Séverine stepped carefully behind Moritz, who led the way through the Earthen Furnace with focused confidence and wise caution. Séverine was very curious about them, but she was reluctant to break the silence that had fallen between them once they’d begun this excursion. Moritz was intimidating in their manner and seemingly not the type for conversation. 

But they were in what seemed to Séverine to be a fairly safe portion of the dungeon - an open cavern with lots of space between the two of them and the magma, empty of hostile creatures and traps. She figured if there was a time to talk it would be now. 

“So,” Séverine began. “You seem to know this dungeon really well. The other mercenaries told me you spend a lot of time down here. Do you have a place to yourself on the surface, or is this where you consider yourself at home?”

Moritz looked at her, and was silent for a moment. Séverine immediately felt self-conscious, and was about to apologize for breaking their concentration when Moritz answered her.

“The latter,” They said, their voice gruff. “I go to the surface mainly to take contracts.”

“Right.” She let the answer hang in the air for a moment. “But… if you can survive down here on your own, foraging and stuff, why take contracts at all?”

Moritz gave her a scrutinizing look for a moment, and then turned away, shrugging.

“Something to do, I guess.” They said, although it was clear the question had them thinking a little.

“It gives you purpose?” Séverine ventured.

“Sure.”

They walked in silence for another few moments, but Moritz seemed different now. Séverine’s question had taken down their guard. Soon after, they cleared their throat, and asked Séverine a question:

“You’ve got a home up topside, don’t you?”

Séverine nodded.

“Yeah, my parents are both part of the same adventurers’ guild, but they raised me kind of away from it all. They wanted me to choose my own path. Obviously I ended up choosing this one anyways.”

“Convenient,” Moritz commented. 

“Yeah, kinda.” Séverine gave an amused exhale. “Nowadays I would say that the Diamond Hound guild is my home. The place where I grew up is nice, but I’ve found a new place to belong.” 

Moritz nodded.

“That’s good.” 

Séverine smiled.

“Yes, it is.”