=== Day off – part 8

[What is this now? Are those giant flamethrowers? Who would put that in a mine? Are those guys sadistic? Dammit! I wanna get off! There is no way we are going to avoid them! I'm going to use my spell, you can block or something!]

[No use, not going to passers. Like if cheating would be allowed here! You have to solve the puzzles using your head. I am smarts, so I expected this to happen! Just why are you thinking I even jumped inside here? Wowzers-mowers!]

[You are obviously going to burn in this tar! What else would it be? It's black, sticky, hot and bubbling! Jielby, go ahead, hide behind me. I am sure those are magic damage, so I might be able to block their flame for you, okay? Absolutely you must trust me on this one, okay? Dammit, you aren't even listening! Snap out of it girl, will you?]

[Ha, you want to make a bet? Okay just jokers here, but I'm serious-serious now, so trust me birdie, please. You are such an adorbs little fellow, it would be sad to have you end up as a fried chicken! Ishishi~ come on!]

This hand covered with an ugly substance, that smile she was making spontaneously, that warm from the bottom of her heart, all her waves started to resonate towards me, and despite me trying to resist, I couldn't think straight when she looked at me. I told myself that I had a better chance saving her when I would be inside that black stuff, that repulsive, viscid, putrid...

[Okay, don't worry Jielby, you are already covered in it, there is no way you are going to survive! I'm gonna do it! There might be no better way, so consider this as my gift to you okay? I don't even know why I'm saving you anyway!]

[Because we are a team Oddie, I would have done the same to you! Now come here and lower your head before it's too late!]

[No that's not...I was going to stand on your shoulders or the cart! I don't want to take a dip in that!]

[No way will you be able to hold balance! Here, I'm going to help you if you can't!]

She pulled my hand all of a sudden, and I wasn’t prepared for that...In a moment the force caused me to move slightly forward and into the puddle. As my body was forcibly immersed, inch by inch sinking deeper, my skin ignited from sensing this thick sweltering liquid. Both of us inside the cart raised the level towards our chests, so not a single spot was spared. Nevertheless, I had no time to think, because Jielby pushed my head down, just before we passed the red hot flamethrowers on the walls.

I am not sure what happened afterwards, because my mouth, eyes and nose were stuck in a strange substance. Did we pass them? The only tingle I was able to discreet was the warmth all around my curled up body. I couldn't tell if those were the burning flames, the hot tar, or the temperature of the silly pegasus knight who I joined below the surface of the dark liquid. After a little while...

[We are saved! Told you that this is not going to ignite! Like wowzers, how could you tell you amazing little devil? It is simples, you can't play a game you can't win right? You need at least one way that can lead you to victory. I noticed that even since I found the key. It has to have a use, don't you think? And just like this mine cart filled...]

Surfacing my head to catch a breather, I noticed we were going to crash! Just like the other track ended, there was a damaged section missing an entire section. At least give me the time to wipe the tar off my face!

[Stupid! Don't do that ever again! Look at me and you, all covered in this stuff...and on top of that, the track! There is a gap there, like someone did it on purpose just to torture us! I'm going to teleport to the other side, while you are free to try jumping. No objections right? Okay, this is going to be my plan now, so good luck with yours.]

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[Okay sure, leave me, but I’m still tying us both with my rope. How would that be a help for us both you ask? Wowzers, you already have guessed righto? You sho smarts Oddie! Of course it’s a part of my plan! Okay, just get ready-steady, I'm going to follow after you teleport. Worry not!]

[Whatever, I don’t think the rope would matter anyway. If you are planning to take another dip then be my guest. I’m going to pull you up afterwards, if I feel like it.]

Yet this was quite a good question, what is going to happen with the rope after I teleport? Who knows, let's just try it! I used my spell in time, before the track ended, and turned into nothingness for a brief moment. Then I flew past the hole, landed on the surface and materialised before the spell would finish, all this to avoid taking another dip into the tar pit.

As for Jielby, her situation was a little more interesting, since she remained inside the cart, standing on the ledge of it. At the moment I teleported, the rope followed me floating in space. However, she didn’t have that—she had to use something else. Vigilance allowed her to move double speed, but only if she would target an ally. Thus, this is why I she had to wait for me to materialise first, and activated it as soon as I appeared on the edge of the rock. She was quite luckily but...

