The dungeon's air grew still. Torchlight flickered against the cavern walls, throwing long shadows across damp stone.
The adventurers had set camp after the brutal fight. The rogue lay snoring already, the warrior cleaning his dented blade, but the mage… she moved softly along the edge of the cavern, gathering herbs sprouting in faint glowing patches.
I lingered in the cracks of the rock, watching. Her robe swayed as she bent down, pale legs catching the glow.
"Focus, Sora… focus. She's just a human girl, not an anime scene… okay, maybe a little like one."
A shadow tendril slipped forward, brushing lightly across her hair. She gasped, jerking up, herbs scattering. Her hand flew to her staff.
"...Who's there?"
Her voice quivered, but not with pure fear—more like tension, alertness. Brave little mage.
I retracted the tendril, let the shadows shift along the wall. Her gaze followed the movement, sharp and unyielding. She took a step closer, whispering a chant.
"Bold. Not running? She's either reckless… or fascinating."
I couldn't resist. Another tendril curled near her ankle, not touching, just close enough that she felt something. She squeaked, stumbling, tripping backward. The hem of her robe caught on a jagged rock, riding up just enough—
"Oh. Oh no. Don't look. …Okay, maybe a peek. Nope, not hentai. Just… scientific observation."
She scrambled up quickly, cheeks pink even in the dim glow, tugging her robe down. She looked around wildly, staff gripped tight.
"Something… is watching me,"
she murmured, her voice steadying. Her eyes narrowed at the shadows.
"You're not just a dungeon beast, are you?"
I smirked silently from within the wall.
"Sharp. She feels me. Not bad, mage. Not bad at all."
I decided to test her reflexes. A sliver of shadow formed behind her, flicking at her shoulder like a phantom touch. She spun instantly, firing a spark of fire magic that lit up the cavern in a sudden burst of orange.
The blast roared against the wall where I'd been a heartbeat before, smoke curling upward. Her breathing quickened.
"Come out… or keep hiding like a coward,"
she challenged, voice trembling but defiant.
*"Heh. Spicy"