The students, who set out before the sun even started their shift, were only trying to empty the Energy Crystal Mine for a bowl of hot food. At least, that was the conclusion Mel drew from what happened when he first came to the Far Circle.
By the time the three-day welcome party was over, his days had appeared to be stuck in a monotonous routine from the outside. He was unconscious in the mine all day because of his weakness to poison, and at night he tried to maintain his sanity in the dungeon.
Under normal circumstances, his sojourn in the dungeon was supposed to be over, but apart from his erratic behavior, the fact that his mental health remained unchanged was enough to prolong his association with Dark Energy. Even if they did not stay in the same hut, the people who were counted in the same ward did not complain about their situation in the mine, and they could easily collect the required amount when the Dragon Claw attack wore down the walls of the rooms.
