"So do you like, just not eat at?"
Umoa let out a long sigh, turning to give a glare and grumble. I'd made it my personal mission to break down the witch's stoic exterior, and it was working! Silly witch thought he could be all mysterious without consequence.
Also helped distract from the pain, which was getting worse as the infections grew.
Had a shit ton of those around my body, the worst being from a large slash on my back when the mage had flipped around with her magic. Felt unfair that she could even do that, warriors modified entire styles to try and get behind their opponent! Using mana was cheating.
"I do not enjoy the taste, no," he said. "And I don't see the point. Why bother with butchering when the body can sustain itself on other sources?"
I shrugged, which was hard because the cut on my back was fucking with so of the relevant muscles. "Just a little weird is all, never seen soone who'd willingly abstain from at when they can more than afford it."
"Why do you care?"
Because I didn't want to talk to Yir.
She was walking in silence on the other side of the witch, looking focused on so deep introspection. Or maybe she was planning my death once we got out of this. I knew she was a witch, and I wasn't making that subtle.
Dying to the skinny man beside was one thing, but to have it end by a friend?
I didn't like the thought. So I didn't confront it.
"Is it a cri in witch world to chat?" I chuckled with false mirth. "Or are you just a special flavour of grouchy?"
"Most people have the good sense to be afraid of my kind," he mumbled.
"Try being scary then."
"You can see my organs pushing against my skin."
"So?"
Umoa groaned.
"No offence, but if you want to maintain an image of terror, maybe don't go around saving little girls in your free ti?"
"I don't."
"I'm sure," I drolled.
"Never have I had to deal with such an idiot," the witch grumbled. "If I knew I was going to have to suffer this, I would've left the two of you to die."
I rolled my eyes. The idiot thought he was convincing.
I decided not to shatter his sense of self though. I was sothing of a decent person myself after all. Kind of. Close enough to one. On the way there?
Bleh, wasn't worth thinking about.
"What's it like being a witch?" I mused. "Do you all gather around and do demon rituals or so shit? Is there a hierarchy? Is there anyone that makes good tarts?"
"No, yes, and yes."
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"Hah! So you're just a club of weirdos!"
"Perhaps it could be described that way," Umoa sighed. "If those 'weirdos' were composed of sadists and galomaniacs."
"You don't seem like that."
"Don't assu what I am like. You do not know ."
I shrugged and we kept moving, only now Yir was staring with intense confusion at her compatriot. He was ignoring her admirably, but she stared for a long ti.
"What?" Umoa finally said.
Yir gave him a look that could pierce souls. Like a judge demanding truth from the damned. I'd never seen her so intense.
"Who the fuck makes tarts?"
I didn't know how we hadn't run into any monsters.
Funny tangent to think on, wasn't it? We were rushing to the city without a care for what was in between. If I was right about where we started, then we already crossed quite a few territories controlled by monsters that would make Loklan look like a joke.
Yet nothing.
The sa couldn't be said for our pursuers.
Two mages were out there playing as bloodhounds, and their magic was loud. Well, mostly Rhodes. Sotis I heard sothing that might've been Kogan, but it wasn't as clear as the other sounds.
Kogan and Rhode.
What a funny combination. I didn't think that one ti I talked with Kogan would actually an anything, but seeing him without a care in the world just after his friend killed my ntor?
I wanted to kill him.
Almost as much as I wanted to kill the glass mage. But that opportunity was stolen, and none of us were capable of taking on two mages as we were. Hells, we wouldn't be able to even if we were in tip-top shape.
I hated how accurate my assumption about witch magic was.
All Umoa was good for was stalling their approach, yet they were getting closer despite having to fight through the wilderness while trying to track us.
So loud.
Why was any of this happening to ?
Why was everyone I cared for being cut down by different flavours of cruel and horrific? Why was I beholden to an exhausting rush for strength? Why did I reincarnate pre-apocalypse? Why did I reincarnate at all?
All this pain...I didn't want it.
Sotis I'd wonder if it'd been better for to have simply dissipated rather than be born into this hell. But I was a coward, wasn't I? Every action I made to get stronger was because I was afraid, wanting to preserve a life that was questionable in its worth.
What would even happen if I died again? Reincarnation, but this ti I'd lose my mories or so shit?
I didn't know.
I didn't want to find out.
"You. Will. We. All. Do."
Thanks, shrimpdick. Was that supposed to reassure ?
The imp shrugged and returned to minding its own damn business, leaving to brood in peace. Was it accurate to call them an imp? It was changing, not in any overtly noticeable ways like last ti, more ontological?
Like their soul was gaining comprehension, or cohesion?
It was fascinating, if only I was a demonologist. I had no clue if those existed. Wouldn't be surprised if they did. Could've asked Umoa, but he wasn't a chatty person by nature, and I didn't feel like talking.
Xae talked plenty. Just not with .
That hurt.
A lot.
She also slled like absolute shit.
We'd need to get to the city soon, or she'd die from sothing as stupid as infection.
If only I knew how close we were, my bag was back...well, back with Loklan. I wasn't the best at reading maps but I could've at least got a general guesstimate.
Fuck. Was I going to die?
We were lucky the mages hadn't found us by now, but luck was hoping the noose would snap before your neck did.
I needed to heal. if only so that I wouldn't be helpless when death ca.
Fatalism wasn't a flavour I liked on my tongue, but neither was delusion. and Xae would've lost to the glass mage if it weren't for Umoa's very convenient interruption. Facing two at the sa ti?
Well.
There was one thing I could think of that might work.
My demon perked up at the thought, and I did the taphysical equivalent of a scowl directed at their stupid face. It chuckled and relented.
I wanted to sigh, but sothing massive entered the edge of my senses.
The World didn't scream, because it wasn't aid for . I could feel a ball of heat and mana speed towards my friend like a galloping horse, and all I could do was watch.
Xae rolled out of the way.
The fireball hit a tree ahead of us, like a crack of thunder. The motion tore open a few of Xae's wounds, notably the one on her back.
But she was alive.
None of us would be for much longer.
We all turned to look and found exactly who we expected.
One man with a pipe, and the anther wearing a perfectly pleasant smile.
"That took longer than I thought it would," Rhode chuckled, tilting his head to Umoa, who was busy on his knees doing whatever the fuck he was doing. "I take it that's the witch's fault. Didn't expect to deal with one on this venture! I do so love surprises."
I went to activate my spell so that I could use both hands and my blade—
Two droplets crossed.
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