D.E.M.O.N.S: Getting Summoned Weekly isn't so Bad

Chapter 157: A Short Breather

”Well, shouldnʼt we first discuss why you think your team will let us passed? Kress did just participate in an attack against us” said Grace

Kat shrugged lightly ”He seems to have some problem with me specifically. The rest of us all agreed to just run away if we could, but we were under no circumstances to team up with each other”

”Huh.” Said Grace ”Why would you decide that? Surely your own team would be the most trustworthy”

Kat nodded ”Well, perhaps with the exception of me and Kress yeah. But we decided the scariest thing would be to team up and then have everyone else team up against us. We werenʼt sure where weʼd get spawned in”

”Spawned in? I donʼt think that translated” said Grace

”Uh, dropped, teleported” said Kat and Grace nodded

”Well, I can see that being a reasonable fear. Even you struggled fighting off a full team of people, I doubt youʼd have managed against fifteen others” said Grace

”Well, the real concern was fighting twelve and having three of you guys run for the orb” said Kat

Grace nodded ”Yeah, if that rest stop wasnʼt in the way I can see how that would be an issue for you all. I wouldnʼt count you guys out though, I bet Green could make it to the orb if not first, at least before it completely expires”

Kat nodded but then her eyes went wide. ”Grace, do we have time to be resting right now? Green might already be at the orb”

Grace shrugged and leaned further back until she was laid flat. ”Well, we arenʼt even in any condition to catch up with her let alone fight. Plus, no offence but Iʼd rather fight Green in the finals than you if it comes to that”

Kat let herself relax and let out a deep breath to copy Grace. ”Yeah, Iʼm not sure Iʼd really want to fight you either after all this. What about the rest of your team? Do we have to worry about them?”

Grace bit her lip ”Yeah… well… yeah” Grace let out a sigh ”Most of them would want to fight you for the experience. Even though we are still trying, the team doesnʼt have a shot at winning anymore. Ryo and Rakhor would want to fight because they can

”Lynn might as well, depending on the mood, though Estelle would be able to talk her out of it, and she wouldnʼt be interested in fighting if she was by herself” said Grace

Kat nodded ”Rakhor seems like a bit of a strange name for an elf, is there a story behind that?”

Grace wheezed out a laugh ”The same as the rest of us. We werenʼt always beautiful elven maidens. Well, I mean, I was, but even Iʼve taken on a different appearance”

”Oh?, So are you guys related at all?” asked Kat

”Lynn and Estelle are real twins. They hardly batted an eye after we all got changed. Just a couple more look-alikes for the pile” said Grace

Kat smiled slightly ”Sounds like you are pretty friendly with them” said Kat

Grace lifted her shoulders in a weak shrug ”I guess? Ryoʼs family, and weʼve known the twins our whole life. Rakhor is new, but heʼs been a good friend. I suppose considering what a little terror Ryo has been sometimes I get along better with the twins”

Kat tilted her head ”Didnʼt you say you were the only elven maiden before? How does that work if Ryoʼs family?”

Grace nodded ”Adopted cousin. Ryo was a cat beast person before. An absolutely adorable little terror. They took the transformation rather well. I… well, I think it bothers them a bit, but being the same race as the rest of the family more than makes up for it”

Kat nodded ”Yeah that makes sense”

The conversation stopped for the moment. Only the faint breeze and the bright sun to keep them company. Kat was trying to recover her energy. Forcing herself to talk was more uncomfortable then she was letting on while she was so low on energy.

Grace for her part didnʼt know what else to ask. She wasnʼt sure if she even could enquire about Kat herself, and was happy to let them sink into silence. It was a companionable thing though.

Despite perhaps not having full trust in each other, neither doubted the strength of the contract binding together and had enjoyed their time working together. After five minutes had past and Kat felt more comfortable speaking, she did.

”Did you know?” asked Kat

”What?”

”Did you know that Skye would attack us later on?” asked Kat

Grace bit her lip ”Well, I didnʼt know per say, but I certainly wasnʼt surprised. On the one hand, itʼs just a contest, and on the other itʼs perhaps the most important challenge theyʼve ever faced.

”She just seemed the type of person to not feel too strongly about betrayal when something so important is on the line and the consequences are minor. Especially with it being, well, you” said Grace

”I donʼt quite follow” said Kat

”Well, I imagine, at the start, she didnʼt care at all because youʼre just a demon. Then after getting to know you, she apologised, but hoped it wouldnʼt be a problem because youʼre a demon” said Grace

”Ok, but I still donʼt follow” said Kat *You more or less just expanded the point without adding much Grace… though I guess she is tired.*

”Right sorry. Let me get my thoughts in order” said Grace. After a moment to regain composure, she resumed speaking ”So, you are here because itʼs a job. Maybe a bit of fun as well, but you arenʼt emotionally invested in this the same way the others are.

”Skye, and the rest of your team have probably trained their entire lives for this one shot at glory. The rewards for winning are nothing to sneeze at, and I think that sheʼd trusted that those rewards didnʼt matter to you. What mattered was completing your job”

Kat nodded ”Yeah I donʼt really know what the rewards are, and youʼre right Iʼd never heard of the tournament before a couple days ago. But what about you? Are you not invested the same way?”

Grace sighed ”Not really? I mean, we are doing this to break the curse, but that only really effects Rakhor. Sure I look a bit strange, but Iʼm still an elf. The twins went from human to elf and hardly batted an eye.

”Ryo… well as I said itʼs a bit more complicated for her, but Iʼm not sure her hearts in it. I mean sure, sheʼd do anything to win, but not anything to break the curse? If you understand the distinction

”Really, we are doing this in large part for Rakhor. Heʼs the only one whoʼd certainly, 100% choose to change back. Hell, heʼd probably pain a rather large tithe for the privilege. Iʼm just not so sure the others would.

”Of course, now that youʼve said something owns my soul, perhaps the others are missing theirs as well. Maybe winning is a bit more important now, but I just donʼt know, you know?” said Grace

”Hmm, I think that missing your soul is different than having it be owned by someone else. Not sure why but I feel itʼs an important distinction” said Kat

Grace nodded ”I can imagine why. Just because I donʼt own my soul doesnʼt mean Iʼm not using it. Or perhaps Iʼm like, paying rent or something. If it was missing, Iʼd likely be having more issues.”

”Hmm, yeah I guess that is somewhat of a concern for you now isnʼt it?” said Kat ”Iʼm not sure if I should apologise for that one. Ignorance is bliss as they say, but I think Iʼd rather know than not”

Grace nodded ”I to agree with that. Though I wonder about the others. Iʼd certainly like to hide it from Ryo… perhaps the twins as well. Rakhor should know, heʼll be fine, but…” Grace sighed.

Kat was about to nod along when a large booming sound rang out like a shipʼs horn. The ground shook, and the loose stones kicked up from the recent fight clattered along with it. The water in the fountain shook tremendously as the sound continued to ring out.

After thirty seconds of that alarming sound, Kat sat up and looked towards the tower. Above it now shone a bright white light, shooting up into the domed ceiling surrounding the final stage. Looking at it closely revealed it to be coming out of the left side of the tower, but it was unclear how high up it started.

Kat and Grace shared a look of concern before dragging themselves to their feet. ”I guess this is the call to end our break”

”Well, I suppose it is” said Grace as she started to walk around the area. Stretching her legs and picking up any intact loose arrows she could find.