On day 65, in the second cavern, they come across a village of Night Spirits.
These beings look like goblins, but with darker skin.
They fight them as the village blocks the path to the next cavern on their journey to Tanris City.
Without defeating them, they cannot proceed.
They win the battle, but many are seriously injured, forcing them to remain at the camp for several days.
Though they have healing spells, these consume the physical energy of both the caster and the wounded.
Virgil helps Mona absorb the ability of a Night Spirit.
She, like him, has chosen the Blood Mark Meditation.
Sam, too, follows the same technique but focuses on the school of curses.
To reach mastery, he must absorb a curse into his blank first-order blood mark.
Virgil wants to use Simulation Reincarnation again, but holds back.
He plans to do so after his Life Sword spell reaches perfection, which will deepen his control over physical energy, since Martial Arts' Qi is a form of physical energy.
On day 67, they continue their journey and enter the passage to the next cavern.
On day 69, they return to the second cavern in retreat—wounded, shaken, and reduced to just thirty members.
The third cavern turns out to be vast and dangerous, saturated with high levels of chaotic energy.
It holds stronger magic beasts and a village of trolls.
Three trolls attack their group, and though they fight back, their spells leave only shallow wounds on the trolls' thick bodies.
They are forced to flee, and in the process, Marcus and Tom—both spiritualists—are killed, unable to outrun the danger.
The group realises they cannot cross the third cavern.
After checking the map, they choose a different path—one that adds three more caverns to their journey.
Before continuing, they decide to rest for a week.
During this time, Virgil and a few others search the cavern for materials needed to perform the ceremony to sense Nature's Will and form a contract with it.
Luck favours them.
Within two days, they gather everything needed and complete the ritual.
On day 76, they resume their journey, and Virgil continues training his *Illusion Eyes* while they travel.
On day 80, they halt for a day as Vincent advances to Rank 3.
At Rank 3, he gains the ability to convert chaotic energy into mana within his body.
Before this, casting spells required either physical energy or the surrounding chaotic energy.
This limitation meant spells couldn't be cast if the physical energy wasn't enough and the environment lacked chaotic energy.
With mana, the environment no longer restricts spellcasting—only the strength of the spell matters.
From that day, more group members began advancing to Rank 3.
On day 90, Virgil also reaches Rank 3.
The change is internal—mana now forms within him.
There are no new spells to learn at this stage, but he gains a second empty blood mark.
He decides to reserve it for another illusion ability.
On day 102, the group hides in a forest, observing a village of mushroom people blocking their path.
These creatures resemble giant mushrooms, their bodies ranging from the size of children to teenagers, complete with limbs.
Their dilemma: reaching the next cavern is impossible without being seen by the mushroom village.
Basset turns to Vincent and Mira, both students of Lady Mercen, known for making most of the decisions.
Mira says, "I read about the Mushroom People. They are neutral and can speak the common language. We can communicate with them."
A voice interrupts, "What do you want to communicate about?"
Mira replies, "We want to pass through the cavern and enter the northern passage to the next cavern."
The voice responds, "Oh! Oh! Chief Polo may agree to let you pass."
Virgil freezes—*Who is Chief Polo?*
Others think the same and turn toward the source of the voice.
They spot a red Mushroom Person holding a wooden basket full of herbs.
Startled, the group screams and scatters, weapons and spells pointed at the figure.
Vincent steps forward. "Who are you?"
The red mushroom, unfazed, answers, "I am Lola. Follow me, I will take you to meet Chief Polo."
The group hesitates, then nods.
Mira says, "Thank you, Miss Lola."
Lola twirls with joy. "Let's go!"
She starts running ahead on her short legs, and the group follows.
They reach the village edge but are stopped by the guards—large black mushroom men, their height matching that of average human teenagers.
Lola speaks to the guards, who nod and let her in to call the chief.
The group waits outside, eyes scanning the strange village.
The houses are giant mushrooms, their caps forming domes and stems hollowed into rooms.
Flat pebble roads crisscross the settlement, and glowing hanging mushrooms illuminate the village in soft light.
