=== Day off – part 6

Though I would prefer to have some floor under my feet most of the times, not always you can have all at your hands. For example, when you are about to drop through the ground with no ledge to grab onto, when you try to help others, but they are confused to what you are actually doing, when you take a nice walk in the cave and then you regret it, all those things that are not your fault hurt the most. I have realised that when I shared the fate of our leader.

My bare and quite fragile butt got fractured greatly, since unlike her short rider pants, I lacked safety cushions. However, being also pressed by a body of a quite heavy knight, despite that she was the very small, is quite silly. I could not believe things until I opened my eyes, revealing the slim figure of her lower body right on top of me.

Her body found me as its resting place, despite that we were falling at the same time. One thing struck me the most. It was her somehow tiny legs that somehow sprawled between my head, holding it in a stable suplex. Unable to move, her entire torso was pressing against my own body, mainly around my corpus area. I tried to push her to the side, but to no avail.

[Move your butt commander, if you please. You are squeezing me into the floor.]

[Hey you are alive too? Hey, don't worry—I'm going to help you push her.]

[Corona? No use, she has to move on her own...just try to wake her up or something.]

[I know, maybe she is downed? Let me see...oh my goodness, you were right! She was knocked unconscious after the fall. Apart from that, I don't reckon you knew about place, right Oddie? It looks like an abandoned mine, just like she said.]

I would appreciate me showing around when I was a little more in disposition. Hardly can I move my head around and look, but despite that, Corona was not mistaken. In this very lonely place underground, with very few lights lit and damp walls, we feel down into what appears to be a place constructed to look like an excavation point. To my left I could see coal veins. On my right, there was a pond and the place where the water used to drop. Whatever happened to that giant gayer from before?

Aside for the small rocks all over the place, I would think that the stalactite, which our quite formidable leader destroyed, would still be gushing out water, but nor did I hear or see a waterfall in this place. It was extremely quiet and peaceful. Alas, now that we did fall into it, I had no idea that we would find ourselves in a completely unknown and hidden cave formation.

[Ah, she’s waking up! Welcome back commander!]

[Ugh...auche! Huh?]

[Could you move please...I’m not your horse.]

[Ah! Sorries!]

As my muscles would tell me, I finally got released from my being a cushion and became free to stand up once more. Without a second thinking, I rose up from the ground, to find that this place had additionally mine tracks and several empty boxes. Yet, I couldn't spot an exit.

[Jeepers-creepers that was close! I thought I was going to die, along with all of you! That would be a totals no-no! Obviously, I did risk a lot with my plan, but my hunch was again righto on the pointo. Like why there be metal sounds? Don't worry-sorry, I knew from the start that we would fall into a water basin or something, so it was all okey dokey.]

[Right Jielby, your butt was fine but mine got so hurt, you better start running before I make it even with you! Dammit, I don't even feel like running, it stings like a bee. Anyway, you got knocked down, but luckily we did survive the fall. You also look a bit damaged so I presume we should heal up and leave this place. Do you have any idea where is the exit?]

[Of course I just got my consciousness back, so I didn't explore much. It seems that the candles on the walls light up on their own, but they are pretty insufficient. Here, you can have my touch. It will be a good start for us. I already checked the tracks as well, there seems to be a cave-in near the only opening left for us. Aside from that, do you see that wooden arch up there? But how can we...]

[We will manage somehow, but I can't put my finger on something, like a detail that I am missing here.]

I couldn't tell the first time I saw this place, but the air felt different. It wasn't the cold lifeless mineral water, it wasn't either the dim candlelight which ignited on their own, but the fact that I am missing that...wait a second!

[Noctia! I can't see here anywhere. Corona, do you have any idea where did she go? Did she dive into that pond?]

[She didn't go for a swim or anything, if you are looking at that direction, but as you can see, she didn't fell down. I received a message from her just recently, she said God something, and then that she is going to sleep for today. So yea, I wanted her to stay, to like drop a rope or something, but she didn't have any on her...Oh my goodness! I forgot to give you back this pickaxe I borrowed! I'm sorry—here it is, nice and shiny, with a lot of durability left.]

[That reminds me girls, you don't bring your tools for the job with you at all times? I don't want to be a meany-weany, but as you can see, I'm always prepared for everything! That's why I don't need to worry about a thing, no way hosay. Next time we are going to have a trip, you defins need to bring everything. Like you get to stuff and then bam! Useful!]

[I was well aware that lading cushions were a part of your inventory, but I didn’t know you also included me as a spare one! Could you at least think about what you did? We almost died—you got hit so hard yourself even! You know, I appreciate you being with us still, not yielding from the bet, but when this situation got more serious, I am not sure if have noticed that at all. Is putting others in danger fine with you?]

I gave her a direct message, perhaps risking lives of others for the sake of her bet was something that she couldn't comprehend. So far we were okay, our health was back to full by now, but if we were to follow her deeper, the situation could become more dire. Yet if I were to leave now, along with Corona, I would not only feel bad for abandoning her, but that would also be not fair. I need to stay with her until she decided to leave on her own volition, that were our rules from the start, I think? Anyway...

Despite me stating the situation, Jielby simply shrugged and started looking around the place. As a girl of action, she should rather prove me that she was able to find a way out of this hole, and continue with her daring expedition.

[Yes this is it! I ish smarts. You see those boxes, we just have to stack them on top of each other, and then climb up! How simple was that, oh my gee! I can't believe they left an entire pile down there. Whoever did it, he wouldn't mind.]

