65 The next Evlin (2/2)
”Much help...? Seemed to me you weren't of ANY help...”
”... T- True... I'm sorry...”
”Just sorry...? What would have happened if my sister had died? Do you think saying 'sorry' would have fixed anything?”
”Miss Ashley?”
”I left you to take care of her for just a couple of hours and the next time I see you two, she's being squeezed to death on the hands of some giant horse demon! What were you thinking letting her risk herself like that?? You know how reckless she is! Why didn't you stop her??”
”I- I'm sorry... We were trying to come to your rescue!”
”We? Don't you mean her? What exactly would you have done if I was in danger as well? Would you have sent me some positive messages with your telepathy? When are you going to start earning your spot in this team??”
”...”
[Just a little more Ashley!! Just give him the finishing touch!!]
”Leaving you with her was a mistake... My sister... She doesn't need you...”
”...”
Gustav looked like someone had just stabbed him in the heart. All the confidence he gained not too long ago from his experience inside the dark pit with Evlin felt like it was about to fade away.
He had nothing to counter-argue with Ashley. Evlin was in danger, she was going to die, and there was nothing he could have done to save her. His old feelings of shame and regret were starting to resurge again.
[Nicely done Ash! This guy's pain is tasting wonderful too!! If we keep close to him like this I feel like we can take on ten of those high-demons!!]
[... Wait...]
[...?]
[You can get power from the suffering of others as well, right...? I don't have to be the one suffering all the time?]
[Of course! I get much stronger from yours since we share one body, but I can still feel my power raise by being close to the pain of someone else as well!]
[... Then... How strong would we be with the suffering of five people...?]
[... Would you like to find out?]
”... Gustav!”
Gustav had his head down when Ashley called him so suddenly and quickly raised it to show an expression filled with pain.
”... Y- Yes, Ashley?”
”Time to call the rest of the group! We need everyone here before entering this dangerous place.”
”Together...? B- But... Didn't you say before...”
”Did I stutter? I'm the strategist and you're the communicator! If I tell you to call our group, you call our group!”
”Are you sure? Won't that attract the attention of demons? Wasn't that the reason we divided in the first place?”
”...”
Ashley was about to yell at him again, but then she realized something. Why was she trying to regroup the team? She knew how dangerous it would be for them to be together. That was the whole point of choosing different paths. To keep everyone safe. If they reunited now everything would have been for nothing.
”... R- Right... That's right... I forgot about this...”
”...? You... Forgot...?”
Ashley was feeling a little lost. How could she forget her own plan? On top of that, why was she so angry at Gustav for being unable to protect Evlin when she was the one who decided to put them together and tell that lie that made Evlin go on a reckless rampage?
”What's happening to me...?”
Ashley was starting to shake while hugging her shoulders not knowing what was going on with her though-process.
”Miss Ashley...?”
[Ash, we need more power to defend ourselves!! We can't enter this kingdom as we are right now. Your sister is out of power and Mr. horse is about as useful as an actual horse. Call your friends!! We need their pain!]
[...]
”The situation changed, Gustav! You saw how demons behave. They have no problem with attacking one another out of nowhere due to their wild instincts. Even if we are spotted in a large group and get attacked we can just pretend we are demons looking for a fight.”
”That... Sounds reckless... Are you really sure about this...?”
[This guy is not listening... Maybe we need to try a little harder to convince him...]
Ashley grabbed Gustav by the neck and glared at him with bloodlust in her eyes.
”I didn't ask for your opinion! I asked you to do the one thing you are good at doing! If you can't even do that, then why the hell are you even here!!???”
”M- Miss... Ashley...??”
[Gustav! Can you hear me?]
Gustav was confused about Ashley's strange behavior but he got interrupted by a message from Auren inside his head.
[Gustav!! Are you there!?]
”Ah! It's Auren!”
”!!”
Ashley noticed that Gustav was talking to someone and released him.
[Auren!! Are you two ok??]
[Yes! We finally left the mountain! We had a bit of trouble with the spiders in the end, but nothing we couldn't handle. Me and Ria are looking for the pathway to the kingdom.]
[That's perfect. Ashley, Evlin, and I are waiting in front of the gates. We... We will be waiting for you...]
Ashley, who was also listening in the telepathic chat-room, heard him and released a small grin.
”Good boy...”
[Waiting for us?? Didn't we agree that it would be dangerous to go in together?]
[... Miss Ashley changed her mind... She said it would be better if we reunited again.]
[... Well, if Ashley said so... All right then... We will be right there!]
Auren and Gustav ended their conversation while Ashley observed him with Evlin in her arms. Gustav stared at her with suspicion.
”Miss Ashley... Maybe we should ask Evlin to split you two after all... You must be getting tired of being in this body for so long...”
”Not really, I'm feeling perfectly fine, to be honest...”
”Is that so...?”
”Besides, Evlin is completely out of magic right now... I doubt she even has the strength to return me to normal.”
”...”
”And without her, we need all the power we can use to survive this kingdom. I'm not going to get rid of my only means of protecting us right now.”
”I see...”
Ashley was feeling strangely happy right now. Since Evlin was out of magic, she would be able to enjoy her time as a dryad for a little longer. Not only that, without her sister's power, she could also prove just how strong she was by being in charge of protecting everyone. She wondered if that was what it felt like to be Evlin every day. She had power, confidence, control and everyone would be depending on her.
[Sorry Drya... Looks like you will be stuck with me for a little longer...]
[Oh, don't mind me... I'm having the best time right now!!]