Chapter 157: A Short Breather
"Well, shouldn't we first discuss why you think your team will let us passed? Kress did just participate in an attack against us" said Grace
Kat shrugged lightly "He seems to have so problem with specifically. The rest of us all agreed to just run away if we could, but we were under no circumstances to team up with each other"
"Huh." Said Grace "Why would you decide that? Surely your own team would be the most trustworthy"
Kat nodded "Well, perhaps with the exception of and Kress yeah. But we decided the scariest thing would be to team up and then have everyone else team up against us. We weren't sure where we'd get spawned in"
"Spawned in? I don't think that translated" said Grace
"Uh, dropped, teleported" said Kat and Grace nodded
"Well, I can see that being a reasonable fear. Even you struggled fighting off a full team of people, I doubt you'd have managed against fifteen others" said Grace
"Well, the real concern was fighting twelve and having three of you guys run for the orb" said Kat
Grace nodded "Yeah, if that rest stop wasn't in the way I can see how that would be an issue for you all. I wouldn't count you guys out though, I bet Green could make it to the orb if not first, at least before it completely expires"
Kat nodded but then her eyes went wide. "Grace, do we have ti to be resting right now? Green might already be at the orb"
Grace shrugged and leaned further back until she was laid flat. "Well, we aren't even in any condition to catch up with her let alone fight. Plus, no offence but I'd rather fight Green in the finals than you if it cos to that"
Kat let herself relax and let out a deep breath to copy Grace. "Yeah, I'm not sure I'd really want to fight you either after all this. What about the rest of your team? Do we have to worry about them?"
Grace bit her lip "Yeah… well… yeah" Grace let out a sigh "Most of them would want to fight you for the experience. Even though we are still trying, the team doesn't have a shot at winning anymore. Ryo and Rakhor would want to fight because they can
"Lynn might as well, depending on the mood, though Estelle would be able to talk her out of it, and she wouldn't be interested in fighting if she was by herself" said Grace
Kat nodded "Rakhor seems like a bit of a strange na for an elf, is there a story behind that?"
Grace wheezed out a laugh "The sa as the rest of us. We weren't always beautiful elven maidens. Well, I an, I was, but even I've taken on a different appearance"
"Oh?, So are you guys related at all?" asked Kat
"Lynn and Estelle are real twins. They hardly batted an eye after we all got changed. Just a couple more look-alikes for the pile" said Grace
Kat smiled slightly "Sounds like you are pretty friendly with them" said Kat
Grace lifted her shoulders in a weak shrug "I guess? Ryo's family, and we've known the twins our whole life. Rakhor is new, but he's been a good friend. I suppose considering what a little terror Ryo has been sotis I get along better with the twins"
Kat tilted her head "Didn't you say you were the only elven maiden before? How does that work if Ryo's family?"
Grace nodded "Adopted cousin. Ryo was a cat beast person before. An absolutely adorable little terror. They took the transformation rather well. I… well, I think it bothers them a bit, but being the sa race as the rest of the family more than makes up for it"
Kat nodded "Yeah that makes sense"
The conversation stopped for the mont. Only the faint breeze and the bright sun to keep them company. Kat was trying to recover her energy. Forcing herself to talk was more uncomfortable then she was letting on while she was so low on energy.
Grace for her part didn't know what else to ask. She wasn't sure if she even could enquire about Kat herself, and was happy to let them sink into silence. It was a companionable thing though.
Despite perhaps not having full trust in each other, neither doubted the strength of the contract binding together and had enjoyed their ti working together. After five minutes had past and Kat felt more comfortable speaking, she did.
"Did you know?" asked Kat
"What?"
"Did you know that Skye would attack us later on?" asked Kat
Grace bit her lip "Well, I didn't know per say, but I certainly wasn't surprised. On the one hand, it's just a contest, and on the other it's perhaps the most important challenge they've ever faced.
"She just seed the type of person to not feel too strongly about betrayal when sothing so important is on the line and the consequences are minor. Especially with it being, well, you" said Grace
"I don't quite follow" said Kat
"Well, I imagine, at the start, she didn't care at all because you're just a demon. Then after getting to know you, she apologised, but hoped it wouldn't be a problem because you're a demon" said Grace
"Ok, but I still don't follow" said Kat *You more or less just expanded the point without adding much Grace… though I guess she is tired.*
"Right sorry. Let get my thoughts in order" said Grace. After a mont to regain composure, she resud speaking "So, you are here because it's a job. Maybe a bit of fun as well, but you aren't emotionally invested in this the sa way the others are.
"Skye, and the rest of your team have probably trained their entire lives for this one shot at glory. The rewards for winning are nothing to sneeze at, and I think that she'd trusted that those rewards didn't matter to you. What mattered was completing your job"
Kat nodded "Yeah I don't really know what the rewards are, and you're right I'd never heard of the tournant before a couple days ago. But what about you? Are you not invested the sa way?"
Grace sighed "Not really? I an, we are doing this to break the curse, but that only really effects Rakhor. Sure I look a bit strange, but I'm still an elf. The twins went from human to elf and hardly batted an eye.
"Ryo… well as I said it's a bit more complicated for her, but I'm not sure her hearts in it. I an sure, she'd do anything to win, but not anything to break the curse? If you understand the distinction
"Really, we are doing this in large part for Rakhor. He's the only one who'd certainly, 100% choose to change back. Hell, he'd probably pain a rather large tithe for the privilege. I'm just not so sure the others would.
"Of course, now that you've said sothing owns my soul, perhaps the others are missing theirs as well. Maybe winning is a bit more important now, but I just don't know, you know?" said Grace
"Hmm, I think that missing your soul is different than having it be owned by soone else. Not sure why but I feel it's an important distinction" said Kat
Grace nodded "I can imagine why. Just because I don't own my soul doesn't an I'm not using it. Or perhaps I'm like, paying rent or sothing. If it was missing, I'd likely be having more issues."
"Hmm, yeah I guess that is sowhat of a concern for you now isn't it?" said Kat "I'm not sure if I should apologise for that one. Ignorance is bliss as they say, but I think I'd rather know than not"
Grace nodded "I to agree with that. Though I wonder about the others. I'd certainly like to hide it from Ryo… perhaps the twins as well. Rakhor should know, he'll be fine, but…" Grace sighed.
Kat was about to nod along when a large booming sound rang out like a ship's horn. The ground shook, and the loose stones kicked up from the recent fight clattered along with it. The water in the fountain shook trendously as the sound continued to ring out.
After thirty seconds of that alarming sound, Kat sat up and looked towards the tower. Above it now shone a bright white light, shooting up into the dod ceiling surrounding the final stage. Looking at it closely revealed it to be coming out of the left side of the tower, but it was unclear how high up it started.
Kat and Grace shared a look of concern before dragging themselves to their feet. "I guess this is the call to end our break"
"Well, I suppose it is" said Grace as she started to walk around the area. Stretching her legs and picking up any intact loose arrows she could find.
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