Chapter 128 Restless and Bored

As Suzuka's gaze remained fixed on the dimly lit corridor adorned with twisted iron bars, the weight of monotony began to wear her down. The passage seemed to stretch on endlessly, casting a foreboding shadow over her weary frame. Despite her best efforts to remain alert, drowsiness crept upon her, threatening to engulf her senses. The task at hand was undeniably tedious.

Larry and Arin, still caught in the embrace of rest, seemed oblivious to the world around them. However, unbeknownst to the slumbering duo, David had managed to silently slip out of his cell. His footsteps were barely audible as he stealthily navigated the dimly lit space, his intentions veiled in malice. Despite his attempts at covert movement, Suzuka's instincts remained razor-sharp, alert to the danger lurking in David's movement.

Suzuka, her voice dripping with a combination of allure and authority, whispered a stern warning to David without even glancing in his direction. Her words, though delivered with a charming tone, carried an unmistakable weight of caution and threat, permeating the air around them.

"And just what are you up to, David? Hmm?" Her words lingered, their potency leaving no room for misinterpretation. "I hope you have no intention of engaging in any foolish actions. Trust me, you wouldn't want me to approach you and deliver the well-deserved consequences."

As the gentle whisper reached David's ears, it seemed to freeze him in his tracks. He tore his gaze away from the goblin and made his way toward Suzuka, settling down beside her with a hushed demeanor. In a low voice, barely audible, he expressed his frustration, "This is ridiculous. Why should we care about the ramblings of this monster? He's nothing but a goblin, an enemy in our midst. These vile creatures should be eradicated from these lands."

Suzuka, her eyes narrowing slightly, turned to face David and retorted, "First of all, who said you could just sit right next to me so closely? Secondly, Larry is the leader of our party, and what he decides, that's what we do. Is that clear?" Her words carried a hint of annoyance, reflecting her disapproval of David's dismissive attitude.

David's mood soured further at the mention of Larry's name, his resentment bubbling up. "Larry this, Larry that. It's always Larry who's right. I'm sick and tired of it all," he muttered bitterly, his voice laced with frustration and discontent.

Suzuka crossed her arms. "This again? If you dislike Larry so much, then why do you keep trailing behind him? Trust me, you'd be doing him a favor by giving him some space," she remarked, her tone tinged with a hint of sarcasm.

David let out a sigh, his frustration is evident as he attempted to clarify his emotions. "It's not that I hate Larry," he explained, his voice tinged with envy. "It's just... I can't help but feel jealous of him. He seems to excel effortlessly in everything he does, while I constantly struggle to measure up."

Suzuka tilted her head, her expression betraying a lack of consideration for David's feelings. She let out a playful mocking chuckle as if his reasoning amused her. It was clear that she didn't care about the depth of his insecurities or the weight of his self-doubt.

"What's so funny?"

David's question caught Suzuka off guard, she paused for a moment. Clearing her throat, she looked at him with a more amused gaze.

"I apologize, David. It wasn't my intention to make light of your feelings," she said, her tone thick with sarcasm. "I suppose I found it ironic that you see Larry's strengths so prominently while overlooking your own abilities. Each person has their own unique talents, and it's natural to feel a pang of jealousy when someone excels in areas where we struggle."

Suzuka paused, choosing her words carefully as she continued, "But don't worry David, you have one thing that Larry will never be able to measure up to you."

"Yeah? Do you really think so? And what would that be?" David asked with the hope that even he has a good point about him.

Suzuka's playful demeanor intensified, and she replied with a more mocking tone, "Your ability to screw things up, Larry can't hold a candle to that. You are the best at that."

David's face contorted with a mix of hurt and frustration, his brow furrowing deeply. The sting of Suzuka's response hit him hard. "Why must you be so cruel? This isn't a joke. I'm trying to have a serious conversation here," he retorted, his whisper laden with disappointment.

Her demeanor shifted ever so slightly, a hint of seriousness creeping into her mocking tone. "Serious? You? Please. The only joke I see here is you," she scoffed. "We live in a world where danger lurks at every corner, where our lives hang by a thread. Monstrous creatures roam, capable of decimating half a town and snuffing out hundreds of lives in an instant. It's a world where individuals can wield immense magical power, reducing castles to rubble with a mere flick of their fingers. And here you are, whining about Larry being the superior man. Grow up, you baby. How can I take you seriously?"

Her words dripped with a harsh reality. She had witnessed the brutal nature of their world firsthand, enduring its difficulties and hardships. To her, the notion of little jealousy and insecurities seemed petty in the face of coming danger.

David's hurt expression shifted to one of reflection. He understood the gravity of her words, realizing that his concerns, while valid in their own context, paled in comparison to the larger threats they all faced. The weight of their shared reality pressed upon him.

