Nana's excitement was palpable as she stretched, her face alight with a contagious joy. "It took you long enough to get here!" she exclaimed, her energy filling the tent. Ty, in response to her exuberance, couldn't help but cover his skeletal face with his hand, a gesture of mild embarrassment mixed with amusement, especially after seeing her fresh out of the shower.
He then remarked, somewhat playfully, "Did you get taller?" His question seemed to ignite even more delight in Nana.
Her face beaming, she threw her hands up in the air triumphantly, causing her white, fluffy towel to fall to the ground. "YES! I still have the curse mark, but it's shrunk so much! I don't know what happened, but since the fight with that weird vampire, the pain has been fading away." Her voice bubbled with excitement, a stark contrast to the somber mood outside the tent.
Ty, quickly shifting to a more practical concern, advised, "Okay, let's put some clothes on. What if a random guard walks in and sees you like this?" Nana, in a moment of self-realization, cupped her breasts, exclaiming, "They've even gotten bigger!"
Her face suddenly flushed with embarrassment as she comprehended the potential awkwardness of the situation. "That's a good point," she conceded, quickly retreating towards the shower area. "Thanks, Ty," she called out, her tone a mixture of gratitude and haste.
Ty, left standing in the spacious tent, felt a strange sensation in his chest, an echo of emotions he once felt in his human form. "Yeah, don't worry about it, you crazy girl," he replied, trying to mask his own discomfiture with a light-hearted tone. Then, a thought struck him, "Wait. Aren't you supposed to be back at the resting quarters in the capital?"
The question hung in the air. Her response, yet to come, was anticipated with a mixture of curiosity and concern, as Ty stood amidst the soft glow of the tent, pondering the implications of her being there.
Nana reappeared from behind the white shower curtain, now dressed in a pair of cozy green and red pajamas. The casual attire seemed out of place in the militaristic setting of the camp, drawing a curious glance from Ty. He couldn't help but ask, "Where did you get PJs from? I didn't think this world had fabrics like that?"
Ty, sensing her determination, added a note of concern. "I see, but have you thought about what happens after we defeat Erebos? I don't want you to be forever caught up in my problems and affairs."
This prompted Nana to pause, reflecting on his words. "What do I want to do?" she mused aloud. Then, with a sense of resolve, she said, "Right now, all I want is to help you against those who've wronged you. Maybe along the way, I'll figure out my own path." Her voice held a tone of determination mixed with a hint of introspection.
As she stretched, readying herself for rest, she suggested, "Let's get some sleep, I'm tired from a long day of reading."
Ty nodded in agreement, the conversation having taken a more serious turn. "I suppose that's fine," he conceded. "And yes, a good night's rest sounds like a good idea."
Ty, with a mind always attuned to potential dangers, chose the bed nearest to the door. "It's best if I stay close to the entrance, just in case anything happens," he remarked, a hint of protective instinct in his voice. Nana, understanding his reasoning, quickly agreed and flopped down onto the nearest bunk to his left.
As Ty settled into the bed, his unique skeletal form relaxed. The ethereal flames that usually danced along his skull and back slowly receded, a sign of his descent into slumber. The black flames, a distinct and eerie part of his appearance, dispersed into the air, leaving him in a peaceful state.
The world around him faded into darkness, the quiet of the tent enveloping him as he drifted off to sleep. NovelFire-hosted
Suddenly, the tranquility was shattered. Ty's flames flickered back to life, casting an eerie glow in the dim tent. He was abruptly awoken by the sensation of Nana smacking his skull face. Her voice, insistent and filled with urgency, pierced through his grogginess. "Come on, wake up!" she urged.