The first light of dawn had just begun to paint the sky in pastel hues as Aldar completed his morning run. The cool morning air was refreshing, invigorating Aldar's senses as he slowed to a stop in the training grounds.

Aldar made his way through the cathedral's sprawling corridors, heading towards his personal quarters. The hushed whispers of morning prayers and the distant sound of choral hymns filled the air.

Upon reaching his room, he opened the door to find his supplies exactly where he had left them before the celebratory gathering with his fellow adventurers.

Aldar meticulously checked the supplies: The assorted collection of potions and scrolls, dried food and stock for cooking meals in the dungeon.

Satisfied that everything was in order and accounted for, Aldar carefully repacked his belongings, ensuring they were ready for the journey that lay ahead.

With his supplies secured, Aldar prepared to join his squad for breakfast. The communal dining hall. He was eager to reunite with his squad, to discuss the final details of their expedition.

The dining hall was already abuzz with activity as Aldar entered. The long tables were filled with various members of the cathedral, each absorbed in their own morning rituals. He scanned the room, looking for the familiar faces of his squad mates, ready to join them in breaking bread and fortifying their resolve for the adventure that awaited them.

Navigating through the hall, Aldar noticed the glances directed his way. While some were laden with pity and concern, he met them with a calm, almost cheerful demeanor. The incident, though unusual, hadn't shaken his spirits. Instead, he viewed it as another story to add to his repertoire, a peculiar adventure in a life already full of them.

Aldar, maintaining a cheerful attitude amidst the whispers and glances, finally spotted his squad mates at their usual table. Trixie and Zendia were engaged in lively banter, with Imyun chiming in occasionally as they enjoyed their breakfast.

As Aldar approached, the conversation among the trio paused. Trixie, ever high-spirited, was the first to greet him. "Aldar! Over here!" she called out, her wide grin beckoning him to join them.

Zendia, puffing up her chest in a playful show-off manner, chimed in next. “Look what we've got for you, Aldar: your breakfast favorites — chocolate toast, pancakes, and egg on toast. And of course, there's butter. Imyun's other body is all set to fetch any drink you fancy. Would it be the usual 'Starshard Citrus Mix' or are you in the mood for some 'Moonberry Dew' today?”

Imyun, feeling slighted, interjected with a playful tone of mock indignation. “Hey! I was the one who gathered all these breakfast items, while Zendia just directed me! Aldar, you see the tyranny I endure daily? How about we spend some time studying magic together today, just peacefully? We could even skip heading out to the dungeon if you're not up for it.”

Aldar responded with a warm smile, “Hey, like I've been telling you lately, there's no need to worry so much about me; I'm fine. But I do appreciate your concern. As for studying magic, I'm all for it once we're through with the dungeon. It's become clear to me that I need to deepen my mastery in the school of phantasmagoria.”

Imyun replied quickly, her tone eager, “That's a promise, then! And to make sure our time is undisturbed, let's keep it just between us, okay? As the saying goes, 'Too many mages at the cauldron cloud the potion'.” She shot a playful, taunting look at Trixie and Zendia, who could only respond with a mixture of disgust and pity.

Seeing Imyun’s smug face, made Trixie unable to resist returning it with a playful jab, “Imyun, you can cast complex spells, but deciphering a man's intentions seems to be an unsolvable riddle for you. If you ever want a lesson or two, our deal still stands!”

With a raised eyebrow, Aldar inquires “Deal?”

Trixie, her cheeks tinted red, answered back, “It's nothing, just a silly, trivial thing!”

“Well, I am a bit curious, so could you humor me with the details?” Aldar probed, a mischievous smile playing across his lips.
Zendia, seizing the opportunity to tease Trixie, quickly interjected with a smirk, “Oh, let me enlighten you, Aldar. It's more than just a deal. It's Trixie's attempt at small-time revenge.”

