I humored the Unalarans, and we took out a barricade:

Mobile Barricade Unit Type: Deployable Cover Level Requirement: 16 Durability: 9200/9200 Dimensions (Deployed): 8 ft wide x 6 ft high Description: A collapsible defensive barrier made from Velidi-wood, a rare, lightweight hardwood harvested from the mist-cloaked jungles of Velithor. Naturally mana-conductive and impact-dispersing.

Reinforced with thread-bonded Ironbloom and enchanted with Runes of Stability and Reflection, this is a shield fit to frustrate the most determined of foes.

Deploy Time: 2 seconds Compressed Dimensions: 2 ft x 1.5 ft x 8 in.

Enchantments: • Level 2 Rune of Stability — Resists concussive knock back and minor explosive shockwaves. • Level 2 Rune of Reflection — Reduces energy-based ranged attack damage by 25%.

Notes:

Immunity to Tier one Air, Earth and Water magic cast under Mage competence Level 20. (Subsequent damage measured from Level One)

Can be anchored for additional impact resistance.

"Well, I don't think the Ironbloom will burn, but the Velidi wood sounds promising." I said after reading the details.

"Will the runes let you remove them?" Enil asked.

"I think so. There's nothing to say they're unreceptive to enchanting tools, and if we don't set the barricade the runes don't' activate, so, let's find out, shall we?"

I didn't wait for a response, pulling out the broad blade engraver from the set I'd used to adjust the detonation times on the grenades above.

I had a minor pang of guilt over Enil's hand, unable to help noticing he couldn't use it as well as he'd been able to before. I kept the guilt to myself. It wouldn't help anyone and just waste time.

Once I'd removed the enchantments from the first barricade, Enil and Oro set to work dismantling it.

It wasn't easy, but they were determined and methodical in their approach.

"While you guys do that, I'm gonna swim out and see if I can see any other ways out of here."

Oro shook his head. "You're a clever lad, Adam. And I speak for both of us when I say, we're glad you're here with us. You make us both believe we'll get home and if we don't it won't because we didn't try. But there's a time to push and there's a time to thank the stars above you're still alive, and cement what you've got."

I frowned, not liking where this was going and feeling decidedly uncomfortable with the compliments.

Oro didn't give me a chance to speak.

"Neither of us," He continued, pointing at Enil, "have slept too well. You deserved the larger share earlier, but we're both tired. What's say, you crack on with the barricades and give us a good supply of wood to work with. We get that fire going, and then we all get some more sleep.

"Tomorrow, we'll look at charting this cavern out, hey?"

His words rode me the wrong way. We should be pushing to get out of here immediately. But I had to accept, the two of them were so much more comfortable under the mountain than I was. They were the happiest I'd seen them since we'd been stranded. And having a natural supply of food, a fire and spare firewood, and a strong fallback point wasn't a bad idea.

In fact it was a no brainer. If we did get out, the first thing I'd do after making the area safe up top would be to follow the tunnel we'd made with the water rods and drop a rope down to here.

"That's fair. I need to know what's over there," I said nodding into the darkness. "It's freaking me out. But I can wait until tomorrow."

They both relaxed at my words, and I felt better that they were both happy. It wasn't as if either of them were complainers or worriers. They weren't sticking through fear, it was some common sense I just didn't share. That wasn't a bad thing.

We got a fire roaring. It was far bigger than it needed to be and it lit the cavern further than the glow rods did. We could almost make out our entrance point by Enil's estimation and he had by far the best eyesight of our team.

I was tempted to send a flame blast to where he pointed, but that could run the risk of attracting the Xeo, so I refrained and trusted to his description.

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One thing that was abundantly clear. Even with my best use of Spirit hand, we weren't making it all the way up there any time soon.

As the two Unalarans crunched on roast roaches, I ate two ration blocks and scanned the cavern walls for ways to climb out.

There was nothing obvious or easy, and in truth I grew ever more depressed as what passed for our day wore on.

Both Enil and Oro went to sleep first, breaking out their own tents to sleep in after my successful twelve hour stint.

I pulled out an energy pouch, to make sure I didn't miss a beat on my duty.

Apart from bat wings there were no beats. I paced, I removed runes from barricades, I kept the fire going at a more sensible level, but the night was completely uneventful.

I slurped three more energy pouches, and even started inspecting the shore for a defensive position to build a shelter.

A cove in the back wall, offered a perfect option to build against, and so, for some insane reason I started digging out foundations with one of our foldable spades to drop barricades in.

I went slow and kept one ear and one eye on the swivel for danger, but by the time Oro woke up and stumbled out of his tent, I'd cut a trench out, three feet deep and ten feet long.

He wandered over, a nonchalant expression on his face. "Care to explain?"

I shrugged, a little embarrassed. "We mentioned a fallback fort."

He rubbed his bony chin, nodding at the trench. "Nice work. I suppose we can't go much deeper because the barricades are only six feet tall."

"Yeah," I said, tapping the shovel on the base of the foundation. "And it's solid rock from here.

