Another box of warm food appeared in her hands, and Cage's stomach growled in appreciation. No. Now is not the time. "Are you a monster hybrid?"
Genuinely curious, she stifled a yawn and crossed her arms."What's that?"
"Child of a monster and a recognized race." Cage's eyes flashed, and Eira didn't miss the subtle tell.
She lowers her gaze again and then quickly raises it back up."Weren't demons considered monsters up until twenty years ago?"
"..."
"You. Quill. I'm not quite sure, but Kelpie? Possibly some kind of golem, gargoyle, or something far more dangerous...Even reptilian."
Quill flexed her fingers and pursed her lips when she couldn't feel her wand.
"Mmm. Look at history, and every race was considered a monster at some point. So if that's what you want to call me, I guess I can't refute it. I'm not concerned…If you haven't noticed, I'm an Elf. The owner of this forest is an Elf, too. Do the math?" If you can.
Quill gasped when she realized the barely hidden implication, and Cage frowned. "What does that mean?"
Quill answered for her with an excited glow to her otherwise metallic pallor. "She's either a distant relative or a direct bloodline. And I think I know which one. You're the Bitter Woman's—"
"No need for names. You don't have to spell it out." She smiled innocently, and her eyes curved in what was supposed to be a cute way. But her fangs were on full display. Smells good in here.
It's not just them, though. She dragged a finger down the wet walls and came away with something dark. Not water, but not quite blood. Odd.
Nevermind. I need them in order to leave. "I'm just here to learn control, and then I leave. So, how about a deal? I'll support you, provide meals, and help out with your promotion. You'll keep this matter quiet and act like nothing's wrong."
Cage snorted and retorted. "Look who's showing their true colors. You really had me fooled earlier. What are you really? Does the Queen know?"
Eira smiled wider and ignored Cage. "You have no idea what just happened, which is true. Perhaps a God or Goddess visited me in my sleep and blessed me." She giggled. "Who knows? But no matter what, you're not going to say anything to hurt me."
An invisible blade pressed to their necks and drew blood. "Capiche?"
Quill croaked. "What?"
She rolled her eyes and rephrased. "Deal?"
They nodded, and she smiled cruelly."Promise?" Behave and be good. "Now. Cage, you've seen me in action. I can promise on your soul I will be the only one to leave this cave if you don't promise."
Cage mustered up some of her magic in her eyes and tried to afflict Eira. She didn't even blink, and the knife pressed deeper into her throat. "You should learn a new trick."
Cage grinned and tried to grab the blade. It sliced through her fingers and would've met bone if she hadn't retracted her hand. She's out for blood this time.
Quill gulped and sweat dripped down her face. Die now or live tomorrow. It's easy. "I promise I won't tell anyone how you…grew or anything that could sully your reputation. Your highness."
She added another condition."You won't reveal my identity without my permission either."
Quill promised, and the blade moved back a bit, allowing her to breathe. Eira summoned a box of bandages from thin air and threw it at her.
Quill caught it and touched the golden blood dripping from her neck. Her hand came away wet, and she shivered. So close.
Eira paused for just a moment as her mouth watered at the delectable scent. Her. She smells like her. She has to be one of them. Hmm. Now's not the time. Can't afford to get carried away."Cage, you have ten seconds starting now. One."
"Two."
Cage refused to let go of her pride.
"Three. How are your friends going to react when I tell them I dispatched you with just a little blade? Died a little Novitiate. How embarrassing~ Hope you don't have any parents for me to—"
"I promise!"
"Oh?"
"..."
Cage felt the golden ring around her wrist burn, and her chest filled with a suffocating feeling. The feeling that had haunted her in her waking nightmare. Helplessness.
This little brat.
"Great. Thanks for cooperating. Here's some treats." She threw out a glass bottle of ointment. "That'll make sure it won't get infected. You were right. Supports are useful. I'll do my best."
She leaned back against the cave wall and opened the box of food it's overpowering scent filled the cave, but they didn't jump to devour it this time.
"Once you're done treating yourself, you can eat, and we'll discuss how to get out of here. I don't like being imprisoned. Ruffles my feathers a little bit."
Cage takes the risk and bites out. "We can't leave. The only way out is through that hole, and if we slip, we die. I'm not interested in dying from an accident."
Eira considers it and flashes over to the only opening in this damned cave. She leans over and examines the hole."I think I can push myself out. It'll be a tight fit, though. Eat and let's go."
Cage growled."Who do you think you are?" Ordering her around.
"Impatient. You have five minutes and then we're leaving."
Quill silently finishes wrapping a bandage around her throat and starts on Cage. She shrugs her away and cauterizes the injury with fire. A crude and painful substitute for the bandages.
Stubborn.
Eira's eyes gleam. Smells like sausages.
Quill put away the bandages in her robe and started eating without asking. Cage refuses to eat and instead glares at the small elf. Her eyes glow intermittently as she plays with her magic. It curls around her fingers, and she watches it with something akin to obsession.
Cage growls and takes a cheap shot at her. Her flame bounces off some kind of barrier cast around her.
"That was pretty shameless, but you missed. Better luck next time."
Cage took deep breaths as the whites of her eyes started turning black.
