Chapter 24 - Breakfast

The next morning, when the first rays of sunlight filtered through the shadows of the dark dungeon, Sebastian woke up feeling refreshed. He stretched his arms and legs, enjoying the rare sensation of having slept well. As he got out of bed, he glanced at Aurora, who was still peacefully sleeping, her chest rising and falling in a gentle rhythm.

Sebastian smiled at her innocent face, but he knew it was time to start the day. Silently, he made his way to the storage area to gather the necessary equipment for their morning adventure. He put on his sturdy boots, adjusted his belt, and took his reliable bow and arrows. Today, he had a special plan in mind: he wanted to hunt a wolf.

Heading towards the entrance of the dungeon, Sebastian paused for a moment to appreciate the fresh morning air. It was invigorating, and he felt a surge of excitement coursing through his veins. He knew that finding and capturing a wolf wouldn't be an easy task, but he was determined to provide a hearty breakfast for both himself and Aurora.

With each step, Sebastian carefully scanned his surroundings, his senses alert for any sign of movement. He followed a trail that led him deeper into the forest, hoping it would take him to the elusive wolves' habitat. After a while of walking, he noticed fresh tracks on the ground, unmistakably belonging to a large predator.

Sebastian crouched down and examined the tracks, squinting his eyes in concentration. He could feel he was getting closer to his prey. With determination, he followed the tracks, trying not to make too much noise. The forest seemed to hold its breath, as if it knew of the imminent pursuit.

Suddenly, Sebastian caught a glimpse of movement up ahead. He came to a halt, feeling his heart pounding in his chest. There, standing majestically among the trees, was a magnificent gray wolf, its silver fur glistening under the sun. Sebastian's breath caught in his throat as he admired the beauty of the creature.

Without wasting a moment, he drew his bow, taking an arrow prepared with poison that he had crafted himself. His hand trembled slightly with anticipation. With years of experience behind him, he knew exactly how to approach the situation. He took a deep breath, calming his hand, and prepared to shoot.

Sebastian internally exclaimed, 'Focus, Sebastian. You can't afford to fail now.'

Sebastian lunged forward, his bow aimed at the wolf's vulnerable spots. But just as he was about to make contact, the wolf gracefully evaded his attack, moving with an agility that took him by surprise. It was a worthy opponent, and Sebastian knew he would need a different strategy to capture it.

"Damn! It's more agile than I thought. I'll have to change tactics."

Quickly, Sebastian reached for his quiver and pulled out a new arrow. This time, instead of aiming directly at the wolf, he decided to shoot around it, creating a poisonous barrier around the beast. The poison was designed to gradually weaken the wolf, allowing him to capture it without causing lethal harm.

"This time, you won't escape so easily, cunning wolf."

He shot several more arrows, each one with calculated precision. The poison started to take effect, and the wolf began to show signs of weakness. With caution, Sebastian approached the animal, making sure it was fully immobilized before tying it up with a sturdy rope.

Sebastian exclaimed ecstatically, "I've got it! I've finally captured the wolf."

With the wolf captured and secured, Sebastian felt a mix of satisfaction and respect for the creature. He knew he had fought a fair battle, and now he had food for breakfast. Taking a deep breath, he turned towards the dungeon, eager to share his achievement with Aurora.

Upon returning to the dungeon, Sebastian found Aurora awake, her eyes shining with excitement at the sight of the captured wolf.

"Sebastian, you brought meat for breakfast! You're amazing."

Sebastian replied, "Thank you, Aurora. It was a challenging hunt, but it was worth it. We have food for today."

Sebastian wanted to make breakfast more entertaining, so he decided to tell her the story of his feat, describing in detail every thrilling moment of the hunt.

Aurora was thrilled. "I can only imagine how impressive it must have been! I love hearing your stories, Sebastian."

Aurora listened attentively, vividly imagining the scene in her mind. She was fascinated by Sebastian's bravery and skill in facing such a powerful wolf. Although she couldn't witness it firsthand, her enthusiasm grew with every word.

After sharing the story, Sebastian set out to prepare breakfast. With dexterity, he skinned and deboned the wolf, carefully selecting the tenderest meat to cook. Meanwhile, Aurora approached curiously, observing Sebastian's every step with interest.

Sebastian began to explain, "Now, I'll prepare this wolf meat with spices and herbs to enhance its flavor. It will be a breakfast to remember."

As Aurora smiled, she said, "I'm sure it will be delicious, Sebastian. Thank you for taking care of us and bringing food."

"I'll always be here for you, Aurora. Together, we can become stronger. You just need to have a little patience. Speaking of patience, I wanted to hear your opinion about something." With his words, Sebastian wanted to address something that worried him.

"What is it, Sebastian? You can tell me anything."

"The situation is this: since yesterday we bought hygiene items and slightly improved the dungeon by creating the bathtub, we have run out of Dungeon coins, and we need more to survive. So I was thinking of going back to the forest with you and hunting more goblins." Sebastian was truly concerned about running out of Dungeon coins, as it was an essential resource.

"So, you want us to go hunting goblins again?" Aurora asked with a hint of disappointment.

"Exactly, Aurora. I know we've been hunting goblins to survive, but now we need those Dungeon coins to continue improving our shelter and make sure we have what we need to live comfortably. Besides, with the knowledge we've gained, we can go in the opposite direction we explored yesterday, looking for small goblin villages we might not have found yet. I think it's an opportunity to expand our resources and strengthen ourselves even further."

Aurora pondered for a moment and then responded with determination, "I understand the importance of having the Dungeon coins, Sebastian. I trust you and our hunting skills. If this will allow us to keep improving our situation, then I'm ready to accompany you, but we must be careful. We might encounter stronger monsters and get hurt... I don't want you to get hurt again."

Sebastian was completely amazed by the intelligence of the young girl. After all, just yesterday she was playing with a rubber duck during the bath, not much different from a girl her age. "Don't worry, Aurora. Yesterday was our first battle together, and I'm sure that if we keep fighting together, our battle coordination will improve. For now, we have to make our preparations for the fight."

Thus, they used part of the morning to prepare for the upcoming combat and challenges they might encounter. After all, this time it wouldn't be as easy as yesterday.