Praxius assessed the boy for a few more seconds. This looked exactly like a baby dragon that hatched in a low-magic, or even worse, a null-magic area. Its body trying to grow, needing a certain level of ambient magic... and not getting it. If it were lucky, it would grow up as a stunted, deformed, lizard. More likely, it would just die. And here he was, a human who was trying to change into a stronger species, hanging out in a low-magic area. Obviously such an elixir would be fine for two races that were fairly close. But turning into a dragon, or a half-dragon? Might as well try to turn into a Kyton.

And not just that, but one who had already advanced a fair amount! He'd either need to be in one of the highest-magic dungeons on this world, or another world entirely. This whole thing was doomed from the start. Why had he tried it this way? He shook his head.

Too bad they were too far from the high-magic area back at the capital. That could've let him possibly survive, if a bit stunted and crippled.

The priestess was looking back and forth between her boyfriend and the devil, frantic.

"But... he... you know whats going on? How do we save him? Whats the cure?"

Praxius frowned. "We don't. He needs a high-magic area. Extremely high. Nothing we've come across on this trip would leave him healthy; and the one at the well, or back at the academy, would let him survive, only to leave him crippled. This is the point where you pray to your goddess for his soul, and plan to meet up in the afterlife."

She fell to her knees in the dirt... staring into space... and then up at Praxius. "Is... is there nothing we could do? I... anything you can to do get him there, to that dungeon, the academy, anywhere he could live?"

"If he sold me his soul, I could take him back to hell with me. The place Kytons come from isn't quite high enough to let him come out acceptably however, and, well. The only places I could get him without taking his soul, including the ones that have enough magic... you wouldn't want it. No. Best mourn him now, and make his passage into the light a pleasant one if you can. I can make his end painless if you'd like."

She studied his face, and pulled back to her feet. He could see a stubborn will. The same sort of motivation that he had when it came to his family. Admirable, if foolish in this case. "So there is a place you can bring him that would work. Where? What do we need to do?"

Praxius studied the girl closely. "I can open what we call an Incursion portal. A gateway to one of the many layers in the depths of the pits, we normally use to help support other devils in our eternal war against demonkind. Two of them could work, maybe. One of them we might manage to survive. Neither of them is one I'm willing to risk opening a portal to, and possibly allow demons to enter your world and consume my family, just to save one idiot that screwed up an experiment."

"...I'll free you from your contract."

He chuckled. "That's almost over anyway. One more decent challenge and you're there."

"You... did agree to help protect my boyfriend along with me?"

Praxius sighed. "From threats and hazards on the journey. Not himself."

"... I'll trade you my soul."

He stopped. Frowned. Would it be worth it? The soul of a priestess of the light would have quite a bit of value in hell, especially one from an influential family. Not just for what it was, but as they could likely use it to influence her family; some might even want to kill off the next in line, put her in charge, and command her directly; the whole reason she was out here was that she was now only one position away from being the heir to the Eastwatch dynasty and wanted to get stronger, fast. That would definitely be considered an extremely valuable item.

In exchange for... probably fighting off a small army of ice demons, likely for hours on end. It would be grueling, bitter, and might even get him killed. He could die buried in the corpses of dozens, or hundreds, of demons, covered in blood and torn from thousands of claws once they realized the cold didn't hurt him.

That... was quite possibly the absolute best possible way to die. He just needed to ensure the portal would die if he did.

"Break the parole charm, and everyone... pile as much wood as you possibly can on the fire. We need every scrap we can get, burning as hot as we can." He gave a low chuckle. This... was going to be fun.

***

Her grandfather was doing something to the ground around the fire; drawing a line in the dirt and dripping tiny amounts of his own blood at certain points.. and Terra stepped up beside him. "Is.... there anything I can do to help?"

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"Keep the fire burning til I say otherwise. Me and the boy will be on the other side, just close enough to keep him from freezing to death. Once its going, if you get a clear shot on one of the ice demons through the portal, take it. They absolutely hate fire, and their chitin burns like crazy if they don't bury it in the snow."

He was being precise. Meticulous. His chains were drawing the rune with a precision that likely couldn't be matched with a pen.

"I... like Kylie. Her brother was an asshole, but she's been good to me, even when she didn't have to be. I think I... I don't want her to have to lose her soul. Is there anything I could do to convince you not to take it, grampa?"

Terra stared at the massive armored figure, who was still working on the rune without interruption as he responded.

"Sweetheart. I love you. And if it was you who'd taken that potion, I'd do it in a heartbeat, zero hesitation. The other Kytons might look at me a bit weird, but some would understand. But he's not you. He's not family. When it comes to the sort of insane, dangerous stunts like this, if its not for family, you need to take a proper payment for them, or people will walk all over you."

