22.- Treasures

The echo of the goblins' last snarls still resonated in Sebastian's mind as they advanced through the narrow dungeon tunnel. The ensuing silence was thick, broken only by the distant dripping of water and the crunch of their footsteps on the damp stone. The young woman walked beside him, her slender figure barely covered by the leaves he had rewoven for her after another of her usual "disintegrations." Her small horns caught the faint blue light of the lichens, and her green eyes shone with a curiosity that wouldn't be extinguished even after the violence they had left behind.

Sebastian took a deep breath, relieved to have survived the encounter with the goblins, although a twinge of unease continued to plague him. What else awaited them in this place? He looked at the young woman, who suddenly stopped, tilting her head as if listening to something he couldn't perceive. Her fingers brushed the tunnel wall, stopping on a rough section that seemed identical to the others.

"What do you see?" he asked, approaching cautiously.

She pointed insistently at the wall, her expression serious but with a glimmer of excitement. Sebastian frowned, examining the rock. "I don't see anything out of the ordinary," he said, doubtful, but he trusted her instinct – he had learned that she perceived things that escaped him. He punched the wall, and a hollow sound reverberated through the tunnel, surprising even Esmeralda, who raised her head from behind.

"Huh?" he murmured, and punched harder. The rock gave way with a crack, crumbling into dusty pieces and revealing a small opening. The young woman smiled, satisfied, and took a step forward as if she had known all along.

The opening led to a hidden chamber, barely larger than a closet. In the center, a stone pedestal held a worn wooden chest, its edges carved with rough lines that looked like goblin markings. The young woman ran towards it, her eager hands struggling with the lid. Sebastian followed, glancing around for traps, but he saw nothing suspicious. "It seems the goblins weren't expecting visitors," he said, relaxing a little.

With a click, she managed to open the chest, and they both leaned in to look. Inside was a small treasure: uncut gems – red, blue, green – with irregular shapes that shimmered in the dim light, a pair of daggers with bone hilts engraved with primitive symbols, and a stone amulet with a rune that Sebastian didn't recognize. The young woman took a blue gem, turning it between her fingers with fascination, her eyes reflecting the sparkle as if it were a star.

Sebastian smiled, happy to see her so absorbed in something so simple after everything they had been through. "Pretty, isn't it?" he said, and she nodded enthusiastically. He put the gems and daggers in his backpack, but when she took the amulet and hung it around her neck, he didn't have the heart to take it away. "It suits you," he admitted, and she gave him a smile that warmed his chest.

They left the chamber, leaving behind the dust and gloom of the tunnel. As they walked, Sebastian reflected on what they had found. Where did that chest come from? What did the rune mean? He had no answers, and his amnesia didn't help, but looking at the young woman – her light step, her curious expression – gave him a certainty that he didn't need memories to feel. "I don't know what awaits us," he said, serious but gentle, "but don't worry. I'll protect you."

She looked at him, her green eyes shining with something he couldn't decipher, and took his hand, squeezing it warmly. It was enough of an answer. Together, they moved forward, and soon, a cool breeze reached them from a crack in the wall – an exit. "Let's get some fresh air," he suggested, and she nodded, excited, guiding him towards the light.

The forest opened before them like a new world. The sun shone too brightly after the darkness of the dungeon, filtering through the trees and painting the ground with golden patches. The young woman breathed deeply, the scent of damp earth and wildflowers filling her lungs. Different, she thought. Earth, leaves, something... sweet? She didn't recognize it, but she liked it.

She walked beside Sebastian, her hand still in his. He smiled at her, and she smiled back. Warm, she thought. Like the orb, but different. Softer. She liked how his hand felt – rough, marked by work, but comforting. The forest was large, full of tall, dark trees, like the pillars of her dungeon, but with more colors, more sounds. Birds singing, insects buzzing, a small, quick noise in the bushes. Nevermind, she decided. Not time to hunt.

Sebastian looked at her. "Are you alright?" he asked, his voice as soft as the grass that grew in the cracks of the dungeon. She nodded, happy without knowing the word. Better than alright. Everything was new, interesting – the flowers among the grass, the glowing mushrooms on the trunks, the squirrels jumping from branch to branch. They walked in silence, and she explored with her eyes wide open, touching here and there.

Sebastian stopped in front of a huge tree, its thick, twisted trunk covered in moss. "It's an ancient oak," he said, calmly. "It's hundreds of years old." She observed it, placing a hand on the bark. Big, she thought. Alive. She felt a warm energy, as if the tree were breathing with her, its deep roots connecting her to the ground. She looked at Sebastian and smiled, nodding.

"Fascinating, isn't it?" he said, and she nodded again. The world outside was a place full of surprises.

They continued walking, and soon they found a bush with red berries. "Juniper berries," he explained, picking one. "Sweet, a little tart, good for infusions." He gave it to her, and she smelled it before tasting it. Sweet. Tart. Good, she thought, and picked another, eating it with a smile. He laughed. "Do you like them?" She nodded, and he put a handful in his backpack. "I'll make you an infusion later," he promised.

The walk continued, peaceful and full of small moments. She pointed out birds and flowers to him, and he told her what he knew or made up silly names when he had no idea. "That's the Great King Bird," he said of a blue one, making her laugh silently. But then, a growl stopped them near a stream. A gray wolf emerged from the bushes, thin but with sharp fangs.

"Stay back," Sebastian said, stepping in front of her. She narrowed her eyes, ready for something, but he took berries from his backpack and threw them far away. The wolf followed them, and he sighed. "That was close." She looked at him, curious, and took his hand again, smiling.

The sun was setting, painting the forest gold, when she stopped. She smelled the air – damp stone, moss, something ancient. The dungeon, she thought, and pointed ahead with an excited smile. Sebastian smelled it too. "We're almost home, huh?" he said, squeezing her hand. Together, they walked towards the entrance, the forest whispering behind them.