57 Splitting up the band (2/2)
”I just told you! This is the safe route. You are our strongest member so you should help others while they go through the harder routes.”
”But...”
”Don't worry... I'll be fine. You don't need to protect me every hour of the day.”
”...”
”Ria, Auren, you two need to stay together to use the power of your blessing. You take the middle left path. There is a nest of spider monsters in the middle of the path but your shield will be able to defend you both.”
”Spiders...?? Blergh...”
Ria was not a fan of that decision, but she was looking forward to spending some time alone with her fiancé.
”Daren, right now you are completely defenseless. You will be going with Lilith so she can use her power to sense any danger that might come to you by going into the middle right path. This path is a small labyrinth but she should be able to traverse it with her power.”
”Wait... You just said that your path is the safest... Why don't I go with you?”
”It is the safest, but just for me. My path will be the further left one, it has a garden filled with dryads at the end of it. The second they see you they will bury you alive and absorb your remains.”
”... Ok then... Middle right it is...”
”Evlin, that leaves you and Gustav. You two will take the further right path. There will be a giant hole in the end that will lead to a bottomless pit. This is the path normally used by flying demons. With your modeling magic, you and Gustav should pass it with no trouble.”
”... Are you sure about this...? I really don't want you going in alone...”
”Calm down... Nothing is gonna happen. These paths are the safest ones for each of us to take. We will all be fine and meet each other on the other side.”
”But, what if the dryads figure it out you are a human and attack you?”
”They won't. Don't worry.”
The group wasn't feeling very comfortable with this turn of events, but Ashley was their strategist. If that was her plan, that means she had considered every other variable before pointing out her final choice.
”Hey, Ash...?”
Evlin came towards her with a shy expression holding her left arm with her right hand.
”Be careful... Ok?”
”I will, you too sis!”
”...”
The group of monsters proceeded to split themselves up and each walked towards their designated passage. Evlin took one last look at her sister entering her path while still keeping her planning face. After she was gone Evlin finally decided to join Gustav's side and the two entered the further right passage.
Part 2
”Let's see... There should be a turn to the left... Right... Here!! Nice!”
Ashley was feeling really happy with herself right now. The memories of the dryad were like a cheat that was allowing her to figure out all the answers she needed to pass on an exam. She knew where to go, how to move, and when to act.
Even this strange dark pathway that she had never been to before, she was just walking through it as if she was taking a stroll through the park. She was so confident about her situation that she almost felt like start humming.
[Having fun...?]
”HUH!!!???”
Ashly heard the voice of someone talking to her and almost had a heart attack. The voice came out of nowhere and she couldn't find the source of it.
[How long are you planning on keeping me like this?]
”Wha... What?? Who's there??”
[Oh, for crying out loud... There, just go towards that small pond over there...]
Ashly looked at the pond the voice was talking about and started to move towards it. She tried to take a look inside of it and became even more confused.
”What... What is this...?”
Inside the pond she could see her reflection, but behind her she could also see the image of the dryad she was fused with.
She quickly turned around to look behind her but realized she was still alone in that cave.
”How...”
[The eyes of a dryad have the power to see spirits and souls... We are the demons that share the biggest connection with nature. Our body is one right now but my spirit is still mine...]
”...”
Ashley was not sure how to react to that.
[Can I have my body back now? You guy sure were rude coming out of nowhere and just kidnaping me like that...]
”Er... Sorry about that... I'm sure my sister will bring you back to normal once we are done with our little mission...”
[And just how long will that take...?]
”I am not sure... I'm actually trying to come up with a few plans right now to get this done with as fast as possible...”
[Well, work faster... Being stuck with you makes me want to take a bath...]
”Huh... A normal bath or a sunbath...?”
[... You making a joke? You think this is funny? How would you like if I made you my prisoner inside your own body??]
”Sorry, sorry... I'll try to be more respectful...”
[I don't want your respect!! I want you gone!!]
”That I can't do right now... My sister is the only one that can split us apart again...”
[Ugh... Fiiine... Guess I'll wait then... Just get on with your suicidal trip...]
”...? Suicidal...?”
[Your group is going towards the demon kingdom right? I checked your memories. What do you think will happen when they see you all there?]
”But... That's why we are hiding inside these monster bodies...”
[Yeah... But do you think they won't harm you just because you don't look like humans?]
”...??”
[Oh, for the love of... The same way humans like to kill humans, demons love to kill demons. Your friends, when they reach the other side and meet with all the other demons over there...]
”Oh no...”
[Yeah... I hope you enjoy your last moments with your sister, cause she and her friends are all gonna be dead soon...]