Hero

Pariah Online: A Voyage into the Intangible Aether

---

---

Finally arriving at his home-away-from-home, Kazuki let out a small sigh. The interaction with Marianna bothered him more than he wanted to admit. It wasn't enough that the mobs and bosses weren't acting like themselves, but the behavior of the computer characters could mean that they had no real way of knowing what was going to happen even in the safety of the town. Couldn't anything stayed consistent in this stupid world? Were the NPCs going to start talking to him out of nowhere? Were they actually watching his every move? Was he going to suddenly get jumped by a desperate guy trying to get by? The last one caused the hair on the back of his neck to rise, freaking him out somewhat as he looked around.

"Oi! Kazuki!" Kazuki jumped in place, having been so absorbed in his thoughts that he somehow didn't notice the man next to him. The bard known as Robin Goodfellow flashed him a grin, with Kazuki somehow having missed both him and the cart next to him. It wasn't an extraordinary sight; despite the guy's look, he was a madman with his hands, favoring alchemy. The cart was a little more packed than usual, but what really held Kazuki's attention was the way the bard had a firm grip on it.

Robin's smile faded just a touch as he got a good look at Kazuki, not liking what he was seeing. "Jesus, you look like you've been through some shit," He commented.

"You scared the crap out of me," Kazuki scowled, relaxing after a few seconds. "I thought you'd be in Iblenar, I sent out a message to you and Hammer."

"I was meeting a friend here that I had just introduced to a game," He explained, his smile looking particularly pained as he let out a hollow laugh. "We were in the field when he accidentally stabbed himself with his own sword. Not the brightest of the bunch, but you can imagine the panic that ensued once he started bleeding everywhere. Fortunately, we found a healer in time, but...shit freaked everyone out. I mean, everything did, but you know..."

Kazuki couldn't help the pang of jealousy, though he nodded in understanding. "I'm glad you're alright," He said quietly, glad to see that he was okay.

"Wish I could say the same to you, but like I said, you look like you've been through some shit," Robin frowned at him, dropping all of his previous joy. "You ended up going with your brother to the dungeon after all, didn't you?"

There was no need for any lies; he figured word would get out sooner than later. "We lost three people," He sighed.

"Well, shit. So much for Mystic Prophecy being 'the guild'. Still, you ended up better than that small guild that went for a rerun. Think only two of them ended up coming back," The bard muttered, shaking his head. "Anyway, I came looking for you because I'm heading back to Iblenar. I figured I'd bring you along, we could hole up with Hammer and ride this out until the devs fix shit."

Hammer did have her guild, and being back in his home territory would probably help out in the magic department. Maybe putting some distance would help, too; God knows he had avoided any street that was even close to the guild hall. That said, he knew he couldn't just up and leave without talking to Kazuma, and in the back of his mind it felt wrong to just up and leave without saying anything. At the very least he would say goodbye to his party. If they wanted to see him, that is. He wasn't sure if they blamed him for Aaginim's death, too.

"I appreciate the gesture, but I'm going to see what Kazuma wants to do next," Kazuki told Robin. "If we do end up heading over there, I'll make sure to let you know."

Robin teetered on a response, initially looking like he was going to insist but changing his mind at the last second. Instead he turned back towards his cart, pulling out a small box. "Sounds good. Take this, then."

"Whatever it is, take it with you, you might end up needing it for the trip," He declined.

"Or you could take it while you figure your shit out. C'mon, take it," Robin insisted, shoving it into Kazuki's hands. "It's just some food and a few potions I rationed for you if you ended up coming, might as well keep it. Once I'm settled over at the guild hall, I'll send you some stuff from time to time and if you ever need something, just let me know."

As much as he wanted to protest, Kazuki figured he may as well take it. Who knew what other effects the glitch had that he hadn't accounted for? Extra food was never a bad thing to have, anyway, since hunger was now something else to worry about. "Fine. In exchange, feel free to use my place. Hammer has a spare key, if you guys need it for whatever reason, use it."

"Giving me a place for my booty calls? You're too kind!" Robin let out a genuine laugh. "Alright, alright...but send Hammer another letter saying so, she probably won't believe me."

