34

The second floor of the dungeon had always had a ghostly air, with its damp walls and phosphorescent moss that emanated a spectral light. But that day, the atmosphere felt strangely calm. The small underground lake, with its dark and still surface, reflected the scarce light that filtered from the luminescent fungi growing in the cracks of the ceiling, creating a play of light and shadow that danced on the walls and stalagmites. Sebastian sat on the shore, legs crossed, observing the surface of the water with a serene expression. In his hands, he held a makeshift fishing rod, made with a sturdy branch he had found inside the dungeon and a rope braided with plant fibers.

He had been there for hours, immobile as a statue, with the patience of a monk meditating on a mountaintop. His goal was simple: to catch something for dinner. It wasn't the first time he had done it. Since Aurora had gone into hibernation, Sebastian had discovered in fishing a way to relax, to connect with the nature that surrounded him, to find a moment of peace amidst the uncertainty that gripped him.

While he waited patiently for one of the aquatic creatures that inhabited the lake to bite the hook, Kaili appeared beside him. Her six wings, membranous and translucent, unfolded like a fan, capturing the faint light of the surroundings and projecting iridescent sparkles that spread through the cavern like magic dust. Each movement of Kaili generated a soft sound, a mixture of whisper and flutter that merged with the dripping of water and the distant echo of some creature moving in the depths.

Sebastian didn't need to turn to know she was there. Her presence was unmistakable, a mixture of ancestral power and an elegance that contrasted with the gloomy atmosphere of the second floor. Kaili was like a wandering star that had decided to land on the shore of the lake, radiating its own light that defied the darkness.

"What are you doing, human?" Kaili asked with her melodious voice, though this time with a tinge of curiosity that Sebastian had not noticed before.

"Fishing," Sebastian replied without taking his eyes off the water. "I hope to catch something for dinner."

Kaili frowned, with an expression that denoted confusion. "Cooking? I don't understand why you go to so much trouble. That's why humans are weak, they need to eat to survive."

Sebastian smiled slightly. "Not everything in life is about survival, Kaili. Sometimes, simple things like preparing a meal can be... comforting."

Kaili's expression remained unchanged, as if Sebastian's words were a riddle she couldn't decipher. For her, the idea of finding pleasure in something as trivial as food was a concept alien to her nature. However, something in the way Sebastian spoke, with that contained passion that contrasted with the monotony of the dungeon, aroused her curiosity.

"Comforting," Kaili repeated, savoring the word as if it were a strange candy in her mouth. "What does that mean?"

Sebastian thought for a moment, looking for the best way to explain it. "It's like... a feeling of well-being, of satisfaction. Something that makes you feel... at peace."

Kaili tilted her head, with the same curiosity as an owl watching its prey. "Peace? Do you mean the absence of conflict?"

"Not exactly," Sebastian replied. "It's more of a feeling of... harmony. As if everything were in its place, as if there were nothing to fear."

Kaili was silent for a few moments, processing the information. For her, the idea of peace was an abstract concept, something she had not experienced. Peace, in her mind, was synonymous with weakness, with vulnerability.

"I don't understand," Kaili finally said. "But I would like to understand."

Sebastian smiled. "Perhaps... perhaps you can experience it through food," he replied, with a complicit tone.

At that moment, the fishing rod bent sharply, and Sebastian pulled the line with a quick and precise movement. A fish with translucent skin, with scales that shone like small crystals, emerged from the water, shaking vigorously. Sebastian held it firmly, with a mixture of satisfaction and respect for the creature he had captured.

With expert movements, Sebastian prepared the fish for cooking. He cleaned it carefully, using an obsidian knife he had found in one of the chests of the dungeon system, and seasoned it with a mixture of spices he had collected on the upper levels. The dried leaves and aromatic powders gave off an intoxicating smell that spread through the cavern, mingling with the damp aroma of moss and earth.

