Changing Times

Most kids my age are smart about it. They go to the Dungeon Diving Academy, where they're taught how to control their aura and use weapons properly. Me? I don't have that kind of luxury. The Academy costs money, and I don't have a single coin to my name.

"Kael, you've got to start diving soon" my father, Darius, had said over breakfast. He was a broad-shouldered man with thick, calloused hands from years of carrying supplies for divers. His face was weathered, his once-black hair streaked with gray. He always smelled faintly of iron and leather. "You're not a kid anymore. You can't laze around the library forever."

"I'm not lazing around," I had muttered, staring down at the bowl of porridge in front of me. It was bland, as usual. I added a sprinkle of salt, but it didn't help much. "I'm thinking too. That's important."

"Thinking doesn't pay, a lot kid" Darius retorted, his voice gruff.

I rolled my eyes. "And diving will? I'll probably get eaten by the first monster I see."

"You'll manage," he said simply, taking a long sip of his tea. That's how he was—always practical, never sugarcoating anything.

My mother, Evelina, on the other hand, was a little more optimistic. She sat across from me, her dark red hair tied up in a loose bun, her green eyes warm but tired. "You're smart, Kael," she said. "You'll figure it out. Start small—stick to the Black Labyrinth or the Green Open Plane. And don't take unnecessary risks."

"Right," I replied, barely suppressing a sigh. It wasn't like I had much of a choice.

My younger siblings, the twins, decided to chime in at that moment. They were eight years old, bundles of endless energy and noise.

"Are you going to fight dragons?" asked my brother, Aiden, his big brown eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Yeah! And ogres and skeletons!" added my sister, Lyra, bouncing in her seat.

"Sure," I said dryly, "if by fight you mean run away from."

They giggled, completely oblivious to my sarcasm.

After dinner i got to my room, and seated on my bed then peak at my window to see those towering dungeons within the City, Overhead, the towering structures of the three dungeons loomed, casting long shadows over the city.

The Black Labyrinth Dungeon stood tall and foreboding, its dark surface gleaming faintly in the morning light. It looked like a massive, impenetrable fortress, with sharp angles and narrow windows. The dungeon's design was built for one purpose: to test a diver's ability to climb. A multi-floored nightmare, divers must ascend by clearing each floor, facing increasingly difficult monsters and powerful bosses. The Warlords Guild currently holds the record, having reached Floor 55.

To its right was the Green Open Plane Dungeon, a sprawling structure with twisting vines and foliage covering its exterior. It seemed almost alive, like the dungeon itself was watching you, waiting for you to step inside. It wasn't a typical dungeon by any means—it was an open-world labyrinth of ever-changing terrain, shifting constantly. Roaming monsters and unpredictable dangers made it nearly impossible to map, but the Titan Guild was dedicated to trying, specializing in navigating the dungeon's shifting landscape. No one had come close to completing it, and most didn't even try for fear of being swallowed by the terrain itself.

And then there was the Red Underworld Dungeon. It was the smallest of the three but by far the most intimidating. Its crimson walls seemed to pulse faintly, as though the dungeon itself had a heartbeat. Known for its extreme difficulty and high mortality rate, it was the ultimate challenge for divers. Only those who excelled in the other two dungeons were permitted to enter. The record for the deepest floor reached was Floor 25, achieved by the Dungeon Diver Guild, and even that was a feat in itself. The dungeon descended into the earth, and unlike the others, it wasn't about climbing—it was about survival in the deepest, darkest levels of hell.

They were all terrifying in their own way, and I still hadn't decided which one to start with. Not that it mattered much—I'd probably die in any of them and i sleep.

In the morning i made my way into the city. The air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of wet stone and wood smoke. The streets were busy as usual, filled with merchants shouting out their wares and travelers preparing to enter the dungeons.

