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.

Veil (breathless, breaking the silence): "Alynia… can't we take a break?"

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.

Alynia (turning to him, smirking): "If you keep running into me, Little Wolf, I might just tie you to a tree."

Veil (embarrassed, scratching his head): "Sorry… But why did you stop?"

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.

Alynia (neutral tone, glancing at Veil): "Find some firewood."

Veil (relieved, raising a thumbs-up): "Finally, a break! Thanks, I'm on it."

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.

Veil (curious, breaking the silence): "So… why this dungeon? Why do you want to go there?"

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.

Alynia (calm): "I need to retrieve an object."

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

Veil (thought, intrigued): An object…? What kind of object would make her take such a risk?

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

Veil (curious, hesitant): "This object… What could be so important that it's worth risking your life?"

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.

Alynia (dryly): "If I knew what it was, trust me, life would be a lot simpler."

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

Veil (shocked): "Wait… So we're heading into a dangerous place, risking our lives—for something we know nothing about?"

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.

Alynia (calm, detached): "The object is there. That much is certain. Every dungeon that appears and remains means the artifact within it is still undiscovered."

Veil (thought, perplexed): Certain… really? But what kind of object is worth taking such a risk for?

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

Veil (worried): "Alright, let's say the object is really there. But… what if it's worthless? Are we really risking our lives for something that might not be worth anything at all?"

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.

Alynia (harsher tone): "Stop whining, Little Wolf. If dungeon artifacts were easy to find, sitting on a merchant's shelf, there'd be no need for people like me to retrieve them."

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

Alynia (dryly): "If you're that scared, you can turn back. The city is that way. With a bit of luck, you won't run into another Kaelûr."

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

Veil (thought, puzzled): Kaelûr? What kind of name is that…?

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

Veil (raising an eyebrow, surprised): "A… Kaelûr? What's that?"

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

Alynia (irritated): "That was the name of the bear we defeated."

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.

Alynia (calm): "Here. Eat and drink—you need it."

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

Veil (exhaling): "Thanks."

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.

Veil (hesitant, awkward): "Sorry, Alynia. I didn't mean to upset you… You're doing 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 them. Just knowing they're filled with monsters… deep down, it scares me."

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

Alynia (reassuring tone): "Don't worry. As long as you're with me and you follow my orders, you'll be fine."

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.

Alynia (resuming, with a calmer tone): "Dungeons aren't necessarily as terrible as you imagine. Yes, we'll have to fight, that's certain. But areas like this, while dangerous, don't house too many truly formidable monsters."

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.

Alynia (calm, slightly enigmatic): "As for the artifact waiting at the bottom of the dungeon… it will be useful. Even if it doesn't seem important at first glance, trust me, it holds value."

Veil lifted his head, meeting Alynia's gaze.

Veil (exhaling, with a hint of weariness): "The bottom of the dungeon… Why do I get the feeling trouble is only just beginning? This is starting to feel like the opening to a bad fairy tale."

Alynia smirked, the firelight flickering gently in her eyes.

Alynia (amused tone): "Then make sure to turn this story into one with an ending you'll like."

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.

Alynia (calm, direct): "So, Little Wolf. What do you want to do?"

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.

Veil (determined tone): "I'm coming with you. We started this together, so I'll see it through to the end."

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

Veil (sincere, lowering his gaze slightly): "And… without you, I don't stand a chance of surviving here."

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:

Alynia (whispering, her cheeks slightly flushed): "Me neither… Without you, I wouldn't still be here."

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

Alynia (calm but firm): "We need to get moving. We're not far now."

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.