THE ONE WHO WE COULDN'T SAVE

Izzy cleared her throat with a mischievous grin. "Alright, lovebirds, enough of that. Unless you want to be buried here, we should get moving before the whole place collapses!"

Dylan glanced at the trembling walls, the sword already in his grasp. "Oh yeah, good point." His eyes lit up as he raised his free hand, summoning a swirling portal of dark energy. "Alisan, Cauis, Axel Come here."

The ground shook violently, chunks of stone falling from the ceiling. "Express exit no time to waste," Dylan added with a grin, stepping toward the portal. "Unless you're into ancient tombs turning into rubble."

He gestured for the others to follow as the portal expanded, its dark energy crackling. "Let's go."

As the portal closed behind them, the group found themselves outside the ancient dungeon, the distant sun casting a warm golden hue across the plains. June was still clinging to Dylan's arm, her face buried against him, refusing to let go.

Dylan glanced down at her with a soft chuckle, brushing a hand through her hair. "You're not letting go anytime soon, huh?"

une shook her head, her voice muffled. "Not a chance."

Izzy crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow. "Alright, enough with the mushy stuff. Spill it, Dylan. Why did you want that sword so badly?"

Dylan's playful grin faded, his expression turning serious as he lifted the dark blade in his hand. Its surface shimmered with faint, sinister energy. "This isn't just any sword," he said softly. "This is Duskreaver. It's connected to my Temporal Dusk magic… and every wielder of this power before me used it too. Turns out, Duskreaver was always meant for those like us."

He glanced at the others, his tone steady. "With Duskreaver, my Temporal Dusk will be stronger far beyond what it is now. It's not just a weapon; it amplifies my magic. If we're going to face what's coming, I'll need every bit of it."

Without warning, a surge of dark energy pulsed from the sword as Dylan raised it. "Let me show you." He thrust Duskreaver into the air, and the surrounding area slowed to a crawl. A massive Temporal Field expanded outward, stretching far beyond anything he had ever cast before. Leaves froze mid-fall, the wind stilled, and even the clouds above seemed locked in place.

The air hummed with energy, but Dylan stood unfazed, his breathing steady. "See? No strain, no exhaustion." His voice echoed through the frozen field. "With Duskreaver, this level of control is effortless."

He let the field dissolve with a flick of his wrist, the world snapping back into motion. Dylan glanced at the others, his usual grin creeping back. "Not bad, right? Now we've got a real shot at what's coming."

Without saying more, Dylan opened another portal with a wave of his hand. "Let's get out of here. We'll talk back at the camp."

Moments later, they stepped out of the portal into the Eternal Camp. The warm glow of the campfires greeted them as the distant hum of tribal drums filled the air. Izzy stretched her arms over her head. "Finally, a place that doesn't feel like it's about to collapse on us."

June was still holding onto Dylan's arm, refusing to let go. Axel dropped onto a nearby log with a sigh. "Well, that was fun. So, what's the plan now?"

Dylan glanced at Duskreaver, his expression thoughtful. "First, we rest. Then I'll explain everything." He looked at the others, his eyes serious but calm. "This sword is key to what's coming. We'll need to be ready."

Izzy raised an eyebrow, her usual smirk returning. "Oh, good. Another world-ending crisis. Just another day, huh?"

"Izzy, shut up," Dylan said, his tone firm but calm.

Izzy's eyes widened slightly, and for the first time, her usual confidence faltered. "O-okay…" she said quietly, nodding without argument, a hint of nervousness flickering across her face. She followed without another word, sticking close to the group.

As they made their way back to camp, Cauis walked beside Dylan, eyeing him curiously. "Uh… you planning to stay in that form forever, or did you just forget?"

Dylan blinked, confused for a moment, before glancing at his reflection in a nearby pool of water. His hair was still jet black, and traces of the dark energy clung faintly to his aura. "Oh… right." He ran a hand through his hair, and with a subtle shift of energy, his usual purple hair and relaxed appearance returned.

"Better?" Dylan asked, smirking.

Cauis grinned. "Much. You were starting to look like a villain in some tragic story."

Dylan chuckled. "Yeah, wouldn't want that, would we?"

Cauis shrugged, a mischievous glint in his eye. "I mean... I kinda wanna see it."

The camp went dead silent. Even the crackle of the fire seemed to fade as everyone stared at Cauis.

Dylan raised an eyebrow, his lips curling into a sly grin. "Oh? Ohhh, you want me to be evil?" His voice dripped with sarcasm as he leaned slightly forward, his grin widening. "Careful what you wish for, buddy."

June crossed her arms, glaring at Cauis. "Don't encourage him."

Cauis laughed, holding up his hands. "Hey, just saying! Might be fun… in small doses."

Izzy, still standing quietly nearby, whispered under her breath, "Yeah, let's not test that."

As the group arrived at the camp, they finally rested. The fire crackled softly as the tension eased. June remained curled up against Dylan's arm, refusing to let go.

