The cave looked much the same as James remembered it, though a few more items were piled in the corner. Joey's grin was as wide as ever as he plopped down on a simple wooden stool that seemed to have been recently added to the cave's sparse furniture.

"I never got anything really useful, and stuff started to disappear after you left, like the donut. By the way, did you happen to get a donut?" Joey asked, his eyes glinting with a mix of suspicion and mischief.

James chuckled, looking over at Nyx, who was comfortably perched on his shoulder.

"I might have an idea what happened to the donut... and maybe the wedding dress too," James teased, his voice light. Nyx blinked innocently, a small paw batting at James' cheek as if chastising him for even bringing it up.

Joey squinted at Nyx, an eyebrow raised in mock suspicion. "You?" he asked incredulously, tilting his head at the kitten. Nyx returned his gaze, giving a light, dismissive "mew" as her ears flicked nonchalantly.

"Oh, I see how it is," Joey replied, bemused.

James decided it was best to step in before Joey's antics went any further. He gently rubbed Nyx's fur. "You know, Joey, Nyx here saved my life. The stuff we got from our last fight—before we ended up in the water—was pretty pivotal in getting me out alive. She helped me a lot."

Joey blinked, then grinned. "I KNEW THERE WAS LOOT!" he shouted, ignoring everything else in James' statement.

James couldn't help but shake his head, smiling. This was classic Joey. Joey was always about the loot, even when the stakes were life or death. It was something James loved about him—his friend could make light of anything, seemingly able to turn every misadventure into an opportunity for treasure even before their status's. It kept James grounded, reminded him that even in the darkest of situations, there was still room for laughter and excitement.

"Yeah, well," James continued, amused, "Nyx must've hitched a ride with the fish or something. She brought me the items I needed. I fought something called a 'Dark Hauntling' down there. Level six, almost bled out. Honestly, I think Nyx nursing me back to health is the only reason I'm still here." He scratched Nyx gently, who looked rather pleased at the praise.

Joey's expression softened. He paused, a serious look crossing his features, and for a brief moment, James saw his friend's true emotions beneath the bravado. Joey might always play the clown, but James knew he cared deeply. He saw it in those moments of silence, in the way Joey's eyes shifted when he talked about James almost dying.

"Yeah, but that's still my loot," Joey said half-heartedly, then added more sincerely, "But I'm glad it helped. I'd trade all my loot for you to be alive and well."

James smiled, a genuine warmth spreading through him. Joey was more than just his friend—he was family. They had been through thick and thin together, and James knew that if it came down to it, Joey would fight for him just as hard as he fought for loot.

"Well, it wasn't much," James said, trying to keep things light. "Just a blanket, a quill, a lantern—actually a pretty good one—and a bottle of clarifying water." He purposefully downplayed the water, hoping Joey wouldn't press him on that.

Joey eyed the blanket, still damp from its recent use, as James handed it to him. The chill hit James the moment he let go. Joey took it, looking pensive, as if inspecting it for some hidden secret.

"Nah, it's okay," Joey said, handing it back after a moment. "Besides, I got my own loot while you were swimming with the fishes." He winked, his grin returning. "Been fighting a lot up here. The entire lake's like one big ring, y'know? I traveled it all, and there was plenty to fight. Got a bunch of stuff." He puffed out his chest, clearly proud of himself.

"Of course you did," James said, rolling his eyes. "What kind of loot are we talking about?"

Joey sprang to his feet, throwing his arms wide. "Behold! I present… THE STOOL OF MILKING!" He held up the stool he'd been sitting on with an exaggerated flourish as if he were presenting a rare artifact.

James had to bite back a laugh. He knew Joey was in one of his moods, and he decided to play along, curious to see where this was headed. Joey always had a knack for turning even the most mundane of finds into something worth celebrating.

"Whether this milks cows or cows milks me, I don't know," Joey said, holding the stool with reverence. "But it feels like a regular stool to me." He waggled his eyebrows at James.

James smirked, considering using his newfound skill to appraise it, but he decided against it—at least for now. Joey was clearly enjoying putting on the show.

Joey took a deep breath, pacing the cave dramatically as if he was about to reveal the secrets of the universe. "Next, we have a truly rare treasure—A PIECE OF STRAW!" Joey proclaimed, brandishing the small piece of straw like a knight presenting his sword.

James burst out laughing. Joey joined in, unable to keep a straight face. "No, really, that’s what it’s called," he said, snorting.