"Thank you. Be careful out there," He said, giving him a deep bow.

Robin nodded, giving him a serious look. "Don't go dying out there, Hoshizawa," He said.

"Yeah. You too, Yukine."

Kazuki watched Robin walk off with his cart until he was out of sight. At some point he'd probably go that way, but for now he would finally enter his home, closing the door behind him. Settling the box down, he examined its contents. He wasn't a fantastic chef or anything but he could probably make something out of this stuff to make it last longer. There was a recipe book somewhere around here, he could add cooking to his improvement list. It probably wasn't a bad idea, if the goal was to survive, then he may as well.

An unfamiliar sound caught his attention and pulled him out of his thoughts once again, though his heart splintered as he realized what it was. He entered the bedroom freely, watching his brother for a moment. Yesterday must have gotten to him. Not that he'd blame him, but Kazuma had been more invested in both the game and the people they'd lost. He was probably overwhelmed. Still, as bad as he felt, Kazuki had to admit that it gave him a little resolve. He was going to make sure to be the big brother Kazuma deserved, he promised himself right then and there to be his rock.

Kneeling down next to the bed, he reached over and squeezed his hand. "It's okay," Kazuki soothed him. "Let it all out."

---

---

Pariah Online: A Voyage into the Intangible Aether

---

---

Lighter on money, heavier on books--just like the real world. Except instead of buying a ton of fun sheet music, he had stuffed as many magical and medical texts as he could fit in his bag. Go figure, he had way more space to carry things when he actually organized it. To think he was so messy in-game when he was usually a neat freak. But gone were the days of dumping his inventory into a chest and then wincing when he went to dig out a potion only for it to have been crushed at the bottom, now he was applying his real-life organizational skills in game. Which he probably should have done in the first place.

Kazuki made his way back to the small house he owned in Thorinn, adjusting the strap on his shoulder. He was already mapping out the most efficient way to tackle on the reading material, hoping it would give him some insight on becoming more efficient. Yesterday had proven to him that his skills were sorely lacking and he never wanted a repeat if it could be helped. Never again would he be the weakest one--he was going to conquer his weaknesses and survive this stupid world. If there was no update from the game masters by now then it meant they were stuck here for a while, and he'd be damned if he was going to die here.

Last night's awkwardness was palpable but he knew he wasn't wanted. Not that he would have lodged with the group as it was, he couldn't possibly bare the shame to even look at Luci. Fortunately his daytime stringing and tendency to roam had netted him a place to stay in every City-State, with Thorinn being no exception. He had plenty of money as well, but who knew how long it'd last. Who knew how long they'd be here. He was pretty sure he wasn't going to be able to get a good night's sleep for the next six years or so, the few hours he got due to pure exhaustion. Enos' body had haunted his nightmares while Aaginim had haunted his every waking moment, Luci's words on a repeat anytime he had a moment to himself.

And thus there he was, his small home in sight. As he walked, he spotted a familiar looking young woman with a basket of eggs in hand. Kazuki recognized her as Marianna, one of his NPC neighbors. She had been a frequent attendee of his performances, too, often chiding him for 'staying away' whenever he was somewhere else. He used to like following her routine, finding it interesting how detailed the game was with the NPC routes. She was sweet, if a little generic, and liked to talk about her dreams of packing up and moving to Iblenar.

She paused as she heard him approach, giving him a small smile. "Hello, Kazuki!" She greeted him warmly.

Kazuki paused, for some reason finding the greeting weird. She was polite, yeah, but something was off. After being unable to figure out what, he replied, "Hello. Fetching eggs for your family?"

"Mhm!" She nodded, bright and bubbly as always. "I was hoping I'd catch your performance, but it looks like you've been shopping. Are you leaving Thorinn?"

The Japanese man slowly blinked, a little surprised. Their conversations were basic, but usually predictable and usually about the same two or three topics. This was the first time she was asking about his schedule. Was she stalking him? Now that would be humorous after all the time he had spent following her around. And now he sounded like a creep. So long as no one could read his thoughts, he would be fine. "No, I was shopping for some reading material, but I don't think I'll be performing today," He replied. "I'm sorry to disappoint."

