The morning after the dungeon arc ended came quietly. The academy halls no longer carried the tension that had been there for days. There were no alarms, no instructors barking orders, and no students rushing to meet survival deadlines. Instead, there was an odd stillness — the kind that followed exhaustion and victory alike.
Arios woke up late that day. For once, he didn't have to think about traps, monsters, or a time limit ticking in the background. The sunlight streaming through his dorm window felt normal again. His eyes stayed half-closed as he listened to the faint sounds outside — students talking, someone laughing down the hallway, and a bird tapping against the sill.
He let out a quiet breath and turned on his side. His bed creaked slightly as he shifted. He looked toward the desk beside him where his sword rested against the wall, polished but untouched since he'd returned.
