Sunday dawned bright and clear, casting a warm glow over the academy grounds as Luna and her friends gathered at the front gate. A palpable sense of anticipation filled the air as they stood side by side, each readying themselves for their first real encounter with a rift. The city had been buzzing with news of this rift’s sudden appearance, and Luna could feel the slight tug of excitement mixed with anxiety in the pit of her stomach. Today wasn’t just another day at the academy—it was an adventure.

Nia was already engrossed in checking her equipment, muttering about energy sensors and map coordinates. “Okay, I’ve set the primary sensors to detect any unusual mana fluctuations within a hundred-meter radius of the rift’s entrance. It should give us a heads-up if anything odd happens while we’re inside,” she explained, looking at Luna and Kai with a hint of pride.

Luna gave her a nod of encouragement. “Great work, Nia. We’ll be a lot safer with those sensors keeping an eye on things.”

Kai chimed in, his hands tucked casually into his pockets but his posture alert. “Yeah, let’s just make sure those sensors don’t pick up anything too crazy. Not that I’d mind a bit of action,” he added with a playful grin, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

A short distance away, Elara appeared, striding confidently toward them. Her dark hair was tied back, and she wore a practical, no-nonsense expression that only made Luna admire her more. She exuded an air of calm authority, someone who had faced the unknown countless times and come out victorious. Noticing their group size, she frowned slightly. “Looks like we won’t all fit into a single taxi.”

Luna felt a sudden urge to volunteer, her gaze flicking toward Elara. “I can come with you, Instructor,” she said, her voice almost too quick. She caught a glimpse of Kai’s smirk and Nia’s amused smile, but her friends nodded supportively.

Elara looked at her for a moment, then gave a small nod. “Very well, Luna. The rest of you can take the lead taxi. We’ll follow behind.”

As they climbed into the cab, Luna found herself sitting closer to Elara than she had expected. The air felt thick with a quiet tension, a blend of nerves and excitement as they prepared for the rift dive. With the hum of the engine, the city streets blurred by, and Luna glanced sideways at Elara, suddenly aware of the woman’s strong, composed presence beside her.

“I wanted to thank you,” Luna said, almost without realizing it. Her voice came out softer than she intended, an intimate edge coloring her words. “For agreeing to guide us through this. It means a lot, especially for our first real rift exploration.”

For a moment, Elara’s usual stern expression faltered. She looked at Luna with something unspoken, something almost warm in her gaze, before she quickly composed herself. “I didn’t do it for you, specifically,” she replied briskly, though her tone softened slightly. “Your group’s initiative impressed me. It’s rare to see students so eager to take on such responsibility. But don’t think this is anything personal.”

Luna smiled, undeterred. “Understood,” she replied, feeling a strange sense of comfort even in Elara’s straightforward response.

After a beat of silence, Elara spoke again, her voice almost hesitant. “Don’t worry about keeping up,” she said, casting a glance in Luna’s direction. “I’ve seen your progress in training—you’re more prepared than you think. Just remember the basics, and you’ll do fine.”

Luna nodded, a spark of appreciation rising within her. Though they’d only met weeks ago, Elara’s steady confidence in her felt reassuring, like a quiet acknowledgment of her efforts so far.

***

At the rift’s entrance, Elara gathered them for a quick briefing. “This might be an E-rank dungeon, but it’s still a rift,” she said, her voice firm yet reassuring. “Stay close, stay sharp, and follow instructions. Nia, you’re on recon—keep ahead of the group but always stay within sight. Watch for traps, unusual energies, and movement.”

Nia nodded, brandishing her energy sensor with a playful grin. “Got it, Instructor. I’ll signal if anything strange pops up.”

They moved forward, the rift swallowing them in a wave of shimmering energy, its otherworldly blue glow lighting their path. The moment they stepped inside, the temperature dropped, and a faint, damp smell filled the air. The dungeon felt like a labyrinth of stone passages, worn with time and filled with shadows that seemed to dance at the edges of their vision.

Their first encounter was a small group of goblins lurking in the shadows. Kai sprang into action, his fists crackling with fire as he leaped forward, striking the creatures with swift, controlled movements. “Piece of cake,” he grinned, wiping his hands as the goblins dissolved into particles of energy.

Nia moved with precision, staying just ahead and sending out energy pulses to detect hidden enemies or traps. “All clear,” she reported, tapping her sensor. “Nothing big in this area so far.”

The group continued, growing bolder with each turn. Their second encounter was a swarm of slimes oozing across the dungeon floor, their gelatinous bodies shimmering in the dim light. Luna moved into action, her movements fluid and precise as she struck at the slimes, dodging their acidic attacks. She was careful not to draw on her hidden abilities, but the temptation lingered, her instincts sharpened by the suppressed power within her.

