The forest around the dungeon was quiet. Mark walked unhurriedly along an improvised path between the trees, with Rose at his side and Yuki somewhere among the vegetation that he couldn't see but knew was there, keeping watch over the surroundings.
Rose walked with her eyes closed and her head tilted slightly upward, breathing deeply with an expression on her face that Mark could only describe as serenity.
"You look pretty happy," Mark said, glancing at her sideways.
Rose opened one eye and looked at him.
"Because I am, Master," she replied, closing the eye again and letting out another long sigh. "You have no idea how good it feels to be out here after being shut inside your dungeon."
"You know, you're just like Yuki in that way."
"Like Yuki?"
"You both feel more comfortable outside the dungeon than inside," Mark said with a shrug. "Every time we go out, both of you relax in a way you don't down there."
