Tease

The morning air was crisp, and the sky was painted in muted hues of lavender and gold as the first rays of sunlight crept over the horizon. Inside her small rented room at the Adventurer's Guild, Raven groaned softly, peeling herself from the warmth of her bed. Her muscles ached faintly, still remembering the strain of the previous days, but she knew better than to linger.

"Look alive, kid," Mavis's smooth voice echoed in the quiet room.

Raven glanced over her shoulder to see her companion lounging casually on the edge of her bed. Mavis had taken her human-like form again, her sharp, elegant features softened by the morning light. She sat with one leg crossed over the other, a smug smile playing on her lips, her glowing pink eyes alight with amusement.

"Morning pep talks now, huh?" Raven quipped, dragging herself to the small vanity to splash her face with water. "A dungeon raid before the sun's even fully up... reminds me way too much of our training days."

Mavis chuckled, a low, melodic sound that filled the room. "Come on, it wasn't that bad."

Raven shot her a flat look through the mirror. "It was bad. You were relentless. I'm surprised I survived."

"And yet here you are, thriving," Mavis countered with a smirk. "I'd say my methods worked."

Raven sighed as she finished brushing out her long silver-gray hair, the strands catching the faint light like liquid metal. She tied it into a loose braid, letting a few wisps frame her face. Turning to her wardrobe, she pulled out her combat attire, a sleek black clothing designed for both practicality and style.

The outfit hugged her figure snugly, allowing for fluid movement, while subtle silver accents complemented her striking hair.

"Not bad," Mavis remarked, her pink eyes gleaming with mischief as she leaned back lazily on the bed. Her voice was like silk, smooth and teasing. "You'll turn heads—and break hearts. Though knowing you, probably cut a few off while you're at it."

Raven rolled her eyes as she strapped her katana to her waist. "Flattery's not going to work on me, you know. You'll have to try harder than that."

Mavis tilted her head, her lips curling into a playful smirk. "Oh, darling, if I were truly trying, you wouldn't stand a chance." She shifted, her movements slow and deliberate as her gaze swept over Raven like a warm caress. "In fact…" Mavis let her voice drop to a softer, more intimate tone, "if I wanted to charm you, you'd already be at my feet—blushing, stammering, utterly mine."

Raven froze mid-movement, her fingers faltering as she adjusted the katana's sheath. Heat crept up her neck, spreading to her cheeks, and she quickly turned away to hide her expression. "Y-you're insufferable," she muttered, her voice betraying a nervous edge as she busied herself with tightening the strap.

Mavis chuckled, the sound low and velvety, sending a shiver down Raven's spine. "Admit it, Raven," she purred, leaning forward ever so slightly, "you find me irresistible."

"I admit…" Raven coughed, struggling to regain her composure. "You're a generational beauty, sure. But we have a mission. Let's focus on that, shall we?"

As she made her way toward the door, Mavis reclined again with an amused, knowing smile. "Whatever you say, Raven. But you are sure fun to tease."

She made her way toward the door, adjusting her katana's sheath for comfort. "I shouldn't keep the others waiting."

"Then off we go," Mavis said, her form shimmering faintly as she reverted to her diminutive dragon shape. With a small flutter of her wings, she perched on Raven's shoulder, her warm weight a familiar comfort.

Raven took one last look around her room, ensuring she hadn't forgotten anything. The guild accommodations were modest but clean, and the room had grown on her during her short stay. Satisfied, she stepped out into the hallway, the faint hum of morning activity already beginning to stir.

Descending the stairs, Raven heard the lively voices of adventurers exchanging plans and gossip over breakfast. The warm, buttery scent of fresh bread and spiced coffee wafted through the air, and her stomach grumbled faintly in response. She shook her head, amused. There are people already up so early?

At the bottom of the stairs, a familiar voice called out, "Wraith! Over here!"

It was Angus, his burly figure impossible to miss as he waved her over. The rest of the Red Band members stood nearby, double-checking their supplies.

"We're about to head out," Kara said, pushing her glasses up her nose as her sharp pink eyes met Raven's. "Just making sure we have everything we need. Hopefully, you aren't flammable—I'd hate to accidentally set you on fire."

Raven smirked at the mage's bluntness. "I'll take my chances."

Serine approached with a smile. "Ready, Wraith? Hope you had a good night's sleep. It's going to be a long day."

"More than enough," Raven replied. "I've got everything I need."

"Are you sure?" Fiora teased, her light blue eyes sparkling with amusement. "You almost look like you're dressed for a regular outing."

"Don't worry," Raven assured her with a faint smile. "I can move better like this. And I have my katana, so it's not like I'm defenseless."

"Well said," Argus rumbled approvingly. "It's not the gear that matters; it's the skill of the adventurer wearing it."

"Exactly," Raven agreed, adjusting the strap of her sheath. "Let's focus on the task. Are we all set?"

Serine nodded, her crimson braid swaying as she gestured toward the guild doors. "Everything's accounted for. Let's head out. The dungeon's not going to raid itself."

As the group gathered their gear and moved toward the exit, the cool morning air greeted them, carrying with it the faint sounds of Eldoria awakening—vendors setting up stalls, birds chirping in the distance, and the occasional clatter of horse-drawn carts on cobblestone streets. Raven felt a thrill of anticipation building in her chest. The day was just beginning, and with this lively, eclectic team, it promised to be anything but ordinary.

"So," Raven started, glancing over at Serine, who led the group with her bow slung casually over her shoulder. "How far is this dungeon, anyway?"

Serine shot her a sidelong look, a sly smile tugging at her lips. "Getting cold feet already, Wraith?"

Raven snorted, rolling her eyes. "Hardly. I just want to know if I need to mentally prepare for a trek halfway across the continent."

