Chapter 45 Day Light

Bill and Suzuka worked tirelessly to clear the rubble blocking the exit of the mine. They had been working for hours, moving rocks and boulders with all their might.

Bill swung his pickaxe with precision, breaking up large rocks into smaller pieces that Suzuka could more easily move. She used her own strength as well as her powers, to make the rocks light and move them easily.

The work was grueling, and sweat dripped down their faces as they pushed and pulled the heavy rocks. They would take turns resting, but they were determined to clear the exit and escape the mine.

As they worked, the pile of rubble slowly began to shrink. Bill and Suzuka worked in silence, focusing on the task at hand. The only sounds were the grunts of effort and the clanking of rocks as they were moved.

Finally, after hours of hard work, they had cleared the rubble to make an opening. Bill and Suzuka exchanged a weary smile, their muscles aching but their spirits lifted. They had done it. They had cleared the exit and could now leave the mine.

After finally clearing the exit, Bill and Suzuka made their way back through the mine. The path was familiar now, and they were able to move quickly. They passed the floors they had previously searched, the golems still digging and crunching on the crystals as they went.

The air grew fresher as they climbed higher, and soon they could see light shining through the cracks in the mine. They quickened their pace, eager to finally leave the dark and dangerous depths of the mine.

Bill and Suzuka emerged from the mine, the bright sunlight blinding them for a moment as their eyes adjusted. The fresh air was a welcome change from the musty, dank atmosphere of the mine. They looked around, taking in their surroundings. The forest was alive with the sounds of birds singing and animals scurrying about. The trees were tall and green, casting dappled shadows on the ground. The smell of pine and earth was strong in the air. They both took a deep breath and let out a sigh of relief. They had accomplished their goal and made it out of the mine safely. Even if the adventure wasn't very exciting they still accomplished their goal. They had found the crystals they were looking for and even a few purple gems that were worth a decent price.

"Finally! Some fresh air! I hope I won't need to go back there again," Bill said while breathing in the fresh air.

"Yeah, I just hope dark imps haven't visited your place while we were gone," she said with a chuckle.

"It's not funny girl, Bill completely forgot about that. We need to make haste," Bill said with a serious tone, as he picked up his pace.

"Right, let's get back and make sure everything is okay," Suzuka said, as she quickened her pace to match Bill's.

As they walked, the sense of urgency grew stronger. Bill couldn't shake off the feeling that something was wrong. He kept looking back over his shoulder, expecting to see something chasing after them.

Suzuka could sense Bill's anxiety and ask, "What's wrong, Bill? Are you expecting something to come after us?"

"I don't know. I just have this feeling that we're being followed. It's like there's something out there watching us," Bill replied, his hand tight on the grip of his axe.

They quickened their pace, their footsteps echoing through the abandoned mine. The further they went, the more the darkness seemed to press in on them. Suddenly, they heard a faint rustling sound, coming from behind them.

"That's it, we're being followed," Bill said, turning to face the direction of the noise. But there was nothing there.

"It's probably just our imagination," Suzuka said, trying to calm Bill down.

But Bill was not convinced. He kept his eyes peeled, scanning every shadow for any sign of danger. They continued on, but the feeling of being watched never left them. 

"I don't know girl, but Bill's gut is telling him something is off. We need to be careful," Bill replied, his hand tightly gripping his axe.

As they walked, the trees grew thicker, and the underbrush became denser. The sunlight filtering through the canopy grew dimmer, and the shadows grew longer. The sound of rustling leaves and snapping twigs grew louder, and the sense of danger grew stronger.

Suddenly, they heard a low growl coming from the shadows. Bill and Suzuka immediately drew their weapons, ready for a fight. The growling grew louder, and a dark shape emerged from the shadows. It was a massive, black bear, its eyes glowing red in the darkness.

Bill and Suzuka prepared for the fight, but the bear charged at them with a roar. Suzuka was quick to react, dodging to the side and striking the bear with her sword. Bill, with his axe, swung at the bear with all his might, landing a critical hit, and the bear let out a final roar before collapsing to the ground.

They both stood there, panting, their hearts racing from the adrenaline rush. Bill started to laugh, "Hahaha! That was fun! We got crystal and now we have dinner too!

Suzuka smiled and laughed with him, "Yeah, it was quite a rush. But we should probably get moving before something else finds us."

As they walked, they noticed the forest was becoming denser, and the light was fading. As they walked, they heard strange noises coming from the shadows, and the sense of danger was ever-present. They were almost at the campsite, and they pushed on.

Finally, they reached the campsite, and they were relieved to see that it was still untouched. They quickly set up camp and started a fire, cooking the meat they had acquired during their adventure.

As they sat by the fire, they talked about their adventure, discussing the different creatures they had encountered and the challenges they had faced. Bill couldn't stop talking about the golems and the big crystal they had found. Suzuka was more interested in the shadow ghouls and the purple gems they had collected.

As they ate, they made plans for their next adventure, knowing that there were still many dangers and mysteries to be discovered in the forest. They would have to be careful and always be ready for anything, but they were confident in their abilities.