As they wait, more mushroom people gather near the entrance, pointing and murmuring in an unfamiliar language.
Still, they catch fragments of the common tongue mixed in the chatter.
Then the mushroom crowd parts, and a large red mushroom, taller than the rest and leaning on a wooden stick, slowly walks forward.
Instead of underestimating the elder, the group stiffens—the aura around the old mushroom resembles that of an official spiritualist or knight, somewhere between Rank-6 and Rank-10.
Lola walks beside the elder and says, "This is Chief Polo, chief of our village."
Chief Polo speaks, his voice gentle like an old man's, "I hear you want to enter the northern passage."
Mira steps forward and says, "Yes, Chief Polo. And if you allow us, we would be very grateful."
Chief Polo pauses for a moment, then says, "Are you going now, or will you spend the day here and start your journey tomorrow? Our village doesn't receive many guests; it will be pleasant to entertain you."
The group exchanges glances, and Vincent says, "Chief, we need to discuss it."
Chief Polo nods, "I understand."
The group releases their spiritual power and connects mentally to discuss.
They agree to accept the chief's offer, as crossing the entire cavern today is impossible.
A small cavern takes half a day to cross, but this one is large and will take multiple days, especially if battles occur.
So, they would have spent a day or two inside the cavern anyway—why not in the mushroom village?
Vincent steps forward and says, "Thank you, Chief Polo. We accept your proposal."
Chief Polo turns to his villagers and shouts, "Everybody, return to your work! We celebrate in two days!"
Hearing the word *celebration*, Virgil notices Lola look downcast for a moment before her smile returns.
He wonders if what he saw was an illusion—Lola doesn't seem like someone who would be sad about a celebration.
Chief Polo and Lola lead them into the village toward three large mushroom houses.
Chief Polo says, "You can stay in these three houses."
Smiles spread across the group's faces—finally, they can sleep inside a house again.
They check the houses and find them spacious enough for ten people each, with a kitchen and a bathroom with running water.
The boys take two houses, and the girls take one.
They thank Chief Polo as he walks away with a reluctant Lola who wants to stay with them.
The girls quickly occupy all three bathrooms.
Virgil gets his turn to wash three hours later.
When he steps out of the bathroom and walks to the door, he finds his group talking with the mushroom villagers.
Leaning on the doorframe, Virgil listens quietly.
His group is asking about Tanris City.
The mushroom people have heard of it, but since it lies far away and many hostile races occupy the path, they've never been there.
A mushroom child named Sena walks up to Virgil, curious about the surface world.
Virgil shares stories of the sun, skies, and animals, and in turn learns more about the Underdark.
He asks if Sena knows of any magical beasts with illusion abilities.
He doesn't expect much—Sena is just a child.
But Sena answers, "A magical fish lives in the river west of our cavern. It's called the Bewitching Fish. It lures insects and small animals from the shore into the water and eats them."
Virgil asks, "Can you take me there?"
Sena shakes his head. "Not today, it's night. But tomorrow, my friends and I are going fishing. You can come."
Virgil frowns, curious how Underdark creatures know night from day.
He asks the question.
Sena points to the cavern ceiling, where white fireflies glow faintly. "They light up when the sun goes down on the surface. They dim when the sun rises."
Virgil asks skeptically, "Truly? But none of you have ever been to the surface."
Sena nods firmly. "It's known to everyone in the Underdark."
The mushroom people send them food, and it is the most delicious thing they've eaten in three months.
They've only had barbecue during that time—tasty, but repetitive.
They didn't cook anything else because barbecue is quick and easy.
Identifying safe plants hasn't been a problem since signing the natural contract, which lets them sense poisonous and beneficial plants.
After dinner, the group gathers in one house, sitting on soft bedding as they talk.
None of them wants to leave.
When Mira mentions that Chief Polo offered to let them stay until the celebration ends, everyone tells her to agree.
Virgil also wants to stay—sleeping on the hard cavern floor leaves his body sore, and the constant threat of attack keeps them from resting properly.
Mira nods and says, "I'll inform Chief Polo tomorrow."
Virgil walks to his bed in another house, rests his head on the pillow, and falls asleep.