As cold as a Siberian frost, a sword blade appeared out of nowhere in front of Caera's face.
This time, the elfess listened to her instincts. Instead of dodging the incoming blow, she ignored it by stepping forward.
Her breathing was calm and steady. Her eyes, shining with a golden glow, searched for the slightest sign of irregularity in the reality around her.
Aside from the minimally rippling surface of the weapon, she noticed nothing strange.
" So that's it... " A barely audible whisper, from which her hair stood on end, echoed like an echo in the empty space.
When it seemed to be split in two, the illusion forming the sword shattered, revealing the figure of a shocked Asme.
" Gotcha ~ " Before the threat was silenced, it reverberated several times in the crowded mind of the horned beauty. Seeing Caera's lips curved into a crescent moon, an ugly grimace appeared on Asme's face. She hated losing, especially when she couldn't focus on anything.
Her thoughts still revolved around yesterday's conversation with Ramielme. Although he didn't pressure her in any way, Asme felt an invisible pressure of time trampling on her heels. The conflicting emotions that had been with her since then made it impossible for her to concentrate on anything.
She surrounded herself with an ice dome to save the situation, but it was too late. Before the ice fortress was formed, Asme felt a veil of darkness envelop her. Moments later, a cold object was placed on her neck, raising the blood pressure in her body.
Despite the realization that this was only a sparring match, Asme wiped away a few drops of sweat that gathered on her skin, which was as soft as silk.
If this had been a real fight... I would have been dead long ago...
Knowing that she had lost, she raised her hands in resignation.
" Three to zero. " Caera's voice seemed terribly irritating to Asme. Her tail rustled dynamically on the ice-covered ground, trying to discharge the anger accumulating inside her in this way.
" Tsk... You were lucky, and that's it ~ " The insulting remark dripped with venom, aimed at the innocent elfess.
Caera tucked her dagger behind her belt and looked at the confused Asme with complicated eyes.
Although it wasn't just training, breaking her illusion seemed too easy. Usually, it takes much more time and effort.
" Asme, are you okay? " Like a cat creeping while hunting a mouse, Caera soundlessly crept towards the unsuspecting succubus.
The behavior of the succubus was strange. All the while, it seemed as if only her body was with her while her mind wandered somewhere far away in space.
" Yes... why do you ask? "
There were several reasons. The fidgeting, the lack of any flirting, the fake smile, and most importantly, her tail seemed depressed most of the time. Caera could have listed endlessly, but there was no need.
Right from the beginning, she had decided to strike with the biggest gun and crush the defenseless woman right from the start.
" This is about Ramiel, isn't it? " Caera knew that Asme was lying. She had spent enough time with her to know when something was wrong.
Asme pulled her mouth into a straight line. At the same time, her green eyes darkened.
Once again, the woman plunged into an avalanche of thoughts, not knowing what to do with herself. Finally feeling the elfess' warm hand on her shoulder, she spoke up.
" Yes, it's about him... "
" ... "
From second to second, the friendly atmosphere turned tense and heavy. The turbulent emotions floating in the air can be seen with the naked eye. More experienced connoisseurs would feel a slight taste of bitterness, caressing their picky taste buds.
" And more specifically, what do we do after he... you know... dies. " The lump in Asme's throat grew with each passing moment, effectively stopping her from saying any more words.
Caera had hit the jackpot, opening a veritable pandora's box. Although she didn't want to do it herself, it had to happen at some point. If her friend didn't show initiative, that responsibility rested on her shoulders.
The question was whether the young woman could carry this burden...
You can't avoid uncomfortable topics just because they are uncomfortable. This only causes more problems in the future. This is how responsible people should behave, emphasizing "should," but reality likes to write its own stories. So, too, was the case here.
Of the two women, it was Caera who had to take on the role of the adult who would guide the rebellious teenager toward a bright future.
A heavy sigh left Caera's lungs, shaking her ample assets.
