Chapter 72.

Waking up from a comfortable sleep, Enora discovered a very focused Rose sitting at the table nearby. She had both her hands on the table, and her closed and wrinkling eyes shut tight. Since they had cut the link before going to sleep, neither of them knew the other's thoughts, even realising that she was observed was too much to ask from Rose. The sun-kissed woman knew not to bother her at that moment since she was cultivating. She looked beside her on the bed.

There laid Nick, half-naked and soundly resting. Detailing him, she could clearly see how much he had changed physically : his hair grew longer, as well as his beard, but the rest of his body also evolved. Though he was still thin for someone his build, he had gained more mass, more muscle and went from skinny to slightly below average little by little. However, his face had not changed : still very plain. Considering his body, Enora's affection for the man could hardly be called superficial.

Seeing as there was not much to do, the tall warrior decided to cultivate as well, but without getting out of bed. It was so much more comfortable. She focused her Cultivation on light energy since it was the one she had the least mastery over, and did so for roughly an hour until some movement next to her brought her back to reality. She knew what this meant and automatically reconnected to the Nexus of Minds, joining the others.

(Enora) Good morning.

(Rose) Hello ! What do we do today ? More monster hunting and people searching in the tunnels ?

(Nick) Cheerful as ever I see. Guess that is indeed what we'll be doing sweetheart.

As they exchanged this small talk, they put on their worn-out clothes, layers of armour and equipped their weapons before heading out to the dining room below. There, a simple meal of bread and hot milk was consumed and paid for before the day's mission. It may sound like a very Spartiate breakfast, but the trio definitely had nothing to complain about considering what they had been forced to eat in the Maze.

While walking around the streets towards the nearest exit of the city, someone caught their attention : Sanarsus. Sanarsus, the Agamai, suddenly standing before them in his usual stiff manner while once again holding out his open hand. This hand, with these horrifyingly disgusting fingers, filled with way too many phalanxes. Wearing interrogative faces, the trio let a silence loftily settle between them. It appeared that the Genid, being from another race, had a hard time understanding facial expressions, even when not that subtle. So Enora took the lead :

- You want something ?

- Payment.

- Payment for what exactly ?, curiously asked Nick. We have only briefly crossed path a few times since the first day. Don't remember hiring you for anything.

- I healed your people. Now I want my gold.

Hearing this deeply unsettling voice spouting such weird nonsense rendered the humans speechless : what people ? Arsenio's ? Since when were they responsible for them ? Rose intervened before the other two lost composure and began a useless ruckus.

- Did they tell you we would pay for the treatments ?

- Yes, they did., instantly answered the healer. Also you people are known for caring a lot about fellow humans.

- Well, not us., categorically countered Enora, impatient. We never said we would pay shit for these guys, and we won't !

Fearing the Agamai would take offence from her friend's tone, Rose explained more politely :

- They lied to you. We are not close and don't even care what happens to them. What will you do now ?

Another silence ensued, only interrupted by Sanarsus taking back his hand and staring at the group before leaving. It was as difficult for him to read them as it was for them to read him, meaning they did not know how things would go from that point on. Still, the trio was shocked and angry at the gall from Arsenio's people. They dared use them to cover for their expenses !

(Enora) Can't believe they would literally have US to pay for them ! Let's find and teach them a lesson they won't ever forget !

(Nick) Agreed ! I know we don't like each other in the least, but it feels logical to at least give some face to your enemy. A bit of respect is not much to ask !

(Rose) Forget it guys. Considering their priority when arriving was going to see an Agamai, and now said Agamai knows he has been cheated, I doubt things will go smoothly for them. I wonder how Sanarsus will handle that debt.

Rose had a point : they did not need to intervene, as this mistake was stupid and would most likely cost those morons more than they would have imagined. They fantasised a bit about the way the healer would react while travelling. Whatever the punishment was, it would probably be deserved. No matter what, nobody could say the trio was responsible for this development ! It was their right to refuse such a responsibility.

Finally focusing on the task ahead, talks of the new Mystic Arts that had been learnt recently and how they could use them as effectively as possible within the tight corridors of this underground world erupted. Obviously, Detonation would be a tricky one, as the confined space could make it dangerous for a clumsy mage. Flame Whip would also be challenging to use, but more because of the absence of room to operate rather than the risk it would entail.

(Nick) What if we attracted the groups from caves to the tunnels, then threw Detonations at them from a safe distance while retreating ? It would make them unable to dodge and hit all of them in one go.

(Enora) True ! And we could use Flame Whip when we find ourselves a large cavern.

(Rose) Testing is clearly needed here. This not only makes our investigation more interesting, but it also strengthens us. We need to properly thank Ischyra for her lesson and the ones to come.

The other two echoed this sentiment, and they began thinking of something. What could have any worth to a nine hundred years old rich and powerful Palisci ?