The silence that followed was heavy, broken only by the rhythmic splashing of rain against the broad jungle leaves.
The Rain Serpent gave one last, pathetic quiver before its life faded completely, its blood mixing with the muddy puddles around Theo's boots.
Theo didn't move for a moment. He kept his weight on the spear, his back turned to Tizmilly.
"Theo..." Tizmilly's voice was a broken whisper.
She tried to wipe the blood from her chin, but her hands wouldn't stop shaking. "I... I almost had it."
Theo finally exhaled, a cloud of mist escaping his lips in the cold air.
He pulled his spear from the carcass with a wet squelch and turned around. His expression wasn't one of praise. It was stern—the face of a veteran diver who had seen too many rookies die from the same mistake.
He walked toward her and knelt in the mud, ignoring how it stained his trousers.
"You got greedy, Tizmilly," he said flatly.
Tizmilly flinched as if he had struck her. "I—I just wanted to end it! I saw an opening!"
"An opening the serpent gave you," Theo countered, his voice softening just a fraction as he reached into his pouch. He pulled out a small glass vial filled with a glowing green liquid—a low-grade healing potion.
"Monsters in this dungeon are different from the low-level ones you're used to. They don't fight fair. That snake knew you were focused on its head, so it deliberately used it as a lure. You fell for the oldest trick in the book."
He uncorked the vial and held it to her lips. Tizmilly hesitated, her scarlet eyes shimmering with unshed tears of frustration, before she leaned forward and drank. The magic felt like warm honey sliding down her throat, dulling the sharp ache in her ribs and stopping the internal bleeding.
"I'm sorry," she murmured, looking down at her muddy boots. "I wanted to show you that I... that I'm not useless."
Theo watched her for a beat, then he did something unexpected. He reached out and ruffled her wet hair, messing up the elegant style she usually maintained.
"Who said you were useless?" Theo asked, a small, tired grin finally tugging at his lips. "You landed two solid hits on a Boss-class monster on your first try with a new sword. Most students at the Academy would still be screaming for their mothers if they were in your shoes. And you didn't even have a Gemgun."
He stood up and offered her his hand.
"The fact that you're frustrated means you've got the spirit of a Diver. But remember, Miss Villainess—you wanted this fight to prove yourself. The result might not be the ideal scenario you had in mind, but you have to accept your inexperience before you can become stronger. Don't worry, I'll help you."
Tizmilly looked at his outstretched hand, then back up at his face. The fear that had gripped her heart slowly began to thaw, replaced by a strange, fluttering warmth that had nothing to do with the healing potion.
"What 'Miss Villainess'?" She pursed her lips.
"Err..." Theo's face turned awkward. He had accidentally let his thoughts slip. Before he could scramble for an excuse, Tizmilly took his hand and pulled herself up.
"Next time," she said, her voice regaining a hint of its former steel. "I won't need you to jump in."
Theo blinked, then chuckled, slinging his spear over his shoulder. "I'll hold you to that. Now, let's harvest that gem and get out of here. My mother is going to kill us both if we're late for dinner."
They waited for ten minutes as the Rain Serpent's massive body dissolved into mana particles. After collecting the drop-gem and exiting the Dungeon, they made their way to the Dungeon Post to exchange their loot, splitting the money between them.
On the way home, Theo suddenly halted. Tizmilly stopped beside him, looking at him with curiosity.
"Tizmilly," He called her as he extended his hand toward her. "Look up. You've spent all day crawling in the mud; how about we see the world from a place where dirt can't reach us?"
"I-I had never crawled in the mud!" She protested with a pout.
Tizmilly knew Theo was joking, so she wasn't angry. She looked up curiously, before looking back at Theo.
"We will fly?" She asked.
Theo nodded in response.
Though hesitant, she took his hand. She had seen Theo fly several times today and couldn't deny her own curiosity.
"Hold tight. We're going high," Theo grinned, casting Levitation on both of them.
With a light push from his soles, they separated from the ground, weightless as cotton.
"U-uwah!?" Tizmilly squeaked. Her face paled as they drifted higher. She tightened her grip until her knuckles were white. "M-Mister Roost, d-don't ever—EVER—let go!"
