The labyrinth's heavy silence was suddenly broken by a series of frantic "Ribbit! Ribbit!" Qiris, sitting on the cold floor, looked up at Little Idiot with a mixture of despair and irritation.
"Yeah, yeah, I know" he muttered. "We're lost again. Damn labyrinth!"
What followed was a surreal scene. Little Idiot, in a fit of froggy rage, threw himself against the nearest wall, pounding it with his tiny green feet. His angry "Ribbits" echoed down the corridor, creating a strange echo in the surrounding mist.
Meanwhile, Qiris, usually composed, began cursing the mist around them, occasionally striking it as if it were responsible for all their misfortunes. His fists hit the damp air, momentarily dispersing the swirls of fog before they reformed, mocking his futile efforts.
"You think that's going to help us?" he called out to Little Idiot between insults hurled at the mist. "Hitting the walls? Seriously?"
"Ribbit!" replied the frog, without ceasing his useless assault on the stone. His little feet left damp traces on the smooth surface of the wall, the only evidence of his persistence.
"Yeah, you're right" Qiris sighed. "It can't hurt. At this point..."
After a few minutes of this absurd spectacle, they stopped, exhausted and no further ahead than before. The mist, unperturbed, continued to swirl around them, seeming to mock their efforts.
Qiris sat down heavily, his back against the cold wall. The icy stone contrasted with the warmth of his body, sending a shiver through him. "You know what, Little Idiot? I think we've spent at least a day here. My sleep cycle is completely messed up, and I'm starving."
He rummaged in his bag and took out materials to make a small fire. His fingers trembled slightly as he manipulated the lighter, testifying to his fatigue and frustration. As the flames began to dance, casting strange shadows on the labyrinth walls, Qiris glanced sideways at Little Idiot.
"You know" he said in a falsely casual tone, "if we stay stuck here too long, I'm going to have to fatten you up a bit. To have enough meat, you see?"
Little Idiot visibly shuddered, his bulging eyes widening in horror. His pupils suddenly scanned the surroundings as if looking for an escape route, ready to leap at the slightest suspicious movement from Qiris.
"I'm kidding, I'm kidding" Qiris laughed, but his laughter sounded a bit hollow, betraying a hint of worry. "Well, I hope."
He took out their rations and shared them with Little Idiot. The dried meat was tough and unappetizing, but it was better than nothing. While chewing on a piece, a bit of bone comically protruding from his mouth, Qiris examined the runes engraved on the walls.
"You know" he said, mouth full, crumbs escaping with each word, "I really should have learned ancient languages. These things" he gestured to the runes with his chin, "could be an exit plan or my grandmother's apple pie recipe, I wouldn't have a clue."
Little Idiot, who had momentarily stopped eating, suddenly narrowed his eyes towards a particularly misty spot. For a few seconds, he remained motionless, staring intently into the void. His nostrils quivered slightly as if catching a scent imperceptible to Qiris. Then, as suddenly as he had stopped, he resumed his meal as if nothing had happened.
"Hey" said Qiris, intrigued by this strange behavior. "Did you see something?"
"Ribbit" Little Idiot replied vaguely, mouth full, bits of dried meat stuck between his teeth.
"Super helpful, thanks" Qiris sighed, rolling his eyes. He leaned towards the frog, his face inches from Little Idiot's. "Listen, I know communication isn't your strong suit, but if you see something important, at least try to make me understand, okay? We're stuck together in this mess, so we might as well cooperate."
Little Idiot stared at him for a moment, his large eyes reflecting the flickering firelight. Then, with an almost comical solemnity for a frog, he nodded before resuming his meal with renewed enthusiasm.
"I guess that's better than nothing" Qiris muttered, sitting back against the wall.
He leaned back again, feeling the coolness of the stone through his clothes. His eyes lost themselves in contemplation of the flickering flames, their hypnotic dance seeming to reflect the chaos of his thoughts. "You know, Little Idiot, when I decided to become a summoner, I imagined epic adventures, glorious battles... Not getting lost in a labyrinth with a suicidal frog as my only company."
"Ribbit?" Little Idiot croaked, looking almost offended. His cheeks puffed up slightly as if he was about to protest vigorously.
"Oh, don't take it personally" Qiris smiled, amused by his companion's reaction. "You're an excellent suicidal frog. The best I've ever met."
He reached out and gently stroked Little Idiot's head. The frog's skin was cool and slightly damp under his fingers, a pleasant contrast to the warmth of the fire. "Come on, let's finish eating and try to find a way out of here. With any luck, we'll find the exit before I'm tempted to turn you into frog legs."
Little Idiot puffed up his cheeks threateningly, which, coming from a small green frog, was more comical than intimidating. His eyes flashed, as if daring Qiris to try.
"I'm kidding, I'm kidding" Qiris laughed, raising his hands in a peace gesture. "Come on, let's go. This labyrinth isn't going to solve itself."
They got up, carefully extinguishing the fire, plunging the corridor back into misty semi-darkness. Qiris picked up his bag, checking its contents one last time before hoisting it onto his shoulder. Little Idiot, for his part, stretched, his small limbs preparing for the effort to come.
Together, they plunged back into the misty depths of the labyrinth, ready to face whatever fate had in store for them. Or at least, as ready as one can be when one is a lost half-elf and a reckless frog in a constantly evolving magical labyrinth.
Their silhouettes gradually disappeared into the mist, leaving behind the faint echo of their footsteps and occasional croaks. The labyrinth, impassive, continued its cruel game, its corridors silently rearranging around them, preparing new challenges for this unlikely duo.