Tenebrae had promised Eliza they would spend more time together, and for once, he kept his word. Their days grew more intertwined as the weeks passed, and to the shock of his servants, the once cold and stoic prince began to change. His patience grew, his sharp edges softened, and he even started to join Eliza for meals. While liches did not require food, Tenebrae found himself curious. He discovered that much of his body could function as it once had, though some parts required magical compensation. Eating didn’t sustain him, but he found himself savoring the experience nonetheless, perhaps for the simple fact that it connected him to the life he had left behind.

Though the heavy loneliness that had once haunted him began to fade, boredom still gnawed at him. The castle and the kingdom were in shambles, and there was no magic or wealth to restore them—save for the crown. Yet, the crown had been silent. It neither offered power nor issued its tests. Tenebrae felt its weight on his head as a constant reminder of its judgment, its silence almost mocking.

It was Eliza who presented the idea of restoring the kingdom by venturing into the human realm of this universe. She had learned that while this human world was medieval in its technology and society, it still held opportunities—gold to be earned, treasures to be found, and cities to be explored. Her idea was simple: disguise themselves as adventurers, form a party, and work their way up to raise the funds needed to rebuild the Kingdom of Goodnight.

At first, Tenebrae dismissed the idea outright. The notion of donning a disguise and mingling with humans struck him as beneath his station. But Eliza, persistent as always, wore him down. Eventually, he agreed, though not without conditions. He would not use magic, only his sword. They would remain low-profile and avoid unnecessary attention. She assured him it would work, even if he remained unconvinced.

With their disguises ready, they stepped through the gates of the human realm. Eliza marveled at the portal, a swirling mass of light and energy, and how it spat them out onto the bustling streets of Newbark City. She had never experienced anything like it before and found herself gawking at the medieval yet vibrant town. When warned not to draw attention by mentioning portals or realms, she realized just how out of place she might seem compared to other humans.

Ten, dressed in a full suit of enchanted armor, walked beside her like an impenetrable wall. His towering presence exuded authority and danger, though he kept his silence. The sword strapped to his back seemed to hum faintly with restrained power, its hilt gleaming in the sunlight. Eliza, on the other hand, had embraced her role with excitement. She wore a sleek, enchanted set of archery gear—light, flexible, and imbued with magic that made her faster and stronger. Her new bow felt like an extension of her body, and she was eager to prove herself.

As they entered the guild house of Newbark City, Eliza burst through the doors with a bright smile, her enthusiasm immediately earning them stares. The adventurers inside looked them over with suspicion and disdain. Whispers filled the room, dripping with condescension.

“Entitled brats with fancy gear. Probably rich kids playing at being heroes,” one man muttered.

“They’ll be dead before the week’s out,” another sneered.

Some, however, eyed them with greed, plotting to rob them the moment they left the safety of the city walls. Eliza noticed the glares but ignored them, too focused on registering their party.

When asked for a party name, she blurted out, “Eternal Kiss.”

Tenebrae raised an eyebrow at her choice. “Why that name?” he asked quietly.

Eliza hesitated, her cheeks flushing slightly. “I… wasn’t thinking. It just sounded… cool,” she lied, though in truth, the name held a personal meaning she wasn’t ready to share.

The clerk gave them their first rank: Wood, the lowest. The list of available quests was unimpressive—gathering herbs, hunting low-level monsters, escorting merchants. Despite the simplicity of the tasks, they approached them with determination, much to the shock of the guild.

To everyone’s astonishment, they completed their quests in record time. Their efficiency and skill made them stand out, even among the more seasoned adventurers. Within a week, they had risen from Wood to Tin and were already nearing the rank of Bronze. Their success didn’t go unnoticed, though not all attention was welcome.

Eliza was captivated by the experience. As they worked through quests, she began to notice changes within herself. She discovered she could see her levels—an interface of sorts that felt almost like a check-up back in her world. She marveled at the magic of this realm, how it seemed both simple and infinitely complex. Spells could be learned, skills mastered, and growth measured in ways that made her feel stronger, more capable, and even more alive.

“This is amazing,” she said one evening as they returned from a quest. “It’s like magic and life are one and the same here.”

Ten, who had remained silent for most of their outings, simply grunted in response. While Eliza’s enthusiasm was infectious, he couldn’t help but feel the weight of his role pressing down on him. This was all for the kingdom, for its restoration. He couldn’t afford to let himself become distracted.

Still, he found himself watching her more closely. Her excitement, her determination—it was unlike anything he had experienced in centuries. And though he would never admit it aloud, he found it… refreshing.