I awoke with the headache that came with mana exhaustion. It would likely be a little while longer before I could use my mana.
Opening my eyes, I found myself pressed up against Jacob. This wasn't a surprise to me. What was a surprise was the fact that Jacob had laid his arm over my shoulders.
I had never had anyone touch me without acting disgusted, let alone sleep with an arm around my shoulders.
I slowly extracted myself from him so as not to awaken him and turned to the two equal sized portions that were laid out next to us.
Taking a portion, I ravenously devoured it. I was in the midst of my meal when my mana exhaustion finally dissapeared.
I stopped eating immediately so I could finish healing Jacob. I spent about five minutes restoring his body to normal.
Immediately after I finished healing him I turned back to my meal.
While I finished eating, I noted that Atlas was standing guard with a glowing arrow nocked in his bow. He seemed to be on full alert, despite his obvious exhaustion.
Deciding I should take over, I walked over.
"How about I take watch from here?" I asked.
His normally impassive face cracked and revealed a hint of relief.
"Thanks, Nymphadora." He said, letting his arrow disperse. "Is Jacob okay?"
"I just finished healing him." I replied. "He's fully recovered, aside from his mental fatigue. He probably won't wake up for a while."
As he left, I prepared two of my now upgraded fire spells and watched the entrance, as there were very few people that had gotten beyond the first floor.
Jacob woke up about three hours after I did. When he awoke, he first checked on everyone else.
"Is everyone okay?" He asked.
We all answered "Yes."
"It was stupid of me to propose coming here." He said, sitting up. "But I thought that with how easily we were able to take care of the creeps, I thought the boss wouldn't be too difficult."
He sighed, standing up.
"That food is for you." I said, indicating the food laid out next to him.
He smiled. "I think this is the first time someone has returned my kindness."
All three of us paused. Atlas stood frozen in place for a moment and it was Nick who finally replied.
"You...Have never had someone do something nice for you?" His cold exterior melted and he walked over and gave him a warm embrace. "When I first met you, I thought you were just someone who had it a little bit difficult. I had thought that you were just someone who had no friends."
Nick paused to draw in a shaky breath.
"I had thought that you didn't have it as difficult as me. I believed that you were just some illegitimate, stuck-up son of a noble who wasn't happy with his lot in life."
"I had thought you were someone who wanted to take advantage of us." Atlas sighed. "That belief was quickly dispersed when you fought the Orc."
Atlas facepalmed and groaned.
"And to think I couldn't believe you were risking your life the entirety of the time we've been in the dungeon."
"Initially, I thought you had just brought me along for heals." I admitted. "But from the way you treated me from the beginning you shattered that belief. Initially I was annoyed at not being able to do anything but heal, but as I kept watching you risk your life to protect us as backlines, I stopped minding healing you."
"I think we should reintroduce ourselves." Nick said. "Not as strangers, but as friends."
"I am Nymphadora Aquaron." I said. "You can call me Nymph."
"I am Atlas Terran." Atlas said. "Just call me Atlas, please." He glanced at me teasingly.
"I'm Nicholas Phyre." Nick said. "Call me nick."
"I'm Jacob Foster." Jacob said. "I don't have a nickname."
After that, our group was almost inseperable. Sure, we were scorned by the public, but we had each other. I know that sounds cheesy, but it was how we felt.
I only wish that we had come together sooner.