Outside the cave it is still pitch dark because of the silk covering the canopies, so the two have no clue what time it is.

"Damn it, Mel always told me to bring a watch."

Mid chew, Miriam points to his shadow and asks, "You don't have a clock in there somewhere?"

"I'll keep it in mind now."

The cave's dim light flickers, casting long shadows that dance across the rough stone walls. Absinthe and Miriam sit close to the fire, its heat a welcome relief from the chill that seems to seep into their bones from the damp surroundings. The air carries a crisp scent of pine and the faint trace of brimstone, reminding them that they are in the heart of the Enchanted Forest.

Absinthe takes another bite of his meat, savoring the flavor as Miriam finishes her own meal in thoughtful silence. Her eyes occasionally dart towards the cave entrance, as though expecting something to emerge from the darkness beyond. He can sense her tension, but he knows better than to push her.

She glances at the shadows around them. "Do you think you can store me in there? My legs hurt like hell after running and fighting and running again."

"It's actually pretty cozy there," Absinthe admits, "but I'm not good enough to bring multiple people inside."

"…So you do have some sort of living space inside. Seriously, who do you invoke?"

"Trade secret."

After he finishes his meal, he considers how to pass the exam. Currently he and Miriam have two lifesteals each. Unfortunately only a few glennal spiders have heartspuds attached to them.

It's almost hard to think that the minimum is fifty lifesteals.

He glances at Miriam, who's covered by layers of thick clothing. He can't quite spot where her heartspud is.

"If you're looking for my heartspud, just know I'm looking for yours as well."

"Oh? You're willing to admit it? By the way, I'm guessing your… left rib, cuz' of the way you protect it in battle."

She purses her lips, glancing down at her side.

"You're really annoying, you know. But… Yes, I am willing to be honest. If I'm going to stab or be stabbed, I'd rather it be in the front, not the back."

Absinthe leans back against the cave wall, a smirk playing on his lips. "Well, at least you're upfront about it," he says, flicking a stray thread from his sleeve. "So, any grand strategy for the next leg of this ordeal?"

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Miriam stretches her legs out, wincing slightly as she does so. "I was thinking we stick together for now. More eyes, more chances to get those heartspuds. Plus, it's safer—there's strength in numbers."

Absinthe nods, considering her words. The fire casts dancing flames across Miriam's face, softening the hard lines of her features. "Agreed," he says, tossing another stick into the fire.

The flames from their campfire begin to shrivel as the logs are completely spent. The warm glow on Miriam's face fades away, leaving only darkness between the two.

"Let's go," she says, standing back up. She feels the mana pumping through her body, fully replenished now.

Miriam steps out of the cave, getting caught on a spiderweb that sprawls on her face.

She grits her teeth as she sprays her face with cold water. "This godsdamned glen."

Absinthe follows behind her, making sure no spiders are creeping up near them.

The morning barely sun filters through the dense canopy of silk, branches, and leaves, casting intricate patterns of light and shadow on the forest floor. Absinthe's boots crunch softly on the moss-covered ground as he and Miriam make their way deeper into the Enchanted Forest. The air is filled with the distant calls of ethereal birds and the rustling of leaves as unknown creatures scurry through the underbrush.

"Got to hand it to this place," Absinthe remarks, glancing around with a mix of curiosity and wariness. "It's like an endless labyrinth."

Miriam nods, her expression hardening with determination. "We need to keep moving. The more ground we cover, the better our chances of finding more heartspuds."

Strange goop falls from leaking spider eggs stuck to the top of the silky canopy. Before some could fall on Miriam's hair, he opens the shadow on her head, and expels the liquids somewhere else.

In the dark ecosystem, all sorts of strange creatures thrive alongside the glennal spiders, which appear to be the Apex Predators around here.

Bats flutter ahead, some getting caught between the thin, but sticky threads in the canopy. Absinthe almost slips on a coiled serpent camouflaged on the forest's dark soil.

Miriam groans as she steps in a pile of feces, spraying off the residue with a fierce jet of water from her fingertips.

"I need a hot bath, like right now."

"I share that feeling. Should I eliminate you now so you can enjoy a bath back home?"

She rolls her eyes and picks up the pace. "Forget I said anything."

…

Absinthe and Miriam push onward, their boots sinking into the damp earth. The forest is alive with the sounds of unseen creatures, a cacophony that both excites and unnerves them. They exchange glances, a silent understanding passing between them. This is a place of both beauty and danger, a place where survival is the ultimate goal.

The canopy above them is a complex web of silk and shadow, a labyrinth that both protects and threatens them. As they navigate this strange terrain, strange substances occasionally drip down, forcing Absinthe to deftly manipulate his shadow to shield them from harm.

Eventually, the two reach a patch of the glen covered by sunlight. It stands out like a sore thumb in the dark forest, but it does feel safer walking in it.

The ground under them becomes uneven as Miriam's boots begin to slosh against the wet mud.

"Urgh… more things to clean," she mutters as she forces her way through the forest.

Absinthe follows behind, having to force his feet up for each step. It feels as if he's scaling a steep hill.

More of the slimy goop drops from the canopies, almost getting on his tailored tunic.

The green viscous liquid seeps into the wet swamp.

Absinthe gazes peculiarly at the mud as he sloshes forth.

"Say Miriam, why does my shadow stretch a dozen meters underground?"