"What are those herbs?" Kaili asked, curiously observing the spices Sebastian was using.

"They are plants that grow in the dungeon," explained Sebastian, while grinding some seeds with a makeshift mortar. "I found them thanks to the Codex Florae Arcanum you gave me. Some have properties that enhance the flavor of food, others have healing properties, and some... well, it's better not to touch them."

Kaili moved a little closer, carefully observing the plants. "I didn't know that something so... insignificant as a plant could have so many uses," she commented, with a tone of surprise.

"Plants are the basis of life, Kaili," Sebastian replied with a smile. "They feed us, they heal us, they protect us... they even teach us."

"Teach?" Kaili repeated, intrigued.

"Yes," Sebastian affirmed. "Plants teach us about patience, about resilience, about adaptation. They teach us that life is a constant cycle of growth, of change, of renewal. And that even in the darkest places, there is always room for beauty."

Kaili was silent for a few moments, reflecting on Sebastian's words. Then, in a softer tone, she asked: "And you... what have you learned from plants?"

Sebastian smiled, with an expression of gratitude. "I have learned that life is a gift, Kaili. A gift that we must care for, protect, and enjoy."

Kaili nodded slowly, with an expression that denoted a nascent understanding. And, for the first time since he had known her, Sebastian thought he saw a glimmer of... peace in her eyes.

Meanwhile, the fire that Sebastian had been trying to light with the flint still wouldn't catch. Sparks jumped vigorously, but the damp leaves and branches resisted the flame. Sebastian frowned, with a mixture of frustration and stubbornness.

Kaili, observing his efforts, smiled slightly. "Allow me to help you, human," she said, extending a hand towards the bonfire.

A flash of energy, blue as ice and hot as the sun, emerged from her fingers, instantly igniting the branches. The flame grew strongly, casting dancing shadows on the walls of the cavern.

Sebastian stepped back a little, surprised by the ease with which Kaili had lit the fire. "Thank you," he said, with a mixture of gratitude and embarrassment.

Kaili bowed her head in acknowledgment. "You're welcome, human. Although I must confess that I am intrigued by your insistence on using such... primitive methods."

Sebastian smiled. "It's not about being primitive, Kaili. It's about... connecting with the process, with the essence of things."

"Connecting?" Kaili repeated, with a thoughtful expression.

"Yes," Sebastian affirmed. "When you light a fire with your own hands, when you feel the heat of the flame on your skin, when you breathe the smoke that rises to the sky... it's as if you become part of something bigger. It's like connecting with the vital energy that flows through everything."

Kaili was silent for a few moments, watching the fire carefully. Then, in a soft tone, she said, "I've never seen it that way."

Sebastian smiled. "The world is full of wonders, Kaili. You just have to be willing to see them."

Sebastian placed the fish on a flat stone that he had carefully cleaned, using the leaves of a plant with disinfectant properties that he had found in the Codex Florae Arcanum. The flame of the bonfire licked the skin of the fish, generating a sparkling sound that mingled with the crackling of the branches. The aroma of the cooking meat spread through the cavern, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere that contrasted with the usual coldness of the place.

Kaili observed Sebastian's every move with unusual attention. Her eyes, which normally shone with an almost threatening intensity, now appeared curious, like those of a child discovering a new game. Sebastian, aware of Kaili's attention, smiled with a hint of satisfaction.

"Patience is the key," Sebastian said, pointing to the fish with a gesture of his hand. "There is no need to rush the process. Everything in its time."

Kaili nodded slowly, as if assimilating a profound lesson. "Patience," she repeated in a low voice, savoring the word.

While the fish was cooking, Sebastian prepared a kind of salad with leaves and fruits that he had collected on the upper levels of the dungeon. The vibrant colors of the vegetables contrasted with the monotony of the stone, creating a small edible work of art.

"This is... different," Kaili commented, observing the salad with curiosity. "Did you also find it in that book?"

