Chapter 27: Regroup and Recover

The oppressive mist hung heavy in the narrow passage as the group finally stopped to catch their breath. The silence that followed the fight felt deafening, broken only by the sound of their labored breathing. The faint glow of the runes on the walls provided just enough light to reveal their battered forms.

Ethan slumped against the jagged wall, his glowing pipe resting across his lap. Every muscle in his body ached, and his ribs throbbed from the blows he'd taken. "I don't know about you guys," he muttered between breaths, "but I'm really starting to hate this place."

"You hated it before we even got here," Naomi said, crouching nearby as she inspected her bow for damage. Her voice was calm, but the exhaustion in her tone was unmistakable.

"Yeah, well," Ethan replied, wincing as he shifted, "now it's personal."

Lucas leaned against his shield, his chest rising and falling heavily as he wiped sweat from his brow. "You're still standing. That's what matters."

"Standing might be generous," Ethan said, gesturing to his hunched posture. "I'm more like... leaning aggressively."

Naomi smirked faintly, but her focus was already returning to her weapon. She ran her fingers along the bowstring, checking for frays, her movements precise and deliberate. "We'll need to regroup quickly. If those things came at us once, they'll come again."

"Not immediately," Karis said, her voice cutting through the murmur. She stood near the entrance to the passage, her knife still in hand, her eyes scanning the mist beyond. "They retreated for now. The Forge doesn't waste resources—it's waiting for the next opening."

"Great," Ethan said, tilting his head back against the wall. "The Forge is playing chess, and we're the pawns."

"Not pawns," Karis said, her tone sharp. "Pieces. And pieces can survive if they play their moves right."

---

The group settled into a tense stillness, each member focusing on their recovery in their own way. Lucas pulled out a small cloth and began cleaning his shield, his hands moving with the steady rhythm of habit. The dents and scratches on its surface told the story of the fight they'd just survived, but Lucas didn't seem to mind. His focus wasn't on the damage—it was on making sure he was ready for whatever came next.

Ethan watched him for a moment, his brow furrowing. "How do you do it?" he asked.

Lucas glanced up, his expression curious. "Do what?"

"Stay... you know, calm," Ethan said, gesturing vaguely. "Even when things are falling apart."

Lucas let out a quiet laugh, shaking his head. "I'm not calm, Ethan. I'm terrified. But freaking out doesn't help anyone. Someone has to stay steady."

Ethan tilted his head, considering this. "So, what, you just fake it?"

"Pretty much," Lucas said with a grin. "Fake it long enough, and sometimes you start to believe it."

Ethan let out a breathy laugh, shaking his head. "You're insane, you know that?"

"Yeah," Lucas said, leaning back against the wall. "But it works."

---

Naomi's voice broke the quiet. "Does anyone have spare bandages?"

Ethan looked over to see her inspecting a shallow cut on her forearm, blood trickling down in thin rivulets. She didn't seem particularly concerned, but her brow was furrowed in annoyance, as though the injury was more an inconvenience than a threat.

Lucas reached into his pack, pulling out a small roll of bandages. "Here," he said, tossing it to her.

"Thanks," Naomi said, catching it effortlessly. She began wrapping the wound with practiced ease, her movements precise. "We're not going to have much time before the next fight. We need to make every second count."

"You think I don't know that?" Karis said, her tone clipped. She hadn't moved from her position near the entrance, her body tense as she watched the mist. "We've faced worse. We'll make it through this."

Naomi glanced at her, her expression unreadable. "We've faced different. This is something else."

Karis didn't reply immediately, but her grip on her knife tightened. After a moment, she said, "It doesn't matter. We adapt. That's how we survive."

Ethan sighed, pushing himself to his feet with a groan. "Well, if adapting means walking into more death traps, we're doing a great job so far."

---

The silence stretched as they continued to recover, each member lost in their thoughts. The tension was palpable, but no one dared to break it. The fight had shaken them, and the weight of the Chasm pressed heavily on their shoulders.

Ethan found himself pacing, his thoughts swirling in chaotic patterns. The image of his mother's hollow eyes still lingered in his mind, her words cutting deeper than any wound. He clenched his fists, his grip tightening around his pipe. "This place... it knows how to get under your skin."

Naomi glanced at him, her expression thoughtful. "That's the point. The Forge doesn't just test your body—it tests your mind. Your fears, your regrets... it uses them against you."

"Great," Ethan said, his voice bitter. "So not only do we get to fight monsters, we get to fight our own heads too. Fantastic."

Naomi didn't reply, but there was a flicker of understanding in her eyes. She returned her focus to her bow, tightening the string as if trying to anchor herself to something solid.

---

Karis finally broke the silence. "We move in five."

Ethan turned to her, raising an eyebrow. "You're kidding, right? We just got out of a fight, and now you want to jump back into the mist?"

"The longer we stay here, the more time we give the Forge to adapt," Karis said, her tone unyielding. "We're safer moving than waiting."

Lucas stood, rolling his shoulders as he hefted his shield. "She's got a point. Sitting here isn't exactly a great plan."

Ethan groaned, rubbing his face. "Fine. But if we get ambushed again, I'm blaming you."

Karis didn't respond, but the faintest hint of a smirk crossed her lips as she turned toward the path ahead. "Stay close. And keep your guard up."

The group fell into formation once more, their steps slower but steadier as they moved deeper into the Chasm. The mist thickened again, curling around them like a living thing, but they pressed forward, their weapons ready.

Ethan glanced at the others, his chest still tight with the weight of everything they'd faced. But despite the fear gnawing at the edges of his mind, he found a flicker of resolve. They'd made it this far. They weren't about to stop now.