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

--- Kat ---

"So… I guess this is it then," said Kat awkwardly. It was the next morning and everyone else was ready to go. They had plenty of leftovers packed away in their rings and both groups had plenty of supplies for the time being regardless.

"Aw, are you gonna miss us?" asked Meg.

Kat sighed and nodded, "I mean… I know this was my idea but it's just a bit strange I suppose? I didn't expect us to split up at all…"

Meg shrugged, "Eh you weren't too bad to be around… and I would've liked some alone time with Lil Sis but I suppose I can settle for things as they are now. I doubt she'd let me get away with so much,"

"I suppose so. Though… one question before you leave, and it does feel a bit silly to be asking now… but what is the plan if it turns out that the next largest rock is also too big? I mean, we're assuming it won't be and I think it's a fair assumption but really what are the chances?" asked Kat.

"I suppose we'll inform you of that and then try breaking it ourselves. Probably by getting Lil Sis to shoot at it a few times to make a hole and then try prying it open with the strongest materials we have. Maybe make use of the lake idea… maybe not. These need to be destroyed and if we cause a few minor earthquakes that's just how it has to be," explained Meg.

Kat winced but nodded, "I suspected. Do you have any advice for breaking into it should the need arise?"

"Eh… no?" said Meg with a shrug.

Hunter stepped forward and said, "While Meg might not I do have some pieces of advice. I would recommend finding some way to hold it in place and then start attacking the corners. Perhaps it will crack well, perhaps it won't but it's the lowest commitment place to start and if it doesn't work better to know quickly,"

"Alright thanks," said Kat. She stepped forward and gave Hunter a hug, then Kamiko, a handshake for Bower and finally Kat made the same offer to Meg. Lily was doing the same just a step behind her as Kat waited for a handshake. Meg considered it for a time… and then returned it. "See you all soon hopefully,"

"Perhaps," said Meg as she spun around and marched off into the mist. Bower followed quickly behind her followed by Hunter. Kamiko looked between the two groups for a few moments longer before wincing. Kat went to move forward but Kamiko just waved quickly and then dashed into the mists as well, determination on her face.

Lily moved back and slid up to Kat's side. "A touch rude,"

"What?" asked Kat confused. "I was just staring off into the mists mysteriously. You know, really gives that cool and slightly ominous atmosphere to things. How is that rude?"

"Meg ran off right after shaking hands with you… skipping over me completely," answered Lily.

"Oh… that is sort of rude. Do you think… and don't get me wrong this is VERY odd but it just sort of popped into my head… that your lack of a handshake was your punishment from a couple of days back?" offered Kat.

Lily looked at Kat a little oddly as she snuggled into Kat's hold. "I… doubt it? Maybe? I'd honestly forgotten and while I'm not sure if Meg has… that seems like a super tame punishment if it's real… so I'm just going to keep ignoring it. What are your plans now?"

Kat turned around and looked at the clearing. It was… not in good condition. The group had set up a bit away from the digging and managed to sleep in some space between a few trees but the larger clearing the cuboid rock had come from was still a complete mess. "Maybe tidy things up? I sort of want to spend some time building a hut and stuff but I should probably fix the ground first…" answered Kat.

"Why? I mean, I'd expect we'd still sleep in the tents right?" asked Lily.

"Yeah probably… but I wanted something for the day as well. Like, there isn't too much sun but some artificial shade might be nice. Plus if I get it done well we could sleep up off the ground… and still in the tent if I build things large enough. With all the knocked over trees we've got enough wood to start at least," explained Kat.

"Right… but it just seems like a lot of effort for not that much gain," said Lily.

Kat shrugged, "It's mostly to kill time. Sure I could practice a bit… and I will but I'm not really feeling it at the moment. Plus, I want to be in, or at least close, to top condition in case we get attacked. I'm not too worried but it IS just the two of us and I'd hate if something happened to you because I was exhausted.

I imagine you'll be doing magic practice and that'll tire you out decently fast,"

"Fair," admitted Lily before giving Kat a proper hug and a kiss on the cheek. After the kiss they separated. Kat pulled out a shovel and Lily spent a bit of time helping fix up the area as well. It was much easier for Lily to make a giant shadow scoop and push the dirt back into the hole then it was to dig it out.

Lily didn't get everything, it was a large hole and the rock was obviously now missing, but it was a start.

Kat focused on getting the parts Lily missed… for a short time. Lily didn't miss much and soon Kat was compacting the earth back down into stable footing. The various holes weren't exactly level which was a shame but honestly acceptable. In the end, Kat decided to just move some of the destroyed trees to the other side of the kingdom and flatten the area they'd fallen in.

It was much easier to sort that out, though the area wasn't quite as wide as Kat wanted.

As she debated causing a bit more destruction, something she was already primed to do for wood supplies, Kat looked over at Lily who appeared to be just… staring at nothing? "What are you up to Lily? Is there something I'm not seeing? I can feel you focusing but not really on what you seem to be looking for,"

"I'm trying to use my space affinity," said Lily. "It… doesn't seem to be working but I'm not at full mana either. Not sure it really matters… and maybe I'm going about it the wrong way? I sort of assumed the mist would make it easier to feel but… I'm not really getting anything. Sure intellectually I know… but I'm just not picking anything up. Not like when we broke into the bubble with the drake,"

"Right… so you're just staring at stuff?" asked Kat.

"I guess? I mean… space is all around us. I would think I could feel it… but it's not like I'm instinctively aware of every piece of paper in a small radius around me, so perhaps that's not a fair comparison. I have tried pushing mana just… into the air? Not the air, air, obviously but that doesn't seem to be working either. Maybe I'm doing something wrong?

I'm genuinely not sure," answered Lily.

"Did Thyme not give you any tips for this part?" asked Kat.

"Eh… sort of? They said your best bet is to find a bit of space that's already distorted and practice with that. Those bags we got from Thyme would work. Probably. It's also probably why Thyme mentioned it," said Lily.

"And… the rings we have don't count?" asked Kat.

Lily shook her head, "Nope. Or at least, I didn't have any luck with them when I tried it earlier. That was my first thought actually… but maybe I didn't give it enough time? Honestly I could see it going either way.

Sure it's technically distorting space but not only is that space all packed 'inside' of the ring and not something I can really lay eyes on, I'm pretty sure it's a demonic energy based enchantment,"

"Hmm… yeah I'm not really sure what to suggest," said Kat.

Lily shrugged, "My best bet might actually be trying to work out a pocket storage spell for my shadow… but I don't want to experiment with it much. I do technically have one in those books Thyme left for me… but I didn't look into it properly and I didn't make it part of my notes. I wasn't expecting to get to Rank 3 so soon,"

"I can see that working… so I guess I'll just leave you to… this? I'm going to try and cut into some of the fallen trees and see how well I can make them into planks. I don't expect to equal a sawmill but I might get close," announced Kat.