(Robin's POV):
A new day has come which signals me and Jay to finally wake up and have breakfast early. The sun just started rising up which gave me a small chance to check on the others.
"Okay, nobody's rooms have been invaded, that's good."
I checked the doorknobs on each of their room and they don't seem to be touched by another person. There is an ability from Lightcasters to identify if something has been touched or not. It's like using ultraviolet light to check for fingerprints. I opened the door to Jay's room first and tried to wake him up.
"Buu, ah... Morning Robin, is it time?" - Jay
"Yeah, get yourself prepped up. I'll give you one hour, I have to prep some breakfast for Grace. Check on the other two."
"Got it..." - Jay
I immediately went back to my room and prepared a nice breakfast for Grace. I used some classic ingredients and tried to make it with nice seasoning. Overall, the taste was just fine but Denzel or Seymour's cooking skills are beyond me.
I entered Grace's room but her bed was somewhat wet. Can't blame her for all the crying...
I left her breakfast on the small table next to her bed and give her a pat on the head. She's still asleep but at least she calmed down a little bit with that. I took the plate I sent her yesterday and hid it in my inventory. I then left the room but I noticed I was missing something.
I left a glass bottle filled with water on the table next to her food. At that point, I just left the room and checked on both Ridley and Rylle.
"Oh? Can't sleep?"
I saw Ridley resting his own body on the window of his room. He seems to be in deep thought so I went with bursting the bubble.
"Eh? Ah, Robin. I woke up about 30 minutes ago." - Ridley
"I see, did something happen while I was asleep?"
"Nope, I was just watching everything while thinking about some things to do today." - Ridley
"You're on watch for Grace though?"
"Yeah, me and Rylle can handle this. So you should focus on your preparation on mining." - Ridley
"Thanks, is Rylle awake?"
"Nope, I just checked on him so he's fine. I'll wake him up a little later." - Ridley
"Aight, I'll get Jay ready."
I went back to Jay's room and he seems to have prepared everything that needs to be brought. He brought a pickaxe, and a void bag. Say, I wanna get one of those soon. Those aren't even available from the Asylum.
"Ready?"
"Yep, what about you?" - Jay
"I'll just grab my pickaxe and we should be good to go."
We went back to my room and I took out a pickaxe made out of demonite ore. I brought a few potions that will be useful in case of mana exhaustion and revitalization.
"Aight, how about you greet the others before going?"
"Sure!" - Jay
We went to Grace's room and Jay sat on her bed while looking at her. He's worried about his friends alright. I wonder what kind of past did she go through to break her like that?
While pondering over things Jay stood up and walked out of the room slowly after whispering something to her. It's probably just a greeting so I shouldn't really dwell further.
We entered Ridley's room where both Ridley and Rylle appeared. Looks like the last one woke up.
"Yo, we're heading out guys."
"Oh! Good luck on your short journey!" - Ridley
"Hope your search succeeds!" - Rylle
"Thanks guys, I'll make sure to not hold Robin back." - Jay
"Yeah! You shouldn't hold him back!" - Ridley
"Ridley!!" - Jay
"True, you shouldn't succumb to pressure since you're alone!" - Rylle
"Rylle!!!" - Jay
Jay was somewhat panicking while the other two are just laughing it off.
"Welp, just keep an eye on Grace you two."
"Got it!" - Ridley
"Aight!" - Rylle
Me and Jay left the inn and went towards the fountain where we found the entrance to the gauntlet.
"Robin, I am not going in there again." - Jay
I looked at Jay who was showing powerful signs of backing down but I simply laughed it off.
"Jeez, we won't do something that bizarre. Throw a silver coin in the fountain, you'll enjoy extra buff."
"A-alright..." - Jay
After we threw a silver coin into the arcane fountain, we went out from the town and raised our guards up. We're currently outside the safezone which means we can be attacked without warning here.
"Hasten your movement Jay, we should get out from the warzone."
"Right." - Jay
Both of us moved away from the town in high speeds, preventing any chances of us getting targeted unnecessarily. We ended up in a large forest with thick blue particles along with bluish trees and leaves.
"This is a good place to have a break but sightseeing is not what we're here for."
"Yeah, can I scout for some time?" - Jay
"Sure."
"Alright, Precision Protocol." - Jay
Jay activated a powerful ability to start stabilizing his mana. He looked around while aiming his sniper rifle for some time. When I noticed, there was a bunch of monsters walking toward us.