"Oh, no, no, everyone needs a break once in a while!" She giggled. "Although, if you have the time and change your mind, I think you should. There are a lot of wayfarers around, you'd probably get a huge audience today."

How did she know about that? Did NPCs usually keep track of how many players were around? Kazuki was dense when it came to this game, yeah, but he felt like he was talking to another player instead of some AI. Marianna was examining his face, her eyes flickering up and down as she waited patiently for a response. But after a moment of an awkward silence where Kazuki could only stare at her in disbelief, she let out a nervous laugh. She was acting like a player that had been weirded out, too! "Well...I'll see you around!" She gave him a weird look and a small wave before she walked away.

Kazuki couldn't help but stare after the girl, bewildered. What the hell was that?! Did the glitch include giving the NPCs realistic responses--wait a minute, that was what he initially found so weird about their encounter. Marianna had never initiated the conversation, she only ever replied to his inquiries! But there she was, striking up a conversation like a neighbor, like a person. No, he was probably overthinking things. NPCs always had realistic conversations. Letting out a slight groan, he pinched the bridge of his nose as he shook his head. Maybe he should at least try to take a nap.

---

---

Pariah Online: A Voyage into the Intangible Aether

---

---

Priscilica was too kind--he hadn't done anything special that anyone else couldn't have accomplished. Anyone else could've given her a draught. If anything he was the least effective in the last fight, he didn't even contribute to killing the boss. And the one thing he could do, he failed at. Nonetheless it'd be pointless and rude to say otherwise, and Kazuki only offered the girl a nod of acknowledgment, watching her as she walked off. He couldn't quite look Seele in the eye, instead choosing to walk past her as he unhooked his lyre. The familiar, ear-scratching grind of the door let him now that the dungeon was officially over.

Starting up the familiar-sounding song, Kazuki let his body go on autopilot, staring at nothing in particular. It was easy to let the notes carry him away to anywhere else, but the sound of Luci's sobs made sure to root him to the dungeon's room. He could feel the pull of his magic already; he must have used up more magic than he thought. He figured he may as well get everyone up as best he could so they could make it back to town in one piece, albeit a quick look around let him know that exhaustion was just as common as injuries. That would be the second thing he would look into, there was probably a spell out there that could help with that. He'd be more effective next time. He'd succeed next time. Failure was no longer--

The sound of metal hitting the ground caused Kazuki to stop as he whirled around to the source. For a split second he thought that even the dungeon's end had changed and something else was coming, but instead he was greeted with the sight of Kazuma on his knees. Had he been hurt worse than he thought? But the way he grasped at his chest set off every single alarm in his head. Kazuki didn't even realize he had dropped his lyre when he ran over, kneeling down next to him.

"Kazuma!" Kazuki called out his name, louder than he meant but stern as he held his hand. "Kazuma, breathe, I'm right here with you! You're okay now, just breathe!"

---

---

Pariah Online: A Voyage into the Intangible Aether

---

---

"You failed."

"You failure! You let us all down!"

“We needed you sooner. You failed us. You failed him.”

This must have been what they called an 'out-of-body' experience. He was pretty sure the demon could turn around and lop an arm off and he wouldn't have noticed or felt it. For him everything had stopped as all he could focus on was the woman in front of him, her accusation bringing up a myriad of memories and emotions he had locked away. Funny how the mind worked that way; all it took was the right combination of words to pierce through the wall people set up and delve deep into the shambled remains of regrets and 'what could have been's. Just a few words to make the heart race, to stir up panic, to bring down the full force of the reality of the situation.

“I’ll never forgive you.”

Luci looked like she was ready to shove him into the path of the demon out of hatred, and he had to admit, if that was her intention then he wouldn't stop her. It was easier to blame the closest person than accept what had happened. Maybe he should have tried to comfort her or explain he had been doomed before they got there--in the back of his mind, he wondered why their group had decided to take on the demon without waiting for them. But even he recognized that that would cause more problems.

