Chapter 1

The Green Fairy and the White Rabbit

The city of Orario buzzed with life, a labyrinth of streets winding like the very Dungeon it housed beneath its cobblestone belly. Bell Cranel, white hair uncommon amongst the throng, wound his way through the crowd, his red eyes scanning the sea of faces.

He wasn't searching for just anyone. No, he sought a glimpse of emerald—a living legend whose name whispered through the taverns and guild halls like a sacred incantation: Riveria Ljos Alf.

A stroke of fate, or perhaps mere chance, led him to the plaza where adventurers often gathered. The chatter of a hundred voices filled the air, a cacophony of stories and boasts, but it all fell silent in his mind when he saw her.

Riveria stood at the edge of the fountain at the plaza's center, her figure commanding attention without demanding it. Her long ears caught the light as she tilted her head to listen to a fellow adventurer, her green hair cascading over her shoulders with regal grace.

Bell edged closer, drawn by a pull stronger than gravity. As if sensing his gaze, Riveria turned, and their eyes met across the bustling space. Time slowed as she excused herself from her companion and approached Bell.

"You're Bell Cranel, aren't you?" Her voice was clear and resonant, reaching him over the din.

Bell's heart hammered in his chest as he nodded. "Yes, that's me. And you're Riveria Ljos Alf."

She smiled slightly at his acknowledgment. "I've heard tales of your exploits," she said. "You have made quite a name for yourself in a short time."

Bell felt heat creep up his neck. "I've just been lucky," he managed to say.

"Luck may play its part," Riveria conceded, her gaze holding his own steady. "But courage writes its own stories."

He took a breath before he spoke again, emboldened by her words. "Would you... would you honor me with a conversation? I have many questions—about magic, about adventuring..."

Riveria considered him for a moment before nodding assent. "Very well, Bell Cranel." She gestured toward a quieter corner of the plaza. "Let us find a place where words can be exchanged without being lost to the wind."

Together they moved away from the crowd's center toward an alcove framed by blooming ivy. The noise dimmed around them as they settled on an old stone bench, carved with runes from an age long past.

Bell prepared to speak again, but Riveria raised a slender hand. "Before you begin, I must confess I have a question of my own for you."

He nodded, giving her his full attention.

"What drives you, Bell Cranel? What is it that compels you to venture into the Dungeon, to face the dangers that lurk within?" Her gaze was unwavering, her tone sincere.

Bell considered her query, searching for the words to convey the fire that burned within him. "I... I'm not entirely sure," he admitted. "There's a pull, a yearning, that I can't quite explain. The Dungeon calls to me, as if it holds the answers to questions I didn't even know I had."

Riveria nodded, her expression thoughtful. "An adventurer's heart is a complex thing. The Dungeon tests us, challenges us, forces us to confront our own limitations and strengths." She paused, her eyes gleaming with an emotion Bell couldn't quite place. "And sometimes, it reveals to us the true nature of our desires."

Bell leaned forward, captivated by her words. "You speak as if from experience. What has the Dungeon shown you?"

A shadow flickered across Riveria's face, there and gone in an instant. "The Dungeon has a way of stripping away the facades we present to the world, exposing the core of who we are." She met his gaze, her voice soft. "It is a place of both discovery and reckoning."

Bell felt a chill run down his spine, the weight of her words resonating within him. He opened his mouth to respond, but Riveria raised her hand again, silencing him.

"But I did not mean to burden you with my own reflections." She offered him a small smile. "Tell me, Bell Cranel, what is it you hope to find in the Dungeon?"

Bell took a deep breath, considering Riveria's question. "I suppose I'm searching for a purpose, a reason for being." He glanced down at his hands, calloused from countless hours of training. "I want to prove myself, to show that I'm worthy of being called an adventurer."

Riveria studied him, her expression unreadable. "And what will you do when you find that purpose? When you've proven your worth?"

Bell met her gaze, his eyes blazing with determination. "I'll keep pushing forward, always striving to be better, to help others." He clenched his fists. "I won't stop until I've reached the very depths of the Dungeon and uncovered its secrets."

A smile tugged at the corners of Riveria's lips. "You have a noble heart, Bell Cranel. It's a rare thing in this world." She leaned back, her eyes distant. "But be careful not to lose yourself in the pursuit of glory. The Dungeon has a way of twisting even the purest of intentions."

Bell nodded, her words striking a chord within him. "I understand. I'll be careful." He hesitated, then asked, "What about you, Lady Riveria? What keeps you venturing into the Dungeon?"

Riveria was silent for a long moment, her gaze fixed on the ivy-covered wall. "Duty, perhaps. A sense of responsibility to my familia, to the people of Orario." She sighed, a sound tinged with weariness. "But there are times when I wonder if there's more to it than that. If there's something I'm meant to find down there, in the depths."

Bell leaned forward, his curiosity piqued. "What do you think it could be?"

Riveria shook her head. "I don't know. Maybe it's just a foolish notion, a dream of something more." She turned to face him, her eyes searching his. "But I do know that the Dungeon changes us, Bell Cranel. It molds us, shapes us into something different than what we were before."

Bell swallowed, a sudden weight settling on his shoulders. "I'm not afraid of change," he said, his voice steady. "If the Dungeon is where I'm meant to be, then I'll face whatever challenges it throws at me."

Riveria's smile was genuine this time, tinged with a hint of admiration. "You have a strength within you, Bell Cranel. Never lose sight of that." She stood, her robes swirling around her. "I must take my leave now, but I have a feeling our paths will cross again."

Bell rose as well, bowing his head in respect. "Thank you for your wisdom, Lady Riveria. I won't forget it."

As he watched her walk away, Bell felt a new sense of purpose burning within him. The Dungeon called to him, its secrets waiting to be uncovered. And he would face it head-on, ready for whatever trials lay ahead.