Nina walked out of the forest with Sara and Abel, seeing Aella standing in front of Arad's house with Roberta by her side. "You already found her?"
"She was in the market, easy to catch." Aella approached Nina with a smile. Puff! Zephyr appeared above her head, "I sniffed her out from memories. Impressive, right?"
Nina tilted her head, staring at the strange creatures with an observing gaze, "A spirit of the wilds, a pixie?" She knew them. Some of the forest barbarians worshipped them, but not her.
"I'm more than that!" Zephyr puffed her chest.
Nina approached, glaring at her, "There is something strange about you. You're strong."
Zephyr started to sweat as Nina glared at her. She's dangerous at this close range. "Forget about me! Arad needs help. That one better has found what we need." She changed the subject, staring at Sara in the back.
"I did find the cursed metal, but there are some complications," Sara replied with a worried face, looking around in search of Arad.
"Complication?" Zephyr stared at her, "You fiendish devil, I bet you want a sweat contract." Zephyr floated toward Sara's face, "Speak! You want to control Arad. Make him your pet. Sren't you?"
Abel glared at the little thing, "Nothing of the like. Move away from her, or I will pluck your wins like a chicken." He growled.
Zephyr wiggled, "Oh My, how could it be." She flew around Abel and Sara, "Two devils came to make contracts with Arad. Just how desperate are you? Let it be known. You won't sneak anything behind my eyes!"
CRACK! Aella grabbed Zephyr in her fist, "Get back here. You're trouble on your own." She stared at Sara and Abel, "Sorry for her baseless accusations. Did you find the metal Arad was looking for? What are those complications?"
Sara sighed, "Don't worry, she's right after all." She smiled, "Most devils like us walk by contracts. It's natural to assume we came for one since she doesn't know us."
Aella stared at Zephyr, squeezing harder, "This little girl knew about you. She shares some of my memories now. But forget her for now, the metal. What happened?"
"Short story," Sara approached Aella, "We knew the location. But have no way to mine it, let alone transport it."
Roberta approached Aella, "I was trying to find some artificers to make a golem to move it. But got nothing so far,"
"Magic doesn't work that well around it, so we had to improvise." Sara looked at Aella, "I have a plan, but a risky one."
Abel stared at her, "Sister, told that's an insane plan. We would only die."
Sara glared back at him, "If we don't trust her. Then how are we, devils? I got the word of the mistress, and by her grace, we shall prevail."
"NO!" Abel shouted, "She isn't known for mercy. Trusting her would at worst kill us all, and at best kill everyone beside us. And binds us to the hells!"
"Abel, I know what am I'm doing." She glared at him, "It all depends on Arad's situation," She pulled a tainted holy symbol from her pocket. It didn't take Aella a second to recognize it.
"The mistress of the nine hells, the devil lady Alice Asmodeus Furberg." She stared at Sara, "Don't tell me."
Sara looked away, "You might not like hearing it, but I'm a cleric to the mistress of the hells."
Nina stared at Sara, "I knew you had some holy magic about you, but why Asmodeus?" She stared at her, confused.
Asmodeus wasn't known for mercy, for not answering prayers. People knew she had both holy and curse powers, but not that she could grant them to people.
"The mistress of the hells isn't fond of getting prayed to," Sara stared at Nina, "Praying to her is an insult, and most get burned on the spot." She stared at Aella, "But, when I ran out of options, I tried my luck, asking her for a solution, but not help."
Sara smiled, "Guess what? I got a reply. Even cult leaders sacrificing thousands of people never got to hear her lordship's voice, but I did."
"I'm with Abel's mind. We shouldn't trust Asmodeus. Zephyr's words would come true," Aella glared at her.
Lydia approached from the back, her arms crossed, "I might not agree with the hells. But I'm in no spot to belittle another person's beliefs. As the will of the sun, mother earth, and the new birth, as is the will of the hells."
Jack stared at Lydia, "What nonsense is that?"
Lydia stared back at him, "Albeit being a devil, Asmodeus is a deity. She's the jailer of the sinners in the hell. That's a job that must be taken."
Sara nodded, "She says that even gods are considered evil. Are there still gods that are necessary for the stability of the world? Lady Alice might be evil, but she would answer to hold the pride of the gods."