Dylan leaned back, his voice calm but serious. "So... here's what happened," he began, glancing at the group. "When that demon swiped at me, I didn't die just get thrown back I got sent straight to the Rift's prison."

Everyone listened in silence as Dylan continued, his tone steady but laced with frustration. "I escaped once. Then got caught. Escaped again. And yeah, caught again." He shook his head with a tired chuckle. "The Rift almost had me that last time. Its influence was crawling into my mind. For a while, it felt like I was losing myself… but I fought back."

His grip tightened around Duskreaver. "It wasn't easy at first. Controlling that kind of power is... exhausting. But over time, I learned how to bend it to my will. It stopped controlling me, and I started controlling it."

Dylan's gaze shifted to Izzy, a playful smirk returning. "And somewhere along the way, I stumbled across her. Funny story Izzy here was that little thief who tried to steal my things back at the Verdant Isles inn."

June blinked in surprise. "Wait... that was her?"

Izzy rubbed the back of her neck awkwardly. "Uh... yeah. That's me." She gave a nervous laugh, avoiding their gazes. "Good times?"

Dylan chuckled, ruffling Izzy's hair. "Yeah, real good times." His expression softened as he looked at the group.

The camp grew quiet again, the weight of Dylan's story settling over them.

Cauis leaned forward, eyes wide. "Wait, wait, hold on the Rift's prison? You were locked up in some otherworldly nightmare, fought your way out, got caught again, and then just… mastered its power?" He shook his head, his usual sarcasm momentarily gone. "Dylan, that's insane."

Axel crossed his arms, staring at Dylan in disbelief. "And you didn't go mad through all that? Most people wouldn't last a day in a place like that." His tone was serious, a rare moment of concern showing through. "You've been through hell."

Dylan gave a relaxed shrug, his smirk returning. "Eh, it wasn't that bad once I got used to it. Plus, I've always been good at escaping bad situations. Just took me a little longer this time."

Cauis narrowed his eyes. "A little longer? Dude, you just described a nightmare that lasted who knows how long."

Axel chuckled dryly. "You're either the luckiest guy alive or the most stubborn one."

"Maybe both," Dylan said with a wink, leaning back against a log. "But hey, it all worked out in the end. I'm here now, aren't I?"

June tightened her grip on Dylan's arm, still processing everything. "I'm just glad you made it back..."

Axel nodded. "Yeah, seriously. Don't pull something like that again."

"Agreed," Cauis added, pointing a finger at him. "Next time you disappear, we're dragging you back ourselves."

Dylan laughed. "Fair deal. I'll make sure to leave a map next time."

Dylan's eyes narrowed slightly. "Oh yeah, when I went to get the relic in Ashar, why was it gone already? Did you guys take it?"

June raised a hand sheepishly. "Uh… yeah. We kinda got there first."

Cauis grinned. "Long story short, we went through a sandstorm, fought some crazy sand beasts, and nearly died to some guardian who had your ability. But hey, we got the relic."

Dylan blinked, processing the information. Then, with a small laugh, he said, "Well, I guess you saved me the trouble. I was expecting a fight, but turns out my friends are the ones who beat me to it."

Izzy smirked. "Sounds like they're always one step ahead of you."

"Yeah, yeah." Dylan waved her off playfully. "At least now I know where it ended up."

June smiled softly. "It's safe with us, don't worry."

Dylan rummaged through his backpack and pulled out several items, his expression calm but focused.

"Alright, first up Cauis." He handed him a gleaming sword, its blade polished and intricately engraved. "Sword of the Hero i have no idea what's the name of this but. Picked this up on my travels with Izzy. It's said to cut through even the thickest defenses. Figured it suits you."

Cauis smirked, giving the sword a few test swings. "I'll make it legendary."

Dylan turned to Axel next, holding out a black-scaled gauntlet with a faint red glow. "Dragon Scale Gauntlet. Found it while stealing from a bandit camp. Durable, powerful, and perfect for smashing stuff which you're good at."

Axel slid it on and flexed his fingers. "Oh, I'm gonna break some records with this thing."

Then Dylan walked over to Alisan, offering a glowing amulet shaped like a crystalline teardrop. "This will boost your magic potency and intensity. It's tied to the elements, so it should work well with your Rapture magic."

Alisan nodded, slipping it around her neck. "I can feel the energy already… Thank you, Dylan.

Finally, Dylan turned to June, his gaze softening. He took a silver ring out and gently slipped it onto her finger. "And this… this one's special. It'll boost your mana. But more than that… I made sure it's connected to my mana signature. That way, no matter what happens, you'll always know I'm still alive."

June stared at the ring, her eyes wide with emotion. "Dylan… this means so much. Thank you."

Dylan gave her a warm smile. "I'm not going anywhere. And now you'll always feel that."

The camp fell silent for a moment before Izzy smirked and crossed her arms. "Alright, well, if you're done being all sentimental, can I get my gift next?"

