"Is this dungeon going to take long?" Nikolai asked, gnawing at his nails. "I set my pod timer to seven this evening. I already missed lunch with my sister, and if I miss dinner too…"
He shivered dramatically. "She'll hold me against my will again."
Ren raised a brow but decided not to ask. Whatever that meant, it didn't sound pleasant.
Instead, he reassured the boy, "Don't worry. The time difference here is huge. Once we clear this dungeon, only about two hours will have passed in real time. You'll make it in time for dinner."
Nikolai exhaled in relief. "That's good. My sister says I shouldn't play more than two hours in real time. She thinks I'm getting flimsy and need more sunlight."
He stretched his furry limbs and wiggled his paws proudly.
Ren smiled. He'd never had a sibling, but maybe this was what it felt like—someone to look after, someone whose worries were simple but sincere. A warmth filled his chest, unexpected yet comforting.
