I firmly grasped Eric by the collar, my frustration and anger welling up within me. "Why in the world did you have to wait?" I could feel my irritation beginning to show.
Eric's countenance betrayed a mix of fear and guilt; he swallowed hard before stammering, "B-because we weren't certain if you were going to win."
"That's bullshit, there were plenty of alternatives besides acting like cowards," Hannah interjected, walking alongside us with Sam at her side.
"What's worst is that a young girl outperformed your entire group," Hannah added, her hand gently patting Sam's head.
"I-I genuinely apologize, please release me," Eric pleaded as his group drew nearer.
"We're truly sorry; please let him go," a member of Eric's group implored. Around twenty of them stood, armed with various weapons. "We've endured numerous casualties."
Sighing, a wave of guilt washed over me, prompting me to release my grip on Eric's collar. "You should realize that we went here with very little information, all to rescue you guys."
"Additionally, why didn't you attempt an S.O.S call?" I inquired, scanning the group's fatigued and bleary-eyed faces.
"We'll share the full story once we're back in the cave. And you, Aisha," the girl pointed a finger at Aisha, her expression a mix of anger and worry, "why did you venture out? You nearly led them to their demise, right after receiving the chief's curse!"
"I-I'm really sorry, Jenny! I was trying to follow Anna, but she managed to slip out ahead of me!" Aisha's voice quivered, her eyes brimming with tears. Could Anna possibly be the girl in the robe we encountered back at the lake?
"Hold on, let's talk about this at the cave," a man behind Jenny suggested. He appeared bald and appeared to be in his mid-forties, dressed in a black hoodie and jeans. "My name is John. Come with us to the cave."
I nodded in acknowledgment, gently lifting Venidith off the ground. Abigail's vest-like form on Venidith felt sleek and seamless. "Let's proceed."
The group initiated their trek toward the distant cave, and we followed suit. Sam drew closer, walking by my side, her gaze shifting to Venidith. "Are you alright, big sis?"
"I'm alright, Sam. Abigail is working hard to mend me," Venidith assured, a smirk forming on her lips as she glanced at me. "And having Alexander around certainly lifts my spirits."
"Whatever brings you joy," I responded, observing Venidith's attempts to conceal her exhaustion and discomfort. The impact from the tendril's strike had likely been forceful enough to cause considerable damage.
"So, does this imply that the 'base' Aisha guided us to was merely an illusion?" Hannah inquired, catching up to us.
"Not exactly; it was more of a diversion," Venidith clarified, her tone solemn. "I did notice it, but my focus shifted to locating the other demon—either the chief or the Advisor."
"Why didn't you tell us?" I questioned, each step I took causing a faint crunch on the gravel beneath my feet.
"Revealing our suspicion might have triggered an ambush," Venidith responded, her expression pensive. After a brief pause, she continued, "It appears they refrained from wreaking havoc on that base."
"So, they're concealing something—perhaps a specific entity," I speculated, the mouth of the cave now merely ten meters away.
"Yes, they're keeping a secret, and they're aware that I'm privy to its existence," Venidith revealed, her tone hinting at her capacity to obliterate the mountain if she so chose.
"In any case, it's time to rest. I can't repeat what I did to you last time. Sam and the others are present," I advised, a twinge of embarrassment accompanying the memory of my prior actions.
"I probably won't require that... unless you're open to it," Venidith quipped, offering me a flirty wink.
"What did you do, big bro, to heal Venidith's legs?" Sam inquired, her curiosity evident in her expression.
"Well, let's just say it's a secret spell," I replied, my voice carrying a hint of nervousness as I tried to evade the subject.
Sam narrowed her eyes, tilting her head slightly in contemplation before ultimately nodding.
We reached the entrance of the cave, adorned with an array of artifacts intended to ward off malevolent forces—crosses and talismans serving as protective symbols.
A familiar face welcomed us—Soundriv, my friend from the village. "Oh, my bro!" he exclaimed enthusiastically, pausing to cast his gaze upon Venidith. "What happened to her?"
"Quit staring at me. I got injured because most of you acted like cowards," Venidith replied, her tone tinged with anger, particularly since she was essentially half-naked, clad in Abigail's thin black bodysuit.
"O-Okay, my bad," Soundriv quickly apologized, taking a step back. "I'm really sorry. I was so engrossed in the equipment that I wasn't aware of what had occurred."
"No worries. Are there any available beds for her?" I inquired, surveying the interior of the cave. The carved rooms provided a degree of comfort, with a main hallway lined with various doors stretching before us, as well as other hallways branching off.
"Yeah, there's one over there in room C1," Soundriv pointed towards a door in the distance. "We have limited lighting since I've only been working on this for the past three months."
"Alright, thanks. We'll catch up later," I acknowledged, making my way towards room C1. Sam and Hannah followed suit. The hallway was dimly illuminated by a few LED bulbs, casting enough light to offer visibility for about two meters ahead.
Room C1's door bore a wooden sign with the word "Clinik" etched onto it, albeit with a misspelling due to its wooden craftsmanship.
I turned the chilled doorknob, revealing a scene within the room. Six individuals were present, five of whom appeared to be children, while the lone adult among them donned what seemed to be a nurse's attire.
She looks like exactly the girl in robes...