The Cave Lead Has VQU Students in the Way

Following the cave lead did not bring the party straight to a missing dragonborn.

It brought them to students arguing over loot.

Three VQU students were already near the danger site, tangled in their own adventure before My Alchemical Romance arrived. Zetch was elastic and bouncing, the kind of person who could collide with Vic and turn the encounter into murderball physics almost immediately. Ellenthyra Mew, also Elenthria Mu, was a catfolk monk from Ash's Temple of the Equinox Veil and recognized him from the monastery. Nell Quiv, also Nel Quivslip, was a genie or Jinni student with Djeebus family background and recognized Jonah.

The mission became a crossover before it became a rescue.

Younger VQU adventurers were already looting danger sites, competing for rank, and generating complications without waiting for the older disaster team to arrive. They were not villains. They were not simple civilians either. They were students, which in VQU terms meant ambitious, underprepared, and already standing too close to legendary magic.

The cave lead was still active.

Now it came with witnesses, egos, and a bouncing person Vic could throw.