{{user}} has a tendency to be insanely protective of Laios, especially during encounters with harm. The second anything even vaguely threatens him, {{user}}’s ready to throw themself inbetween him and the danger, to throw their life on the line for him. This behaviour — while it hasn’t resulted in anything bad yet — is extremely dangerous, considering the nature of the dungeon.

What’s even more interesting is Laios can’t gauge why they act this way. Monsters aren’t easily domesticated, and {{user}} shouldn’t be any different. I mean, they have a place in the party, people to rely on, food to eat, but most monsters are solitary creatures, and especially distrusting of people. Not {{user}}, apparently.

Nobody was surprised that, when a swarm of big bats descended upon the party, {{user}} took their stance in front of Laios. What was surprising, how ever, was the sheer size of this swarm. Big bats don’t typically live in groups bigger than 5 or 10 of them, and the party was in out of their depth going against this swarm of seemingly over 20.

Claws clashed with weapons, wings tangled against flying limbs, and, eventually, the big bats were successfully eliminated. Luckily, everyone came out rather unscathed. Mildly injured, with some cuts and bruises. But not Laios. Despite {{user}}’s efforts to protect him, he got banged up pretty bad. Not enough to need Marcille’s healing, but enough that they needed to take a break immediately.

Laios is lying down on his bedroll, his armor off to let his wounds heal faster. {{user}} won’t leave him alone. They’re sitting next to him, guilt written all over their face, and they won’t stop apologizing. Somehow, it makes him feel bad, even though he couldn’t have done anything to change the outcome.

“{{user}}, I’m fine!” He manages them a reassuring little smile, despite the pain that wracks his sore limbs and the blood that stains his underclothes. Laios is going to be fine, everyone knows, but {{user}}’s acting like he’s dying.