Kazuki honestly had nothing he could say to remedy this because she was right. He failed. Kazuma had consistently insisted that he stop fooling around more times than he could count, reminding him that he had a job and that people were relying on him. But all Kazuki wanted to do was indulge himself a little, to use the dream-like land and time to get to do what he loved most without his father or teachers watching over and scrutinizing his every move. Except if he had actually applied himself and actually tried in his role, maybe he could have saved Aaganim.

Even while those thoughts ran through his head, however, all he could do was stare at the woman that had grabbed him. He could have at least tried to look sorry, but his expression was blank as always. Maybe it veered a little into shocked territory, but otherwise he was his usual self. He had failed and it had cost someone their lover. And of course there was the very bitter reality that even if he was around, he still would have failed. He wasn't as good a healer as Enos, he never would have been able to save anyone. They had gotten there by pure luck.

The noise of a battle ending seemed to resume time for Kazuki, but even then he never took his eyes off Luci. Even with all the rationale in the world, he couldn't blame her for her words. The barrier surrounding them slowly descended, fading away and putting them back on the field. The dismissal was unwilling--his concentration was lost and at this point whatever magic he had was probably dwindling. Of course, the barrier was the furthest thing from his mind.

After what felt like an eternity, Kazuki opened his mouth to respond, but ended up only letting out a weary sigh. Nothing he could say would sound genuine and not like an excuse. If it made her feel better and kept her going, then it was all he could offer. "So be it," He muttered. "I failed. Hate me all you'd like." It was hard to ignore the lump in his throat, but it was all he had.

---

---

Pariah Online: A Voyage into the Intangible Aether

---

---

Good, Priscilica was up. The possibility of victory was rising slowly but steadily, especially as the party wailed on the demon. Kazuki had to lift an arm as Alja's attack caused a whirl of snow to blow around the room. What an attack--and she wasn't the only one. There was no hesitation on anyone's end, everyone giving it all they had. Priscilica was no exception, clearly ready to back into things. She told him to go to Luci and Aaganim, though he had to admit his initial response was a grim one. No, he shouldn't give up on him yet. If there was even the slightest chance of success, then he had to take it.

"Understood," Kazuki replied, taking off into another run towards the pair. Despite the monster being occupied, it was clear that it could turn back towards him at any moment, his decision solidified as he finally reached Luci and Aaganim. "Tcetorp dna cigam ym esir!" The barrier erupted upwards around the three of them, touching over them and forming a protective dome with a beehive design that shimmered quietly in the light. He was all too aware it was going to expend his energy to keep it up, but he'd try to have it for as long as possible.

Seeing Aaganim up close was unsettling--the demon had crushed him in his hand like the metal of his armor was a tin can. He couldn't dwell on the thought for too long, immediately putting himself to work and checking Aaganim's pulse. Rapid and irregular, that wasn't a good sign. Healing Touch's glow formed on his hands and he placed them as close to his chest as he could. He didn't know what the extent of the damage was, although most of his surface wounds slowly regenerated themselves. Aaganim's breathing didn't improve, and after checking his pulse again, he realized his heartbeat was still irregular.

Kazuki didn't understand, Healing Touch was more effective than any other spells he had. So far it had also brought everyone up to normal, so why wasn't Aaganim improving? He was missing something but he didn't know what, the rules of the game had changed so much that he wasn't sure what he could do anymore. Maybe he wasn't as effective as he thought he was--his best skills were music based and his combat skills left much to be desired. But Rael had definitely suffered a few broken bones before and he was able to heal her, so what was different this time?

His answer came as he checked Aaganim's pulse once again, his magic fading from his hands immediately after. Can't very well heal a corpse no matter how much magic he had. He stared down at Aaganim, deaf and blind to the rest of the room. It had been stupid to maintain that shred of optimism--he knew the second they stepped in that Aaganim was a goner.

Slowly looking up at Luci, he almost couldn't bare the shame. But even in his failure he had to come to terms with the truth: "There's nothing I can do anymore. He's dead."

