The cave was engulfed in absolute darkness, so dense it seemed to swallow any attempt to make out shapes or outlines.

The only sound was the steady drip of water, falling into invisible puddles with a rhythmic plop that echoed off the rocky walls.

Occasional crunches from the ground beneath Charles and Nora's movements mingled with the sound of their heavy, ragged breaths after their ordeal in the water.

Each exhale seemed amplified, as if the cave were alive, listening to them.

The air was cold and damp, with a musty smell of wet earth that clung to the throat.

Charles sat on the rock, his back against the wall, still coughing occasionally as he tried to catch his breath.

His eyes still burned from the system's activated ability, a sharp pain that refused to fade.

Beside him, he could hear Nora breathing heavily, her gasps mixed with quiet murmurs of frustration.

He couldn't see her, but he felt her presence, and the warmth of her body close to his was the only thing offering a sliver of calm in the darkness.

"Rian?" Nora said finally, her voice shakier than Charles expected. "Hey, where are you?"

Charles turned his head toward her voice, though he couldn't make out anything.

"Right here, next to you," he replied, trying to sound reassuring despite his own nerves. "Don't worry, I'm right here."

Before he could say more, he felt a sudden movement.

Thump!

A light but firm elbow landed on his chest, making him grunt softly.

"Ow!" he complained, rubbing his chest with one hand. "Nora, watch it…"

"Sorry!" Nora exclaimed, her tone a mix of apology and nervousness. "I didn't see you—it's too dark. I don't even know where I'm standing."

She paused, and Charles could hear her shifting, likely trying to get her bearings.

"Where are we, Rian? Got any idea what this place is?"

Charles let out a short laugh, though it came out more bitter than he intended.

"Not a clue," he admitted, shrugging even though he knew she couldn't see it. "All I know is we're alive, and that's something."

Nora sighed, the sound echoing in the cave.

"Any ideas on how to get out of here?"

"Sort of…" Charles said vaguely.

The blue system arrow still glowed faintly in his vision, pointing deeper into the cave.

He wasn't sure if he should trust it after what they'd been through, but it was all he had.

"I've got a… lead. But you're not gonna like it."

Nora groaned, and Charles could imagine her rolling her eyes, even if he couldn't see her.

"Great…" she said, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "I trust you, Rian, but I swear this is the last time I follow you on an adventure like this. Who in their right mind dives into a cave without a decent plan?"

Charles let out a laugh, leaning his head back against the rock.

"Hey, you're the one who decided to tag along," he said, his tone teasing. "I still don't get why you bothered. You could be back in the village, eating more mint ice cream, instead of being soaked and stuck here."

Nora huffed, followed by a slight movement.

Charles felt her shift closer, likely seeking support in the dark.

"I did it because you were hurt, idiot," she said, her tone trying to sound annoyed but carrying a hint of sincerity. "Thought I needed to keep an eye on you, make sure you didn't get yourself killed doing something stupid. But clearly, I underestimated how crazy your ideas are."

Charles smiled, though the expression faded as he thought back to what happened underwater.

"Why didn't you use your powers earlier?" he asked, his tone more serious. "When we were in the water, you seemed… I don't know, paralyzed. Last time we fell into a lake, you got out like it was nothing."

Nora went quiet for a moment, and when she spoke, her voice was softer than usual.

"I couldn't," she admitted, frustration in her tone. "I tried, but my ability wouldn't respond. And suddenly, it felt like my whole body froze. I couldn't move, couldn't do anything. I really thought I was going to die down there."

Charles frowned, a pang of guilt tightening his chest.

'I probably electrocuted her,' he thought, recalling how he'd used his electric power to light up the water.

He hadn't considered that his energy might have affected Nora, especially if she was trying to use her own power.

"Sorry," he said quietly, his tone sincere.

Nora let out a huff, but it didn't sound angry.

"Don't worry about it…" she said, trying to sound nonchalant. "We're here, alive, so let it go."

She paused, and then Charles felt her shift again, this time leaning against him.

Her back, still wet, pressed against his arm, and though he couldn't see her, he could feel her warmth through their soaked clothes.

"What, scared of the dark?" Charles asked, his tone teasing to lighten the mood.

He tried to ignore the lingering burn in his eyes and shifted slightly to give Nora more space.

Nora laughed, but the sound was shakier than usual.

"What do you think?" she said, her tone a mix of sarcasm and honesty. "We're trapped in a weird cave, no light, soaked, and we just almost drowned. Of course I'm scared. Aren't you?"

Charles chuckled, adjusting so Nora could lean against him more comfortably.

"A little…" he admitted, his tone trying to sound brave but betraying a hint of unease. "But we've got to keep moving. We can't just sit here forever."

Nora sighed, her head resting on his shoulder.

"I trust you'll get us out of here, Rian," she said, her tone softer.

Charles raised an eyebrow, though he knew she couldn't see it.

"Why do you trust me so much?" he asked, his tone a mix of curiosity and amusement. "I'm not exactly a hero, you know."

Nora laughed, and this time the sound was warmer.

"Because you're a Cole, idiot," she said playfully. "And because I gave you ice cream. That's worth something, right?"

Charles burst out laughing, shaking his head.

"You're impossible," he said, his tone trying to sound exasperated but full of affection.

His mind, though, drifted back to the bad feeling he'd had underwater—that presence that made him shudder.

He didn't want to worry Nora, but the thought that something might be watching them in the dark set him on edge.

◇◆◇

Meanwhile, at the Cole clan hospital, Selena sat in a chair by a window, a medical report in her hands.

The lamplight illuminated the pages, revealing details about Rian's condition after his first fight.

Her blue eyes scanned the lines with a mix of disbelief and suspicion.

According to the report, Rian's hands had been in a terrible state: fractured fingers, burned skin, and damaged tendons.

Yet she'd seen him in the arena, moving his hands like nothing, fighting as if he'd never been injured.

"This doesn't add up…" Selena muttered, frowning as she set the report on the table.

She looked at one of the medics organizing supplies in the room.

"Why wasn't this reported to the higher-ups?" she asked, her tone leaving no room for evasion. "Rian's condition was serious. This should've reached my father."

The medic, an older woman with gray hair tied in a bun, tensed under Selena's gaze.

"Lady Selena…" she said nervously, "the information stayed here because Lady Lira has been handling Rian's case. She gave specific orders not to share the details with anyone else."

Selena raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms.

"Lira…?" she repeated, her tone a mix of disbelief and curiosity.

Then she let out a long sigh, resting her chin in one hand.

"Well… now I get why she's so protective of him," she murmured, her tone almost amused. "This just keeps getting more interesting."

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