"I see your point, Helen," David replied, his voice steadier now. "But you could be a little more gentle about it."

Suzuka's gaze turned back to the dark corridor, she couldn't care less about David's mindset. "I had enough of you, shoo shoo. Go and sleep it off, I'm busy here," she replied, a glimmer of disrespect shining in her eyes. "We are moving out in the morning and I don't need you dragging your feet from exhaustion and lack of sleep."

In a fit of frustration and brooding silence, David turned abruptly and walked away, leaving his words unspoken. His footsteps echoed through the dimly lit room as he retraced his steps back to the cell. Exhausted by the weight of his emotions, he climbed onto the bed and, within a matter of minutes, succumbed to the soothing embrace of sleep.

Meanwhile, Suzuka found herself growing increasingly restless and bored as the minutes stretched into an hour within the confines of the underground prison holding room. The atmosphere was oppressively dark, the flickering light, cast by the pearl, dancing shadows against the damp stone walls. The air felt heavy with a musty scent, a constant reminder of the history and age of the medieval castle that housed this foreboding dungeon. The only sound she heard was Hermit's occasional moans and grunts of pain.

The eerie silence slowly changed. With her exceptional hearing and heightened senses she could hear outside, a storm raged with unrestrained fury. Rain pounded against the small, barred windows, creating a symphony of drumming sounds that reverberated through the chamber. Each droplet seemed to carry the weight of the tempest, striking the glass with a relentless force. Thunder roared in the distance, its deep rumble echoing through the fortress, shaking the very foundations of the prison.

The pale light highlighted the worn stone floor, slick with moisture, and the rusted chains that hung from the walls, remnants of past captives who had suffered in this very place.

Suzuka's gaze shifted towards the narrow window, the only connection to the outside world from this gloomy room. The iron bars were worn and rusted. She could only catch glimpses of the outside turmoil, a blur of rain-soaked trees swaying in the wind, branches bending and creaking under the relentless assault of the tempest.

As the rain continued to rage outside the rainwater started to drip from the ceiling making buddles on the ground. Hermit haven't had any water for a long time, he crawled toward the water puddle in his cell and started to greedily lick the dirty floors of his prison cell. Meanwhile, the rest of the group slumbered within the confines of their cells.

 Suzuka found herself as the sole sentry, vigilant and watchful for over two long hours. The relentless downpour seemed to match the rhythm of her racing thoughts, both fueled by the storm's intensity.

 Suzuka found herself growing increasingly restless and bored as the minutes stretched into hours. Tired of waiting idly and yearning for some form of activity, her mind sparked with a sudden recollection. Larry had mentioned that they could sell any loot they discovered within the confines of this ancient, ruined castle fort. The thought of potential treasures stirred excitement within her, propelling her into a swift and purposeful sprint toward Larry's slumbering form.

Suzuka leaned in close, her voice a soft whisper gently tickling his ear. "Rise and shine, Larry," she cooed, playfully teasing him as she tried to rouse him from his peaceful slumber. Larry startled awake, his senses on high alert. "What? What happened?" he exclaimed, a hint of panic in his voice.

Suzuka, attempting to calm him down, gave him a reassuring pat on the back while speaking, "Take it easy, Larry. Everything's fine. I just wanted to ask if I could go outside and scavenge for some loot now that all the bandits are dead."

 Larry said after he heard her question, "Are you crazy? Going out there on your own? It's dangerous."

 "Yeah, a little dangerous, I know but I will be fine," she said like it was nothing. Larry, now composed, chuckled and replied, "Aren't you quite the treasure hunter? Well, in any case, it won't be worth the trouble. I already checked the main rooms where the bandits were, and everything has been taken. I assume the Dark Imps have already looted this place clean."

 Suzuka was angry to hear that, her frustration evident in her tone. "I despise those Dark Imps. They're nothing but petty thieves, snatching away anything that glimmers. I was hoping to find some good quality weapons or armor to sell or even bandits' hoarded treasures. That is such a shame."

Larry gently placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, attempting to alleviate her disappointment, and spoke with conviction, "Don't be so disheartened, and I believe you have a misunderstood perspective of the bandits. They don't possess valuable gear or hoard treasures. They're merely a ragtag group of miscreants who squander their ill-gotten gains on drinks at the nearest taverns. I wager even the Dark Imps themselves were left disappointed when they ransacked this place."

Larry's words managed to uplift Suzuka's spirits slightly, and she replied, "Yeah, I suppose you're right. I apologize for disturbing your rest. I should return to my post and resume my guard duty." With that, she left the cell, since Larry was awake he took the chance to engage in a conversation with Hermit, the aged goblin. Larry wanted to gather as much information as possible, particularly in case anything were to happen to the goblin before they reached the town.