18

Sebastián watched the girl play with the giant rat and the small green being. The rat snuggled close to her, seeking her warmth. The small green being fluttered around her, as if drawn by an invisible force. The girl laughed, with a joy that contrasted with the confusion that still gripped Sebastián. She… calls them. And they obey her, he thought, observing the ease with which the girl interacted with the creatures.

Sebastián decided to explore the room. He needed to understand where they were, what had happened. Careful not to disturb the girl, he moved toward one of the blackened stone walls. The girl, noticing his movement, followed closely, with the giant rat trotting at her side and the small green being fluttering above her head.

The room was large and dark, illuminated only by the faint reddish glow that seemed to emanate from the walls. The smell of ozone and ice was still present, though now mixed with a light, sweet, floral scent that Sebastián couldn't identify.

Sebastián examined the walls. They were covered in strange engravings that looked like runes or glyphs. He didn't recognize any of the symbols, but they conveyed a sense of antiquity and power. Running his hand over one of the engravings, he felt a slight chill.

While Sebastián examined the walls, the girl stopped in front of the hologram. Her small fingers moved, tracing the lines of one of the tabs: "Treasures." Instantly, the screen changed, displaying a series of images of bright and strange objects. There were chests adorned with gems, swords with golden hilts, strange artifacts that shone with their own light. Below each image, as before, a number shone with a faint blue light: the price in Dungeon Coins.

While observing a teardrop-shaped amulet that shone with a soft blue glow, Sebastián noticed something new on the hologram. At the top of the screen, just below the title, a small icon had appeared that he hadn't seen before: a circle with a kind of spiral inside.

The girl seemed to notice it too. Her eyes widened with curiosity, and she extended a hand toward the icon. The instant her fingers touched the circle, a new wave of energy swept through the room, this time more intense than the previous one. The giant rat, which until then had remained calm beside the girl, shuddered and emitted a soft squeak. The small green being fluttered nervously, as if trying to get away from the hologram.

Sebastián felt a shiver run down his spine. Instinctively, he held the girl tighter, shielding her with his body. A small crack appeared in the wall closest to the hologram, radiating a faint blue glow that pulsed to the rhythm of the energy emanating from the screen.

The hologram flickered strongly, and the icon of the circle with the spiral expanded, displaying a new screen. On it, a series of strange symbols appeared, and a bar slowly filled with a bright golden color.

The girl watched the screen with fascination, showing no sign of fear. Her eyes shone with intensity, as if she were connected in some way to the energy emanating from the hologram. The rat snuggled even closer to her, seeking her protection, while the small green being perched on her shoulder, trembling slightly.

Sebastián watched the girl and then the hologram. The crack in the wall continued to glow, and the golden bar on the screen continued to fill. A shadow of unease crossed his face. Could she control this power? Could he protect her if something went wrong?

Sebastián watched the girl and the hologram. The crack in the wall continued to glow, and the golden bar on the screen continued to fill slowly. A shadow of unease crossed his face. Could she control this power? Could he protect her if something went wrong?

The bar finally filled completely, and the hologram flickered once more. The strange symbols surrounding the bar disappeared, and in their place a single word appeared, written in the same language that Sebastián vaguely recognized: Level.

Just below the word Level, a number appeared: 1.

Sebastián frowned. Level? What does that mean? he thought. He looked at the girl, who continued to watch the hologram with fascination. She reached out a hand and touched the screen once more.

This time, there was no perceptible wave of energy, no intense flickering. Instead, the crack in the wall glowed more intensely, and a small fragment of stone broke off, falling to the floor with a soft thud. At the same time, the hologram changed again. The number below the word Level changed from 1 to 2.

Sebastián observed the crack and then the hologram. Is she… leveling up? he thought, trying to understand what he was seeing. The girl seemed oblivious to his confusion, completely absorbed in the hologram. The giant rat snuggled even closer to her, while the small green being fluttered around her, emitting soft little sounds.

The girl touched the screen again, and the same process repeated. The crack glowed, another fragment of stone fell, and the number on the hologram increased to 3.

Sebastián watched the scene with growing concern. Each time the girl touched the hologram, her power seemed to manifest in a new way, affecting the environment. What will happen if she keeps doing this? he thought. What will happen if she reaches a… high level? He had no way of knowing, but a premonition told him that the consequences could be significant.

He looked at the girl. She continued touching the screen, with an expression of pure curiosity on her face. Sebastián felt a deep responsibility toward her. He didn't understand her power, or this place, or even who he himself was. But he knew he had to protect her, no matter what happened.