Clare burrowed into Kepler’s chest, shock eating at her.

Didn’t she kill Astrid too easily?

He growled. She could feel the deep noise thrumming next to her cheek.

Well, she bought some time, at least. The other servants should respawn soon.

It was scaring her, she realized. That was why she was cuddling up to her symbiote like an anxious child. Clare cleared her throat and sat back up. It was ridiculous to succumb to fear.

Kepler pulled her back into his embrace.

Well, she thought, sometimes it isn’t bad to be comforted. She leaned on him, keenly aware of how rare such trust would have been in her previous life.

-Celio-

Ira had escaped, thank Lux. Actually, Nox was more likely to have helped, but that was irrelevant. Ira was battered but alive.

He sat her down on the ledge next to the far door. The entrance to the core room, based on how the dungeon had been fighting to keep them away from it. Celio tore a long strip from his shirt and sterilized it with a low current of electricity.

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“How are you feeling?”

She frowned at him. “Less beat up than you.”

He clicked his tongue and wrapped the impromptu bandage around her calf. They would have Priestess Aurora take a closer look at it when they got out.

The cricket-monsters had moved on to a catchy, upbeat melody that Celio found himself humming along to. Likely the music was to make them lower their guard, but it was nice all the same.

“Aren’t you going to bandage your own wounds?”

Celio chuckled. She was only self-conscious about him taking care of her, otherwise she wouldn’t have mentioned it. He didn’t mind; it was a dynamic they’d had since they were young.

“Hm.” He responded, “I don’t have a health-debuff modifier.”

Ira scowled. “You’re going to get one, at this rate.”

The cut on her leg was all jagged, twisting around her persistent scars.

Red flashed to their right, from the water, and Celio lashed out with electricity. A dead snake-worm twitched on the stone before dissipating.

“I told you this dungeon was nasty.” He said, clicking his tongue again.

Still, his bad mood from earlier had faded. Replaced with simple gratitude for Ira being alright. The Dodo snuggled up to his side, which had somehow swam over on its own, also helped.

He finished bandaging her and sat back on his heels.

“Why are you humming?”

“Am I?” Celio scratched Gloria under wings, earning an appreciative coo. “Well, let’s go then. This dungeon isn’t going to claim itself.”

Ira stretched, groaning.

He smirked. “What? You’re not having fun anymore?”

“Don’t be smug.”

The constant water-sounds mixed with the cheerful, chirpy tune of the monsters. Beyond the archway, a room full of blue mist and metallic glinting awaited.

Ira stood up, still grumbling quietly.

He tucked Gloria under one arm. “Ready?”

“Meh.”

Something moved and glowed a flickering orange in the indistinct space before them. The color mixed with the blueish tones to create a light violet.

“I’d just forgotten you can get hurt fighting,” Ira admitted. “I’m over it now.”

Celio shook his head, and they stepped into the core room.