The dungeon of Nightfall was about half a day's walk from Egrish, deep into the forest. As the sun dipped lower and evening approached, the adventuring party, including Lux, decided to make camp and rest in the woods for the night.
Before settling down, Blake and Lowel set out to scout the surrounding area, while Vox and Will stayed behind to keep watch over Lux and Lia.
Lux was tasked with setting up camp. He slowly lowered the large bag from his back and began pitching two tents using the cloth and rope he had purchased from Chris's shop. He tied the ropes between two nearby trees and draped the cloth over them to form a makeshift shelter. Using fallen branches, he reinforced the sides and left a single opening for entry. It was rough and simple, but it would do for one night.
Lia quietly watched as Lux worked on setting up the tents, her eyes filled with curiosity. Will and Vox, too, couldn't help but be drawn to the process.
"Whoa, is that how you build it? Vox, check this out!"
Will exclaimed, genuinely surprised by how efficiently Lux constructed a shelter from such simple materials.
Vox stepped closer, observing as Lux tied the ropes with practiced ease and adjusted the cloth into a proper tent.
"Hm… I've never slept in a tent before,"
He muttered.
"We always stayed at an inn when we were outside."
"But it would be a great experience don't you think Vox."
"Yes.."
Lux didn't join the conversation as he already done one and work on the other one.
Lia then walks up to him.
"You need a hand ?"
"Ah.. Ms. Lia, it's all right ! you can just rest assure !"
Lia gave Lux a small nod, but instead of resting, she quietly walked off to gather firewood from the surrounding area. Lux didn't notice her absence until he finished setting up the second tent—and saw a neat pile of kindling and larger logs stacked nearby.
"You did all that?"
He asked, blinking in surprise.
She nodded silently.
"Oh… whoa, thanks! That's a big help."
Just then, Blake and Lowel returned from scouting the perimeter.
"We're good to stay here for the night,"
Blake announced, brushing some leaves off his shoulder.
"We'll take turns standing watch while we sleep."
"Then I'll get dinner started,"
Lux offered, already moving to gather stones for a campfire.
His motions were swift and confident, it didn't take long before a small fire was crackling steadily at the center of their camp.
"Wow… you're really good at this,"
Blake said, genuinely impressed as he inspected the tents and the firepit.
"Hehe… it's nothing special,"
Lux replied with a bashful grin.
Soon, everyone gathered around the warm fire, watching as Lux prepared their meal. He poured water from the waterskin into a small pot and set it over the flames. Meanwhile, he took out the bread and sliced it into twelve neat pieces, two for each person. Placing them on flat stones near the fire, he toasted them until they turned golden and crisp.
In a frying pan beside the pot, he tossed in slices of dried meat and bits of cheese. As the cheese melted and the meat sizzled, a delicious aroma filled the campsite. One by one, he scooped the mixture onto the toasted bread slices, creating warm, hearty sandwiches for everyone.
As the water began to boil, Lux reached into his pocket and pulled out a small jar container. Inside was a mixture of dried orange peels and honey. He scooped a spoonful of the fragrant blend and stirred it gently into the pot. Instantly, a sweet and citrusy aroma filled the air, the warmth of the honey blending with the tangy orange to create a soothing scent that drifted through the campsite.
"Wow! I'm starving!"
"Yes… it smells so good!"
Vox and Will muttered, practically drooling as they watched Lux work.
With a satisfied smile, Lux began handing out the sandwiches one by one, the melted cheese still oozing between the crisp, toasted bread. He then carefully pulled the pot of citrus-honey tea off the fire, letting it cool slightly.
"Enjoy, everyone!"
Lux exclaimed cheerfully.
The group eagerly dug in, the quiet forest around them filled with the soft crackle of the campfire and the sound of grateful chewing.
They passed the pot of warm tea around, each taking a sip in turn.
"Wow! It's sweet and citrusy! What is this?"
Lia muttered in surprise as the flavour hit her tongue.
"Heheh… it's my special drink!"
Lux replied proudly.
"Everyone loves it when I make this. It tastes even better during winter, my childhood friends used to beg me for it."
"Lux, you're amazing! Why don't you join us after this is done?"
Will asked enthusiastically, leaning forward with a grin.
"Right!"
Vox chimed in, nodding eagerly.
