Hurrying to the main city gate, Duval and Mikano gasp for air after running for 3 hours across the rocky land (not to mention they had to go through some very questionable areas to shorten the time, much to the women's disgust). Seeing how the three of them were gasping, the city guard couldn't help but lower his body at them (Vylara doesn't count - she's a high-level being, able to sustain herself for days without food or water, not to mention her lineage...).
"Hey kids, what's gotten you so spooked lately..."
The guard, who happened to be on the younger side of things, looked amused at the sight of (what appeared to be) 3 young men and women huffing in exhaustion (the last one didn't count- shewas too weird...). "What? It's like as if you've seen the Demon Kings army, and the fact that they're coming here to attack us now..."
The long silence that followed made Gustav swallow his next words...
No, it's just a joke, right? RIGHT!!!???
Sweat raining down his brow, he realised, with a sinking feeling, that his Blurow mouth had somehow managed hit the bullseye. "No shitting way, the Demon Army is here on our doorsteps!? Duval and Mikano, come with me- and the rest of you, by the looks of it, seems to me that you lot must've had one heck of a fight - I mean, look at the kid, he's practically knocked out cold, while standing!"
Everyone turned their heads towards Natsuki:
There he was, with a bubble coming out from his nose, all the while his eyes were wide open
Scratching her head, Vylara decided that she needed to collect Natsuki and take him back to the inn, otherwise she'd be mortified to the point she'd be conducting her own funeral. "Yeah, no problem guys, we have some potions back at the inn. I'll just give him some, and he'll be alright..."
Faster than a Succubus picking up men for her to suck dry, Vylara lugged Natsuki over her shoulders like a log of wood, before dashing back to The Soft Flutter, cheeks burning so red you'd expect steam to blow out from there...
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"Hey old man, could you get the salve from the bag? Those dang cunts did a good one on me, ripping most of my arms-"
"What's the magic word...?"
Rolling her eyes, Vylara replied the words she was too lazy to say. "Okay fine:
Could you please give me the salve to help me patch up my wounds? Oh, and while you're at it, please pass me the 'vial'- I've had to resort to using 'that' power..."
It was only then that she remembered what she forgot:
"Oh yeah, what'd happened to him...?"
Pointing her thumb towards Natsuki as an afterthought, she asked Knoxis and Scaramond what Natsuki was experiencing- he was still stuck as a statue despite being manhandled by Vylara for nearly an hour...
Scaramond merely shook his head, too busy with trying to gather the names of the rest of the souls needed to be collected to be sent for reincarnation...
But Knoxis knew, his eyes filled with both joy...
And sorrow for what is to come...
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Deep within the black ocean, the lone gear is seen spinning faster than ever, as not one, but TWO words are seen being etched upon the bright green gear:
Dignity...
And Hope