The group sat around their trays, the weight of the conversation slowly beginning to lift. Still, tension lingered in the air like a fog that refused to clear. Sarugami scratched his chin, deep in thought. The idea of escape was tempting, but how? They had nothing but the clothes on their backs and their wits.

Eleo broke the silence, looking around the group. "You know, I don't really have any stuff here… besides clothes. It’s not like they let me keep much when they dragged me in." He sighed, looking down at the filthy rags he wore.

Olorun nodded, rubbing the back of his neck. "Same. They took everything the moment I walked through those gates. Damn near stripped me down." His tone was casual, but there was frustration simmering beneath the surface.

Tony shrugged. "Yeah, I’m in the same boat. Got nothing on me." He glanced at Sarugami and Sharky. "What about you two?"

Sarugami glanced at Sharky, then at the others. "Nothing here, either. Just clothes and these damn cuffs." He lifted his chained wrists slightly, the clinking of metal filling the air.

Sharky grinned, showing his sharp teeth. "I travel light. Never needed much, anyway. So, yeah, same here."

Kenji, who had been quiet for most of the conversation, suddenly spoke up, his tone casual but with an edge of annoyance. "Well, I’m the exception, aren’t I?" He gave a small, humorless chuckle. "I actually had something worth keeping. My sword… and they just took it. You know, like it was nothing."

Olorun’s eyes widened. "Oh shit! I just remembered… my bag!" He slapped his forehead dramatically. "I had my damn bag with me. Left it when they grabbed us. Hell, I don’t even know where they put it now."

Tony’s face paled slightly, his hand instinctively going to his pocket, which was, of course, empty. "Oh no… the map. The map of World 1."

Eleo looked around the group, his ears twitching nervously. "Wait, hold on. So… where’s all of our stuff? I mean, they didn’t just throw it away, did they?"

Sarugami shook his head, crossing his arms as he leaned back slightly. "Who knows? Right now, it doesn’t matter. What we need is an escape plan. But to make that happen, we need a map of this underground prison."

Eleo sighed, slumping in his seat, his head dropping. "Man, I wish we really did have a map. Would make all of this a hell of a lot easier."

Kenji shot him a sharp look, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Eleo, you can wish all you want, but no amount of wishing is going to make that map magically appear." He leaned forward, his tone turning more serious. "We have to be realistic here. If we’re gonna get out of here, we need to figure this out ourselves."

Tony nodded in agreement. "He’s right. I’ve seen maps like this in books, but we’re not gonna find one lying around here. The guards aren’t that stupid."

Just as Tony finished speaking, one of the massive gorilla guards stomped into the mess hall, his heavy footsteps shaking the ground. His booming voice echoed off the walls, filled with menace. "Alright, break’s over! Back to the mines, you filthy rats!"

The group tensed as the guard’s gaze swept over them, and the reality of their situation hit them again. The minutes they had just spent talking, planning—gone. Time had slipped away from them, and they were no closer to finding a way out.

Sharky cursed under his breath. "Damn it. We wasted time. We didn’t get anywhere." His frustration was evident, but his tone was calm, like someone used to dealing with setbacks.

Olorun sighed, standing up and stretching his arms above his head. "Yeah… but wait a second. Do any of you actually know where the map might be?" His eyes darted from one face to another, hopeful but doubtful at the same time.

Sarugami and Sharky exchanged a glance, both shaking their heads. "No," Sarugami muttered, his voice low and tense. "We don’t know. If we did, we’d be out of here by now."

Suddenly, the gorilla guard snarled and cracked his whip, the sharp snap echoing in the hall. The leather whip lashed across Sarugami’s back, and then Olorun’s, drawing gasps of pain from both.

The guard’s voice was venomous, dripping with sadistic glee. "GET. BACK. TO. WORK!" His whip cracked again, and Olorun flinched, raising his hands defensively.

"Okay, okay! Dang, man!" Olorun groaned, rubbing his sore back. "We’re going. See ya, guys."

Kenji, Tony, and Sharky waved as Olorun, Eleo, and Sarugami trudged back toward the mines, the clinking of their chains and the dull thud of their footsteps the only sounds in the dim corridor. The echoes of the mess hall slowly faded as they were led deeper underground.

Sarugami kept his eyes forward, silent and brooding, while Olorun muttered curses under his breath, still sore from the whip. Eleo glanced nervously at the guards walking beside them, his ears twitching every time a whip cracked behind them.

As they reached the mines, the smell of damp earth and sweat hit them again. The cold air clung to their skin, and the faint sound of pickaxes striking stone filled the tunnel. They were led back to their previous posts, where a pile of rocks awaited them.

Sarugami picked up his pickaxe without a word, the muscles in his arms tensing as he swung it into the stone wall with frustration. The sound of metal hitting rock reverberated through the tunnel, matching the rhythm of his thoughts. He was angry—not just at the guards or the situation, but at himself. His plan to take down Agharna had backfired spectacularly, and now his friends were paying the price.

