Mine

As Dylan and Jake stepped through Silivia’s open gates, the cool morning air greeted them. The guards stationed at the entrance barely glanced at them, accustomed to adventurers and scavengers coming and going.

Jake walked beside Dylan, his eyes scanning one of the papers Garek had handed them.

"Dylan, why do you think they gave us two papers instead of one, like yesterday?"

Dylan glanced at his own paper, unfolding it. "I don’t know. In mine, it says… ‘F-Rank Quest. Extract and obtain 10 minerals. Mine 5 copper ores and 5 iron ores.’"

Jake blinked, looking at his paper again. "Mine says the *same* thing. Maybe Garek gave us identical quests?"

Dylan furrowed his brows. "Maybe… but why would he do that?"

A brief silence settled between them as they continued walking.

Then, after a moment of thought, Jake’s eyes widened slightly.

"I think I get it now."

Dylan glanced at him. "Yeah?"

Jake nodded. "Yesterday, when we finished the quest, the reward was split between us. Garek told me that if multiple people complete a mission together, the XP and rewards get divided. Maybe by giving each of us the same quest, we both get the full reward separately—so we don’t have to share it this time."

Dylan clicked his tongue. "Huh… that actually makes sense. Not bad, Jake."

Then, his expression darkened slightly.

"Not like it mattered yesterday, though. I didn’t do *shit* because of that damn melting zombie."

Jake sighed. "Yeah… I know. Are you alright, though?"

Dylan let out a dry chuckle. "Took you long enough to ask."

Jake hesitated for a second. "...Yeah… It just didn’t feel like the right moment before."

Dylan shrugged. "I’m fine. Better than yesterday, at least."

With that, the conversation fell into silence again.

The two continued their journey toward the mine, the only sound being their footsteps on the dirt path.

But the silence felt… off.

It wasn’t the comfortable kind of silence—it was the kind that felt like something was pulling them apart.

Neither of them said anything.

Neither of them knew what to say.

For a long time, Dylan and Jake walked in silence, the awkward tension from earlier still lingering between them.

The only sounds were the rhythmic crunch of their boots against the dirt path and the occasional distant rustle of the wind through the trees.

After about ten minutes, they finally arrived at their destination—the mine.

Dylan pulled out his quest paper, double-checking the name and location. "This is the right place."

With that confirmation, they stepped inside.

The moment they entered, a heavy, dusty scent filled their lungs. The air was thick and stale, untouched by fresh wind for what felt like ages.

It was dark—far darker than they expected. The deeper they went, the more the mine swallowed them in shadows.

Despite the unsettling atmosphere, they pressed on, their eyes scanning the rocky walls for any sign of copper or iron ore.

But there was nothing.

No veins of metal, no signs of previous mining activity—just endless stone and a lingering sense of emptiness.

They walked deeper.

Minutes passed. Then more.

Still, nothing.

Dylan frowned. “Are we sure this place even has anything?”

Jake sighed, frustration growing. “Garek wouldn’t send us here for no reason… Would he?”

Dylan didn't answer.

They continued deeper into the mine, each step slower than the last, their confidence fading with every second.

Then—a sound.

Crunch.

Jake froze.

Dylan turned to him. “What was that?”

Jake looked down, confused. Beneath his boot, the ground suddenly felt… unstable.

Another crack.

Dylan’s eyes widened. “Jake—”

Before he could finish, the ground collapsed.

The rocks beneath Jake crumbled instantly, sending him plummeting downward.

"JAK—"

His scream cut through the mine as Jake disappeared into the darkness.

Dylan lunged forward, trying to grab him—but he wasn’t fast enough.

Jake’s body tumbled into the abyss, his shouts echoing through the mine, swallowed by the deep, unseen depths below.

Dylan stood at the edge of the pit, his breath caught in his throat, his heart hammering in his chest.

For a brief moment, he could still hear Jake’s voice—his terrified yells bouncing off the cavern walls.

Then—

Silence.

The echoes stretched into the emptiness, fading into nothing.

The mine fell deathly still.

A cold shiver ran down Dylan’s spine.

He swallowed hard.

Jake was gone.

Dylan struggled to think, his mind racing, panic clawing at his chest. What should he do? What could he do?

He hesitated, his thoughts jumbled and frantic.

Then—instinct took over.

He spun around and ran.

His boots slammed against the rocky floor as he sprinted toward the mine’s entrance, his breath sharp, his pulse pounding in his ears.

Somewhere below, Jake was unconscious, buried in the abyss of the mine. He needed help—fast.

Dylan’s legs burned as he pushed himself harder, faster.

He had to reach Silivia.

Bursting into the forest, Dylan barely registered his surroundings.

Then—movement.

From the corner of his vision, a skeleton lurched out from the trees, its sword already rising for a swing.

Dylan didn’t stop.

He charged straight into it.

His shoulder slammed into the skeleton’s ribs, knocking it back before its attack could connect. His momentum deflected the incoming strike, sending the blade veering off-course.

But Dylan wasn’t even thinking—he was just running.

Branches whipped past him, his boots pounded against the dirt path, and his breath grew heavier and heavier.

Every second counted.

Every step mattered.

After eight minutes of relentless sprinting, Dylan finally reached Silivia’s gates.

But he didn’t make it all the way.

Just a few meters away, his body gave out.

He skidded to a halt, doubled over, and collapsed onto his knees, gasping for air.

His lungs burned. His vision blurred. His chest heaved violently as he struggled to breathe.

Above him, the guards stationed on the walls noticed his arrival immediately.

"Someone’s coming—looks like he’s in bad shape!"

One of the guards turned and shouted toward the inner city.

A few seconds later, a familiar voice rang out.

"Are you alright?"

It was Noah.

Standing atop the walls, she leaned forward slightly, watching Dylan with concern.

Dylan tried to speak—but no words came out.

His breath wouldn’t steady.

His chest felt tight.

Noah’s expression hardened. "Alright, don’t move! I’m coming!"

She raised her right hand, making a series of sharp gestures.

The guards snapped into formation, immediately focusing on the area surrounding Dylan—watching for threats.

Meanwhile, Noah, along with a few guards, began moving down from the walls.

Within moments, they had exited Silivia and were closing the distance toward Dylan.

Noah stopped in front of him, crouching slightly.

"Dylan, right?"

Dylan barely managed a small nod.

Noah’s sharp gaze scanned him.

"Alright, Dylan. Can you walk?"

Dylan shook his head weakly.

Immediately, two guards moved to his sides, gripping his arms and shoulders. They carefully lifted him, stabilizing his weight between them.

Dylan’s body felt heavy, his legs barely responding, but with their help, he was carried inside Silivia’s walls.

Noah and the remaining guard followed closely, her eyes never leaving Dylan’s form as she observed his state.

Once they passed through the gates, they shut firmly behind them.

Noah turned, giving the other guards a silent command to return to their posts.

The soldiers saluted and moved back to their positions, leaving Noah alone with Dylan.

Dylan sat against a wall, his body still trembling, his breaths ragged and unsteady.

Noah crossed her arms. "Dylan, do you have any respiratory illness?"

Dylan hesitated, still gasping for air.

He wasn’t sure.

Tilting his head slightly, his expression became uncertain, his mind trying to piece together an answer.

After a few seconds, he simply shook his head.

But the truth was—he didn’t know.

And right now, that uncertainty terrified him.