The trio carefully made their way through the dark cavern, led by a tall man with dark purple hair tied into a low ponytail at the nape of his neck. A bright glow radiated from a ring on his index finger, illuminating their path.
"We should all get one of those rings, don't you think, Rasmodius?" asked a young man with a wiry, curly beard who brought up the rear.
"Yes, we'll need them before venturing deeper into the mines," Rasmodius replied. Suddenly, his sharp eyes caught movement ahead. "Ah, looks like we've got company!"
A small, green slime-like creature gurgled and slithered toward them.
"I'll handle it," a gentle yet determined voice spoke from the woman in the middle of the group. She stepped forward, standing tall with fierce determination glinting in her lavender eyes. In a flash, her sword struck, slicing the creature cleanly before it could become a threat.
"Excellent work, Mona!" Linus cheered, his excitement evident.
"Oh, it was just a little slime," she replied, blushing faintly in the dim light.
"Mona is an exceptional warrior," Rasmodius noted, scanning the shadows warily. "And I believe we'll soon have more visitors."
Mona peered ahead, her sharp eyes catching sight of a large boulder blocking their path. "There's a huge rock up ahead," she announced.
Without hesitation, Linus hurried forward, raising his heavy pickaxe high. With a mighty swing, he shattered the boulder into fragments. "There's a ladder here! This way!" he called.
The group descended the shaft, finding themselves in a dimly lit cavern, its walls glowing with an eerie green hue.
"We've entered a monster nest," Rasmodius warned, his voice calm but firm.
Mona stepped to the front, her stocky, 6-foot frame exuding confidence. Her long, plum-colored hair flowed down her back as she unsheathed her sword. Her usual soft smile vanished, replaced by the focus of a seasoned warrior.
"Wait, Mona! The light!" Rasmodius called after her as she charged ahead.
"I won't need it," she replied, her voice steady as she surged forward.
A massive, 12-foot slime emerged, gurgling menacingly before lunging at her. Mona was faster. Her blade moved with precision, slicing the beast multiple times until it dissolved into smaller slimes. They raced toward her in fury but fell quickly under her relentless attack.
Suddenly, a shadowy figure emerged from the cavern's corner. Standing just as tall as Mona, it rushed at her with incredible strength, knocking her back momentarily. Mona steadied herself and launched a counterattack, her sword delivering a devastating final blow. As the figure fell, the greenish glow of the cavern dimmed.
Mona let out a small breath, her soft smile returning. Turning to face her companions, she saw them staring in awe.
"Your sister is incredible," Linus finally said, his voice filled with admiration.
"Yes, her brute strength does come in handy," Rasmodius quipped, though a hint of pride crept into his tone. He pulled a small pouch from his cloak and began collecting the dark, glowing orbs left behind. "Ah, potent arcane energies. These will be useful for my studies," he murmured.
Linus looked concerned but said nothing.
"Brother always collects odd things from monsters," Mona explained. "He and his wife use them in their magic."
"Well, that's all I need. Let's head out," Rasmodius said, tucking the pouch away.
The trio emerged into the late afternoon sun, a sparkling freshwater lake stretching before them.
"Ah, the air is so refreshing up here," Linus sighed.
"The mountains are beautiful, but I think I prefer the woods," Mona replied, twisting a strand of her long purple hair.
Linus hesitated, then blushed under his dark beard. "I-I just finished building a house in Cindersap Forest. It's not far from your place. Would you like to join me for dinner?"
"Oh, that won't be—"
"We'd love to!" Mona interrupted eagerly.
Rasmodius sighed but nodded. "I'll transport us. Linus, picture your house clearly in your mind."
Placing a hand on Mona's shoulder, the wizard began chanting. Mona scooped Linus under her arm like a protective shield, lifting him slightly off the ground. Linus didn't mind; he was too excited. With a sharp tap of Rasmodius's staff, magic enveloped them, and their surroundings transformed.
Linus stumbled, dizzy from the journey. Mona quickly caught him, cradling him gently.
