A Painful Cold

Alynia carefully adjusted Veil's coat over his shoulders, making sure he kept what little warmth remained. Her breath formed light clouds in the frozen air, proof that the temperature had dropped well below anything she had thought possible. The entire forest was blanketed in immaculate white, a direct consequence of Veil's mana explosion. Snow fell gently, silently, as if the dungeon itself was trying to recover from the upheaval.

"This isn't normal... This dungeon seems to be reacting to him... but how is that possible?" said Alynia, troubled.

She knelt by the small fire she had managed to light, using branches that had somehow escaped the frost. The crackling flames gave the scene an almost peaceful air, in stark contrast with the storm of questions whirling through her mind. She glanced at Veil, his breathing shallow, his face marked by exhaustion, and his body rigid as if it might shatter with the slightest movement.

"Who is he really? Since when does he have such power... and why has he never told me about it?" she wondered aloud, worried.

Every moment they had shared until now had seemed logical, natural. But suddenly, that veil of certainty unraveled, leaving only doubt. Her gaze lingered on his sleeping face for a moment before she looked away, unsettled by the sudden distance growing between them.

In an endless space where darkness reigned supreme, Veil lay there, motionless, his eyes lost in the unfathomable void. The air was heavy, suffocating, as if each breath demanded an immense effort. Around him, nothing but absolute emptiness. No sound, no light, only the oppressive sensation weighing down on him, pinning him to the invisible ground beneath.

"Alynia... she needs me... I have to get up..." Veil whispered, desperate.

His thoughts clung desperately to that idea, but his body refused to respond. He tried to move a finger, then an arm, but every attempt ended in failure. A wave of frustration overwhelmed him, fatigue wrapping around him like invisible chains.

Fragments of memories began spinning through his mind. He saw the Sylvoids again, their slow but relentless movements, Alynia fighting fiercely, and himself... unable to protect her, powerless against the threat.

"Why am I always a burden? What do I have to do to change that?" he murmured inwardly, bitter.

The darkness seemed to tighten, suffocating, almost alive, as if it fed on his doubts and fears. The void pressed down on him, dragging him inexorably back to the same conclusion: he was too weak.

Suddenly, a flickering light pierced the darkness. At first fragile, trembling like the flame of a candle about to die, it gradually grew stronger, taking on a warm, enveloping hue. A gentle warmth spread through him, slowly driving away the frozen numbness from his body.

He squinted, the light growing more intense, until it pierced through his closed eyelids. His heart raced, an odd sensation stirring inside him. When he finally opened his eyes, a familiar scene unfolded before him.

The snow-covered branches of towering trees stretched overhead, and the glow of a fire gently warmed the air around him. Alynia sat nearby, silently watching the flames as she cooked something.

The atmosphere was strangely calm, almost soothing, despite the biting cold lingering all around.

Veil slowly rubbed his eyes, trying to clear the lingering veil of exhaustion clouding his mind. When he attempted to sit up, a sharp pain jolted through his body, every joint violently protesting against the slightest movement.

A groan escaped his lips despite himself, immediately catching Alynia's attention. Her ears perked up slightly, and her gaze fell on him, a mix of relief and apprehension in her eyes.

"You're finally awake," said Alynia, calm and relieved.

He took a deep breath, his eyes scanning the snowy clearing around them, trying to grasp what he was seeing. The trees, the frozen stream, the pristine layer of snow... it wasn't a dream.

"What... happened?" asked Veil in a hoarse voice.

Alynia remained silent for a moment, her gaze fixed on the flames. Her lips parted slightly, letting out a murmur he didn't immediately catch.

"Who are you really, Little Wolf...?" Alynia murmured, intrigued.

He frowned slightly, sensing that something was off in her voice, in her gaze.

"Huh?" reacted Veil, confused.

She lifted her eyes to him, then gently shook her head, avoiding his gaze.

"Nothing," Alynia replied, turning her eyes away.

But it wasn't nothing. Veil could feel it. He placed a hand on his aching forehead, trying to recall. The Sylvoids, Alynia trapped, and then... nothing. A complete black void.

"I don't remember anything..." murmured Veil, worried.

He sighed, trying to sit up further despite the pain.

"What happened...?" he asked again in a low voice.

Alynia lifted her eyes to him, hesitant. Her gaze shifted to the snowy forest before returning to Veil, a glint of concern in her eyes.

"It was you... All of this, it's your doing, Little Wolf," Alynia answered seriously.

Veil froze, his eyebrows furrowing as he looked around, at the snow covering the ground and trees, the frost shimmering in the firelight. He slowly shook his head.

"Me...? No, that's impossible," Veil stammered, still confused.

Alynia nodded slowly, her gaze sweeping over the white expanse surrounding them.

"Yes... and you don't even remember, do you?" Alynia pressed, still serious.

He didn't answer right away, his features tightening under the weight of his confusion. He lowered his gaze to his trembling hands, as if hoping to find an answer there.

"If even he doesn't know what happened... then just how dangerous is that power?" she thought, worried.

She turned her eyes back to the fire, while Veil felt a strange tension settling between them.

After a short silence, Alynia spoke again, her voice calmer but tinged with perplexity.

"How... how is it possible? To combine water and wind to freeze an entire forest... It would require an enormous amount of power and mana. How were you able to do that, when normally you're almost drained after a few basic spells?" she asked seriously.

Veil looked up at her, his gaze lost, searching for answers he didn't have.

