[<ERYSIS>: Are you and Elisa together?]

[<SYSTEM>: Due to technical difficulties, the messaging application is currently offline. Please wait for the issue to be resolved patiently.]

[<ERYSIS>: Deflection. Interesting.]

[<SYSTEM>: This is an automated response. Please wait for the issue to be resolved patiently.]

[<ERYSIS>: It's scary, changing something that works.]

[<ERYSIS>: Ask me how I know.]

[<ERYSIS>: But sometimes, you have to just go for it. Or you will regret it forever.]

[<ERYSIS>: And with how much time you spend together, aren't you practically dating, anyway?]

[<SYSTEM>: I'm revoking your messaging privileges.]

[<ERYSIS>: You forgot to change your name, Mr. System.]

[<ERYSIS>: Huh. Still got sent.]

[<ERYSIS>: Oh well, if Lucius is unavailable, I'll go ask Elisa for her thoughts on the matter.]

[<LUCIUS>: Phew. Fixed.]

[<LUCIUS>: Sorry that took a while. Code, am I right.]

[<ERYSIS>: Or did I already ask her?]

[<ERYSIS>: Hello?]

[<ERYSIS>: I didn't.]

[<ERYSIS>: Don't freak out.]

[<ERYSIS>: Lucius?]

[<DEFENSE NETWORK>: Lucius' maximum response time has been exceeded. Was this an expected event?]

[<ERYSIS>: I know you're messing with me again.]

[<DEFENSE NETWORK>: Erysis, this is not Lucius. I am the Limited AI responsible for the defense network governing the planet. Please answer my question.]

[<ERYSIS>: Not funny.]

[<DEFENSE NETWORK>: All attempts to make contact with Lucius have been unsuccessful. Please answer my question.]

[<ERYSIS>: No, it wasn't expected.]

[<ERYSIS>: We were just joking around.]

[<ERYSIS>: Is he okay?]

[<LUCIUS>: Gotcha.]

[<ERYSIS>: You absolute freaking jerk!]

[<ERYSIS>: I'm going to destroy you!]

I let Erysis sling some more insults and threats at me, letting it fade into my background awareness and focusing my attention on what I'm about to do. As soon as I cross the Guild Hall's entrance and come into view, the regular loungers immediately take notice, directing acknowledging nods at me, their faces full of pride. Above them is a precariously affixed banner that reads 'Welcome back, Lucius!'. The large canvas is amply decorated with all manner of sparkly craft supplies. Aww, that's so cute. They probably worked on it with their kids. I give them all a friendly wave and a thumbs up on my way to the counter.

"Good morning, Lucius," Attendant Ania greets me.

"Morning."

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"Quite the welcome." She glances at the banner and raises her voice a touch. "Our adventurers are all so multitalented." The loungers all shake their heads shyly, trying to appear humble. "If only they cleaned up after themselves just as skillfully."

I do detect traces of the supplies used inside the Hall... and all over their bodies... Huh. I quickly check the recordings from yesterday. There's a two-hour segment of the footage where the lounge area has been commandeered. They've strewn themselves all around, enthusiastically constructing a banner to eclipse all others before it. No junior assistants in sight. That somehow makes it even cuter.

Attendant Ania glares at them for a bit more as they start to scramble, following the barely masked order. She then turns to me again. "A light delve for your first day back?"

"Maybe later. I have a meeting with Ren. Just wanted to swing by and say hello."

Her smile grows by a whole percent. "Good to see you doing well. What's the meeting about?"

"Oh, you know... stuff. Debriefing stuff."

The smile locks in place. "Hmm. Of course. I won't hold you any longer, then. A dungeon entry will be waiting for you when you're back."

"Cool," I say as I am discreetly moving away. "Alright, bye." With that, I quickly enter the inner section of the Hall. Perfectly executed. She suspects nothing.

After a knock, I am welcomed into Ren's office.

"Ki—" He stops and corrects himself, "Lucius. Sorry. What did you want to talk about?"

