Madison nodded.

"HGere's hoping." She agreed before they headed off. When they reached the tent where they were both sitting to chill and recover, they found Vincent was pretty much perfectly all right - mostly just feel a bit off, but that's it - and Michelle was faring a bit worse.

"Hey you two." Michelle said with a wave, sounding about as rough as she looked.

"How are you feeling?" Madison asked.

"Like I should go to bed, to be honest. I'm all right, just... rather tired." Michelle answered

---

Michelle just sighed.

"I know I need to." She then said.

"That's fair. Mana drains are never fun." Madison commented, her tone almost implying that she'd been there before, that she'd experienced it.

"Anyway! I'm gonna go see how I can help with the whole drain thing. See ya" She said before heading out.

---

At no point did Vincent get an answer as to how or why it was that Madison was so casual about the drain. He hadn't a chance to ask again, at least not for awhile.

After the rune had been taken care of, and they were able to go back in as the original group of four again, they made their way in and back to the room that initiated the drain.

"There've been a good number of traps triggered and dealt with already too, thankfully." Madison commented with a light sigh. It wasn't unknown she'd been caught in a couple - her shoulder had been banged pretty seriously and had notable bruising, but it wasn't anything too extreme. Just sore, so she was denying any treatment.

"The path ahead has been cleared a good amount, at least."

---

Madison just waved a hand flippantly.

"Nah, I'm good." She commented.

"Let's go. As I said, the next bit is clear of traps. We... we pretty damned extensive." She added with a light laugh before they headed off, heading deeper into the structure.

Sure enough, the halls and rooms were clear, but it was rather interesting to see everything. All the protections were there, just not active any longer.

---

"If I knew a way to help with that, I would." The teen commented with a light sigh.

"Regardless, I do agree. IT's... rather fascinating that this mana has lasted for so long. You'd... think it would have long since faded by now." She added.

"It's possible it has something to do with what they are." Michelle then commented as they walked.

"MAdison, didn't you say that it seems that they are to seek protection via Anubis?" She asked. Madison nodded.

"Yeah. That's my guess, anyway. If I know anything, I know necro runes." She answered. "And that's the best guess I have."

---

Michelle sighed.

"That's... worrisome, I admit." She commented. Madison just shrugs.

"We'll just have to wait and see what happens." the teen commented.

"Oh, at a fork." She commented as they reached a split.

". . . I think another crew went left and said that they reached a dead end. But the right hasn't been checked or anything yet."

---

Madison looked about to say something before pausing, considering what was said.

"That makes complete sense." Michelle then said.

"I.. yeah... yeah." Madison agreed with a nod, but seemed to be thinking about something.

. . . I do wonder the logic of that, with me. she thought.

Because I ... onestly have no idea.. she looked to her hands before sighing lightly, barely audibly.

---

... ahhhh shit. Madison thought with a mental growl before looking to Samuel.

"That works." Michelle said before the teen could.

"Agreed." Madison said with a nod as she pulled her cellphone out of her pocket.

"EAsy enough to set a timer." She continued as she did something with her phone. AS she did so, they could see she was setting a one hour timer.

---

"Oh! Shit, I'm sorry." Madison said, fixing the timer.

"I... completely misheard you." She added, shaking her head.

Fuck off. I need to focus better. She slapped herself mentall before sighing.

"You all right, Madison?" Michelle asked.

"Hmm? Oh, yeah. I'm all right. Just thinking about what could possibly be found in here." Madison answered with a smile.

. . . I ... I reall yhope this doesn't end up an issue... she thought without even considering Vincent being a telepath. She wasn't used to one being around after all.

I swear, my focus has been.... questionable since then.. She added before just taking a breath.

"All right, shall we split?" she asked with a chuckle.

"My stupidity aside"

---

Madison nodded before following Samuel, ignoring Vincent and the look he gave her. She wasn't going to lie, that look of his made her rather apprehensive.

"I'm not sure what to expect, but this hall looks... longer than expected, at least." She commented as they walked.

"Wonder if we'll find anything interesting along the way though." She added as she started to try and take a look at the walls, using her phone's flash as a light.

---