"How hopeless is this all"
The Second Cave was a veritable endless labyrinth for Henryk and the others. They were constantly forced to choose a path. The young man began to think they would die of hunger and madness here before making any progress toward escaping.
To make matters worse, Ethan began to complain like a spoiled brat. Henryk began to remember how elves were discriminated against in many fantasy novels, such as Andrzej Sapkowski's Witcher saga, Geralt of Rivia, and other similar books.
In this world, the situation seemed different. Either Ethan was the son of some nobleman from his land, or he considered himself lord and master.
For several hours of hiking, everyone was accompanied by Ethan's brazen voice, complaining about everything. When he tripped over his own feet, he complained. When he went too fast, he complained that the others were dragging their feet. When he wanted to rest because he was tired, he complained. He complained and complained. This frustrated everyone.
[How on earth did Korin not kill him?] Henryk asked himself in his thoughts. [That arrogant brat is insufferable. How on earth did he not complain so much when the hunters were tormenting us?]
It was incomprehensible to Henryk how this boy with such a character had survived in Jarrett Korin's captivity.
"Can I kill him when I get my mana back?" Brina, whom Henryk had been carrying the whole time, asked in a whisper.
"No," he replied in a quiet but firm voice. "We need more people if we want to survive. She might as well kill us all once you get your mana back."
"It's true." The sorceress smiled at him mockingly.
"But you won't. You need us as much as we need you."
"What do you mean."
"You wouldn't survive here alone. We don't know where that ice clown is. If you were to encounter him again on your own and your mana ran out, you'd be dead."
Brina frowned. She didn't admit it out loud, but she knew he was right.
Soon after, everyone decided to set up a temporary camp here. Naturally, Ethan complained to Henryk and Someryn about how fragile the humans were.
*HIT!*
Felicia hit the elf on the head.
"Ouch! What's wrong with you, cat?!" The boy screamed, holding his head.
"Have some respect for your elders, you little fool," the cat-eared woman replied, looking at him with a stern look. She pointed at Henryk. "If it weren't for them, we'd be dead. You think so, I didn't see you frozen in fear. If it weren't for that annoying white-haired fool, you and Henryk would be dead. So stop insulting them and apologize to them properly."
"Phiii... okay, sorry." He said in a quiet undertone without even looking at them.
"I told you to apologize properly." Felicia cracked her fist bones.
"!!" Apparently, Ethan was frightened by the Demi-human woman's menacing gaze, making his hair stand on end. He quickly and energetically bowed to Henryk and Someryn. "I'm so sorry! I promise it won't happen again! Please forgive me!"
"Eeee... Okay." Henryk and Somerym said it at the same time, feeling awkward.
[Couldn't you have done this with him earlier, Felicia? It would have saved us all a headache and earache.]
Ignoring these thoughts, Henryk placed Brina on the ground. With intense exhaustion, he sat down beside her on the ground.
Everyone agreed to take turns keeping watch. Since no one fully trusted Brina, she didn't have to worry about it and simply went to sleep. It was agreed that Henryk would keep the first watch. Sitting resignedly, leaning against the cave wall, the young man stared into the light of Someryn's crystal.
For the next two hours, Henryk could only see the light of the crystal at a distance of ten meters, beyond that he saw only darkness.
"No food, no water, and no fucking prospects." He let out a sad, desperate laugh at his situation.
[I don't know how much longer I can hold out like this. If we don't find food or water soon, we'll die of thirst and hunger. Or worse... We'll try to eat each other. I don't want to lose my fucking mind!] He thought desperately, analyzing possible future events.
He didn't have time to think any further because Someryn woke up and put his hand on his shoulder.
"Okay, Hen, it's my turn now."
"I still feel good."
"Come on, you need to sleep too." The white-haired man argued, sitting down next to him. "After all, you haven't slept in at least a day and a half."
"I'm fine." Henryk continued to insist.
"Allright... So what are we going to do when we get out of here?"
"We?"
"Well, you're not going to travel alone, are you, Hen? Felicia and Ethan will definitely want to go back to Amaranth. What about us?"
"What would you like to do when you get out into the fresh air as a free man?" Henryk decided to play his future planning game.
"You know... I think I'd like to go to Wojtyn and... and I'd like to free the remaining slaves from the trader to whom Korin sold them."
"Seriously? This is your plan for life in freedom? Playing hero?"
"That's not the point. Those people experienced the same thing I did. Well, maybe they didn't live in the dungeon as long as I did, but you know what I mean, right? In any case, they deserve freedom too."
"I see."
"What about you, Hen?" Someryn finally asked, a slightly uncertain expression on his face as he asked the question. "What do you want to do when we get out of here?"
"I will go back to my father and sister."
"Aha, I see. Your family lives far from the village of Aivir?"
Henryk slowly turned his head towards him. He looked at him with pity.
"My home is very, very far away. I'm far from home. You could say there's practically no way home." He spoke every word with obvious venom. "You know what?... You're right, I'm going to fucking sleep."
Saying this, he lay down on the ground and closed his eyes tightly.
[Please, let this nightmare finally end!]
He kept repeating this thought to himself until he fell asleep.