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

Chapter 2256 Silky Smooth Exit

--- Kat ---

The final meal with everyone was still quite boisterous. Hedera was happy to be staying behind, Appoline was keen to go, and Tanisha and Furen didn’t really spend much time with her anyway. The pair spent much more time with Hedera and even if they might know intellectually that Kat was the stronger fighter, she certainly hadn’t been present to keep them company afterwards. They may not be happy to see her go, but it certainly wasn’t a deep emotional sadness, simply acknowledgement that it was time to move on.

Kat tried to make sure everyone had some favourites... but that really just meant she was supplying Tanisha more pancakes. Everyone else was more of a ’best guess’ type deal and Appoline just got the slow-roasted meat. Which wasn’t bad by any means, and Kat didn’t just force it down her throat... but it was the dish Kat felt was the best on offer and Appoline had never cared about having meat. So it was the main option for her, and Kat was happy to see Appoline did choose to eat it in the end.

Kat had diced up one final fish from Steel’s larder, fresh and uncooked of course. Lily seemed to be enjoying it anyway so even if it hadn’t been much effort on Kat’s part. Kat herself was eating a slice of pie. It was... an interesting and extremely bitter taste, but she’d added some sugar to eat considering it was a fruit pie. It ended up being a rather interesting flavour unlike anything she’d eaten before... and Kat wasn’t certain she’d want to eat it again either.

Still, Kat found herself smiling throughout it all. She’d said plenty of goodbyes before. Farewell dinners were nothing strange... even if usually it was a midday meal instead of an evening one. Ultimately, it was nice to spend time with them all one last time, even if two of their number weren’t that close to her. This was more a way to say goodbye to Hedera, and had been a slight peace offering Steel had chosen not to take. Not that it seemed to have been needed, but still.

When the meal was finally over, the temptation to dally a bit was strong, but the barrel of orbs had been delivered during the meal and there was no sense in waiting around. Kat refreshed the timer on her band and Lily shoved as many orbs into the storage necklace they’d picked up as she could. Appoline gathered the few things she’d left out, or so she claimed anyway. Kat personally thought she was sneaking away some extra food from the panty. Kat hardly believed Appoline would leave her alchemy equipment laying around until the last moment. Then again, perhaps there was one final potion to make.

With everyone ready, Hedera temporarily included, all that was left was to wave goodbye and head off. The trip to the warehouse was uneventful the entire way. Kat almost thought the group that had been harassing her would attack one final time, knowing this was their last chance... but it wasn’t like she’d told many people, and even then, if the organisation had any sort of brains it would be better to just let her leave rather than risk antagonising her further. It still felt weird not to be attacked, but it really should have been expected. There was a slight worry Steel’s home would be attacked, but Kat had noticed the rather unsubtle guards posted on the street corners.

This time Kat was allowed into the warehouse without being stopped, and the entrance into Weaver’s domain was rather obvious after that, the giant hole in space with silk spilling out of it was rather hard to miss after all. Walking along the silken road for a time, a slight tangent appeared. The road itself had been mostly straight but the silk walls kept the path clear. At least until one of them rather deliberately opened just ahead of where the group was passing.

Kat glanced around at the other two. Appoline seemed fascinated by the silk... and the twitching of one of her fingers likely indicated she really wanted to take a sample. On the other hand, Hedera was staring at the newly opened gap. ”We go that way right?” asked Hedera after a moment.

”Surely,” agreed Kat as the three walked through the newly opened gap. Lily of course, didn’t walk but rode regally on Kat’s shoulder.

Stepping through into the area had them walking through darkness for a short time before the place opened up. In the distance Weaver’s house of silk was obvious, which meant she’d removed all of the old black blankets or rugs that had been hung up before. Even the silk had been further organised, looking more like support beams then random cobwebs. Though Kat wasn’t sure they truly acted as such. It simply made the area cleaner... and perhaps more imposing.

Getting to the house felt like it took a lot less time then it should have. It had been far off in the distance soon after they entered the area, but every step seemed to carry them ten times the distance they should, and yet the group was never separated by more than an arm’s length. Only Lily’s confirmation that space fuckery was abound allowed Kat to confirm for sure that anything at all odd was happening.

At least, that was the case until they got to the base of Weaver’s house. The stairs were pretty obviously marked, but between one step and the next they were suddenly at the front ’door’. Of course Weaver didn’t have a door, but the point still stands. Weaver was also looking better. Kat wanted to say much better because she was no longer missing half her face and body... but she was still missing like a quarter.

”High Weaver, it’s good to see you,” said Kat

”Weaver!” cheered Hedera at the same time. Hedera pulled a bunch of fresh fruit from her storage ring... that Kat hadn’t seen in the cupboard. Did Hedera grab them somewhere? Kat shrugged and decided she could provide her own food. Two meat pies, full sized of course, as an offering.

”You two didn’t have to go to the trouble, though I do thank you for the food. I have a somewhat steady supply now and can collect my own, if perhaps not the most safely...” demurred Weaver.

”Nonsense! I haven’t been able to get away to properly spend time with you so this is the least I can do,” insisted Hedera.

”We still talk quite regularly...” Weaver countered.

”But it’s no tea part!” insisted Hedera.

Kat smiled at the pair, wondering how much of this was the real Thyme, but for now, it was a cute moment. Kat simply let them chatter away a bit as they settled onto the chairs Weaver had prepared for them all. The small talk was rather lively and Kat wasn’t in too much of a rush, or at least, any assistance from Weaver would far and away make up for the time that they’d lose on this, plus, as Kat had thought, it was a sweet moment.

Eventually, perhaps sensing Kat’s desire... or more likely, Appoline’s desire to dismantle her house for parts, Weaver said. ”I can provide you with some old silk when you leave if you want.”

”Yes,” snapped Appoline so quickly Kat could barely make out the sounds.

Weaver laughed, ”I have plenty of silk so do not worry. I can have some prepared for you to take away later, as I said. Would you prefer older castoffs or the newer stuff?”

Appoline chewed on her lip, torn between her options. There were benefits to both of course... so... ”Could I have a mix of the two?”

”Sure, I’ll even keep them separated for you,” agreed Weaver easily.

With that sorted, Kat hopped in to say, ”You seem to be recovering and that’s good... but I would’ve thought you’d be in perfect health by now considering what you withstood. Um... not to be rude about it of course. I’m just wondering because if I took that much damage I’d either be fixed the next day, or dead. I think anyway,”

Weaver reached over to give Kat a light pat on the head. ”Do not worry your question doesn’t offend me. To answer your question? These wounds are far more then simply cuts. They are essentially a magical curse. Forcing the curse away and repairing the damage is difficult and truthfully, my body isn’t entirely ready to properly process the large amount of sustenance to deal with the damage.

”I had not quite realised how bad it had gotten, or no, I knew but I did not want to consider myself quite that broken. I had assumed, like you, that some food and a short time and I would be good, but alas, it is not that simple. I have to push back the curse, and painstakingly guide my body to repairing itself properly. Let’s just say that... my first attempt was NOT good for anyone and I had to deal more damage to myself before I could heal properly.”