Although artificial, the cool night air was soothing for Junwoo. His eyes cast to the sky: a mesh of colours between midnight blue and purple, occasionally interrupted by a band of pitch black. His heart was racing, and the thoughts in his mind were even faster.
Kaelsu had momentarily gone AFK, his character sat down by the campfire they were using to generate buffs for the upcoming quest. There was no doubt in their mind that they'd have to enter a string of fights over the next hour or so to reclaim the stolen treasure.
Junwoo wasn't entirely sure what Kaelsu was doing, probably eating? He took a real close look at Kaelsu's face. The stark contrast between Kaelsu's crimson eyes and snowy hair always took away attention from his ashen face. He never noticed just how pale his character looked. If he wasn't aware this was a game, he'd be almost concerned for the summoner.
For the first time, the fox boy wondered just what Kaelsu looked like behind the screen. He found it hard to fathom the fact that Kaelsu might not actually look like… well that. As a matter of fact, he couldn't figure out his own appearance, or even the world he used to live in. Any time he tried, he'd get a headache so overwhelmingly strong that it threw him off balance and he'd drop to the floor.
His tail absentmindedly swished from side to side while lost in thought staring at the idle summoner. Legs kicking thoughtlessly and casually as he sat on the creaky old log they used for temporary seating.
"Why are you staring at me?"
Junwoo's face turned a flushed scarlet at the accusation when he realised Kaelsu had caught him staring.
"Uh-" he hedged, trying to ground his thoughts. "Actually… I was just thinking…. Don't worry about it. " His own question caught himself off guard but quickly shut it down and raised his hands in surrender.
"Say it."
"Well, since you asked…. What do you look like in the real world?"
Kaelsu almost choked on Junwoo's words. He wasn't expecting that, but it wasn't surprising since they'd grown somewhat closer.
"My appearance?" Kaelsu clarified, almost as if he were asking himself. Behind the screen, he was smiling to himself. Not a smirk, but something more genuine.
Junwoo kept silent as he waited for an answer.
"Well, I have brown hair. Dark brown eyes. I'm tall." The summoner answered as if he was checking items off a list.
Golden hair bobbed as Junwoo nodded with each vague description. "I see. So you don't look like anything you do here." He held a hand to his chin thoughtfully.
"I can't imagine you remember anything?"
Eyes were shut hard enough for a crease to form between his eyebrows, but shook his head dejectedly. "Nothing."
The single word that escaped his lips sent a pang of guilt straight to Kaelsu's heart. Junwoo's ears pricked up when he sensed something – then suddenly a hand started stroking his silky hair, soothingly.
It was as if all his fears had immediately drained away when he looked up and saw a rosy tint to Kaelsu's cheeks. The comforting, slow brushes of the hand; his fingers delicately laced between each lock of hair.
"Don't worry about it," his voice was baritone. "I'm sure you're just as cute in person."
Then Junwoo froze.
'Cute?!'
He didn't believe his face could get even more flushed, until now. Eyes wide and pupils dilated. He wasn't sure how to react, or what to say.
"Th-thanks?" He awkwardly choked out.
His heart raced and his entire body felt like it was on fire, except for his hands which were surprisingly cold yet sweaty at the same time. Junwoo briefly looked away, his eyes darted around to hopelessly look for something that would help him out.
But when he looked back at Kaelsu, he saw a genuine beam on his face that made the hair on his neck stand on his ends. He couldn't help but nervously rub his hands together, then on the back of his head, then his arms.
A thought crossed his mind, a saving grace. He shot up and started to walk clunkily towards their destination.
"SINCE-" He coughed as his voice broke. Mentally cursing himself to calm down, he took a deep breath. "Since you're back. Let's continue?"
He wasn't actually giving Kaelsu a choice since he already walked off, but Kaelsu chuckled to himself and followed on. There was something about Junwoo's awkward yet fierce attitude that was charming. Kaelsu had to admit it - he didn't like it at first. That defiant attitude for him really pissed him off.
But it grew on him. It was oddly endearing.
"Lead the way," the summoner uttered under his breath with a smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth.
The duo continued on, attempting a stealth mission to avoid as many encounters as they could. It wasn't too difficult at first; they'd managed to get about halfway until the map lead them to a cave.
A hushed whisper dragged Junwoo out of his thoughts. "That's the shortcut to the Nerise camp where the treasure is."
"In that cave?"
Kaelsu pointed through the patch of tall grass that they lay in. It was a valiant attempt at camouflage that surprisingly worked despite their heads almost poking out. "The cave is actually small."
Junwoo was skeptical. The cave looked huge!
It was a huge hole that had collapsed in the side of a colossal mountain, with a steep darkness that hid the contents of the cave. Even from the outside, it looked like it went on for miles. Guarding the exits were two very generic and obvious looking pirates. Which makes sense, since they were in the very north of Seashaw: a famous land in the game's story which was invaded by pirates and established an entire colony.
"I'm going to trust you to take out the guards. Both of them."
Kaelsu looked Junwoo in the eyes, he watched the fire resonating within those sharp fox eyes re-ignite when he opened up the menu to command the pet to launch an attack.
He whispered more words before he sent the monster on the offensive. "Take them down in one attack, then immediately hold your breath when you enter. I'll follow but don't breathe in the air."
Junwoo looked spooked after hearing that. While the game mechanic rang some bells in his mind, he couldn't figure out what exactly it was… or how he recognised it. But he listened and trusted his summoner's words, proving it with a slight nod.
"Don't make me wait," Junwoo sneered in jest.
A line of fire erupted from the ground as Junwoo exploded from his position, suddenly he was behind both pirates, still positioned like he was ready to dash. The way that the two pirates exploded reminded Kaelsu of fireworks. He watched in awe. His eyes hadn't caught up with the situation, within a blink they were on the floor and disintegrated into ashes.
Kaelsu rubbed his eyes. He'd never seen Junwoo act so… fast? He was about to call out to him, but just watched as the bushy golden and white tail disappeared into the inky shadows of the cave entrance.
Then he snapped out of his daze and quickly jogged to the entrance.
"That was… amazing…" Kaelsu wasn't sure if his words could reach Junwoo. But he hoped so, as he now needed to guide Junwoo from the outside. "Can you still hear me?"
No response… until… a banging noise?
"J… Junwoo?"
Another bang. Almost like he could hear the summoner, but Junwoo could not be heard from the other side.
"I can't enter the cave. There's some sort of barrier. Can you see anything–"
Before he could even finish, the barrier dissipated like smoke.
"I win." Junwoo emerged from the cave, harshly gasping for air with a forced grin on his face. "There was a lever on the other side."
Kaelsu was immediately at his partner's side when his hands rested on knees to keep him upright and help him breathe.
"Did you breathe anything in?"
Junwoo shook his head and laughed weakly. "No, but you're just too slow. Don't suppose you know which way to go? There's at least four tunnels going in different directions."
A supportive hand patted Junwoo's back. "Tunnel on the left. Goes straight there, just a couple minutes walk."