A Relaxing Break

Several hours passed. The snowfall had stopped, leaving the landscape untouched beneath a pristine white veil. Yet the cold remained relentless, biting at every breath and every step. Across the frozen expanse, only their footprints disturbed the perfection of this motionless world.

Alynia and Veil pressed on. The forest, with its towering trees and elongated shadows, seemed to play tricks on them, giving the illusion that they were walking in circles. The oppressive silence was broken only by the steady crunch of snow beneath their boots.

"Alynia... can we take a break, maybe?" he asked, out of breath, breaking the silence.

She continued walking ahead, her white ears perked, ever alert for the slightest sound. But she didn't answer, her gaze fixed straight ahead.

Veil groaned inwardly, his uneven breathing betraying the fatigue catching up to him. The toll of the battle against the bear still weighed on his body, and the endless march did nothing to help.

Lost in his thoughts, he barely noticed when Alynia came to an abrupt stop. Caught off guard, he bumped into her, nearly losing his balance.

"If you keep bumping into me, Little Wolf, I swear I'll tie you to a tree," she replied, turning toward him with a mocking smile.

"Sorry... But why did you stop?" he asked, embarrassed, scratching his head.

Alynia didn't answer immediately. Her gaze fell on a large tree, its roots forming a natural shelter where barely any snow had settled. She approached it slowly, scanning the area with careful scrutiny.

"Gather some wood," she said in a neutral tone, glancing at Veil.

"Finally, a break! Thanks, I'm on it," he said, relieved, giving a thumbs-up.

As Veil wandered off in search of dry branches, Alynia pulled out a few pieces of dried meat and a small pouch filled with aromatic herbs. Her movements were precise, each action reflecting a deeply ingrained habit.

Once the fire was lit, Veil settled close to the flames, feeling the comforting warmth ease his aching muscles. He leaned against the tree trunk, savoring this brief moment of respite—a rare luxury in such a hostile place.

Alynia, on the other hand, retrieved a small pot from her bag. She poured water into it and placed it over the fire to heat. Silence fell between them, broken only by the crackling of the flames and the soft whisper of the wind.

"So... why this dungeon? Why do you want to go there?" he asked, curious, breaking the silence again.

Alynia, focused on preparing their meal, didn't lift her gaze from the pot. Her ears twitched slightly before she answered in a calm, almost detached tone.

"I need to retrieve an item," she answered, calm.

Her words, simple yet heavy with mystery, left Veil puzzled.

An item...? What kind of item would make her take such a risk? he thought, intrigued.

The fire continued to crackle, but the atmosphere grew heavier under the weight of unspoken questions.

"This item... What could be so important that you'd risk going into a place like that?" he asked, curious, hesitant.

Alynia lifted her head slightly, her ears barely moving, but her eyes remained fixed on the simmering water. A thought crossed her mind—how could he be so ignorant when he wandered these lands alone? She narrowed her eyes slightly but chose to answer with a sharper tone.

"If I knew what the item was, believe me, life would be a lot simpler," she replied sharply.

Veil's eyebrows shot up in surprise. He leaned further against the tree, his thoughts tangling in confusion.

"Wait... You mean we're heading into a dangerous place, risking our lives, for something we know nothing about?" he asked, shocked.

Alynia gently sprinkled a handful of herbs into the pot, her precise movements contrasting with the tension hanging in the air. The water began releasing a faint, fragrant steam as it slowly boiled.

"The item is there. That much is certain. Every dungeon that appears and stays means the item it holds is still inside," she explained, calm and detached.

A certainty... Really? But what kind of item is worth taking that kind of risk? he thought, puzzled.

He watched her for a moment, trying to grasp her logic, before responding in a more direct tone.

"Alright, let's say the item is really there. But... what if it's worthless? We'd be risking our lives for something that might be worth nothing?" he asked, worried.

Alynia slowly turned toward him, her pale blue eyes gleaming under the flickering firelight. Their intensity silenced Veil for a moment, her piercing gaze seeming to probe into his thoughts.

"Stop whining, Little Wolf. If dungeon items were easy to find, sitting on some shop shelf, people like me wouldn't be needed to go get them," she said with a harsher tone.

She straightened slightly, lifting a hand to point toward the darkened forest.

"If you're that scared, you can go back. Town's that way. With some luck, you won't run into another Kaelûr," she added, more coldly.

Veil blinked, confused. The word echoed in his mind, unfamiliar and strange.

Kaelûr? What kind of name is that...? he thought, perplexed.

He furrowed his brows slightly, trying to piece it together before breaking the silence.