"Heheh… sorry, guys,"
Lux replied with a proud smile.
"I already made a promise to my childhood friend. When they return to the village, they'll take me into their party!"
"Damn! We should've found you sooner!"
Will and Vox groaned in unison, laughing in defeat.
Lia looked at Lux with a warm smile, her eyes softly glowing in the firelight. She was quietly impressed by how determined he was, turning down an offer from wealthy adventurers without hesitation, simply to honor a promise he had made to his childhood friend.
The group continued chatting around the campfire, sharing stories and experiences. Lux listened intently, eager to learn. Through their conversation, he discovered that Blake and his original party were C-rank adventurers, with Blake himself being the only one to reach B-rank.
Vox and Will, on the other hand, had just recently been promoted to D-rank. They had taken the opportunity to join Blake's expedition, eager to experience dungeon exploration. Both hailed from the large town of Fitsroy, a bustling place near the capital. Will was a ranger, Vox a warrior, and the two had been childhood friends who always worked as a duo.
Lia remained quiet for the most part. She softly explained that she joined to gain experience. A mage and a D-rank adventurer, she didn't elaborate further.
After finishing their conversation, Blake and Lowel turned in first, retreating to one of the tents. Will and Vox, feeling drowsy after drinking Lux's warm citrus tea, yawned and soon followed, leaving Lux and Lia on first watch together under the quiet night sky.
Lia sat quietly near the campfire, gently sipping the last of the citrus tea. The soft crackle of flames and distant sounds of the forest filled the silence. Nearby, Lux sat beneath a tree, carefully polishing his sword under the flickering firelight.
"Is that the sword from Old Man Chris?"
Lia asked softly, setting the pot down beside the fire.
Lux paused for a moment, then glanced over at her with a faint smile.
"Yeah… I haven't paid him off fully yet, but Old Man Chris has always been kind to me."
He turned his gaze back to the blade, continuing to wipe it clean with a cloth, the steel catching the glimmer of the firelight.
After he finished tending to his sword, Lux stood up and quietly walked over to where Lia was sitting. Without a word, he gently draped his blanket over her shoulders.
Lia, still wrapped in her long robe, blinked in surprise before offering him a soft smile. She clutched the blanket closer, clearly grateful for the warmth.
"Thank you,"
Ahe said quietly.
Lux simply nodded and sat down beside her. Reaching toward the campfire, he tossed in a few more pieces of firewood.
"I can't wait for my friends to return… so we can go on adventures together."
Lux muttered the words softly, almost without realizing it. The joy he felt from traveling and sharing this moment with the others stirred something deep inside him, a glimpse of what it would feel like when his childhood friends finally came back.
The thought of the four of them journeying into the unknown, setting up camp like this, sharing meals and laughter under the stars… it filled him with a quiet warmth.
Lia turned to glance at him, her expression soft but searching. After a quiet moment, she asked gently,
"Are you sure… they're coming back?"
Her question was simple, but it struck deep. Lux had heard that question before. From villagers, from other adventurers… even from himself, in the quiet of sleepless nights.
It had been two years.
Two long years since his childhood friends left the village, full of dreams and promises. And yet, not a single letter… not a word.
Just silence.
Lia had listened to when he shared the story with the others. She had watched the spark in his eyes when he spoke of them, of a promise made long ago, one he still held close.
"…Yeah,"
Lux said at last, staring into the fire, his voice quiet but steady.
"They promised. And I'm still here… because I believe in that promise."
Lia didn't press further. She simply looked at him for a while, then gave a small nod, respecting the weight of those words.
After a long pause, the flap of the tent shifted, and Will and Vox stepped out, yawning.
"...Ahh, hey, it's our turn to keep watch,"
Will said, rubbing his eyes.
"You two should get some rest."
Lux stood up, brushing the dust off his pants.
"I see. Ms. Lia, please go ahead and use the tent. I'll rest by the tree next to it."
Lia gave a small nod.
"Okay," she replied softly, then gently returned the blanket to Lux before making her way into the tent.
As she disappeared behind the cloth, Lux watched her go for a moment before settling down against the tree trunk, blanket in hand.
With that, the night passed swiftly, the forest bathed in silence under the sky. The soft crackling of the dying campfire was the only sound that remained thought the night.