A few hours passed, Lyra and Thalya were still wandering through the maze-like dungeon, both of them still coughing and gagging at the foul, musky scent, both girls hated the smell, yet somehow Thalya slowly managed to get used to it, meanwhile Lyra always covered her nose, trying to distract herself by thinking of something else, of her home, her family and especially the lush forest she and Thalya lived in.
They kept walking, carefully looking around for traps, or monsters who would try to ambush them, it was strange how they weren't attacked yet, it especially confused Lyra more.
"Why didn't they attack us yet? They have so many opportunities to catch us off guard." spoke Lyra, still covering her nose, Thalya shrugged in response, a small orb of light circling around her and Lyra, "Maybe they want to observe and study us, and then possibly attack us at our weakest." she suggested, noticing how her apprentice was still covering her nose, "Still didn't get used to the stench?" she asked jokingly.
Lyra let out an angry groan, "No, how did you get used to it?" she asked in return, Thalya shook her head in response, giving an empty look, "I really don't know how." she answered, as she kept walking around in the seemingly endless hallways, Thalya and Lyra gradually felt hot, despite it being the middle of winter.
"Thalya, I don't know why, but I'm starting to feel hot." spoke Lyra, this quickly alarmed Thalya as she gave her apprentice a concerned look, "I'm starting to feel hot as well, either it's an illusion to make us set up a camp, or we're somehow getting aroused." stated Thalya, she paused for a few seconds, before picking up a silver pocketwatch, it was just a few minutes away from becoming midnight, "We should set up a camp, it's almost midnight, set up the fire while I prepare the runes." she commanded, Lyra quickly nodded as she prepared two beds, along with a small camp fire to keep the two warm, despite already feeling hot, while Thalya drew multiple arcane symbols using chalk around the entrances, that way, she would instantly be alerted if someone was approaching them.
A few more minutes passed, and the girls were both huddled within their bed sheets made from leather, while staring at the flames.
"Are you still feeling hot?" asked Thalya, looking at Lyra, who nodded at her question, "Same." she added, cursing under her breath, she should've took scented candles along, but she doubted they would've done a difference, the smell was too strong. "Maybe we should try talking about something else." suggested Lyra, pausing a little before thinking of something, eventually coming up with an idea, "For example, what's your favorite animal?" she suddenly asked, with a smile.
Thalya was suprised at the sudden question, she looked at the ceilling; "I have a soft spot in my heart for horses." stated Thalya, "Before I started my studies to become a mage, I would usually spend time with my father in a nearby farm, he would raise horses, especially strong and beautiful stallions for knights." she said, remembering the little farm her father lived in, her lips slowly curling into a smile, "I rode one of those stallions, it was so fast." she said, almost looking like she was day dreaming, before looking back at Lyra, "What about you, my favorite apprentice?" she said, laughing.
"I'm actually fond of dragons." said Lyra, "They may be cruel creatures, that decimate cities, kill livestock and humans, but something about them really catches my curiosity." she said, letting out a deep sigh, she could barely keep her eyes open.
Thalya noticed it, "Take some rest." she spoke, "The runes will protect us from those monsters." she added, receiving a smile from Lyra in return, "Good night, Thalya." said Lyra, "Good night, Lyra." replied Thalya, as both of them fell asleep, arousal still developing inside their bodies.