The scent of freshly baked bread wafted through the main chamber of the fourth floor, a rarity in the dungeon that spoke to Sebastián's ever-growing culinary skills. He hummed a cheerful tune, a distant echo of a life he couldn't quite recall, as he arranged a simple breakfast on an improvised table of polished stone: crisp slices of bread, vibrant fruits gathered from the upper levels—red as rubies, golden as the sun—and a steaming jug of herbal tea that released an earthy, comforting aroma. The black flowers adorning Aurora's throne of bones seemed to lean toward the warmth, as if even they recognized the life he brought to this place.
Aurora sat on a cushion of soft moss, her majestic figure draped in a dress of leaves and blue flowers that clung to her now more defined curves. Her green hair cascaded down to her waist in shimmering waves, and her skin, with a faint pearlescent glow, caught the light of the gemstones embedded in the walls. Her amber eyes, deep as galaxies, watched him with a blend of curiosity and gratitude, though a lingering shadow darkened her gaze. The nightmare of her future self—a cold voice demanding she kill Sebastián—still echoed in her mind, a reminder of the cosmic darkness she carried within. But his presence, with his gentle smile and the warmth he radiated, kept that shadow at bay, anchoring her to this moment of fragile peace.
"Good morning," Sebastián said, placing a plate in front of her with a slice of bread and some fruit. His voice was soft, laced with a tenderness that had grown over the years. "I thought we could try something different today."
Aurora looked at the food, her fingers brushing the edge of the plate with natural elegance. A faint blush tinted her cheeks, a sign of the warmth she felt at his attention. "Thank you, Sebastián," she murmured, her voice melodic and full of affection, lifting the bread to her lips with a graceful motion that reflected her growing confidence.
Before she could take a bite, a swirl of energy filled the entrance, and Kaili appeared, her imposing presence commanding the space. Her six iridescent wings caught the light of the glowing flora, casting reflections of purple and blue that danced across the walls. Her pale purple skin shimmered with an inner luminescence, and the golden, silver, and red runes tracing her body pulsed with an arcane energy that seemed to hum in the air. Her sharp, elegant horns gleamed with gemstones, and her black hair fell in loose waves, still damp from her morning bath in the second floor's lake. Her dark eyes, wells of infinite power, swept over the scene, lingering on the food before settling on Sebastián with a mix of curiosity and her characteristic disdain.
"What's all this?" she asked, her voice ringing with an arrogance that never left her, though a hint of interest slipped through her words. "More human rituals?"
Sebastián smiled, unfazed by her tone. "It's called breakfast, Kaili," he explained patiently, leaning over to pick up a slice of bread and offering it in her direction. "A meal to start the day. Want to join us?"
Kaili let out a scoff, her wings fluttering slightly as her runes flared with a red glint. "Hmph. I have no need for such trifles," she declared, her stance rigid as if to reaffirm her cosmic superiority. But the warm, tempting scent of the bread seemed to stir something in her. She recalled the fish Sebastián had cooked once before, an experience that, to her surprise, she'd found pleasant. A fleeting thought crossed her mind: If that wasn't so bad, maybe… She dismissed it quickly, but the seed of curiosity had taken root, and instead of leaving, she lingered near the entrance, her eyes shifting between Aurora and the table.
Sebastián, sensing her inner conflict, decided to try a different tack. "Actually, Kaili," he said, stepping over to a corner where he'd left a bundle of vines and dried moss, "I was about to show Aurora how to weave something with these plants from the dungeon. You could help us make something nice for the chamber."
Aurora looked at him, her amber eyes lighting up with a mix of surprise and affection. "Weave?" she asked, her voice soft but brimming with interest, leaning slightly toward him with a warm smile. "How do you do it?"
