=== Day off – part 5

[This trip sure takes a lot time. We should hurry it up for Noctia, since she is suffering the most out of all of us. What do you say my curious pink leader, are you still certain that there is something worth our time here? Ups, I forgot to tell you that you do have a limit, and it's not only my patience. Isn't that right girls?]

[Considering that we both don't have anything to do with your bet Oddie, I don’t want you to involve us as well okay? It's getting darker and drizzlier the further we delve into this place. Do you have any idea how large it is actually?]

[Um, you got me there, I have no idea. With that being said, I guess it’s getting a little chilly. Frankly, if you have no interest in seeing Jielby get what she deserves, I'm going to record a video for you two. That way we can all relive the moment, because I'm sure that there is an end to this cave, just about...]

[As you say my child, but is your knowledge worth more than the companionship of your friend? Think not of revenge, but unity above division. That is the vision of the Lord—we all have our thoughts and our goals, as simple humans. It is our inability to see beyond our perspective that he gives us the path. Bless be his light in this...*yawn*]

I guess even Noctia has a limit to how much she can praise God. That doesn't matter. My reward, here in the middle of earth, is the sweet worried face of my adorable pink leader who has a sweat drop going down her chin. How strange she must feel, not all so mighty in the end. She has a big piper, but now lips are sealed. Her silence says it all—she is also at her wit’s end.

Our group, the Wing Sisters, have been some time in this cave already. It was an hour or so, I can't tell exactly. Without the sun and with only our torch lights, we followed the river towards the inevitable end of this adventure. After all, taking bets with someone who already know a result should not be permitted, but as if I would care.

As long as that child gets her reward for being annoying all the time, I am going to be glad. It is a matter of time before she...

[Hey Jielby, how long are you planning to play today? I can give you some food if you want. It's a nice and juicy burger...No just kidding, it's a simple sandwich. Gracious I got hungry—can you imagine that I'm actually enjoying this? *chump* You promised me a nice time to rest, and all I’m doing is just floating around, thinking about the weather, eating *chruch*and waiting for you to admit that I was right in the end. Please don't be afraid to visit me again if you are so generous.]

[Oh mosey-nosey, have you girls heard something just now? Was this just my imagination playing tricks on me? It was a sound, like a droplet of water falling onto something metal. Why metal? Wowzers I knew I had a hunch, there must be something here! Okay, now everyone must be sneaky-peaky and say not a single word. I'm going listen to this little deary-eary, so pipers down!]

[You are the one loud here, if you have no yet noticed.]

[Shh...she said wants us to be quiet.]

I got pacified by Corona before I was allowed to speak again. Her finger on my lips sealed the desire to annoy her ever more, though I was wondering if she actually heard anything. Out of four, only she appeared actually trying to feel the air in depth. If my memory serves, at the end of this tunnel there was a teensy hole that was hardly a fit for a human. Yet, directly above, there was this one rock which was always damp. Its droplets fell into that opening and whatever happened to them was a mystery.

I can’t really tell how deep down it goes, but if I couldn’t really hear anything, the depression there must have been really severe. If her sound came from there, maybe she had a better hearing. Yet I could feel relieved since there is no way she can squeeze herself down that tiny hole.

[Well it is that way! I haz good hears! Okay girls, this is going to be a stretch for us all, but we are close to our destination. What is the most metal thing you can think of right now? It's obviously a chest! What does open those? Did you thought metal keys? Righto! You deseverse a biscuit! But sorry-molly, I don't have them with me, so you need to be satisfied with the second prize. Bam, it is a pretzel. Don't ask me why, but I just happen to love bread. Why ish so deli-jelli you ask? Answer me and you get a reward!]

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

[Is it because with it you can shut your trap that was beeping at all time?]

[It is because your motive is a pigeon you like bread, right? Wait, that should be the other way around.]

[It is because being frugal is a virtue? Let God bless your goodwill my child.]

All those diodes light up above our heads, accounting that each of our answers were right. Hence, despite the happy face, she was forced to share the pretzel with us, leaving her only a small piece, which she swallowed quickly, in one quick bite. Despite that bird-like ability she exhibited, I would think that she was still quite unfed as she was rubbing her little tummy.

Poor Jielby, not knowing when to end, looking less and less vigorous, so poor I would even share my crumbs if I had any. However, I have to remain fair to my rules, and see how long she can take this endevour before her energy supply runs out.

