In this situation, even Danaël found it hard to stay positive. He was used to spelling out every problem he encountered in his head, one by one, which allowed him to find solutions, just as he had done in the cart.
"Come on, Danaël, think! Think for God's sake! Fantastic monsters, how are we supposed to beat fantastic monsters? We've got two knives, and...a fantastic revolver maybe?".
He tapped his belt and felt the metal object press against his skin. "Okay, that's something. We're going to need something to eat.
Luckily, the carcass of the cart was swept into the dimension, and there should be some food salvageable, at least for a week. I hope.
If we're to have any chance of survival, we're going to have to be at one hundred percent of our physical capacity".
Danaël turned his head to Dod and looked him up and down. "Dod seems to be doing well, and physically, he's the stronger of the two of us.
The problem is his morale...Well, I can motivate him, so he should be fine.
As for me, I'm aching all over and feel numb, but the adrenaline will make my movements more fluid, which probably won't be enough to ease the pain, but if I grit my teeth, it should do the trick.
As for the princess, well, the princess is our biggest problem, these wounds are far too serious, she'll have trouble walking for a long time...the real problem is that of the three of us, she knows the most about fantasia, and given her demonstration in the cart, I've no doubt she can fight, at least better than Dod and myself that's for sure. How do we do it?"
"Princess, you wouldn't happen to know how long it'll be before the platform comes down?" Asked Danaël suddenly.
"Um, given that we arrived as soon as the rift opened, we should have a few hours ahead of us, I'd say two or three at the most."
It was more than Danaël had hoped for, and he intended to make the most of every minute they had at their disposal.
Dod, Evangeline, and Danaël decided to sit down, then the princess looked at them, successively, before saying:
"Don't you two feel like you're forgetting something?"
Dod and Danaël exchanged a quick, dubious glance before shrugging their shoulders in the direction of the princess.
"We're on the verge of certain death, and you still haven't introduced yourselves to me. I'm outraged!" Said Evangeline indignantly.
"I'm Danaël", he replied with a smile. "Nice to meet you, Princess."
Dod pretended not to have heard Princess Evangeline's request but cracked up at Danaël's insistent glances.
"My name is Dod, Dod Allentown, and I must admit that so far it has not been nice to meet you, PRINCESS."
Evangeline raised her eyebrows before tucking her hair behind her back in a theatrical gesture.
"Shared pleasure, Dod Allentown."
Danaël let out a thin laugh, which he immediately swallowed.
"It's all right, there's no need for you two to bicker", he told them in a conciliatory tone. "Now, continued Danaël, Princess, I'd like you to teach us how to use the fantasia."
Evangeline would have laughed, but she was far too tired and dejected to do so, so only a meagre smile formed from her lips.
"You want me to teach you how to use fantasia in just a few hours?"
"We've got nothing else to do, have we?"
"I imagine so", she replied wearily. "I'll have to make this as simple as possible for you, so I won't repeat myself, and if you have any questions, you raise your hand, got it?"
Dod and Danaël nodded, Evangeline reminding them of the schoolteacher they'd never had.