"Wow, a stool and a piece of straw? You've really hit the jackpot, Joey," James teased.

"Hey, hey, this is quality loot here!" Joey defended, sticking the straw in his pocket. He grinned. "And here," he continued once they'd both settled down, "we have something more practical. The DAGGER OF BREAD CUTTING! Perfect for slicing bread or salamanders—but, y'know, I’ve been sticking to my fists."

Joey rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly before moving on to the last item. He picked up a pair of bright pink shoes. "And last but not least, we have... THE DANCE SHOES OF BALANCE!" He held them up, shaking them slightly for effect. "Great for balance, I guess. Not great for my reputation." He sighed dramatically. "I mean, come on, James. Pink shoes and a wedding dress? What are the older kids gonna say when we get back home?"

James took a deep breath, trying to contain his laughter. The image of Joey in a wedding dress and pink shoes was too much. "You really do have a unique sense of style, Joey. I’m not sure the world is ready for it."

Nyx gave an amused meow, almost as if she understood the predicament. James couldn't help but laugh as Joey pouted. "I'm a tough guy, right?" Joey flexed his muscles as if to convince the system itself that he deserved a leather jerkin, not a frilly dress.

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James shook his head, still smiling. "You are, Joey, no doubt about it. But while I was down there, in the dark, I had some time to experiment… and guess what?" He paused dramatically, clearly excited.

Joey leaned forward, motioning for James to continue.

"I got {ESSENCE SIGHT}," James said, his excitement spilling over, "which led me to get {Essence Inspect}!"

For a moment, something passed across Joey's face—something fleeting and unreadable. James had known Joey long enough to tell when he was feeling a little left out, even if Joey would never admit it. But then, the smile returned, wider than ever. "You mean we can actually figure out what the piece of straw does?!" he exclaimed.

James laughed, shaking his head. "Yeah, yeah. Let's take a look, shall we?"

He focused, letting the mana flow as he activated {Essence Inspect}, starting with Joey's prized loot.

- Stool of Milking (Ashen)

- Increases yield of milk by 50% when used to milk a cow.

- Eases the temperament of livestock.

- "Sit down, relax, and let the milk flow." - Farmer Jeremy

James couldn't help but smirk. "Looks like you won't be milking yourself, Joey—just cows."

Joey shrugged, pretending to look disappointed. "Eh, figured as much."

Next, James turned his attention to the infamous piece of straw.

- Piece of Straw (Ashen)

- Provides +3 Charisma when held in the mouth.

- Once belonging to a charismatic farmer, this humble straw is infused with a natural charm.

- "Ain't nothing cooler than a bit of straw between your teeth." - Rodrick Strawfield

James chuckled. "You put this in your mouth, and apparently, you get cooler. Charisma boost of three."

Joey's eyes widened. "No way! Give it here!" He snatched the straw, immediately sticking it in the corner of his mouth. He struck a pose. "How do I look?"

James laughed, shaking his head. "Like a charismatic idiot."

Joey grinned, clearly satisfied. "I'll take it."

Next up, the dagger.

- Dagger of Bread Cutting (Ashen)

- Provides perfect slices when used on bread.

- Cannot be used effectively in combat.

- "The perfect slice is the first step to the perfect meal." - A mother showing her daughter her favourite dagger to cut with

James looked up at Joey, eyebrow raised. "This one's pretty much exactly what it says on the tin. Perfect for bread, but don't go trying to stab anyone with it."

Joey sighed dramatically. "Guess I'm sticking to my fists, then."

"Why don't you put those shoes on, Joey?" James said, eyeing the bright pink footwear with a smirk. "I mean, you did say they give you extra agility. And who knows—maybe they'll help you balance that ridiculous straw in your mouth."

Joey eyed the shoes skeptically, then shrugged. "You know what? Fine. I'll wear them. But I'm still a tough guy, pink shoes or not." He slipped them on, trying to keep a straight face as he tied the laces. He then stood up and struck a "manly" pose, flexing his muscles dramatically.

James couldn't help but burst into laughter. "Oh yeah, real manly, Joey. Nothing says 'tough guy' like pink shoes and a wedding dress."

Joey narrowed his eyes at James but smiled nonetheless. "You laugh now, but these shoes—they actually make me feel pretty balanced." He took a few steps, almost tripping over a loose stone before regaining his footing with a smooth spin. He looked at James with a grin. "See that? Graceful as a dancer!"

