Rhys rubbed his neck. "…I'm not gonna say no."

Then Caria lifted the sword.

Even Sophia stepped back.

The blade hummed softly, like wind through glass.

Caria explained, "This is a Warden Blade. Made from condensed mist armor. It shifts between solid and intangible depending on the user's intent."

Aria stared. "So… it can phase through things?!"

"Or cut them," Caria said. "Your choice."

Sophia added thoughtfully, "It's best for someone who uses precision rather than brute force."

Aria immediately held out her hand. "ME. That's me. I'm precision."

Sophia raised an eyebrow. "You are the least precise fighter here."

"I hit things precisely where I want to hit them!"

"Which is usually 'somewhere in the general direction'."

"HEY—!"

Caria sighed and handed the blade not to Aria…

…but to Sophia.

"It suits her focus and control."

Sophia blinked. "Me?"

Aria fell to her knees. "My sword… betrayed me…"

Rhys laughed under his breath.

Sophia held the blade carefully and nodded. "Thank you. I'll use it well."

Caria clapped her hands lightly. "Alright. Now we can leave."

Rhys took a long breath.

"Good. Let's get out of here."

The glowing staircase carried them upward, the mist thinning with every step until the air finally felt normal again.Warm sunlight spilled over their faces as they emerged from the Labyrinth's entrance.

And waiting right at the edge of the beach—

Lyra.

Her silver hair shimmered in the wind, her eyes glowing faintly as she stepped forward.

"You're done," she said softly, relief slipping into her voice despite her calm tone. "It didn't take long… but it felt longer."

Aria threw her hands up dramatically. "WE GOT CHASED BY MIST-GREMLINS FOR HALF THE DUNGEON, YES IT FELT LONG."

Sophia let out a tired sigh. "There was also a giant boss with three phases."

Caria nodded. "And illusions. A lot of illusions."

Lyra's gaze swept over them, checking each one carefully.No wounds. No serious injuries.Just exhaustion.

Then her eyes rested on Rhys.

"You're safe," she said quietly.

Rhys smiled slightly. "Told you we'd manage."

Before Aria could make a joke, Puddle shot out from behind Lyra like a launched bubble.

"MASTER!!"

Rhys caught her mid-air. "Hey, hey—easy, I'm fine!"

She squished against his face anyway. "You were gone forever!"

"It was twenty minutes," Lyra corrected gently.

"FOREVER," Puddle insisted.

Aurelius swooped down from a branch, circling Rhys's shoulder with a proud trill. Moonbounce drifted close, glowing softly.

Rhys raised a hand.

"Alright, back in. Dungeon's done."

One by one—

Aurelius dissolved into golden light.Moonbounce faded into a soft crescent glow.Puddle transformed into a small sphere of shimmering water.

All three returned to his heart space, settling inside him like warm lights.

Lyra watched the process with a small, approving nod. "Your bond with them has grown stronger again."

Rhys shrugged. "They did their part waiting outside. Now it's my turn to rest."

Aria flopped onto the sand. "IF ANYONE NEEDS ME, I'M STAYING HERE UNTIL I CAN FEEL MY LEGS AGAIN."

Sophia sat beside her. "Same."

Caria instead opened her notebook. "I'd like to record the layout of the dungeon before the details fade."

Rhys stretched, the last of the mist fading from his clothes. "Well… Mist Island's cleared."

Lyra smiled — warm and proud.

"Then our path is open again."

Rhys stepped beside her, looking out toward the open sea.

"Yeah. Next destination."

"And," Lyra added softly, "wherever you go… I'll walk with you."

Rhys's chest tightened just a little — but in a good way.

"Then let's move forward."

The sun rose higher, the waves glittering around them.

And with the dungeon behind them, the journey continued.

The breeze shifted, carrying the scent of salt and warm sand as the group slowly collected themselves. Mist Island was peaceful again — quiet waves, birds circling overhead, the steady rustle of trees at the edge of the beach. A sharp contrast to the chaos inside the Labyrinth.

Aria finally pushed herself up from the sand, wobbling a little. "Alright… alright. Legs have returned. Mostly."

Sophia dusted off her robes. "We should head back to the ship before the tide shifts."

Caria closed her notebook. "And before more mist creatures decide to wander out."

Rhys nodded. "Good idea."

But Lyra touched his arm gently.

"Wait," she said softly. "Before we leave… look."

She pointed toward the treeline.

Mist — faint, harmless mist — drifted upward like a sigh.

The kind that came naturally from the island, not corrupted by magic or illusions.

"It's resting," Lyra said. "This place won't cause trouble again for a while."

Sophia exhaled. "Good. The world doesn't need more dungeons waking up."

Aria grinned. "Hey, speak for yourself. I like loot."

Caria raised an eyebrow. "You lost the loot this time."

Aria held her chest dramatically. "That sword BETRAYED me. It chose Sophia. I'll never forgive it."

Sophia gave the Warden Blade a gentle swing. The blade shifted transparent for a second before turning solid again. "It's not alive, Aria."

"IT HAD A CHOICE," Aria insisted.

Rhys and Lyra exchanged mildly amused glances as the bickering continued.

"Alright," Rhys said, stepping forward. "We move."

The group began walking back across the white beach, the ship's silhouette growing clearer as the sun climbed higher.

Puddle peeked from Rhys's shoulder inside his heart space, her small projected form blinking into view for a moment. "Master, are we going to another dungeon next?"

Rhys snorted. "Please no."

Aria groaned. "Agreed."

Lyra walked beside him, her pace calm, her expression thoughtful. "Mist Island was a trial of senses and instinct. Your growth here… was sharp."

Rhys rubbed his nose awkwardly. "Thanks… I think?"

She smiled gently. "It's praise."

Behind them, Sophia added, "Next time, can we do a dungeon that doesn't try to take away one of my senses? I like hearing."

Aria stretched her arms overhead. "I like punching things I can actually SEE."

Caria nodded. "I like not nearly dying."

Rhys laughed. "Yeah, noted."

When they reached the ship, the ocean breeze pushed against the sails, ready to carry them onward.

Lyra stepped onto the deck and turned toward Rhys as he boarded last.

"Where to now?" she asked.

He looked out at the horizon. The ocean was calm, but far away, faint storm clouds brewed — tiny, dark dots against the endless blue.

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