She glanced at the carriage, not that far off. "...So if I took some... you'd do it for me. And Kylie wouldn't have to lose her soul?"

He stopped. Looked at her. "...Now that is just downright manipulative."

"She's... we've fought. Shed blood together. She's a comrade-in-arms. She deserves it."

He studied Terra thoughtfully... and glanced over at Kylie, who was currently hauling wood over to the fire. "Lady Eastwatch! Get over here."

He turned back to his carving. He'd almost made a full circle around the fire; and when Kylie stepped up, she threw a massive branch onto it, and looked. "Yes... sir?"

Terra looked a bit hopeful at her grandfather. Did it work? Would he go easier on her, to avoid risking her?

"The agreement is as follows. I, Praxius, in the name of the Chained Lady, do hearby agree, to do all within my power to preserve the life of the gentleman named 'Derek', including opening a portal to the frozen wastes and fighting until he stabilizes or I die. In exchange, you, on behalf of House Eastwatch, agree to free my granddaughter from all debts and obligations, and to perform one favor, to be dictated at a later date. Should I die, this favor will pass on to my only daughter to use as she chooses; and should she pass on, similarly to my granddaughter, Terra. Should House Eastwatch refuse this favor, or all members of my line be slain, your soul becomes the property of the Chained Lady, in the name of myself, Praxius. Any favor whatsoever may be requested, and House Eastwatch may simple weigh its cost against your soul. Should you find this agreement acceptable, cut your hand, place a drop of your blood into the circle I now enscribe, and swear so."

Terra blinked... that... was. Well. Better than just outright surrendering her soul.

When Kylie reached out; and gently cut one finger with the Holy Slayer; she closed her eyes. "I swear by the goddess of light, of dawn, the sun and of truth, that should House Eastwatch fail its duties when so called upon, my soul shall go as willed by the Lady of Chains. I accept your agreement."

The chain around Terra's neck suddenly went loose; and the amulet dropped to the ground. She glanced at it. She likely could've overpowered it at any time, but still; it was good to let it go properly. Kylie turned to face her; and Terra nodded.

Her grandfather inhaled, and looked around, at the two rangers, as well as at Terra and Kylie.

"In a few moments, the portal will open. I'll carry the boy through... and stay at the portal until he's recovered. If the demons overwhelm me, break the circle and close the portal. I can kill most of the common demons there... and working together, you four should be able to handle a couple of them. But there are creatures there that make me look like a gnat, and could easily crush us all before using this to release a tide of frozen death unto this world."

He focused on Terra. She met his gaze, trying to seem confident. "Fire is your friend. I hope they don't spot the portal for a while... but use your lesser fire attacks until they start to get through."

He looked to the rangers. "You two. I've partially broken the trees surrounding the fire. All that's holding them in place are chains. A good hard chop will send one falling into it. If the fire starts to die down, start letting them drop. Better to risk a forest fire than another demon plague. One of them will likely break the circle and close the portal, so it will work twofold."

Both nodded, rapt and attentive. Terra had noticed that, while they were technically 'her' Vassals, the rangers seemed far more interested in obeying her grandfather than herself. She wasn't sure if it was because he was an experienced soldier, or just big male and scary. Or... even just being the grandfather of their new liege. So many possibilities there.

She focused inward. It was a good thing she'd gotten plenty of sleep last night; she would likely need every bit of fire she could muster. When she looked back at the fire... a ring of white snapped into place, right in the midst of it... and seconds later.... her grandfather grabbed Derek, and leapt... flying through the flames, landing on the other side.

Looking through, she could see her grandfather set the boy down by the portal... already soaking wet as snow started to melt in a massive patch around it... and he started using his flails, spinning, sweeping... clearly starting to pile and shape the ice and rocks on the other side.

As the two ranger women went back to throwing branches, logs, anything they could grab onto the fire, Kylie started walking in a circle around it, the holy slayer raised up over her head, making a slow chant; and with each circle, the ground started to glow. Subtle, at first... then brighter as she kept moving, chanting... Terra caught herself watching with interest for a bit, before she heard it.

A scream. A distinctly humanoid scream. Something on the other side of the portal must have spotted something; the portal itself, the firelight; but whatever it was, it was on the way here, right now. And if it was screaming like that... it was trying to bring friends. She focused on the threads in her mind, forming that single thread into the simple ray of fire she was so familiar with.

She wondered... what does an ice demon look like? Who lives in such a terrible place? She would have only moments before she would find out.