The Blackwyrm knight leads the way, using his scythe to chop down the low-hanging vines. Linnea walks behind him, keeping her lance to her side, ill-equipped to handle vine-shearing, instead keeping a golden eye out for any jewels and goodies that might help her build new, stronger weapons. Her companion, Milaos, a strong she-wolf with steel gray fur, sniffs alongside her, often skipping by Lykos to see what he is doing. Lykos didn’t mind Milaos’ company, and it seemed his black cat, Leia, did not either, her tail flicking back and forth infrequently as her large yellow eyes watched Milaos, sometimes batting a paw way too far from Milaos up upon the knight’s barrel. Whenever she did this, both the knight and the countess would chuckle.

“It’s been pretty quiet lately,” Linnea mentioned.

“Don’t say that now. You’ll jinx us, my lady.” 

Linnea laughed, her eyes widening as the vines slowly opened up to reveal a larger chamber. The ceiling, now much larger, held the vines up, and the pair no longer had to fight their way through. Along the walls, vines traveled down the stone accompanied by moss, and Linnea could not help but notice something rather shiny…

“You’re like a crow… with all due respect,” Lykos said, panicking a little, feeling as though he was with his Blackwyrm count. He and his count were not very formal with each other, especially as the two weren’t used to royal formalities. Linnea didn’t mind it, however.

“No need to be so stiff, Lykos,” she smiled. “It doesn’t bother me as long as you treat Augustus with care.”

Lykos’ interest was piqued, almost forgetting the dangerous-looking item on the vines: “What is he to you, by the way? …Just curious. You two seem so close— you know— like— when I brought him back to the surface, you were the first to remember him and reinstate his place as the Blackwyrm count. You helped him… rebuild.”

“I can’t take all the credit,” she said distractedly as she pawed at the plant. “You saved him and without your support, I doubt he would have adjusted so quickly. He’s always been the stubborn type,” she smiled, “but in regards to how *I* feel about the little count, he’s like… a son? Or maybe a nephew? I watched him grow, assisted in some of his training, and babysat him often. He knows me as like an aunt, and now that his mother is gone… not that I wish to replace her, but, I hope I can be a comfortable role model for him. And as long as you’re there beside him as his friend, I don’t care what you call me.”

Lykos couldn’t help but tear up a little. Their bond seemed so intricate and tender. Lykos was not the sort who showed his emotions easily, so it was harder to get close to the count, but maybe he was more special than he thought. “Than— my lady?!?”

“Ouup!!” Linnea was grappled by the vines as she took away its gleaming item from their grasp, wriggling and gnawing at the vines as her prize dropped onto the ground. Lykos lunged forward, kicking the item away and unsheathing his harvester’s scythe, Leia screeching as she watched and Milaos shot towards her master, growling and snapping at the vines.

“My— Linnea! Don’t worry!” Lykos shouted, readying his aim.