"Some yes, others no," Sebastian replied. "Sometimes, the best way to learn is simply to observe, to experiment."

Kaili came a little closer, examining the salad carefully. "And... how do you know they are not poisonous?"

Sebastian smiled confidently. "I know the plants, Kaili. I know which ones are safe and which ones are not."

Kaili nodded, with an expression that denoted a nascent confidence in Sebastian's abilities. And, for the first time, Sebastian felt that the imposing "Herald of the Plague" saw him as something more than just a human.

When the fish were ready, Sebastian carefully removed them from the fire, using some branches as makeshift tongs. The skin of the fish was golden and crispy, and the aroma they gave off was irresistible. Sebastian placed the fish on large leaves that served as plates, and offered one to Kaili.

"Go ahead, try it," Sebastian said with a smile. "I assure you that you will not regret it."

Kaili hesitated for a moment, observing the fish with a mixture of curiosity and distrust. She had never eaten anything, and the idea of ingesting something that was once alive was strange to her. However, Sebastian's insistence and the aroma given off by the fish awakened an unknown desire in her.

Delicately, Kaili took the fish and brought it to her mouth. At first, her expression remained unchanged, as if she were analyzing a strange object. But then, her eyes widened, and a glint of surprise lit up her face.

"This... this is..." Kaili couldn't find the words to describe what she was experiencing. It was an explosion of flavors, of textures, of sensations that she had never imagined.

"Delicious, isn't it?" Sebastian said with a smile.

Kaili nodded enthusiastically. "It's... incredible. How is it possible that something so simple can generate so many emotions?"

"Sometimes, the simplest things are the most extraordinary," Sebastian replied in a philosophical tone.

Kaili finished the fish in silence, savoring each bite with an intensity that surprised Sebastian. When she finished, she wiped her mouth with a leaf, with a gesture that tried to be elegant but denoted her lack of habit.

"Well?" Sebastian asked curiously. "What did you think?"

Kaili looked at him with an expression that Sebastian could not interpret. It was a mixture of wonder, gratitude, and something else... something that resembled... happiness.

"It's... different from anything I've ever known," Kaili replied, in a soft tone. "It's... wonderful."

Sebastian smiled with satisfaction. "I'm glad you liked it."

Kaili was thoughtful for a few moments, as if she were assimilating the experience. Then, in a lighter tone, she asked: "And what other... simple... things do you like?"

Sebastian thought for a moment before answering. "I like to take care of the plants, watch them grow, learn from them... I like to explore the dungeon, discover new places, new creatures... And I like... to share moments like this, with friends."

Kaili looked at him carefully, with an expression that Sebastian could not decipher. Then, in a soft voice, she said: "Perhaps... perhaps there is more to life than I thought, something more than fighting and being stronger."

Sebastian smiled. "The world is full of possibilities, Kaili. You just have to be willing to explore them."

Kaili nodded, with an expression that denoted a new understanding of the world. And, for the first time, Sebastian felt that the imposing "Herald of the Plague" was showing herself vulnerable, open to new experiences.

The rest of the afternoon passed in a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere. Sebastian and Kaili talked about various topics, from the plants and creatures of the dungeon to the stars and the universe. Sebastian shared with Kaili some of his past experiences, although the memories were vague and fragmented. Kaili, for her part, spoke about her role as "Herald of the Plague", about her loyalty to Aurora, and about her expectations for the future.

For the first time, Sebastian saw Kaili as something more than a powerful entity. He saw in her a companion, a friend. And Kaili, for her part, discovered in Sebastian a new way of seeing the world.

As night fell, Sebastian and Kaili said goodbye with a smile. Kaili returned to her chamber, while Sebastian stayed on the shore of the lake, watching the reflection of the moon in the water.

"Thank you, Aurora," Sebastian murmured, with an expression of gratitude. "Thank you for making my life so interesting."

And, for the first time since he had woken up in the dungeon, Sebastian felt truly at peace.