Trixie shot Zendia a mock glare, but her flushed cheeks betrayed her amusement. Zendia continued, her voice laced with playful sarcasm, “You see, throughout our school years, Imyun here,” she gestured towards Imyun with a flourish, “has consistently outperformed Trixie in nearly every magical endeavor. Whether it was knowledge of the divines, mana control, or magical theory, Imyun always had the upper hand.”

Imyun, beaming with pride, couldn’t resist adding, “Well, I do have a knack for academic.”

Trixie, with a hint of shyness, added that she merely wanted Imyun to experience some of the stress relief methods that she herself had been teased about. “It's all because I needed a break, a way to handle the stress,” she explained. “Now, look at her. Socially inept as she is, if she wants to learn the easy way, then she should be prepared to pay the price.”

Zendia, couldn't resist the opportunity to playfully stir the conversation. A mischievous glint appeared in her eyes as he turned towards Imyun, her tone laced with teasing curiosity. “So, Imyun,” she began, a playful smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth, “are you going to accept the deal? It seems like Trixie has quite the experience planned for you. Are you ready to dive into this... shall we say, unique method of stress relief?”

Her question, clearly meant to tease, hung in the air, adding a light-hearted tension to the group's dynamic. Imyun, caught slightly off guard by Zendia's taunt, hesitated for a moment, her expression a mix of embarrassment and anxiety, as she considered the deal laid out before her. She turns her gaze to make eye contact with Aldar.

With an embarrassed voice, that crackles as she speaks “I-If I-I accept… Will you participate?” As she finish her question, Both Imyuns bodies turn crimson.

Zendia and Trixie simultaneously turned their attention to Imyun. With exaggerated movements and mock seriousness, they each reached out to thump Imyun on the head.

“Imyun, really?” Zendia exclaimed with a mix of disbelief and amusement in her voice. “Asking Aldar to participate in this... deal? After everything he's just been through?"

The air crackled with a mix of tension and humor as Trixie realized the potential slip in Zendia’s playful scolding. Aldar raised an eyebrow inquisitively, what could the deal possible be about that would be too much for him?

Trixie, catching her mid-sentence, shot a quick, almost imperceptible glance at Zendia, a silent signal passing between them. Zendia, quick on the uptake, smoothly steered the conversation in a new direction, her voice taking on a more casual tone.

“Of course, what I mean to say, Imyun, is that Aldar needs some time to relax after all, not dive into more... activities.” Zendia's words were carefully chosen, trying to mask the undercurrent of their private agreement.

As Imyun felt the gentle thumps on her head from Zendia and Trixie's mock admonishments, a spark of realization flickered in her eyes. The playful scolding had the unintended effect of exposing her clever, albeit innocent, ploy – trying to involve Aldar in their secretive deal without fully disclosing its nature.

Imyun, suddenly aware of the spotlight on her, shifted into a mode of adorable backpedaling. Her cheeks, already a deep shade of crimson, seemed to deepen in color as she stammered out her explanation, her two bodies mirroring each other's nervous energy. “Oh, no, no! I didn't mean for it to sound like that!” she exclaimed, her voice quivering slightly with feigned innocence. “I was just... throwing out ideas, you know, hypothetically!”

Aldar, unable to contain his amusement at the scene unfolding before him, chuckled warmly. The sight of Imyun, flustered and backtracking, and the expressions of mock horror on Zendia and Trixie's faces, was too much. The lighthearted banter and playful teasing amongst his friends were a welcome change from the seriousness of recent events. His laughter filled the air, easing any lingering tension.

As Aldar laughed, Imyun's eyes darted between Zendia and Trixie, seeking a silent alliance in her retreat from the bold proposition. A subtle, almost imperceptible nod was exchanged between the three, an unspoken agreement to keep the true nature of their 'deal' under wraps.

Zendia, catching on to Imyun's tactic and Aldar's laughter, played along, her expression softening into a more forgiving smile. “Of course, Imyun, we understand. It's all in good fun,” she said, her tone reassuring yet still laced with a hint of teasing.

