"A touch of moss here, a few luminous flowers there... not bad," Sebastian thought as he admired his work. He had spent the last hour decorating his room with some of the most peculiar plants he had found in the dungeon. Vines with heart-shaped leaves framed the entrance, creating a kind of natural arch that welcomed visitors. Phosphorescent mushrooms, which he had discovered on the third floor, illuminated the space with a soft, warm light, casting dancing shadows on the stone walls. And in the center, a small garden of multicolored flowers, cultivated with care and patience, filled the air with a sweet and relaxing aroma.
"Not that I'm an expert in decoration, but I think it's quite cozy," he said to himself with a smile.
At that moment, Kaili appeared at the entrance, her six iridescent wings glowing under the dim light of the mushrooms. She observed the room with an expression of curiosity and disapproval.
"You shouldn't put so much effort into decorating your room, human," Kaili said with her usual tone of superiority. "It's a waste of time and energy."
Maybe for you, Sebastian thought with a smile. But I like having a pleasant space to rest. "Wouldn't you like to do the same with your room?"
"Why?" Kaili replied with a frown. "Ornaments are unnecessary. I only need a place to regain my strength for battle."
"I understand that you're a warrior, Kaili, but not everything is fighting," Sebastian said with a sigh. "Sometimes it's good to relax and enjoy beauty."
"Beauty?" Kaili repeated with incredulity. "What does beauty have to do with strength? Beauty is fleeting, strength is eternal."
"Beauty can also be a source of strength, Kaili. It helps you connect with your inner self, to find peace..." Sebastian said.
Kaili interrupted him with an impatient gesture. "I don't need peace, human. I need power. And power is obtained through training and discipline, not from contemplating flowers."
Sebastian smiled with a touch of humor. "Well, I'm not a warrior like you, Kaili. But I assure you that sleeping in a beautiful room helps me get up with more energy to face the day."
Kaili looked at him skeptically, but Sebastian noticed a glimmer of curiosity in her dark eyes.
"Maybe someday you'll try it," Sebastian added with a smile. "I assure you, you won't regret it."
Kaili didn't answer, but Sebastian had the feeling that he had made her think. And that, for him, was already a small victory.
After the battle with the adventurers, Aurora looked exhausted. Her amber eyes, usually bright and inquisitive, were dull, and her breathing was heavy and irregular. Sebastian watched her with concern as she went to her bed of moss and flowers, her movements slow and weary.
"She'd better get some rest," Sebastian thought, feeling a pang of unease in his chest. I can't help but worry about her, even though Kaili assures me that she is practically indestructible.
After making sure that Aurora was comfortable, Sebastian left the main chamber and went to the garden he had been cultivating so diligently over the past year. The plants, which usually shone with a vibrant and cheerful light, now looked slightly withered, their leaves a little drooping and their flowers less luminous.
"Something is not right," Sebastian thought, frowning. He knew that the plants in the dungeon were connected to Aurora in some way, that they responded to her emotions and her energy.
With growing concern, Sebastian returned to the main chamber and approached Aurora's bed. He watched her sleep for a long time, with a furrowed brow and pressed lips. The plants around her remained with their dejected appearance, as if they shared the same nightmare as the young woman.
Driven by a protective instinct that he did not fully understand, Sebastian reached out and gently caressed Aurora's forehead. Her skin was cold, but her breathing was regular.
"Rest easy, Aurora," he whispered, with a tenderness that surprised even himself. "Everything is fine."
As Aurora slept, Sebastian noticed that small beads of sweat pearled her forehead, a reflection of the tension that still gripped her. Gently, he took some fresh and absorbent leaves from a nearby plant and carefully wiped away the sweat, taking care not to wake her. He took her hand, small and cold, and intertwined it with his, feeling a strange warmth that seemed to emanate from the young woman. Then, he leaned down and placed a soft kiss on her forehead, as a gesture of protection and comfort.
A sweet aroma, similar to that of the flowers that adorned the chamber, emanated from Aurora's skin. "It's a strange... but pleasant fragrance," Sebastian thought, feeling a strange fascination with that aroma that seemed to connect the young woman with the very essence of the dungeon.
Knowing that Aurora would wake up hungry after the battle and the nightmare, Sebastian went to the second floor. He remembered the revitalizing mushrooms he had discovered thanks to the "Codex Florae Arcanum" that Kaili had given him. He collected them carefully, and then took some water from the underground lake, intending to prepare a nourishing soup for Aurora.
When he returned to the main chamber, Aurora was beginning to wake up.
Aurora opened her eyes slowly, with the image of the nightmare still fresh in her mind. "Where am I?" she thought in confusion, as her gaze focused on Sebastian's face. A feeling of relief washed over her as she recognized him. Sebastian...
"You're awake," Sebastian said with a smile. "You had a bad dream, huh?"
"What happened?" Aurora wondered, as she tried to remember the details of the nightmare. "Why do I feel so weak?" Seeing Sebastian at her side, with a furrowed brow and a look full of concern, a wave of gratitude washed over her. "Thank you, Sebastian," she thought, deeply moved.
Aurora nodded, still with her breathing agitated. Sebastian adjusted the pillow for her, made with soft leaves and petals of relaxing flowers, so that she could sit up comfortably. Then, he took the wooden spoon and offered her some soup.
"Here, this will help you feel better," he said sweetly, as Aurora accepted the soup with a look of gratitude.
As Sebastian patiently fed her, Aurora felt a deep warmth in her chest. It was not only the effect of the soup, but Sebastian's company, his sincere concern, and his comforting presence. "I am not alone," she thought, deeply moved. I have Sebastian. And for the first time since she had awakened in the dungeon, Aurora felt a true sense of belonging.