The party wandered over toward the cart that Caistina had pointed out earlier, the flickering light of the campfires glinting off a mismatched pile of metal and leather. The wagon was heaped with scavenged weapons, dented armour, scraps of gear, and a few bloodstained trophies, the spoils of war.

  Josh leaned against the edge of the cart, scanning the items spread across its surface. Most of it was junk, rusted blades, snapped spearheads, half-melted buckles but something caught his eye: a pair of sturdy metal pauldrons, still mostly intact. He picked one up, turning it over in his hands. The steel was a little scratched but thick, and the straps were only lightly torn.

  “They’re not pretty,” he muttered, “but they’ll stop an axe better than leather will.”

  He reached for the charcoal stub tied to the cart’s side and scrawled his name beside the item tag. The idea of a bit more protection across his shoulders and chest was comforting, especially after how close a few of those orc strikes had come earlier.

  Next to him, Bheldur was rummaging through the pile with far less care. The dwarf grunted approvingly when he unearthed a small bundle of hand axes, short-handled, sharp-edged, and clearly dungeon-made, but surprisingly well-balanced.

  “Ha! These’ll do nicely.” He gave one a quick spin in his palm, testing the weight before nodding in satisfaction. “Perfect for throwin’. Means a can stop throwing my good hittin’ axes.”

  He added his name to the list beneath the axes with a thick stroke of charcoal, leaving a smudge across the parchment.

  Brett crouched beside them, half-hoping for a staff, wand, or even an enchanted trinket but the cart was barren of anything remotely magical. Just crude steel and scavenged junk. He sighed, dusting his hands. “Nothing for me, then. Guess the goblins weren’t big on arcane investments.”

  Carcan smiled faintly as she sifted through a few bits of tattered cloth and broken jewellery, shaking her head. “They aren’t exactly known for their taste, either.”

  Josh gave a low laugh. “Still, better than nothing. Those axes and these pauldrons will help.” He glanced around the camp, the firelight reflecting off the metallic edge of his find. “Feels strange though, picking through what’s left. Like the calm after the storm.”

  Bheldur slung one of his axes into his belt, his grin softening. “Aye. Let’s just make sure we’re ready before whatever's next hits.”

  The group nodded quietly in agreement, the warmth of the fire and the clatter of the camp settling around them, a brief moment of peace before the dungeon’s hum reminded them the fight wasn’t over.

  The group made their way up the packed slope of the earthen wall, boots crunching against the newly set timbers that reinforced the top. The air was cooler up here, tinged with ash and the metallic scent of blood. Ahead of them, Caistina stood poised near the palisade, one hand raised, the faint shimmer of a spell illuminating her face. Every few seconds, a sharp crack of light flared from her palm, followed by a bolt of arcane energy darting out and cutting down another monster scrambling out of the dungeon’s haze.

  Josh whistled softly as he reached the top. “You’ve been at this the whole time?”

  Caistina didn’t turn, only flicked her wrist. A sizzling bolt of mana speared through another creature’s chest, dropping it mid-snarling leap. “Someone has to,” she replied, voice steady but edged with fatigue. “They’re coming faster now as well.”

  Brett stepped forward, rubbing the back of his neck. “Still, you’ve been at it for hours. You should take a break, get something to eat. We can take over for a bit.”

  Finally, Caistina glanced back at them. Her expression softened a little, though the exhaustion in her eyes was plain. “I appreciate the offer, truly. But no. Not until Ronald comes out. I wouldn’t be able to rest knowing he’s still in there.”

  Carcan nodded, her tone gentle. “You care for him a great deal, don’t you?”

  The elf gave a small, distant smile, looking back toward the dungeon’s pulsing purple glow. “He was my mentor when I was younger. Taught me how to survive my first dungeon crawl… and how not to get myself killed. He’s been a teacher for a long time and helped a lot of us. It’s strange, seeing him walk into one alone. He always told me never to do that.”

  Bheldur leaned on the haft of his axe, brow furrowed. “Aye, seems he’s not followin’ his own advice then.”

