Chapter 31 - Alone in the dark

Elena responded to Trev's request with three quick clap's of her hands, not wanting to be blasted by any potential fragments. In an instant, her world shifted from light to darkness, as she felt herself being drawn into the obelisk. Then, just as suddenly, she teleported from the darkness into a dimly lit cave, surrounded by the scent of dampness and the sound of running water and birds chirping in the distance.

"Trev?" called Elena, but there was no response.

She took a tentative step toward the light, hoping he might be waiting for her outside. However, as she moved forward, a message appeared in her vision, urging caution.

[Warning: Solo attempt is not recommended at level [4]. Please return with a party at level [7]]

[Clap three times to leave the dungeon. Leaving the dungeon will abandon the run and reset the instance]

Elena surmised that the party feature must unlock at level seven, this is when she would be able to make a legitimate attempt at a dungeon. The realisation she was alone, unnerved her. She couldn't help but worry about Trev's well-being. Had he been transported to the same place, or was he facing a dangerous situation? She was annoyed she wasn't there to protect him, as the thought of him getting hurt again was unbearable.

Feeling a surge of emotions, Elena fought back tears and decided to distract herself by exploring further into the dungeon. Despite the system's advice, she reasoned that a quick peek outside the cave wouldn't hurt. Gripping her blade tightly, she cautiously made her way toward the entrance, determined to remain vigilant. She resisted the idea of donning the wolf helmet, unwilling to endure its bloodthirsty bullshit.

After several minutes of slow progress, Elena was about to round the final corner and reveal the outside world, when something gleaming in the light caught her eye. A cluster of dark crimson stones embedded in a rock piqued her curiosity. She attempted to dislodge them, finding all but one stubbornly fixed. With careful determination, she managed to loosen the singular stone and extracted it from the rock. The stone, no larger than a fingernail, radiated a faint crimson lustre even in the dimness of the cave. Intrigued, she pocketed it for later and continued her journey.

As she rounded the corner, the reason behind the dungeon's name, "the River Ramparts," became apparent. The cave opened onto a large wall that overlooked a winding river and was enveloped by a lush rainforest below. The wall, only a few metres wide, consisted of stone and featured small barriers on its edges to prevent falls into the river. Further along the wall stood humanoid salamander-like creatures, armed with spears and adorned in primitive attire. As they spotted Elena emerge from the cave, they pointed their spears in her direction but didn't advance. It was clear that she was being watched, and not knowing their capabilities, she decided not to push her luck.

Elena clapped three times, plunging her world back into darkness. Moments later, the familiar scene of the river came into view again, and Trev, who had been anxiously waiting nearby, rushed toward her, embracing her tightly. At first, she wanted to resist, but the warmth and comfort of his hug overwhelmed her. His scent enveloped her, sparking a tingling sensation within. There was no one alive who she would allow to give her such a hug, but here she was, not resisting. Did she have feelings for Trev?

~~~~

Trev released Elena from the embrace, his worry evident in his voice. She had been gone for almost ten minutes. Trev had also entered the dungeon but had only waited about a minute before returning.

"What happened? I was starting to get worried," Trev exclaimed, a hint of panic in his tone.

"I was just exploring a little bit," Elena replied, her unexpected calmness surprising even herself.

"Well, I think the rains are done," Trev said, trying to ease the tension.

"That's right, the rains," Elena replied, her mood instantly shifting back to that of anger as she remembered her ordeal.

Elena quickly stormed off towards the rest stop. Was she going to kill Spruce? Trev needed to stop her. He hurried after her, catching up just as she reached Spruce.

"You said there would be a maximum of five rains? What the fuck was that sixth one? I almost died!" Elena seethed, gripping Spruce's shirt once again.

"Usually, there are only five, but sometimes they add new features. It's just how the game works," Spruce cowered in fear.

"What else are you hiding, tree?" Elena's grip tightened.

"I can't reveal anything unless you ask specific questions," Spruce replied.

"If I die, I promise I'll come back and haunt you," Elena threatened, finally releasing Spruce and walking away.

Trev turned to Spruce, his concern evident.

"Are we in any more danger today?" he asked.

"No," Spruce replied, visibly relieved.

"Thank you," Trev expressed his gratitude.

Trev followed Elena, who had headed back towards the hotel. He caught up with her just as she entered their room. She jumped head first onto the bed and buried her face in a pillow.

"What's wrong?" Asked Trev, concerned.

"I hate this game," she replied, her voice filled with frustration.

"Why?" Trev pressed, giving her space to express herself.

Elena remained silent for what felt like thirty seconds before responding. Trev stood there patiently, not wanting to rush her.

"I thought...," she paused, struggling with her words.

"I thought of the possibility of you getting hurt and I didn't know what to do, I don't know what I would do without you now," she said quietly, showing a vulnerability he hadn't seen before.

Trev moved over to the bed and sat beside Elena, contemplating his words carefully.

"I am okay, I appreciate the concern.I was worried about you too," he reassured her.

"Really?" Elena asked, sitting up and meeting his gaze.

"Yes, really," Trev confirmed, a genuine smile spreading across his face.

Without warning, Elena grabbed his face and pulled him into a passionate kiss. Trev reciprocated, savouring the moment as the kiss deepened with a hint of tongue. After a few intense seconds, Elena broke away, leaving Trev stunned. Could it be that such a beautiful woman actually liked him, and wanted to be around him? Maybe she did, all signs pointed to that. Elena smiled at Trev, radiating joy, before getting up and gathering her belongings.

"Shall we go kill some creatures?" she asked, her enthusiasm returning.

"Yes! Let's gain as much experience as possible before the tournament," Trev replied, matching her excitement.

With renewed determination, they left the room and met Mari and Emilee in the market. Their plan, make the most of the remainder of the day.