Zeni stood at the edge of the ledge, peering down into the yawning chasm below. She glanced back at the armored figure, who she had taken to calling Captain, and then back at the gap.

"Well, this seems neat," she said, scratching her head. "I mean, twenty feet across isn't so bad, but that fifty-foot drop is a bit daunting. But hey, we need to get to the lever that is clearly going to help us get out of here…so I guess we have gotta figure something out."

Captain, as per usual, didn't respond. He simply stared at the gap, his helmeted head tilted ever so slightly, as if considering the problem before them.

Zeni sighed, rolling her eyes.

"You know, a little input would be nice. I'm not asking for a full-on conversation or anything, but a grunt or a nod would be helpful."

Again, he remained silent. The quiet was almost a presence in the vast chamber, broken only by the occasional echoing drip of water.

"Well, fine then," Zeni muttered, studying the gap to the auspiciously placed lever and the rocky ledges surrounding them. "We could try jumping, but honestly, I think the odds of one or both of us ending up as a splatter on the…whatever is far below, are a bit higher than I'd like. Plus, I'm not entirely sure this whole chamber won't collapse under your weight if you land too hard."

She paced back and forth, her mind racing to find a solution.

"What if we... no, that won't work. Or maybe if we... no, that's even worse."

Captain shifted his weight slightly, and Zeni perked up, hopeful for even the tiniest contribution to their predicament.

"Did you have an idea, Captain?" she asked, trying to keep the desperation from her voice.

But the big man merely continued his silent vigil, the small movement apparently meaningless.

Zeni groaned.

"Alright, let's think. If only we had some sort of giant slingshot or, I don't know, a team of acrobatic squirrels to help us across."

A beat of silence passed, and Zeni glanced at Captain, half-expecting some kind of reaction to her absurd suggestion. But, of course, nothing came.

"Okay, here's an idea," she said, her voice suddenly serious. "What if we find some sturdy ropes or something and fashion a makeshift way down? I think I noticed vines near the entrance to this spot. It might be a bit precarious, but it's better than plummeting to our deaths, right?"

The huge man didn't respond, but Zeni took his silence as agreement.

"Right, well, let's go find something we can use. And if you happen to spot any acrobatic squirrels along the way, let me know."

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As they set off to search for materials, Zeni couldn't help but wish that Captain Silence would occasionally offer something, however small. But as they continued, she found herself oddly grateful for his stoic presence. At least she wasn't facing this seemingly impossible challenge alone.

Zeni's eyes scanned their surroundings, searching for anything that could help them bridge the gap. She couldn't help but notice that Captain seemed to be walking a bit more awkwardly than usual, his armored form shifting uncomfortably as he cast occasional wary glances towards the edge of the cliff.

Hm she thought. Does he sense something lurking beneath the ledge?

She’d have to keep her eyes peeled.

As she searched, Zeni discovered a cluster of vines that seemed promising. However, upon closer inspection, she realized that most of them were too thin to support the weight of her massive companion. For her own slight frame, they would likely suffice, but she couldn't leave Captain behind.

Gritting her teeth, she grabbed hold of the vines and began to tug, trying to detach them from the rocky wall. The effort was proving to be more difficult than she'd anticipated, and she couldn't help but feel a twinge of annoyance at Captain's apparent lack of interest in helping.

"A little help, Muscles?" she called over her shoulder, pausing for a moment in her struggles.

When no response came, she sighed and turned back to the vines, preparing to resume her efforts.

Suddenly, a shadow fell across her, and she felt a great, armored hand join hers on the vine. With one swift pull from the one she now mentally called ‘Muscles’, the vines came loose, leaving Zeni momentarily stunned by his unexpected display of strength.

"Well, that was... surprisingly helpful," she said, a note of admiration in her voice. "Thanks, Muscles."

As she gathered up the vines, Zeni felt a surge of optimism. Perhaps, despite the silence and the occasional awkwardness, they were starting to form a team after all.

Zeni eyed the vines critically.

"We're going to need more," she declared, and set off in search of additional vines to supplement their collection. Her search led her to a particularly thick vine, wedged beneath a massive boulder near the edge of the cliff. She figured this would be perfect for supporting her companion’s weight but would need his help to free it.

"Hey, Muscles!" she called, gesturing towards the boulder. "We could use this thick one for you, but I need your help to move this rock."

The big man hesitated, glancing towards the edge of the cliff once more. To Zeni's surprise, he responded with a single, curt shake of his helmeted head, refusing her request.

"Why not?" she asked, puzzled by his refusal. Once again, he didn't answer, but his gaze shifted towards the edge of the cliff, and a realization dawned on Zeni. The way he’d moved just now when he was close to the edge, and earlier, after they’d first met, when he’d seemed determined that she be the one to climb along the catwalk to the lever.

"Wait. You're afraid of heights, aren't you?" she exclaimed, her tone a mixture of disbelief and amusement. The stoic warrior merely stared back at her, offering no confirmation or denial of her accusation.

For the first time since they'd met, Zeni found herself feeling a little more connected to her silent companion. Even a seemingly invulnerable, armored giant had his fears, and in that moment, she couldn't help but feel a touch of sympathy for him.

"Hey, pal, it's alright," she said gently. "Everyone has their fears, even big ol’ scary guys like you. But listen, we can't let them control us. We gotta face ‘em, and learn how to deal with them."

As she continued, Zeni grew more animated, her hands gesturing expressively to emphasize her points.

"Someone told me once that fears are like shadows. Sure they seem huge and overwhelming, but they're not really as big as they appear. It's our own minds that make them seem that way."

She glanced at the edge of the cliff and then back to her companion, her voice warm and reassuring.

“You don't have to worry about the heights. We're perfectly safe up here, and I'll be right by your side every step of the way."

Zeni smiled encouragingly, hoping her words were helping, thought she wasn’t even sure if he could fully understand her.

"We’re going to be brave, right?” She said, almost as if talking to a child. “So, what do you say? Are you ready to give it a try?"

Muscles remained impassive, until he turned and hesitantly approached the rock. Zeni called out encouragement, her voice bubbling with enthusiasm.

"Alright, Muscles! Show that mean ol’ boulder who's boss! Just think of it as a metaphor for your fear of heights—once you push it away, you'll conquer that fear!"

With painstaking slowness, the armored figure leaned in and gave the boulder a careful shove. The rock tumbled over the edge, and Zeni cheered with delight. For a moment, she thought she saw the armored man looking back at her, the faintest glint of pride in his invisible eyes—or maybe it was just the torchlight reflecting off his helmet.

But then, as if to punish them for their moment of triumph, there was a loud crack. The armored colossus’ helmet snapped up toward her. Then, the entire section of cliff right beneath Muscles crumbled away, and he toppled over the edge with a graceless, metallic flail.