D.E.M.O.N.S: Getting Summoned Weekly isn't so Bad

--- Kat ---

"I’m not going,"

Kat had gone out into the backyard to talk to Hedera pretty much as soon as the announcement was over. Kat did of course take the time to make sure nothing would burn but... she hadn’t expecting Hedera to be waiting for her, nor for her to make such a statement. "What?" asked Kat.

"I’m not going," repeated Hedera. "I’ve thought about it a lot... and things are good here. I don’t regret teaming up with you, but... there’s no reason for me to leave. I also don’t think you should destroy the tablet pieces if you find them. I think you might want to collect them and win if you can."

"But... why?" asked Kat.

Hedera shrugged, "Look, I can sit around here for months if I need to. I have no idea how second place is going to be decided at the moment... but if it’s just whichever team lasts the longest after the winners claim the tablet? Then I’m confident I can hold out as long as necessary. The orbs here are great, and while it’s been good to hang out with you... I also haven’t been super useful recently."

Kat opened her mouth to counter that, but Hedera cut her off. "Look, it doesn’t really matter if I’m useful or not... but safety wise? Nobody has found this place the entire tournament. Heck, I’m not sure I’d have gotten through the puzzles in time without Lily’s help. There is no safer place to hole up, and an essentially infinite supply of orbs means that I should be able to outlast everyone else.

"I’m not like you. Taking the chance for first place is far too big of a risk... and the mountain..." Hedera shook her head. "What could I realistically do? Maybe if I felt like I could contribute I’d leverage my usefulness into a better deal, some prize that we could share or a teacher we could or something... but I’m not that good. I know it, you know it even if you don’t want to say it. I’ve got no real idea what’s happening with the rest of my team...

"And I feel like the best thing I can do for them all is to stay here, with the orbs, and keep going. Even if I ’die’ a couple of times as long as I can get back to the city, either through Weaver’s tunnels, or by returning here after being healed... then I can just get more orbs. They’d have to take out Steel to stop the flow of my orbs and that’s not happy. Plus I’ll be protecting him if that’s what it comes down to.

"Then there is the fact that you feel bad about leaving things undone... well I can keep working on them. Once the tournament is over, if you’re still in this dimension I can let you know what happened. If you’re not... then I can leave a letter with Thyme or something explaining to you everything else that ended up happening if you want. For me, staying here is barely an inconvenience. Especially with all the high quality meals you’ve been making.

"So... yeah... I don’t want to go. I don’t need to go... so I won’t go. It’s been great, but this will be the last day of our partnership."

Hedera paused before shaking her head and looking far more nervous. "Er... um... I mean, I’m just assuming you’re leaving, I didn’t meant to imply that you have to or anything and I realise that I’m sort of dictating things to you but like I really do think it would be for the best if you tried to win but I’m not stopping you if you want to compete for second place with me but I feel like with everything we know the dwarves, or at least Greaves, are going to try and get first place so..."

Kat pushed her calming aura slightly onto Hedera who nodded and reigned her rambling back in a bit. "Yeah sorry. Um... do whatever you want I guess?" finished Hedera.

*That’s not what I was expecting... but I suppose it makes a lot of sense for her. What do you think Lily?*

[I... I think she’s right in that we should probably go. We’re the strongest on our team, especially with me unbound and your durability still being quite high. We know from the duel that the Dwarves have some heavy duty stuff that they’re willing to just... throw out to potentially stop us. If we stayed here... we really would be playing for second place. I think the big potential worry is that we have no idea if the mountain has any orbs at all.]

*Wait what?*

[Well... I don’t want to assume so I could be wrong, but I think it’s worth considering that Thyme didn’t put any on the mountain to force people to leave it occasionally. With the fact that we have to wait some random amount of time to leave... which may or may not effect the fog wall for the centre, then we’re looking at a potentially major problem. If we have low orbs it might take all afternoon to actually get out.]

*I see... that IS a major issue. We can get around it somewhat with an expanded bag or even just a normal backpack for you. Shouldn’t be too much to ask for. Though we might be testing that ’endless’ orb theory a bit because we’ll be asking for a lot of those alongside it while also admitting that we’re leaving...*

[But we are leaving? Staying doesn’t seem to be something we’re considering.]

*Yeah... yeah I guess so. I do want to visit a few people so we can’t leave immediately. Not sure when exactly I want to leave. It’s basically time for dinner but there’s no reason to stay overnight. I’m well rested and everything...*

"Well, seeing as you’re lost in thought I’ll add that while Hedera doesn’t want to come... I DO," Appoline commented from the side.

Kat’s eyes widened as she turned to look at Appoline. It wasn’t that she didn’t know the elf was there... or that Kat was trying to hide anything. Heck, Appoline was high on the list of people they needed to talk to before they got but... "You want to come with us? Why? And will you even be allowed to?"

Appoline shrugged, "I don’t exactly feel safe sticking around here, and besides, the centre should have all sorts of interesting plants and monsters I’ll never find here!"

*Well... trading one elf for another I suppose?*

[It’s really not going to be safe for her though...]

*Does she care? Plus, I’m sure Appoline has a few special ways to heal herself or escape after... everything.*

[HMmm... fine just warn her.]

"That... I’m not against you coming along, but it probably won’t be safe and I won’t be able to guard you too closely in some instances, I’m quite sure," Kat explained.

Appoline shrugged, "That’s not a surprise and I have methods of protecting myself."

"Alright... will Steel even allow you to leave? And weren’t you JUST making a deal for a base?" asked Kat.

Appoline shrugged, "The enchanting work was never going to be done quickly considering I want rather complex wards. That’s assuming the land is available and the building is acceptable. I’ll be fine,"

"Right... and nobody else is going to stop you leaving?" asked Kat.

"Well that’s what I have you for! The only other people objecting to me departure are going to be... quite aggressive about it I would assume," explained Appoline.

"Right... so... I’ll still need to visit Steel, and I think I want to try to find Angie before heading off. Might go do that and then have a late meal... will you be alright stay here? While I plan to visit Weaver that’s something we can do on the way out considering I hope to use her tunnels," offered Kat.

"I think I will come along for that at least," Hedera added.

*Should’ve seen that coming...* "That’s fine. Though would it be better for you to take Appoline along and we all meet up at the... border crossing? Not sure what else to call it..." Kat asked.

Hedera shook her head. "No, best to limit the time I’m away until it becomes clearer that you won’t be sticking around. I expect the news to spread somewhat quickly to the people we’d rather not know... but it is what it is. I imagine I’ll be on guard duty for quite a while."

"I’d also like to make a potion or two before heading off. I’ll be taking some equipment with me of course but there are some notable gaps in my arsenal that I can rectify with... hmm... say two hours?" offered Appoline.

"Alright in that case... I’ll try to find Angie first and hope that someone in the building can contact Steel for me, or perhaps point me to where he is at the moment. I’ll stop by wherever that is next, before coming back here for dinner. Actually, Lily do you want to stick around or leave?"

[I’ll just stay here. It’s not like I’m friends with Angie and I’m sure Steel will be busy.]

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