For a while, they smashed through rocks, trying their best to make it through the caves. Although the minerals interfered with his ability, Wizard managed to create a light to carry through the cave after several tries. Because of the lack of reliability in his magic and a hammer, Molly used her hammer instead, serving the role of a path maker. He admired her and her strength; she would pound through the rocks effortlessly. He could feel her determination and impulse, powerful and inspiring to him, and probably to her too.
"So what do you intend to do?" he asked. "What do you mean? We're going to ask the Harvest King to help the Goddess."
"No, I know that, but I mean after she's helped." "I'm not going home yet if that's what you're implying", she responded, with a small grin on her face. "No, I know you need to come, but what do you intend to do to help with the attack?"
"What's that supposed to mean?" she snapped.
"Well…" he quickly realized the error in asking the question. "It's just… well…-"
"I know I don't have any magic ability, but I can at least try to help. I don't know, maybe there's a purpose for me in this…" He started to see that it wasn't just helping them that she was talking about. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to imply anything about your usefulness. You've been helping ever since we got to this cave. Forgive me?" She smiled at him, not looking at where her hammer swung towards.
Red gas erupted like several volcanoes at once. He was quick to jump out of the way of the gas, but accidentally put out the light he had. He made several panicked attempts to recreate the light, finally coming back to success only to see Molly coughing and hacking, sprawled out on the ground. She tried to climb back up to her feet, only to watch her tremble and fall down again. He scrambled to his feet to grab her and hold her up. "Are you alright? Stay with me!" he exhorted. She tried to speak words of assurance, only hacking out more poisonous material. He started to rack his brain, looking for ways to protect her, finally looking towards her rucksack. He removed it quickly, opened the bag, and placed it some ways away from them.
He hoped and looked within himself, hoping this could work, flicking his wrists in multiple failed attempts. This might be too complicated in these circumstances, damn this cave, he thought. Please, for Molly…
One final flick of the wrist finally made something happen. The bag started to gradually grow to a size comparable to a small house, and thankfully, stopped right where he needed it to. He looked to Molly, who looked ready to pass out. He picked her up and carried it to her new house-sized rucksack. He laid her down gently, and she requested weakly, "Wizard, what's the time? I can't reach my watch." Behind him, without even asking, it was as if the cave uncovered a slim cover, as the night sky shined gently yet greatly behind him.
He walked out slowly; he was rarely in such proximity to the sky like this. It was a deep blue unlike anything he had seen in a long time. The stars were dotted all over, and the full moon was hanging brightly on the sky, as if someone placed it on a wall. "Wizard?" she inquired. "It's midnight, Molly." He could hardly remember anything; he was ready to stand and stare at the sky all night. He was in a catatonic stage, made with wonder and curiosity. He was like a child again, discovering space for the first time, like he was in a magical candy shop, but slowly, the cave put its slip back on, and the moon and stars started to hide behind it.
He was disappointed, but he knew there was a reason. He turned to Molly, smiling a little. He had found her in a stage of wonder for things that seemed so simple to him for a while; it was only fair she received her turn, he thought.
He kneeled down beside her, and she told him, "I wish I knew why the stars intrigue you so much…", and slowly drifted off to sleep. He pulled off his gown and draped it over her.
"I wish you knew too, Molly."