I don’t know when, but I once again slept. It must’ve been the injuries that were taking a toll on me.

This time I woke up to the sound of rocks and mental being struck. The mining has begun. Although how long it'll last remains to be seen.

But that doesn't seem to be my main problem before the exit of the tunnel stands two guards with equipment looted from the Delusional Ones. They stand there looking out for any enemies, but it seems to be more like making sure I don't escape.

We'll see about that.

"Eli, I'm glad that you're awake. Here have something to eat." Kali said and gave me a leaf with some mashed plant matter and berries on top. "I rushed here the moment I heard you woke up."

"Thanks." I put it beside me.

"Look, I know what happened and I get your concerns, but look at your body. You're in no condition to fight or do any other taxing work for that matter." She held my hand and placed the food back in it.

"But they'll come and let me tell you it won't with just seven of us dead."

"You forgot one thing." She looked me in the eyes. "You aren't alone, you don't need to scout or anything. That's taken care of. All you need to do is let your wounds heal."

I sighed. "I'll take your word on that."

"Don't worry, if you want you still can help around. For example, you can help prepare dishes."

"So much for letting me heal." I laughed and started eating the so-called food. It wasn't as bad as expected, a delicacy in contrast to what they gave us at the factory.

"By the way I must apologize for making you worry. Because of me you got injured. It's just I saw my sister laying there, she told me the plan and I followed."

"So, that was your sister."

"Yeah. Before that I didn't even know if she was alive. Turns out she was... being a toy in the Lord's mansion." She was sobbing as she told me the last part. I held her hand.

"It's okay now. She's okay."

She nodded.

The rest of the meal we ate in silence as Kali was taking back her reign of the emotions. Before she went away, she turned to me.

"Do you want to go see the scouts? It might put your mind at ease. And maybe see my sister if she isn't asleep."

"Yeah, let's do that."

We went further into the cave. In the tunnels were makeshift beds on each side as we walked. This was no place of comfort, but that didn't spoil the smiles on each escapees faces.

We came into a slight hole in the tunnel where two men were sitting. The younger of them was trying to tune a string instrument he made. It sounded terrible, like the wailing of the cats.

While the older man with a beard was resting against the wall. Eyes closed giving zero fucks about the world around him. A massive feat of patience if he can rest while someone beside him is trying out psychological torture. Or maybe he's already deaf.

"This is them. The one with the Guitar is Charles. While the old man is-"

"Frank." Maybe after all he's not deaf.

"Nice to meet you I'm Eli."

"Yeah, it is." He said as he shook my hand.

"Kid!" Frank shouted while looking at Charles. "Stop it and introduce yourself."

"Wait old log, I nearly have the note I need. Besides they heard my name."

Frank shook his head at him and returned his sight back to us.

"So, anyway. Do you need anything? As for the kid ignore him, he's... a plentiful."

"That can be seen." I said and chuckled at their antics. Right away, I feel much safer in their hands.

"Well, I came here because of Eli to introduce the two of us to him. You know he's the one who got us the map."

"Yeah, I heard about you. Good job I must say and thanks for getting us out of the factory." Frank said as he looked at me in appreciation, meanwhile Charles stopped tuning his instrument of torture and nodded his head at me.

"So how do the two of you go about scouting I might give you some tips."

"Well, I certainly would like to know what you've seen at the encampment it might make our job easier."

"Right."

***

I told them everything I saw while I was there along how I did it and such. Although I did not mention my embarrassing moments where I was nearly caught.

"It's impressive. But we don't get that close to them, we don't have to track them down." Frank said while looking at the ceiling.

"Besides we know what we're doing and made ourselves ghillies." Charles said as he took out a bush like garment.

"Kid. Don't be like that. Eli made do with what he had. His skills are clear for everyone to see, even if some don't want to admit it. As ghillie wouldn't help much in that situation."

"Whatever you think old man. Next time I'll be out I'll take a souvenir." Charles took his guitar went to bother someone else.

"Don't mind the kid he's just like that trying to get recognition and attention."

"It's okay besides he didn't do anything to offend me."

I saw that Kali has gone ahead into the tunnels and so I was quick to follow. “Old man I'd like to earn a trick or two from you, but if possible at another time."

"That won't be necessary." He looked straight at me and I raised an eyebrow at what he meant. "There's no tips or tricks as to what we're doing. It's all about patience. Besides I don't think you need me to guide you how to make a ghillie, sergeant."

"Yeah, I think that won't be necessary."

"Take care."

"You too soldier."

I went further through the tunnels until I came to a part from where all the noise was originating. And all that foul smell. It was the miners, striking the hard rocks.

There beside them was Kali along with who I presumed to be her sister. Near them sat Charles impressing no one with his playing.