Abel sighed in the back, "I hate to admit it, but she's right. Asmodeus will hold her part of the bargain, that is for certain. What I fear is the price. What will she take in return."
Sara looked down, "Lady Alice didn't state a price for her plan, only stated what should I do." She looked at her holy symbol.
"What was the plan?" Nina stared at her.
"Me and brother are to open two portals to the first layer of hell. One here and one at the metal's location." Sara stared at Lydia, "Devils, by the lady's orders, would lead a group of sinners to carry the metal through hell."
Lydia nodded, "That's too much," She started approaching Sara, "You do realize how dangerous opening a gate to hell is? And two on top of that?" She shook her head, "A devil's trickery, your brother is right. Your hell lady would stab us in the back the moment the gates open."
Eris approached them, "Dancing with the devils, aren't we?" She smiled, walking in between them, covered in her black cloak. "Asmodeus is merciless, unlike the red-eyed lady of death. She merely watches in silence,"
Lydia and Sara stared at her, "What need we have with a god that doesn't answer prayers?"
Eris glared back at them, "What I'm trying to say is that as real as miracles are, we shouldn't rely on them. Nothing is free, especially convenience."
"Can't Merlin teleport it here? She's skilled," Nina stared at them, "Or she combines her magic with Ginger. Those two can create wonders."
Thud! Thud! Footsteps approached from the forest, a woman pushing a man in a wheelchair, "Magic isn't that simple. We can't mix it, not move that metal."
Aella looked at them, "Ginger, Alcott!" she rushed, "I didn't have a chance to visit yet, but is Alcott's condition still bad?"
Ginger stared at Alcott with an angry smile, "Let him suffer. The idiot thought it was a good idea to go out and fight a horde of ogres while recovering." She grabbed Alcott by the head, squizzing him as he laughed.
"Sorry, I couldn't let the young adventuers die." Alcott laughed.
Nina sighed, "A group of ogres attacked. Alcott fought them while still recovering and got his condition worse. We're still investigating it,"
"Is that so?" Aella stared at Alcott.
"Don't worry about me. I might look like this, but I'm well capable of beheading a dragon or two before kicking the bucket." He smiled, "And speaking of that, why don't we ask the man himself in question? Where is Arad?"
Aella nodded, "You're right, let me take you to him,"
Aella walked toward the house, and everyone followed her, "Is he inside?" Sara asked with a puzzled face.
"Of course," Aella stared back at her, "What do you think?"
Jack shook his head, "Aella, she can't sense him. His aura and magic have faded so much. Isn't that right?" He stared at Lydia.
"Speaking my words as if they were your own," Lydia sighed, "But that's true, what you think is Arad's residual magic is his current aura."
Abel's face paled, "By the hell if that is true. He is either a corpse or close to it."
"He shouldn't die," Ginger growled, "Not like this, not with his blood."
Aella looked back at them, "Let's say, he's about to grow," She reached the basement door and turned toward everyone.
"Don't attack anything. Unless you want to get killed." Aella knocked on the door, "Open the door!"
"GOAGOBA!" A growl came from behind the door as it opened. A small goblin started at her, wiggling in place as he waved his hand, signaling them to enter."
First was the goblin layer, then the Axols, and finally the ants where they were greeted by hundreds of A-rank giant ants, clicking the mandibles at the strange guests.
As Sara looked around, she noticed something. The ants didn't look at Jack or Alcott. They merely glared at the women with disgust. "Those ants aren't welcoming," She whispered to Aella.
Aella looked back with a smile, "It's their queen, she's with Arad, and I bet you she wants no other woman around him."
As they entered, they froze. Sleeping on a pile of glittering gold and countless gems, surrounded by a platoon of armed Kobolds and Royal guard giant ants. A withered, jet-black dragon slept with a massive ant probing on his side.
The dragon barely lifted his head, revealing a woman who sat between his arms. She was none other than Mira. The dragon glared at everyone. A fading flame flickered in his purple eyes.
"You have come," The dragon said.
Sara froze in place. This dragon was Arad. She could see it, feel it, sense it. But, something was even more strange. He looked weak, felt weak, with no power, magic, or aura, but something kept screaming in her mind. That's a sleeping bear, one wrong move, and he would wake up enraged.
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