The air inside the cave had begun to shift. The tension of the previous night, full of strange emotions and unseen creatures, had slowly faded. Little Fire stood and stretched his back, yawning with satisfaction. The moment he opened his eyes, the soft morning light from the cracks in the cave ceiling touched his face. He glanced to his side, where Spirit Fairy still lay quietly, her breathing soft and even.
She stirred slowly, blinking herself awake. When she saw him looking at her, she immediately sat up and turned her head away, her cheeks turning slightly red. Then, without saying a word, she reached into her storage ring and took out her veil. Gracefully, she placed it back over her face.
"Why are you wearing that again?" Little Fire asked curiously.
"There might be troublemakers on the way out," she replied softly, adjusting the veil over her delicate features. "Not everyone can handle beauty with good intentions."
Little Fire rolled his eyes. "Who would dare trouble us after last night?"
She smiled under the veil but didn't respond.
They began walking along the uneven stone path, making their way deeper toward the central corridor of the cave system, the same one they had avoided the day before. The trail twisted and turned, forcing them to walk closer together. The air felt heavier here, the scent of sulfur and minerals more intense.
As they passed through a particularly narrow passage, the path opened up into a wide circular chamber with strange glowing moss on the walls. There, waiting in the middle, was a young man in a crimson robe, his long black hair tied back with a silver band. He looked about Little Fire's age, though his eyes held arrogance far beyond it.
Beside him stood two cultivators, slightly older, with stern expressions. All three were dressed in the formal attire of the Fire Clan.
"Looks like our treasure-hunting rabbits finally appeared," the crimson-robed youth sneered.
Little Fire raised an eyebrow. "You talking to us?"
"Of course," the youth said, taking a step forward. "Leave the treasures you obtained in the trial cave, and I might let you both walk out unharmed."
Spirit Fairy sighed softly. "Troublemakers, as I said."
Little Fire laughed. "Do I look like someone who'd just hand things over? You should try me."
The crimson-robed youth's expression darkened. "You have no idea who you're talking to, do you?"
"Nope."
Before he could speak again, Little Fire blurred into motion. A trail of blazing red light followed his movement as he appeared in front of the young man and sent a punch toward his chest. The youth barely had time to lift his guard. The impact echoed through the chamber like a thunderclap.
The youth was sent flying across the chamber and hit the stone wall hard, coughing up blood. His two companions, seeing the sudden defeat, took a nervous step back.
"Wanna try your luck too?" Little Fire asked, cracking his knuckles.
The two cultivators quickly bowed. "No offense meant! We didn't know you were so strong!"
They rushed over to pick up the injured youth and carried him away down another tunnel. Spirit Fairy walked over to Little Fire, her arms crossed.
"You know who he is, don't you?" she asked.
"No idea. Some loud brat."
"He's the grandson of one of the Great Elders of the Fire Clan."
Little Fire raised an eyebrow. "And? Should I be scared of his grandpa too? Be it his grandfather or grandma, I don't care. If they mess with me, they'll regret it."
She looked at him like she was trying to suppress a laugh. "That old lady you just dismissed is a Perfect Soul Creation Realm cultivator."
At that, Little Fire's expression changed. "W-what stage?"
"Initial stage," she replied calmly.
He let out a long breath. "Oh. That's... scary."
Then he looked at her seriously. "What about your father? If they come after me, will he help?"
She looked away briefly, her voice calm. "My father is at the late stage of Perfect Soul Creation Realm."
Little Fire looked relieved. "Whew, that's good then. He can protect me, right?"
She gave him a sideways glance and smirked under her veil. "You think he will protect you?"
"Won't he?"
"No. He'd probably be the first one to beat you up."
Little Fire blinked. "What? Why?! I haven't even met him yet!"
"Because," she said, turning away and walking ahead of him, "you've already taken something very important from him."
"What did I take?! I don't remember stealing anything from your dad!"
She didn't answer, her silence carrying a playful energy. Her shoulders shook slightly, as if she were laughing under the veil.
"Tell me! What did I take?!" Little Fire called out as he jogged to catch up.
She only quickened her pace, leaving him to guess.
The cave began to change as they walked further. The walls became more refined, like they had once been carved by hand. Remnants of old formations, likely placed to guide or ward off intruders, shimmered faintly on the surfaces. The air grew warmer, and the light from Spirit Fairy's flame orb danced across the tunnel.
They spoke little as they traveled. Little Fire occasionally glanced at her, trying to read her expression beneath the veil. It was frustrating how well she hid her emotions.
The path gradually inclined upward. More light began to filter in through the cracks, casting long, golden beams along the way.
Finally, after what felt like hours, they reached the familiar entrance where the cave had begun.
"We're almost out," Spirit Fairy said, her voice softer than before.
"Yeah," Little Fire replied, squinting at the fading light outside.
As they stepped closer to the exit, the smell of fresh air mixed with the scent of wildflowers greeted them. The last rays of the sun touched their skin, painting the cave walls behind them in shades of orange and red.
Little Fire took a deep breath. "Finally. Fresh air."
Spirit Fairy turned her head toward the outside and muttered, "Almost nightfall."
And with that, they stepped out of the cave, shadows long behind them, walking into the twilight.
---[To Be Continued]---