Realmshift: Triad Ascendancy.

Extroverts.

[ARKANE]

The wind howled as I jumped from rooftop to rooftop, my coat flapping wildly behind me. The houses below stretched like a patchwork of old bricks and slanted roofs, their chimneys leaning like tired old men. Some of the rooftops were covered in moss, others chipped and worn from years of rain and wind. It was the kind of place that looked quiet—but tonight, everything felt restless.

It's been two days since I met that elf lady. And still, nothing. I've searched everywhere I could think of, hoping to catch even a trace of Kael's mana signature. I thought there would at least be something—some clue he left behind other than this torn piece of his coat I'm still holding onto. But I was wrong.

Seriously, that guy is way too good at disappearing.

The moon lit up the rooftops with a pale silver glow, making the whole city look almost like a painting. Pretty, sure—but I didn't have time to admire it. The wind kept hitting my face, cold and sharp, like it was trying to push me back. My boots hit the tiles with soft thuds, and every leap felt heavier than the last.

Then there was that so-called "puzzle" Kael left behind. Where the forest meets the flame. What's that even supposed to mean? My first guess was volcanoes—but there aren't any near here. So either he meant something else, or... he wants me to check every volcano in Eldoria. Which honestly sounds like something he'd do.

"Kael... what are you trying to tell me?"

Then it hit me.

What if Kael wasn't talking about a regular place... but a dungeon?

It would make sense. Dungeons don't follow the rules of the outside world. A forest on fire that never burns down? That kind of thing could exist in one. They're unpredictable, unstable, and perfect for someone trying to disappear.

And knowing Kael... he wouldn't hide somewhere easy.

He'd go for an S-rank.

With that in mind, I made my way through the quiet city streets. Lanterns flickered above me, casting long shadows as I walked. Eventually, the Adventurer's Guild came into view—its large wooden doors and familiar symbol glowing faintly in the night.

Inside, the usual noise filled the air. Adventurers chatted, bragged, and laughed over mugs of something strong. I didn't stop. I walked straight to the counter, where a red-haired woman looked up from a stack of papers.

"Can I help you?" she asked.

"I'm looking for a list of S-rank dungeons near this area."

She raised an eyebrow. "That's a rare request."

With a sigh, she reached under the desk and pulled out a heavy binder, flipping through a few pages. "You're in luck. There are four known S-rank dungeons currently accessible from this city."

She tapped the page.

"Ashen Grove. The Hollow Pyre. Verdant Maw. Cinderwake Ruins."

She closed the book and looked at me. "All of them are classified as extreme risk. I don't recommend checking them out without backup."

I gave a small nod. "Thanks."

I turned around, ready to walk out and start tracking down those dungeons. But before I could take more than a step, her voice stopped me.

"Where do you think you're going?" she said sharply. "It's illegal to enter S-rank dungeons without a registered team of at least four members."

I sighed.

Honestly, I was confident I could handle it alone. But dealing with the law... that was another story. I just wanted to find Kael.

"I get it," I muttered, glancing back at her. "Can you find me a team then?"