This is a beautiful day, so we decided to explore the area near to us which had become a problem. Currently I am inside a cave which is 17 ft high and 20 ft wide with a depth of unknown. It has a weird structure to it.
There is not a point of light here, the only light we do have is a faint glow from one of the rocks we found outside the cave. That faint glow was the only thing which is holding us back from descending into madness, the cave itself is not any ordinary cave. It has countless spikes and rough surfaces with traps littered through it. I don't know who created it or for what purpose, but the only thing I can say right now is that we are struck here.
With no way for the air inside the cave to go, the temperature of our bodies has been steadily increasing. If it goes on like this, we might die from carbon monoxide poisoning way before someone could ever find us. The cave is made up of dark coloured rocks which seem to scream 'if you come here, you will die'. I don't even know what is happening right now.
With no possible ways to go back I said let's move forward, even if we don't have a destination in mind we can still reach a place which might be connected to the outside. Right now 10 year old children, Unicus a boy with black hair and eyes, Marcus are stuck in this ominous looking cave at who knows where.
"Just because we don't know what should be our next move doesn't mean we can just stay here, cowering in fear Marcus," I said without a worried expression on my face, not just because I'm reincarnated and I'm also capable of handling it but that doesn't mean all can.
Marcus here is just a 10 year old boy or girl I guess depends on how you see him, he is a born girl but due to circumstances he is dressing and maintaining his appearance as a boy. He has green hair which is in a short crop haircut of a boy with green eyes. Because of how he crossdresses all the time he naturally has no friends. But unlike other children in the town I know his little secret why he is crossdressing so I became his friends with him to make sure he won't end up all alone and lonely. I used that all the time to tease him and stuff but since it's not the time I'll refrain from going into it further.
"Hey Unicus, how are you so calm right now?" Marcus asked, his legs shaking in fear. He was so scared that he is currently holding my hand to calm himself in his time of adversity.
"Well to be perfectly honest, I don't have a clue of why I'm so calm right now," well that's an obvious lie but hey I can't go around saying 'I'm a reincarnated person, do you know that' something along those lines. Anyway, coming back to reality, I definitely need to get myself out of this situation somehow.
Suddenly we heard a sound which sent chills down our spine, it felt like we were being eyed upon by a strong something. What it is though I don't know, nor I wish to know. This time through 10 year old Marcus couldn't handle the pressure and he struck like he was glued on or something. With Marcus so close, it feels like he is trying to kill me or something. While I myself can't use magic, Marcus obviously being born in this strange world can use it.
Because of which if he continues his behavior, he might strangle me to death. But the creature came out of hiding and looked ready to prey on us.
"What is that Marcus?" I asked nervously because who wouldn't be if they were facing such a ridiculous thing face to face. My voice itself is currently so shaken it's kind of inaudible at the moment the same was true for Marcus as well but the silver lining is that we were so close to each other that the distance helped us understand each other even though we were speaking so silently with each other.
The creature is a rat type monster which has sharp crimson glowing eyes with a well built body, it even has 6 packs for god's sake. Anyway coming back to point it has fur which seems like the dark night itself in this dimly lit room, and whenever it tries to come near us or even when it is generally few feet away from us the whole place is getting covered with a bad smell which for the unaccustomed people it might make them vomit. Marcus is no exception to it as well, but for now he is holding on fine I guess.
Since I can't stand in a place forever with a predator nearby, I slowly moved backwards in an easy going steady pace Marcus did the same. But I unintentionally stepped on something which made the floor below us vanish in an instant, making us fall in with gravity taking control over us. With a sudden rush of wind passing by us or we were falling fast with gravity's help, the temperature of our body rapidly decreased in an instant, which was so uncomfortable.
After what felt like forever moving in an instant we both landed on something which was a soft jelly like creature. Then I realized, we both are sinking inside of a slime creature. I was desperately swimming with everything I had while I was pulling Marcus who lost his consciousness while we were falling down. Somehow we both made it out alive, but the question still stands "Where are we right now?!!" I asked but obviously no one replied.
The slime creature we both landed on a few moments ago is a blue slime which seems like a harmless little thing, I might say little but the darn thing is 10ft big with a weird stone-like thing in its center. The slime itself does nothing but stay still and I believe it's feeding on grass I guess. Maybe it didn't notice us or its a herbivore he wondered, but Unicus took Marcus in a piggyback and started moving through the cave determined to find a way back and he was reflecting on how everything ended up going the wrong way. It all started yesterday when I wanted to learn more about the world I'm currently living in.
"Mother, I have read all the books we have in our home. But it all says some unbelievable things like Monsters, Magic, Demons, God's exist in this world" I asked with eyes full of curiosity to learn more.
