Before we even had time to stretch properly, a guard appeared from around the corner, holding two metallic badges. They caught the flickering torchlight with a dull glint as he handed them over.
— "Alright, my job's done here. Show these to the people at the main arena, and they'll take care of the rest," he said, his voice hurried, as if itching to be anywhere but here.
— "Okay…" I replied, taking the badge.
He was gone almost before I finished my sentence.
— "He seemed in a hurry, didn't he?" I muttered.
— "He's not the only one. I'm dying to breathe fresh air again!" Ciny exclaimed, suddenly grabbing my wrist and yanking me forward with childlike excitement.
Hand in hand, we ran up the narrow staircase, the stone walls gradually giving way to light and wind. And then... we broke through the surface.
For the first time in days, sunlight touched my skin. A soft breeze swept over us, carrying the smell of earth and freedom. I inhaled deeply — it was bliss.
— "AHHH! Fresh air!! Delicious!! I missed this so much!!" Ciny shouted, spinning with her arms wide open, like she was dancing under the open sky.
— "I AM NEVER SPENDING THAT LONG UNDERGROUND AGAIN!" I bellowed, as if trying to force the damp air from my lungs with sheer volume.
— "Hehehe. So, Mr. Survivor… what now?" she asked, giving me that teasing look she always wore.
— "My plan hasn't changed. Now that I've got this access badge…" — I raised it — "I'm heading to the main arena. Gonna make some money and officially become an adventurer."
— "Hmm… not a bad plan."
— "And you?"
She tilted her head and smiled.
— "Me? I'll just follow the next interesting clan leader I come across." She glanced around theatrically… and then fixed her eyes directly on me.
— "Oops, looks like I already found one."
— "Ahaha…" I laughed awkwardly, feeling a strange warmth creep up my neck.
— "Seriously though… I don't really have a big goal right now. Maybe someday. Until then… would the handsome young man mind if this lady tagged along?"
— "I'm flattered that such a lovely lady would even want to follow me."
— "HAHAHA! I knew you were a good one."
I looked up at the sky again and let out a long breath.
— "The next time I see my sister, I swear I'm gonna STRANGLE—"
— "You're gonna what?" a sudden voice interrupted me mid-rant.
I froze. My eyes widened.
— "MILI!? I'M GONNA KILL YOU, YOU LITTLE—"
— "Watch your language with your dear sister," Mili scolded, arms crossed and grinning.
— "So this is the one who got you into all this trouble?" Ciny asked, giving her a half-lidded stare.
— "If it weren't for me, he'd still be locked in some cell somewhere," Mili replied smugly.
— "Not that different from now, huh?" Ciny chuckled.
— "Anyway, I just stopped by to say congrats. I thought I'd have to come rescue you… but you managed on your own."
— "Would you really have come though?" I asked, skeptical.
— "You doubt my abilities? Please. But anyway, you're on your own now."
— "OH FOR FU—"
Before I could even finish, she vanished. Gone. Just like that.
— "AND THERE SHE GOES AGAIN!"
— "She's got some flair, that one," Ciny chuckled beside me.
— "Don't say that twice..."
— "So, shall we head to the official arena?"
— "Let's do it."
And with that, we took our first steps toward the real battlefield. The road ahead was uncertain, but under the open sky, with Ciny by my side, I couldn't help but feel ready for anything.