“Both my parents were adventurers,” Apolonia said to Phoebe, who was looking away. “It just seemed natural that I should give it a try for myself.”

“Is that the only reason?” Phoebe asked, sounding almost concerned. 

“No,” Apolonia said, although she didn’t know if it was actually true or if she was just preempting Phoebe’s concern that she didn’t really want to be there. 

“I see.” Phoebe didn’t say any more, her focus returning to their surroundings as they navigated the furnace. Apolonia was left with her thoughts. 

Why was she down here, and did she really want to be? It wasn’t like her parents had imposed any particular expectations on her, so she wasn’t afraid of disappointing them necessarily. But that also meant that there was no real reason for what they did to effect what she decided to do. So why did she feel the need to come down here and try her hand at the dungeon? 

Well, she supposed she didn’t really know what she would do instead. There weren’t really any surface-dwelling vocations that appealed to her. And she supposed it would be a little boring to be up there all the time. It wasn’t that she hadn’t enjoyed her excursions into the dungeon thus far. She just needed more practice to steel her nerves. That was why she’d hired Phoebe to take her into the earthen furnace. She was still scared, but she found that when she examined her feelings she did, in fact, want to be there. The thought of treasure and glory excited her, although she would be embarrassed to admit it. 

She kept in close step with Phoebe, and together they traveled along a ledge overlooking a river of lava. Phoebe glanced back at Apolonia for a moment.

“Having second thoughts?” She asked cheekily.

“...Just the opposite, actually.” Apolonia replied with a smile.