Chapter 53 (1/2)

Lindyss shivered as the hole in her chest squirmed shut. She frowned as she stared at the white robed demon chanting with her eyes closed. “Why are you helping me?”

The demon’s eyes opened. She glanced at Lindyss’ face and stopped chanting. “Tina’s orders,” she said as she scanned the ground around Lindyss. She frowned. “Where’s your arm?”

Lindyss sat up and grimaced. She turned towards the area where her arm had fallen. “It must’ve been blown away by one of the aftershocks,” Lindyss said as her head turned towards the five demons fighting Vur. The five demons launched spells against the translucent golden dragon and raised earthen shields to hamper its movements. Every time the dragon was hit by a spell, the region of impact distorted and the dragon shrank. Vur’s figure floated in the heart of the dragon with his eyes closed. Lindyss cupped her good hand around her mouth and yelled, “Vur! Stop! I’m alright.”

The dragon’s movements stopped for a brief moment before continuing to assault the demons. Its tail swept through the air and crashed against a wall of earth, shattering it. Lindyss bit her lower lip and tried to stand, but the demon next to her put a hand on her shoulder. The demon shook her head. “Let them handle it,” she said. “We need to find your arm.”

“Vur’s more important than my arm,” Lindyss said with a hiss as she knocked the demon’s hand off her shoulder. “I need to stop him before the imprint consumes him. You don’t understand how dangerous it is to awaken a bloodline without guidance.”

The demon frowned and nodded. “You’re right,” she said, “I don’t understand the danger. However, I do know that you’re out of mana after fighting against twenty infected by yourself. I also know that one of them is still alive in your arm and we have no idea where it is.”

“Its head was cut off,” Lindyss said with knit eyebrows, “and then impaled by an ice spear.”

“The only way to kill one of those parasites is to pulverize its whole body or disintegrate it,” the demon replied. “Cutting off its head will only create two new parasites. You’re in no shape to fight right now. Trust me, my team can stop him. Although, we will expect some payment for this.” The demon smiled as she cocked her head to the side. “Shouldn’t be a problem for a dungeon owner, right?”

“Delphina!” A voice shouted from behind the two women.

The white robed demon turned around and a smile broke out. “Dustin!” Delphina said. “You always show up at the right times.”

Dustin and Mina approached the two with an assortment of armored demons behind them. Their bodies tensed when they recognized Lindyss. “What’s the situation?” Dustin asked as he tightened his grip on his staff and stared at Lindyss’ arm stump.

“A parasite from Fuselage is missing along with her arm,” Dephina said, indicating towards Lindyss. “Have the guards search for it and let me know when they find it. Under no circumstances are they to approach the arm by themselves.”

Dustin nodded and faced the armed demons behind him. “You heard the woman.” The guards looked towards the golden dragon and nodded. A few let out sighs of relief as they dispersed.

A small figure appeared next to Lindyss and tugged her good arm. “Auntie, what’s happening to Vur?”

“Tafel!” Mina shouted. “Why are you here? I told you to stay at the shelter!”

Tafel hid behind Lindyss and peered at Mina. “I followed you,” she mumbled.

“You- I- wh-.” Mina inhaled deeply and held out her hand. “Come with me, we’ll go somewhere safe.”

Tafel flinched and held onto Lindyss’ leg. Her lip quivered and her eyes grew wet as she shook her head. [1]

Lindyss placed her hand on Tafel’s head. “Vur’s awakening right now,” Lindyss said.

“That means?” Dustin asked.

“The bloodline in his imprint is activating. Bloodlines usually awaken at a certain age. It takes longer depending on the strength of the beast behind the imprint, at least for elves,” Lindyss said with a frown. “I thought he had more time.”

“Isn’t awakening normal then?”