Spirit Game

Santi's smile brightened, her face softening in a way that made Rain's heart skip a beat. Before he could stop himself, he blurted out, "You should smile more often. It suits you . . . I mean, you're already beautiful before, but—" Realizing what he'd said, Rain fumbled for words, his face heating up.

"Not that you're not beautiful when you're not smiling . . . I just—uh, what am I even saying?"

A blush crept onto Santi's cheeks, making her dark skin glow with a warm, rosy hue that only made her look even more stunning.

Golly, who had been quietly observing the exchange, smirked and shook his head. "Smooth, lad. Real smooth."

Rain groaned inwardly, wishing he could disappear into the nearest shadow. But when he saw the shy smile still playing on Santi's lips, he couldn't help but smile as well.

At that moment, Chi stirred, her instincts flaring to life even in sleep. She shot upright, her eyes snapping open as a shiver of unease rippled through her.

Every nerve was on high alert, her senses tingling with the undeniable feeling that something was off. It was as if her body had detected a disturbance before her mind fully registered it, pulling her from the depths of slumber into a vigilant, seated position.

"Chi, you're awake?" Rain asked, relief evident in his voice. "How are you feeling? You should probably eat something. I bet you're hungry."

Chi slowly turned her head toward Rain, her gaze narrowing as she noticed him sitting beside Santi. Without a word, she pushed herself up and squeezed between them, her expression sharp as she glared at Santi.

'Don't think that just because I was unconscious, you could sneak up on My Lord like that,' Chi huffed, her tone brimming with indignation. 'That's a sneaky move, you snake.'

Santi blinked in confusion. "What are you talking about?"

'As long as I'm here, My Lord's purity will be protected,' Chi declared, crossing her arms defiantly.

Santi raised an eyebrow, her confusion deepening. "Purity?"

Rain wanted to sink into the ground. "Chi, stop. Don't make it sound like I'm—" he stammered, his face flushing as he realized he really was.

Chi turned to Rain with a determined nod. 'Don't worry, My Lord. I'm here to guard your virtue.'

Rain covered his face with his hands, wishing the ground would just swallow him whole. "This is not what I needed right now," he muttered under his breath, as Santi watched the exchange with a mix of amusement and bewilderment.

Eventually, the group had to press on, their mission to reach Gorm took precedence. The air around them grew colder as they moved deeper into the underground, the faint glow of their torches casting eerie shadows on the stone walls.

Golly led the way, while Rain and his troops were not far off.

Rain couldn't help but marvel at the vastness of the mines, the depth seeming to stretch endlessly into the earth. The sheer scale of it was overwhelming, as if the ground itself had been hollowed out by some colossal force.

However, a wave of disappointment washed over him as he noticed the barren walls, devoid of the ores and precious stones he had hoped to see and to steal. The Gnomes must have stripped the veins clean, leaving nothing but echoes of what once was.

Chi positioned herself close to Rain, her earlier protectiveness replaced by a fierce readiness for the battle ahead. Santi walked beside them, her eyes scanning the darkness, while Chill and Chick took up the rear, their senses on high alert.

The tunnel walls began to close in, the air thick with the scent of ancient stone and something darker, something that hinted at the malevolent forces they were about to face. The path ahead twisted and turned, leading them deeper into the heart of the underground.

"We're getting close," Golly whispered, his voice barely audible above the sound of their footsteps. "Stay sharp."

Rain tightened his grip on his sword, his heart pounding with a mix of anticipation and dread. There was no turning back now.

Without another word, they pressed forward, the darkness ahead seeming to pulse with the promise of the battle that awaited them.

Narrow hallways twisted and turned, and the walls seemed to close in around them, creating a labyrinth that threatened to disorient even the most seasoned warriors.

Rain and his group pressed on despite the growing sense of unease that gnawed at the edges of their minds. They knew that every second counted, and they could not afford to lose their way in the maze of corridors.

"Watch your step. Only walk where I walk," Golly warned, his voice low and serious. "One wrong move, and you'll set off one of the many traps we've laid down here."

"Why would you need so many traps in the mines?" Rain asked, curiosity tinged with unease.

"To keep out anyone who shouldn't be here," Golly replied. "There's always someone looking to steal our resources, so we've made sure they pay the price if they try."

"That . . . makes sense," Rain said, glancing around nervously. "But isn't it a bit dangerous?"

"For anyone who doesn't belong here? Absolutely," Golly said with a grin, the flicker of torchlight dancing in his eyes.

"Don't worry I know the mines like the back of my hand," Golly reassured before he step into a pressure plates hidden beneath a thin layer of dust.

The moment Golly's foot pressed down on the hidden pressure plate, a low rumble echoed through the tunnel. His eyes widened in shock, the confidence draining from his face.

"Move!" Rain shouted, instinctively grabbing Golly's arm and pulling him back just as a series of sharp metal spikes shot out from the walls. The spikes clashed against each other in a deadly dance, filling the space where Golly had just been standing.