248 Unstable group (1/2)

”Detra... Where are we going...??” Asked Claire as she continued to follow the ice mage down a road in the middle of an open field as the sun continued to go down.

”There is a small village nearby down this road... Just a little longer!” Detra replied while carrying Joseph and trying to cool him off with her magic.

Ever since the boy used his power to absorb the heat from Gluttony's fire breath, his body has been burning non-stop making him look like he was having a fever.

Detra continued to use her ice spell to turn him back to normal but his body still was hot to the touch.

Ellie was not doing much better while sleeping on Claire's back. She got completely knocked out in the middle of their battle and hasn't opened her eyes ever since. The last time Claire saw her like this was when the two stayed up all night watching horror movies that they stole from her aunt's room.

”...” Dia wasn't saying anything right now. She couldn't stop thinking about watching the temple of the East going up in flames and all the people who were in it as well.

They all would often glare at her and whisper means things behind her back due to her being Mia, but she never once wished for something like this to happen to them.

Detra's mind was filled with concern about what should be done. They needed to get in touch with Evlin but none of the gods were responding. As soon as Ellie wakes up she would try to get her to use Gustav's mirrored ability and see if they can talk to her to discuss what's going on.

”Detra wait...” Claire gasped, ”I need a break...”

”We can't stop now! If the demon catches up with us, we are done!!”

”Please! Just a minute!!” Claire begged.

Detra took another look at her and realized she really was looking exhausted. The ice mage was so used to how strong Ellie would be that she forgot that other kids were not as durable.

”... Ok... Just a couple of minutes...” Detra replied while trying to find some shelter and spotted something up in a hill close by, ”there is an abandoned house over there... let's go rest in there for now!”

The group moved to what appeared to be a cabin about to fall apart full of holes on the ceiling and with barely any place to sit.

They placed Joseph and Ellie on top of a table and Detra continued to apply some ice magic to lower his temperature.

”Ugh!! Am I... Dying...?” he whispered.

”I wish...” Detra replied, ”You're just overheated... You'll be better in a second...”

”Ugh!! I can't believe this is how my tale will end... Bested by a monster made of fire while trying to protect a group of damsels in distress...”

”I told you, you're not dying...”

”Do not forget about me... After I'm gone...”

Detra rolled her eyes as she realized that the lad was delusional due to the heat and was not listening to a word she said.

”My only regret... Is that I never... Told Dia I loved her...” Joseph whispered before fainting again.

”Eh!!??” the ponytailed girl gasped, ”W- W- W- What did he say??”

”Would you all stop talking!!?? I need to think!!” Detra shouted.

”Ah... S- Sorry...” Dia replied while sitting on the floor with her face burning.

Detra stared at the room. A shy girl with no memories, a short-tempered lass who missed her mother, an annoying boy that would not stop spouting nonsense, and a kid that could barely move or stay awake for more than five seconds.

”We really need some help right now...” she whispered as she noticed this was far from an ideal team.

And as soon as she said that, someone began to knock on their door.

The holes of the cabin revealed a large shadow behind it, but with a shape hard to figure out.

”The demon!” Detra gasped as she assumed her battle stance.

Claire grabbed her staff and began to charge her magic. Dia just stood up without knowing what she should do.

They all began preparations for battle until the voice of the one knocking finally came out.

”Can someone help me with this baby... Please??”

”Ah!!” Detra and Claire gasped as they recognized the voice.

They hurried to open the door and spotted a massive black lion with red eyes carrying a baby on its back that was playing with a fur frog toy.

”Xadi!!??” Detra shouted.

”Lance!! Eclipse!!” Claire whispered with relief.

Lance was grabbing Xadi with both hands while trying to eat his head and pulling his neck with his teeth. The doll was completely drenched in drool

Xadi just began to beg for help, ”Please... Someone... Take him away from me...”

Part 2

Ashley and the rest of the group tried to take shelter in one of the inns of the city while trying to re-organize their thoughts.