We found ourselves lying in the middle of a field, grass swaying gently under the warmth of a soft breeze. The stark contrast between the cold, suffocating dungeon and this sunny landscape made it feel like we’d jumped into a whole different world—again. I was almost too scared to blink, half expecting the ground to open up and swallow us back into another nightmarish pit.

Sabrina pushed herself up, squinting at the sky. “I don’t trust it. It’s too... nice.”

Alice, always one to enjoy chaos, was smiling like a kid in a candy store. “Maybe this is our reward for surviving the dungeon. A peaceful break before the next challenge.”

Jeanna groaned as she rolled over onto her back, one arm thrown dramatically over her eyes. “If I open my eyes and see a shirtless prince riding a horse toward me, I’m staying here forever.”

Sabrina gave her a sideways glance. “You know, for someone who’s been panicking non-stop, you sure fantasize about a lot of… specific scenarios.”

Jeanna shrugged, still not looking at her. “A girl can dream. Danger always makes the romantic tension hotter.”

Before Sabrina could respond, Jay-Jay came running back from the edge of the field, his arms flailing in excitement. “Guys! There’s a road!”

Alice perked up immediately. “A road? Like, leading somewhere?”

Jay-Jay nodded eagerly. “Yeah! It looks like it goes to a village or something!”

“A village?” Sabrina shot up, eyes wide. “Do you think we can find someone who can actually tell us where the hell we are?”

Jeanna slowly sat up, visibly intrigued now. “Or someone who can explain how to get out of this mess.”

Alice smirked as she dusted herself off. “I’m just hoping for food that isn’t made of questionable dungeon creatures.”

We all rose to our feet, a mix of exhaustion and curiosity pushing us toward the road Jay-Jay had found. As we walked, the dirt path seemed to wind lazily through the landscape, bordered by wildflowers and towering trees that swayed gently in the breeze. It was the kind of idyllic setting you’d find in a fantasy novel—if only we weren’t so suspicious of everything now.

“So,” Jeanna started, smirking at Alice, “what’s your plan for this village? Gonna befriend the locals, start a revolution, or drag us into another life-threatening adventure?”

Alice shot her a grin. “Depends on what the locals are like. If they’re shady, maybe we do start a revolution.”

Sabrina groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose. “We don’t need to start a revolution. We need answers. Preferably without causing a scene.”

“Where’s the fun in that?” Jeanna teased.

As we walked, the road gradually widened, and in the distance, a small village came into view. It was quaint, almost medieval-looking, with stone houses, thatched roofs, and bustling townsfolk going about their daily lives. The sight was strangely comforting, even if it did seem too perfect to be real.

“We made it,” Alice said triumphantly, her eyes scanning the village with the kind of excitement only she could have after surviving a dungeon. “Let’s go see if they have a tavern. I could use a drink.”

Jay-Jay tugged at Alice’s sleeve, his face scrunched up. “What’s a tavern?”

Alice chuckled. “It’s a place where adventurers hang out. They drink, eat, and sometimes get into fights. Basically, it’s where all the interesting stuff happens.”

Jay-Jay nodded like this was the most important piece of information he’d learned today. “Cool! Can we see a fight?”

Sabrina shook her head, clearly not in the mood for any kind of chaos. “No fighting. Just talking. We’re here to figure things out, not cause more problems.”

Jeanna snorted. “Yeah, good luck with that.”

The village was surprisingly lively. Vendors lined the streets, selling everything from fresh produce to weapons that looked like they belonged in a video game. Children ran around, playing with sticks that resembled swords, while villagers chatted and laughed as if the world wasn’t full of monsters and dungeons waiting to kill them.

We passed a few curious glances from the locals, but no one seemed overly concerned about a bunch of strangers wandering into town. It was... oddly peaceful.

Jeanna leaned in, whispering, “Is it just me, or does this feel like the setup for one of those too-good-to-be-true scenarios? You know, where everything looks fine, but then BAM! Secret cult, or evil mayor, or something.”

Sabrina grimaced. “Now that you’ve said it, yeah, it does feel like that.”

We eventually found the local tavern—an old, cozy building with a swinging wooden sign that read, The Wandering Wolf. Alice pushed the door open with a grin, and the smell of roasting meat and warm bread immediately hit us. It was like heaven after the dungeon stench.

Inside, the atmosphere was lively, but not chaotic. Adventurers, merchants, and villagers mingled over drinks, their laughter filling the room. A crackling fire roared in the hearth, casting a warm glow over the polished wooden tables.

“We’re definitely in a storybook now,” Jeanna muttered, eyes sweeping the room. “All we need is a brooding guy in a dark corner to complete the vibe.”

Sure enough, as if the universe heard her, there was a guy in the corner—hooded, mysterious, and very much brooding over a drink.

Jeanna’s eyes lit up. “Oh my god. Do you think he has a tragic backstory? Like, lost his family in a raid or something?”

Sabrina raised an eyebrow. “Or maybe he’s just enjoying a quiet drink.”

Jeanna grinned mischievously. “Only one way to find out.”

Before anyone could stop her, Jeanna strutted over to the brooding stranger, leaning against the table with the kind of confidence that only Jeanna could pull off. “Hey there, mysterious. You look like someone with a story to tell.”

The guy glanced up, his face still hidden beneath his hood. “Not interested.”

Jeanna didn’t miss a beat. “You say that now, but I’m pretty sure I’m the most interesting thing to happen to you all day.”

Sabrina covered her face with her hands. "She's a smooth talker...”

Alice and I exchanged amused glances. Even Jay-Jay was watching intently, clearly enjoying the drama.

The stranger sighed, pushing his drink aside. “I don’t have time for this.”

Jeanna grinned. “You’d make time if you knew what you were missing.”

Before the guy could respond, the door to the tavern swung open, and a group of heavily armored soldiers marched in. They wore matching insignias on their chests—an ornate wolf’s head—and looked like they were on a mission.

The tavern fell silent.

The lead soldier scanned the room before stepping forward. “By order of the king, we’re looking for any outsiders who have recently arrived in the village. Report to us immediately.”

Sabrina’s eyes widened, and she quickly grabbed my arm. “We need to get out of here. Now.”

Alice, however, looked more intrigued than worried. “What do you think they want with us?”

“Does it matter?” Sabrina hissed, already scanning the room for an exit.

Jeanna, still standing by the brooding stranger, gave a casual shrug. “Well, this is escalating quickly.”

The soldiers started moving toward the tavern patrons, questioning each table in turn. It wouldn’t be long before they reached us.

“Time to go,” Alice said with a grin, clearly enjoying the chaos about to unfold. “Shall we make a dramatic exit?”

Before any of us could respond, the brooding stranger stood up, his hood falling back to reveal a shock of dark hair and a sharp jawline. He tossed a coin onto the table and muttered, “Follow me if you don’t want to get caught.”

Jeanna’s grin widened. “See? Tragic backstory. I knew it.”

We didn’t waste any time following the stranger out a back door, slipping into the alley just as the soldiers reached our table.

As we raced down the narrow streets, Sabrina shot Jeanna a look. “I hope you’re happy. This is exactly what you asked for.”

Jeanna just laughed. “Yep, and it’s everything I hoped it would be.”