  That earned a faint laugh from Caistina, the sound more tired than amused. “No. But if there’s anyone who can handle himself in there, it’s Ronald. He’s reckless, yes, but calculated. Every move he makes has a reason.”

  Josh looked toward the shimmering entrance below, the light reflecting around them. “You think he’ll be alright?”

  Caistina hesitated before answering. “I hope so. But the dungeon’s power is growing. The orcs are becoming more frequent. That means the mana inside is surging. If it breaks before he returns…” She trailed off, exhaling slowly. “Then all of this, the wall, the camp, all of you.” She said looking at Josh, “Will be tested in ways you’re not ready for. And I don’t know if I’ll be enough to protect all of you again.”

  Brett followed her gaze toward the churning fog at the cave mouth. “Then we’ll just have to be ready,” he said quietly.

  Caistina smiled faintly, though it didn’t reach her eyes. “That’s the spirit.”

  She turned back toward the dungeon, another bolt of energy already forming at her fingertips. “Now go get some rest, all of you. I’ll hold the line until morning.”

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  As the group began to descend from the wall, Josh glanced back one last time. Caistina stood alone, her silhouette outlined by the dim violet glow, each flash of her magic a small, defiant promise against the darkness pressing in.

  The group climbed down from the wall in silence, the distant thrum of the dungeon following them like a heartbeat in the air. The purple glow pulsed faintly against the smoke, and even from here, Josh could see flashes of Caistina’s spells cutting through the haze.

  They made their way back toward the line of tents that had been hastily put up. The fires were lower now, little more than embers and smoke, though the smell of stew still lingered. Around them, other adventurers were already settling in, some sharpening weapons out of habit, others slumped in exhausted heaps.

  Josh dropped his gear near their tent and stretched, joints popping. “I don’t know about you lot, but if I don’t lie down soon, I’ll end up sleeping upright.”

  “That’s fine,” Bheldur grunted, tossing down his bedroll with a thud. “I’ll just throw ye over the edge of that wall, if ye start snorin’.”

  Josh shot him a grin. “You’ll have to lift me first, dwarf.”

  Brett chuckled, kicking off his boots. “You two can arm wrestle tomorrow or something. I’m too tired to mediate your nonsense tonight.” He collapsed onto his bedroll with a groan that was half pain, half satisfaction.

  Carcan settled nearby, tucking her blanket around her shoulders. Her face was pale in the dim light, her expression soft. “It’s strange, isn’t it?” she murmured. “After all that fighting… it feels wrong to just lie down and rest.”

  Josh nodded, lowering himself beside his shield. “Yeah. But we need it. Tomorrow’s going to be another mess, and Ronald would probably kick our arses if we showed up half asleep.”

  Perberos, who had been adjusting his bowstring by the tent flap, smirked faintly. “Assuming Ronald comes back to do the kicking.”

  That earned him a glare from Carcan, and he lifted a hand in mock surrender. “Kidding, kidding. He’ll walk out of that dungeon and tell us all we dug the trench wrong somehow.”

  The small burst of laughter that followed was tired but genuine, the kind that came when tension finally started to ease.

  Josh lay back, staring up at the ceiling of the tend. His body ached, but the warmth of his bedroll and the quiet murmur of his friends nearby grounded him. For the first time in hours, he felt something close to peace.

  Brett’s voice broke the quiet after a while. “You think they’ll make us dig another ditch tomorrow?”

  Josh groaned into his blanket. “Don’t jinx it.”

  That drew a sleepy chuckle from the group. One by one, their voices faded, the steady rhythm of breathing filling the tent. Outside, the crackle of fire and distant sounds of Caistina’s magic blended into the night, becoming a lullaby for adventurers who knew that come morning, the fight would begin again.

  —-

  Morning came softer than Josh expected.

  When he first cracked open an eye, the world was bathed in gold. The thick red haze that had smothered the camp yesterday was gone, replaced by a crisp, cool breeze that carried the smell of dew and pine instead of ash and blood. The sky above was blue and for a moment he almost forgot where they were.