"Did the old man bore you to death and what are you doing here anyway, patient? You should be lying in bed looking out for your wounds." Charles spat as he saw me walking towards them.

"No, talking with someone who has a certain appreciation and camaraderie is quite enjoyable. As for you. Shouldn't you be out and scouting?"

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

"That'll come, after Brad comes back from his shift."

I ignored him and came beside Kali and her sister. They were giving rations to the miners. Nothing else than a plant mush. I waited till they were done before I informed of my presence.

"Hello you must be Kali's sister." I extended my hand forward for a handshake. But instead, she leapt on me and hugged me.

"Thank you." I heard the screeching of the guitar stop.

"It's okay."

We remained like that for a while until she had enough and we moved back to the clearing in the cave.

"By the way it's a bit rude of me to ask, but I still haven't learnt your name."

"Not at all. My name's Isbila."

We hugged once more before a cough sounded from the side by Kali. Why doesn't she let me have my moment and let me enjoy myself between her sister's boobs? I sense jealousy~~.

We separated although I did so reluctantly.

"By the way I wanted to introduce her to you also because she's something of a cook here." Kali said.

"So, this is going to be my new slave owner."

"Please don't put it as such all you have to do is separate the berries into piles."

"Yeah, Eli don't worry it's not that difficult I can show you how it's done." Isbila said with a sweet smile, though all I saw was the grin of the devil threatening to take my nap time.

"Yeah, okay." My mouth answered by itself.

We talked some more about small things before they left to help with digging. Although not before they made me promise to help Isbila.

Now as I was left alone, I took out my spellbook and started meditating. Drawing in the small particles that kept gathering around the spellbook.

It was no easy feat as I needed my whole concentration to draw it into me.

The particles were ever-changing in colour and ever-moving, sparking into existence before promptly disappearing, bringing different feelings as they shifted and turned.

In the end I felt my head was heavy from all that observing and I looked up.

On the other side of the cave sat Allan in a meditative stance just like me before. He must’ve seen me and joined. I saw a small flame flickering in the palm of his hand.

Seeing him do such a thing I tried, too. By visualizing the flame and taking only the red particles from the air. I tried starting it.

Time after time.

"You have to combine it with the white magicules. For it to work." I did as Allan told me and felt a small spark appear in my hand. Before a small boom was heard. I quickly patted out the fire that was burning my clothes.

"You've gathered too much fire magicules that's why that happened." Alan came and sat beside me.

"We went outside to gather some herbs, water and look for more people."

"Did it work out?"

"Yeah, it did." He said and leaned further back till his back was touching the wall. "We found three more people. It's twenty-seven of us here. By the end of the week, we'll be on the first layer."

"What gives you the confidence?"

"We've dug about three hundred meters into the ground. Taking into the account what was by the miners before us. All we have to do is dig about two hundred meters more and we can go out."

"What makes you think we're better than the miners that died here before us?"

"They got attacked and wounded and battered they dug. It can be seen on their remains. Besides all we have to do is dig more than five hundred meters and we'll have it."

"If you think so."

"I know so. It's not just me, but the knowledge that I gathered speaking. You might not believe me, but believe in what was gathered by other pioneers."

Just then Isbila came back, a devilish grin on her face as she the two of us.

"Alan, can you help us with preparing dinner? Some small animals were caught." Isbila said and started dragging Alan away regardless if he was talking with me. He looked horrified.

"How about Eli helps you, he too can make magical fire." Alan said.

She looked at me, then at Alan before getting a devious smirk. "Why don't you both help it'll be done quicker."

Even before we could do anything to protest, we were given both makeshift bowls from the shoulder pads. As quickly as she appeared she disappeared.

"I think we should get to it. Last time I didn't get it in time and she wouldn't stop nagging me."

"Alright."

We both concentrated and fires appeared in our palms, one after the other. This time there was no impact as I got it under control.

"So, while we are doing this do you have anything to talk about?"

Before answering him, I tried concentrating less on the fire. In the end I managed to keep it burning and answered him. Nonetheless I still kept my eyes following the swaying fire.

"Can anybody learn magic?" I asked him.

"Well, yes and no."

I motioned with my head for him to continue.

"In a sense people have different talents to see or rather visualise the magicules. Everyone can visualise them, but some people need more mana rich environments to start off in. This planet for example is such a place. Ten times as much magicules as in our home world and that's just here, on the surface."

"I see..." I said " the magicules why do they keep shifting?"

"That... I don't know why. But I do know that every colour of them represents some element or physic law. On the path of a mage, you're always trying to see more and control more."

I smelled something burning and right away stopped the flow of magicules. We both returned the bowls to Isbila that took them and started distributing to people. Alan got some meat and me too, but instead of eating it I set it aside.

I don't think I'll be able to eat it for a while without getting the sickening feeling of it being unknown meat. Even if I know it's from an animal.

