The sun. Too bright. The trees whisper. Do they whisper? No, just the wind. The air smells different. Like earth, like leaves, like something... sweet? She doesn't recognize it. But she likes it.
She walks next to Sebastian. He smiles at her. She smiles too. Sebastian is... warm. Like the orb, but different. Softer. She likes to touch his hand. It's rough, but warm.
The forest is big. Many trees. Tall, dark. Like the dungeon, but with more... colors. And sounds. Birds singing. Insects buzzing. A noise in the bushes. Something moves. Small. Fast. It doesn't matter. It's not time to hunt.
Sebastian looks at her. "Are you okay?" he asks. His voice is... soft. Like the grass in the dungeon. She nods. Yes, she's okay. Better than okay. She feels... happy? She doesn't know the word. But the feeling is... pleasant.
They walk in silence. She observes everything with curiosity. The wildflowers growing in the grass. The brightly colored mushrooms on the tree trunks. The squirrels jumping from branch to branch. Everything is new, everything is interesting.
Sebastian stops and points to a tree with a thick, twisted trunk. "It's an ancient oak," he says in a calm voice. "It's hundreds of years old."
She looks at the tree carefully. It's big, imposing. Like the pillars of the dungeon. But this tree... is alive. She feels it. A warm energy emanates from within, running through its roots and extending towards the sky.
Sebastian smiles at her. "It's fascinating, isn't it?" he asks.
She nods. Yes, it's fascinating. The outside world is... a place full of surprises.
They continue walking, going deeper into the forest. The girl feels a connection with nature, with the life that surrounds her. It's as if the forest itself recognizes her, accepts her.
Suddenly, she stops. A familiar smell reaches her nostrils. The smell of... damp stone, moss, something... old. The dungeon.
Sebastian looks at her questioningly. "What's wrong?" he asks.
She points forward, with a smile of excitement. They're almost home.
The forest stretched out before her, a sea of green and brown trees swaying in the breeze. The sun filtered through the leaves, creating patches of light that danced on the ground. She inhaled deeply, taking in the scent of damp earth and wildflowers. A smell that reminded her of life, of freedom.
Sebastian walked beside her, observing everything with curiosity. He wasn't like her. He couldn't feel the energy of the forest, the life that pulsed in every leaf, in every branch. But he strived to understand, to learn. And that made her happy.
Sebastian stopped in front of a bush covered in red berries. "Look," he said with excitement. "They're juniper berries. They can be used to make medicine and liqueurs."
She looked at the berries with interest. They were small and shiny, like the gems she had seen in the goblins' chest. She reached out and plucked a berry, putting it in her mouth. The taste was sweet and sour at the same time, with a bitter touch that reminded her of the medicine Sebastian had given her when she hurt her leg.
Sebastian smiled. "You like them, don't you?" he asked.
She nodded. They were good. Not like residual energy, but good.
Sebastian picked a handful of berries and put them in his backpack. "I'll use them to make an infusion," he said. "It will help you regain your strength."
She smiled at him gratefully. Sebastian always took care of her. He gave her food, healed her when she was hurt, protected her from danger. He was... her friend. Even though she didn't know how to say "friend" in words.
They continued walking, venturing deeper into the heart of the forest. The girl felt safe with Sebastian. He guided her along the path, pushing aside branches and helping her overcome obstacles. She, in return, showed him the wonders of the forest: the vibrantly colored birds, the flowers hidden among the grass, the small animals that crossed their path.
Suddenly, the girl stopped. She felt a familiar presence, a call that drew her deeper into the forest. The dungeon. Her dungeon.
Sebastian looked at her questioningly. "What's wrong?" he asked.
She pointed forward, with a smile of excitement. They had arrived.