Thanatos leaned against the cold stone wall, his crimson aura reduced to a faint ember.
The hours had passed in a comfortable silence, allowing him to reflect on their victory and the events that had led them to this moment.
His mind wandered, his thoughts a blur of memories and ponderings.
Just as he began to lose himself in these musings, a sudden movement caught his attention.
He shifted his gaze, his focus immediately drawn to Charlotte who, after hours of rest, was beginning to stir.
Her eyelids fluttered and her breathing became heavier, the signs of her return to consciousness undeniable.
Thanatos hurried to her side with precise movements as she drew awake.
His presence was reassuring, a familiar warmth that helped to anchor her as she regained consciousness.
"What happened?" Charlotte finally asked, her brow furrowed as she placed her palm on the back of her head and felt for any signs of injury.
Thanatos chuckled at her question, his voice gentle and reassuring. "Well, it's a long story."
Charlotte's gaze snapped up to his, her face reflecting a mix of anxiety and surprise.
"Thanatos, your appearance…"
"Oh, well, the Eviscerator form and my skills finally wore off, so I'm back to normal now," Thanatos answered, his crimson aura now just a faint hint of its former glory.
Charlotte nodded, her brow still furrowed as she took in this new information.
"What exactly happened?" she asked, her voice laced with both concern and curiosity.
Thanatos shifted his weight, his gaze distant as he recalled the events of the battle. "Well…" he began, his tone thoughtful.
"The Black Knights," Thanatos started, "they have a singular, crucial weakness. A vulnerability that even the slightest magic spell of light can exploit."
Charlotte leaned forward, her eyes widening as she listened intently.
"Light magic," she murmured, "they were that weak to it?"
Thanatos nodded, his expression grave. "Light magic is their Kryptonite. Even a small spell could do significant damage to them."
"Kryptonite?" Charlotte repeated, her brows knitting together in confusion.
A small laugh escaped Thanatos' lips as he shook his head. "Never mind," he said, his tone amused.
"Anyways while you were asleep," he continued, pausing for a moment as he gathered his thoughts, "I absorbed the core of the boss. It's a long story, but it caused the clone to disappear."
Thanatos ran a hand through his skull, his gaze thoughtful as he continued.
"I was skeptical about the plan, I won't lie. And you certainly took your time with those runes. But when you activated that Lumenflare," he paused, a small, genuine smile tugging at his lips, "you surprised even me. You were the sole reason we won that fight."
He let the words hang in the air for a moment, his expression softening as he held Charlotte's gaze.
Thanatos' words hung in the air, his expression warm, as Charlotte struggled to find the right response.
The silence stretched between them, broken only by the soft drip of water echoing in the cavernous chamber.
Realizing that the moment was growing awkward, Thanatos quickly moved the conversation along.
"Either way, I already gathered all the materials the boss dropped," he said, his voice filled with a renewed sense of purpose.
"What do you mean by materials?" Charlotte asked, her confusion apparent.
Thanatos looked at her, his brows furrowing in surprise. "Wait…do you know nothing about dungeons?" he asked, his tone tinged with disbelief.
"Not really," Charlotte admitted, her cheeks coloring slightly. "This was my first time going into one."
Thanatos' expression softened, understanding dawning on his face. "Well then, allow me to explain.
He leaned back against the cold stone, gesturing with his free hand as he began to explain.
"When you defeat a boss in a dungeon, they drop items." He paused, his gaze flickering towards Charlotte.
"These items are often powerful weapons, rare resources, or unique artifacts," he continued, his voice now taking on the air of a seasoned adventurer.
"Typically, they're just scattered across the ground around the boss's remains, or sometimes in a chest, depending on the dungeon.
"The items dropped vary in rarity and power," Thanatos explained, his voice taking on a slightly more excited tone.
"Rare items have unique effects, and can even grant special abilities to their wielder. In our case," he continued, gesturing towards the bodies of the Black Knights, "these guys were guarding some pretty valuable loot."
He rose to his feet, the shadows dancing across his skeletal form as he moved.
"Come with me," he said, extending a hand to Charlotte. "I'll show you the fruits of our labor.
Charlotte took his skeletal hand, allowing him to help her to her feet.
Together, they moved towards the corner of the chamber where the Black Knights had fallen.
"Here," Thanatos said, gesturing to the spot where the knights had stood. "This is where they were guarding their treasures."
Upon inspection, Charlotte saw that the floor was scattered with a variety of items, each glinting with an unearthly light.
Amongst the loot were gleaming swords, arcane tomes, and a variety of other mysterious objects.
Charlotte's eyes widened as she looked over the array of treasures.
She reached out, hesitantly at first, then with increasing excitement, picking up an ornate sword that shimmered with a faint blue glow.
"This is incredible," she murmured, her voice filled with wonder. "What is all this?"
Thanatos leaned in, his crimson aura flaring ever so slightly. "These are the spoils of our battle.
Charlotte looked over the vast array of treasures, her mind racing as she tried to imagine how they were going to carry it all.
But Thanatos' voice brought her back to the present.
"These items don't matter right now," he said. "What matters is the next step in our journey."
Charlotte's gaze snapped to his, her curiosity piqued. "What do you mean, next step?"
Thanatos straightened, a grim smile touching his lips.
"You've been learning and growing since the day I found you." His voice was gentle, yet firm. "It's time for you to take the next step in mastering your magic."
Charlotte's brows furrowed, confusion creeping into her expression. "What are you talking about?"
"I'm saying that I'm going to teach you how to use your magic more effectively now," he said, and a look of surprise washed over Charlotte's face.