[Hey I found it! I told you girls, I knew I whiffed it right. But rather than nose I should have said ears right? Upsie! Anyway, this here old mine shaft is where we have to go! The problem is...well this is defins not an issue for us!]

[And even if you say so, you are the only one to be raising any hands Jielby. I'm sorry I'm missing your point here. I can only see this miniature hole, how can you tell there is somehow a whole different world done there? Actually, how do you plan going there? Do you have a potion that makes you smaller? I thought this was the limit of how we...]

[Nonsese my little-britte green fairy, the target goal lies within our abilities! By saying that I already have a solution! I have a pickaxe, you have a pixieaxe, we all have tools here. All we need to do is simply dig up our way and we will reach it! Jappers, you are correcto! It is the treasure! Pure gold I tell ya! Obviously girls you can't all work on empty stomachs, right? And who had the heart to share my very last pretzel with you all? Yes, I have planned it all, this totals adorbs pegasus knight!]

[If you are that genius, or should I say smarts, then please do tell me how you are exactly going to dig in this very limited space? You barely even can fit a single person in that fissure. I’m not even going to mention that we are all already very small to begin with. This might take a whole day for us just to try to widen the gap, which I'm not planning on doing. Suit yourself, if you will, okay?]

The problem was that no one was willing to wait here until Jielby would finish with whatever she was trying to over there. All of our three heads were looking at our commander, questioning her idea from certain distance. I don't think she did mind that, as she went inside, trying to squeeze in that narrow fissure. If anything happens, we will try to rescue you, I nodded with a smug.

Right, she gave us a thumb up and went it, with her pickaxe in her hand. I can only hope that she managed not to get stuck, because I don't think I do know the way of getting her out. At least she was happy, with little room she had left to shine. We all waited patiently, looking if she was still breathing, gazing at her attempts to swing her pickaxe against the rock. With the sound of her doing filling the cave, there was little progress to her act, as the stone didn't want to give in.

[Okay Jielby, if you get tired let me try okay? I want to be fair and square, so you can see there was nothing here to begin with.]

[But you are wrong there Oddie. Why would the key appear in the water? Not because someone left it on purpose there, but it was washed away! What amazing development, did this brisky-frisky pink miner girl just blow your hats off? Yup, most defins you are only waiting for the grand finale, which is about to unveil right before your eyes, any moment now!]

[If you say so, I wanted just to help...But if you are really that eager to sacrifice yourself for your pride, then sure. It is kinda cute that you still carry your steel resolve, despite your legs shaking and your hands losing their grip.]

[It would be most no-no if I let you get all the glory, Oddie. Tsk-tsk, but I'm going for the gold here! Here it comes!]

It was just a second before I realised what she was planning. If I knew before I would have done something to prepare, but now it was too late. Instead of hitting the bottom part of the cave, the one that hosts the world’s smallest drain, she aimed at the top one, which is where the faucet was hidden. Who knew that those things are very volatile to even a graceful touch?

The entire squad of Wing Sisters was about to learn through firsthand experience just how dangerous is playing with hydrants. There was a large gush followed by little rocks falling out of the newly broken opening. For us it was just about bearable, but for Jielby it was probably not that all nice. She took forcibly a shower that launched her out the gap in an instant. Additionally, lading with her butt on a rock near my feet, she appeared dizzy, not knowing what exactly happened that moment.

As a good companion I reached out for her instantly, stabilizing her in place, shielding her eyes and face from tiny rocks. At the same time the water was pushing us back, so we had to brace against the impact and slowly move away from the source.

[Are you guys okay? Goodness gracious, Jiebly, are you still alive? You look hurt.]

[Ehehe...I feel a little funny...don't mind me, I can take it, I'm a knight!]

[Let God be praised for your safety my child, we must depart at once from here!]

[Hey, if you can't stand I'm going to help you okay? That giant rock was quite intense, even for my liking.]

Besides the minor scrapes on her forehead, which I felt with my fingers, our captain appeared alive and still awake. The most damaged part was probably her butt, but she will manage that, since she is a knight. Yet, Noctia was right, we had to move before we would get washed away. I figured as much, when a strange sensation vibrated firmly under me.

It was the ground, though made out of rock, started giving up and crumbling as it was dirt. Our nimbleness was tested, as well as our minds. I and the others started shaking and looking at each other, just seconds before it all fell down. I grabbed whatever was closest to my hand, which was the captain's body sitting on the ground, and braced for impact.