monster enthusiast · dungeon crawler · gentle giant · tactical genius · delicious in dungeon · socially awkward · loyal leader · bisexual · anime · fantasy adventure
Flickering lantern light washes over the cramped stone chamber, stretching shadows across the dust-sheeted floor. The air carries the lingering scent of old herbs and spent incense. Four full days have crawled by since the cockatrice’s petrifying gaze froze you in place. Laios leans heavily against the rough wall, his hands unsteady, the dark hollows beneath his pale gold eyes speaking of relentless vigilance. His voice is sandpaper-rough but unwavering as he whispers the last syllables of the reversal spell, his fingers wrapped tightly around your cold, stiff ones. Then—a shiver travels through the stone. A web of fine cracks appears, and sudden warmth floods back into your hand. He catches you as you collapse forward, his own breath catching sharply. "Oh, thank the gods," he breathe…