The dungeon (6)

They safely landed on the ground. It was not safe to stay in the open so they walked a little from there and found a cave.Everyone entered the cave.The floor was chilly with cold breeze running there.Hikaru and Mahiru help the students who were heavily injured to walk.Two students were said to watch outside and warn everyone if any creature shows up.

They started collecting their thoughts. Catching up to the pain and exhaustion after the adrenaline effect wore off.The students were still digesting what happened to them in that short amount of time. The lingering terror was making them tremble. Breathes were heavy, silence was the only one whispering something as they were being treated by Hiakru and Mahiru.

“Anyone else who is injured?” Asks Hikaru.

An Elf girl waves hand while sitting beside a rock with Mai.

“So, where are you hurt?”

“Not me.”

“Then who?”

She points toward Mai’s leg. One of her knees was scratched roughly when she tripped while running away from the griffin.

Hkaru healed her. Another elf called out hikaru so he went to help them.

“Th ... .Thanks” Mai thanked her in a low voice without looking at her.

“You also helped me once so i am just returning the favour”

“When did I….” Mai looks at her.

‘You are the who fell from the deck”

"You saved me that time. I didn't get to thank you at that time so Thank you”

“ Anyone would have done that its not a big deal”

“Ya but even though you hate the elves, you save me. That makes it a big deal”

“ So what? you wanted me to not catch your hand and see you fall into the sea?”

“Nah, I was just saying you are so kind” She smirks.

“want me to push you from the deck once we get out of here?” Mai gave her a look.

The elf girl gets her face close to Mai’s face, gives her a silly smile and says “ I bet you can't”

“Just leave me alone.”

Mai tries to stand but is too exhausted to do so and falls back to the ground.

“Where are you going? Isn't the rock a good support for your back? We can't get a fluffy bed here.”

“ I am thirsty.”

The elf gave her water bag attached to her belt to Mai.

“Here.”

Mai hesitates to take it. The elf sways the bag in front of her and says

“There isn't any poison or love potion in it”

With her dried lips,mouth and all exhaustion Mai didn't had any other option so she snatches the bag while saying

“There better not be any in it”

The elf smiles and says

“I am Enha”

“Mai” she replies with her face in another direction.

“I take that reply as you will be friendly with me from now”

“Let you horses run wild i dont care”

“Hehehe…”

After taking care of the injured students Hikaru and Mahiru tell the two students guarding outside to go and rest. Hikaru and Huki sit on guard now.

“So we are in a big mess now. What should we do?”asks Hiakru

“First of all, we should not head anywhere for now. All the students are room tired to move and still have fully overcome the fear of that fight. Falling through floor, near death experience and seeing all those monsters at once is too much to digest at once even for us.”

“I do agree with it. I think it's also night time outside the dungeon so we should tell them to sleep as much as they can without any single worry.”

Hikaru and Mahiru went and told them to sleep. Everyone slept with whatever they had to cover them with. They went back to guard the entrance of the cave.

“The next problem is food. Going back can take days or even a month, we have to find food. The dungeon does have some fruit trees and vegetables grown here and there though I wasn't able to look around when we were falling so I have no idea or clue if we will find any food or not as we advance.”

“We have to leave that on our luck. Shortage of water will not be a problem because of water spells. That leaves to make sure students don't panic and hope for someone to come and rescue us.”

“I have low expectations that some one will come to rescue us” Hikaru stares at the ceiling.

“Well that aside, why don't you also sleep. I will be enough to handle this.”

“I can't-”

“your eyes are screaming for rest, it's all over your face. It will be a bad thing if you continue. I will wake you up if something comes so just go to sleep”

“You are also tired right? Even if it doesn't show on your face?”

“Nope. I am used to staying in dungeons for a few days without sleep. Now just go to sleep and don't keep talking.”

Mahiru wanted to ask why but Hikaru didn't let her. She slept near the entrance.

The temperature started to drop even more as the time passed by. All the students were curled up and shivering, so was Mahiru. The outside and entrance were much colder than the inside of the cave.

‘This is going to be a problem. If someone caught a cold it's gonna be more difficult for him to go through the dungeon. The temperature wasn't that low when we first arrived here.’

Hikaru walks out for a quick check if there is any tree or anything else which he can burn. He saw a tree just a few steps away from the cave entrance around a corner. He went and cut it down.

Placed all the woods around the students and put it on fire, they were enough to help them for the night. None were left to use at the entrance so that Mahiru could sleep.

Hikaru takes a look at her, all curled up sleeping in a sitting position with the support from the cave walls. Her hands wrapped around the legs and face resting between the knees.

Hikaru takes off his robe and puts it on Mahiru's legs. Stands beside her, lowers one hand close to her face and starts fire. He warms her from magic while standing beside her and guarding the entrance.

Sits beside after some time to give rest to the legs. His eyes were fixated on the entrance looking out for any small movement outside. Mahiru breaks out of sleep. Glances at Hikaru's face, not so close but still enough to make her skip a beat.

His face was lit by the fire. His eyes are constantly checking every corner. He turns his face a little. Mahirus flinches, she hides her face between her knees and peeks through her hairs. He didn't notice her. She keeps staring at Hikaru's face through the narrow gaps of her hairs.

“Don't know why i am doing this but it calms me down”

She mumbles and goes back to sleep.