Trixie, too, eased up, her initial reaction of mock horror transforming into a playful grin. “Yeah, we're just looking out for Aldar, making sure he's not overwhelmed. All in the spirit of friendship, right?”

Aldar, still smiling, shook his head playfully at Imyun. “Don't worry, Imyun, I know you meant well.”

Imyun's cheeks glowed a deep shade of red, yet her eyes twinkled with an unspoken mischief. She mumbled a few half-hearted excuses, each word carefully chosen to appear flustered and innocent. However, her gaze occasionally flickered with a sly, knowing glint – a silent testament to the cunning mind beneath her seemingly naive exterior.

Trixie caught the fleeting spark in Imyun's eyes, the subtle dance of mischief that belied her feigned innocence. She studied Imyun for a moment, the gears in her mind turning. With a calculated casualness, Trixie redirected the conversation. “Speaking of preparation, we should all double-check our gear for the dungeon, right? It’s important we’re ready for anything.” Her eyes briefly met Imyun's, a silent exchange in a room otherwise filled with unsaid thoughts.

Aldar, seemingly oblivious to the exchange between Trixie and Imyun, simply nodded in agreement. “Yes, I've checked everything. I’m set for the dungeon,” he said with a casual, tone.

As Aldar affirmed his readiness, Imyun's gaze, sharp and calculating, shifted towards Zendia and Trixie. “I've also prepared thoroughly for the dungeon,” she declared, her voice carrying an edge of challenge, her glare subtly but unmistakably directed at them.

Zendia, catching the weight of Imyun's stare, responded with a smug grin, her confidence undimmed. “No worries there. I've got both Trixie and myself covered,” she said, her tone laced with a mix of amusement and pride. Her eyes locked with Imyun's, a silent but bold acknowledgment of the challenge from Imyun.

The air in the hall seemed to crackle with this newfound competitiveness, a stark contrast to their usual camaraderie. Aldar, sensing the shift in atmosphere, tilted his head slightly, his brow furrowing in mild concern. “Is everything alright? You all seem... a bit on edge. Is there something special you've prepared for the dungeon?” His voice was tinged with a mix of curiosity and concern.

At Aldar's question, the others exchanged quick, almost imperceptible glances before hurriedly finishing their meal. "Oh, it's nothing, just the usual prep," Trixie replied, her voice a touch too nonchalant as she brushed off his inquiry. The plates were cleared away with an uncharacteristic haste, and the last drops of juice disappeared from their cups as if in a rush to escape an awkward conversation.

Trixie, attempting to maintain a facade of casualness, called out to Aldar, “Let’s go! We shouldn’t keep Rin waiting any longer than necessary.” Her words, though light, carried an urgency that wasn't typical for her.

The other two simply nodded, their steps quickening as they gathered their belongings, a silent agreement to move past the moment.

Aldar, sensing the undercurrents of something unspoken but not wanting to pry further, decided to let the matter slide, attributing their odd behavior to pre-mission jitters. With a final glance around the now empty hall, he followed suit, his mind quietly pondering the peculiar dynamics of the morning as they stepped out to meet Rin.

———

As the group finished their lively meal and banter, they rose, ready to embark towards the next mission. The early morning light welcomed them as they stepped outside, bathing the surroundings in a gentle glow. With a sense of anticipation, they made their way to the outskirts of the cathedral where Rin had promised a carriage for their travel.

Upon reaching the designated location, they found the carriage waiting as expected, but it stood curiously unattended. The absence of a coachwoman, specially trusted by the cathedral for missions, was immediately noticeable.

With a happy smile, Rin informs the squad, “Seems our coachwoman has fallen ill,” she explained. “And given Aldar's need for confidentiality, we can't just hire any replacement. So, we're improvising today.” She revealed a slight smile, adding, “We'll be taking turns steering the carriage ourselves. It's not every day you get to learn carriage driving, Aldar, but today seems as good as any.”