A short while later, Cassandra was still sound asleep.
I decided to try using telepathy to see if I could communicate with anyone.
"Hello? Isabella? Cassandra?"
"Mizik! Thank goodness! It's me, Isabella!"
"Cassandra is unconscious right now. How are you still awake?"
"Her soul seems to be stuck in control at the moment. I'm trying to calm her Aspects. I could tell that you were doing the same at one point. And I'm not sure how I'm still awake..."
"Do you have any idea what her Aspects are? Will they help us?"
"Looks like they'll be very useful. I can't show you at the moment, but they're called: The Assassin and The Illusionist. Both of them seem really powerful... Perfectly in line with how she fights normally."
"Good. We'll need them to deal with the dragon. There's also the question of Akari..."
"She escaped, didn't she? She really has to die. Where do you think she went?"
"Likely back to the guild. I think we can expect a warm welcome upon returning. Speaking of which, I would like to go back and collect the reward...also to kill Akari."
"Is the reward really that important?"
"No. It's a cover story. An excuse to return. When Akari attacks, we'll kill her. After we deal with the dragon, we can head back."
"Understood. And hey...you don't really love Cassandra do you?"
"Why do you keep asking? Are you worried?"
"A little... You've been really kind to her... It's nice, but it does make me a little jealous..."
"I don't love Cassandra. I look at her as a dear friend. I feel sorry for her mainly. She reminds me of myself because I grew up without any friends and hardly any family. The people of Lorelei despised me because of my heritage, so I was bullied and treated like garbage. Not too differently than she was..."
"Cassandra has had it pretty rough... It seems like she never really wanted the throne to be Queen. She only wanted to not be overlooked like she had been before. I had everything as the First Princess... She had nothing."
"Rest assured, I don't have any romantic feelings for her. Cassandra is a dear friend and my slave. I plan to keep her around."
"Speaking of which, aren't you able to use every kind of magic? Except light magic at the moment, of course. Could you separate us?"
"Believe it or not, I have already looked into it. Soul magic is complicated but not overly difficult... I might be able to try it, but separating you two requires more power and skill than I currently possess. And reconstructing a working human body isn't something I think I could do very easily. Partially because Creation Magic is one of the most complex forms there is. It also requires a working light element to utilize fully."
"Damn... I guess we're really stuck together then, huh? I miss being alone with you... Even the times where we have intimacy feel intrusive... It's so annoying and it drives me crazy. I want her out of my head!"
"Hopefully we'll find someone to help. For now, please try to bear it. Things aren't easy for either of us at the moment."
"Mizik...? Is that you? What are you talking about...?"
After hearing Cassandra's voice, I stopped using telepathy.
"Cassandra?" I said.
She slowly opened her eyes and smiled at me.
"I'm feeling much better, thanks to you. You're always so kind to me..." Cassandra said.
"You're a friend and an ally. You've also earned it. Good job fighting Akari, by the way," I said.
Cassandra looked away.
"No...I failed you... I should have killed her when I had the chance, but I-"
"Stop. You obeyed my orders exactly the way I told you to. Although...I can't say I would've been too angry if I found her dead one day after waking up. Regardless, we'll deal with her later. Now then...I want to see your Aspects."
"Haaaah...Mizik can see everything if he wants!" Cassandra said as she sat up and stared at me with desire in her eyes.
"Stop making it weird."
I sent Cassandra a request to view her status and she accepted.
Nothing much had changed, but I could see two new passives. I selected them to view their abilities.
{Assassin passives: Assassin's Venom: All physical and ranged attacks can inflict a corrosive poison onto enemies hit. This ability also gives control over poison.
Hidden Blades: The user is able to manipulate the shadows in any they wish. Including the ability to conjure numerous daggers to fight with.
Assault: Increases the frequency and speed of attacks by a wide margin to overwhelm enemies.
Enforcer Prowess: the user is imbued with a divine barrier while also having increased speed and strength. The barrier, speed, and strength are all further boosted by the potency of an Ultra Aspect.}
{Illusionist passives: Mind Eater: The user is able to manifest illusions that warp the mind along with the memories and emotions of others. This ability makes the user completely immune to mental tampering or illusions of any form.
Wide Mirage: The user is capable of manifesting hyper-realistic illusions over a wide area in whichever form they wish.