Eleo, working beside him, let out a low sigh. "Man, I really thought we’d get somewhere with that plan. I hate feeling stuck like this. It’s like every time we come up with an idea, it slips through our fingers."

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

Sarugami grunted, not bothering to look up. "Plans don’t mean anything if you don’t have the resources to back them up."

Olorun, a few feet away, paused from his own work, glancing over at Sarugami. "You think we’ll find something, though? I mean, a map, tools, anything?"

Sarugami hesitated for a moment, then finally spoke, his voice low and edged with determination. "We don’t have a choice. We’ll find something… or we’ll make it."

Eleo’s eyes widened. "Make it? How the hell are we supposed to do that?"

Sarugami finally looked up, his dark eyes locking with Eleo’s. "You find opportunities where there aren’t any. That’s how we survive here."

Olorun let out a low chuckle, shaking his head. "You make it sound so easy. But I’m with you. Anything’s better than sitting around waiting to rot."

The three of them fell back into silence, the clinking of their pickaxes the only sound as the hours dragged on. All the while, Sarugami’s mind was racing, turning over every possible angle, every fragment of information they had. There had to be a way out. There always was.

And when the time came, he’d make sure they were ready.As the night wore on, the cold, damp air of the underground prison started to settle in. Olorun and Eleo, now in their cell, were lying on their respective beds, the darkness only broken by the faint, flickering torchlight outside their barred window.

Olorun yawned and stretched, adjusting to the hard bed. "Welp, Eleo, here’s hoping we don’t end up becoming someone’s prison bitch."

Eleo, lying on his back and staring up at the ceiling, turned his head toward Olorun, his face scrunched up in confusion. "What’s that supposed to mean?"

Olorun chuckled, shaking his head. "Don’t worry about it, kid. You’ll understand when you’re older. Anyway, you can have the bed tonight. I’ll make do on the floor." He tossed a folded blanket down onto the hard stone floor, settling down against the wall.

Eleo grinned mischievously, stretching his arms above his head. "Ha! Well, I was planning to jump on you and force you to give me the bed, but this works too." He rolled over and made himself comfortable, his small frame sinking into the thin mattress.

"Good night, Olorun," Eleo called out, already half asleep.

Olorun, leaning back against the cold stone wall, closed his eyes. "Yeah, yeah, good night, kid."

Hours passed in silence, the only sounds the distant clank of chains and the occasional murmur of guards patrolling the hallways. The prison had an eerie stillness to it at night, as if the weight of the stone walls pressed down on everything.

Suddenly, Eleo’s peaceful sleep was interrupted by a faint whisper. "Eleo... Eleo..." It was soft at first, almost like a dream. He stirred, mumbling in his sleep, but the voice grew louder.

"ELEO!"

His eyes shot open, heart racing, his body tensing. He sat up quickly, looking around the dark cell, but Olorun was still snoring softly on the floor.

The voice came again, louder, more urgent. "ELEOO!"

Eleo’s gaze darted to the corner of the cell, and his breath caught in his throat. There, standing in the shadows, was a figure he hadn’t seen in years.

It was Lilith Corson, the demon princess. She looked just as he remembered her—her dark, silky hair pulled back into a neat ponytail, the deep purple strands shimmering with a slight sheen, a mark of her royal status. Her round, cherubic face still had those youthful, soft features, with rosy cheeks and a small, delicate nose. But what stood out the most were her bright, golden-yellow eyes, large and expressive, shining like beacons in the dim light.

Lilith's small horns peeked out from her hair, and her tiny bat-like wings fluttered gently behind her. A thin tail swayed back and forth, curling at the tip. She looked like a figure straight out of a dream—or a nightmare.

Eleo sat up, heart pounding in his chest, eyes wide in disbelief as he stared at the girl standing before him. He ran a hand through his messy hair, still trying to shake off the fog of sleep. "Lilith? Is that really you?"

Lilith Corson, the demon princess, stood with a radiant smile that could light up the darkest of rooms. Her wings fluttered ever so slightly, and the flickering torchlight danced off her golden eyes. She took a step forward, her small horns gleaming under the low light.

"Of course, it’s me, Eleo," she said, her voice soft but filled with warmth. "I mean, who else would it be? You haven’t forgotten about me, have you?" There was a playful lilt to her tone, but her eyes betrayed something deeper—a quiet desperation, a need for reassurance.

Eleo chuckled nervously, rubbing his neck. "No, no, I haven’t forgotten. It’s just… it’s been a while." He paused, glancing around the dimly lit cell, feeling the weight of reality crashing down on him. "But what are you doing here? How did you even find me?"

