"This network of tunnels is actually an abandoned dwarf mine."
Dil's voice echoed far into the distance, reverberating off the bare stone walls.
Behind the tall swordsman walked Morvian, his leg already healed with scarabs.
The scar remained, but he didn't care much about it. After all, he wouldn't be in this body forever anyway.
A little behind them was Lia, looking down at her feet the whole way. She didn't say anything and only followed them.
"And why were they abandoned? Because of those things?" the golden-haired girl asked.
She was now wearing a fur cloak that warmed her frail body quite well.
Dil had given it to her from his spatial ring.
"No... that's where the danger lies. After all, the mines were abandoned because of the curse of a lich that once lived in these mountains. The dwarves were greatly hindering him with their excavations, so he enchanted these caves."
Saying this, Dyl glanced at his wristwatch, usually hidden under his armor.
"The bottom line is that a person shouldn't be here for more than seventeen hours. Otherwise, at the end of that time, his soul will be scorched and the man will die an agonizing death. Also, a person's time is shortened due to various doubts and fears. Therefore..."- While saying this, the knight looked at the enchantress.
"Leah, stop moping! You've probably lost about an hour already because of your gloomy thoughts. Those people were just unlucky. It's not your fault."
Leah remained silent, continuing to weave behind.
Morvian meanwhile pondered his situation and what he should do next.
Though his ordeal was far more difficult than he had thought, it was not the end.
It was already obvious that his goal of the trial was not to survive. After all, it was usually common to all participants.
He highly doubted that all the slaves in the caravan were test subjects. Therefore, he needed to join the others.
As it was, he had already met this enchantress who was definitely a test subject. However, that didn't change much and he already had plans for her.
The hem of the fur cloak danced in time with the slave girl's steps as she followed the knight.
'If there's a settlement nearby, that's probably where the main cluster of claimants is. It shouldn't be too far away, so there's still a chance. I'll get to it, and then we'll see.
Morvian walked forward confidently and felt little discomfort. Despite the seemingly mortal danger depending on their time in these catacombs.
What could not be said for Leah, who was beginning to sweat more and more.
Her long hair stuck to her pale skin and her hands were constantly rubbing her robe.
Morvian was sneaking glances at her with his golden eyes, which were like falcon eyes now.
They went on like this for a couple of hours, after which Dyl stopped, staring into the distance.
He stood like that for a while, but soon turned to his companions.
"Let's take a break."
The slave girl was surprised at the suggestion and looked at the knight questioningly.
"But why? Shouldn't we be in a hurry?"
Dyl replied as he pulled the camping supplies out of his ring.
"You're right, but we all need to rest, both physically and mentally..."
Dil looked at Leah, who was standing in the distance.
"Especially you Leah. Please try to relax for a while."
After laying out all the things he needed, the swordsman quickly built a fire with a bright flame.
After that, he took out some herb with a yellow-gray flower and ground it in a wooden bowl with a mortar.
When he was done, Dil put the greenish ointment on a wooden stick and threw it into the fire.
The flames turned green and glowed less, but the heat was the same.
Morvian watched the process with interest and remembered the evenings in the slums of Rusthol.
'This herb is Gejda. If you throw it into a fire, it will stop the production of ash with the smoke, as well as reducing the light. However, the heat will remain the same.'
Morvian put his hands together, pondering.
'This method was discovered by scientist Gejda about 150 years ago. Damn... it's still too large a range of time. I'm so unlikely to be able to pinpoint exactly what event we're currently experiencing in this trial. That's why we need to go to the city to ask the locals.'
Dil took out a few pieces of something meat and wrapped them in a bluish colored metallic paper, then dripped a couple of drops from some vial inside.
"What do you put in there?"- the slave girl asked in a respectful tone and slowly moved closer, as if interested.
Dil added a few more drops to another piece of meat, then answered.
"This oil is from my homeland."
Morvian looked at the food strangely.
'Butter and meat?'
Dil seemed to notice the girl's incomprehension and smiled weakly.
"It is an unusual oil that is extracted from mountain herbs by careful mixing with other ingredients. Don't worry, it will be delicious. Much better than what you were given in the caravan..."
Saying the last words, Dil frowned slightly and looked at the slave girl.
"I still don't know your name by the way. Can you introduce yourself? I'm Dil Horvis."
The blonde slave girl looked at him in surprise, clearly puzzled by the question.
Dil sensed the awkwardness in the air and decided to change the subject, in parallel putting paper-wrapped pieces of meat directly into the fire.
"Uh, you don't have to say anything if you don't want to. However, we need to commiserate."
The cloaked girl thought for a while, after which she smiled.
"My name is Morvi... just Morvi."
The swordsman looked the girl over.
She was covered in cuts and bruises, and the hideous scar on her leg didn't improve the situation.
However, the bright eyes showed the youth and sensuality of a girl who had the misfortune to be chained.
Dil sighed and smiled back, sitting down on the floor near the fire.
"It's a pleasure, Morvi. This beech's name is Leah Blaus. By the way, you have a seat too."
Morvian sat down across from Dil, and Leah simply leaned against the wall, sitting down between them.
Tongues of green flame stretched upward, creating images on the ceiling.
After a while, the knight took a wood and pulled three wrapped pieces of meat from the fire and handed one to each of his companions.
Leah placed one beside her, showing her lack of appetite, and Morvi carefully opened the paper.
The girl's gaze visibly perked up and her eyes seemed to brighten at the sight of the food.
Dil opened his portion and took a bite, looking expectantly at the blonde.
The former slave girl watched the swordsman eat with interest, then tried to take a bite herself, but quickly recoiled from the food.
"What's wrong? Doesn't it taste good?"- the man in armor asked.
Morvi looked at him embarrassed and her cheeks flushed slightly.
"I've never eaten meat... and generally hot food..."
Dil was dumbfounded and almost dropped his portion from his hands.
A disgusted feeling settled in his heart as he looked at that poor soul.
"Well... if you're hot, you should blow on it first. Like this..."- the man said and started blowing gently on the meat.
The girl watched this carefully, then visibly concentrated and started blowing.
She wasn't very good at it, but she eventually managed it and took a small bite.
It didn't take long for a delighted squeal and it was obvious how the girl's cheekbones clenched with pleasure.
Dil chuckled and there was a warmth on his soul as he looked at that happy face.
Meanwhile, Morvian was playing his part perfectly.
'Damn, this is too easy! Playing the role of a poor girl is in my blood... no matter how strange it sounds. However, the meat is really delicious.'
Of course he had eaten meat before. Although not very often. Only a few times to be exact, but it didn't matter.
The main thing now was to build up a similar image of the poor girl to get the man to like her.
Morvian smiled sweetly at the knight and ate meat sitting near the fire.
Meanwhile, Leah continued to sweat profusely.