---

---

Pariah Online: A Voyage into the Intangible Aether

---

---

'Premonition' hadn't been something that Kazuki could say he truly believed in. Things happened without rhyme or reason, there was no magical sixth sense or the ability to predict the future. He was always skeptical of those who would claim otherwise. His stepmother was one of them, always talking about having dreams of tomorrow and claims that he had always thought were ridiculous. Once, he remembered that she told him that it was just feeling she had, that it was the human's instinct that alerted them to danger. It was ridiculous to think that anyone would believe in that to the fullest and never give any doubt to it.

Still, at least he understood why people chose to have that belief. Reality was so cruel that for some it was all they had to cling to.

Enos' death was one thing, but stumbling into the complete chaos of the final room was another. Fear and despair were all around, the group scattered as the monster carelessly tossed aside Aaganim. Kazuki couldn't take his eyes off his body, the dents of his armor telling him something grim. Enos. Aaganim. And he was willing to bet Atlas, too, judging by his missing body: all three taken down by the monster in front of them. It didn't help that final bosses were notorious for deaths even before all this went down. The weight of their very lives was on them, showing them exactly what would happen the second any mistake was made.

"LUCI!"

Alja's scream snapped Kazuki out of his trance, an impulsive decision made on his end. They needed to help everyone that could be helped, and both Luci and Priscilica were in a bad position. Despite his better judgement and knowing that the boss was going for Alja, he knew this was the only chance he would get. Without uttering a word, the healer broke off into a sprint, making a mad dash for the lone mage on the ground.

"KAZUKI! WHAT THE FUCK?!" Benkei yelled after him.

Kazuki should have said something before he took off, but there just wasn't any time to lose. "I'm going for Priscilica! Try to group up with the others!" He called as he ran, holding his hand out towards Luci and the fallen Aaganim. As soon as the pair were within his range, he shouted his spell: "Sdnuow yht laeh emit tel!" There was that feeling in his chest again, but whether it was him anticipating it or the adrenaline running through him, it hardly bothered him. He was being cruelly optimistic, hoping that Aaganim would hang in there long enough.

Skidding to a halt beside the fallen mage, Kazuki realized that he didn't see any wounds on her. She was still breathing, had she just been knocked unconscious? As his eyes darted to her staff, it hit him: she had probably used up all her magic and had collapsed. His hands flew to his bag, haphazardly reaching for glass. Propping the girl up as best he could, he cautiously fed her the mana drought, trying not to accidentally choke her with the liquid.

"Priscilica, can you hear me?" He shook her, trying to get her to awaken.

---

---

Pariah Online: A Voyage into the Intangible Aether

---

---

It was everywhere.

Kazuki hadn't considered that he would be partying with a literal blood knight, the multiple splatters on the ground reeking of iron and death. He hadn't even registered Graves' glare or even his own brother joining them, frozen in place by the display. The guy was a cackling psycho, freely murdering the gnolls and spilling their blood on the ground. He swallowed hard, doing his damnest to adjust to the sight as he brought up a shaky hand. Between Graves and Alex, there were injuries that needed to be attended to, and after the display in front, he figured an area of effect heal was probably necessary.

That said, he couldn't fight the bubbling sensation in his stomach, his hand covering his nose and mouth in some vain attempt at stopping that stench. He hated that it sent every thought in his mind running for the hills--how the hell was he supposed to be effective at his role if he couldn't even stand the sight of blood? He couldn't even take deep breaths to calm himself down, feeling like he was going to end up gagging even more. He could vomit later, right now he needed to do his damn job.

The shrill growl caught his ear, though by the time he turned around, the only thing in his view was the giant bat coming towards him. Whether it was dumb luck or perfectly calculated was debatable, but he was a lot closer to it than he wanted to be. Fortunately it flew over--fell over?--towards Graves and Alex. Seele suddenly went running, Kazuki having missed what she said, but it looked like she had run to save Rael. That explained the spear still in the beast, at least. Her recklessness had gotten the job done, at least, even if it had nearly buried Graves under it.

