Mikhailis lay sprawled on the soft forest floor, his back pressed against the cool, comforting earth while the silvery moonlight filtered gently through the dense canopy above. His shirt clung to his chest, damp with sweat from the exertions earlier, yet his body humd with an energy so potent it bordered on unnatural. The sensation was a mix of exhilaration and absurdity, leaving him wide awake despite the late hour. Beside him, Cerys lay fast asleep, her crimson hair spilling like a fiery halo across the forest bed. Her face was serene, her breathing soft and even, a stark contrast to the intense, fervent monts they had shared not long ago.
He glanced at her, his eyes softening as he adjusted her cloak to cover her better against the creeping chill of the night. A flicker of guilt crossed his features, but it was tempered with a hint of pride that he couldn’t entirely suppress. Did I overdo it? She’s completely out. Sleeping like the dead... or maybe just utterly exhausted, he mused, a wry smile tugging at his lips.
His head tilted back, eyes tracing the patterns in the canopy as he exhaled deeply.
"Did I gain so kind of invincible stamina?" he muttered aloud, half-joking but genuinely curious.
Rodion’s voice appeared from his glasses, the soft, faintly glowing projection casting a subtle light that blended seamlessly with the moonlit surroundings. The AI’s voice, calm and precise, carried its usual tone of understated amusent.
Mikhailis groaned and dragged a hand down his face, resisting the urge to argue.
"Rodion, you’re about two seconds away from being decommissioned for good."
Rodion retorted smoothly.
A dry chuckle escaped Mikhailis as he turned his gaze skyward.
Why does my AI companion have to be so smug? And why do I always lose in these exchanges?
Still, the energy coursing through him was undeniable, and as much as he wanted to lie there and let the forest’s symphony lull him, his restless vitality made the idea laughable. He sighed, surrendering to the inevitable.
"Alright, if you’re going to haunt anyway, at least make yourself useful. How’s the castle? How’s Elowen holding up?"
Rodion’s glow brightened briefly, signaling its shift to data retrieval.
Mikhailis raised a brow, intrigued.
"Free ti? How’s she spending it?"
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