- "So cool. It's awesome." Lith feverish mind was still able the work, but barely. The venom was impairing both his nervous system and mind. "I… we must look into that. It's so… something."
"Lith, are you okay?" Solus was really worried. "You sound a lot like in the memories where you were drunk and under the effects of mar*juana. Your thoughts are incoherent and erratic. Are you sure you are okay?"
"Is okay. If death hammer man saves me."
"By my maker, you are getting worse! Move that a*s, sister!" –
Phloria charged forwards, using her burning tower shield as a ram, reaching Lith's side. She then used her free hand (NA: remember that the shield is conjured, she does not need to hold it, it floats by itself.) to cast the second spell Thorman reminded her of.
By planting her estoc in the ground, she activated Blast Guard. It generated a small flaming sphere that affected everything in the surroundings except for the space within a meter (3.3 feet) from her body.
To avoid accidents, she crouched down, holding her fallen comrade as close as possible. The spell had a short duration, but long enough for her to cast a tier three detoxifying spell.
"Come on, come on! I can't screw up three times in a single day! Snap out of it, you are the healer, not me!"
The spell was meant to neutralize the most common venoms and poisons, magical beasts' secretions were a class of their own. She realized how stupid she had been not purchasing any potions.
If she had them, maybe she could have saved both her team members, without having to rely on gambles and wishful thinking.
Like reading her mind, Lith started to cast the same spell he had used to save the Marchioness' daughter. Phloria spell served its purpose, giving him enough clarity to weave the spell and disguise it as a fake magic personal one.
A small orb of venom was expelled, preventing any further damage to his body, while he activated the second-tier healing spell in his ring, recovering a good chunk of his mind.
"If I were you, I'd start running." Lith said, chuckling like an idiot. His pupils were still dilated.
Phloria sheathed the estoc before lifting Lith with a princess carry, activating the flight spell stored in one of her rings. After what had happened earlier, she had prepared it in case she needed to escape again.
The tower shield moved on her back, preventing further assaults from above.
She took a roundabout path to lose the Cacklers before returning to the cave, activating Concealment again to hide their presence.
Lith would look at her stern face from time to time, giggling like a little girl.
"Look, Solus, I got my knight in a shining armour to save me!"
- "Lith, you are still confused. You are thinking out loud, please shut up!" She mentally screamed. –
"Who's Solus?" Phloria asked when the situation seemed to have calmed down enough.
"A good friend of mine. We know each other from years. By the way, isn't this the time when the hero tries to hit on his rescue? Please, don't try to kiss me, I don't think I could stop you right now, I like living too much."
Phloria's cheeks reddened, Solus couldn't tell if from embarrassment, rage or both.
"Why would I want to force me on you? Who the f*ck do you think you are?" The rage sounded genuine. Lith kept laughing.
"Ah, kids. So cute and naïve, getting embarrassed by stupid jokes. You need to get out more, get a life!"
"Who are you calling a kid? You are younger than me."
"Want to bet?" Phloria was getting annoyed, he was clearly out of his mind.
"Is Solus your girlfriend or just an ex?" If he was trying to embarrass her, it was a game that two could play.
"Nah. She's a girl and a friend, but that's it. We are both heartless and stone-cold, so we have a lot in common. Also, it would be really difficult get in touch with her. Get it? Get in touch!" Then he started cackling like it was the best joke ever.
She ignored him for the rest of the flight. Lith was rambling nonsense, sometimes even speaking some sort of gibberish (AN: aka English).
Back at the cave, she could finally relax, and with the help of the other two, they kept healing Lith until he was clear headed again. After cleansing his body from the last traces of venom, Lith shared a couple of freshly cooked blinkers.
"I don't know you, but I had enough for today. I'm not stepping out of here until tomorrow."
The motion was unanimously approved.