33

The months passed in the dungeon like an eternity, a dense and profound stillness enveloping every corner. For Sebastian, however, time seemed to dissolve among the tasks he had assumed with devotion, as if he found in them a purpose that filled the void left by his amnesia. The plants surrounding Aurora's golden cocoon had grown prodigiously, extending their stems and leaves as if they knew their queen was in a deep sleep, waiting for the moment to awaken with renewed strength.

Every day, Sebastian spent hours caring for them, with a patience and gentleness that surprised even Kaili. There was something almost sacred in his routine: the soft touch of the luminous flowers, the sweet aroma of the moss covering the ground, the faint glow emanating from the vines as they seemed to beat to the rhythm of Aurora's energy. It was as if Sebastian had found in that garden a language of his own, a way to communicate with the dungeon and with the girl who slept in its heart.

Kaili, for her part, kept a constant watch over the dungeon, with the same devotion that a guardian angel would watch over the sleep of a loved one. Her presence was omnipresent, but also distant, like that of a star guiding sailors in the night. Although she did not often interact with Sebastian, her attitude towards him had subtly changed since the day she asked him about his connection to the plants. She no longer saw him as a mere insect, but as a curious piece in the puzzle that was her queen's life.

Sometimes, when she thought Sebastian was not watching her, Kaili looked at him with a mixture of curiosity and something that could be interpreted as... incipient respect. The way the human moved among the plants, with a gentleness and wisdom that seemed innate, generated a strange fascination in her. It was as if Sebastian carried within him an ancestral knowledge, a deep connection with nature that she, despite her power, could not fully understand.

One afternoon, as Sebastian was watering a group of flowers whose petals shone with a bluish hue, Kaili appeared behind him without a sound, with the same grace with which a shadow slips between the trees. Her iridescent wings captured the dim light of the main chamber, projecting sparkles that danced on the walls as if they were curious little spirits. In her hands, she carried an object wrapped in a dark cloth, which she held with the same delicacy with which a mother would cradle her newborn child.

"Human," Kaili said in her resonant voice, though this time less cold, "I have acquired something that might interest you."

Sebastian turned in surprise, dropping the small canteen he used to water the plants. The water splashed the spongy ground, creating small drops that shone like diamonds, but he barely noticed. His gaze was fixed on Kaili, with a mixture of curiosity and expectation.

Kaili extended the object towards him, with a gesture that, although trying to be indifferent, did not hide a certain curiosity about the human's reaction. As she removed the cloth, she revealed an ancient book bound in black leather with silver runes engraved on the cover, which seemed to vibrate with ancestral energy. The title, written in letters that seemed to float like smoke, read: "Codex Florae Arcanum: The Book of Magical Plants of the Multiverse."

"What... what is this?" Sebastian asked, taking the book reverently, as if it were a sacred object. He opened it carefully, discovering pages filled with detailed illustrations of plants he had never seen before, with shapes and colors that challenged his imagination. Next to each image were descriptions written in an arcane language that, to his surprise, he could understand perfectly, as if a part of him recognized that ancestral wisdom.

"It is a record of magical plants from other worlds," explained Kaili, crossing her arms as she observed him, with an expression that tried to be indifferent but did not hide a certain satisfaction. "I bought it in the dungeon system. I thought that, given your... peculiar talent, it might be useful."

Sebastian looked up, incredulous. "Why would you do this?"

Kaili looked away for a moment, as if she were internally debating how to respond, searching for the right words to express something she was not used to feeling. Finally, she said, "My duty is to ensure that my queen has everything she needs to reach her full splendor. If you are part of this process, then it is logical to provide you with the necessary tools."

Although her words sounded practical, Sebastian perceived a hint of something else in her tone. Perhaps gratitude, or even a tacit recognition that he was not completely insignificant. A small spark of warmth ignited in his chest, as if a seed of friendship had been planted at that moment.

With the book in hand, Sebastian began to explore its pages avidly, with the same passion with which an explorer enters an unknown land. He discovered plants capable of purifying the dungeon's air, others that emitted such intense light that they could illuminate entire corridors, and even some that seemed to have healing properties capable of regenerating tissue and curing diseases.

"Incredible!" Sebastian exclaimed with enthusiasm, unable to contain his excitement. "There's information here about the Silver Moon Flower! I always wanted to know how to grow it. And look, the Crystal Tree! They say its leaves can cure any disease. This is a priceless treasure!"

Kaili observed Sebastian's reaction with a slight smile. It was the first time she had seen the human show so much emotion, and the truth was, she liked it.

Inspired by what he read, Sebastian decided to experiment with the seeds he found in the dungeon system chests. With patience and care, he began to cultivate new species on the upper levels, transforming the atmosphere of the place.

The dungeon's creatures, which at first had shown signs of agitation at Aurora's absence, soon calmed down thanks to Kaili's influence. She roamed the corridors with her imposing aura, emitting a calming energy that kept the beasts under control. However, there was something else in her behavior: it seemed that the creatures responded not only to her power, but also to the sense of balance that Sebastian was creating with his plants.

One day, while checking on Aurora's golden cocoon, Sebastian noticed something extraordinary. The glow emanating from it had changed from a soft golden hue to a more intense silver glow, as if the girl were absorbing the dungeon's energy and transforming it into something new. The plants surrounding it also seemed to have evolved: their flowers now shone with iridescent colors, and their leaves emitted a faint hum, as if they were vibrating with a life of their own. It was evident that Aurora was changing, absorbing residual energy at a constant rate and getting stronger with each passing day.

Kaili, noticing this, approached the cocoon and placed a hand on it, with a mixture of tenderness and concern. An expression of pride crossed her face for a brief moment, as if Aurora's transformation were also a reflection of her own work. "She will awaken soon," she murmured. "And when she does, she will be more powerful than ever."

Sebastian nodded, feeling a mixture of excitement and nervousness. He knew that Aurora's awakening would mark a new chapter, not only for her, but also for all those who inhabited the dungeon. And although he did not fully understand the role he played in this grand design, he was determined to move forward, guided by the connection he felt with Aurora and with this strange underground world.

Meanwhile, on the lower levels, the creatures began to congregate near the main chamber, as if they knew something monumental was about to happen. The dungeon itself seemed to be preparing, with its walls vibrating slightly and its runes emitting an intermittent glow. Everything indicated that the moment of Aurora's awakening was drawing closer.

In the silence of the main chamber, Sebastian closed the Codex Florae Arcanum and carefully placed it next to the cocoon, as if it were an offering to the girl sleeping inside. He looked at Kaili, who remained motionless, watching Aurora with an unreadable expression.

"When she wakes up," Sebastian said softly, "everything will change, won't it?"

Kaili did not answer immediately. Her gaze was lost in the glow of the cocoon, as if she were seeing through it the future that awaited them. Then, with a tone that combined solemnity and anticipation, she said, "Yes, human. Everything will change. And you, more than anyone, must be prepared."

Kaili's words resonated in Sebastian's mind as he immersed himself in his work once more, with the same devotion with which a monk surrenders to prayer. He knew that the fate of all of them was intertwined in ways he did not yet fully understand, but one thing was certain: he was not alone on this journey. He had Aurora, Kaili, the dungeon's creatures, and the plants that accompanied him in his silent work.