The contrast between her terrified face and the aloof noblewoman she usually portrayed was too much for Theo. He burst out laughing.
"D-don't laugh!" Tizmilly hissed, her face turning as red as a tomato.
"Sorry, sorry," Theo apologized, though a smirk remained. "Relax. Just shift your weight to control the direction. If you struggle, you'll drift randomly."
She took a deep breath, nodding stiffly.
"Yes, like that. Now, swing your legs downward..." Theo instructed. As she followed his lead, the vertical momentum slowed, calming her slightly. She looked down at the city below; the pedestrians looked like ants, and their upward stares made her blush. "I don't think I like this... everyone is watching."
"I see," Theo grinned mischievously. "Then let's go even higher!"
"E-eh!? Wait—!"
Before she could protest, Theo surged upward. Tizmilly's screams echoed through the air while Theo's laughter chased them. They finally reached their destination: a massive chain, thick as a house and twenty kilometers long, supporting the floating city above with other chains that were as massive as it.
"Here we are! Atop the Dungeon City!" Theo announced. He stepped onto the cold metal of the chain and turned to her, but Tizmilly had her eyes squeezed shut.
"H-hee... b-beautiful..." she muttered sarcastically, trembling.
Theo sighed. "It's not that scary. Open your eyes."
"E-even if you say so..."
Theo felt a pang of guilt seeing her body trembling, but he knew she needed to see this. He decided on a small white lie. "Ah! The floating city! It's falling!"
"W-what!? How can the mighty City of Sky—!!"
She snapped her eyes open, looking around frantically only to realize the sky was perfectly still, and the floating city above, the City of Sky, was the same. She glared at him. "Mister Roost!!!"
"Ahaha, sorry! You wouldn't open your eyes otherwise!"
Tizmilly started to pout, but the words died in her throat. Her eyes widened. The Dungeon City stretched out below them, bathed in the orange glow of a sinking sun. The light shimmered against the horizon like a parting gift. For the first time, Tizmilly felt separated from the noise of her life. It felt like freedom.
"How is it? Beautiful, right?" Theo asked softly.
Tizmilly smiled warmly. "Yes. It's mesmerizing. I envy your luck in finding this spot, Mister Roost."
Theo looked up at the floating city above them—at the Academy which was located in there. The place where plots and "events" were brewing. He wanted no part in those troublesome stories, but he knew he had to be ready.
"Tizmilly," he said, his tone turning serious. "What would you do if you knew the world was ending, but you were powerless to stop it?"
"That again?" Tizmillyy looked at him strangely, but still considered the question. "... If I were truly powerless? I'm not sure. I think I would succumb to despair. I'd shut myself away until the end came."
"I see," Theo replied.
"Why do you ask?"
He smiled. "Just curious what you'd do with my knowledge. If it were me... I'd chase my dream until the very end. Success or failure, I'd want to see the result."
...
By the time they reached Theo's house, the sun had been swallowed by the horizon. Tizmilly looked nothing like the proud woman from the Academy podium; she was covered in mud and dried blood, her hair a tangled mess of red. Yet, there was a new spark in her eyes.
"Hide the weapons behind the door," Theo whispered. "If Mom sees the blood, we'll get a one-hour lecture on safety before we even smell the stew."
Tizmilly let out a tired huff. "I think she'll notice my clothes first, Theo."
"Fair point."
As they opened the door, the scent of roasted spices and onions greeted them. Theo's mother turned from her pot, wooden spoon in hand. "Oh, my heavens!" she gasped, rushing over. "Tizmilly! Did you fall into a swamp? Is that blood?"
"Just a serpent, Mom," Theo said, slumping into a chair. "Nothing we couldn't handle."
His mother ignored him entirely, wiping a smudge of dirt from Tizmilly's cheek with a clean towel. "You poor thing! Theo, you're a terrible influence. Bringing a lady to a place like that... Go, both of you. Wash up. Dinner is almost ready."
"Alright, alright..." Theo grumbled, standing up.
Tizmilly watched the exchange, a genuine smile—perhaps her most beautiful one yet—forming on her lips.
"But Tizmilly goes first!" his mother commanded.
"Eh..." Theo shrugged, powerless against the true boss of the house.