[ ––––––––– ֎ ––––––––– ]

After the operation was over, Noemi walked outside the room to try to comfort jittery Pavaja.

“What's with Hyacinth!? Is he alright!?” - Pavaja asked in a trembling voice.

“He should be fine.”

“Fine? What am I even asking!? Fine? He... has... no... hands!” - Pavaja burst into tears, she choked with each word and gasped for breath.

Noemi didn't want to interrupt the girl's cry, so she waited until the elf calms down.

“What's... his state? Can I go... see him?” - Pavaja asked, wailing.

“He's resting. Give him some time.”

“Okay... okay...” - Pavaja nodded.

Broken, the elf slid down the wall, and sat on the ground, sobbing.

“What will happen to us?” - Pavaja asked silently.

“We'll survive it, together.”

“No, we won't. Nothing awaits us here but death. You know it better than anyone else!”

Pavaja mentioned a touchy subject. Noemi was irritated, but she took a deep breath and exhaled slowly to calm herself down.

The lizard girl knelt, held Pavaja's hands, then spoke. - “Pavaja. Don't despair. You've to stay strong, for Hyacinth. Don't you two love each other? Focus on this, we'll find a way to help.”

“How...?”

“Hyacinth spoke of people who could cure his wound. We will find one.”

“No... it's impossible” - Pavaja's cry intensified.

“Pavaja. If you surrender, there won't be the second chance.” - Noemi's voice was firm but gentle. - “I've seen many miracles in the labyrinth and even If what we need is the impossible one, we can still reach for it.”

“We can't. I and Hyacinth broke the church's commandments. The gods abandoned us. It's their punishment.”

“Gods don't abandon or condemn anyone! Not forever! Pavaja!”

Pavaja sat in silence, pondering for a moment. - “You... think so too?”

“I know it!”

“Thank you...” - Pavaja responded. - “You were right, crying is not crusader's way.”

“It's alright to cry. Just don't lose hope.”

[ ––––––––– ֎ ––––––––– ]

Fatigued Hyacinth recovered consciousness in the late evening. The first thing he had spotted was Pavaja, who was holding his hand. Hyacinth smiled gently, and Pavaja returned a smile, albeit with teary eyes.

Arath was just next to them, sitting idly, making sure that the condition of his patient doesn't get worse.

Noemi was delegated to get food for tomorrow by herself. She was spear-hunting nearby, to make sure the party doesn't get attacked when everybody is most vulnerable.

Seeing that Hyacinth is awake, Arath silently moved to check on him. - “Do you feel any sort of pain?”

“No, doc.” - Hyacinth smiled tiredly. - “I'm just drained of all strength...”

“You need nourishment and sleep...” - Arath replied, then took out a waterskin. - “...have a drink, before Noemi returns with food.”

Pavaja took the waterskin, then moved it to Hyacinth's lips.

“Thanks...” - Hyacinth responded. - “I'm not feeling very hungry, though.”

“You need to eat, Hyacinth.” - Pavaja replied in a gentle voice. - “It'll help you recover.”

Hyacinth didn't protest, so Pavaja moved to the fireplace nearby and heated up steamy fish goulash. When it was ready, she helped Hyacinth to sit and spoon-fed him.

As the girl fed him, Hyacinth observed her. Pavaja had dark circles under her eyes and slightly trembling. - “Pavaja, you are tired. Could Arath replace you?”

“No... I want to stay.” - Pavaja responded quietly while feeding Hyacinth the next portion.

“We will be fine. You need a rest too.” - Hyacinth replied with care.

“It's not as important as you right now.” - Pavaja protested in a gentle voice.

“Did you eat anything?” - Hyacinth asked.

Pavaja didn't reply, she just forced a smile and filled another spoon, then placed it in front of Hyacinth.

Hyacinth stopped eating. - “Pav, I'm worried about you.”

Pavaja retracted a spoon for a moment. - “There is no need. Eat.”

“If you promise me to take a sleep after we finish.” - Hyacinth responded.

“I promise, eat while it's hot.” - Pavaja complied, and Hyacinth too.

[ ––––––––– ֎ Day 90 ––––––––– ]

The day passed on Hyacinth's recovery. Arath occasionally checked on the patient, but Pavaja was a person who took full responsibility for all the care-taking, like changing clothes or hygiene. The day was rather quiet, Noemi understood that Pavaja and Hyacinth would prefer to spend it in their own company, so she didn't interfere. She has spent the day sketching, to cope with the stress and on-going issues.

Around the time of sunset, Pavaja assisted Hyacinth in joining a late dinner, what surprised the lizard girl. Hyacinth and Pavaja took their places next to a crackling campfire, where Arath was preparing citrus-stuffed trouts.

“How do you feel, Hyacinth?” - Noemi asked, she tried to sound neutral, but there was a mild concern in her voice.

“Better, that's what matters.” - Hyacinth answered.

Noemi smiled in response and the conversation didn't continue until Arath served the meal five minutes later.

Half-way through the dinner, Hyacinth asked Pavaja to stop feeding him and mentally prepared himself to bear the bad news.

“Noemi, Arath. I've come to warn you.” - He started. - “I've lost my connection to gods, I can no longer aid anyone.”

Noemi's expression turned sad.