" Isn't it obvious? "
With difficulty, the elfess' right hand tightened on her left hand. Her lower lip curled inward, hiding behind a row of snow-white teeth. Caera felt the hesitation begin to take control of her.
Talking about the subject wasn't easy or pleasant for her, but it had to happen someday.
" I mean... we should, somehow, move forward... You know Ramiel... he wouldn't want us to break down... or something like that... "
Caera fled with her eyes, feeling Asme's menacing gaze on her. It was cowardly behavior and a sign of insecurity, but all of us can become a little coward sometimes. After all, no one is perfect.
" You! " After a while, the message hidden in the elfess' message hit the horned beauty like a speeding freight train.
Caera's words acted like a fuse, causing a bomb to explode. The veins on Asme's forehead came to the surface.
She felt the anger boiling inside her reach its limit, exploding outward. Her hands clenched with such force until a few drops of blood stained the ground red.
With fury written in her burning eyes, she unleashed her accumulated frustration on the innocent Caera.
" How can you act so ordinary and calm! Don't you realize that he is going to die !!! Don't you know that you will never see him again !!! You will never feel his touch again !!! You will never hear his voice !!! He will never embrace you! !!! It will be the end! How can you... "
Spank
With a loud bang, Caera's petite hand landed on Asme's surprised face, leaving a red mark in its wake.
" You... " Asme, with shock written on her face, touched her throbbing cheek. Momentarily, the temperature in the dungeon dropped several degrees, and the blood flowing in her veins boiled.
Just as she was about to turn Caera into an icicle, she hesitated. Lifting her head, her eyes caught sight of an elfess who was on the verge of crying. Her tiny lips trembled, and tears pooled in the corners of her golden eyes.
Caera wasn't proud of what she had done. It had been done in the heat of the moment, and Asme's words were painful to her. She felt she didn't deserve such treatment.
" It's not that it's easy for me! Every day, I wonder if it's the last time I see him! You don't even know how much it hurts to pretend everything is fine! Don't act like a spoiled child... try to put yourself in my situation... "
" This - This is terrible... " Caera added in a cracking voice.
Asme stood as if miffed. The brutal reality hit her with redoubled force, restoring her sanity.
Under the influence of the emotions gripping her, she wanted to lash out at Caera, who was trying to help her.
Feeling a stabbing pain in her heart, she knew she had behaved like the worst bitch.
Wanting to correct her mistake, she gently hugged the trembling figure of the shattered elfess.
" I'm sorry... this... it's just beyond me... "
Maybe because the words came from Asme's sincere heart or because Caera's mental state was unstable, they calmed her to some extent.
" I - I thought that - that if we are together. I - Somehow we will manage... "
" Shi... It's okay... together, somehow, we will manage. " Asme's calm whisper acted like a lullaby, putting the nervous elfess to sleep. Her hand gently patted the top of her sky-blue hair.
Ordinary words have no such power, but those filled with magic can work wonders.
Exhausted, Asme felt her eyes grow heavy. The mental effort involved in the confrontation was enormous.
Before she fell asleep, she took one last sympathetic look at Caera, sleeping in her lap.
" You won't be left alone. I won't let that happen. "
With newfound determination, she made her way to dreamland.
Caera, unaware of anything, didn't know that in this way, she had snatched her friend from the hands of the grim reaper, who was already sharpening the executioner's axe.
Thanks to a small incident involving the goddess of fortune, the immature succubus' perception of the world changed for the better. She has temporarily abandoned the idea of suicide, at least until Caera becomes self-sufficient.
It was a small outburst of anger that tangled the threads of fate, changing the course of some events. A small whisper was all it took for everything to happen.
At some point, Asme realized how selfish she had been. She thought only of herself all the time, paying no attention to those around her.
A great example was Ramiel. Despite the secret agreement they made with Caera, she wanted to monopolize him just for herself.
This was partly the reason why the women jumped at each other's throats during sparring matches.