Kaili raised an eyebrow, her first instinct to dismiss the idea with scorn. A human teaching her, a Throne of Chaos with eons of existence, to do crafts? Absurd. But then she caught Aurora's affectionate gaze toward Sebastián, and an echo of her absolute loyalty stirred within her. If her queen wanted to try it, she wouldn't stay on the sidelines. Besides, the memory of how he'd transformed her chamber the day before, with an attention that still unsettled her, pricked her pride. She couldn't let a human outshine her in creativity, even in something so trivial.
"As my Queen commands," Kaili said, her voice taking on a tone of formality and respect as she approached with a grace that seemed to defy gravity. "But let it be clear, I'm only doing this to assist my Reina, not because it holds any real value."
Sebastián smiled, hiding his amusement as he pulled over a moss cushion for her. Kaili sat with a huff, her wings brushing the stone floor with a whisper that filled the air with reflections. He picked up the vines and moss, showing how to weave them into a simple pattern. "We can make a garland to hang up here," he explained, his voice low and clear as he guided Aurora's hands with gentle care. "It's something the dungeon gives us, and we turn it into something of our own."
Aurora followed his lead with focus, her fingers moving with natural elegance as she wove, a warm smile curving her lips whenever she glanced at Sebastián. Her physical maturity blended with a tenderness that made her lean toward him instinctively. Kaili, meanwhile, feigned disinterest at first, but Sebastián noticed her eyes tracking the motions, her runes glowing with a soft gold as she picked up a vine and began mimicking him with almost instinctive precision.
The activity was filled with light moments. Aurora wove with care, her hands deft but her focus broken by soft laughs when the strands twisted, seeking Sebastián's gaze with affection. "It's trickier than it looks," she said, her voice gentle as he adjusted a knot with tender fingers. Kaili, with an air of superiority, stepped in to fix a vine, only to twist it too hard, earning a low chuckle from Aurora and a smile from Sebastián. Her runes flared with a faint red, a flicker of embarrassment she masked with a frown.
"This is unnecessary," Kaili grumbled after a particularly tricky knot. "Why do humans bother with such things?"
"It's not a bother, it's creation," Sebastián replied calmly, his eyes meeting hers for a moment. "It's like your wings—beautiful because they have a purpose." He glanced at Aurora. "Right?"
"Exactly," she nodded, her warm smile lighting up the chamber as she leaned toward him, a gesture brimming with fondness.
After finishing a simple garland, Sebastián announced his next plan. "I thought we could catch some fish on the second floor and try a new recipe," he said, looking at Aurora with a smile. "What do you think?"
Aurora's eyes lit up, her face glowing with enthusiasm. "Yes, please!" she exclaimed, her melodic voice ringing with joy, her stronger body craving new flavors.
Kaili let out a groan. "Not again?" she muttered, her wings fluttering with a red flash. "Must I stoop to such tasks?"
"It'll be fun, Kaili," Aurora said, her tone persuasive yet soft, her amber eyes seeking hers with a warmth that disarmed her. "And I think you might enjoy it this time."
Kaili hesitated, but her queen's gaze was impossible to resist. Her absolute loyalty compelled her to follow, and a part of her—one she wouldn't admit—felt a growing curiosity for these human experiences. "As my Reina commands," she said, her voice firm but tinged with resignation.
The trip to the second floor was a mix of chaos and laughter. Aurora, with her innate connection to the dungeon, drew fish to them effortlessly, her hands handling the line with a grace she'd honed, her face bright with a caring smile toward Sebastián. Kaili tackled fishing with battle-like intensity, trying to use her dark energy to snare them, creating swirls that scared them off. Her runes glowed with a faint red each time she failed, and Sebastián couldn't help but laugh.
"They're not your enemies, Kaili," he said, stepping closer to adjust her line. His fingers brushed hers deliberately, a warm touch that made her runes flare gold for an instant. Instead of pulling away, Kaili let him linger, her dark eyes locking onto his with a mix of surprise and silent acceptance. "You have to be patient," he continued, his voice low and close, his breath grazing her cheek as he guided her hand.
