The morning came easy, like a soft, warm dawn, but the echoes of yesterday's intense and grueling battles throbbed in every muscle. Kopii jumped up quickly; a single minute was all he needed to get himself in order and head downstairs.
— Good morning.
He grabbed a piece of fresh bread and some fragrant cheese and had a quick breakfast, savoring the simple morning flavors.
— Going to the dungeon again today? — Naaza asked without looking up from her work, casting a sleepy glance at him.
Kopii didn't say anything—he just nodded.
— Okay, just be careful.
— Of course.
— Be careful.
Before Kopii could even step outside, he heard Miach's voice. He just shot him a look and nodded. He understood their worry perfectly, and truth be told, he liked that they cared and were concerned about him.
«Just like a real family,» he thought with a smile as he headed toward the Babylon Tower. Along the way, nothing new or surprising happened—just the same old scene, day after day.
At the foot of the Babylon Tower, the usual bustle reigned. Adventurers of all kinds and races crowded around the entrance, swapping news and bragging about the trophies they'd earned on their quests. In the huge hall, alive with activity, the hum of voices mixed with the clink of weapons and the rattle of armor, creating a cacophony of adventure and dreams. Kopii pushed through the crowd and made his way to the dungeon entrance, where the second floor was waiting for him.
Step by step, Kopii moved across the first floor of the dungeon. His footsteps echoed loudly in the narrow stone corridors, bouncing off the walls. His fingers gripped the hilt of his sword tightly, ready to draw the blade at any moment if the need arose. The silence pressed down heavily, broken only by the occasional creak of stones under his feet. But Kopii knew that this silence was deceptive. The dungeon never slept—it just waited, like a predator biding its time before striking. Finally, he reached the staircase leading down to the second floor.
And what surprised him most was that he hadn't met a single monster along the way. This only cranked his paranoia up to the highest level. He took a step forward, descending to the second floor.
CRACK. CRACK. CRACK.
He hadn't even gotten far from the exit when he heard that familiar sound again.
«Kobold,» he realized instantly.
That's how the whole day went—Kopii spent it in the dungeon. He used up all the potions Naaza had given him and felt the fatigue slowly piling up. He lost count of how many goblins and kobolds had fallen to his blade. Physical exhaustion tightened its grip on his body, and without thinking twice, he headed to the Blue Apothecary, hoping for even a drop of fresh strength.
As soon as he crossed the threshold of the Blue Apothecary, he felt a wave of relief and relaxation wash over him.
— How was the descent? — Naaza asked, looking at him with her usual sleepy eyes.
— Better than before, — Kopii replied, trying to hide the weariness in his voice, though it crept back with every word. — The second floor is full of goblins and kobolds, but they're all weak, — he added, puffing out his chest with pride.
Naaza frowned at his words.
— Don't underestimate the dungeon, Kopii. Even weak opponents can kill you, — she said firmly, her gaze serious and unyielding.
Under the weight of her look and the tone of her voice, all of Kopii's pride melted away.
— I know, — he said weakly.
— …
— Well, I'll go take a bath, — Kopii said, eager to relax a little. — Don't stay up too late.
But as he climbed the stairs, he could feel her sleepy gaze on his back.
She said something, but he didn't catch what it was.
Up in his room, Kopii tossed his clothes onto the floor and headed to the bathroom. The hot water washed away his fatigue and grime, like a symbol of a fresh start. He stood under the shower for a long time, letting the streams of water massage his stiff, aching muscles and restore their strength.
— Why does this feel so good? Bliss… — he murmured.
When he stepped out of the bathroom, Kopii felt renewed, as if he'd just finished a long, grueling journey. He slipped into a warm robe and went downstairs, where a fragrant dinner was already waiting for him.
On the table were bowls of hot stew and fresh bread, just baked. Naaza and Miach sat there, talking quietly. When they saw Kopii, they fell silent, as if time had frozen for a moment. Kopii smiled at them and took his seat, finally earning a few minutes of peace.