A slime grazed her arm, leaving a small burn. For a moment, she considered using her ability to heal it but held back, keeping her abilities concealed. Instead, she called out, “Rei, could I get a little healing here?”

Rei nodded, sending a pulse of soothing energy toward her. The burn faded, and Luna gave a grateful smile, relieved she hadn’t given herself away. “Thanks,” she murmured, hoping no one had noticed her hesitation.

As they ventured deeper, they encountered a group of armored skeletons. Elara’s voice was steady as she gave specific instructions. “Skeletons are tough to take down—aim for their joints to weaken them.” She guided each student on technique, pointing out small errors and suggesting improvements.

Kai and Rei moved in, coordinating their attacks with practiced ease. Nia fired energy bolts from a distance, carefully maintaining her position on recon. In the chaos, Luna dodged a bony swipe, countering with a precise strike that shattered the skeleton’s ribcage.

Once they had cleared the chamber, Elara’s gaze swept over them, ensuring they were all uninjured before signaling them to move on. “You’re doing well. Just stay alert.”

They pressed on, deeper into the dungeon’s winding paths, encountering more low-level creatures that, while manageable, kept them on edge. With each battle, Elara offered calm, practical advice, adjusting their tactics. “Stay light on your feet with slimes,” she noted. “And remember, goblins often travel in packs. Don’t get cocky.”

Finally, they arrived in a larger chamber, the last room of the rift. The air here felt different—heavy, almost oppressive. Faint etchings covered the walls, symbols that pulsed faintly as if imbued with a strange, lingering energy. Luna felt a chill, sensing something off about the place.

Elara’s brow furrowed as she examined the markings, her fingers tracing the symbols on the wall. “This is… unusual,” she murmured, more to herself than anyone else.

“What do you mean?” Luna asked, sensing something amiss in Elara’s expression.

Elara glanced up, eyes sharp. “I’m not sure. We’ll have to leave it for now.”

As they began to turn and leave the chamber, something caught Kai’s attention. Nestled in the corner of the room, half-hidden behind a pile of debris, was a small, weathered shield. It was decorated with an intricate pattern, worn from time and battle, but still solid.

Kai was the first to approach it, lifting it cautiously from the floor. “A shield? Seems odd, considering what we’ve fought. But hey, it’s a reward, right?”

He held it up, showing the group. “A bit bulky for me, though,” he added with a chuckle, examining the design.

Nia raised an eyebrow, inspecting the shield with a smirk. “Definitely not my style. It’s got some weight, though. Might fetch a decent price at the market.”

Rei looked at it with a soft smile. “I think it’s a good keepsake. Our first dungeon raid. It’s something we can all remember.”

Luna nodded, feeling the weight of the moment. “It’s perfect. Let’s keep it.”

Elara glanced at the shield, then nodded approvingly. “Good call. Sometimes it’s not about the money, but what it represents.” She tucked the shield into her pack, the weight of it a reminder of their first challenge together.

They retraced their steps, making their way back through the dungeon’s winding corridors, and Luna couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride. They’d done it—survived their first raid as a team. But as they neared the exit, Elara’s expression shifted. Her brow furrowed, and she slowed her pace, her gaze wandering back over the walls.

Luna noticed the change. “Is something wrong?”

Elara hesitated, her fingers tracing the edge of her pack where the shield rested. “I don’t know,” she said, her voice quiet. “There’s something strange about this rift. The shield, the markings—it feels off, like someone crafted it intentionally.” She glanced around the chamber, her sharp eyes scanning for anything out of place. “The way this rift was constructed… it’s not like the others I’ve seen. Something doesn’t fit.”

Luna’s pulse quickened at Elara’s words, the mystery of the rift now feeling heavier than before. “What do you think it means?”

“I’m not sure,” Elara replied, shaking her head. "But it’s not something for you students to worry about. Let’s keep this between us for now."

They exited the rift, and the dungeon’s oppressive air lifted as they stepped back into the sunlight. But Luna couldn’t shake the feeling that something had changed. The mystery of the shield, the markings on the wall, and the way Elara had paused—it all hinted at something deeper.

As they gathered outside, Elara looked over the group, her voice steady. “Good work, team. Let’s head back to camp.”

The reward in their hands—a simple shield—felt more significant than it appeared, a symbol of their first shared victory. But as Luna glanced back toward the rift one last time, she felt the weight of the unspoken questions that hung in the air.

This wasn’t over. They had only just begun to uncover the secrets that lay hidden beneath the surface.