My Last Dive [Made in Abyss Fanfiction]

22| Rainfell

   Was it odd that I wanted to spend so much time with Llyr? "What can I say? He's a good friend, both of them are." I frowned in confusion. "Is there something strange about that?"

   Aedia shook her head. "I dunno. It just seems different than how you act around Melva, Vio, or even Gwynden when ya see him." A pause, then she briefly grinned. "Just don't make Melva jealous."

   "I won't," I replied. I couldn't help but wonder about what she asked, however. I loved being around Llyr, whether we were drawing, delving, or just talking. Even if he still didn't think so, everything about him was endearing, even his flaws. It certainly was different than how I felt around Melva and the others, but I'd grown up around her and Vio, and I only saw Gwynden every so often on a guild delve or at the pharmacy when he stopped in. Different circumstances called for different brands of emotions, right? I didn't question it any further, however. Like Aedia had said, I had a delve coming up, and I needed to start preparing ahead of time.

   Before I knew it, the following week rolled around, and I was bound for the Second Layer with Melva, Vio, and Llyr. We were going to attempt to make it to the top of the Inverted Forest, but it wasn't a guarantee. It would just serve as practice for us for a Fourth Layer delve coming up later in the year. It was going to be my third delve down to the Fourth Layer, and I was hoping it would finally be the delve where I could see the field of Eternal Fortunes.

   Trips down to the Second Layer weren't as much of an issue as they should have been. So long as nothing happened to the gondola, it was a smooth trip down. Yet again I found myself sightseeing as we descended, though it wasn't as pleasant a view at the moment. Clouds had rolled in overnight, and they only grew heavier and darker by the hour.

   "Ya think it's gonna rain?" Melva questioned aloud as she observed the sky alongside me.

   Vio shrugged, looking uncomfortable. "If it does, let's hope we've made it to the Forest of Temptation before we do. I was hoping we wouldn't get rained on..." I hoped we wouldn't, either. Climbing in the rain was never a good idea.

   By the end of the day, we had made it to the top of the Second Layer and established a temporary camp about a hundred yards down into the Forest of Temptation. Wood was abundant, and since it thankfully still hadn't rained, the wood was dry. In no time we had a fire going. All and all, it had been an uneventful day. That should have been a good thing, and I wanted to believe it was, but I knew to never underestimate the Abyss.

   As the sun set and the forest around us became filled with the calls of unknown creatures, our fire stood as a lone beacon in the darkness. Llyr had gathered some edible plants, and we'd managed to make a decently flavorful soup thanks to him. Over our dinner, we dared to disrupt nature's nocturnal symphony with conversation. It was better than just staying silent. The moment Melva finished eating, she laid back with a sigh. "Are you okay?" I asked.

   "Guess so," she replied. "Just tired. Why do I feel more tired just from takin' a gondola trip than walkin' down 'ere entirely on foot?"

   "Because we really haven't done much?" Vio replied. "That's what I'm assuming, at least."

   Melva scoffed. "Y'know what they say 'bout assumin'."

   "Except I'm not an ass," Vio said with a grin, and Melva narrowed her eyes at him. I glanced at Llyr to gauge his reaction, but he was staring up at the sky through the gaps in the trees' canopies.

   "When do you think the storm's going to break?" he asked. "The clouds have only gotten denser since we set up camp, and I'm sure they're worse now."

   Melva shrugged as she forced herself up to her knees, moving underneath the canopy of one of the nearby trees and leaning against its trunk. "I ain't gonna be out in the open when it happens. Makes me wish we had tents."