Dungeon of Night

The dungeon's weight didn't lift, even as the two made their way through its winding passages. For every step deeper they went, it felt like the very air thickened, drawing them further into its labyrinthine heart. But the danger was nothing new for Adira. She'd spent longer than she cared to count wandering these corridors, finding refuge in the odd villages that appeared on each floor, living among people who never stayed long enough to become familiar.

As they walked, Adira's mind drifted back to the early days of her journey. Caspian, noticing the quiet change in her demeanor, raised an eyebrow. "You okay?"

She gave him a sideways glance, a half-smile tugging at her lips. "Yeah. Just... thinking. You asked about how long I've been in this dungeon, didn't you?"

Caspian nodded, his curiosity piqued. He was used to moving forward, always chasing the next objective, but something about Adira's presence, the way she carried herself, made him want to understand the journey she'd been on.

"I've been here for... a while," Adira said, her voice softer now. "I first came in when I was a lot younger. I don't remember much about how I ended up here—maybe it was a spell, maybe it was fate. But one thing's certain... time is strange in this place."

She paused, looking ahead, lost in the labyrinth of her memories. "It doesn't work the same way. The dungeon changes around you. People—survivors like us—end up on different floors, but the deeper you go, the more you forget about the world you left behind."

Caspian furrowed his brow, trying to process. "So, you've been... trapped here for all that time?"

Adira nodded, the weight of her words hanging in the air. "Yes. But it's not just the time. It's the dungeon itself. It wantssomething from you. You fight, you survive, you conquer floors... but in the end, the dungeon always gets its pound of flesh."

"Is that why you're... so strong?" Caspian asked carefully.

She glanced at him, her expression unreadable. "Strength comes in many forms. It's not always about physical power. It's about what you're willing to sacrifice. How far you're willing to go."

Caspian felt a chill pass through him, but he didn't press further. Instead, he glanced at the ceiling, his eyes narrowing. "I guess we'll find out just how far we can go, huh?"

Adira gave a short laugh. "That's the spirit. Just don't forget—every step in this dungeon costs something."