"It is true Unicus. Some people might say Demon's and God's don't exist because they haven't seen them with their own eyes. But I have seen Demon's back when I was nothing but a mere adventurer, but the fear I felt at that moment was terrifying" said Unicus's mother Vanilla. Unicus's mother is a traditional woman who likes to wear black yukata which is more similar to japanese style if anything, with grey eyes and black hair and slender figure she is the picture perfect woman with a unique charm that very few women can outmatch.
With that she started to tell stories of her glorious days as an adventurer, about how hard it was working daily to earn money and generally her experience. Hearing all that made me curious as well, I come from a world with none of those things she mentioned so of course I want to go on my own adventures.
While I was making a plan of how I could sneekly achieve that, I noticed mellona, a maid who is working full time in our home I approached her and started a quiet but subtle enquiry but my curiosity overtook my rational mind at that moment.
"Hey um Mellona, do you have a moment?" I called out to her even though she is busy washing clothes at the moment. Mellona is wearing a orange maid outfit with intricate patterns which perfectly complements her amber eyes and blonde hair with an elegance which might make any man's heartbeat faster in her presence.
"Yes Unicus, what do you need?" she asked with a kind expression which always left me blushing red.
"Umm I was just thinking about wanting to go on an adventure. But I'm aware that I can't protect myself, so I want you to accompany me on this journey" I finally released the breath which I was holding in, after I said that out loud. Mellona, though with a serious expression started thinking about it, although I don't think she will refuse but just want to confirm whether my predictions of what her response might be is accurate or not.
After a moment, "Well I don't mind it, I'll accompany you" her answer made my curiosity skyrocket and while we were both getting ready to go out together, Marcus spotted us on the way and expressed her willingness to join. So the three of us spent the whole day as a picnic. The three of us went to quite an exhausting number of places. By the end of the day we had visited a church, children's playground, and a drama theater.
What's a drama theater you ask? It's an old school version of the film that many people might be familiar with, it's basically a bunch of people performing a story on a stage, it includes some simple music which is similar to classical or traditional music with awkward lighting and transitions which at first might be frustrating or hard to understand at first but overtime you'll start to get used to it. It's one of the few good things you can call entertainment in the world. but the fact that this world is similar to the middle ages is quite sad but one which expresses its potential to be interesting. With no electricity and electronic devices, my days were boring but now I think the situation is improving steadily. But I still would say that my previous life was full of happiness which regrettably I can never experience again. But I guess that's something I should move on from huh, shouldn't I?
Afterwards we all went to eat our lunch under a large tree which was big enough to cover almost 4 people in its shade. Immediately, Mellona started preparing by spreading a cloth on the surface and unpacking the lunch. Today's lunch is omelet rice which is my favorite because of its simple yet elegant nature, not only it's easy to make but also quite tasty with a taste that is totally mesmerizing. Not to mention the other side dishes like salad, grilled vegetables, pickles prepared as well which pairs well with omelet rice. As I started eating omelet rice, it's like savoring a warm and comforting hug in every bite. As you cut through the fluffy omelet, it envelops the tender grains of rice, creating a delightful contrast in textures. With each mouthful, the savory flavors of the seasoned rice mingle with the creamy egg, creating a harmonious blend that dances on your taste buds. The filling, its succulent vegetables, adds an extra dimension of taste and satisfaction. It's a dish that not only fills your belly but also warms your soul with its familiar and comforting flavors. As I indulge in omelet rice, the accompanying side dishes elevate the experience to a symphony of flavors and textures. The crisp freshness of a side salad adds a refreshing contrast, with each crunchy bite complementing the richness of the omelet. Grilled vegetables, with their smoky sweetness, provide a delightful accompaniment, enhancing the savory profile of the dish.
And let's not forget the tangy pickles, their sharpness cutting through the richness of the omelet rice, cleansing the palate and leaving you craving for more. Together, these side dishes create a culinary journey that delights the senses and leaves me fully satisfied, craving another bite of this delicious meal.
After the three of us took our time eating the food we started to chat about the events of the day under the tree's comforting shade. While everything was going smoothly Marcus asked a question which was out of character for her, "Hey Mellona, my father keeps mentioning that I'm a granddaughter of a wealthy merchant and how I should start acting appropriately to reflect our wealth. Why should I have to?" asked Marcus. With a question like that you might think she is an innocent little girl which is exactly right. Since Marcus asked Mellona took her time explaining, so to summarize it all. The kingdom we are living in Elysium was a feudal society based on land ownership. Nobility owned and managed their landholdings.
Peasants worked the land and turned over the goods they produced to the nobility. This structure meant that peasants were extremely poor, and the nobility was significantly richer.
