Favorite monsters?

The more we talk about dungeons, the more my curiosity ignites. The thrill, the adventure, the lurking danger—it all feels so thrilling! I wish I can enter the dungeons and see all the amazing things myself one day.

"Eris, what's your favorite dungeon monster?" I ask, bouncing on my toes as my excitement bubbles over.

It's a habit of mine: when I'm really interested in something, I just can't stop asking questions! Some people find it annoying, but Eris said she doesn't mind, so I fire away without holding back.

"Oh, that's a tough one!" Eris muses, tapping her chin thoughtfully. A moment of silence follows as she deliberates, then her eyes suddenly sparkle with delight. "Oh! The giant horned rabbits! They're not only cute and fluffy but also incredibly delicious—and they're massive, so there's lots of meat!"

"Oooh! Rabbit meat? Is it even more delicious than Filoan birds?""

"Oh, waaaay tastier," she says, her grin spreading as she gestures like she's holding the world's biggest rabbit drumstick. "They have a rich, gamey flavor that's perfect for grilling or stewing. But beware, they're tough to chew if not cooked properly, and quite pricey too!"

Gulp.

I swallow hard, my mouth watering at the thought. If Eris claims they're that delectable, I'm definitely adding a "giant rabbit feast" to my bucket list!

"But don't let their cuteness fool you!" Eris warns, suddenly serious. "They're E-rank monsters and can easily take down a careless adventurer!"

"Oh, got it!" I nod eagerly, making a mental note to stay on guard around deceptively adorable creatures.

"Okay, what about the monster you hate the most?" I ask, pressing on with another question.

"Oh, that's easy—spiders!" Eris says immediately.

"Ahh… spiders…" I echo, shivering instinctively. Just hearing the word makes my shoulders tense up, and my tail floofs out like it has a mind of its own. "Yeah, they totally give me the creeps…"

Back on Earth, I couldn't deal with spiders at all, and that hasn't changed one bit.

Those eight legs critters… how could something be so terrifying? Sometimes they can be quite cool though, in movies and games, and anime spider girls are pretty nice. But real one? Hell nah! Even the tiniest one could make me sprint away at full speed!

"A-anyway… just how big do they get?"

"Oh, they get very, verrrry big," Eris says, stretching her arms wide. "I once fought one as big as a house!"

"WHAT? The size of a HOUSE?" I squeak, clutching my sleeves as a chill runs down my spine.

A spider that big?

I would faint at the sight of that!!!

"Also, there's the slimes as well!" Eris add. "They're mostly weak, but they can be quite annoying. If you pop them too hard, their insides can splatter all over you! And depending on the type of slime, the goo can sometimes melt your clothes right off!"

"What? No way! Really?" I exclaim, half horrified, half fascinated.

"Yup!" Eris laughs, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "But you know what? Some slimes are actually pretty tasty if you know how to cook them!"

"Ooooh! And how do you cook a slime?".

"Well, you can turn them into jelly or even make slime cakes and candies!" Eris explains, a playful smile on her lips.

"That… sounds weirdly amazing!"

"I know, right? Actually, I know a good place to eat slime sweets, let's visit it one day!"

"Nn!"

And just like that, we continue chatting animatedly, walking down the quiet path that leads home. The road stretches ahead, flanked by swaying trees and rustling grass.

There's no one else around, just the occasional coo of a night bird and the soft mist that has begun to gather, swirling gently in the cool air.

Tonight feels colder than last night, and I shiver slightly, wondering if we'll need a thicker blanket to stay warm.

…

Step step…

I'm still talking, asking more question.

And Eris is still answering.

We are currently talking about random dungeon plants and flowers. Apparently, there are so many cool ones.

"Hmmm… you know, there's this flower called the Nightmare Orchid," she says, and I listen intently. "It's a black flower, stunning and hypnotic. But be careful—a single whiff of its scent, and you could be trapped in a loop of nightmares, facing your worst fears over and over…"

"Oh? That sounds so terrifying!" I shiver involuntarily.

A lopping nightmare?

Is it like a bad acid trip?

So there are hallucinogenic plants in this world too? And you can get high just from the smell alone?

Interesting. But that Nightmare flower seems like a bad deal, I would never want to be caught in its magic.

Suddenly, a sweet, haunting fragrance drifts through the air. It's delicate yet strangely compelling, curling around me like an invisible, ethereal ribbon.

I freeze mid-step, inhaling deeply.

"Hmmm… What is that smell?" My eyes dart around, searching for its source.

The fragrance is faint, like a ghostly presence, but slowly, it seeps into me, filling me with an odd, almost unsettling feeling. It's a blend of rose and lavender. It's kind of sweet, but, for some reason, this sweetness is now giving me some bad feelings. My catgirl sense is tingling for some reason.

I'm not very familiar with flowers in this world.

Perhaps, Eris can tell me what this is?

"Eris? Are you smelling this too?" I ask, expecting her usual playful laugh or a teasing remark.

But…

…

…

Silence.

Huh?

I wait, straining for a response, but the only thing that greets me is a suffocating quiet.

Suddenly, my stomach knots, dread spreading like ice through my veins.

Something's wrong.

"Eris?" I call out again, my voice faltering. I spin around, my heart pounding.

And as I turn… my blood runs cold.

What?

Eris… she's gone?

A cold dread unfurls in the pit of my stomach, growing heavier with every breath.

"No… this can't be happening…" I shakes my head, slapping my own cheeks.

"Eris?" I shout louder, my voice cracking, the word shattering the stillness around me. Fear sharpens each syllable. My legs feel rooted to the ground, and my pulse hammers in my ears.

What's happening?

Just moments ago, she was here, right beside me, her laughter intertwined with mine. But now…

Eris has vanished.

"ERIS!!!" I scream, desperation tightening around my throat. "Please, are you there? Where are you? ERISSSSS!!!"

The name tears from my throat, echoing into the empty night. I call, again and again, desperately, my voice swallowed by the silence.

But still, nothing, no answer.

The world feels like it's closing in, the chill pressing against my skin. Panic claws at my mind, sinking in with every second that passes. My thoughts is now spiraling into darkness, my vision blurring, my heart racing wildly.

What… what is this?

One moment, she was there, right beside me. And now, she's nowhere—gone, as if she were nothing more than a shadow. As if she were never here at all.