The tremor woke half the district.
Lanterns lit windows. Dogs barked. A few townsfolk stepped outside, confused and muttering.
Kendo was already standing.
The sword rested on his workbench, humming faintly against the wood.
Rollo entered moments later. "You felt that."
"Yes."
"That wasn't normal ground settling."
"No."
They stepped outside.
Far beyond the northern ridge, a thin column of dust rose briefly before dispersing into the night air.
No one else seemed to notice.
Kendo's stomach tightened.
"That's from the disposal grounds," Rollo said quietly.
"Yes."
"You took too much."
Kendo did not answer.
He returned inside and began preparing tools again.
Rollo stared at him. "You're going back."
"I need more."
"Kendo."
"They want to inspect my forge in three days. If I stop now, everything collapses."
"Or maybe everything collapses if you don't."
Kendo met his friend's gaze.
"For once," he said softly, "I don't feel like I'm behind."
Rollo saw it then.
The hunger.
Not desperation.
Ambition.
That unsettled him more than the tremor.
By afternoon, rumors had shifted tone.
Some claimed the tremor signaled a beast migration.
Others whispered about buried ruins awakening.
The guild sent scouts north to investigate surface damage.
Kendo waited until nightfall.
He did not tell Rollo this time.
As he descended alone into the cavern, the massive skull no longer appeared cracked…