The villa was quiet.
For once.
No shouting.
No fighting.
No pressure trying to crush them from all sides.
Just… silence.
Aurelia and Auralis had already left earlier, heading back to their own place without much fuss.
Auralis had waved on the way out.
"Don't die before the dungeon opens."
"Get some rest," Aurelia added simply.
Then they were gone.
—
Inside—
Zael was stretched out on the couch.
Half-awake.
Half-dead.
Zane sat nearby, eyes closed but not really asleep.
And Lily—
Lily had taken a chair, arms folded, watching them like she didn't fully trust that they wouldn't disappear again if she blinked.
"…You're staring," Zael muttered without opening his eyes.
"…You vanished into the abyss," she replied. "I think I've earned the right."
Zane let out a quiet breath.
"…We're not going anywhere."
Lily didn't respond.
But she relaxed slightly.
Just a bit.
—
Time passed.
Not long.
Just enough for their bodies to start settling.
Then—
A sound.
Sharp.
Clear.
Everywhere.
Not from outside.
Not from inside.
From the system itself.
A broadcast.
—
[Attention: All Camp Participants]
—
Zael's eyes opened immediately.
Zane straightened.
Lily sat up fully.
—
[Due to recent abnormal environmental instability linked to Abyssal interference…]
—
Zael frowned.
"…That's us."
Lily gave him a look.
"…Obviously."
—
[All personnel are advised that prolonged exposure has resulted in measurable mental and physiological strain.]
—
Zane's gaze sharpened slightly.
Lily's expression turned serious.
—
[Following evaluation by the governing authority…]
—
A short pause.
The air felt heavier.
—
[The World-Class Dungeon will be temporarily sealed.]
—
Silence.
Zael blinked.
"…Wait."
—
[Original opening schedule has been suspended.]
—
Auralis would've complained.
Lily didn't.
She leaned forward slightly.
—
[New opening time: Three Months from now.]
—
Silence hit the room.
Real silence.
Zael sat up slowly.
"…Three months?"
Zane didn't speak.
But you could tell he was thinking.
Lily exhaled.
"…That's not a small delay."
Zael ran a hand through his hair.
"…It was supposed to be in a few days."
"…Not anymore," Lily said.
A pause.
"…Which means they're worried."
Zane nodded once.
"…They should be."
Zael leaned back again.
"…So we get time."
Auralis would've called it boring.
Lily didn't.
"…We get preparation."
A pause.
"…And recovery."
Zane added,
"…And information."
Zael looked at the ceiling.
Thinking.
Then—
"…Good."
Lily glanced at him.
"…Good?"
He nodded slightly.
"…We need it."
A pause.
"…That place—whatever it is—it's not normal."
Zane agreed.
"…Not even close."
Lily relaxed back into her chair.
"…Then we use the time properly."
No one argued.
Because for once—
They weren't being rushed.
No countdown breathing down their necks.
No forced entry into something unknown.
Just—
Time.
Three months.
To rest.
To train.
To figure things out.
Zael closed his eyes again.
"…Yeah."
A quiet exhale.
"…We get ready."
—
Outside—
The camp erupted again.
People reacting.
Some relieved.
Some frustrated.
Some already planning.
But inside the villa—
It stayed quiet.
Because for them—
This wasn't a delay.
It was a warning.
And they heard it loud and clear.
To be continued…