The te afternoon sun hung low in the sky, casting long golden rays over the vilge. Outside my house, my father had set up a sturdy wooden table and a few chairs, their once-bright polish dulled by years of use.

  The warm breeze carried the scent of freshly baked bread and roasted meat from the neighboring homes, mixing with the earthy aroma of the soil and the faint traces of sweat and dust clinging to my skin.Elise stood stiffly beside me, her expression unreadable, but I could tell she was uncomfortable. She wasn't used to this—casual family gatherings, idle conversation, and being the center of attention outside of battle.My mother, Evelina, a woman with sharp brown eyes and long bck red hair pulled into a loose braid, pced a tray of snacks on the table. Slices of freshly baked bread, cured meat, and a simple bowl of fruit sat invitingly in the center.

  My father, Darius, a broad-shouldered man with graying hair and calloused hands from years of bor, leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, observing Elise with quiet curiosity."So, you must be Elise that I heard so much about." my mother started, setting down a cy mug filled with cool water in front of Elise, "how did you end up becoming a dungeon diver?"Elise hesitated, her fingers gripping the edge of her chair. She wasn't good at socializing, and it showed. After a brief pause, she exhaled and spoke, her voice steady but reserved."I wanted to become stronger." She looked down at her hands, as if searching for the right words. "I needed to... so I could accomplish something important."My parents exchanged a gnce, their expressions unreadable, but they didn't press her for more details."That's admirable," my father finally said, nodding approvingly. "Diving isn't easy work. It takes guts."Elise gave a small nod, still stiff, still awkward.Before the conversation could continue, a blur of motion smmed into my side."Big bro! Py with us!"Lyra's tiny arms wrapped around my waist, her face beaming with excitement. Aiden was right behind her, his red eyes shining with mischief.I sighed, rubbing my temples. I should've seen this coming."Can't you see I'm busy?" I muttered."Nope!" Aiden grinned, tugging on my sleeve. "You promised to py with us yesterday!"I groaned, gncing at Elise, who was watching the scene with mild amusement. My mother, on the other hand, smiled warmly."You should go," she said, picking up a cup of tea.I clicked my tongue but stood up anyway, much to the twins' delight.Elise raised an eyebrow as I stretched. "Are you really going to py with them?""What, you want to join?" I teased.She scoffed, crossing her arms. "Not a chance."I smirked and followed the twins toward the open space near the house, while Elise continued her small talks with my mother.

  The dirt ground was packed down from years of use, the occasional patches of grass clinging stubbornly to life. The twins had already grabbed a small ball, their excitement infectious.We pyed a simple game of catch-and-chase, their ughter echoing under the fading sunlight.As we pyed, I noticed the new neighbors approaching from their home across the way. A couple and their son, around my age, carried a tray of food. The father, a tall man with short bck hair and a tired but kind expression, held a bowl of steaming stew, while the mother, a petite woman with soft features and a gentle smile, carried a pte of freshly baked pastries.

  The son, a lean boy with dark brown hair and an observant gaze, trailed slightly behind them.They walked up to my parents, offering a respectful bow."We just moved in today," the father said in a polite, deep voice. "As is custom, we'd like to offer a small meal as a greeting to our neighbors."My mother stood and smiled warmly. "That's very kind of you. Please, have a seat, we are actually having some afternoon snacks."My father gestured to the table, pulling up extra chairs as the couple settled down. The son, however, remained standing slightly off to the side, his gaze flickering over to Elise and me with mild curiosity.I walked over, catching my breath from pying with the twins. Elise followed reluctantly."So, you're the ones who moved in," I said, rubbing the back of my neck.The boy nodded. "Yeah. I'm Adrian."I studied him for a moment. He had a calm aura about him, like someone who didn't talk much but noticed everything."Kael," I introduced myself. "And this is Elise."Elise nodded at him, but didn't say much. She was still clearly uncomfortable with all the socializing.The adults continued talking, exchanging pleasantries, while the twins eagerly tried to sneak bites of the pastries. Elise and I sat back down, listening quietly as our families got to know each other.For a moment, everything felt... normal. No dungeons, no exhaustion, no fighting—just an evening spent with family, neighbors, and food.And while I wasn't sure what to think of these new people, one thing was clear—life outside the dungeon wasn't so bad.As the conversation continued, I turned to Adrian, my curiosity getting the better of me."So, are you a diver?" I asked.Adrian, who had been listening quietly, nodded. "Yeah, I am."Both Elise and I perked up at that. It wasn't every day we met someone our age who was also diving."Really?" Elise said, leaning forward slightly. "I thought you just moved here. How long have you been diving?"Adrian gave a small shrug. "I just graduated from the Dungeon Diver Academy recently. Just got my Silver Rank certification before we moved."Both Elise and I exchanged surprised looks. It was the first time either of us had spoken to someone our age who actually went through academy training."A silver-ranked diver already?" I muttered, rubbing my chin. "That's impressive."Elise folded her arms. "You must have had proper training, then. Kael and I didn't go to the academy."Adrian raised an eyebrow. "Really? Then how did you two start diving?"

  Elise gnced at me before smirking slightly. "I've been diving for three weeks now. Kael saved me from goblin elites. That was our first dive together."Adrian's eyes widened slightly, and he looked at me with mild disbelief. "Goblin elites? On your first dive?"I shrugged. "I didn't have a choice. She would've died otherwise."Adrian let out a small chuckle. "Sounds like you had a rough start.""You have no idea," I muttered.The three of us continued talking, for the first time in a long while, the conversation feeling lighthearted and natural. We talked about dungeons, the academy, the training differences, and even our best and worst fights so far.

  Elise asked Adrian about what academy training was really like, while I probed him about how strict their ranking system was.Adrian, in turn, was curious about our unorthodox experience and how we managed without formal training. It was clear that, despite our differences, we all had one thing in common—we were dungeon divers, and we understood the struggle.