Spirit Game

"We should take a break," Golly suddenly suggested, his voice heavy with the strain of fatigue. Age was catching up with him, and his weary bones weren't built for the relentless trek through these steep tunnels.

"What?" Santi's protest was immediate. "But we're so close!"

Golly shook his head, his expression serious. "We're only halfway, and our soldiers are already worn out." He pointed to the panting soldiers, some struggling to catch their breath.

Rain was about to argue, but exhaustion tugged at him. He had been carrying Chi while the others fought, and she needed rest as much as he did.

"But . . ." Santi began, her frustration clear. However, Golly cut her off with a stern look.

"I understand how you feel, but if we push on like this, we'll be nothing but dead bodies when we face Gorm. We need to be in top shape when we face him."

Santi tightened her lips, knowing Golly was right. Reluctantly, she sighed in agreement. "Alright."

"We'll rest in the kitchen," Golly decided. "It's not far from here. Two hours of rest and a good meal will rejuvenate everyone."

Santi didn't argue further as they made their way to the makeshift kitchen in the mines. Shadow creatures lurked within, and they quickly dispatched them, securing the area for much-needed rest.

After securing the area, some of the soldiers sank to the floor, closing their eyes and taking in much-needed rest. Others stood guard at the entrance, while a few scavenged the kitchen for supplies.

Fortunately, the shadow creatures had no taste for human food, leaving the cupboards and pantry overflowing with provisions. The soldiers wasted no time, quickly helping themselves to the bounty. The room was spacious, large enough to accommodate a hundred men, with more resting in adjacent chambers.

"Thanks," Rain said, accepting the food Chick and Chill handed him.

Chi lay unconscious beside him, still recovering, while the rest of the group took their time to regain their strength.

As he ate, Rain couldn't help but wonder about the others outside. A pang of guilt gnawed at him for resting while Thorgar, Valera, and the Elven Generals were likely still engaged in battle, holding the enemies at bay to prevent them from entering the mines.

"What's on your mind?" Santi's voice pulled Rain from his thoughts. She appeared beside him in an instant, her gaze steady.

Rain scratched his head, feeling a bit sheepish. "Ah, nothing. Just thinking about the upcoming fight with Gorm." He chose not to burden her with his concerns about the others outside. They all needed this rest, even if it meant momentarily stepping back from the fight.

Rain knew that Santi would feel just as guilty, so he chose to keep his thoughts to himself.

At the mention of Gorm, Santi's expression grew serious. "To be honest with you, I'm scared of meeting Gorm."

"Eh? Really?" Rain's eyes widened, and he quickly shut his mouth when Santi gave him a sidelong glance. "Ah, no, it's just . . . you always seem so composed that I thought .

. ."

"I try to stay composed so I don't worry the others. But the truth is, I'm terrified of what we might find when we face Gorm."

"You're afraid he might have already killed your elders and father?" Rain asked, then immediately regretted his bluntness.

Golly interjected with a sigh. "Lad, you lack tact," he said, hitting Rain on the head.

"It's fine, Golly," Santi said, drawing her knees closer to her chest. "Rain's right. My father is a descendant of King Ikhad, after all. Most of us Sand Elves are descendant of the king one way or another. I fear that Gorm might have already exacted his revenge on him and on our elders."

Rain scratched his head, unsure how to comfort her as he saw the worry etched on her face. He looked over at Golly, hoping for some guidance, but the old man just shook his head and glared, signaling for Rain to handle this himself.

With Hana stationed at the camp and Helliana with Thraigar, who couldn't fit through the mine's entrance, and Chi unconscious beside him, Rain realized he was on his own in this situation. There was no woman he could ask to comfort Santi.

Everyone was silent, lost in their thoughts. Rain could see the worry etched on Santi's face and the tension in Golly's rigid posture. Wanting to lighten the mood, Rain decided to give it a shot.

"So," Rain began, breaking the silence, "do you think Gorm ever gets confused when he's picking a new body? Like, what if he accidentally ends up in something really inconvenient, like a chicken?"

Santi blinked, turning to look at Rain with a puzzled expression. Golly, who was half-listening, frowned. "Rain, this is serious. Gorm is a revenant, not some farm animal."

Rain shrugged, undeterred. "I know, I know. But just imagine it — Gorm, the terrifying Obliterator, stuck in a chicken's body, flapping around trying to be all menacing. It'd be like the world's scariest barnyard!"

Santi stared at Rain for a moment, clearly trying to process the absurdity of the image. Golly just rubbed his temples, exasperated.

"That's ridiculous," Golly muttered, shaking his head. "Gorm would never—"

But before he could finish, Santi let out a snort, quickly covering her mouth in surprise. The mental image had caught her off guard, and despite herself, she started to laugh — a genuine, warm laugh that echoed in the cavern.

Rain grinned, his mission accomplished. "See? Even the idea of Gorm as a chicken is enough to make you laugh. Maybe that's the secret weapon we need!"

Golly looked at Santi, who was now giggling uncontrollably, then back at Rain, who was clearly pleased with himself. He sighed, but there was a hint of a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

"You're a strange one, Rain," Golly finally said. "But if it helps keep spirits up, I suppose a bit of nonsense isn't the worst thing. It's better than this stifling silent."