Belle collapses to the ground. blood starts to puddle the ground around her.

Zack lets out a roar of anger and charges towards the beast driving his sword through its back. The blade coming out the other side into the ground.

He then runs leaving the gecko pinned. he makes it over to her, he picks her up in his arms.

tears streaming down his face he shouts to the miners "Don't just stand there don't you have any healing!"

they stay there stunned for a second, then the big one speaks. "I only have bandages nothing that's gonna fix that, don't you have magic?"

“I've never been good at it please help her I can't lose her." Zack said mainly shrieking.

Guntar is trying his best to make it over but the gecko won't allow him any room. he jumps back and his breathe turns into steam as he begins to speak with glowing eyes " begone depraved creature or ill bring your head home as a trophy."

the gecko's ears start to ring with a singeing pain as it shakes its head violently.

it screeches and runs as fast as it can away from guntar the other geckos follow suit.

the one jumping up dislodging Zack's sword and scurrying away into a hole in the ceiling.

guntar runs over and starts to strum his banjo while humming a melody. the wound starts to close and Belle coughs.

Zack shouts "Belle please wake up please wake up.”

without even realizing it, his hand that is caressing her face starts to glow a bright yellow and that aura surrounds her.

she opens her eyes and looks at Zack. " I've told you to stop crying all the time, it isn't very knightly.” she said playfully while gingerly wiping his face of tears.

he gives her a big hug holding her tight.

She blushes then quickly snaps out of it shoving him off and standing up. "anyways the geckos are all gone?"

Zack chimes in "Yes Guntar how did you do that they were terrified.

" A bards words soaked in emotion are power." Zack sits there awe-struck beyond impressed for this was one of the few times he witnessed Guntars magic other than to entertain.

One of the minors comes over with water skin. " here adventurers hydrate yourselves I'm not arcane inclined but I can bandage a scrape she starts to bandage zacks arm.

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She is a human girl with brown hair, with buns in her hair in the shape of a dessert. She wears glasses and is rather timid.

"I'm sorry about my brother he is rather cold, we have been abandoned on journeys with adventurers. his feelings towards them are less than friendly. My name is Fiona what's yours, sir knight?"

Zack is not used to women, let alone being cared for so gingerly. He coughs nervously blushing to boot. " Zachariah Grandiff malady!"

Belle is sitting across from them blowing bubbles in her water as she drinks staring holes through the two.

Guntar picking up on this sits next to Belle and whispers "Remember lass he cried for you hehe."

Belle shrieks and jumps up "Shut up old man what are you even talking about not like I care. I'm gonna see if I can find something from those geckos to sell back in town.” She storms off in a huff.

Guntar laughs bellowing throughout the caves.

Belle walks over to the opening where the battle had taken place. It’s there on the ground she finds the blood-covered shard that impaled her a little while ago. She wipes it off and puts it in her bag.

She then wanders over to the crystals on the wall and starts to chip away at them with the pickaxe she obtains in that pack from Scer.

Zack comes over to check on her. "Belle, are you feeling better you seem to be troubled?"

"Oh I don't know why don't you ask Fiona!” she said angrily striking the ore deposit.

" I'm not sure why she would know you haven't spoken to her?"

"Ugh! Never mind just help me collect this ore.” She snapped in reply.

She strikes the ore and the ground starts to rumble. It starts cracking under their feet as they fall through and hit the ground. Down below they find another tunnel seemingly.

"Ow, my rear end" exclaims Belle.

Fiona runs over to the now gaping hole in the floor they dropped about 30 feet down. " are you alright sir knight?"

"Just fine lady Fiona do you have any rope?"

Belle spots a glowing light from around the corner and goes to investigate.

"Belle wait it might not be safe!"

"I'm fine "sir knight".” She mockingly said while sticking her tongue out in a playful manner while walking away.

"while you gather the rope we are gonna investigate something be right back." He said to Fiona ." " Belle I wish you would be more careful considering earlier." He calls after belle trying to catch up to her.

"Why do you care so much?" She retorts.

"You're precious to me I thought that obvious?"

He says with a blunt vacant expression.

She turns crimson red.

"Are you alright Belle your red as a teifling."

"How can you say such embarrassing things so flippantly!" She srhieked in embarrassment.

Suddenly the ground begins to shake. That glowing light is now coming towards them. It turns the corner, another rock gecko. This one is huge compared to the others.

About 7 ft tall, 8 ft wide, and its throat is glowing red. The beast makes eye contact tilting its head to the side, its tongue flicking violently out its mouth. It is almost like it's searching for something.

Zack whispers to Belle" Now back up slowly don't make any sudden moves.”

They start to back up slowly when Belle steps over a sharp rock tearing her skirt a bit. A loud ripping sound echoes. The gecko leaps towards them.

Zack grabs Belle's hand and starts to dash back toward where they fell from.

Belle with her free hand points to the ceiling, her hand glows red as she fires two fire bolts from her hand hitting the ceiling behind them. the two explosions start to collapse the ceiling.

With Rubble blocking the way for the gecko. They make it to the rope Belle starts to climb it when she gets about halfway she is hollering for Guntar and the others to come help.

As Zack starts to climb the gecko plows right through the rubble its throat glowing even brighter than before. It hurls from its mouth a chunk of molten rock, and ore straight at the pair.

Don't forget to comment and let me know if you liked the story, and vote for it if you did get a lot more coming.

have quite a few more chapters done just need to post