Envien stayed true to his words, and did nothing but guide them forward. Second by second, minute by minute, the end of the dreadful canyon came closer and closer. Their woes weren't over after they escaped, but getting to some form of safety was the only thing Day could possibly ask for currently, and all that he would.
After their brief conversation, Envien hadn't said a word. Day was overjoyed about that fact. It would be frustrating if he got into some sort of argument with the man because he wasn't comfortable with Day having a sword and him being weaponless. If that had happened, Day would have had no choice but to say that he can't sacrifice his weapon or put it away, and the man would have probably left. That would have certainly pained Day's heart, to be forced to leave someone behind who had no weapons or resources, but he promised to keep Audrey safe, and he wasn't willing to risk another scuffle.
'I hate imagining losing such a useful guide…'
It seemed he really lacked ill-intention though, and wanted nothing but a shoulder to lean on and a rope to escape with. He hadn't asked any questions, he didn't even seem to be slightly interested in either of them. It sort of surprised him when he didn't get a question about his eye. He would have expected anyone to wonder what happened, but maybe the man was just meticulous. He had been to this canyon before, apparently.
'Yeah, he's certainly much better at staying quiet than we are. We really are lucky, aren't we? In the future, I should be sure to take into account my surroundings infinitely more when deciding to do things… Maybe I could have found other ways to communicate with Audrey."
Day squeezed into another crevice and shimmied forward. The journey was certainly uncomfortable, but despite their more than fair pace, they hadn't run into any Nightmare Creatures yet. Envien certainly knew more about this canyon than what a simple exchange could let Day onto. It didn't really matter though. Day couldn't have a conversation with him about it at the moment.
'When we escape though…'
Day believed that could be a good way to pass the time. Strike up a conversation, ask Audrey and Envien everything they know about where they are, even though he should know just as much as them.
It wouldn't chase away the hunger or the thirst that'll be sure to follow them when they are finally free from danger, but it was fine.
They had fought against things much more dreadful than hunger or thirst thus far. What was a couple more hours?
Day wasn't even worried about pain anymore. His eye had grown numb, his nose the same. If he irritated them, it'd sting like hell, but he had no choice but to push through that pain, so he did.
'The moment I get a chance to relax after this Nightmare, I swear I'll take the longest shower I've ever taken, eat the biggest meal I've ever consumed, and drink water until I'm bloated.'
"..."
About an hour later, they were finally nearing the end.
It was still eerily silent, the ever-consuming darkness was still present, but they were so close, and there were no Nightmare Creatures in sight.
'We still need to climb up… I can't get too excited.'
That reality plagued Day's mind as he neared the end of this terrible canyon, but oddly enough, it didn't worry him half as much as it probably should have.
What better motivations could there be than the threat of death and the promise of safety? Sleep was probably more important, but Day made himself feel better by saying those two things were the best motivators. He felt terrible even thinking about the prospect of sleep, that was how much he craved it.
None of that was really evident in his demeanor, however.
'I'm not sure what to do about my useless aspect, though. Well, whatever. I'll find a way. I have no choice. Don't think, just do. For now, I need to survive.'
After the next turn, they had finally arrived at the place that they longed to be. It was empty from right to left as far as Day could see with his limited vision. It was similar to the start. When he turned around, there were many paths to take. It felt like the exit of a maze.
Day glanced over at Envien.
'Luckily, we had a guide.'
Envien was staring straight up, unmoving, and Audrey was busy taking out the rope.
After she pulled out the rope and held it up, it started to glow a dazzling golden, then it shot up and pierced the darkness above.
Soon, it finished unraveling, and jolted to a stop.
Their way out had been secured.
Audrey looked over at Envien and spoke:
"You go last."
Audrey walked up to the rope and took a deep breath, then grabbed on and started her ascent. She looked tired, bruised, beaten, just as Day likely did as well, but her demeanor screamed, 'determined.'
Day walked up to the rope and stared intently at the veil above. He could not pierce the darkness with his eyes, but he had already gotten used to such a reality long ago in his journey, so it no longer perturbed him. The only reason he was staring into the nothingness was because of what he knew to be above it.
He was prepared for the moment he emerged from beneath the blanket of darkness. The Sun would gaze upon them once more, but as uncomfortable as he knew that would be, it was still infinitely better than this tumultuous canyon.
'This stupid canyon… I'm glad I'll never have to see it again.'
He grabbed on and started his ascent. Not thirty seconds after he began, Envien started to climb as well. There was a wide grin on his face, the exact same one he held before. It was filled with pure, unadulterated joy, like there was nothing in the world that could possibly wipe it away.
'Is he just always happy?'
Day shook his head and smiled. The man was quite the character. He was a pleasant companion to have. He was quiet, but knowing. In a terrible situation, but eerily happy.
'I envy… No pun intended, his ability to stay so full of joy even in the face of adversity.'
Not long after, Day, Audrey and Envien had made it a fourth of the way up. Day and Audrey were starting to get tired at this point. The change in Audrey's ascent was evident. Her movements became more sluggish, she raised herself up slower and slower by each passing second…
It was a muse, to see her make the climb after their journey together. He wondered how she descended without falling, but after braving the canyon with her all the way through and seeing how strong she was, it was no longer as much of a surprise to him.
Another five minutes later, and they were halfway up. They were so close to breaking through the veil of darkness. After everything Day had been through. Fighting the dormant beast, fighting Jacob… and leaving him to die. Finding a new version of himself and completing a brand new conviction to hold onto. It was just so exciting. The prospect of escaping… maybe not everything else, but he was doing his best to avoid thinking about that in place of what was in front of him, for his own mental fortitude.
Then, it happened. Day broke through, he tasted fresh air, the deadly glow of the radiant Sun casted back over him and locked his head in place, but he was no longer afraid of the Sun, because the Sun that held a grip over these barren lands was predictable.
Just when Day thought that everything would be okay. When he thought that he and his companions would be able to escape, walking down a lonely road to reach a destination not yet known…
He heard a screech that rattled his bones coming from below him. His head shot down, and there he saw it.
Envien, the enviable Envien, had his mouth wide open to an almost inhumane degree.
No, it was inhumane.
Suddenly, Envien let go of the rope. He fell backwards, and entered the sea of darkness once more as his long, lanky legs and arms flailed around wildly, like they had no bones.
'What the hell happened?! Envien! What was that… Why was his mouth open like that? Is he dead? No! Oh no… This is… This is too sudden! '
"We need to climb faster-"
Day was interrupted by a loud roar, and that was when he felt something sinister attack his mind.
All of the joy surfaced by his escape from the canyon. All of his dreams for the future. The peace of mind he had worked to create…
Sapped away at a moment's notice, leaving him as an empty shell.
A person without hope.
But his will, ever impenetrable, wouldn't let him give up entirely.
So he climbed, and climbed, and climbed a little more. Even as his thoughts started to race, telling him to just let go and fall to his death. Telling him that nothing he did was worth it. He climbed, unceasing, unwilling to let go despite the fear that he felt as he wondered why everything was going so wrong.
Over the next few, dreadful moments, a cacophony of raspy sounds attacked Day's Mundane ears. The scraping of something sharp against rock, a plethora of cracks, and a terrible roar that rolled up the lightless chasm and made the rope of light sway.
The origin was beneath the darkness, and Day could feel it…
Something was coming.