— How are your dungeon runs going? Everything okay? — Miach asked, looking up from his food.
— Everything's fine, really good, actually.
— That's great, Kopii. But don't get too comfortable. This is just the beginning, — Miach said, then went back to eating.
— I know, — Kopii replied, picking up his spoon and starting to eat. He glanced at the quiet, reserved Naaza, then turned back to Miach. — How was your day? — he asked.
After dinner, Kopii went up to his cozy room and lay down in bed. But despite his exhaustion, sleep wouldn't come. Images of goblins and kobolds flashed through his mind. He tossed and turned, trying to fall asleep, but it was no use—it felt like he was stuck in an endless loop. Finally, he gave up and got out of bed, ready to do something.
Walking over to the window, Kopii looked out at the city, from which the sounds of life drifted up. The nightlife was in full swing down below. Lanterns lit the streets, and from the taverns came the sounds of music and laughter.
«Even at night, the city never stops living,» he thought.
Kopii spent some time by the window, listening to the night sounds of Orario. Eventually, it started to get boring, so he returned to bed and closed his eyes. This time, to his surprise, sleep came quickly.
— Good morning, — Kopii said as he poured himself a mug of rich herbal tea, which gave off a wonderful aroma.
— Good morning, Kopii, — Naaza replied without turning around, but her voice sounded warm and pleasant. — Off to the dungeon again today?
— No.
— No?
— I need to exchange the magic stones for valises, so I'm heading to the Guild first. And I don't plan to go down into the dungeon today—I just want to rest.
— You're right, you should rest, — she said, taking a sip of tea and turning to face him. — So, wha—
— You should rest too, — he cut her off, looking straight into her sleepy eyes, which, as always, seemed unclear and distant to him.
— I have to work, and it's not that hard anyway.
Truth be told, in all the time he'd been with Miach's family, Kopii had never seen her truly take a break. Every single day, she stood behind the counter, selling potions. Honestly, he wouldn't be able to do that. It was hard enough for him to talk to strangers.
But Kopii also understood something else: no matter what he said or how hard he tried, she'd keep working anyway.
— Maybe, — he said shortly, realizing his words wouldn't change anything. If even Miach couldn't convince her, there was no way he could.
The rest of their conversation passed in silence.
After finishing his tea, Kopii thanked Naaza for the breakfast and stepped out of the apothecary, immersing himself in the world beyond its walls. He didn't have any special goals for the day—just some training. But Naaza's words gave him something to think about. Since joining Miach's family, Kopii hadn't truly rested even once, but compared to Naaza, he'd had days off almost every day. Whether he was training or helping Naaza—that was all he did. Realizing this, a pang of guilt stirred inside him. He hadn't done nearly as much as Naaza had all this time.
«Alright, enough with the gloomy thoughts,» he told himself.
He decided he'd rest today, though he wouldn't cancel his training completely. With these thoughts in mind, he made his way to the Guild.
Inside the Guild, the usual hustle and bustle reigned. Adventurers buzzed around like busy bees, discussing quests and boasting about their achievements. Kopii ignored the noise, walked up to the counter, and exchanged his magic stones for valises. The light clink of coins reminded him of new possibilities. To be precise, he could now afford not just one, but two swords. That was an achievement worth being proud of.
Kopii decided not to rush. He felt this was the right time to talk with his advisor, Rosa. He chatted with her for a bit, but as always, she was as cold as winter. After the exchange, Kopii left the Guild, feeling the pleasant weight of the coin purse at his hip. But now he was sure: no training today. He'd planned to do a little practice, but changed his mind. Naaza was right—he needed rest. Real, deep rest. He wondered what that even meant. Just lying in bed and staring at the ceiling? That would get boring fast. A walk around the city?
Kopii stood still, undecided, not sure how to spend his time. After a couple of minutes of thinking, he decided he'd simply walk around Orario.
«Maybe I should find a girl?»
But he quickly pushed that thought aside.