The entrance to Elrich's Dungeon loomed before them, a gaping maw of darkness nestled into the side of a rugged cliff. The air around the entrance was cool, carrying a faint, damp chill that sent shivers down Clive's spine. The mouth of the dungeon seemed to swallow up the sunlight, casting long shadows that danced menacingly on the rocky ground.
Clive's heart pounded as he stood at the threshold, his fingers gripping the hilt of his knife. He tried to muster every ounce of courage he had, but the overwhelming sense of foreboding made it hard to ignore the knots twisting in his stomach. His royal blood felt out of place here, where the atmosphere was heavy with the promise of danger. This was a place for only the most battle hardened adventurers.
Not only that, Clive also felt something off about him. He squirmed and held his thighs together, so much so that the elves noticed quite quickly.
"Seventh prince." Tipha questioned, "What are you doing?"
"N-nothing!" Clive yelled, a chill going down his spine.
"Do you need to relieve yourself?" Arianna asked with a giggle, "I have seen this dance many times before."
Hearing this, Clive gave up and sighed. "Y-yes!" The ride must have been too bumpy for him, and that exchange with Ripha's chest just made it worse.
"I shall accompany you then." Arianna cooed.
"W-what?! Why?"
"It's only natural that we can't let you out of our sight," Tipha scoffed. "Now, be a good boy and let her follow."
"F-Fine!" Clive cried. He then skipped to a cluster of trees nearby, hidden from the entrance.
"We'll be back soon, Tipha~" she said, waving to her friend, following the boy with grace.
The privacy of the spot was a relief, but Clive's anxiety was far from over. He stood facing a sturdy tree, and pulled up his shirt. He could feel Arianna's presence behind him, making this entire process a little hard. However, the worst case scenario happened. His face flushed as he fumbled with his belt, struggling to unfasten it. His hands shook slightly, and frustration crept in as he tried to manage the buckle.
"Clive, are you having trouble?" Arianna said gently, her voice soft and soothing. "May I assist you?"
Clive glanced down at her, a mixture of mortification and reluctance in his eyes. "I… I can do it!" he stammered, his hands still working awkwardly on the belt.
Arianna, her blue gown cascading elegantly around her, gently but firmly took a step closer. Her expression was one of genuine concern and kindness. "Please, let me help. We don't want you to make a mess, now do we?" With that, Arianna gracefully sank to her knees in front of Clive. The ground was soft beneath her, and her gown spread out around her like a tranquil pool of color against the earthy tones of the forest floor. Her posture was composed, her hands held out with practiced ease as she reached for Clive's belt.
Clive's eyes widened as Arianna lowered herself. His initial reaction was one of heightened embarrassment, and he took a step back, his face a vivid shade of crimson. "M-Miss Arianna…it's fine!" he said, his voice wavering.
Arianna, undeterred by his reluctance, smiled reassuringly. "It's alright. We're not only here to escort~"
Despite his protests, Clive couldn't ignore the growing discomfort. He hesitated for a moment longer, but the urgency of his situation was undeniable. With a resigned sigh, he nodded, allowing Arianna to approach once more. As Arianna knelt in front of Clive, her fingers gently worked to unbuckle his belt. But in her effort to make things easier for him, she accidentally tugged a bit too hard after loosening the belt. With a swift, unexpected motion, she pulled down not only his trousers but his underwear as well. His little friend was revealed to Arianna in all of it's...glory?
"AHHH!" Clive's eyes went wide with shock as he felt the sudden exposure. His face turned an even deeper shade of red, a mix of panic and humiliation rushing through him. Before he could react, he saw Arianna's expression change from composed calm to a look of surprise. "I-I'm so sorry!" Clive stammered, his voice a mix of shame and anxiety. His heart pounded in his chest as he tried to process what had just happened.
Arianna, still kneeling, looked down at her hands in surprise, her own cheeks flushing a faint pink. But she quickly regained her composure. Without a trace of judgment, she stood up slowly. "It's alright…" she said gently, her voice filled with understanding. "It was just an accident." She offered him a kind smile, trying to soothe his embarrassment, even though the situation had clearly caught her off guard as well. As Clive turned and finished his deeds, Arianna turned the other way, both stood in silence.
***
Sooner or later, the two returned to the entrance of the Labyrinth, where Tipha was waiting for them. "Took you two long enough." she scoffed.
"Sorry, I'll go beforehand next time." Clive muttered, red as a tomato.
Tipha then noticed Arianna's unnaturally giddy expression. She had a warm smile across her face, as if she had been relieved instead of him. "What happened to you?" Tipha sighed.
"Oh…I just saw a cute little bunny…that's all~" Arianna replied.
"A bunny, huh?" Tipha said, questioning her friend's validity. With that, the elf mage, the 7th prince, and the elf healer entered Elrich's Labyrinth, leaving the sunlight behind them.