The sky was covered in gray clouds when the group gathered in front of the entrance to the Shadow Mist Dungeon, where the trial would take place. For the first time, all five members of the new team would work together: Ares, Liana, Agust, Dana… and the newcomer, Tony.
"I hope you're not dead weight," Agust growled, arms crossed as he glanced sideways at Tony.
"Don't worry. I don't need you to carry me," Tony replied calmly, locking his green eyes with Agust's.
Ares watched in silence. Though he didn't say it out loud, he felt a strange tightness in his chest every time Liana smiled at Tony. "Since when does she look at him like that?" he wondered. Meanwhile, Dana noticed everything… and she wasn't comfortable either. She looked at Liana, then at Tony, and finally at Ares. "Why does this bother me?" she thought, unwilling to admit the answer.
"Guys, focus. The dungeon won't be easy," Dana intervened with her usual firm tone.
The dungeon door opened with a tremor, revealing the darkness within. It was time to step inside… and for their feelings to be tested just as much as their abilities.
---
As they advanced through damp corridors and ruins overrun with magical ivy, the air grew heavier—not just from the dungeon's energy, but from the emotions among the five.
Liana walked close to Tony, asking questions about his life among the elves. He answered serenely, his voice deep and warm. Ares watched them from behind, feeling his chest tighten a little more each time Liana laughed with him.
"You okay?" Dana asked, walking up to Ares.
He reacted as if waking from a dream. "Yeah… just thinking about the mission."
Dana gave a faint smile. "No need to lie. It bothers me too," she confessed in a lower voice while looking ahead. "But… he does seem to get along with everyone."
Ares looked at her, surprised. "You too…?"
"Maybe," Dana said, shrugging with a slightly pained expression. "Though right now, what bothers me most… is that he's with her, and you're here, thinking about the same thing."
At the front, Agust heard everything without saying a word. Though he didn't show it, he was watching—people's reactions, their expressions, body language. "So this is what it feels like?" he thought. "Is this what they call… jealousy? How annoying…"
When they reached a wider chamber, a group of mid-level monsters ambushed them. But before the fight began, Liana instinctively moved to stand beside Tony. Ares took a step toward them… then stopped. Dana saw it. So did Agust.
"Let's go. We're not falling behind," Agust said, moving forward with his ice wolf.
"Yeah…" Ares replied, fists clenched, while the blue fire inside him remained dormant.