Nephus

Chapter 2: Layfod Dungeon: Journey

The party of four exit the gates of Kyoka, on the way towards Layfod Dungeon. Katsu stands between his three friends and party members, their bags weighing down on him as he walks.

"I said I was sorry," says Katsu.

The trio start laughing, "you should be happy Katsu," says Griffin, "you get to help out your captain!" says Griffin.

Katsu groans, "this is unfair treatment, i've saved all of your lives countless times and this is what i get?"

"And what of it?" says Griffin, "we've also saved your ass plenty of times".

"But not nearly as many times as I have saved you guys" says Katsu, a tinge of annoyance in his voice as he gazes around the familiar road they are traveling on, a route well-trodden and deeply etched into his memory. The path itself is a simple dirt track, with long, thin grooves carved into the ground by countless wagons over the years. The landscape is a vast area of grass-covered hills, seeming to stretch endlessly in every direction, very few trees scattered around to offer their shade.

The sun has risen a bit higher in the sky, although still low, demonstrating how early it is. The air is thick with the scent of warm earth and wildflowers, mixing with the dust kicking up from their heavy steps.

Katsu squints against the brightness, his eyes tracing the distant horizon where the road disappears into the landscape. Katsu grins as he thinks of the dungeon he will be exploring today, a dungeon recently discovered that was recently believed to be a mine used over a thousand years ago.

The party travels in silence for most of the remainder of the journey, trudging along the dusty road before finally entering a large and vast forest. The treetops seem to stretch towards the sky, their leafy fingers grasping at the sun. As they move deeper into the forest, the sunlight peeking through the tall canopy of the forest, their shadows dancing upon the ground. The air grows cooler, the scent of pine and earth replacing the dry, dusty smell of the open

Time passes, and the day slowly turns to night. The four adventurers press on, their footsteps muffled by the thick layer of fallen leaves. The forest around them begins to darken, the vibrant greens fading to shadowy grays. Eventually, they reach the entrance to the dungeon they've been seeking.

The dungeon entrance looks like an old, abandoned mine, as it was previously thought to be, A large, gaping hole is dug into the side of a hill, supported by two massive logs. The logs, weathered and cracked, stand firm despite their age, holding up the dusty entrance. Hanging from each log is an oil lamp, their small flames flickering weakly in the growing darkness, the dim light barely penetrating the gloom of the night, casting eerie shadows that flicker along the rough walls of the entrance.

"Lets tuck in and take on the dungeon in the morning" Griffin says."Finally," says Katsu, throwing the mountain of bags off his back. The weight of the long journey has taken its toll, and he stretches his aching shoulders, feeling the strain ease slightly. Katsu rummages through the pile of bags he created, searching for his own. Finding it, he pulls it out and walks over to a nearby tree, its branches providing a welcome canopy of shade. He places the bag next to the tree trunk, positioning it carefully to use as a makeshift pillow. As he sits down, he lets out a deep sigh of relief, the cool grass beneath him a stark contrast to the relentless sun they had trekked under all day.

The gentle rustling of leaves above and the distant calls of wildlife begin to soothe his weary mind. Katsu leans back against the tree, feeling the rough bark against his back as he closes his eyes, slowly drifting to sleep.

"Hey! Katsu!" yells Griffin, "you not going to eat dinner?" he asks.

Katsu reopens his eyes, looking over towards Griffin, a campfire at his feet. Myra and Erin stand nearby, talking to each other. "Nah, ill eat in the morning," says Katsu.