Daelan's POV
I stand in front of the gate opening, watching as the glowing portal shimmers on the reflective surface of the pond.
The moonlight catches the rippling water, distorting the image, but the portal remains steady—a doorway that can apparently only be seen at night.
Emmaline told me—insisted—that I had to get the reward inside.
She's never been so adamant about something before.
So here I am.
A few feet away, Evan watches me, his stance just a little too rigid. His expression is neutral, but there's something off—something wary.
It's not just a D-Class dungeon, is it?
The thought makes me smirk.
He looks like I crashed his party.
The idea alone fills me with satisfaction.
The last sliver of cloud cover drifts away, revealing the full moon, and the portal crystallizes like a perfect mirror on the pond's surface.
Evan and I step closer.
A couple of other hunters move to follow, but Evan speaks first.
"I think you don't come in," he says, voice even.
