Morning came earlier than Kael would have liked.
The faint gray light of dawn filtered through the small window of the room the guild had provided for him. The city outside was still quiet, the usual bustle of merchants and adventurers not yet fully awake.
Kael lay on his back for a moment, staring at the ceiling.
The previous night's conversation replayed in his mind.
North Ridge Mountains.
Fortress-class dungeon.
Unstable elemental mana.
Three people walking into a place that normally required twenty.
He exhaled slowly and sat up.
"Well," he muttered to himself, "guess this is happening."
After a quick wash and a change into his traveling clothes, Kael headed downstairs toward the guild hall.
The atmosphere inside was noticeably calmer than it had been the previous evening. Only a handful of early-rising adventurers occupied the tables, most of them quietly eating breakfast or reviewing quest boards.
Lyria and Lyra were already there.
Of course they were.
Lyria sat at a table near the entrance with a large plate of food in front of her. She was halfway through what looked like her second breakfast.
Lyra sat across from her, calmly sipping tea while reading through a neatly folded sheet of parchment.
Kael approached and pulled out a chair.
"Morning."
Lyria looked up with a grin.
"You're alive."
"Barely," Kael said. "You two sleep at all?"
Lyra nodded slightly.
"For several hours."
Lyria shrugged.
"Enough."
Kael looked at the parchment in Lyra's hands.
"What's that?"
"Supply inventory."
She slid the paper across the table so he could read it.
The list was long and surprisingly detailed.
Cold-weather cloaks.
Rope and climbing hooks.
Portable rations.
Mana recovery potions.
Emergency signal flares.
And near the bottom of the list—
Teleport scrolls: 2.
Kael pointed at that line.
"Still feels weird seeing those."
"They are expensive," Lyra said.
Lyria wiped her hands with a cloth.
"And we only get two. So no stupid mistakes."
Kael gave her a look.
"You say that like I'm the one who charges into danger."
She grinned.
"You're the one who stands in the middle of magical crossfire."
"That's because you two keep throwing spells."
Lyra folded the parchment neatly.
"Our equipment will be delivered shortly."
Kael leaned back in his chair.
"Good. Because I still don't actually know what the North Ridge looks like."
Lyria chuckled.
"Cold. Rocky. Full of things that want to kill you."
"Helpful."
Lyra placed a small map on the table.
"This should clarify."
Kael leaned closer.
The map was more detailed than the one they had seen the night before. It showed elevation lines, narrow mountain passes, and several marked campsites along the path.
"The guild uses these routes for scouting expeditions," Lyra explained.
She pointed to a winding line drawn along the lower slopes of the mountains.
"This is the safest path to the dungeon location."
Kael studied the route carefully.
"Why not go straight through the center?"
"Too dangerous," Lyria said.
She leaned over the map and tapped a section of jagged peaks.
"Those areas are full of unstable cliffs and avalanche zones."
Lyra added quietly, "High concentrations of wild mana also interfere with navigation."
Kael blinked.
"Mana can mess with directions?"
"Yes."
Lyra traced a small circular pattern on the map.
"In strong concentrations, mana fields can distort spatial awareness."
"So we could literally get lost walking in circles."
"Correct."
Kael leaned back.
"Fantastic."
At that moment, a guild attendant approached their table carrying a small wooden crate.
"Delivery for your expedition."
Lyria immediately stood up and opened it.
Inside were neatly packed supplies.
Three thick travel cloaks lined with insulated fabric.
A bundle of climbing rope.
Metal hooks and pitons.
Several small leather pouches containing potions.
And two sealed scroll cases.
Kael picked one up carefully.
"So these are the teleport scrolls."
Lyra nodded.
"They will activate automatically if broken."
"Meaning?"
"If the situation becomes fatal, you shatter the scroll case."
Lyria raised an eyebrow.
"And then what?"
"A teleportation spell returns the user to the guild hall."
Kael looked thoughtful.
"Only the user?"
"Yes."
Lyria snorted.
"So no group escape."
Lyra shook her head.
"The magic is too complex to stabilize for multiple people."
Kael carefully set the scroll back down.
"Let's try not to need them."
"Agreed," Lyra said.
Lyria slung one of the travel cloaks over her shoulders.
"These are actually nice."
Kael tried one on as well.
The fabric was heavier than his usual gear but surprisingly comfortable.
"Not bad."
Lyra packed the remaining supplies into three separate travel packs.
"Weight distribution is important during mountain travel."
Kael lifted one of the packs.
"Heavier than I expected."
"That is because climbing equipment is dense," Lyra explained.
Lyria tossed him a coil of rope.
"You'll get used to it."
Kael caught it and stuffed it into his pack.
The final item in the crate was a small metal compass.
Lyra picked it up.
"This will help maintain direction in moderate mana fields."
Lyria leaned over to look at it.
"And if the mana field gets worse?"
"Then the compass becomes unreliable."
Kael sighed.
"Great."
Once their gear was packed, the three of them stepped outside the guild hall.
The morning sun had finally risen above the rooftops of Ardent City.
Merchants were setting up stalls.
Carriages rolled through the streets.
And the city gates stood open to the northern road.
Kael adjusted the straps on his pack.
"This feels real now."
Lyria stretched her arms.
"Adventure usually does."
Lyra looked toward the distant horizon where faint mountain peaks could barely be seen against the sky.
"Our destination lies beyond those ridges."
Kael followed her gaze.
From this distance, the North Ridge Mountains looked almost peaceful.
He knew better.
"Three days," he said.
"Approximately," Lyra replied.
Lyria started walking toward the gate.
"Well then."
Kael blinked.
"That's it?"
"What did you expect?" she asked over her shoulder.
"A dramatic farewell speech?"
Lyra smiled softly.
"The journey itself will provide enough drama."
Kael laughed quietly.
"Fair point."
The three of them passed through the city gate and onto the northern road.
Behind them, Ardent City slowly faded into the distance.
Ahead of them, the road stretched toward the mountains.
Toward the dungeon.
Toward whatever waited inside.
Lyria walked confidently at the front of the group.
Lyra followed calmly beside Kael.
The resonance bond hummed quietly between them.
Steady.
Growing stronger with each passing day.
Kael glanced at the two twin sisters beside him.
"You know," he said, "most people would call this a terrible idea."
Lyria laughed.
"That's why most people aren't adventurers."
Lyra nodded gently.
"Risk and discovery often walk the same path."
Kael looked ahead at the distant mountains again.
"Well," he said, adjusting his pack straps.
"Let's see where this one leads."