Chapter 23: A Reason to Survive 2

The sun blazed above like a furious god, its wrath searing the earth beneath us. It wasn't just hot—it felt personal, as if the sky itself wanted to burn the world to ash.

Under that merciless sun, I trained with the other knights, sweat dripping down my back, my muscles screaming in protest. But my mind wasn't on the drills. It wandered—back to the quiet tension of this morning, back to my room... and Liana.

It had taken everything to make her understand. To convince her to let me go. She had promised not to tell anyone about my late-night ventures, not to stop me—even if her eyes were still filled with doubt. I had to make endless promises, half an hour of soft bargaining, vowing again and again that I wouldn't take any unnecessary risks. She was hesitant... but in the end, she understood. And for that, I was grateful.

But now, more than ever, I knew—

I had to move faster.

I had to find that hidden dungeon.

(Liana POV)

Night had fallen. Moonlight poured softly through the window curtains, casting silver streaks across the floor. Normally, I would've been asleep by now… but not tonight. Not when Kael was out there—alone in the dark forest, facing monsters.

I lay in bed, wide-eyed, staring at the ceiling, my hands clutched tightly to the sheets.

I wanted to stop him. To run to him and scream, "Don't go!"

But I knew it wouldn't matter.

I saw it in his eyes this morning—that cold, unshakable resolve.

No matter what I said, no matter how much I begged… he wouldn't stop.

Kael was always stubborn, but this… this was different.

This was something he deemed important.

And when Kael decided something was important, nothing could sway him.

I even thought about telling Commander Arvell.

Maybe he could stop him.

Maybe someone should.

But then I imagined Kael's face if he found out I'd betrayed his trust.

That cold, distant look in his eyes.

He would never forgive me.

And what could I even do?

When he first came here, I told myself I'd protect him, support him when no one else would.

I followed him here… because I believed in him.

But now he's out there, fighting monsters in the dark, and I—I can't even lift a blade.

I'm useless.

My promises… meaningless.

Tears welled up in my eyes, and I buried my face into the pillow, muffling the sobs rising from my throat.

"I'm sorry, Kael…"

"I'm so sorry…"

I cried until my body went still… until sleep finally pulled me under.

Here's a refined, immersive, and slightly expanded version of your paragraph, keeping the tone and vocabulary consistent with the rest of the scene:

But after Liana drifted into sleep, something began to stir—something even she didn't notice.

Her breathing had slowed, her tears dried against the pillow, and the quiet of the room swallowed the last remnants of her sorrow. Yet deep within her body, far beyond her awareness, something subtle had begun to change.

A faint glow pulsed in the center of her chest—soft, barely visible through her skin, like the heartbeat of something ancient awakening. It flickered once… then again, like a dying ember catching breath.

It was small. Weak. Easy to miss in the silence of the night.

But it was there.

Something was changing inside her.

And whether it was a gift or a curse, no one knows

--------------------

Two weeks had passed since Liana found out I'd been sneaking out into the forest alone—fighting monsters in the dark.

She didn't question me anymore. Not directly.

But I could see it—the way her smile had faded, how her voice had grown quiet. The way she avoided my eyes during breakfast…

And the dark circles beneath her eyes?

They said everything she wouldn't.

She wasn't sleeping well. She was worried—constantly.

Even if she didn't speak it aloud, the weight of her silence pressed on me like a stone.

But what could I say?

I couldn't ask her to stop worrying about me.

Not when I was risking my life every night in some cursed forest no one dared to enter.

So instead… I made a quiet promise.

If I could just find the hidden dungeon—if I could uncover the truth behind it all—then I could stop these nightly hunts.

I'd have no reason to go out anymore.

And maybe then… maybe Liana would finally be able to rest.

Each day, I ventured deeper—fighting, surviving, pushing my limits. The strongest monster I encountered was an E+ rank… and it nearly broke me.

I was badly injured that night. Cuts ran down my arms, bruises bloomed across my ribs, and my legs barely carried me back.

Liana found me the next morning.

Her eyes widened the moment she saw me—bloodstained clothes, limping, a gash across my shoulder. She didn't cry… but I saw the way her lips trembled, how she clenched her fists so tightly her knuckles turned white. She fought hard to hold herself together.

That moment stayed with me.

From that day on, I stopped hunting monsters recklessly. I only fought those I knew I could handle—no more near-death battles. No more dragging myself back half-dead.

Because no matter how strong I wanted to become…

I couldn't bear to see her like that again.

I've explored every inch of the forest—meticulously, day after day.

Every bush, every stone, every tree.

And still… nothing.

No signs of a hidden dungeon. No strange mana fluctuations. No cracks in the earth. Nothing.

The doubt is starting to creep in.

Does the dungeon even exist?

Or is something else responsible for the destruction of the fortress?

If it's not the dungeon…

If it's something worse—something I didn't plan for—

Then we're already screwed.

No.

I can't accept that. I won't.

There's still one place I haven't checked—the path I first took, the one I avoided ever since.

The monsters there were too strong.

Demonic Hounds.

I remember their glowing red eyes, the way they stalked through the trees like shadows with teeth. If they find me again... I'll die. No question.

But I don't have a choice anymore.

I have to go back.

Quietly.

Carefully.

I'll slip through the dark unnoticed.

I just have to make sure… they never see me.

After making up my mind to explore the dangerous path, I returned to the fortress.

Back to my room.

I removed my armor and laid down on the bed, staring at the ceiling, thoughts racing.

Tomorrow… I'll go back there.

To the place I've avoided all this time.

There has to be something—no, there must be something hidden in that path. I can feel it.

Whatever it is, I'll find it.

But first… I need rest.

This fatigue—this weight in my bones—I need to wash it away.

I closed my eyes, letting the darkness pull me under.

Tomorrow… it begins.