"Are you all here to collect the treasures left behind by the fallen adventurers?" Arlyne inquired, her brow furrowed in suspicion as she scrutinized their group.
"Yes," John affirmed with a nod, his gaze sweeping across their surroundings, taking in the stalactites hanging from the cave ceiling and the eerie shadows cast by their flickering flames.
Inside the cave, the air was crisp and clean, offering a stark contrast to the raging thunderstorm outside, which sent torrents of lightning to the rocky cliffs.
"So, what brings you here? And who is this mortal— I mean, Asher Eli?" John's voice dripped with doubt as he struggled to comprehend why these two ethereal transcendents had brought a mortal into an S-rank dungeon, his tone laced with curiosity and suspicion.
"Well..." Arlyne awkwardly scratched her head, her eyes shifting to Asher Eli and Pearl, who were engaged in an intense discussion outside the cave, their silhouettes illuminated by flashes of lightning.
A flicker of annoyance crossed her lips as she felt Eli's hateful gaze upon her.
Sensing her discomfort, Eli turned and flashed a gentle smile and entered the cave, settling beside Arlyne, his presence almost near to her as his legs frankly touching her legs.
Arlyne flinched slightly before regaining her composure, while Pearl likewise took a seat on the other side..... positioning herself close to Eli. Her movements were graceful yet deliberate, betraying a subtle hint of protectiveness of someone.
Observing this, both John and David couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy, their eyes lingering on the trio, their expressions a blend of admiration and resentment, while Lia clicked her tongue disapprovingly at the sight of the two girls practically glued to Eli, her gaze tinged with a hint of amusement.
"We are third-year students from Nex Academia, currently on an internship," Eli explained confidently, his words carrying an air of authority and self-assurance, "Our 'esteemed' professors tasked us with the daunting challenge of surviving in this unknown dungeon, thrusting us into a realm of peril and uncertainty" he spoke in a manner that made Arlyne and Pearl flinch.
Arlyne and Pearl exchanged glances but refrained from interrupting, their eyes betraying a mixture of curiosity and apprehension as they listened intently to Eli's blunt shit.
"Ah, I understand now," John nodded in comprehension, his tone tinged with respect and admiration for their courage, while David cast envious glances at the trio, wishing he were also a student of Nex Academia.
"Could you tell us today's date and time?" Eli inquired, his tone serious and urgent, his eyes narrowing in anticipation of their response.
Pearl and Arlyne grew alert, their senses heightened as they eagerly awaited confirmation of the passage of time, they had been here for almost five days.
"It's the 12th today, and the time..." John paused, casting a meaningful glance at Lia asked, "When we left the hotel?"
"We departed from the hotel Around 7" Lia answered.
"Approximately 8:30 or 9, " John said with a nod.
Eli breathed a partial sigh of relief at the revelation, his shoulders relaxing slightly as a wave of reassurance washed over him.
"It seems time moves faster here!" Arlyne remarked with a smile, her eyes meeting Eli who had a happy expression.
'Ba-Dump'
'Tsk, Calm down!' Arlyne screamed as she calmed herself.
This realization was especially significant for Pearl, as using her life-saving beads could potentially leave her companions stranded for a significant period before she could awaken from their bead's side effects.
Observing Eli's endless appetite, John couldn't help but chuckle at the sight.
"heheh...Looks like someone's really hungry," he remarked with a grin, reaching into his storage once more to retrieve a few extra cans of food for Pearl and Arlyne.
"Thank you," the girls expressed their gratitude sincerely. However, before they could even begin to open their cans, Eli intervened once again.
"I'm sorry," he apologized sheepishly, his hunger getting the better of him as he swiftly claimed their food and began to devour it.
Arlyne and Pearl exchanged surprised glances as they watched Eli finish off the cans in record time. With an awkward smile, they simply shrugged it off, deciding to let Eli enjoy his meal without further protest.
"Eat slowly," they advised him gently, though Eli seemed undeterred by their words as he continued to eat with fervour.
However, David couldn't help but frown at Eli's actions, his concern for the girls evident in his expression,
"Hey, those were for the girls," he pointed out, his tone tinged with disapproval as he watched Eli consume the food meant for Pearl and Arlyne.
Eli paused momentarily, swallowing hard as he glanced at David, "'gulp'.. hmm. they will be fine...'gulp'" he dismissed David's concern with a nonchalant wave of his hand before resuming his meal.
"Y-Yeah, don't worry about us" Pearl said with an awkward smile.
John's frown deepened as he observed Eli's disregard for his comrades' needs. He reached for another two cans of food, his tone firm as he addressed Eli.
"Mr. Asher Eli, I understand you're hungry, but you shouldn't ignore your comrades," he reprimanded, offering the cans to Pearl and Arlyne once more.
"I am sorry"
Yet, as before, Eli swiftly claimed the food, repeating his apology without a hint of remorse as he continued to eat.
Frustration simmered beneath the surface as both John and David exchanged incredulous glances, the veins on their foreheads pulsing with irritation.
"If you guys need 'ANYTHING'," John reiterated, his gaze shifting pointedly between Pearl and Arlyne, "Please ask us without hesitation."
The two girls exchanged knowing smiles, reassured by John's implicit offer of support. They understood the unspoken concern that lingered in the air, the doubt surrounding Eli's actions and intentions.
However, as Eli threw the last of the can and asked,
"Do you have more food?"
'Tang'
"....."
An awkward silence fell over the cave. Experience new stories on m v|l e'-novelhall.net