78 Rescue mission: Start! (1/2)
Part 1
Lilith and Daren were running towards the castle to start their mission to rescue Ashley.
Along the way, they encountered a small number of demons in the streets watching them with curious eyes. There were many reasons for that being the case.
Maybe its because Lilith was wearing silver armor over her harpy body and yet wasn't burning like regular demons.
Or maybe because they had a group of monsters following right behind them, those being their newly acquired pets who had just joined the team.
Or perhaps it is because they were running in the direction of the castle while every other creature seemed to be coming out of it.
”Where are all these guys going?”
”Not sure... It seems like whatever business they had with the castle is over now and they have no reason to stay there anymore...”
”... Hey, Lilith...?”
”...?”
”The south god said that the demons like to go there to recharge their energy right?”
”That's right.”
”But he also said that the castle has a barrier that prevents humans from entering right?”
”That's what he said...”
”But if demons need the suffering of humans to gain their power and humans can't enter the place... How are the monsters recharging...?”
”...”
”You think, maybe that god lied to us?”
”!!!”
”I mean... What if this whole thing is just a setup and he's actually working with East?”
Lilith understood Daren's dilemma. Its no wonder he would doubt the aid from a god. The same way Lilith had a huge grudge against demons, Daren had a huge grudge against gods. If there was even a small hint that a god might be evil, Daren would not let that pass unnoticed.
”I can't say for sure... But right now, this is the only clue we have... Even if he was lying, that castle does in fact have some kind of ill energy emanating from it. It has to be someplace important.”
”I see...”
”Even if Ashley isn't there, we might get some clues as to where the dryad will go... Want me to use my future sight?”
”No... You have been using your sight too much lately... Let's get closer first and then we will confirm it.”
”Understood!”
After a little bit more of running and dealing with a few demons along the way who decided to pick a fight with them just for fun, the girl with blessed power and the boy with cursed power finally reached their destination.
They were standing two inches away from the barrier that should keep humans away. Daren stared at it and pressed his hand in the barrier. He was expecting to receive some kind of shock or to be pushed back, but his hand simply passed through as if the barrier was a hologram.
”...”
”What's wrong Daren...?”
”The barrier didn't work on me... Could it be that I really am a demon now...?”
”...”
Lilith could not read his expression due to his lion face, but she could tell that her friend was in pain. She proceeded to push her own hand against the barrier, and while she could feel a bit of resistance, she also managed to enter it.
She turned around to look at him and extended her hand.
”You are my friend! Doesn't matter what shape or form you take. You were a human before and you are a human now! At least for me!”
”...”
Daren grabbed her hand and joined her on the other side of the barrier.
”Thanks, Lilith! I needed that!”
Lilith gave him a gentle smile and signaled to enter the castle.
”Let's go!”
Part 2
The pack of rescue-monsters had entered the castle and were now exploring its insides by walking in the dark hallways. Just like they saw, every single monster had left the building and they were the only ones inside right now.
[Gustav, we entered the castle!]
[...]
[Gustav...?]
[...]
[Gustav! Can you hear me??]
[...]
”This is bad...”
”Daren what's wrong...?”
”I can't contact Gustav...”
”Oh! ... Maybe he's asleep? We have been having a long day...”
”I don't think so... I think this castle is interfering with our connection outside...”
”... How so...?”
”I'm not sure... But I think we shouldn't stay here for long.”
Daren turned around and looked at the pets that were following them, a golden griffin, a muscular minotaur, a green wingless dragon, and a winged white horse.
”Do you think they can understand us?”
”Maybe? Might as well try...”
Daren looked at Sphinx since he was Evlin's pet and has been with the group the longest so he tried to talk with him first since he was the one Daren trusted the most.
”Sphinx, can you bring us to the area where monsters go to recharge their power?”
Sphinx looked at Daren for a moment after listening to his question and started to shake his head left and right.
”Seems like he doesn't know...”
”I guess it makes sense... Evlin met him in the wild... This might be the first time he ever even entered this kingdom... Should I use my sight?”
”Not yet. Let's save it for an emergency. I'll just try asking the other guys.”
Daren gazed upon the remaining monsters and tried his luck with them.
”We are looking for the dryad that hurt the people you were all fused with. Do you guys have any idea where she might be if she was inside this place?”
The pack of monsters nodded in unison to that question and started to guide the two to a new location.
”Looks like we are in luck!”
The monsters guided Lilith and Daren to a ballroom at the end of a wide hallway. They opened the door and noticed that in the middle of the room there was some kind of massive piece of rock, sculpted in a cubic shape.
”What is this place...”
Daren was confused as to why the monsters had brought them there. There was nothing inside that suggested that a monster could recharge his energy in there.
”Maybe they didn't understand your question...”
”Wait...!”
”!!!”
Lilith was about to give up and just activate her future sight but Daren started to sniff the area with his nose.
”She was here!!”
”R- Really???”
”Positive!! I can sense her smell!! I think I can find her!”
Daren started to jump all over the room trying to track the smell of the dryad and began to check every corner of the place.
”Ugh... She was jumping around all over the room for some reason...”
”Maybe she was fighting someone...?”
”Could be... Maybe the reason demons like to fight so much is because they can recharge from their own suffering as well...”
Daren continued to sniff around until he found himself checking the window of the room. He then returned to Lilith's side and reported what he discovered.
”She was here not too long ago. If we hurry I can find her!”
”Just let me use my sight! It will be faster!”
”Not yet! Every time you use your sight you end up overworking your body. Let's try to take it easy and save it for when we are in danger.”
”Fiiine...”
”... Why are you so upset?”
”Because...”
”...”