Dylan chuckled. "You already got yours a lifetime supply of trouble, courtesy of me."

Izzy tsked, crossing her arms with a pout. "Boring."

Dylan grinned. "Oh, come on, Izzy. What more do you want? Drama? A fireworks show?"

"Something more exciting than 'lifetime trouble,'" Izzy muttered, glancing away with a smirk. "You can do better."

Cauis chuckled. "Careful what you wish for."

Axel leaned back, crossing his arms. "Yeah, knowing Dylan, excitement usually means chaos."

Izzy shrugged. "Chaos can be fun... sometimes."

Dylan's grin widened. "Chaos it is."

Izzy froze for a second, realizing what she had just triggered. "Wait, wait—"

Before she could finish, Dylan snapped his fingers, a wave of playful yet chaotic energy surging around them, causing harmless sparks of magic to light up the camp. Tents flapped wildly, and Axel's hair stood on end from static.

"Seriously, man?" Axel smoothed his hair down, glaring at Dylan.

Cauis burst into laughter. "Oh, this is already the best day."

June sighed but smiled softly, still leaning against Dylan. "You really can't help yourself, can you?"

Izzy blinked, momentarily speechless before smirking. "Okay… that was slightly better."

Dylan chuckled, tossing an amulet toward Izzy. "Oh, don't think I forgot about you. If you hadn't been with me, I'd still be wandering around lost. This little thing? Should give your lightning magic a nice boost."

Izzy caught the amulet, raising an eyebrow. "Finally, something useful." She smirked, inspecting it. "Guess I'll let you off the hook for now."

Cauis leaned closer, amused. "See? Even Dylan can be thoughtful when he tries."

"Don't get used to it," Dylan said with a grin. "This was a one-time deal."

June glanced at the ring on her hand, feeling the faint hum of Dylan's mana within it. "A pretty good deal, if you ask me."

Alisan crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow. "Where exactly have you been getting all these rare items?"

Dylan exchanged a look with Izzy, a mischievous grin spreading across both their faces.

"Bandit hunting," they said in unison.

Cauis burst out laughing. "Bandit hunting? Is that what we're calling looting and stealing now?"

Izzy smirked. "We prefer to think of it as… redistributing wealth."

"Redistributing straight into our pockets," Dylan added with a wink. "Turns out bandits collect some pretty valuable stuff if you know where to look."

Axel tapped the gauntlet on his arm, testing its weight. "Well, I'm not complaining. Feels like it was worth every stolen coin."

June smiled, rolling her eyes. "Of course it was."

As Dylan wandered off and returned with a frying pan and some other kitchen supplies borrowed from the nearby camp, he grinned at the group. "Alright, sit tight. Time for the best meal you've had in days."

He set up a small fire and pulled out fresh cuts of meat from his pack, seasoning them with a mix of herbs he had gathered during his travels. The smell of sizzling meat soon filled the air, causing everyone's stomachs to growl.

Axel leaned back, watching the fire with anticipation. "Didn't know you could cook, Dylan."

Dylan flipped the meat in the pan with practiced ease, smirking. "There's a lot you don't know about me, Axel. But trust me, this will blow your mind."

Izzy sat cross-legged, watching him with mild curiosity. "If you burn it, I'm taking over."

"Relax, Izzy," Dylan shot back with a grin. "I've got this under control."

As the food finished cooking, Dylan served everyone a plate of perfectly seared meat, its juices glistening in the firelight. The group eagerly dug in, the flavors rich and savory.

Alisan took a bite, her eyes widening. "Okay… not bad at all."

Axel nodded in approval. "This is… really good."

June smiled at Dylan, raising an eyebrow. "Is there anything you can't do?"

"Not really," Dylan joked, leaning back with his own plate. "Bandit hunting, sword fighting, dungeon raiding, and now master chef. What can I say? I'm a man of many talents."

Izzy chewed thoughtfully before giving a small nod. "Alright. You're off the hook—for now."

Dylan nearly dropped his plate as Cauis slapped him on the back of the head. "Ow! What was that for?"

Cauis crossed his arms, glaring. "If you can cook this well, why are you always asking me to buy you lunch?"

Dylan rubbed his head, grinning sheepishly. "Well, you see… cooking takes effort. And you were just so generous with your money. Why ruin a good thing?"

The group burst into laughter as Cauis groaned. "Unbelievable. I've been scammed this whole time!"

Axel smirked, biting into another piece of meat. "I knew something was up when Dylan always had 'just enough' cash for dessert, but not for a full meal."

Alisan leaned back, laughing. "Classic Dylan."

June shook her head, chuckling softly. "Guess we all learned something new today."

Cauis jabbed a finger at Dylan. "From now on, you're cooking every meal. No more freeloading."

Dylan held up his hands in mock surrender. "Fine, fine. You drive a hard bargain, but I'll accept my new role as camp chef. Just don't expect this every day!"