[Ahhh! I slipped!]

[Dammit, here!]

In time I was able to save her slippery feet, despite me falling on the ground. At that time I reacted unconsciously again, and couldn't tell what I was doing. Alas, opening my eyes with her next to me on the ground, I was relieved we were safe. On top of that, the rope that connected us did not disappear due the...wait a second, why would she need to tie us together for anyway?

[Wow, you are trying to use me all this time? That jump was impossible but still...Why the rope? Were you trying to drown us both!?]

[No you silly, it was just in case if you would have not reached the edge. With my dashing-smashing skill alone I would have made it, probably, and then rescue you, righto? You are always worry-curry, this plan is not going to work, you are annoying and stuff, you’re too selfish! Can't I have a little funnies out of you too sometimes? Come on Oddia, smile a little.]

That was a good time to say those words, if there was a hidden camera somewhere. It seems that we activated another trap...This time something emerged from all around us. The wall, the ceiling and the floor, all revealed a miniature tube like tunnel, which then gushed out a certain material rapidly. We were both still on the ground, and there was no way we would dodge it.

In seconds after the wind blew, we got covered with feathers, black for me and white for Jielby. Although they stuck due tar, it wasn't necessary a bad feeling. I could finally have something to cover myself during hunting in cold climates, I joked. In truth, this funny and cosy feeling was shared with another one, so I couldn't complain about it. In fact when I looked...

My pegasus knight commander have turned into a very peculiar looking creature, with all her feathers sticking into places. I could not help but laugh, and as soon as I did, she also joined. We both deserved some relief after this absurdly crazy ride—we had to somehow unload the stress we faced. And to be honest, I never looked at her from close like that, but she does...

[Hey! Lookie lookie, it is a chest. Didn't I tell you I was right? I am always right, until I am proven wrong, bam! Anyway, would you mind me trying my luck again? Who would have known that this little-britte key is going to come in handy at times...]

[You can't possibly think someone had a lot of fun preparing this jumping puzzle, then abandoning it, but forgetting about the chest? Colour me surprised if you find anything, we still have out bet, right?]

She nodded, trying to unlock the small wooden box with a simple, yet oversized padlock. Click...she inserted the key, but couldn't turn it. Oh well, at least I'm going to say she passed the test with flying colours. She did try hard, looked like a fool, but in the end she was wrong about the metal item. Gush, I feel bad for this little white chick.

[Okay plan B then, I'm going to pry open this boxie-locksie! Here I go, heave-and-ho!]

[The bet was using the key—this is not how you supposed to...]

[But if I wedge it in, it still works like a lock pick, yes?]

[That's not what I mean! Whatever, I don't care anymore.]

With a crunchy sound, the top lid broke and now we could see the inside of it...Amazing, it was just a hair accessory. A small silver hairpin with a swan-like wing accent on it, it's not my style, but surely Jielby would have liked it...

[Here, this is yours. After all I lost the bet, right? Now I'm going to be all sadders now...]

[Oh really, I can't say I'm surprised that we didn't find a use for the key...but you can keep the hairpin.]

[Wait really? Wowzers? Are you really going to give it to me?]

[Considering that you cheated at the puzzle and said stuff, you deserve this second prize. That’s why it’s silver not gold. Besides, it will be more fitting for you, so as long you’re happy...]

Right, technically we don't know who won and who lost, since I kinda gave up on the bet eventually. But I was glad, since fashioning it on her feathery like birdbrain was true my victory. She was blushing, utterly genuinely as well. And then, I was caught completely by surprise as she snuck up me and granted me her kiss...on a cheek nevertheless.

I saw her smile and her gentle expression of the eyes. Inside of them there was a black swan which shred a little tear. All in all, I guess simple things are the best and thanks to Jielby I could realise what I have been missing out on.

Yet that is not going to change anything, she still is quite unbearable, but the least I can do is to accept her foolishness. Like when we returned home to take a bath, though the sticky tar and thick feathers did vanish on their own after some time, she was playing with a bath toy, making bubbles all over the place. That girlish callowness, I can't help but call it cute!

[Hey...this is quite fun. I’m glad that I was finally able to connect.]