"Oh look, goblins." - Jay
Jay fired a bullet towards a pack of goblins which started charging towards us. These goblins are somewhat similar but are somehow tainted with bluish colors. What kind of goblin?
"Searing Light."
Without hesitation, I fired a powerful laser of light which seared a few goblins that didn't dodge. Suddenly, they start emitting something blue and fired magic at us. Ooh? Arcane magic?
"Jay, don't get hit by that. You'll go overcharge which is bad news."
"Got it." - Jay
Jay fired another bullet which made another goblin's head explode. He then immediately loaded another one. I had to bring out my Mana Breaker greatsword just to prevent any magical attacks around us. Slowly but surely, all the goblins in the pack died and I still haven't noticed any moving players.
"That was quite a number..." - Jay
"Strange..."
"Eh? What is it Robin?" - Jay
"I don't sense players..."
"Yeah, this is a good place for ambush since the trees can provide so much cover. This isn't exactly a good place for scouting using a sniper rifle either." - Jay
I guess we're currently clear?
"Oh! I found an opening!" - Jay
"Aight, let's go."
We moved towards the opening which is actually a long way downwards for a cave system.
"Are all arcane caves like this?"
I looked at Jay while being a little confused.
"Yeah, you didn't know that?" - Jay
"Yep, it's a bizarre generation..."
"Me neither." - Jay
We slowly entered the cave with bluish stone walls and pavements.
"Be careful of stalagmites just in case."
"Yeah, I can see some down there with Precision Protocol." - Jay
There are some spikes emerging down from the ground which means that this is a stalagmite cave in the arcana biome. This is enough to bring us various threats toward the environment.
"Heaven's Beacon, Paladin of Light."
I activated a powerful skill on Heaven's Beacon that allows it to emit a huge amount of light. The light will allow us to move around without worrying about the darkness.
"Keep your eyes on the prize Jay, we're here for some ore."
"Right, I'm looking around right now." - Jay
The reason why I brought Jay is because of his Precision Protocol. The improved vision will allow us to spot some ore easier specially in caves that are somewhat dark.
"Ah! I see a vein!" - Jay
Jay points towards the wall where I followed my gaze. I then saw a bunch of glowing ore embedded on a wall.
"Alright, cover me."
"Sure." - Jay
We both brought out a grappling hook and latched on to different spots. I latched near the arcane vein and started mining in a safe manner.
"I don't see anything here but do you think that's enough Robin?" - Jay
"Nope, a single vein gave me about twenty ore. I need about three to seven more veins."
"Aight, how we get the most amount within this cave. Do they not get the ones near the ceilings?" - Jay
"It's reasonable, the ones in the ceilings are pretty dangerous because of the stalagmites below. They could get themselves killed with a single drop to a stalagmite. Another reason is that they're wide open."
"I see, so that's why you needed me?" - Jay
"Partially yes, but also you have the greatest growth potential in your group."
"Wha-! Such rating is-" - Jay
"Shh... No need to be so reserved, anyways..."
I jumped down as I finished mining all twenty ores.
"Hup... Let's find some more Jay, I'll explain on the way."
"Got it." - Jay
We went deeper into the cave which started to feel a little wet. The floor started becoming a little fluid and my legs sink in when I step on it.
"Water?" - Jay
"No... I think it's..."
I took some of the liquid substance in my hand and examined it.
"This is liquified mana... We can use this for various things, I'll have Denzel and Karl examine this in the future."
"Say Robin, who exactly are the higher ups?" - Jay
"Oh? Want to know? Let's see..."
"Yeah, I'm kinda curious about how you guys got together." - Jay
"Well, can I at least exchange some info about your sides?"
"Ah, umm... Are you sure?" - Jay
"Well, some of us may have very bad experiences so it's kinda off limits to normal people..."
"I see, can I get a gist?" - Jay
"Well, I can say that each has a long story. Willing to listen?"
"Sure!" - Jay
"Good, we can't do that now though. We have to get through this flooded cave."
"Yeah... I'm having a bad feeling about this place." - Jay
The liquid substance reaches waist level and we couldn't see through this area. Jay looks like he's having trouble traversing through the flood.
"I guess this is where shit gets real..."
"Yeah, shall we?" - Jay
We started moving through the flooded arcana cave with a bad feeling.