Return to the Abyss / Male Reader x Made In Abyss

[S0] Chapter 4: Apprentice

[ 8 YEARS SINCE LYZA'S LAST DIVE ]

A year had passed since Y/N had fired that beam of light at Ozen, a moment that marked the beginning of a new chapter in his life. At fifteen years old, Y/N had undergone a transformation, evolving from a tool into something closer to an apprentice—though with Ozen, that term was still loose. His days were now filled with gruelling training sessions, dangerous expeditions, and responsibilities that few his age could handle. But it was exactly what he had wanted, and despite the harshness of his mentor, Y/N had come to appreciate the twisted care that lay beneath her cold exterior.

Ozen's treatment of Y/N had shifted ever so slightly over the past year. Where once she had seen him as nothing more than a bothersome relic, she now acknowledged his growing skills and potential. Hell, she was even using his name.

It wasn't affection—Ozen was not one for such trivialities—but there was a grudging respect in the way she now spoke to him, a recognition of his abilities that hadn't been there before. Y/N had even noticed that she had stopped referring to him as "it," a small but significant change.

Y/N had also achieved something remarkable during this time: he had been promoted to a Moon Whistle. It was an extraordinary accomplishment, making him one of the youngest Moon Whistles in history. The cave raider association had been impressed by his exceptional skills, his ability to navigate the Abyss with a proficiency far beyond his years, and the raw strength and dedication he had displayed. His promotion was both a recognition of his abilities and a testament to the harsh training Ozen had put him through. It also helped that Ozen had put in a good word for him, which was a startling shock to say the least.

But Y/N's excitement at this achievement was dampened when he returned to the surface to find that his friend, Jiruo, had already beaten him to the rank. "The time dilation of the Abyss, that's gotta be it!" Y/N had argued in frustration, trying to explain away the difference in their promotions. "It's not fair!"

Jiruo, ever the mature one despite only being a few years older, had simply laughed it off. "Excuses, excuses," he teased, a smirk playing on his lips. "Face it, Y/N, I'm just better than you. But hey, I'll give you a head start to catch up if you want."

Y/N had grumbled, his competitive spirit ignited, but there was no real malice in their rivalry. They were friends, after all, and this friendly competition only strengthened their bond. Still, Y/N was determined to surpass Jiruo, and he threw himself even harder into his cave raiding with Ozen.

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During this year of intense training, Ozen and Y/N had stumbled upon a peculiar discovery during one of their expeditions. They had been exploring the wreckage of a foreign country's blimp that had crashed landed around the entrance of the third layer, its twisted wooden and metal frame jutting out from the rocky terrain like a skeleton picked clean. 

Among the wreckage and its now dead occupants, they found two children—a young boy named Marulk and a young girl named Aurora, hidden in the rubble, both small, malnourished and afraid. It was evident that they had been there for days.

Marulk, a shy and soft-spoken boy, had immediately taken to the safety of the Seeker Camp. There was something about the camp that seemed to suit him, and he quickly settled into the role of a sentry, keeping watch and helping with the daily tasks. Aurora, on the other hand, was full of energy and curiosity, always asking questions and eager to explore the world around her.