As the days passed, Ann found herself growing more and more comfortable in Minor's cave. She helped him with his daily tasks, learning about the strange herbs and potions he used to heal the injured. Ethan, too, was making progress, his wounds slowly healing under Minor's care.
But despite their newfound ease, Ann couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more to Minor's cave than met the eye. She had seen the strange artifacts scattered around the chamber, and she had caught glimpses of ancient texts hidden away in the shadows.
One day, as she was helping Minor prepare a batch of medicine, she asked him about the secrets of his cave. Minor's eyes narrowed, his expression unreadable.
"What do you want to know?" he growled.
Ann hesitated, unsure if she should push further. But something about Minor's tone made her feel like he was hiding something.
"I just want to know what's going on," she said. "What's the purpose of this cave?"
Minor's gaze seemed to bore into her soul. "This cave is a place of healing," he said finally. "A place where I can help those who are injured or afflicted."Minor went straight to Ethan's bedside and gently poured the potion into his mouth. Ann watched anxiously as Ethan swallowed the liquid, hoping that it would work.
At first, there was no change. Ethan's eyes remained closed, and his breathing remained shallow. But then, slowly but surely, his chest began to rise and fall more steadily. His eyes flickered open, and he looked up at Minor with a faint smile.
"Thank you," he whispered, his voice weak but filled with gratitude.
Minor smiled back, relief washing over him. "You're welcome," he said. "I knew we could do it."
Ann smiled too, feeling a sense of pride and accomplishment. She had never seen anyone work so hard to help someone else before.
As they waited for Ethan to recover, Minor excused himself to get some fresh air. Ann watched him go, feeling a flutter in her chest.
"Ethan," she whispered, "I think I might have feelings for Minor."
Ethan's eyes opened lazily, and he smiled. "I think you might be right," he said.
Ann blushed, feeling a sense of excitement and nervousness. She didn't know what the future held, but she knew that she had to take a chance.
Just then, Minor returned with a look of concern on his face. "Ethan's awake," he said, his voice low and husky.
Ann's heart skipped a beat as she looked at Minor. He was standing close to her, his eyes locked on hers.
"I'm glad," she said, trying to sound casual.
Minor's eyes didn't leave hers. "I am too," he said. "You're an amazing person, Ann."
Ann felt her heart flutter again as she looked at Minor. She knew that she had feelings for him, but she didn't know if he felt the same way.
Suddenly, Ethan's eyes snapped open again. "Hey," he said, his voice weak but commanding. "What's going on?"
Minor turned to him, a sheepish look on his face. "Just talking about...things," he said.
Ethan's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Things?" he repeated.
Ann felt a surge of panic as she realized what was happening. She knew that Ethan was going to figure out what was going on between her and Minor.
And then, just as she was about to try and explain things away, Ethan's eyes drooped closed again. He let out a soft snore, and Minor and Ann were left standing there in silence.