The Game Before the Fall

Chapter 81: Who we were.

Chapter 81: Who we were.

Aria Friend:

"Aria wake up, it's time to go."

I felt a hand gently shake me awake and opened my eyes to see my brother, "Ardy?"

"Yeah, it's me," he smiled. He appeared a bit older than before. His face more rugged and eyes tired like they had seen too much. Still, there was a light of hope and shine that never faded. My mind churned, unable to remember the last time I saw him.

Another haughtier voice called, "Is the Princess still sleeping? Come on Aria or I'll eat your breakfast."

"Vanter?" I leaned up and saw the handsome elf by a makeshift fire. We were in a large chamber made of stone. Pillars rose from the ground supporting the high ceiling above and all around us were strange etchings that appeared like gibberish.

"Aria are you okay?" Ardy asked me again. "We've been relying on you too much haven't we?"

"No- you're fine," I shook myself. "Where's Erin?"

"Who?" Ardy raised his brow.

"She's-," the image of the person in my head suddenly vanished and I couldn't recall my thought. "Never mind."

I slowly got up and approached the fire. It seemed like I was the last to rise. Around the fire six other people sat. A stocky dwarf, that was Shin. An impressively sized Oni, that was Greg. An athletic young woman with circular glasses, that was Quyen. An elf with a serious expression, that was Ana. Finally, there was Ardy and Vanter. That's right. We were a team looking for hope. We had been travelling for several months now and found this dungeon by chance.

"Here's your portion," Quyen passed me a bowl of rice porridge. "We're running low on salt so it's a bit bland."

"Thanks," I took the bowl and ate a spoonful. It was blander than I expected but I was used to it. Eating food to survive more than anything else. Strangely, memories of much nicer food plagued my mind as if it hadn't been long since I had them.

"What's the plan Captain?" Ana asked my brother. "We've been here two days now with no sign of getting out."

Ardy thought for a moment, "We push further. If we find an exit, we can decide what to do then. Aria, do you still get the feeling this is the right way?"

"Ah, umm, yes," I replied.

Greg turned to me with solemn concern, "Aria you have been acting strange since you woke. Is something the matter?"

"No, well I just-," I paused. Was something the matter? Everyone's eyes fell to me, all concerned.

Vanter looked to my brother, "We aren't in a rush, are we? Maybe we should spend a bit more time resting."

"No, I'm fine," I said firmly. I couldn't let my dazzled mind interrupt the mission. "People all over the world are relying on us to find something to hope for. The sooner we find that the better."

Ardy looked at me with a gentle smile. It was a face I had seen so many times now. An expression of pride that I was his sister. While sometimes I believed I didn't deserve it, his view of me never changed.

"We need to go over a few things anyway. I'll tell you all when we're ready," he dusted off his hands with a clap. "Until then, keep an eye out but try to relax a little."