded crude weapons: rusty daggers and jagged spears. Raphael’s heart skipped a beat as they came at him.

  Kael reacted first, darting forward with impossible speed. He flicked a dagger from his belt and threw it at one of the goblins, the sharp bde sinking deep into the creature’s chest. The goblin shrieked and crumpled to the ground.

  Raphael wasn’t far behind. He held up his hand and activated Runic Light, sending a radiant orb of light into the fray. The orb exploded upon contact with a goblin, sending a bst of light outward, blinding two of the remaining creatures. Their movements grew sluggish as they tried to recover, but that was all the time Raphael needed.

  “Luminous Ward!” he shouted, summoning a glowing golden barrier that surrounded him. The goblins, in their confusion, attempted to strike him, but their weapons barely scratched the ward. With one hand, Raphael reached forward and activated Seraph’s Flicker, blinking behind one of the goblins and sshing at it with a burst of divine energy. It fell in an instant.

  Kael moved swiftly beside him, finishing off another goblin with a quick strike to the throat. But there were still two more left.

  “Celestial Thread!” Raphael called, tethers of light wrapping around one of the remaining goblins. It struggled, its speed severely reduced. The final goblin turned to flee, but Kael was faster. With a flick of his wrist, he threw another dagger, this one striking the goblin in the back of the neck. It colpsed without a sound.

  They took a moment to catch their breath.

  “That wasn’t bad,” Kael said, wiping his bde clean on the goblin’s ragged clothing. “We make a good team.”

  Raphael nodded, but there was still a sense of unease. They had only cleared a few goblins—he couldn’t let his guard down now.

  System Alert: Objective: Clear out the next wave of goblins before reaching the Goblin King. Time Remaining: 10 Minutes.

  Raphael’s eyes widened. "We need to move. The Goblin King is probably coming next."

  Kael raised an eyebrow, the thrill of the challenge flickering in his eyes. "You got it. Let’s move."

  They pressed forward, clearing wave after wave of goblins. With each battle, Raphael grew more comfortable with his skills. He even managed to string a combo of his light-based attacks, using Runic Light to blind enemies, followed by Seraph’s Flicker to get in close, and then finish them off with Radiant Insight to exploit their weaknesses.

  When they finally entered the main chamber, the Goblin King was waiting. It was a hulking creature, twice the size of the normal goblins, with thick green skin, massive tusks, and armor made of crude bone. Its eyes glowed with malice as it raised a massive club.

  “Kael,” Raphael whispered, his voice tense, “we need to pn this out.”

  “Yeah,” Kael replied, his voice serious for the first time. “I’ll use Shadow Strike to get in close. You keep it distracted with your light-based attacks. We’ll wear it down.”

  Raphael nodded. “Got it. We’ll make this quick.”

  They charged forward together, Raphael unleashing a flurry of attacks with his Runic Light, each bst sending waves of radiant energy at the Goblin King. The creature roared, swinging its massive club. Kael darted in and out, using his Shadow Strike to nd quick, powerful blows while avoiding the Goblin King’s swipes.

  The battle raged on, with Raphael keeping up a constant stream of light magic while Kael worked his speed to stay ahead of the Goblin King’s destructive attacks. Finally, with a combination of Seraph’s Flicker and Celestial Thread, Raphael trapped the Goblin King in pce long enough for Kael to deliver a final, devastating blow.

  The creature colpsed to the ground, defeated.

  System Alert: Objective Complete: Goblin King Defeated. Loot Acquired: Dungeon Heart, Goblin King’s Bone Armor, and Goblin King’s Club. Stat Increase: Strength +3, Mana +20.

  The room filled with the sound of the dungeon’s energy shifting. The air grew warmer, the faint glow of their skills casting long shadows across the chamber.

  Kael stretched and grinned. “That was... intense. Good work, Raphael.”

  Raphael felt a rush of adrenaline course through him as the dungeon’s loot appeared before them. They both collected their spoils, and Raphael looked down at the items. There was a Dungeon Heart, which he wasn’t sure what to do with yet, and the Goblin King’s Bone Armor.

  “Not bad for our second dungeon run,” Raphael said, feeling the satisfaction of a hard-earned victory.

  Kael nodded. “Definitely.”

  Without another word, they both turned and made their way toward the exit. The dungeon’s doors opened with another heavy cng, and they stepped back into the light, the cool air of the outside world a welcome change after the oppressive atmosphere of the dungeon.

  As they left the dungeon behind, Raphael couldn’t help but feel that their journey together was just beginning.

  [End of Chapter 3]