Angus chuckled, the massive axe on his back shifting slightly as he adjusted his grip. "Nah, it's not that far. About an hour's walk outside the city. We've got a good pace, and the scenery's not bad, either. Plenty of time to enjoy the fresh air before things get dicey."

"The road to the dungeon isn't too rough," Fiora added, her light blue eyes twinkling. She twirled her staff idly, her voice light and cheerful. "Though I wouldn't count on a peaceful walk. You never know what might crawl out of the forest."

"Or who," Dren muttered from the back, his quiet voice almost drowned out by the bustle of the streets. His sharp gray eyes scanned the area, always watchful.

Kara adjusted her glasses, her pink eyes flicking toward Raven. "The walk will give us time to strategize. The dungeon's layout is supposedly straightforward, but the sheer number of ants reported makes it dangerous. Not to mention their queen. It's best we coordinate now."

"Agreed," Serine said, her tone turning serious. "The Ant Queen may only be a Three-Star boss, but her control over the hive makes her exponentially more dangerous. If we're not prepared, she'll swarm us before we can even get close."

"Good thing we have a fire mage on our side," Raven noted, glancing at Kara. "Burn the swarm before it gets out of hand, right?"

Kara smiled faintly, a flicker of pride in her otherwise composed demeanor. "Fire works wonders on their exoskeletons. But controlling the blaze in a confined dungeon is tricky. I'll need everyone to keep the ants off me while I cast."

"We'll cover you," Serine assured her, her green eyes sharp with confidence. "Angus will hold the front, and Dren and I will focus on picking off stragglers. Wraith—" she turned to Raven, her gaze assessing, "—you're quick and precise. I'll need you to flank with me and look for openings to strike. The queen's thorax is her weak point. Hit that, and she's done for."

Raven nodded, her hand brushing the hilt of her katana. "Got it. And if she tries anything tricky, I'll handle it."

Mavis's voice echoed softly in Raven's mind. Confident, aren't we? Let's hope you don't trip over one of those ants.

Quiet, you, Raven thought back, suppressing a smirk.

As they continued down the cobblestone streets, the city began to thin out, giving way to open fields bordered by the looming edge of a dense forest. The group settled into a comfortable rhythm, their banter mixing with the crunch of gravel beneath their boots.

"An hour's walk, huh?" Raven murmured, glancing toward the treeline in the distance. The thrill of the unknown danced in her chest. "Let's hope the dungeon lives up to the hype."

"Oh, it will," Serine said with a grin. "Just don't let the ants get to your hair, Wraith. I hear they like shiny things."

Raven arched a brow, her lips twitching into a smirk. "If they try, they'll regret it."

After an hour of walking, the group finally arrived at the dungeon. The entrance was nestled at the base of a rocky hillside, partially obscured by overgrown vines and moss. Despite its modest size—a jagged, dark maw in the earth—it radiated an unsettling presence. Raven paused, her sharp mismatched eyes narrowing as she took in the faint hum of mana seeping from within. Deep inside, she could feel hundreds of presences stirring, a hive alive with activity.

"Huh," Angus said, stepping forward with his axe resting on his shoulder. "The entrance looks kinda small. I expected something more... dramatic."

"It's deceiving," Kara replied, adjusting her glasses. Her pink eyes scanned the entrance critically. "Dungeon interiors are often spatially warped. The deeper we go, the larger it'll get. Standard for hive-type dungeons."

Raven stepped closer, her hand resting lightly on the hilt of her katana. Her voice was calm, but there was an edge to it. "I can already sense them. Hundreds—maybe more—clustered in the upper levels. And they're not just regular ants. From the way their mana feels, they're... big. Bigger than us."

Serine turned to Raven, curiosity flashing in her sharp green eyes. "You can sense them? What else can you pick up?"

Raven hesitated for a moment before answering. "I have... enhanced sensitivity to mana flows and signatures. I can feel enemies' presences, even their movements, if they're close enough. It's not perfect, but it's gotten me out of trouble before." She shrugged slightly. "Part of my magic abilities, I guess. After a long time training."

You're welcome, Mavis's voice purred in her mind, smug and teasing.

I can tell you're smiling, Raven thought back, trying to suppress the faint twitch of her lips.

"Oh, that's interesting," Serine said, her tone light but with a hint of genuine intrigue. She rested her hand on her bow and tilted her head. "That kind of ability will definitely come in handy. You're more useful than I thought, Wraith."

Raven raised an eyebrow, the corner of her mouth quirking into a faint smirk. "Glad I could impress you."

"Well, don't get cocky yet," Serine shot back, her grin sharp. She turned toward the dark entrance, her green eyes gleaming with anticipation. "Let's see how well you hold up in there. Stay sharp, everyone. Once we're inside, it'll be all hands on deck."

The group nodded in unison, the weight of the moment settling over them like a heavy cloak. Angus tightened his grip on his axe, his expression hardening, while Kara murmured an incantation, a soft glow of defensive magic enveloping her. Dren silently checked his daggers, his gray eyes unreadable, and Fiora offered a quick prayer under her breath, the crystal at the tip of her staff pulsing faintly.

Raven took a deep breath, the cool, stale air from the dungeon brushing against her skin. The presences inside shifted uneasily, as if sensing their arrival. Her grip on her katana's hilt tightened.

"Alright," Angus said, stepping forward and cracking his knuckles. "Let's get this party started."

With that, the group descended into the darkness, the faint light of Fiora's staff guiding their way. The narrow tunnel walls pressed close, the air growing colder and damper the deeper they ventured. And though the entrance had been small, the path ahead seemed to stretch endlessly, a faint echo of movement and distant chittering promising the chaos that awaited.

Raven's heart thrummed with a mixture of adrenaline and anticipation. 

[Shadowfang Waltz]