"I don't understand either... I didn't even know I could do that," Veil answered, troubled.

He sighed and shook his head slightly.

"I don't know, Alynia... I'd like to understand too," he said quietly, sincerely.

He paused, his gaze fixed on the snowy ground in front of him. His fingers clenched around his injured leg, betraying his frustration.

"I saw you in danger, I hated being unable to do anything... and then everything went black. After that, nothing. A complete void. I tried to move, to come help you, but... it was like my own body refused to obey me. As if... someone else had taken over and locked me in that darkness," he explained, his voice low and uncertain.

Alynia listened in silence, her light blue eyes getting lost for a moment in the dancing flames. Her ears twitched slightly under the weight of the conflicting emotions running through her. A soft pink hue slowly colored her cheeks, and she turned her head away. What he said... Was it really because of her that he had reacted like that? His mind? Or was it something deeper she couldn't quite grasp?

Why... why would he do that for me? We don't even know each other that well, so... why am I so deeply at the center of his thoughts? thought Alynia, troubled.

A faint sigh escaped her as she tried to dispel the warm feeling blooming in her chest. Her heart beat a little faster, and she straightened up, as if trying to hide her unease.

"Warm yourself up, we need to keep moving," Alynia said curtly, turning her gaze away.

But in an almost inaudible whisper, her lips softly formed:

"Thank you..." she breathed out sincerely.

Veil, lost in his thoughts, didn't seem to hear her, but the sincerity in her voice made him want to smile, even if just for a moment.

A flicker of anger, however, crossed his eyes. Something was wrong. Why had the guild sent her here? This dungeon was far beyond their level. There had to be something behind it, and that idea haunted her.

She gently poured the contents of the small pot into two cups she had taken from her bag, then handed one to Veil. A soft scent of caramelized vanilla rose into the air, enveloping their senses with comforting warmth.

Veil took the cup a bit hesitantly, eyeing Alynia with curiosity.

"This smells like the basin from the scent room... Are you sure it's drinkable?" Veil asked skeptically.

Alynia raised an amused eyebrow and, instead of answering, brought the cup to her lips, sipping with a deliberately satisfied expression.

"The liquid was cold when I took it, but it seems to react to heat. In a dungeon like this, you have to learn to use what it offers," Alynia replied, calm and composed.

Veil looked at her doubtfully, then sighed and took a sip himself. The taste was sweet, almost soothing, and he felt a pleasant warmth spreading through his exhausted body.

"Not bad... and it helps recharge a little," Veil murmured, surprised.

Alynia watched his expression out of the corner of her eye, a small satisfied smile lingering on her lips. Deep inside, the question of what the guild was hiding still turned over and over in her mind, but for now, she preferred to enjoy this rare moment of peace in their journey.

They finished their cups in silence, savoring the warmth that soothed their strained bodies. Once done, Alynia carefully packed their belongings, her gaze briefly settling on Veil.

"Think you can stand, Pup?" Alynia asked, her tone neutral but watchful.

Veil sighed, testing his numb legs. His muscles protested slightly, but he managed to get up, wavering a moment before steadying himself. He nodded, a crooked smile on his face.

"Stronger than I look," Veil replied teasingly, though clearly tired.

Alynia studied him for a moment, making sure he wouldn't collapse the second they started moving again, then nodded.

"Good. We have to keep going. I don't know how many floors are left, but we can't afford to waste any more time," Alynia declared, determined.

Veil watched her as she adjusted her bag. He took a deep breath, pushing down the lingering exhaustion weighing on his shoulders, then followed after her. They resumed their walk, stepping over the soft grass that was gradually regaining its original color. The snow left behind by Veil's outburst was slowly melting, revealing the forest's vibrant hues once more.

Alynia glanced around, admiring the returning greenery before shooting a teasing look at Veil.

"At least you didn't freeze everything," she teased lightly.

Veil raised an eyebrow and gave her a mock-offended look.

"I'll try to do a better job next time," Veil replied dryly, amused.

Before they could continue their playful banter, the small orb of light that had guided them earlier reappeared. It twirled around them briefly before floating ahead with enchanting lightness between the trees. Alynia and Veil exchanged a look.

"There it is again... Are we supposed to follow it?" Veil murmured, wary.

"This place is so strange… but that light seems to know where it's going. Might as well trust it," Alynia thought, focused.

They silently followed the orb, walking through the forest that was slowly regaining its paradisiacal brilliance. Flowers bloomed in vibrant colors once again, the streams resumed their cheerful songs, and the place's peaceful atmosphere clashed against the persistent tension inside them.

After several minutes of walking, the orb led them to the gaping entrance of a cave. The contrast was striking. Where the forest had felt alive and colorful, the cave was dark and damp, its mouth lined with moss-covered, dripping stones. Small torches set into the walls cast a flickering light, revealing a spiral staircase descending into darkness.

Alynia stopped at the entrance, crossing her arms, her gaze probing the threatening shadows.

"No turning back, huh..." she said grimly.

Veil stared into the darkness, his instincts warning him that the next floor would be no less merciful.

"Just another descent into the unknown..." Veil muttered, resigned.

The glowing orb hovered briefly at the entrance, as if to signal that it would not accompany them further, before disappearing into the forest. Alynia and Veil exchanged a glance, then, without a word, stepped into the cave, their footsteps echoing softly as they once again delved deeper into the dungeon.