  Brett stretched beside him, arms above his head, hair sticking out in all directions. “Ahh, smell that?” he said, breathing deeply. “That’s the smell of my genius at work.”

  Josh squinted at him. “Your genius?”

  Brett grinned, smug as ever. “Obviously. Gust. Blew all that foul air clean away while we slept. You’re welcome.”

  Bheldur snorted from his bedroll. “Aye, right. Bet it was the gods takin’ pity on us after hearin’ yer snorin’, lad.”

  Perberos chuckled as he slung his quiver over his shoulder. “Either way, I’ll take it. Smells a lot better than goblin guts and smoke.”

  They made their way to the cook tent, following the smell of breakfast. The support crew had already been up for hours, pots clattered, fires crackled, and the scent of something meaty and spiced hung in the air. Josh grabbed a wooden bowl and joined the short line, his stomach rumbling loudly enough that Brett raised an eyebrow.

  “Careful,” Brett said. “They might think that was another monster.”

  Josh just glared at him and shovelled the food in his mouth the moment he got it. It wasn’t exactly gourmet, more like lumpy porridge with bits of dried meat but it was hot, filling, and didn’t taste like smoke. That was enough.

  As they ate, Perberos shaded his eyes and looked toward the wall. “Well, I’ll be damned,” he said. “Look who decided to reappear.”

  The others followed his gaze.

  Ronald stood atop the palisade, framed against the morning sun like nothing had ever happened. His cloak was torn in a few places, and his armour bore new scratches, but he was very much alive. Caistina was beside him, her staff raised, both of them firing off spells and arrows every few moments toward the dungeon mouth. From this distance, it almost looked choreographed, Ronald’s arrows striking just as her bursts of light magic seared through the gaps, covering each other seamlessly.

  Brett let out a low whistle. “Guess he didn’t need our help after all.”

  Josh smiled faintly. “Yeah. But it’s good to see him back.”

  Carcan nodded, a small, relieved smile spreading across her face. “Looks like he survived another day.”

  Bheldur stood with his hands on his hips, gazing at the pair on the wall. “Aye. But if those two are still fightin’, I’ve a feelin’ today’s gonna be a long one.”

  The party lingered there for a few minutes longer, basking in the sunlight, watching the morning play out, the distant hum of the dungeon pulsing like a heartbeat beneath the sound of arrows, magic, and the quiet, steady rhythm of a camp coming back to life.

  Josh chewed on the last of his breakfast, watching the figures on the wall. Ronald’s broad frame was hard to miss, even from this distance. Caistina stood beside him, her hands glowing faintly as she prepared another spell. The two of them worked in a steady rhythm, Ronald’s bow loosing arrows, her magic flashing in between.

  “Well,” Josh said, nudging Brett with his elbow. “That’s got to be a good sign, right? Ronald’s back on his feet.”

  Brett shielded his eyes from the sun and squinted. “Yeah. If he’s up there, and we’ve not been overrun in the night… must mean it went alright for him in the dungeon?”

  “Or he’s just too stubborn to rest,” Bhel added, his tone half amused, half approving. “Old man probably refused to sit still the moment he woke up.”

  Josh chuckled. “Fair point. Still… seeing him up there, working with Caistina like that, it makes me think we’ve got a real chance.”

  “Confidence from the optimist,” Brett teased, finishing the last of his bread. “What’s next, you going to tell us everything’s going to be fine?”

  Josh shrugged. “No. But I’ll take hopeful over hopeless any day.”

  Before Brett could respond, a hush rippled through the camp. All around them, the other trainees and adventurers had turned toward the wall. Ronald had stopped firing. He stood tall against the bright sky, bow in one hand, scanning the gathered crowd below. Even from here, Josh could see the grim set of his jaw.

  “Guess break time’s over,” Bhel muttered.

  Ronald raised one hand for silence, his voice carrying across the camp. “Everyone, listen up!”

  The chatter faded entirely. Whatever came next, Josh knew it wasn’t going to be light news.