After dinner, they cleaned up their camp and went to sleep, feeling content and satisfied with their day's haul. They knew that tomorrow would bring new challenges, but for now, they were happy to be alive and with a full belly.

3 Month-time skip

During the 3-month time skip, Bill and Suzuka were busy honing their skills and preparing for future adventures. They trained in combat, honing their weapons and mastering new techniques to use against the monsters that lurked in the forest. They trained together, learning from each other's strengths and weaknesses. Bill taught Suzuka how to fight with a sword and shield, while Suzuka helped Bill use his powers to their full potential. They also explored the forest, mapping out new areas and discovering new resources.

Bill spent most of his time tending to his apple trees. He pruned the branches, fertilized the soil, and harvested the apples, which he used to make cider and other treats.

Suzuka, on the other hand, focused on training her box powers. She spent hours practicing different spells and learning new ways to harness the power of the magic box. She also trained rune letters.

In addition to training, they also explored the forest, venturing deeper into the unknown territories and fighting off the monsters they encountered. Bill and Suzuka were fearless and confident in their abilities.

Suzuka was determined to find a way out of the forest and into the nearest town. She spent her days searching for any leads or clues, but so far she had come up empty-handed. Bill supported her in her quest, but he knew the dangers of the forest and advised her to be careful.

As the weeks turned into months, Suzuka realized that she had been stranded in the forest for more than 6 months now and since Martin, there was no sign of any other adventurer. But she had Bill, and that was all that mattered. But she did not give up hope, she knew that one day she will find a way out.

A new day started and almost seven months have passed by since Suzuka was kidnaped. It was a gloomy morning, the sky was overcast and dark, and the rain was pouring down in sheets. The trees were bent over under the weight of the water, their leaves drooping. The forest floor was slick with mud, and the air was thick with the smell of damp earth and moss. The sound of raindrops hitting the leaves and the forest floor was the only thing that could be heard.

The morning was rainy, the sound of the raindrops hitting the cave's roof was the only sound that filled the room. The air was damp and chilly, and the light coming through the entrance of the cave was dim. The big crystal in the corner of the cave was the only source of warmth and light.

Bill was huddled close to the crystal, trying to keep warm. Bill was sipping on his apple wine while Suzuka was sitting by the entrance to the cave and looking outside. Bill had a blanket wrapped around his shoulders, trying to stay warm, but Suzuka didn't feel cold. 

Suzuka was deep in thought, her eyes focused on the dancing raindrops. She was talking about her frustration with being stranded in the forest for so long and her desire to find a way to the closest town. She was worried about venturing too deep into the forest by mistake, where the corrupted magic was the strongest.

"Bill, it was a long time now, no adventurers showed up, not since Martin. I think I need to push forward, further than usual. There has to be a city, Rockmine, somewhere close."

 Bill listened to her concerns and offered his advice. He told her that the corrupted magic in the air was too strong and would likely lead her in circles, making it even harder to find her way out.

"Girl, any further than that and you won't come back, the corrupted magic will reflect mirages. We talked about it many times. Orientating by the sun will not help, it will reflect it in different locations every time you look up. Going by the moss on the tree nonsense will not help either, they grow randomly here. I won't even bother telling you about the night and following stars, it won't work."

Suzuka got angry at the thought that she is trapped here forever with no hope in sight, "Then what the hell do I do? How do other adventures get by?"

"Oh, that's simple, they use crystal compass. But wait, don't confuse it with a regular compass."

"And how is it different, Bill," asked Suzuka. 

"You know how all cities have a huge crystal that emits a frequency to ward off the monsters, act as a protective barrier or something, the one in the middle of a town?"

"Yes, I know that much, Bill."

"So, each protective crystal has its own frequency and the crystal compass points in that direction. So, if you wanna go to Rockmine, you will need a Rockmine crystal compass. Did you get any of that?"

"Yeah, I think I got it. Question thou, what do you think, Bill? Should I try to find the crystal compass or wait for another adventurer to come?" Suzuka asked, looking at Bill with a worried look on her face.

"It's a tough decision, girl. But, I think it's worth a try. If you can find that crystal compass, it will make your journey a lot easier and safer. But, it won't be easy. The corrupted magic in the air is making it hard to find anything in this forest. But, you're a strong and skilled warrior now, girl, I'm sure you'll find it," Bill said, trying to reassure Suzuka.

"Thanks, Bill. I'll start my search tomorrow. I'll make sure to bring enough supplies and be well-prepared... wait... Martin! And his party! They had at least one compass, right?! They must." Suzuka said, with a glimmer of hope in her eyes, but Bill shattered her hope to pieces, "Nop!"

"What! How do you even know that?," asked Suzuka.

"Martin, he had a pathfinder, my gold is on that old man he was with. Hmm... or it could have been that kid," Bill answered.  

The conversation continued for a while, and the rain outside continued to pour. But, inside the cave, Bill and Suzuka were warm and safe, discussing their plans for the future.