She didn't reply, but her grip on the line softened, and when she caught a fish—with a precision that rivaled Aurora's—a smug smile curved her lips. "See?" she said, her tone arrogant but with a playful glint in her eyes. "That's how it's done, human."
Back in the main chamber, the cooking lesson began. Sebastián guided them through cleaning and preparing the fish, showing how to use herbs and spices to enhance the flavor. Aurora handled the knife with elegant precision, her movements confident as she glanced at Sebastián with a caring smile that spoke of her trust in him. Kaili, despite her initial reluctance, found herself drawn to the process, her hands discovering an unexpected satisfaction in filleting the fish with precision.
Sebastián stepped closer to her as they worked, sliding his arms around her waist from behind in a subtle embrace while showing her how to season the fish. "Like this," he murmured, his voice a warm whisper near her ear, his fingers guiding hers over the herbs. Kaili didn't resist; instead, she leaned back against him, seeking the warmth of his embrace with a fluid motion, her runes glowing with a soft gold that betrayed her quiet acceptance. The brush of her wings against his chest sent a shiver through his skin, and for a moment, the air between them crackled with unspoken chemistry.
"This would be easier with my claws," she said, her voice low but lacking its usual edge, her body relaxing into his closeness. "But… I suppose it's not bad."
"It's not so different from shaping energy, is it?" he replied, his tone playful yet intimate, letting his embrace linger a moment longer before easing away with a smile.
"It's not as unpleasant as I thought," Kaili admitted at last, surprised by her own words as they finished preparing the fish.
"See? Cooking can be fun," Sebastián said, his encouraging smile lighting up his face.
A comfortable silence settled as the fish cooked, broken only by the sizzle of the fire and Aurora's soft humming, picking up Sebastián's tune. Kaili listened, her head tilted, the song's simplicity resonating with a warmth she hadn't known she could feel. When the food was ready, they sat around the table, the fish's aroma filling the chamber with a promise of satisfaction.
Aurora ate with relish, her face brightening with each bite. "This is delicious!" she exclaimed, her voice vibrant with joy as she looked at Sebastián with affection.
"It is, isn't it?" he agreed, returning a tender smile.
Kaili, after a tentative first bite, had to admit the flavors were complex and rewarding, a contrast to the raw energy she usually consumed. As they ate, they talked about simple things: their favorite colors, the strangest creatures in the dungeon, their dreams. Aurora, with a quiet courage, shared her longing to see the world outside.
"Do you think it's really out there, Sebastián?" she asked, her amber eyes full of hope and a faint uncertainty, her hand seeking his with a gentle touch.
"I do," he replied, his voice steady with conviction, squeezing her hand softly. "I don't know how, but I believe it is."
Kaili listened in silence, her cosmic mind reflecting. "The outside world is a place of chaos and conquest," she said, her tone firm yet thoughtful. "But if my Reina wishes it, we'll see it together." Her words were a reminder of her duty, but there was a softness in them that didn't go unnoticed.
The day ended with a game of cards Sebastián had crafted from bark scraps and charcoal marks. Aurora grasped the rules with elegant speed, her competitive spirit shining as she laughed with Sebastián, while Kaili, after initial reluctance, analyzed the cards with a strategic mind that soon mastered the game. "This is too simple for someone of my caliber," she said, though a betraying smile curved her lips when she won a round.
As night fell, Aurora, weary but content, leaned against Sebastián, her head resting on his shoulder with a trusting fondness. He stroked her green hair gently, a comforting ritual that bound them. Kaili watched, a strange warmth stirring within her, not a desire to replace but to belong. "Thank you, Kaili," Sebastián said quietly as Aurora slept. "For being with us today."
"It wasn't… unpleasant," she admitted, her voice a whisper as her runes glowed gold. "But my duty is to my Reina." With a sweep of her wings, she vanished into the shadows, leaving Sebastián with Aurora, the chamber's silence wrapping them in a fragile, precious peace.