The Blooming Forest

Alynia and Veil, still catching their breath, decided to move forward through the oppressive darkness. But they had barely taken a step when a soft glow appeared, gently drifting toward them. It revealed a staircase descending beneath their feet, casting a soft light that contrasted sharply with the surrounding blackness.

A small orb, pulsing faintly as if it were breathing, hovered before them. Its flickering light illuminated just enough of the path for them to see. Alynia and Veil exchanged a puzzled glance.

"Another weird thing… This dungeon never stops surprising me," Veil said, wary.

Veil slowly reached out toward the orb, fascinated by its calming glow.

"Don't touch it, Little Wolf! What if it's a trap?" Alynia snapped, her tone firm.

She grabbed his wrist in a swift motion, her gaze sharp. Veil winced slightly and pulled his hand back.

"Yeah… you're right," Veil muttered.

But at that moment, the orb shimmered slightly before floating backward, slowly descending the stairs. It seemed to be inviting them to follow. Alynia frowned, still cautious, but eventually stepped forward, Veil right behind her.

"Maybe it's a spirit… They're often found in forests, but here… in a dungeon, it's strange," Alynia said thoughtfully.

Veil raised an eyebrow, watching the orb.

"A spirit, huh? Why not… Nothing in here makes any sense anyway," Veil said, intrigued.

As they carefully descended, the orb's light grew brighter, illuminating the walls of the staircase, which began to take on strangely natural hues, as if the stone itself was changing.

After a long descent, they froze in awe. A vast stretch of greenery lay before them. A lush forest bathed in the soft glow of filtered sunlight, shining through dense foliage bursting with life. The grass was a vibrant green, and gorgeous, colorful flowers stretched out as far as the eye could see. A blue sky, dotted with light clouds, stretched above them, creating a disturbingly realistic illusion.

Veil widened his eyes, staring at the scene in stunned admiration.

"Is this… a dream?" he asked, astonished.

Alynia's ears twitched with surprise as she took a deep breath of the air, filled with dew and blooming flowers.

"No, it's real. We're still in the dungeon," Alynia answered, serious and pensive.

Veil turned his head toward her, skeptical.

"You sure? Because this… doesn't look like a dungeon…" Veil insisted, disbelieving.

Alynia nodded slowly, scanning the surroundings.

"Some rare dungeons can simulate perfect outdoor environments. It's extremely rare, but not impossible," Alynia explained as she thought aloud.

She turned to Veil, locking eyes with him.

"That would explain why I've never heard of a dungeon like this. What we've seen so far was already strange… But this is something else," she added, calm but intrigued.

Still in shock, Veil let out a small sigh and rubbed his injured arm.

"No matter how beautiful it looks… My arm keeps reminding me we're still in danger," Veil groaned, wincing.

Alynia looked away from the scenery and back at him, noticing the pain he was trying to hide.

"We'll talk later. Right now, we need to treat your wounds," Alynia said, gently but firmly.

Her ears perked slightly as she listened, alert to any suspicious sound. Only the whisper of a gentle breeze touched their faces, accompanied by the distant murmur of a stream winding through the forest.

"Come on. Water. It's this way," she said, pointing ahead.

They moved cautiously, following the soft sound of running water that echoed between the towering trees. The small orb of light drifted silently into the foliage, disappearing as if its task was complete.

After a few minutes of walking, they reached a clear stream. The water flowed peacefully, reflecting the bright colors of the surrounding vegetation. The shade from the trees made the area feel cool and soothing, easing their tired bodies.

Veil sat down in the soft grass, placing a hand on his aching arm before sighing, relieved by the calm.

"If this weren't a damn dungeon, I think I'd fall asleep right here…" Veil muttered, tension melting from his voice.

Alynia, crouched near the water, glanced at him from the corner of her eye with a faint smirk.

"You always have weird priorities, Little Wolf," Alynia replied, teasing.

Veil gave a tired smile and dipped his hand lightly into the cool stream.

"It might be a trap, but… I almost want to forget where we are," Veil said, soothed.

Alynia scanned the surroundings, still alert despite the apparent calm.

"It seems too good to be true… This dungeon hasn't given us anything easy so far," Alynia said, wary.

Veil, noticing her tense expression, raised an eyebrow.

"Can't relax, can you?" Veil asked, calm and curious.

"We're in a dungeon, Little Wolf. Danger's everywhere—even under this peaceful surface," Alynia replied with a sigh.

Veil turned his gaze to the artificial sky, thoughtful, while Alynia knelt beside him, preparing to disinfect his wounds. She gently removed the bandage from his leg, revealing the gashes left by the Cataxys's claws. The bleeding had stopped, but the wound was swollen—clearly from the strain and lack of rest.

Alynia examined the injury carefully, her ears twitching with focus. She uncorked a small, half-empty vial—a sign of the many times they'd already had to treat each other since entering the dungeon. Pouring a few drops of clear liquid onto a clean cloth, she gently dabbed it over the wound.

Veil flinched instantly at the sharp sting.

"I could go through this for ten years and still not get used to it…" Veil muttered, wincing.

Alynia, a faint smirk on her lips, didn't look up as she kept working steadily.

"You a warrior or a whiner, Little Wolf?" Alynia teased.

Veil rolled his eyes, choosing not to answer, and leaned back slightly onto his elbows, letting the soft wind wash over his face.