[Right, I guess so too commander. That opening up there is our only option, other than maybe using the pickaxe on that cave-in. But I am going to leave you to your work. They say like two heads are better than one, but it would be a mess if I were to...]

[I think so too, so have fun Jielby. If you need anything just tell me and I will figure something out. As for now...]

[Downer-mower, you really do leave the hard work to me all the time. How cruel are my little birdies that make their leader work! Yet, I won't back up, I will preserve as the charming and genius knight that can't say to the hopelessness of her adorbs subjects!]

Yea, do whatever you pink slave pusher. Not only my bottom still hurts from your leadership, but we are also lost. This is evidently something that she should be noticing, but from the face she was making, I could tell otherwise. It was quite clear that she chose to ignore our tired and at limit expressions, since her smile and cheerfulness was present. What could be the cause of her optimism I could not tell, but soon enough she started working on her newest creation.

It was a pyramid of wooden boxes, easy to set up, but still insufficient. As she was trying to making it taller, it would collapse and then she would have to start over. Trying again, this time with more energy than before, she decided to get up and jump upwards, yet the smoothness of the wall would have her slide down like a tissue. This sight was somehow pleasing to both of us, as we tried not to giggle at her guff, with our hands on lips.

[Are you sure you don't need help? I am starting to feel a little sorry for your butt as well. But then again Jielby, you need that extra training for pegasus riding. I'm sure that someday the basics of stumbling will prove useful.]

[It's like when you learn skiing for example it is most important to know how to trip before you actually start training. But actually Oddie, don't you think captain had her deal of troubles today? I don't mean to be obnoxious or anything, just if you could give her space, I think she would appreciate that. After all, she is now working fair and square.]

[Most definitely, I just want to state that there is logic to her effort, to provide an account for her strive. I can only cheer her from this safe spot over here, I wouldn't want to get close and become flattened again.]

[No needs to flatter-platter me Oddie, I just figured out what I should have been doing from the start. Thankie! You gave me an idea to think out of the box. You shee, no matter what side you place the boxes on, it won't work. Therefore the solution is not within simply trying, you have to literally bang your head against the wall, Hiya!]

That was surprising, for me and Corona, who were in a safe distance from the loud bang. In a quick work of her hammer, she smashed the wooden containers, leaving pieces of wood behind. Was there a reason to her logic? There was actually, it was the fact that she had an entire toolset with her all the times. She worked eagerly and the pieces were laid bare...

Dealing quickly with dismantling the cubic vessels, she got ahead and initiated the second phase, which was building. In this game you can actually construct and place many things in the world, and I guess she was feeling that today. With her hammer and nails she assembled a tool which would be most convenient for us. It was an extension ladder.

I was surprised, but so was Corona, and to a certain degree our pink wearing builder. It's amazing such things exist here, since I hardly craft, but I reckon it might be useful during sieges. As for now, I guess she granted us a way to freedom.

[Sho I ish smarts or what? I told you that I'm going to try until I succeed—you just got to have more faith girls! This absocutely pegasus knight is not all cute-to-the-butt, but also a tactical genius, a strategy smartie even! You doubt in my plans and sudden decisions, but I understand. Forget about that, let's just go! Adventure awaits!]

[Nicely done with the ladder, it really elevated my opinion about you Jielby. You are saying you want to go further? Sure, I don't mind, as long as you lead the way. But if you fall again, it is your own fault. I'm not going to follow.]

[Yes Oddie, let's hope that we will not share the fate of being thrown into an unknown place again, okay? Really now, I don't know even where we are going. This place could use a map. Oh my goodness! I totally forgot to draw one, sorry!]

[Key-okey, don't worry-sorry me! It's perfectly fine and dandy, we don't need things like directions when spelunking! All you need a heart of gold and desire to reach it with your hand. You feeling this Oddie? The smell of rich matter?]

As a matter of fact, I don't. But as we also climbed up into the opening, we saw a place far different from our imagination. It was a big empty space with several wooden supports which created a strange looking web of ceilings, lit by small candles. In the bottom there was a black substance that was bubbling. I didn't have any intentions of touching it, neither did others.

Retracting her ladder, Jielby and I took a good look at this new room. We managed to find the exit, which was on the opposite side. To get there, her tool was not sufficient, obviously. Looking for a path, we both nodded, acknowledging the only possible solution.

[Jeepers, it appears we have to climb those wooden supports there and show our skills with thrills if we are to pass. What you say, Oddie?]

[Yes captain, you are right as always. Those pylons look a little high, so use your ladder first. Honestly, it is that we are just very short...but yea I think we can do this, with some luck maybe.]

[Wowzers, that’s the cutie pie I want to hear from! Let me hug you before I explode from adorbs overload!]

[Hey...it's fine. I am just feeling that I would sink if I went through the bottom path, despite that I'm floating...]

What can you say, she did get that idea with the ladder, and this is getting more interesting. Does this room have a purpose? I was thinking about that while advancing. All of the three of us, despite being a little afraid of losing balance, climbed up, and stood next to a giant chandelier. If we were going to pass this test, we had to jump onto it and swing to the other side. Jielby went ahead first and it didn't appear that hard. After she reached other side safe and sound, it was my turn to leap.

With a running start, I dashed onto the swinging thing and stood surprised, as it was harder that it looked to keep balance. Yet, after a moment, just like my predecessor, I managed to use the momentum to reach the other side...and just barely managed to grab onto the rocky ledge. It was fine...I managed to pull myself up on my own afterwards, with the pink mountaineer assisting me from the side. The last who had to pass was Corona, looking little worried. She waited until the swing would come to a full stop. However...