The team lingered in the clearing for only a moment longer. The air still shimmered faintly with drifting petals from the Vineback Strider's death, but the Basin itself was already shifting back to its steady pulse — vines relaxing, glowing flowers dimming, the forest reclaiming what had been disturbed.
Kipp clutched the new alchemy recipe with both hands, eyes shining with nervous excitement.
"This… this is big," he whispered. "Mirage Draught. Pre-dungeon evasive buffer. My brain is already writing a dozen combination charts. I need to go back now and brew this "
Aria patted him on the back hard enough to almost knock him over.
"Kipster, go! Brew us miracles."
He staggered, Mossling catching him with tiny leafy hands.
"I'll— I'll head back now," Kipp said, still breathless. "If I start prepping ingredients early, we'll have at least a few doses ready by tomorrow."
Riley nodded.
"That's perfect. Message me if you need materials or run out of herbs."
Kipp saluted — badly — then hurried off toward the exit path, Mossling bobbing behind him like a floating pom-pom.
Now it was just the original five again.
Riley exhaled.
"Alright. Two more goals for the day: scouting the upper ridge… and spirit bonding."
Aria snapped her fingers.
"YES. Team Menagerie, let's go."
Hayley smirked. "Speak for yourself."
Hayes pointed ahead, shield resting against his shoulder.
"There's a split in the path up ahead. Right side is where heavier creatures spawn. Left is the forest burrow trail."
Riley nodded immediately.
"Hayley takes left. Hayes takes right."
Both blinked.
Aria raised a brow. "You're splitting them up?"
"Just for scouting," Riley said calmly. "Both trails lead to low-level rare spirits. And I want each of you to see the type that suits your combat style."
Sofia smiled softly. "Riley's right. You'll know when you see the one that fits."
Lumi chirped in agreement.
Dot clicked.
Echo wagged her tail.
Les curled his thorns proudly.
Hayley adjusted her gauntlets.
"I'll take Tommy and scout the burrow trail," she said. "If I find something cuddly enough to adopt, I'll holler."
"Or scream," Aria added. "You do have an impressive scream."
Hayley elbowed her.
Hayes rolled his shoulders.
"I'll take Moggy and check the right trail. Sturdier creatures, you said?"
Riley nodded.
"There's one in particular I'm hoping you see."
Hayes gave a short grunt — half curiosity, half anticipation — and headed down the thorn-lined path.
The moment Hayley stepped under the softly glowing vine arches of the burrow trail, the atmosphere changed.
The noise of distant fighting faded.
The ground grew softer, covered in moss and fallen petals.
Firefly-like motes drifted lazily in the air.
Tommy padded ahead, tail flicking left and right as he sniffed the ground.
A small sound echoed.
A huff.
Then a tiny sneeze.
Hayley stopped.
A round, fuzzy creature waddled out from behind a stump — fur a warm honey-brown, ears too big for its head, nose twitching as it sniffed the air.
> BEAR CUB — Lv 4 (Uncommon)
Role: Support-Bruiser
Temperament: Curious / Protective
The cub froze when it saw her.
Then stood up on its hind legs.
And raised both little paws.
Hayley's heart exploded.
"Oh no," she whispered. "You're adorable."
Tommy made a soft chirp, as if approving the choice.
The Bear Cub wobbled forward, sniffing the air again, then gently tapped her shin with one paw as if asking:
Friend?
Hayley swallowed.
"…Yes. Absolutely yes."
She lowered herself slowly, offering her hand.
The cub bumped its head against her palm.
> BOND OPPORTUNITY DETECTED
Use Bind Stone?
Hayley smiled — soft, warm, maternal.
"Yes."
She pressed the stone lightly against its forehead.
A gentle golden shimmer wrapped around the Bear Cub, who let out a small happy rumble.
> Success. New Spirit Acquired.
BEAR CUB has joined your spirit roster.
Hayley lifted the cub — carefully — into her arms.
"Welcome to the team."
Tommy nuzzled the cub, accepting him as part of their little unit.
Hayley felt her chest warm.
This was perfect.
The right-hand trail was the opposite.
Hard ground.
Jagged rocks jutting between roots.
Atmosphere heavier, more oppressive.
Moggy stayed close to Hayes's boot, tail low but determined.
Hayes walked with steady steps, shield held ready.
The Vineguard Barrier felt good.
Balanced.
Grounded.
A faint grinding sound stopped him.
He turned.
A small shape stood half-hidden in the roots of a massive oak.
It was…
…a tiny golem.
Barely knee-high, its body made of cracked stone plates held together with faint earthlight. It stared up at Hayes with glowing amber eyes, head tilting mechanically.
> STONE GOLEM CUB — Lv 4 (Uncommon)
Role: Micro-Tank / Taunt / Damage Mitigation
Temperament: Loyal / Stubborn
The little thing stepped forward — then bumped clumsily into Hayes's shin.
Thunk.
Hayes blinked.
"…Hi?"
The golem bumped him again.
Thunk.
Then again.
THUNK.
Moggy meowed.
Hayes stared.
"It's… challenging me?"
The golem puffed its tiny stone chest, raised both stubby arms, and let out a sound that could only be described as:
"GRRK!"
Hayes slowly knelt down.
"You want to… guard with me?"
The cub tilted its head.
Then placed its small stone fist against Hayes's shield.
Hayes placed his own fist against the cub's.
> BOND OPPORTUNITY DETECTED
Use Bind Stone?
He nodded.
"Yes."
The stone glowed, runes lighting, wrapping the cub in a soft amber haze.
> SUCCESS. New Spirit Acquired.
STONE GOLEM CUB has joined your spirit roster.
The golem made a proud grrk and thumped Hayes's chestplate with the gentle insistence of a puppy.
Hayes couldn't help the tiny smile tugging at his lips.
"Welcome to the frontline."
Moggy purred approvingly.
Riley sensed them before he saw them.
Two soft chimes appeared on his HUD:
> HAYLEY — NEW SPIRIT ACQUIRED
HAYES — NEW SPIRIT ACQUIRED
Aria screamed across the clearing:
"DID YOU GET SOMETHING? DID YOU BOTH GET SOMEONE??"
Sofia gasped, clapping her hands.
Riley just smiled.
This was how it should be.
A full team.
Growing.
Strengthening.
Bonding.
Spirit by spirit.
Friend by friend.
And the dungeon was getting closer.