After the exhausting battle with the goblins, Aurora and Sebastian decided to explore a part of the Enchanted Forest in search of more creatures. However, their search proved fruitless as they barely found any traces of activity. They decided to return to the dungeon to rest and recover from the battle.
On their way back to the dungeon, they stumbled upon a small lake, so they decided to drink some water as they were very thirsty.
"Phew... After fighting for so long, this water is extremely refreshing," Sebastian said to Aurora as he took a sip of the cool water with a satisfied expression.
At that moment, Aurora had her head completely submerged in the water, but upon hearing Sebastian's words, she lifted her face, with water droplets falling from her hair and face. "*Gulp... That's right, the water is really cool. I feel like I could live underwater in the future, maybe being a fish wouldn't be so bad" Aurora said, putting a hand on her chin while pondering.
"Hahaha, I don't think being a fish is a good idea. After all, I might hunt you for dinner..." Sebastian pounced on Aurora, tickling her.
"No! Hahaha! Stop! Don't tickle me!" Aurora's face turned red, and her breath became uneven, but the golden sparkle in her eyes showed that she was genuinely enjoying herself.
"Tsk... I said I want to be a fish to live underwater and swim and explore, not to be your dinner," Aurora exclaimed when the tickling stopped, crossing her arms and pouting cutely.
"Alright, little grump, maybe I would just put you in a small fish tank."
"A fish tank? What's that?"
"Well, a fish tank is a small square-shaped container, usually used by wealthy people called nobles. They put fish in it when they take them out of the water. I think it's made of glass."
"I see, it must be sad to live confined all your life. I feel sorry for the little fish."
"The weak have a life full of difficulties. Unfortunately, things like that happen frequently..."
- CRACK! -
While they were engrossed in their conversation, they were startled by the sound of a broken branch. Sebastian quickly stood up and went on guard, while Aurora ran to grab her sword and positioned herself for battle. Sebastian kept his eyes on the trees when suddenly he caught sight of strange creatures—a tiny, elusive creature hiding in the corners of the trees. It had a humanoid appearance, covered in dark, scaly skin. Its eyes shimmered with a dim light, and its mouth stretched into a malicious smile filled with sharp teeth. The Shadow Whispers emerged from the shadows, surrounding them completely. Aurora felt fear taking hold of her as she observed the terrifying appearance of the tiny creatures.
"Sebastian, we're surrounded. What are we going to do?" Aurora asked anxiously.
"Stay calm, Aurora. Let's assess the situation," responded Sebastian, trying to reassure her. Activate the evaluation stone and point it at the Shadow Whispers.
The evaluation stone revealed the statistics of the Shadow Whispers:
Species: Monster
Class: Shadow Whisper
Subclass: None
Level: 2
Health: 80
Mana: 70
AGL: 20
VIT: 5
INT: 10
STA: 5
STR: 5
DEF: 5
Condition: Healthy.
Trembling, Aurora replied, "They're so ugly! I don't know if I can fight them!"
Sebastian encouraged her, saying, "Believe in yourself, Aurora. Try not to focus too much on their appearance. Get ready for combat."
With their eyes fixed on the approaching swarm of Shadow Whispers, Aurora took a step forward, but her fight was affected by her fear. Her movements were clumsy and hesitant, making it difficult for her to strike the tiny creatures accurately.
Sebastian, on the other hand, quickly grabbed his bow and selected an arrow infused with paralyzing poison. He aimed carefully, measuring the distance and trajectory, and shot the arrow towards one of the Shadow Whispers. The arrow hit its target, and the poison began to take effect. The Shadow Whisper weakened and its movement became slower.
Aurora seized the opportunity and, with a clumsy yet brave strike, managed to wound another one of the Shadow Whispers. However, her fear still lingered, making it challenging for her to face the creatures efficiently.
The agile and swift Shadow Whispers moved swiftly across the terrain, dodging Aurora's attacks and avoiding being hit by Sebastian's arrows. Using their deceptive persuasion abilities, they attempted to sow doubt and confusion in the girl's mind.
Fear intensified when one of the Shadow Whispers lunged towards Aurora, aiming directly for her face. In a critical moment, Sebastian intervened and embraced her, protecting her from the potential blow. However, he received a shallow cut on his back.
"SEBASTIAN!" Aurora let out a scream with a heart-wrenching voice.
"Aurora, don't worry about me! You have to fight! I believe in you," exclaimed Sebastian while enduring the burning pain in his back.
Feeling guilty and distressed, a wave of emotions flooded Aurora. Without hesitation, she plunged into the battle against the Shadow Whispers, determined to protect Sebastian and confront her fear.
"I'm going to kill them!" Aurora exclaimed with determination.
The Shadow Whispers showcased their agility and speed, swiftly gliding between the trees and attacking from different angles. They used their deceptive persuasion abilities to sow doubts and confusion in the minds of Aurora and Sebastian, further hindering the battle.
"Stay focused, Aurora! Don't let their tricks affect you," warned Sebastian as he dodged an attack.
"I'm trying, Sebastian, but they're so fast! I don't know if I can defeat them," replied Aurora as she decapitated one of the Shadow Whispers.
Sebastian recalled his training as a botanist and quickly consumed a pill made from a plant he had developed to alleviate pain. Although the cut on his back still burned, the pill provided some relief and helped him stay focused on the fight.
"This pill will give me the strength to carry on," said Sebastian with a sigh of pain.
With each strike and movement, Aurora fought with bravery and determination, confronting her own fears. As they defeated the Shadow Whispers one by one, their confidence and battle prowess grew.
"That's it, Aurora! You can do it!" exclaimed Sebastian, encouraging her.
Finally, the last of the creatures fell defeated before the combined effort of Sebastian and Aurora. Exhausted, they found themselves in the center of the clearing, surrounded by the motionless bodies of the Shadow Whispers.
"Aurora, we did it. You're an incredible fighter. I'm proud of you," said Sebastian with a satisfied smile.
Ignoring Sebastian's words of congratulation, Aurora, with tears in her eyes and a heart filled with remorse, quickly approached Sebastian and embraced him tightly. She sobbed as she repeatedly apologized for what happened, feeling guilty for being scared and causing Sebastian to get hurt. Sebastian, with tenderness and understanding, wrapped his arms around Aurora and comforted her.
"It's alright, Aurora," whispered Sebastian gently. "You don't have to apologize. Fear is natural, and we all face challenges that scare us at some point. What's important is that you're safe, and we can learn from this experience together."
Aurora, still trembling from the mix of emotions, clung to Sebastian's comforting embrace. "But it's my fault you got hurt, Sebastian," she said with a choked voice. "I didn't want anything bad to happen to you. I just... got scared."
Sebastian gently stroked Aurora's hair and tenderly reassured her, "I understand, dear. You're learning and growing, and facing our fears can be difficult—I have many fears myself. But we should always find a way to overcome our fears and move forward. Besides, you're not alone, remember that I'm here to protect and care for you. My priority is your safety."
As Sebastian spoke, Aurora's tears began to subside, and her breathing calmed. She felt the love and unconditional support from Sebastian, which gave her strength to overcome her fears.
Aurora pulled away from the embrace and, looking into Sebastian's eyes, sincerely thanked him.
Sebastian tended to his superficial cut and, ensuring their safety, they decided to return to the dungeon to rest and recover before continuing their adventure in the Enchanted Forest.