The walk back wasn't long but it felt like forever maybe due to my fatigue. The light at the end of the tunnel for the 18th floor was always a welcoming sight.

"We made it back in one piece again. Huh? What eating at you rookie, you've had that face on the whole way back?"

"….its nothing just lost in thought."

"Well if you ever need to talk I'm more than willing to listen to what you have to say."

The smile on his face was a clear sign he was a good person but-

"Thank Williams-"

"Of course its only right for someone as mature as me to help kids like with personal and sentimental problems"

The smile was more of a smirk now, this human before me was just a few years older then me, slim in build but agile and good with a twin spear.

Sigh

"Remind me again who was complaining about meeting quotas just back in the dungeon?"

"Tsk"

Its getting late.

The 18th floor. It was a safe heaven for the survivors of the God Wars, the war the destroyed the surface and left it in ruins. A wasteland, hell, swarming with Titans, and monsters with strength to challenge the Gods. This was the story I was told when I asked what the surface was like but of course everyone said that while looking away or if as trying to hide something.

The forest was calm and quiet. The giant crystal that lite our cavern was starting to dime signifying that night was beginning upon us. Thing like this were common knowledge but my past….was blurred. The place I was walking towards was a small house not far from the main village. It belonged to the one and only person I really trusted.

"Who's there?"

"Who else?"

"You know your always welcome here. Come in"

I opened the door to a…mess.

"Come in, come in."

Boron, a dwarf and the only person I really trusted. The inside of the house was a mess books and trinkets off all kinds lying everywhere. A few beers and plates here and there, the only light source was a window that offered little when night came and that's when the house was filled with candles.

It a miracle this place hasn't caught fire and burned to the ground.

"Would it kill you to clean up a little?"

"I suppose that I could tidy up a little"

His never really going to clean up.

"Well don't just stand there and keep me waiting"

Boron pulled out a small stool with a book on it. He picked up the book and a started to search for some ink. I already knew what he meant. I unloaded my weapons and gear and settled them in what seemed to be the area with less mess and took of my shirt.

"Anything new in the dungeon?"

"Sort of…."

"Sort of?" He asked as I sat down on the stool. He was checking my "Status" a sort of list and scaling of various parameters usually found on the back of a person. Most so called Adventures have them a blessing received by Gods, how it was obtained was never told to me nor I think I would receive an honest answer should I ask anyone. This was a common routine now, after every trip to the dungeon I came back to Boron's house so he could check my Status. In the book he kept records of my Status seeing if any symbol on the back had changed. "Is there a reason you check my Status daily?"

"Well some people are able to read the Status of adventures because they know what these fancy symbols mean. I picked up how to do that by reading books about it but you are a special case" he slammed the book shut. "A few symbols have changed but other than that nothing out of the normal"

"I see, hey Boron…how does one get a Status to begin with"

…

"Boron?"

"Well you know what they say some people are just born with it while others are decedents of those who first received them from the Gods before the war."

"I see"

Well you know what they say. He always started his answers that way when I asked him something other people would lie about, but in his eyes you could see he was asking for forgiveness about something.

"Well let me take a look at your weapons."

I handed him my swords but helped him with my Great Sword I mean after all he was a dwarf, at a glance you may have not thought it but Boron was also a blacksmith. We walked out to the back of his house where all his equipment was. Swords laided against the side of his house, Great Swords, Battle Axes, Long and Short Sword. He was an excellent blacksmith and had thought me a lot but most I picked up by just watching.

"How did you mange to chip the blade again?"

"I guess I got careless"

"Hmm maybe I'll get careless to and dull your blade before I you go into the dungeon how's that sound?"

"Eh, sorry please forgive me I'll be more careful next time"

I sat there a long while talking to him as he sharped my weaponry. It was late by now and the crystal above hundreds of feet above our head offer little light now, but made up for it in beauty.

"…..something strange happened to me in the dungeon today?"

"Oh, and what would that be?" he asked without taking his eyes off the sharpening stone.

"I felt-

"There you are"

"Azer?"

"I don't recall inviting you to my house Azer."

"Mind your own business dwarf, anyways I've been looking all over for you rookie. Come joins us the party is waiting for us back at the village" he said with a big grin. He was mad I. It wasn't hard to tell it wasn't the first time I had seen that grin nor was it the last.

"I'll join you afterward, Boron's sharpe-

"Nonsense come on I'll send Keiki to fetch them later."

"But-"

It was no use his arm was already around my shoulder practically pushing me towards the village. At the same time I caught a glance of Boron and Azer exchanging at each it. Each one eyes traded silent unspoken insults. I had long know that Boron and Azer had a thing of hate going on but never asked. It seemed out of place to ask.

"Uh, Boron I'll be back later-

"Don't worry about it I'll be here"