Lucas barely dodged the slime core as it splattered against a nearby tree, leaving a faint, shimmering residue. He shot Lena an exasperated look.
"Can we just—focus?" he muttered, stuffing the last core into his satchel. "This stuff is valuable. Let's get it back to the guild."
Lena crossed her arms, still fuming but ultimately relenting. "Fine. But I swear, if your Spin Attack pulls another—another thing next time, I'm walking."
Lucas rolled his eyes and gestured for her to follow. "Noted."
---
By the time they reached the guild, the sun was dipping below the horizon, casting long shadows over the cobblestone streets. The grand wooden doors of the Adventurer's Guild loomed before them, its symbol—a golden sword crossed with a quill—etched into the wood.