Enchanted University of Magemenos

Chapter 54:Hunger strike!

I sat down, letting my eyes adjust to the dim light from a small candle flickering in the corner. The cave was barely illuminated, making everything around me seem almost invisible. The choker dug into my neck, a constant reminder of the game, and it hurt so much that I couldn't rest my head against the wall. The exhaustion from the day's Marco Polo game weighed on me heavily, and despite the discomfort, my eyes began to close, pulled down by sheer fatigue.

I don't know when I fell asleep—maybe the exhaustion finally took over—but when I woke up, it was pitch dark. It felt like I'd been out for at least two hours, and the small candle had burned down to a stub, barely casting any light. The silence around me was unsettling, making the darkness feel even heavier.

I just called doom on myself. How could I sleep at a time like this? What if I got tagged while I was out cold? I can't believe I took such a huge risk—falling asleep when every second could be the difference between staying in the game and getting eliminated.

I step cautiously out of the cave, my heart racing as I start running again. The ground is familiar—it's the same area where we played Marco Polo. While I know the layout, the fear of looping back to where I started haunts me. The terrain is huge, stretching over hundreds of acres, and the idea of crossing paths with others in this vast space adds to the tension. I push myself to keep moving, hoping to avoid any pitfalls while trying to stay hidden and safe.

I remind myself that there are two dens in the game. The challenge isn't just avoiding one den but staying out of reach of both. 

The small bread barely satiates my hunger, and I know I need more to keep going. Food is scarce, so I start thinking about finding mushrooms. It takes me back to the time I went camping with my dad. He taught me about the edible and poisonous kinds, which helped us survive for six hours. But this is different—48 hours is a long time, and I need to be extra cautious.

I remember the key characteristics to identify the safe mushrooms and start my search, hoping I can find something that will sustain me without risking my safety.

To my frustration, there are no mushrooms—nothing at all. The ground is barren, and my hopes of finding some food are dashed. I feel the weight of my hunger and the growing desperation. The realization hits hard: I need to find another solution, and quickly.

What are we supposed to eat—grass, branches, or fish? Fish isn't a terrible idea, but raw? I can't bring myself to eat a living creature in such agony. I'd rather face starvation than consume something that makes me feel this conflicted.

My stomach growls loudly, like a bear in hunger. The pain is almost unbearable, and I can feel my strength draining away, desperately needing food.

I can just imagine Kate in my place, calmly foraging for bugs and making them part of her diet without a second thought. She'd probably normalize it like it was just another snack.

I hope Kate's managing okay too. It's rough out here, and I'm sure she's got her own challenges.

The constant buzzing of the bee drives me to the edge, making me want to swat it with all my strength until it's nothing but a smear. The irritation is overwhelming, and the thought of ending its incessant buzzing is almost soothing.

"Don't come near me, Mr. Bee. I'm in a state where I could just eat you. No one would notice your absence—after all, it's only the queen that matters. You'll never be one of the queens, and someday, everyone will forget you and leave you behind. Then you'll have to find your own way and survive alone." I speak to the bee as if it's a reflection of my own struggle.

"Oh, thank you, Mr. Bee, for coming to my rescue. Now, how about you help me find your home? You can share some of your honey with me in return for the valuable advice I've given you. A little give and take, you know."

The bee hovers for a moment, almost as if it's considering my offer, before buzzing away. It feels as though it might actually come back with some honey, honoring the little exchange we had.

"Oh my god, there are so many bees! How do I take a piece of the comb?"