"A... Kaelûr? What's that?" he asked, raising his eyebrows, surprised.

Alynia turned her gaze back to the pot, clearly irritated, but she still answered, her voice tinged with mild exasperation.

"That's the name of the bear we took down," she answered, annoyed.

Veil raised his eyebrows briefly, recalling the battle. The idea that such a monstrous creature had a name left him strangely thoughtful.

His thoughts snapped back to the present as Alynia handed him a small cup filled with a relaxing, lightly fragrant liquid, its color tinged with a soft green hue. Alongside it, she gave him two or three pieces of meat she had prepared.

"Here. Eat and drink. You need it," she said, calm.

Veil took the cup and the meat with gratitude, nodding slightly.

"Thanks," he whispered.

He shifted closer to the fire, letting its warmth offer a much-needed break from the relentless cold. The meat was tender, lightly spiced, the herbs Alynia had used adding a comforting depth of flavor.

Silence settled between them again—heavy, almost oppressive. Only the crackling of the fire and the whisper of the wind disturbed the frozen stillness.

Veil chewed slowly, swallowed, then finally spoke, breaking the silence.

"Sorry, Alynia. I didn't mean to upset you... You've done so much for me. It's just that... ever since I got here, every step I take feels like it could be my last. And these dungeons I know nothing about... knowing they're filled with monsters... it honestly scares me," he said, hesitant and embarrassed.

Alynia smirked slightly, her pale eyes resting on him for a moment.

"Don't worry. As long as you're with me and you follow my orders, everything will be fine," she replied in a reassuring tone.

She paused, gazing down at the cup in her hands. A question burned at the back of her mind—how could a boy like him know so little about this world? That pillar of light she had seen before finding him… It remained a mystery she wanted to unravel. But she held back, deciding to wait until he was ready to open up on his own.

"Dungeons aren't necessarily as terrifying as you imagine. Yes, we'll have to fight, that's certain. But areas like this one, while dangerous, hold few truly fearsome monsters," she continued in a steadier tone.

She lifted the cup to her lips, taking a slow sip. Her eyes briefly closed as she savored the warmth of the liquid, feeling her body gradually regain its heat.

Seeing Veil still looking somewhat uneasy, she continued.

"As for the item deep inside the dungeon... it will be useful. Even if it doesn't look important at first, trust me, it holds value," she added, calm, slightly enigmatic.

Veil lifted his head, meeting Alynia's gaze.

"The bottom of the dungeon... Why does it feel like trouble's just getting started? This feels like the start of some bad fairytale," he sighed, with a touch of weariness.

Alynia smirked, the firelight flickering gently in her eyes.

"Then make it a tale with an ending you'll actually like," she replied with a faintly amused tone.

Silence reclaimed the clearing, but this time, it felt less oppressive.

They finished their meal peacefully. The fire's warmth and the short respite had eased the exhaustion weighing on them. Though their energy wasn't fully restored, they felt ready to move again.

Ever methodical, Alynia packed their belongings into her small bag, ensuring nothing was left behind. Once ready, she stood, dusting off her clothes slightly before turning to Veil.

"So, Little Wolf. What do you want to do?" she asked, calm and direct.

Veil remained silent for a moment, his thoughts swirling. He knew that without her, he had no chance of surviving in this forest. But the thought of heading into a dungeon full of monsters still terrified him.

Yet, something about the way Alynia faced danger stirred a sense of strength within him.

He stood up slowly, adjusted his posture, and locked eyes with Alynia.

"I'm coming with you. We started this together, so I'll see it through," he said, determined.

A brief silence settled between them. After a short hesitation, Veil added in a quieter voice, almost murmuring:

"And... without you, I wouldn't survive here anyway," he added sincerely, lowering his eyes slightly.

Alynia raised an eyebrow slightly at his words but didn't respond immediately. She turned away, her gaze fixed on the snow-covered path stretching ahead of them.

In an almost inaudible whisper, she let slip words she had no intention of sharing with him:

"Me neither... Without you, I wouldn't still be here," she whispered, her cheeks slightly red.

She took a deep breath, regaining her composure, then turned back to face him.

"We have to move. We're not far now," she concluded, calm but firm.

The gentle breeze picked up again, whistling through the towering trees. The forest's silence embraced each step they took. Small snowflakes began falling once more, settling softly onto their shoulders and hair.

Alynia took the lead, her ears still alert to the faintest sound. Veil, following just behind, matched her pace, his eyes fixed on her back, his determination now unwavering.

Their journey into the unknown continued, each step bringing them closer to the dungeon.