Mimi and Delarosa continued deeper into the cave, their path unusually smooth. No traps. No serious resistance. The enemies they encountered were minor at best, strange little creatures that Delarosa dispatched without breaking a sweat. Her fireballs cut through the darkness like streaks of sunlight, clearing the way effortlessly.
Despite the progress, Mimi’s expression had grown increasingly troubled.
“Hmm…” she mumbled, arms folded, brow furrowed.
“Don’t worry so much,” Delarosa said casually, tossing a glance over her shoulder. “I mean, I’m handling the enemies, right? So, what’s the problem?”
“It’s not that I don’t appreciate it,” Mimi replied quickly. “But I still haven’t managed to use magic properly. I freeze up every time something attacks. I just get too scared to even think.”
She had sworn to herself that next time would be different, that she wouldn’t stand motionless again. But even after that vow, even with her magic ready at her fingertips, her fear kept clamping down on her heart. And Delarosa’s flawless performance didn’t help. It only made her feel more useless.
“I get it,” Delarosa said with a shrug. “But hey, if I’m taking them out fast, that means we’re safe. That’s what matters, yeah?”
“I know that,” Mimi sighed. “But… I still hate this feeling. Like I’m just being protected, not contributing at all. It’s frustrating.”
Before Delarosa could answer, another enemy emerged from the shadows.
A strange, pure-white dog trotted into view. It was small, silent, and faceless, just like the doll-like humanoids they’d fought earlier. It had no eyes or mouth, yet it gave off an undeniable sense of intent. Something was unsettling beneath its cute, jerky movements. A moment later, it confirmed their suspicion, launching a glowing arrow of light, a Light Arrow spell, straight toward them.
This time, Mimi didn’t freeze.
Now!
She thrust her hand forward and focused with everything she had. The air around her trembled as she conjured her spell: Rock Blast, a direct earth-attribute projectile.
A jagged stone shot from her palm, streaking through the air and slamming into the white creature’s body. The impact shattered it instantly, its form dissolving into motes of light.
“I-I did it!” Mimi gasped. “I actually hit it!”
Her eyes widened with disbelief, then joy. She bounced in place, a delighted squeal escaping her lips. “It worked! It actually worked!”
Unfortunately, her celebration was short-lived. Two more of the faceless dogs darted forward out of the darkness. In her excitement, Mimi had let her guard down, and now both creatures lunged for her, claws extended.
“Watch out!” Delarosa shouted, her voice ringing out sharp and urgent. In a blur, she stepped in front of Mimi, fire already dancing across her fingertips. A searing blast erupted: Fireball, fast and hot. It collided with the attackers mid-leap, incinerating them before they could make contact.
Mimi dropped to the ground with a startled gasp, her legs giving out beneath her as the danger passed. Her heart still pounded from the suddenness of the attack and the narrow escape.
“You can’t let yourself get too cocky,” Delarosa said matter-of-factly, lowering her hand after casting the protective Fireball. “Stuff like that happens when you do.”
Mimi could only nod, her voice caught somewhere between embarrassment and relief. “Right… I know.”
Still, despite the scare, there was a quiet pride blooming in her chest. For the first time, she had cast a spell successfully and defeated an enemy. The feeling lingered like a faint warmth on her skin, even as the aftershock faded. Though she wasn’t physically strong, Mimi had always been sharp and thoughtful, the kind of girl who read everything and remembered it. But she’d long underestimated herself, her own value. That low self-esteem had kept her believing she was only ever going to be protected by others, never the one doing the protecting.
Now she had proof, real, tangible proof, that she could fight back.
As they continued deeper into the cave, the narrow, dim passage suddenly opened into a breathtaking chamber bathed in soft, otherworldly light. Dozens of flowers bloomed across the floor in vivid colors: blues, purples, reds, and glowing whites. The air shimmered with magic, and the petals swayed as if touched by wind, though the chamber was perfectly still.
“Whoa… it’s beautiful,” Mimi whispered, eyes wide.
“Incredible,” Delarosa murmured beside her. “Hard to believe this is inside a cave.”
“It shouldn’t be possible,” Mimi added. “Plants need sunlight to grow…”
Still, the evidence was right in front of them. This lush bloom, tucked beneath the earth, defied logic. Still, considering they were beneath the roots of the Emperor Treant, maybe ordinary rules no longer applied.
As they stepped carefully between the blossoms, they came upon something even stranger: a tree. Smaller than the massive one above, but still large, and somehow… familiar.
“A tree?” Mimi blinked. “But this cave is under a tree… Why would there be another one here?”
“Well, the big one is absurdly huge,” Delarosa replied. “Guess it’s not that weird if part of its root system sprouted something else.”
Mimi squinted up at the branches. “Hey, look, it’s bearing fruit. Dwarves don’t eat fruit much, but humans and goblins do, right?”
“Yup. I’ve seen stuff like that before, though not exactly that. Looks kinda tasty.”
Without hesitation, Delarosa climbed the trunk with practiced ease and plucked a fruit. It was about the size of her palm, smooth and radiant with a shimmering rainbow hue. It practically sparkled in the light.
“Pretty, huh?” she said, sniffing it carefully. A moment later, her face contorted. “Ugh, gross!”
She hurled it away instinctively. The stench had been sharp and revolting, completely at odds with its jewel-like appearance.