"Why didn't you take the meat?" Alan asked as he kept eating his meal.

"I'd rather not say. It'll spoil your taste."

"Please. How terrible can it be?"

"Don't say I didn't warn you."

I told him about our luxurious meals in the factory and how they were made. It did have the effect as I thought. He ended up eating only the plants for the rest of the dinner as for meat he gave it to someone else just like I did.

"Please don't say this to anyone." He asked of me in all seriousness.

"You wanted to hear it even though I warned you."

As we ended our meal, we saw the miners going up and receiving their portions. In their midst was Kaiya, pale from the dust just like the rest of them.

I ignored her and got back to talking with Alan before going back to sleep.

-----

I woke up in the middle of the night, our unpreparedness didn't make it easy for me to sleep. All around me were snoring people. Yet the sound of mining continued, no matter the time of day, giving me at the very least some reassurance.

"Hey." I heard a silent whisper call out to me and not long after Brad came to me. "So, it seems your freedom hasn't worked out for you."

"Oi, fuck off." I whispered back like shooing off a cat.

"Okay, but that's not what I came to you for. What do you say we go out for a bit?"

I looked towards the entrance of the cave and saw a pair of guards still upholding their duty.

"You don't have to worry. Kaiya had confirmed you can go out. Everyone can."

"Then what are we waiting for. I'm already suffocating from the smell of this cave."

We went out in the gazes of the guards. I heard faint rustling as we were departing, but found nothing looking back.

"So, we're out here what did you need to tell me?"

"Look Kaiya might seem harsh, but she did it because she doesn't want to see you self-destroy yourself. None of us want that."

"So, that's the important thing that couldn't have been dealt with inside." I said as I turned to go back into the cave, but saw Kaiya waiting at the entrance.

"Brad, can you give us some space?" She said as she came and stood beside me. Meanwhile Brad gave me a reassuring smile before disappearing.

"So, what's this two character act all about?"

She looked at the stars before answering. "I came to apologize for taking the credit, also the map and not talking with you about stuff." She tried giving me back the map, but I didn't take it and let it fall onto the ground.

"What about restricting my freedom?"

"Freedom? Of what torturing yourself?! Look at yourself." She held my hand and I felt my body aching, yet I didn't let it show on my face. She looked at me with pain in her eyes, as if she was the one in pain.

Yet she was... I was wrong.

"Why do you keep doing this to your-" Tears were at the corner of her eyes as she looked with those two greenish jewels all over the place in clear distress.

I couldn't help myself at that moment and kissed her, a peck on the lips. But that was all that was needed to stop her in her tracks.

Her eyes no longer were searching for something that wasn’t even there and instead gazed upon me and I saw myself in them.

The rest of the conversation we carried on under the sea of the stars and the soft light of the two moons that made her body glisten. In the warm embrace of the grass and each other. And as the creaking of the bugs resounded in the night so did our moans through the plain.

"I'm sorry for making you worry about me. I acted selfish." I said as I caressed her face. She was laying next to me, her visage accentuated in the shine of the stars. A soft glow enveloped her like an angel.

"If you're selfish then who isn't?" She hugged me closer. "It's just... you aren't alone, you know. There are people who can and want to help you. You don't have to make yourself bear everything."

"Yet you do so as a Duchess."

"I'd rather not. Before the Basilic I nearly foiled the whole plan. It's just that I gathered the people. They subconsciously took me for a leader as they got to know I'm a Duchess. The title just made it justifiable for them."

She looked me in the eyes. "Even though I did tell them It was thanks to you and Brad, they still chose to follow me rather than anyone else."

"You wanted to push responsibility upon me and I wasn't even there to refuse it?!" I said in an over-the-top tone that got me a pinch to my stomach.

"Now, are you trying to avoid responsibility?"

"I'm not a Duke after all?" I said with a goofy smile, but felt something was off as she looked deep within my eyes.

"That can be arranged."

I know what this is. "You're honey trapping me. I won't be tempted by such vile acts. You vixen. A man su-" A tongue slipped into my mouth and I was silenced, but not defeated. I wrestled with her for dominance before we separated, both of us breathless.

"You're far more handsome when you're silent." Kaiya said as she wore her clothes and tried leaving with a stern gaze. Now, I couldn't have that and took her into my arms for another kiss, before letting her leave with a red face.

"I'll see you in the morning, my Duchess."

I couldn't see her, but I bet she had a smile on her face. As for me I know I did.

The world didn't seem half bad and everything I've done to this point seemed to have a point to it.

If not to me then at least for the twenty-seven people I know I helped save.

Each one of them with dreams and aspirations.

I laid back on the grass between the bushes and looked at the sky. At that time, I didn't know it would be a long time since I saw it. A real sky.