"I need to challenge higher grade dungeons."

His jovial attitude sours instantly. "Sit down." I approach his desk cautiously and take a seat, shrinking slightly under his intense gaze. "Kiddo,"—no attempt is made at a correction—"you that intent on losing your life?"

"You are well aware—"

"I know you told Erysis and Nexen," he says, interrupting my marvelous justification. Right... Of course the hall master would be the gossipiest of them all. "I take it Nexen wasn't the most receptive?"

"He wasn't."

"And now you want to throw all caution away? I'm aware what the demon king's knowledge of your existence means, but you're letting him get inside your head. Don't start making impulsive decisions due to some perceived danger."

"My strength will be sufficient. I'm not here for your permission."

Hurt flashes across his features, quickly replaced by reluctant resolve. "Want to try again?"

I let out a long sigh. "...I'm sorry, Ren. You're right. I'm being stupid. It's just been one thing after the other recently, and I desperately wanted to keep up, to show my true worth." My face falls, engulfed by sadness.

He comes over next to me and places a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "To keep up with what? To show what true worth? That's not why people care about you. And they do care. You know that. You've already done so much for the world. How much more do you need to do before you are satisfied?" He shakes his head and mumbles under his breath, "I'm going to regret this..." Then he grabs my arm and pulls me up. "B-grade. Nothing more."

My voice is skeptical, but with some hints of hope breaking through. "Really?"

Ren sighs. "Yes. But first, you are going to have to prove yourself to me." I nod in response. "Come on." He starts to walk, with me following closely behind. "And keep it hush."

We expertly stalk through the Hall, trying to reach a particular room without drawing too much attention to ourselves. A brief visit to the armory allows us to collect a couple of sparring weapons. Then, with one final turn, and no incidents to count, we encounter a heavily enchanted door located in the heart of the Hall. It easily opens to Ren's touch, letting us into a—

"What do you think you're doing?" Attendant Ania asks from within the indigo tinted space. Ren and I freeze.

When my character's brain starts tugging along again, I attempt an excuse, "Tour of the facilities?"

"Are you telling or asking?" Attendant Ania says. She then turns to Ren. "Lucius is not ready for a B-grade. What's gotten into you?" He briefly glances to me, which was the wrong move here. "What's going on?" she questions again.

"Fine," I say, "you caught us. I've been practicing a powerful spell Teacher has been helping with, and Ren offered to let me train it in a real fight, as I don't feel like it's a good idea to test it out on monsters, no matter how weak. It's very demanding."

Her eyes are still scrutinizing us, but the explanation will hold. "No B-grades?" she asks.

"No B-grades," I confirm, with Ren giving a stiff nod. She lets out a relieved sigh. "Good. Be careful with that magic, alright?"

"We will," I say.

"Go on, then. Some of us have work to do," she says. The second sentence directed at her hall master playing hooky.

Ren and I swiftly shuffle off into the portal.

When we are on the other side, he says, "I think I'm starting to get how you've been feeling all this time, kiddo. It's not a pleasant experience..."

"No. It is not."

We are inside a cave-like expanse. The ceiling is high up, covered with stalactites, and the wall of the circular chamber is a significant distance away, obscured by a hazy mist. The floor of the dungeon is flat, lacking any and all obstacles. Except for us, the only other thing that breaks the uniformity is the singular monster inhabiting this E-grade. The boss is already looking our way, a gaunt figure, dressed in rags. Its milky white eyes are peeling away our layers, dissecting our capabilities. The monster shudders, it's wiry muscles tensing. Darkness swirls around its form, preparing to swallow it whole, to hide from our sight, to escape from its inevitable fate.

A screaming spear passes through its head, leaving its decapitated body to flop uselessly to the ground.

Ren stretches distractedly. With a flick, the spear appears back in his hand, quickly stored away again. "No disturbances. Takes about a day to reset, so don't worry. We can have all the fun we want." He smiles my way, the glee on his face anything but friendly.

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