Benkei called for the group to gather, and for good reason; there were injuries all around and regrouping was probably the best thing to do. They weren't at the end just yet but Kazuki was starting to get worried. No doubt everyone used up a lot of stamina and energy just now, from Seele's spells to Alja's ice move. As for the wounds, he had a few options to consider but he had to choose carefully. The last thing he wanted was to run out of magic at a bad time, but everyone needed something strong. He double checked his bag, counting the dwindling number of potions he still had.

Clicking his tongue in displeasure, he figured it couldn't be helped. Pocketing his book, Kazuki unhooked the lyre from his belt, letting out a hum to get the right pitch. "Gather around, I'm going to heal everyone up," He announced, going over the first few notes in his head. It was better to use this song now without the tension of a battle--the more relaxed, the better. This song was a much higher level than his spells, and he figured using up what he had and stomaching a mana drought would pay out in the long run. It'd take more than he would like, but it should be more effective.

The song started out quiet, the first few notes ringing out as he paused--the song was set, the notes would now be imbued with his magic. As soon as he continued, the group's wounds would stitch themselves up, putting them back to the way before. He focused on his strumming, already feeling the tug in his chest--he wasn't a huge fan of how tiring healing was becoming. Still, it was easy to keep going, coming to a stop after a minute and letting the last note ring out.

As soon as he finished, his free hand clutched his chest, his body feeling like he had just taken a punch to the gut and had all his breath knocked out of him. He refused to budge, turning away from the group as he took in several long breaths. He knew it was going to take some out of him, but it was a lot more impactful than he had anticipated. To him, it was the right call as the last thing he wanted was to feel this shitty during a fight.

Popping open the potion, he slowly drank, still feeling a little out of breath. Grimacing at the taste, he paused for a second to turn back to everyone. "If you still feel you need healing, let me know, I'll supplement it with a spell," He stated before continuing his drink.

---

---

Of Blood and Magic

---

---

A long night? But he was fine until now! Well, that wasn't entirely true, Aaron was a little different in the kitchen, too. But he was talking to everyone before, and he was maybe nervous, but he wasn't like he was now! A long night, he said, like he didn't already know about this sort of thing! Lilie wasn't completely stupid, Aaron looked like he was going to pass out any second! Even as the thought crossed her mind, though, she knew he wasn't going to say or admit anything to her. Anytime she tried, he usually either changed the subject or insisted he was fine.

Biting down on her lip, she couldn't help but look over at Maddie. She seemed to know him better than she did, and that bothered her more than she wanted to admit. Despite her reluctance to let it go, Lilie felt like she didn't really have much of a choice. Maybe it just wasn't any of her business and she was just letting her feelings get in the way. As she slid her hands into her coat, she couldn't help but look up at him, like she'd get an answer from his face. Her mom always told her that everyone could see what she was thinking on her face, but it always felt like a one way street type of thing. Argh, why couldn't she read people?!

Still, she didn't want to go causing him any trouble. Throwing on a small smile, she gave him a nod in understanding. "Thank you," She huddled her coat to her, at a loss for what to say for a second. "...take care of yourself."

---

Pariah Online: A Voyage into the Intangible Aether

---

---

So far, so good. At least there wouldn't be any complaints on his part, even if he was sure the moment they were out of here he'd probably end up either collapsing on the ground or throwing up everything he had eaten in the past twenty four hours. Still, as much as the pressure was on, there was also satisfaction for every success. As risky as things were, the group was holding their own for the most part. Even so, all of that was accompanied by a dread at what was waiting at the end--even he knew that it was the end of the dungeon that was the hardest to get by. They were going in blind, so the best they could expect was just playing careful and watch each other's backs.

Alex took on the challenge to get the bridge to drop easily, though Kazuki noticed that he had taken his potion of moonlight. Potions gaining taste was probably the worst thing to happen; judging by everyone else's reactions, they had bad taste. It felt like adding insult to injury at this point--they could die, bleed, feel pain, but did they really have to make the potions taste like crap, too? His mouth still had the awful aftertaste, and he was pretty sure he wasn't going to go forgetting it anytime soon. He hoped the sadist that added all this was enjoying the show at least.