Lilith tilted her head slightly, her gaze never leaving his. "I came to see you, of course. To check on you." Her voice dropped, becoming more tender, more intimate. "I’ve been worried about you, Eleo. You’ve been on my mind a lot lately… I couldn’t just sit around and do nothing."

Eleo felt a strange mix of emotions—gratitude, unease, confusion. Lilith was the last person he’d expected to see in this hellhole. "Well, I appreciate it," he said, his voice softer now. "But, uh, as you can see, I’m in a bit of a situation here." He gestured around the cell, the damp stone walls and the iron bars a stark reminder of their current predicament. "I need to figure out how to get out of here."

Lilith’s face lit up, her eyes practically sparkling. "Then I’ll help you! I’ll do whatever it takes, Eleo." She moved closer, almost hovering over him, her wings flapping lightly in excitement. "You know I’d do anything for you, right?"

Eleo scratched his head, unsure of how to respond. "I… appreciate that. But this isn’t exactly a walk in the park. I mean, we’re in a high-security prison in the middle of nowhere. It’s not like we can just waltz out of here."

Lilith’s expression shifted, her brows furrowing in thought. "What is this place, anyway?" Her voice carried a hint of curiosity, but also something deeper—concern, perhaps even fear.

"It’s called Agharna," Eleo replied, his tone grim. "Some underground prison. I don’t know all the details, but it’s bad. They’ve got us working in the mines, doing hard labor all day. And if we don’t find a way out soon…" He trailed off, the weight of the situation settling over him once again.

Lilith’s golden eyes flickered with emotion, her voice softening as she spoke. "You’re not alone, Eleo. You don’t have to face this by yourself."

Eleo felt a pang of guilt as he looked at her, at the way her eyes shimmered with that undeniable adoration.To her, he wasn’t just Eleo, the guy stuck in a prison cell—he was something greater, someone worth following, worth loving.

He sighed, rubbing his face. "Look, Lilith… I’m not some hero, alright? I’m just trying to survive like everyone else."

She shook her head, a determined look crossing her features. "You are a hero, Eleo. You’ve always been one, even if you don’t see it." Her voice was soft but unwavering, filled with an almost childlike conviction.

Eleo shifted uncomfortably under her gaze. "Yeah, well, heroes don’t usually end up in places like this."

Lilith’s expression softened again, and she reached out, her fingers lightly brushing his hand. "That doesn’t matter to me. I believe in you."

Eleo swallowed hard, not sure how to handle the intensity of her loyalty. He pulled his hand away gently and leaned back against the cold stone wall. "Okay, but let’s be real for a second. I need something concrete—a plan, a map of this place. Something to give us a fighting chance."

Lilith blinked, her brows knitting together. "A map? You think there’s one around here?"

Eleo sighed, shaking his head. "I doubt it’s just lying around. But maybe… maybe there’s a way to get our hands on one." He paused, rubbing his chin as he thought out loud. "The guards, maybe they have one. Or the warden."

Lilith tilted her head thoughtfully. "I could help you get it. I could… I could distract the guards, or sneak into their quarters. They wouldn’t even see me coming."

Eleo looked at her, half in awe, half worried. "Lilith, that’s dangerous. If they catch you—"

"They won’t," she cut him off, her voice firm. "I’ll be careful. For you, Eleo, I’d do anything."

Eleo rubbed his temples, his mind racing. "Alright. But we need more than just a map. We need to be smart about this. There’s too many variables—guards, the layout, the other prisoners."

Lilith’s eyes gleamed with determination. "We can figure it out together. And I've also gotten stronger."

Eleo smiled faintly at the memory of their little adventure. "Yeah, I guess. But this… this is different."

Lilith stepped closer, her voice dropping to a near whisper. "It’s not different to me, Eleo. I’m still with you, no matter what."

There was a long silence between them, the air heavy with unspoken emotions. Finally, Eleo sighed and nodded. "Alright. Let’s give it a shot. But we do this carefully. No unnecessary risks."

Lilith smiled, her eyes bright with hope. "Careful. Got it."

Just then, Olorun stirred on the floor, mumbling something incoherent as he shifted in his sleep. Eleo glanced down at him, then back at Lilith.

"We should talk more tomorrow," Eleo whispered, trying to keep his voice low. "When everyone’s awake."

Lilith nodded, her wings fluttering softly behind her. "I’ll be around. Whenever you need me."

With one last smile, Lilith faded into the shadows, her figure disappearing as silently as she had come. Eleo lay back down, staring up at the ceiling, his mind spinning with a million thoughts.

He couldn’t deny the part of him that was grateful to have her around again. But at the same time, something gnawed at him—something he couldn’t quite shake. Lilith’s devotion, her unwavering loyalty… it was too much, too intense. Like she saw him as something he wasn’t, something he could never live up to.

He sighed, closing his eyes. Tomorrow would bring more challenges, more dangers. But at least now, he wasn’t completely alone.