I finally reached the library, the familiar scent of old parchment and ink filling my nostrils. It was comforting in a way, like stepping into a place where time slowed down just a little bit. I made my way toward the front desk, where Victor, the vice head librarian, was busy with a pile of paperwork. His round glasses slipped down the bridge of his nose, and he adjusted them with a sigh as I approached.

"Morning, Victor," I said, leaning against the counter.

He glanced up from his papers, offering me a tired smile. "Ah, Kael. Last day, is it?"

I nodded, shifting the weight of my bag on my shoulder. "Yeah. Gotta go off and get myself killed in a dungeon soon, I suppose."

Victor chuckled softly, the deep lines around his eyes crinkling. "Well, you've been a good assistant here. If only you could have stayed and helped me with the records." He paused, eyeing me carefully. "I'm sure you'll make it out fine, though. Just remember, it's not always about fighting. You'll need your wits down there."

"Right. Thanks, Victor." I gave him a small grin before turning to head deeper into the library.

The library's corridors seemed to stretch on forever, and it didn't take long to lose myself in the maze of towering bookshelves. The Mystery Archive section was tucked away in the back, a quiet, dimly lit corner of the library that smelled of aged paper and dust. Mesha was usually found here, poring over some strange manuscript or ancient scroll. She'd always been more of a mystery to me than anything else, with her silver hair and intense blue eyes that seemed to see through you.

I found her at one of the long tables, scribbling furiously in a notebook. She wasn't young—far from it—but there was a sharpness to her that didn't come with age. Her silver hair was tied back neatly, but there were strands that had fallen loose around her face as she focused on her notes.

"Mesha," I said, stepping into the room.

She looked up, a soft smile crossing her face. "Kael. Come in."

I made my way over to her, careful not to knock anything off the table. Mesha's desk was always a mess—papers scattered everywhere, books stacked in precarious piles. She was a woman who preferred to work in chaos.

"You wanted to see me?" I asked, taking a seat across from her.

"I did," she replied, closing her notebook and folding her hands on the table. "Don't forget to come back tomorrow morning for your last salary. I've got something else for you too—something I think you'll find useful."

I raised an eyebrow, curious. "Something useful?"

Her eyes glinted with amusement, but there was a knowing look in them. "You'll see when the time comes."

"Thanks, Mesha. I didn't expect anything extra."

She waved it off with a dismissive gesture. "Nonsense. You've been reliable, Kael. Besides, I'd be remiss if I didn't send you off properly. You'll need every advantage you can get when you head into those dungeons."

I was about to respond when she added, "Oh, and Abigail's waiting for you in the history section. She skipped the academy today to come see you."

"Did she now?" I said with a smirk, standing up. "I'll go find her then."

Mesha gave me a knowing look, but I didn't stick around to analyze it. I had a feeling she already knew what was going on between Abigail and me, though nothing had ever been said aloud.

It didn't take long for me to find Abigail. She was sitting at one of the long tables in the history section, her face buried in a thick book. I paused at the end of the table, watching her for a moment. Her auburn hair spilled over her shoulders in loose waves, and she was so focused on whatever she was reading that she didn't even notice me.

I took a deep breath and slid into the seat across from her. "Oh hey, Abe. Is there anything you can't understand?"

She looked up, startled at first, but a small smile crept onto her face as her black eyes met mine. "You're here," she said softly, setting her book aside. "They say you're diving soon."

"Yep. I'll be off to the dungeons before you know it."

Abigail raised an eyebrow, her lips curling slightly in amusement. "You ready for it?"

"Not even a little," I admitted, leaning back in my chair. "Not even sure what I'm doing half the time, to be honest. But I guess I don't have a choice."

"You'll figure it out," she said with a reassuring nod. "You always do."

I smiled, feeling the familiar warmth of her support.

As I sat across from Abigail, the noise of the library faded into the background, and my mind wandered back to how we became friends in the first place. It wasn't as if we had instantly hit it off. In fact, it was the opposite at first.