Quill noticed the change and scooted away from the both of them and closer to the hole. The cave itself wasn't very big width-wise and was almost six feet tall.
They could reach the ceiling easily and start to climb out. But the way up was long, and they had no equipment. Even though Eira said she would support them, Quill had serious doubts about her ability.
If they were to fall on the jagged rocks protruding out of the sides of the hole, they could be impaled. Sevenhells! Even the drop could kill them. Without her wand, her magic is easily dispersed, and its effectiveness is halved.
"Eira? Maybe we should—"
She perked up."Oh, good you're ready. I have an idea. Well two. Option one. I use my telekinesis to levitate and carry us all out of the cave. That has serious risks though because if I lose my concentration for even a moment we'll likely die."
Quill wiped sweat off her forehead nervously. That's a terrible idea."What's the other option?"
"These are sea caverns, right?"
Quill got a bad feeling. "Yes, where are you going with this?"
"Cage can use fire magic, yes?"
"..."
Cage lifted her head and narrowed her eyes suspiciously."Yes."
"Sea caverns are often made up of limestone, sandstone, basalt, or chalk. We could carve our way out using an explosion. However, the cave could collapse on us. And we'd have to swim out."
Quill's ears twitched, and she grabbed her dress so she could squeeze something."Those are terrible ideas."
She chuckles. "I know, right? And if you don't choose, Iwill because I'm getting cabin fever."
Quill asks with genuine concern."What happened to you? You were so nice yesterday."
Eira hummed."Like I said, I really don't like being trapped, so it's my way or…my way. What's it going to be?"
Quill and Cage shared a look. Quill whispered. "This is all your fault. This could've been someone else's problem."
Cage grunted but still turned it around on them."You and Fallon eat too much. We needed extra stamps, and we're not allowed to pick up jobs in the kitchen due to…complications."
Quill corrected. "Stealing." You. Stealing.
Cage averted her eyes and focused on the issue at hand."We can't just do what she says. It'll kill us, and she's right. I can't die this way."
"Is it supposed to be raining in here?" Eira held out a hand to the hole and caught water in it. Hmm. She licked it and retched. Salty. Way too salty. Tastes like fish piss—
"..."
Quill and Cage blatantly ignored her as they whispered their grievances."You could die to her magic instead. Deathbytoddler. What a way to go."
Cage felt her pride being stabbed again, and she groaned in frustration. Ruffling her hair, she looked back at the nonchalant four-foot elf. If it were just a physical contest, I could take her…but in terms of magic, I've never seen anything like her.
I don't know if she's just resisting it or if she's just tolerating it. That's an insane amount of raw power so young. And a barrier spell. That's not something you can learn in one day, and hers is practically flawless.
Which would make her feel envious under any other circumstances. She's so small, yet she's already that talented. If she were just willing to suffer a little, she could be great.
Quill snapped in Cage's face."Focus. Which one? Gamble with her magic or yours? Choose."
Eira offered while checking her nails again. She tapped in the air, and they watched with confusion. "We could vote? We should do it fast, though. Do any of you have a tide schedule?"
Quill looked between the two and voted. "I can't swim. I'm too dense and I'll sink. Option one. What's a tide schedule?"
"..."
So not a Kelpie. Some kind of mixed race of the latter.Metalskin. Hmm. I wonder if that's the other side's trait? Interesting. Eira smiled and looked at Cage. In a silky, coaxing voice, she implored. "Come on. Your turn~"
Cage looked between the two and decided she would never put her life in the hands of another. "We'll use my magic. Option two."
Eira smiled and finished checking her nails. She stood up to her full height and voted as well while cracking her joints. "I choose option two. Less work for me."
She walked over to the wall that was dripping the most. "This wall is closest to the sea. I'll put oil and flammable products all over it. Throw fire at it when I'm done, and I'll protect us with a shield."
She wasted no time, summoned a glass bottle, and splashed olive oil all over the wall. It got on her hands, and she flicked it away. What else do I have? Oh!
The wooden boxes with their meals inside were thrown at the wall. The dry wooden chips crashed against the wall, and she licked her lips. Can't wait to have some more blood when we leave.
[You…]
Penguin didn't quite know what to call her.
[This is an unnecessary risk. Please abandon this course of action and wait for one—]
No. I'm done waiting. Iwantout. Have you ever been locked in a box before? I'm done waiting in the dark for someone to save me. I'm getting out of here. They're all going to regret this. She needs me, right? You think she's too careless anyway. I'm the only one who can get things done.
I'm on mission.
[…]
What? Don't act so shocked. It's kind of cute~
[Please refrain from such language—]
She held out her hand and felt the icicles melting on her palm. I like Snow. Reminds me of a fairytale. You don't need to stutter, just call me from now on. I'll take care of it.
"That's enough." Eira stepped back and fell in line with the others. Quill wrote golden script in the air, and it turned into a staff. She manipulated it into a shield and got ready.
Her long ears twitched, and Eira took notice. Maybe she's also a Light Elf? That's light magic, right?
Cage glowered but raised a fist and aimed at the wall.
A large fireball grew in her palm and grew until it was tall enough to compete with Eira. Don't kill us all immediately.