Riven stopped suddenly.
"Don't move."
Kael froze mid-step.
Riven's eyes were unfocused, tracking something only he could sense. His breathing slowed, every muscle coiled.
"Two paths ahead," Riven said quietly. "Left looks safe. Right… something's wrong. Not danger yet, but pressure. Like the air's heavier."
Kael followed his gaze.
Before, he would've chosen left without thinking.
Now, he trusted Riven.
"We take the left," Kael said.
They moved slowly, boots scraping softly against stone. The corridor narrowed, the ceiling dipping low enough that Kael had to hunch slightly. Old bones crunched underfoot—small ones. Goblins, maybe. Or worse.
Riven raised a hand.
"Stop."
Kael obeyed instantly.
"There's a trigger here," Riven whispered. "Tripwire. Thin. Almost dead center."
Kael squinted, barely catching the faintest glint in the torchlight.
"Good catch."
Riven exhaled, tension easing just a fraction. "I never would've seen that before."
Kael's focus turned inward.
If Riven's skill had improved this much from a single quest…
[Custom Quest Creation — Manual]Target: Riven HoltObjective: Navigate the trapped corridor without triggering any mechanismsDifficulty: Medium (F-Rank)Failure: Any trap activation
[Quest Registered]
Kael stepped back. "You lead."
Riven blinked. "What?"
"You're better at this now."
Riven hesitated, then nodded. "Alright. Step exactly where I step."
They moved in silence.
Riven's movements were careful but confident, his pauses precise. He guided Kael past pressure plates, around loose stones, through a stretch where the floor dipped just enough to hide a blade trap beneath it.
Halfway through, the dungeon shifted.
A grinding sound echoed behind them.
Riven's head snapped up. "The right path—whatever was there—it's moving."
"Then we're on a timer," Kael said.
They reached the end of the corridor just as stone slammed shut behind them.
Riven leaned against the wall, breathing hard.
"We made it."
Blue light flickered at the edge of Kael's vision.
[Quest Complete]Recipient: Riven HoltSkill EnhancedDanger Sense (E-Rank → E-Rank)Enhancement: Environmental Awareness (Minor)
Riven stiffened.
His eyes widened. "—Wait."
He turned slowly, scanning the room without moving his head.
"I can feel the whole space," he whispered. "Every corner. Every empty pocket."
Kael nodded.
Good.
Very good.
Somewhere beyond the sealed corridor, something massive roared in frustration.
Kael smiled.
They were getting out.