The cold wind blows softly through the trees. Snowflakes drift down slowly, settling on the treetops and forming a fresh layer of snow.

Alynia raises her hand and stops.

Alynia (scrutinizing gaze): "We’ll take a break here."

Veil exhales deeply. He feels the weight of fatigue on his shoulders and the ache in his muscles, still tense from the fight with the bear.

Veil (exhaling): "Finally... I was starting to think we’d never stop."

Alynia ignores the comment and approaches a large tree with a broad base. She examines the trunk, placing her hands on the rough bark to check for signs of animals or nests.

Alynia (calm): "Here. We’ll have some shelter from the wind."

Veil sits down nearby, leaning his back against the tree. He watches as Alynia pulls a small flint from her pocket and expertly starts a fire. The first sparks catch on the dry moss, and the fire begins to crackle softly.

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The warmth rises faintly.

Veil (eyes fixed on the fire, curious): "This dungeon... Why do you want to go there, anyway?"

Alynia doesn’t lift her gaze from the fire. She watches the flames dance, her hands resting on her knees.

Alynia (without turning): "For the object inside it."

Veil (frowning): "What object?"

Alynia (dryly): "If I knew, this would be easier."

Veil raises an eyebrow, puzzled.

Veil (worried): "Wait, you’re saying we’re looking for something, but we don’t know what it is?"

Alynia exhales loudly.

Alynia (exasperated): "Not exactly. What I know is that it’s at the bottom of the dungeon. And if it’s at the bottom, it’s important."

Veil (more sarcastic): "Great, so we’re diving in blind, hoping to stumble on something ‘important.’ I love it."

Alynia turns her head toward him, her piercing eyes giving him a frosty stare.

Alynia (stern gaze): "Done whining? Dungeon artifacts aren’t sitting on store shelves. These things are always guarded by monsters or trials. If that scares you, you can always head back into the forest and hope another bear doesn’t find you."

Veil clenches his jaw, stung by her words. He lowers his gaze, exhales through his nose, then lifts his head again, his expression determined.

Veil (determined): "I came here to learn. Don’t count on me to run away."

Alynia’s lips curl into a faint smirk.

Alynia (mocking smile): "Hmph. Then stop asking pointless questions."

Veil shifts his position, wrapping his arms around his knees. He watches the fire crackle and narrows his eyes slightly.

Veil (muttering to himself): "An artifact at the bottom of a dungeon... Sounds like the start of a bad tale."

Alynia raises an eyebrow and pokes the embers with a small stick.

Alynia (dry tone): "Then make sure it has a good ending."

A moment of silence follows. Only the crackling of the flames fills the air.

Snowflakes continue to fall gently, creating a serene atmosphere laden with the promise of danger.