Alynia pulled out another flask, this one containing a thicker, amber-colored liquid. She carefully poured a small amount onto her fingertips and applied it to the wound. A gentle warmth immediately replaced the burning pain.

Veil blinked, surprised by the soothing sensation.

"You couldn't have started with that?" Veil asked, intrigued.

Alynia looked up at him, amused by his comment.

"It only works if the wound isn't too deep or infected. Considering how swollen your leg was, I needed to clean it properly first," Alynia explained, calm and practical.

Veil sighed, glancing at his leg now neatly bandaged. The pain was still there, but it had faded enough to be ignored.

Satisfied with her work, Alynia moved on to Veil's arm. As she undid the old bandage, she grimaced slightly at the sight of the deep cut left by the Cataxys's claws.

He's pushing his body too far… He won't last long if he keeps this up, Alynia thought, worried.

She applied the same treatment as she had on his leg, and Veil tensed again at the sting of the disinfectant.

"You sure you're not rubbing harder on purpose every time?" Veil grumbled.

"Of course not," Alynia replied with a falsely innocent tone.

She threw him a sideways glance, playful.

Once his arm was carefully wrapped in a fresh bandage, she settled down beside him, letting out a quiet sigh of relief.

The peaceful silence of the forest settled around them, accompanied by the gentle murmur of the stream.

Veil slowly closed his eyes, letting the fatigue melt away under the caress of the wind. Even if this place was nothing more than an illusion, every sensation felt so real that he allowed himself to relax, momentarily forgetting the dungeon's reality.

"If this weren't a deadly trap, I'd really want to stay here a bit longer," Veil said, calm.

Alynia, on her side, remained vigilant. Her gaze scanned the area, alert to the slightest sign of danger.

"It's too quiet. This dungeon hasn't made anything easy so far. It's definitely hiding something," Alynia said, wary.

Still, despite her vigilance, she couldn't help but enjoy, even for a moment, the softness of this environment. She let her fingers brush the fresh grass beneath her—a feeling she hadn't experienced in a long time outside the wildlands.

"This reminds me of home…" she murmured, thoughtful.

Veil opened one eye, catching her words.

"You used to live somewhere like this?" Veil asked, curious.

Alynia nodded, her eyes drifting into the distance.

"Not exactly… But the forest I grew up in looked a bit like this," Alynia replied softly.

Veil watched her expression for a moment, then closed his eyes again.

"Then enjoy it, Alynia… before this dungeon reminds us where we really are," Veil murmured.

Alynia looked at him in silence, a faint smile forming on her lips, before returning to her watchfulness.

A thought, however, refused to leave her mind.

"Why is this dungeon here? Why did the guild send me here, when this place is way above my rank?" Alynia said, troubled.

She frowned slightly, unease breaking through her usually composed gaze. Something was wrong—everything was too strange. The complexity of the trials, the presence of monsters she had never encountered before, and now this flawlessly replicated environment… She gently shook her head, as if to cast the doubts away.

A light breeze touched her face, lifting her long silver hair, making it dance in the air. She closed her eyes for a moment, savoring the feeling, her ears twitching gently in the soft wind.

Veil, silent, watched her discreetly. The wind played with her silver strands, weaving them gracefully under the filtered sunlight. He felt his heart quicken slightly, a faint blush creeping across his cheeks.

She's… beautiful, Veil thought, unsettled.

He quickly looked away, embarrassed by the sudden thought. Yet the image stayed etched in his mind. A soft sigh escaped him as he allowed his body to relax a bit more.

He closed his eyes, letting himself drift in the pleasant breeze brushing against his skin. The warmth of the sun gently heated his face, while the nearby stream's coolness offered a soothing contrast. Slowly, his muscles, tightened from battle, began to loosen, his mind gradually clouding in this deceptively peaceful atmosphere.

Alynia, noticing his breathing becoming more regular, glanced at him from the corner of her eye.

"Now's not the time to fall asleep, Little Wolf…" she murmured, amused.

She gave a faint smile as she watched him slip into unintentional sleep. The tension and sharp focus usually etched on his face had softened, almost peaceful.

She sighed lightly and turned her attention back to the surroundings. Her lupine instincts warned her this calm wouldn't last.

"A trap… it has to be a trap. Nothing stays this quiet in a dungeon," she said, cautious.

Her sharp gaze scanned the lush vegetation. Every rustling leaf, every shift in the wind, was a potential alert. Yet for now, everything seemed… normal. Too normal.

She straightened slightly, eyes searching for the small light that had led them here.

"Where did you go…" she whispered.

But the light was gone, absorbed into the surreal landscape of the artificial forest.

Her attention returned to Veil, still lost in sleep. No matter how much he tried to hide it, she knew he was at his limit. His body simply couldn't keep up with the relentless pace they'd endured since entering the dungeon.

"He always pushes himself too far," she said, gently.

She hesitated a moment, then, almost without thinking, grabbed her coat and laid it gently over Veil's shoulders.

"Rest for a while… I'm watching," she whispered.

Her gaze lingered on him for a moment before turning back to the forest. This peaceful pause was fragile, fleeting. She knew that better than anyone.

The wind stirred slightly, carrying with it a soft floral scent—but Alynia stayed alert, tense, on guard.