People were not able to move from one social class to another. Peasants and their children were always peasants. Nobility and their children would remain nobility barring some tragedy. There was no middle class for the greater part of the centuries. Eventually, a merchant class developed, which became the middle class. The vast distinctions between the nobility and the peasant class were apparent in many ways like clothing for example.
While the style and basic construction of the clothing were the same between classes, the materials, and quality of the craftsmanship were different. Peasant clothing was made of simple fabrics in basic colors without adornment. On the other hand, noble's clothing was dyed, lined with animal furs, and embellished with complicated embroidery. While standing in society is very important to the people of this world, I frankly couldn't care less.
While we were getting ready to head home, Marcus came back running with her breathless. "What's wrong Marcus?" asked Mellona with eyes filled with concern.
"I found a cave over there, why don't we explore it" Marcus said with excitement. As he is a boy from a merchant family which is comparable to the Nobility, he isn't really privileged to have experiences like these so I can understand why he is excited though. Afterwards all three of us went inside to explore the cave, me and Marcus got separated from Mellona which resulted in us getting trapped in here for more than hours. Now though I feel sleepy but no matter what, I shouldn't sleep here if I did. This place might become our coffins, still feeling the fatigue and sleepiness I took my steps carefully through the dimly lit cave which is illuminated by nothing but a small pebble of a stone in my hands. The situation was worse before but now with Marcus unconscious, I am wondering how I will get home amidst all this chaos. The way I am walking is littered with darkness which blocks my vision of how far I can see and where I'm heading towards, the glowing little pebble stone in my hand is something me and Marcus found on our way and picked it up to ensure we won't descendant into madness, but even so I'm already feeling the weight literally carrying a person is not easy.
But luckily I didn't encounter any Monsters while I was wandering around aimlessly, but suddenly I felt the air becoming colder and the smell of mud with faintly some random sounds Quickening my pace, I walked in the general direction of the sound. Concealed within the labyrinthine depths of a cavern, it unveils its splendor a majestic waterfall descending from a rocky cleft overhead. Its crystalline waters dance with hues of azure and emerald, refracting beams of light that pierce the dimness of the cave. Below, a tranquil pool glistens with clarity, nourished by mineral-rich streams that sustain a delicate ecosystem. Bioluminescent fungi cast an ethereal glow upon the ancient walls, while blind cave fish dart through the cool waters, adding to the enchantment of this subterranean sanctuary. Here, amidst the timeless embrace of nature's beauty, time seems to hold its breath, inviting me to lose myself in the wonder of the moment.
But before moving forward, I decided to mark the place I crawled out from with marks created from the metal fork thing I still carry with myself after I ate my lunch yesterday afternoon. I have drawn an apple to ensure we won't be confused later. Afterwards, I started walking towards the water with which I can finally wake Marcus up from her slumber.
After I reached the water, I slowly moved Marcus to the floor and tried to pick up some water with my bare hands and spray it on Marcus. It actually worked surprisingly well, after a few sprays of water Marcus woke up.
"Unicus, What happened, how are we still alive?" asked a confused Marcus.
"After we both fell off, you lost consciousness and I carried you here piggyback style," I said with a grin to forget the fatigue I built-up but my body is feeling it the fatigue is coming back to bite me, but before I could take a few minutes to sleep a crab-like monster appeared suddenly bursting out of water in the blink of an eye.
I instinctively used my twin forks to block its claws which were just about to separate my upper body from the lower, the power of the monster's strike sent me hurtling towards the wall. As I reel from the impact, my body is flung backwards with a force I can't resist.
Helpless, I hurtle towards the wall, my senses overwhelmed by the impending collision. Time seems to slow as I brace for impact, knowing it will be brutal. The moment I slam into the wall, pain explodes through my body, accompanied by a sickening crunch.
I feel the warmth of blood filling my mouth, mingling with saliva before spilling out in a torrent. Crimson splatters against the wall, creating a grotesque mosaic of agony. I collapse to the ground, the metallic taste of blood lingering in the air as I struggle to comprehend what just happened. Each breath is a struggle, each movement a symphony of pain. I'm left broken and battered, a victim of senseless violence, sprawled amidst the wreckage of my own suffering.
"Unicus!!! Just hang in there. I'll do something," said Marcus with a grim expression on his face sensing the gravity of the situation. As soon as he said that he started chanting a spell, "From shadows deep, with whispered plea, A flickering flame, to burn the sea." By the time he completed his spell chanting the fish which attacked me came bursting out of the water once again to kill Marcus this time but it was surrounded by flames which incinerated it.
After making sure that all trouble was gone , Marcus came back to check on my injuries.
"This looks like trouble, we might not have a long time to treat you, Unicus" he said, sensing the gravity of the situation.