I should see if Amelia is feeling better

With Mia, I at least know she is al right. Amelia however, she might still feel ill and me simply showing up might help at making her feel better. Besides, if she’s still under the weather, I can always meet up with Mia after. In that case Mia probably won’t even find out.

But to my surprise, Amelia was already I our living room. Waiting for me, ready to go.

"Amelia, your mother told me that you did not feel well yesterday. Are you sure that you are in the condition to go?" I asked.

"I'm fine. After sleeping all day yesterday, I felt a lot better. I know how much you want to explore the mine." Amelia says.

Amelia seems to have returned to normal, which I am glad. Having her act like her usual self makes me feel happy. I took my things, and together with Amelia, we went to the entrance of the mine where Kase was going to be waiting for us.

On the way there, I pondered if maybe I should tell Amelia about Mia and me. I mean, she has a right to know. But if I tell her now, that might sour the mood and ruin the trip. No, I should tell her after we return from the mine. At least then the trip won’t be ruined.

When we arrived, Kase was already there. The strange thing about it was the interaction between Amelia and Kase. It seems that they had a fight because no matter how much Kase tried to get Amelia's attention, she only responded with short and cutting sentences.

"Did you bring all the equipment that I told you? If you need anything, Amelia, let me know." Kase said.

"Yeah..." Amelia replied shortly.

"For more security, stay by my side, Amelia." Kase continued.

"I'm fine being next to Darx." Amelia replied.

I can't say I hate the new dynamic between Amelia and Kase. I feel a bit bad about how Kase is being treated, but it's for the best. I am more convinced now that what Mia said was not entirely true. She probably just saw things between Amelia and Kase that she wanted to see. I guess I can stop worrying so much.

"Remember that the mine is like a labyrinth, and there is little lighting.” Kase explains. “So, make sure you do not separate from me. If an enemy appears, I will take the role of tank."

And with those last words from Kase, I entered the mine for the first time. As he said, the place is a labyrinth with paths everywhere. The site is much bigger than one would expect when looking at it from the outside. Inside it looks like I suppose all the mines look like, with some roads with rails, stones, and pieces of broken wood everywhere. Just for safety, I was memorizing the paths we were taking in case Kase forgot.

On the way, we had to face some monsters, including a kind of giant bat that I had never seen before but defeated without any difficulty. What has caught my attention the most until now is how much Amelia has improved. Before, she used to take a lot of potions to regain her mana after a few magic spells. But at the moment, she hasn't taken a single one. Her healing now also relieves fatigue as well, while her paralysis magic now lasts longer. She has really worked hard to improve.

We went deeper, and with that also, the light was dimmed. There were roads on which you could hardly see, but Kase insisted on taking that route since it was the one he took previously. Amelia was holding my arm all that time because she did not want to get lost.

"Are you sure this is the way, Kase?" I asked.

"..."

"Kase?" I asked again.

I lost sight of Kase for a moment, and he didn’t answer me. Where is he? The place is really dark, and as I tried to find him, I stopped feeling Amelia's hand holding me.

"Ame... Kekk"

I felt a blow from the side that made me lose balance, so I tried to hold onto the wall. But there was no wall. With nowhere to hold, I fell through a hole in the wall. While I fell, I managed to adjust and fell with my feet. What just happened?

"DARX !! DARX !! ANSWER ME!!!" I heard Amelia.

She was in a panic, screaming my name.

"Amelia !! I'm here, but it seems like I fell to a lower level." I tell her.

Suddenly at the top where I fell, Kase appeared holding a crystal that illuminated the entire place. Once the light was on, Amelia peeked through the hole in the wall. From the way it looks, it seems that this opening was made to lift things from below with a pulley.

"Darx, are you okay? Did you hurt yourself?" Amelia asked.

"I'm fine, but I don't think I can go up." I tell her.

I hate to worry Amelia, but I'm in trouble since I don't know how to get up to where they are.

"This pulley still seems to work. If we look for a rope, we could get Darx up here." Kase says.

Kase's idea is not bad; the problem will be to find a rope.

"Kase, do you know where we could find a rope? Amelia asks.

"I seemed to see one not far from here the last time I came." He answers

"Darx, wait here, me and Kase will go get the rope, don't worry." Amelia reassures me.

I hate the idea of leaving Amelia alone with Kase, but I have ****. From down here, I can see several paths, but I could get lost if I took the wrong way.

"Kase, please keep Amelia safe." I tell him.

"Shut up!” Kase tells me in frustration. “Isn't that what I've been doing!? Unlike you!? Now because of you, we have to waste time saving you."

"What did you say?" I ask.

"THAT'S NOT TRUE!!” Amelia counters Kase. “Darx took care of me all my life; without him, I would have already died more than once, so don't talk to him like that."

"It's the second time I've to have to save his pathetic ass." Kase tells Amelia, now with less frustration.

"Shut up!” Amelia shouts at him. “If you don't want to help me, just tell me where to find the rope."

"I wouldn't let you go alone.” Kase tells Amelia. Now with a calm voice. “Follow me"

Before leaving, Kase looked down at me and smiled. Damn, why did this have to happen? I hate having to owe him a favor. Who knows what he will try being alone with Amelia? What is really going on between those two? I thought I understood, but now I’m doubting again. I'm sure they haven't told me everything. I'm feeling helpless right now.

What should I do? Do I wait for them to return, or do I take one of the paths hoping it is the right one?