The following two days were a blissful reprieve for Azad, who spent most of his time lounging around camp, regaining his strength. His body ached from the constant battles and survival tests, but with every passing hour, he felt himself healing, his wounds slowly fading. He stretched out beneath the canopy of towering trees, the sun filtering through the leaves in dappled patches of warmth. The forest around the camp was calm and peaceful, the birds singing a cheerful melody that seemed to soothe his tired soul.
Choco, his faithful companion, was never far from his side. The dog pranced around, occasionally bringing Azad sticks to play fetch with, his tail wagging furiously. Azad couldn't help but smile every time Choco dropped a stick at his feet, his brown eyes wide with excitement.
"Alright, alright, boy," Azad chuckled, tossing the stick into the distance. "Go get it!"
Choco bounded after the stick with enthusiasm, leaping over fallen branches and small bushes. Azad leaned back against the trunk of a tree, enjoying the rare moment of peace. "I could get used to this..."
The sound of footsteps approached, and Ellie appeared from behind a tree, her arms crossed as usual, but this time, her face was more relaxed. "You're not just going to lie around all day, are you?"
Azad gave her a lazy grin. "What's wrong with that? I've earned it, haven't I? Three days of chaos, fighting monsters, almost getting killed by an Enderman— I'd say I deserve a break."
Ellie rolled her eyes but couldn't hide the slight smile tugging at her lips. "Fine, enjoy it while you can. But don't get too comfortable. You're not finished yet."
Azad groaned theatrically. "Of course, I'm not. You're going to make me go fight some fire-breathing dragon next, aren't you?"
"No dragons—yet," she teased. "But let's see if you make it through the last trial before you start asking for mythical creatures to fight."
The two days of rest flew by in a blur of lazy afternoons, light conversations with Ellie, and playing with Choco. Despite the constant banter and teasing, Azad found himself starting to respect Ellie more. She pushed him, yes, but she also knew when to let him breathe. And every time he started to doubt himself, her sharp words somehow gave him the kick he needed to keep going.
On the third morning, as the early sunlight filtered through the forest and a fresh breeze carried the earthy scent of the woods, Azad stretched his sore muscles. He was feeling more refreshed, his body almost fully healed, but he had a sense of foreboding knowing the final trial was looming over him.
Ellie approached with a determined look, her eyes gleaming with mischief as usual. "Alright, Azad. Enough resting. It's time for the third and final trial to prove your strength."
Azad sighed deeply, though his tone was more sarcastic than genuinely annoyed. "Oh great, here we go. What do you want me to do this time? Fetch the Moon for you? Or maybe take a nice, relaxing lava bath?"
Ellie snorted, shaking her head. "Watching you try to take a lava bath would be hilarious, but no, I've got something a bit more grounded in mind. You're going underground."
Azad blinked. "Underground? You can't be serious."
Ellie's smirk only grew. "Oh, I'm very serious. You're going to delve into the caves and bring me back two iron swords."
Azad's jaw dropped. "What?! You want me to go into those dark, creepy caves? Are you out of your mind? You know what lives down there, right? Zombies, skeletons, spiders... and worse things."
Ellie crossed her arms, her expression firm. "I'm aware. That's the point. You want to prove you're strong, don't you? This is the last trial, Azad. If you're going to be a true fighter, you'll need to face the dangers head-on. Besides, this time I'm being nice. You can take your armor and weapons."
Azad narrowed his eyes. "So I'm not going in naked like last time? What a relief."
Ellie chuckled. "No, you'll have your gear. But..." She glanced at Choco, who was resting near Azad's feet, ears perked up at the sound of his name. "Choco can't go with you."
"Oh, come on!" Azad groaned, throwing his arms up in frustration. "This is going too far. I could actually die down there, you know. And you're telling me I can't even take my best buddy with me for backup?"
Ellie shrugged, her expression unyielding. "If you die, it means you've learned nothing from the first two trials. This is about facing the unknown, about pushing past your fear and relying on your own strength. Choco will stay with me. He'll be safe here."
Azad looked down at Choco, who wagged his tail but seemed to sense the tension in the air. "I don't like this," he muttered, scratching the dog's head. "But I guess I don't have a choice, do I?"
"No, you don't," Ellie said firmly, though her tone softened just slightly. "You've come this far, Azad. Don't back out now. You've proven you can survive in the wild, you've fought monsters and Endermen. This is just the next step."
Azad sighed, his hand resting on Choco's back as the dog nudged him affectionately. "Fine. I'll do it. But if I come back and you don't have something nice cooked up for me, I'm going to be very upset."
Ellie smirked, her eyes gleaming. "If you come back alive, I might even make you a meal. Now, gear up and get moving. The caves won't wait for you."
Azad stood, slipping into his armor, strapping his iron sword to his waist, and slinging a shield over his back. He felt the familiar weight of the gear and took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves.
Choco whined softly as Azad gave him one last pat. "Don't worry, boy. I'll be back soon." Choco licked his hand, as if giving him encouragement.
Ellie watched him with her usual teasing grin, though there was something more in her eyes—perhaps a hint of respect. "Good luck, Azad. Remember, you've faced worse. The caves will test you, but you'll come out stronger on the other side."
Azad nodded, his heart pounding in his chest as he made his way toward the looming mouth of the cave in the distance. The entrance yawned before him, dark and ominous, but he squared his shoulders and stepped forward, determined to face whatever awaited him below.
"Here we go," he muttered to himself. "Into the depths."