Nyx meowed, as if agreeing, her tiny eyes watching Joey's awkward yet surprisingly agile moves. James folded his arms and grinned. "If you're gonna start dancing, you might as well own it. Come on, give us a twirl!"

Joey snorted but played along. He took a step back and did an exaggerated twirl, throwing his arms out wide as if putting on a grand performance. "How about that?" he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

James clapped, his smile only widening. "Bravo, bravo! The pink-shoed hero strikes again."

"Yeah, yeah, laugh it up," Joey muttered, though his grin never faltered. He pointed at James, his eyes glinting mischievously. "You think you're so cool with your new skills, huh? Well, how about you inspect this?" He gestured to the dress, the one he'd been wearing earlier and left in a corner. The infamous wedding dress.

James raised an eyebrow and focused on the dress, letting his mana flow into it. The prompt appeared in his vision.

- Wedding Dress of Veiled Glamour (Ashen)

- Increases Charisma by 5 when worn.

- Veils the wearer's true appearance, allowing them to appear more graceful or elegant.

- Once worn by a renowned bride, whose charm enchanted an entire kingdom.

- "Appearances can deceive, but they can also inspire." - Lady Amara, Enchanted Bride of the East

James looked at Joey with a smirk. "So, it boosts your charisma a bit, makes you look more elegant. You know, Joey, you might actually look better in this."

Joey's face flushed, but he quickly grinned, playing it cool. "I knew it! I was royalty material this whole time," he said, putting on an exaggerated noble accent and giving a little curtsy, pink shoes and all. "My liege, do I look elegant enough to attend the royal ball?"

James shook his head, laughing. "You look like you're about to audition for a comedy show."

Joey pouted, then gestured toward another item lying nearby—a wooden spoon. "Oh, and don't forget this!" He tossed the spoon to James, who caught it mid-air.

he activated {Essence Inspect} on the spoon reading it out to the other boy.

- Spoon of Perfect Temperature (Saffron)

- Ensures that any food stirred with it maintains the perfect temperature for consumption.

- Once used by a famed chef known for their ability to create comfort food.

- "The secret to great cooking is the warmth of the meal." - Chef Lorraine, The Comforting Hand

James looked back at Joey, shaking his head in disbelief. "So, it's a spoon that keeps your food at the perfect temperature. Guess you really do have a knack for finding the weirdest stuff."

Joey threw his hands up dramatically. "Hey, food is important! Imagine having a hot meal whenever you want it—perfect temperature, no waiting around to cool off or anything!"

"I'll give you that one," James said, still smiling. "Between this spoon, the stool, and the pink shoes, you’re really building quite the collection."

Joey crossed his arms, nodding sagely. "You know it. And when we get back home, I'll be the coolest one around. Pink shoes, a wedding dress, a spoon, and a straw—what more could you want?"

James laughed. "Maybe something useful in a fight?"

Joey grinned. "Nah, my fists are all I need. These items just add flair!"

Nyx meowed in agreement—or perhaps in judgment—and James scratched behind her ears, shaking his head. "I think we're ready for whatever comes next, Joey. Even if that means you balancing in pink shoes while sipping perfectly warm soup."

Joey put his hands on his hips. "Hey, if we meet any enemies, they'll be too confused to fight us. That's a strategy too, you know!" He gave another exaggerated twirl, the pink shoes surprisingly graceful, and James couldn't help but burst into laughter again.

"Alright, alright," James managed between laughs. "Maybe you’re right. Confusion could be our best weapon."

Joey nodded solemnly, as if this was a serious revelation. "Exactly. Now, let’s grab our stuff and get moving. Who knows what else we’ll find out there."

James nodded, his gaze shifting toward the cave entrance. With Joey by his side, Nyx on his shoulder, and a collection of ridiculous yet oddly comforting items, he felt ready—or at least more ready than ever—to face whatever strange adventures this world had in store for them. They had each other, and they had spirit—and for now, that felt like more than enough.

As they stepped out of the cave, Joey adjusted the straw in his mouth and took a step, his pink shoes balancing him perfectly on the uneven ground. James shook his head, smiling, as Nyx let out an approving "mew." The strange world beyond awaited them, but with Joey's antics and their growing collection of items, the journey suddenly seemed a lot less daunting—and a whole lot more fun.