“Noemi, I know it's much to ask, but we want to part once we find a safe refuge.” - Hyacinth continued. - “Is it okay If you escort us for a little bit longer?”

Noemi understood that the two had found their way to inner peace. They no longer wanted to challenge the labyrinth. - “Yes, we can do that.”

Hyacinth had a depressed smile. - “I only hope the gods will be merciful to us.”

“Be hopeful! Why wouldn't they be? You're one of the nicest people I've met in the labyrinth.” - Noemi responded.

Hyacinth forced a wider smile and looked at everyone. - “Pavaja, Noemi. My patron, Möljar, is a demanding deity. You might not understand his teachings thoroughly.”

“What's the matter?” - Pavaja asked, concerned.

“I... ” - Hyacinth didn't want to speak clearly about what happened. - “Pavaja” - He turned to the girl first, telling her - “I'm sorry.” - then continued. - “... I broke my vows.”

Pavaja covered her mouth in shock. She understood that it was an act of high sacrilege.

“My patron... the unmovable mountain... punished me for lack of resolve.” - Hyacinth explained. - “He does not forgive easily. More grievous trials await me...” - Hyacinth broke down. - “...and I'm not ready …I never was. All long years of my hard training and cultivation... they were useless... and are gone... lost forever. I can't...”

Pavaja put down the bowl and hugged the man. - “It'll be okay...”

Arath became serious out of sudden, like never before. He guessed what the vows were about. He knew that the puddle-mimicking clam was unnatural to the place and had no reason to exist, other than being a part of the labyrinth.

“I despise your gods.” - He declared. - “That kind of punishment, for just being human? If it was and will be their will to hurt you, then they are my enemy.”

“Don't speak like that!” - Pavaja responded. - “That's blasphemous! Gods might punish you too!”

“Let them try.” - Arath responded. - “Cruel, self-righteous pieces of...”

Noemi grabbed Arath by a wrist, giving him a fierce look. - “Stop.”

Arath listened.

“There are some rules that we have to abide by, you might not understand them, but following them is what makes us grow to be better.” - Noemi declared with conviction.

“It's what makes you slaves.” - Arath replied.

Noemi slapped him. - “What did I tell you?” - There were small tears in her eyes.

Arath didn't respond. He just stood up and left, then waited outside.

[ ––––––––– ֎ Day 91 ––––––––– ]

Noemi was in a sour mood. She didn't want to talk to Arath today, even during breakfast. Arath didn't talk to anybody either. Instead of sulking, Noemi focused on a submerged tunnel in the cave. Apparently, it was the only passage, other than swimming by water, that allowed any progress.

However, swimming by water was a suicide mission, since the ruins were breeding grounds of nautiluses, who were capable of producing massive whirlpools, dangerous to both swimmers and boats.

“Hyacinth, can I borrow Pavaja for a moment?” - Noemi asked.

Pavaja was sitting next to Hyacinth and looked at him.

“I'll rest for a while.” - The man responded.

Pavaja understood and moved to Noemi.

“I will dive there. I need someone reliable to belay me.” - The lizard girl explained while tying a silk rope around her waist. She gave the second end to Pavaja, who tied it to a stone. - “If I tug it twice or it's tight, please pull me out. If I tug three times, it means I'm trapped.”

“Good luck.” - Pavaja wished as Noemi prepared to dive.

“Thanks.”

Noemi plunged into the water, beams of underwater lights in front of her suggested a presence of water pockets. Noemi's vision was naturally accustomed to underwater conditions, so she had no problems with navigating between the algae and weeds.

The initial, curved pathway had no aquatic animals in it, what allowed quick exploring. Noemi reached the bottom of the tunnel easily, above-average capacity of the girl's lungs allowed her to stop and look around.

The underwater pathway was almost a straight path with delicate curvature. At the end of a tunnel was a large, illuminated spot, what suggested it could've been an exit. Also, a few smaller beams of light were in the path, what could allow the girl to take a stop to take a breath.

Moreover, there were a few wide openings at the sides of a tunnel, with some fishes circling next to them, what hinted that the underwater complex might be connected to a lake.

Noemi swam to the first light beam and found a canal that led straight up. She followed the path and emerged at a cave in the shape of a stone bubble. At most, two people could fit in there, and that wouldn't be with no issues. At the ceiling of a structure were numerous, circular gaps connected to tall, narrow chimneys that allowed the air and light to get inside.

Noemi took another deep breath and was on her path to the second stop. On her way, Noemi had to cross a small reef, where she was assaulted by a lone stingray, but the opponent was not a challenge to her and her spear.

Noemi could easily swim farther, but she decided it would be better to carry her trophy back and give a report.

[ ––––––––– ֎ ––––––––– ]

“Did you find anything?” - Pavaja asked right after Noemi swam out of the tunnel and climbed to the surface. Everyone was there, including Arath, who was leaning against the entrance to a cave.

“Yes, we can use that tunnel to make our way through the cave!” - Noemi replied.

“It doesn't matter yet.” - Arath responded. - “Hyacinth is not allowed to dive.”

“I understand doc, but we can't stay here forever, how long will it take?” - Hyacinth asked.

“Three weeks, give or take.” - Arath responded.

“That's unbelievably long...” - Hyacinth exhaled. - “We better backtrack, it's not too cozy in here... and whoever defiled the altar might be our neighbor...”