Phantasm: The user is able to create solid illusions capable of thinking and acting on their own. Along with monsters, objects, and the like to fool all five, or potentially all six senses.
Enforcer Prowess: the user is imbued with a divine barrier while also having increased speed and strength. The barrier, speed, and strength are all further boosted by the potency of an Ultra Aspect}
My eyes went wide as I looked at her abilities.
She's a damn monster...
I was suddenly VERY glad that Cassandra was so attached to me...and that she was an ally.
"Cassandra."
"Yeeess~?" She said.
"Please don't ever betray us... I'm not sure how I would go about beating you..." I said.
"I could never! Mizik is everything to me! Are...are you impressed? Is Mizik astounded by my abilities!?" Cassandra said.
She started breathing heavily.
"Umm...yeah... These are extremely powerful Aspects. By Iris...these are both amazing. Don't ever misuse The Illusionist. Do not tamper with my mind or emotions. Please..." I said.
"Haaah...I could make Mizik love me... But then that would be disobeying him... NO! I won't do it! It would be a lie! I only want Mizik's love if he gives it willingly! I promise I won't use my power on you! But...c-could I have a hug...? The manifesting thingy was really scary..."
I sighed and leaned over to her.
I gently hugged her and she squeezed me nearly half to death.
"Hnnnng....so warm!"
"Alright...that hurts..." I managed.
She let go and smiled at me.
"Are you done fantasizing about my husband, Cassandra...? You got way too aroused from that..." Isabella said.
"Hmmm...no! Mizik is wonderful, isn't he!? You're so lucky, Isabella... You should share! I'm sure he wouldn't mind!" Cassandra said.
"Actually, I would-"
"No! He's mine and I won't share!" Isabella said angrily."
"There's enough for both of us! That would make him so happy!" Cassandra said.
"Stop fighting! Get ready and we'll go into the caves," I said.
"Yes! I will get along with Isabella for Mizik!"
"Sorry! But she...ugh... Nevermind..." Isabella said.
"It's alright, Isabella. I understand," I said.
* * *
With the Cassandra situation taken care of, we made our way to the other side of the mountain. Half a day later, we reached it and began our ascent.
"How far up do we need to go?" Isabella asked.
"About 15,000 feet..." I said.
I heard her groan and we continued onward.
"Maybe I can help?" Cassandra said.
"How so?" I said.
"Well...I can make solid objects that aren't really there. Kind of like a false form of creation magic. What if I made some stairs?" Cassandra said.
"That sounds like a great idea," I said.
Although, climbing stairs to 15,000 feet sounded like a horrifying leg workout... Nevertheless, we had no other options. Unless I could get the flying spell to work correctly, that is...
Immediately, Cassandra raised her hands and I felt a fog come over my mind.
I saw a set of stairs reaching all the way up the side of the mountain.
"Amazing..." I said.
"Mizik said I'm...amazing...!? I'm so happy!!!"
That's not what I was talking about, but fine. Have your victory... It's not like I could convince you of what I really meant, anyway!
"How long will this last?"
"Until I disperse it. They should be solid enough, although if anyone saw us, it would look like we were flying."
"The stairs aren't really here, are they?" I asked.
Cassandra shook her head.
"It's a solid illusion. A phantasm. Although if it's solid, does that make it real? That's confusing to think about... What will happen when we touch them...?" She said.
I reached out and touched the stairs. They felt solid enough.
Then I stood on them and found them to be stable.
I thought for a moment and realized that this kind of power would be amazing for close combat.
I imagined a sword appearing invisible to everyone but the wielder... That was a lethal power. On top of her other abilities, Cassandra had become a perfect assassin.
After that, we both began walking up the stairs together.
"Hmm...I wonder..." Cassandra muttered.
She snapped her fingers and I nearly fell off as the stairs started moving upwards...
"Warn me when you do something like that!" I said angrily.
"Uwaaa!!! I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to inconvenience you!!! P-please, forgive me! Have mercy!" Cassandra immediately said with teary eyes.
"D-don't worry about it..." I said.
I can't even get mad at her or she'll cry and beg...geez...
We continued up until we reached the general area where the cave was located.
After getting off, the stairs disappeared and I used my compass to lead us the rest of the way.
"Follow me," I said.
Isabella came close to me and held Bravery at the ready.