I arrived home with a bundle of food packed under my arm, a satisfied grin stretching across my face. The small celebration was my way of treating my family, and judging by their excited chatter as I entered, they were eagerly waiting for it."Big brother's home!" Lyra squealed, her tiny voice cutting through the room as she raced toward me, Aiden stumbling after her."Hey, hey, careful!" I said, ughing as I set the food down and swooped Lyra up in one arm while ruffling Aiden's hair with the other.The twins' eyes lit up when they saw the treats, their excitement bubbling over as I began unpacking the bundle. "We're going to have a feast today, so go wash your hands, alright?""Yes!" they chorused and darted off, their giggles trailing behind them. The house was warm and cozy, filled with the smells of home. Mom was setting the table while Dad stepped in from outside, wiping his hands on a cloth."Welcome back, Kael," Dad said with a nod, his deep voice steady as always.

  Mom gnced at me with a small smile, her hands busy as she pced the st of the ptes down."Thanks, Dad. I picked up some stuff for today," I replied, holding up the food."That's thoughtful of you," Mom said, her smile growing a bit wider. "The twins won't stop talking about your birthday."Once we sat down and dug in, the room filled with the sounds of ughter and clinking utensils. The twins, as expected, were ecstatic, their faces smudged with crumbs as they devoured everything in sight.After the meal, I pyed with them for a while longer, running around the room as they pretended to chase me down. Their ughter echoed through the house, a sound I wished I could bottle and keep with me always.

  Eventually, though, their energy wore out, and I tucked them into bed, reading them a short story until their eyes grew heavy and they drifted off.As I stepped back into the main room, Mom and Dad were waiting for me, their expressions calm but tinged with something else—concern, perhaps."Kael," Dad began, his tone serious. "Are you prepared for tomorrow? You're heading to the guild, right?"I nodded, taking a seat across from them.

  "Yeah. I've got most of what I need. I bought weapons earlier today from an old smith in the market—axes. A pair for close combat and three throwing axes. The smith even threw in a belt with holders for all of them."Mom's brows raised, a mix of surprise and approval. "That sounds like a good start. Did you spend all your earnings on that?""No," I replied, shaking my head. "The librarians at the library gave me my st sary today—and something else."

  I reached into my bag and pulled out the book they'd given me. It's dark crimson and bck cover gleamed faintly in the mplight, the dragon skull embossed on its surface staring back at us with glowing red eyes.

  "This," I said, pcing it on the table.

  Mom leaned forward, her eyes narrowing slightly as she studied it, while Dad's expression shifted into something unreadable.

  "What… is it?" Dad finally asked.

  "A gift birthday and parting from Mesha and Victor. They said it's special. Mesha mentioned it was a drop from a dungeon boss, though she didn't specify which one."

  "Why would they give you something like this?" Mom murmured, her voice cautious.

  I shrugged, still a bit baffled myself.

  "She said it's locked right now. It can only be used by someone with magia, and since I can't use magia yet, it's useless for now.”

  “She told me to pour a drop of my blood on it when I finally unlock my abilities and then infuse it with magia."

  Dad leaned back in his chair, his eyes fixed on the book. "That's a heavy gift," he said after a moment. "They must think highly of you to entrust you with something like that."

  "Maybe, for now I will hide it, since I can't use magia yet." I replied, though the weight of his words made me gnce at the book again.

  "Well, make sure to take care of it," Mom said finally, her tone softening. "And don't forget—protective armor is just as important as weapons. Are you ready in that regard?"

  I scratched the back of my head, feeling a little sheepish. "I picked out some old leather armor from the smith earlier. He said it needs some adjustments and told me to come back tomorrow afternoon to pick it up. I figured I'd register at the Dungeon Diver Guild first and then head back for the armor."

  Mom nodded, relief fshing across her face. "Good. At least you've thought it through."

  Dad pced a hand on my shoulder, his grip firm.

  "Kael, diving into dungeons isn't just about strength or weapons. It's about staying smart and knowing when to pull back. Don't push yourself too hard."

  I met his gaze and gave him a small nod. "I know, Dad. I'll be careful."

  Mom smiled faintly, though her eyes still held that hint of worry. "We're proud of you, Kael. Just… come back safe, alright?"

  "I will," I promised, my voice steady.

  As I headed to my room, the weight of the day settled over me. Tomorrow marked the start of something big, something that could change everything.

  With my new weapons, the strange book, and my family's encouragement, I felt ready—or at least, as ready as I could be.

  The next day, I woke up early, washed up, and put on some decent clothes—not too shabby, not too extravagant. The left arm guard, worn and practical, was my only concession to looking a bit out of the ordinary.

  After a quick breakfast, I said my goodbyes to my parents and my twin siblings, both of whom clung to me as if I were leaving forever.

  "Come back soon, big brother!" Lyra chirped, her tiny arms wrapped tightly around my waist.

  "Don't forget to bring something cool from the dungeons!" Aiden added, puffing out his chest like a soldier seeing off a comrade.

  "I'll be back before you know it," I assured them with a grin before stepping out into the crisp morning air.

  The city was already alive, with the usual hustle and bustle echoing through the streets. As I walked, my gaze naturally drifted upward, drawn to the three towering dungeons dominating the skyline.