"Another good reason to stop at that depth then. How long did we sleep?"

"I honestly have no idea. It was longer than four hours though."

He stretched, arms wide, leaning back and letting out a roar of contentment that echoed around the cavern. "That much I know. I haven't felt this rested since the night before they told me we were coming to fight Xeo."

"You had warning? We were told two hours before."

He laughed. "That's mean. Though probably for the best. Take it from me, the only thing you could have done was worry more."

"Or desert," Enil said appearing with surprising stealth at Oro's shoulder. "Whatcha doing there, Adam?"

"Foundation for a shelter," Oro replied for me.

"I knew it was a good idea, the private said. "You go get yourself some sleep and we'll take over, hey?"

My body was aching, and apart from the crawling, twitchy feeling in my brain from the energy pouches I was ready to sleep.

"I'll take you up on that offer," I agreed. "And when I get up, We're going swimming."

I woke up to find the two Unalarans had been busy while I'd slept. The moment I left the tent they beckoned me over, eager to show me the work they'd done. They'd dug the rest of the foundations, inserted the barricades, and had started filling them back in. I wanted to find a way out of there so it was with great reluctance that I went over to congratulate them on their hard work.

"Looking great, fellas. Bigger than I was going to go, but I don't think that's a bad thing."

"Yeah, you have a little man building head," Enil said, using a length of wood and water from the pool to tamp down the soil to provide a kind of mortar as it dried.

I was impressed with the skill they both clearly had. "It's great. Once I've done a bit of exploration I'll jump back in and help."

"You're keen to get back in that water," Oro said, casting a look over the dark expanse.

"Not really. I'll probably be able to settle a little more once I can see what's on the other side."

"What's your plan?" Oro asked.

"Now I've got a full mana pool, I'm going to inspect from the shore. Flame blast should give us a good idea." To demonstrate my idea, I turned and threw a Fire blast.

It sailed over the water, it's reflection giving the impression of two blasts as it illuminated everything it past. Bats erupted into flight but it didn't prevent me from getting a good look of the area.

The cavern was uneven and funneled into an egg shape. At the narrowest point of that shape was a yawning opening. The fire ball hit the wall thirty yards to the right of it, But before the light exploded and the area dropped back into darkness I fired a smaller blast toward the opening.

"You all saw that right?" I said as the next blast flew.

"A way out?" Enil said

"Who knows. The next ball had reached the opening now and sailed a good distance down the tunnel before striking a side wall.

"It's clearly the path of the water," Oro said. "It might lead out, it might lead deeper underground."

"Agreed. Heading that way would be a risk. But we don't have any other options."

"We have food," he said gesturing at the pile of guano. "Which means we have time. We might be able to build something unless you have any more tricks up your sleeve."

"If I did, we'd have been out of here by now," I grumbled. "The only thing I have that even edges useful is Spirit Hand. It's a Levitation skill but it's seriously mana draining, and limited in use."

Oro nodded. "Sounds like a possible route, though. Do you think if it was stronger you could get us up there?"

"I've no idea of its full capabilities. My Aetheric Magic Master said it was a precursor to flight, but… how many mages have you seen flying?"

"I've seen a few," Oro replied. "And none very well. More lifting up in the air. "Did you see the Stormfront get to the top of the wall when the attack started?"

I shook my head, disappointed that I'd missed it.

"He must have been using something similar to what you're talking about," Oro continued. "He jumped, but just kept going."

I nodded. "He's attuned to Kinetic Aetheric power. It's more useful for things like that. Mine doesn't work the same way. At least not so far as I know. I can make a ledge, and I can move it a little. Spirit is a great skill, but Aazi's looks to be more useful for most things."

Oro frowned at me. "Aazi, huh? You two old friends? You seem to know a lot about him,"

"No," I laughed. "No. that was the first time I've ever seen him. I've heard a lot about him though. I go to the same Warrior Mage Academy as his daughter, and, well, we're friends."

"Is that so?" He said a suspicious glint in his eyes. "You have a thing for the Stormfront's daughter?"

"Oh god no. She'd eat me alive."

They both chuckled.

"But I do consider her a good friend."

"It's important to have good friends," he said sagely. "And levitation skills. I already told you we had time here, so I suggest you practice. Meanwhile, we'll check that tunnel."

"We might be able to build something to get up there with barricades as well." Enil suggested. "Or ropes and grapples."

I eyed the two men appreciatively. "I don't know how we're going to get out of here, but between us, I have no doubt we will."

"Now that's an attitude I can get behind," Enil said.

I looked back over the water. "So, who's the strongest swimmer?"

"All I know," Enil said, completely dead pan. "Is that it's not you."

"Hardly fare to judge from our entrance," I protested. "I'm a very strong swimmer under usual circumstances."

Oro grinned. "Well, I'm convinced. You can do the honors."

I groaned. "I just walked straight into that one, didn't I?" Enil nodded, while Oro just looked so damn proud of himself.

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