~~~~~~
At the same time, the provocateur of all the commotion was having a good time two floors below.
" Stop hahaha, I beg... hahaha I can't hahaha no hahaha not here haha, he- help. "
One of the once strongest hunters in the world, he was licked to death by a horde of small puppies. A group of young wolves attacked the man mercilessly, licking every part of his body with their rough tongues.
" I beg... hahaha Pa - Pa - Pat haha help. " Ramiel twisted on the ground laughing. He literally felt every part of his body shake uncontrollably. If the infernal torture took any longer, Ramiel would die the worst possible death. Death by tickling.
Ramiel's plan was simple and assumed no failure. However, as is often the case, life likes to write its paths. This was also the case this time. His ploy ended up traumatizing him for the rest of his life.
Paw, pitying the plight of the afflicted Ramiel, let out a low growl and called her kits to her. Her red eyes, which were frightening by their very appearance, looked pityingly at their master.
One thing puzzled her. How could someone who had defeated a mutant scorpion be unable to defend herself against several puppies from the litter?
" Tha - Thank you... " Ramiel wheezed heavily, struggling for every possible breath. A plan from hell was brewing in his mind. He had just found the perfect way to take revenge, through which his enemies would curse him in hell. Better not to mention what will await them.
' Ramiel, it's embarrassing... your soldiers are looking at you... Keep at least a little semblance... and the remnants of dignity. '
' I... I am already getting up...waittt... ' Ramiel rose from the ground after twenty minutes. The shock he experienced couldn't be described in any words.
Only after a short while did it occur to him that he had lost to a bunch of meddlesome kids. It was a stain on his honor that he could do nothing about. If he somehow tried to hide the embarrassing fact, he would have to kill them all, including Avi, which is problematic in its way.
" Khm... you didn't see anything, do you understand? " Amethyst eyes shone with coldness, threatening all the gathered creatures on the third floor of the dungeon.
A muffled laugh escaped from Rascal's lips. With the image of his master still fresh in his mind, begging for mercy, he couldn't maintain his seriousness.
" Master not to worry, Rascal to watch, goblins not to speak as master begs, mercy. "
" Pfuahahha " This time, Avi laughed like crazy. A few tears of happiness gathered in the corners of her violet eyes, dripping on Ramiel's black and white hair.
" Never mind... forget that I said anything... "
" I want more! " Avi's loud screech hit the already nailed Ramiel. Apparently, one shouldn't kick a person lying down, but the fairy didn't recognize any moral principles, especially when it came to their bond. Any opportunity to hit him was a good one.
" Forget about it? In your dreams !"It was too good. " Avi wrapped her arms around herself and looked down at the beaten Ramiel with superiority. From inside, she was bursting with pride. For once, she could make fun of him without any consequences.
" Mkhm, how about starting now? "
Ramiel came here for one specific purpose, which was certainly not to play with the puppies and later humiliate. His plans go much further and are more ambitious.
Most eagerly, he would erase the last few hours from existence...
" Are you sure you don't still want to play? This time, I will prepare the camera."
" $_$ " - Avi
" ... " Ramiel
" Sar... "
Avi's loud shout interrupted Ramiel before he had a chance to finish.
" STOOOOOOPPPPPP. Rascal, be so kind and come over here. " As if by the touch of a magic wand, the melodious voice left Avi's sour face.
" I won't forget this for you... " the fairy sulked under her breath. The behavior displayed by her partner was outrageous. Worst of all, she couldn't do much about it.
The corners of Ramiel's mouth curved into crescents. Nothing works as well as the old and proven blackmail. Anyone who says otherwise is either an amateur or simply stupid.
" Ready? "
The green goblin, the exemplary leader of the goblin village, stood straight, beating his chest. " Rascal always be ready. " It was a custom to show respect to his master.
Feeling the warm hand of his superior on him, the monster's heart beat like crazy to receive such a noble thing.
" It's time to evolve. "