"It's okay," she said softly, her earthy scent calming him. "I felt sick the first time, too."
Rasmodius cleared his throat, breaking the moment. "Is this your… home?" he asked, eyeing the modest two-story log cabin with its bright red roof.
"It's beautiful!" Mona exclaimed, her lavender eyes lighting up.
As they approached the door, Linus squirmed slightly. "I can walk on my own now, Mona. Thank you."
"Oh, of course," she replied quickly, setting him down.
Rasmodius raised an eyebrow. "Why is the door so large? Aren't you part dwarf?"
"No! Why would you think I was a dwarf?" Linus exclaimed, fumbling with the lock.
The wizard didn't reply, but Mona interjected with a warm smile. "I think it's perfect." Her cheeks flushed as her eyes lingered on the cabin.
They stepped inside, and Linus lit a few lanterns, revealing a cozy and inviting space. He added logs to the small stone fireplace, and soon the room was bathed in a warm, flickering glow.
Rasmodius surveyed the room, unimpressed, while Mona's expression was the opposite. She looked around in awe, admiring the craftsmanship.
"Come sit! I'll get started on dinner," Linus said, pulling a yellow armchair closer to the fireplace. Mona eagerly plopped down, her eyes still darting around the room.
"Oh, it's so beautiful and cozy here!" she exclaimed.
Linus mumbled a shy thank you, his face reddening as he hurried off to the kitchen.
"I suppose I'll find my own chair," Rasmodius muttered to himself, glancing around.
He began to wander, examining the knick-knacks on display. His gaze landed on a shelf filled with various gems.
"This is quite the gem collection, Linus," the wizard called out.
"Oh, those are just things I've found in the mines," Linus replied.
"Do you go by yourself often? Isn't it dangerous?" Mona asked, her tone tinged with concern.
"I manage. I keep a club with me in case I need it," Linus said as he reentered the room, balancing a tray of tea. "Besides, I only go on lucky days," he added with a wink at Mona.
She accepted the tea with a shy smile, her cheeks flushing again.
Rasmodius rolled his eyes. "And what's upstairs?" he asked, leaning casually on the oak banister.
"Just the bedroom. You're welcome to take a look if you'd like," Linus replied.
"I'll pass. What are you cooking? It smells... interesting." Rasmodius returned to the fireplace, where the warm glow contrasted with his cool demeanor.
"Crispy bass! Freshly caught this morning. It'll be ready soon," Linus said proudly.
"Oh! Let me get you a chair," he added, finally noticing the wizard had been standing the entire time.
Soon, the trio sat down to eat. Mona was on her third plate, thoroughly enjoying the meal, while Rasmodius picked at his fish with mild disinterest. The conversation was light and cheerful.
After a while, the wizard pulled a small gold watch from his robe and glanced at the time. "Ah, it's late. Mona and I must be going. Thank you, Linus, for the meal and the pleasant evening."
Rasmodius stood, but Linus jumped to his feet, his expression panicked.
"Wait just a moment!" Linus blurted out, dashing upstairs. He returned moments later with a small box, stumbling slightly as he knelt before Mona.
"Oh, Linus…" Rasmodius began, shaking his head.
Mona's face turned bright red, but her lavender eyes remained locked on Linus.
"M-Mona," Linus stammered, his voice shaking as a bead of sweat formed on his brow. "You are the most amazing and beautiful w-woman I've ever met. W-will you marry me?" he finally managed, blurting the words all at once.
Mona threw her arms around Linus, her strength knocking him to the ground as tears of joy streamed down her face.
"YES! A thousand times yes!" she cried, planting kisses all over his face.
"Oh, brother! I'm getting married!" Mona shouted gleefully as she jumped up to hug Rasmodius.
"Yes, I see that was his plan all along," Rasmodius replied dryly. "Well, I'm sure you and the dwarf will be very happy together," he added, his words dripping with sarcasm. But his eyes betrayed a flicker of warmth.
He knew Mona loved Linus deeply, and he trusted that Linus would do everything in his power to protect and cherish his dear younger sister.