"Okay, great work, everybody," Bell said, brushing a leaf from her shoulder. "But what did we do wrong?"

Smiles began to spread among the group—until her question landed. One by one, the grins faltered into thoughtful frowns.

Zane scratched his chin. "Alright... I probably didn't need to burn my skill at the start of the fight. I could've just ducked down with everyone else instead of trying to be dramatic."

"That's fair," Tarni said with a smirk. "I mean, you are the drama."

Kai gave a sheepish shrug. "I should've used Targeted Heal on Dad when he got stabbed. I healed the area, but I could've made it more efficient."

Lily furrowed her brow, trying to think. "Umm... I'm not sure I messed up?" she said cautiously, glancing around at the others.

"Oh! Look at me!" Tarni gasped, clutching his chest in mock surprise. "Turns out I'm not the only perfect one in the party!"

Laughter rippled through the group, the tension of battle continuing to melt away. Lily rolled her eyes and gave him a not-so-gentle shove that nearly made him stumble.

Bell leaned back against the wide tree they'd used for cover, watching Tarni with narrowed eyes. She'd noticed his quick deflection and the way he hadn't answered the question about mistakes. She chose not to press him—not yet, anyway. Instead, she picked up the thread of her own thoughts.

"I didn't need to use so many skills," she admitted, exhaling slowly. "Some of those shots didn't need the extra punch. Regular arrows would've done the job—and saved my mana for when it really counts."

There was a pause then, a moment of quiet as the five of them let the adrenaline settle. It wasn't uncomfortable silence—it was thoughtful, the kind that followed the intensity of a shared fight. A silence that said: we survived—but also, we can do better.

Each of them took something from that moment, whether they voiced it or not.

Then Bell clapped her hands once, breaking the mood with a grin. "Alright! Self-improvement session complete. Let's sort out this loot!"

Tarni's eyes lit up. "Yes! Please let there be something shiny."

Zane chuckled. "You're like a bloody magpie."

"A magpie with a sword," Tarni corrected. "A very cool magpie."

As the group started moving toward the pile of loot the smoke had left behind, Lily leaned close to Kai and whispered, "He does realise magpies attack people, right?"

Kai grinned. "Honestly? Fits him perfectly."

Bell crouched near the dissipating smoke and began sorting through the loot. "Right, let's see what our kobold friends left us."

There were two leather vests among the drops—one offering +1 Defence and the other +2.

Tarni snagged the +1 vest without hesitation. "Perfect. Fits right under the leathers," he said, slipping it on and striking a dramatic pose. "Look out, fashion world."

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The +2 vest was claimed by Zane, who held it up and frowned. "This looks... small."

"Maybe it'll resize like Lily's did?" Kai offered.

Zane shrugged and attempted to pull it over his head. Unfortunately, the vest refused to cooperate. It got stuck halfway, tangled around his shoulders like an ill-fitting toddler's jumper.

"Oi, who designed this thing—kobold toddlers?" he grunted, arms flailing awkwardly.

Bell began to laugh first, quickly followed by the others as Zane staggered around trying to get it into place. Finally, with a twist and a curse, the vest shimmered and resized to fit him properly.

"There," he said, tugging it down with dignity. "Totally intentional. Tactical struggle vest."

"Totally hilarious," Tarni snorted.

Next up were three daggers, but after some quick comparisons, it was clear they were inferior to the party's machetes. They decided to pack them as backups in case they lost or broke their main weapons.

They also recovered two arrows—likely from Bell or Lily's quivers—that still looked usable.

"Add those back into the stash," Bell said, inspecting the tips. "Everything else?"

"The kobolds' arrows are too short for our bows," Lily added, nudging one with her foot. "Leave 'em."

Once the loot was sorted and packed, a quiet fell over the group, each of them taking a moment to breathe.

Then Kai asked the question on everyone's mind: "So... did anyone level up?"

A chorus of "Nope," "Nothing," and one confused "Maybe?" followed.

Zane raised an eyebrow. "Wait—why didn't we level up? That was a big fight."

"Yeah, twelve kobolds—level fours and fives. That should've been something," Lily said.

Tarni folded his arms. "Do you think we don't get XP in here?"

Bell's expression tightened. "Could be. Maybe the dungeon only gives rewards after completion... or at key milestones."

"That's a bit rude," Kai muttered. "You'd think surviving a small war would at least give us a pat on the back."

Tarni grinned. "Well, at least we got vests. And material for Zane's next wardrobe malfunction."

Zane gave him a sidelong look. "Careful. I still have the crossbow."

A light laughter rippled through the group again, the tension hardly fading. The kobolds weren't going to wait forever—and now they had more questions than answers.

Tarni stood there looking around the group, seeing the fear, uncertainty, and overall tension. So with a wicked grin that promised nothing but chaos, Tarni stepped forward and planted his hands on his hips like a cartoon villain about to monologue.

"I have a great idea," he declared dramatically.

Everyone turned to him, already suspicious.

Tarni's grin widened. "We should… split up."

There was a beat—a long, weighted silence so full of collective dread it could've snapped a bowstring.

Then it hit.

Laughter, groans, and overlapping voices erupted like a dam bursting.

"Nope!"

"Absolutely not."

"Are you kidding me?!"

"You've watched too many horror movies," Zane added, shaking his head. "You're just begging for a kobold ambush montage."

"I don't know whether to slap you or vote you off the island," Bell muttered, rubbing her temples.

Tarni held up both hands in mock surrender. "Hey! It works in the movies. Cover more ground, tactical flanking—you know, advanced adventuring strategies."

"Yeah, right," Kai said, giving him a sideways look. "That's how you end up being the first one picked off. You're literally the guy who says, 'I'll go check the basement alone.'"

Lily crossed her arms. "If we split up, I'm sticking with Mum. At least she doesn't get stupid ideas during life-or-death missions."

Tarni put on a wounded expression. "Oi! I resent that. My ideas are inspired. Genius is never appreciated in its own time."

"You want inspiration?" Bell deadpanned. "Try surviving the next fight without making us all groan."

Kai chuckled. "Let's vote. All in favor of not splitting up?"

Four hands shot up instantly. Tarni looked around, faking betrayal.

"Well, that's democracy for you," he sighed. "Fine. But when the dramatic tension needs it—I could um you know, work out a drum solo or something."

Zane clapped him on the shoulder. "You're just full of the best ideas, mate. Just don't go walking into the kobold latrine by yourself."

With a chuckle and some eye rolls, the group started checking their gear before moving deeper into the dungeon. The mood had lightened. The danger was still out there—lurking between the trees and just over the next rise—but humour, even sarcastic and badly timed, had done its job. It reminded them they weren't just a team of survivors.

They were a party—arguments, banter, and all.

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