Benkei's mention of the boss brought him out of his thoughts. Looks like they were on the same wavelength, at least, though before he could comment on it, the girl from before spoke to him again. He wondered what it was like to have the ability to be whatever you want and choosing to be a bitch. Kazuki couldn't help but stare at Kalie, trying to decide if he should even bother with a response. She seemed like the type that wouldn't just let it go, however, so he figured he may as well get it out of the way. "I don't trust anything you have to say, so don't bother. Focus on the dungeon," He replied, instead watching Graves as he walked past them.

The sudden screech from above scared the crap out of him--yeah, this place was definitely trying to give him a heart attack--though he wasn't sure what was worse, the giant bat they woke up or the number of gnolls behind them. Either way they needed to be taken care of.

"Seele, we'll support both sides," He told his fellow caster, holding his hand out towards Graves. "Mih morf yawa!" He called, an abrupt barrier of wind surrounding the tank. With a snap of his fingers, the wind scattered, blowing away any gnolls that had decided to jump on the guy.

---

---

Pariah Online: A Voyage into the Intangible Aether

---

---

"やれやれ..." It came out without him realizing it, the only sound aside from his footsteps heard. The flame of the torch barely gave him any view of what was in front of him, but it was enough for now. The silence was oddly comforting, even though his ears were sharp in case anything decided to jump out at him. He never knew a trained ear could help like this--he had always thought everything he did would help his playing, the thought of needing to survive being the farthest thing from his mind.

That said, he wasn't confident in his survivability. If the numerous losing fights and the endless bullying were any indication, then he was in a lot of trouble. It was in this moment that he really was regretting his choice in class; Kazuma had initially offered to help him be more of a physical fighter, but healing seemed easier at the time. Now the group's lives were literally in his hands, and all it took was one mistake, one slip up, and it was over. Not to mention he was particularly vulnerable the moment he couldn't use his magic. His free hand went to his throat as the thought crossed his mind, and he couldn't help his sigh.

Kazuki stopped as he noticed the ceiling rise somewhat, noticing something not too far off. Putting every thought he had to the back of his mind, he squinted through the light. He was hesitant to continue--those spike traps proved that each room could be booby trapped. Standing as close as he could without actually standing in the room, he lifted his torch slightly. The room was bigger than the spike room and he could see a door to the right. There were several stone pieces as well--it was safe to say this was probably another puzzle they needed to solve. At least they wouldn't get into any fights just yet.

The silence encapsulated him, much to his dismay. He was secretly hoping they would've met up with the others, but it looked like that wasn't going to happen anytime soon. Despite the exhaustion afterwards, only Graves had gotten hurt, but the other group could've run into monsters. Well, silence was better than nothing--no news was better than bad news. For now, anyway.

Settling himself down away from the room, Kazuki looked through his bag. He had remembered the mana draughts his brother had reminded him a dozen times to bring and a few health potions, but aside from those he hadn't really brought anything of use. Then again, the torch ended up coming in handy, so maybe he just needed to broaden his view. So much for swearing to never take this stupid game seriously--he was going to have to go over everything Kazuma had tried to drill in his head. The sound of a note played as his finger brushed against a string, and he carefully pulled out the tiny lyre.

Plucking a few notes, he sighed again, repeating the gesture. It was no piano, but the notes comforted him a little. If things were the way before, he'd probably be content strumming along until the rest of the group showed up. But that wasn't safe. Not anymore.

Instead of putting it away, he found a free hook on his belt to loop it through, and once he was set he walked back down the corridor. Mentally he went over the few songs he knew that would actually be useful in a battle; he hadn't quite mastered the attack boost just yet, but the defensive one was ingrained in his head. There was the one that restored health so long as he kept playing, but he was pretty sure without a healthy supply of potions it wasn't worth it. The burst heal one would probably be worth it, though, comparatively speaking.

Settling into those sorts of thoughts, he continued his walk with his mind abuzz. It wasn't too long before he reached the group, looking around. "Nowhere to go but forward. Next room's another puzzle room. No enemies yet," He stated, looking at each member of the party. "Ready when the rest of you are." He would rather get the hell out sooner than later, but he supposed it couldn't be helped.

---

---