Nix bumbled through the dense vegetation, using his newly crafted staff for support more than anything else. His rash decision to run off into the jungle was quickly turning into a regrettable one. The humid air clung to him, sweat trickling down his neck as the jungle's thorny plants scratched at his arms. Despite the discomfort, he pressed on. His mind, however, kept wandering back to Ambrose’s dazzling smile, making his heart race.

What is wrong with me? Nix thought, his cheeks warming. Feeling this way over a man? He tried to shake off the confusion. Maybe it was because he'd spent so much time focused on his magic, neglecting relationships. Now, he was flustered over the first handsome face that smiled at him. Nix let out a deep sigh, distracted enough that he tripped over a thick vine snaking across the jungle floor.

He landed face-first into a massive pink-and-yellow flower, its petals nearly as large as his head. The moment he hit it, a cloud of orange dust puffed into the air, and Nix felt it cling to his skin. He coughed violently, stumbling back, his eyes watering as the pungent scent overwhelmed his senses. "Ugh, what is that?" he groaned, wiping his face. He felt slightly dizzy and hotter than before.

I need water, Nix thought, steadying himself with the staff. His limbs felt unusually heavy, and his vision swam as he tried to recall the way back to camp. Unsure of the direction, he started walking, his mind hazy and his body struggling to cope with the heat.

Meanwhile, Ambrose was moving swiftly through the jungle, slashing vines and undergrowth with his sword. A growing sense of unease gnawed at him. “How did he get so far ahead?” he muttered, his concern for Nix deepening. Soon, he noticed the unmistakable stench in the air—a smell he hadn’t expected. “Corpse Bride flower?” he said to himself, tying a torn piece of cloth around his mouth and nose. He had found a discarded shirt near the beach earlier that morning and had tucked it into his belt, in case he needed it later. Good thing I kept it, he thought, tearing off a sleeve and making a mask to shield himself from the flower’s fumes.

Pushing through the foliage, Ambrose spotted something—or rather, someone—collapsed near the base of a tree. His heart skipped. “Nix!” He ran forward, dropping to his knees beside the young sorcerer. Nix’s face was flushed red, his breathing labored. “Nix, what happened?” Ambrose asked, panic lacing his voice as he gently lifted Nix into his arms.

Nix blinked slowly, his voice weak. “A…flower. It…burns.” His words were barely audible, and Ambrose could feel the unnatural heat radiating from his skin. The flower’s toxins were clearly affecting him. "Hang on, Nix, I'll get you help."

Ambrose hoisted Nix up and started running, urgency pumping through his veins. His mind raced as he tried to recall everything he knew about the flower’s poison. There wasn’t much written about it, but he knew it wasn’t deadly—at least not immediately. The effects were dangerous, though, and Nix was clearly suffering.

Dark clouds began to roll in overhead, and the jungle grew dim as Ambrose pushed through the undergrowth, desperately trying to find shelter. As the first drops of rain began to fall, he spotted a small cave nestled between the trees. He carried Nix inside just as the sky opened up and rain poured down in torrents.

Ambrose laid Nix down gently on the cool stone floor. Nix’s eyes fluttered open, his face still flushed with fever. “It hurts…” Nix whispered, his fingers weakly grasping Ambrose’s shirt.

“I know, just stay with me,” Ambrose murmured, his heart aching for the young sorcerer’s pain. He quickly gathered some rainwater using a broad leaf and brought it to Nix’s lips, helping him drink. Then, tearing the other sleeve from the shirt he’d found, Ambrose gently wiped the sweat from Nix’s face and neck.

For a moment, Nix seemed to calm, his breathing steady. Ambrose watched him closely worry etched in every line of his face. He could hear the storm raging outside, but in the cave, it felt as if time had slowed, the only sounds being the crackle of the small fire Ambrose had managed to build and the steady rhythm of Nix’s breathing.

“Thank you…” Nix murmured, his voice soft but sincere. He looked up at Ambrose with tired eyes, the faintest hint of a smile on his lips. “I feel…better.”

Relief washed over Ambrose. He smiled down at Nix, brushing a stray lock of hair from his face. “You’ll be okay. Just rest.”

Nix closed his eyes, his breathing evening out as the fever finally began to subside. Ambrose sat beside him, keeping watch over the young sorcerer as he slept, the storm still raging outside but no longer a threat to the two of them sheltered within the cave.

As the night deepened, Ambrose couldn’t shake the feeling that his concern for Nix ran deeper than mere responsibility. There was something about the young sorcerer that drew him in, something beyond his magic or bravery. He gazed down at Nix, his mind filled with thoughts he couldn’t quite untangle.

But for now, they were safe. And that was enough.