――——

As expected of a level 13 Bard; her cheerful act managed to de-escalate and drain some of the tension from the group. There is still apprehension - and for a good reason. But at least no one is pointing any weapons my way.

If anything this proves that these people are not naive fools, and have some experience mixed with a healthy dose of common sense. Dealing with demons is no trifling matter, especially an unbound one that your companion just released from the containment of the ritual ―The mage really didn't like that bit after he realized what Circa was up to, but the deed was done. -That's what you get for spacing out.

I decided to follow up on her act and play along pretending not to care, just walking after the excited young woman while keeping my senses sharp. Sitting down by the fire, listening as she chatted away about what she's been up to in the few years we haven't seen each other.

About how she managed to get into, and then graduate the school she's told me about last time -Stopping mid sentence as she 'noticed' the rest of the group just kept standing there staring, and called out to them.

Three years at the bard collage, huh. One dream off the checklist for her...

"C'mon guys, I told you it's safe, was I ever wrong about this stuff? The stew is getting cold." She started pulling bowls out of one of the bags while saying that.

There is a cast iron pot sitting next to the fire full of thick soup, likely left there to cool down a bit while they were busy with summoning demons from hell. -And I still don't know why would they agree to do something like this, no matter how convincing a Bard can be.

"Well, there was that one time with the lizard–"

The first to respond was the dwarf girl; she seemed the most curious about this whole situation, and moved to join us after a shrug. -And it's no wonder why she is the most confident, this one is an irregular in the party. And I'm not talking about her being from the shorter race.

> Dwarf. Rogue (22)

Everyone here looks rather young, but you really can't judge a person's age by their looks in a fantasy world. I would guess dwarves are also a long lived race - because that is a high level in an advanced class when you look like a teen. And she is a pure rogue so there must be some history there.

Circa was fast to respond. "Those were Not supposed to breath fire!" Glaring at the other woman with a pout, as the dwarf sat down right next to her and took the offered bowl.

"So what's the deal with you having a demon-" She starts questioning her friend who was clearly hiding things from them, while sending glances my way; getting the embarrassed bard to spill some of our past.

After few whispered words from the magic boy, the brown haired half-elf gives a small nod and takes the spot little to the back - out of my sight, on a piece of fallen wall while the rest gathers around the fire.

The wary looks they have been sending me are now showing hints of curiosity. Except for the warrior who is still glaring at me from the other side of the flames. He seems the oldest among them, a nasty scar over his right eye and the bushy dark beard contribute to that impression.

This one is all over the place.

> Human. Guard (4), Soldier (10), Swordsman (4)

He must be new to the whole adventuring business, maybe fresh from the army and didn't yet consolidate his class. I know that's a thing with mortals.

"...Tyrel? where is the extra one I asked you to set aside?" Asks Circa as she gets up to hand him the food. He is currently pretending to perform maintenance on his bow and check the arrows, paying a special attention to the enchanted few.

I take a quick glance to confirm.

> Half-elf, Tyrel. Hunter (11), Ranger (4).

There we go. Identify updated the information based on what I've learned.

-Smart guy, he either knew or the 'mage' might have informed him that normal steel won't be of much use in case things go poorly during our talk. As magical beings with Resilience attribute, mundane attacks are not very effective againt demons. Speaking off...

> Human. Scholar (2), Arcane Adept (14).

An educated young man, but not quite the mage yet. I would have expected him to finish his education before going out on an adventure. Well whatever, not my problem.

After being pointed to where their backpacks where stacked against the wall, Circa goes there to retrieve... Sigh.

I can already feel my feet tingling as I accept yet another rabbit from her with an unamused stare. -I swear she is doing it on purpose. Didn't I tell her in the past how demons get affected by the essence that they consume? Is she trying to make my ears even longer, or turn me into a demon bunny? We will need to have another talk after we sort out our current issue.

A fresh kill, still holding plenty of leftover vitality. As I'm feeling somewhat petty and wanting a little revenge I just tear into it with sharp teeth, making the people around the fire pause their eating with spoons raised halfway up; and getting a face from Circa who knows I don't actually need to eat food this way. Honestly? it is more efficient this way than what she's used to seeing me do.

With the ritual anchoring me to the mortal realm I'm also not constantly leaking the life force, its magic allowing me to properly absorb it into myself and actually exist here as part of this realm - not as an intruder rejected by the world itself. I've never been able to understand how it works, there is something special about this kind of summoning. For something almost anyone can do, the thing is surprisingly profound. Whomever came up with those likely designed it this way...

I just smile sweetly at her, pure innocence radiating from me as blood drips down my lips. But the cough from a suddenly serious mage looking between the two of us makes me stop fooling around. -Right I'm here on business. Instead roots grow out from my hands and pierce the creature, turning it into a little mummy in matter of moments.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

Circa raised her brow at the sight. "That's new." But I just shrug at her comment and turn to the boy who clearly wants to start.

"So about why we've brought you here-" He looks around to the gathered people, seeing them all nod in turn. Finally time for answers ―although I have some ideas after sensing the mana in the surrounding. Ah right, I should test my new bottle. Well more a vial now, it won't hold as much as my flask did but it's what we've got.

"The thing Is..." And he starts to explain what happened. A story by a campfire, not the worst way to spend the evening.

―—

I'm standing in front of the big stone doors leading underground and deeper into the mountain. Examining the magic flowing through them; the wards set here preventing the party of young adventurers from getting to the treasures likely still hidden inside.

From what they've told me, this region used to be off limits because of the dragon that made it its territory, having a nest somewhere around here in the mountains and guarding it fiercely, killing trespassers. The nobles didn't want anyone to antagonize the creature either so people avoided coming here and it mostly kept to itself.

But then recently a group of heroes came to slay it... and now the old lizard is dead.

Since the threat is gone young adventurers from all over the East March are rushing here to try their luck —especially since the dragon's lair was apparently never found. The area is rather safe, as the dragon hunted down or chased away all the dangerous creatures, so with each day more teams set out into the wild chasing their dreams.

So did Circa's group. Looking if not for the famous dragon's hoard, then maybe other treasures hidden in the unexplored part of the kingdom. And what do you know, they have actually found― something. An old ruin hidden in this valley, few days away from the border town they've all set out from.

Problem is, how to get inside.

I trace the intricate enchantments on the rune covered walls. Those are very old but still more than enough to stop their party.

Honestly not a very balanced group, I'm not an expert but it could use more vanguard and a healer.

-I get that they had to hurry and it was hard to find more members when everyone in town was already rushing to get the piece of the dragon's treasure, or even just gather the magical herbs growing in abundance on its territory. But Circa should have known better about what happens to unprepared kids looking for adventure.

I read the runes on the doors, but even if I can get their meaning because of some inborn demonic knowledge, there's not much to glimpse about what's hiding behind them. Just magical reinforcement, wards and protections —And the standard 'Do not enter or else...' but that's a given.

"Can you do something about the wards?" Asks 'Sebby'. He has been watching me carefully the entire time. The rest of the group is also around in the small underground hall leading to the sealed away part. Nothing much to say about the place, anything not reinforced by magic like the wall in front of us was claimed by time. We are just a few dozen steps in and you can see the outside past the wide arched entrance almost as wide as the hall itself carved into the mountain side, so not much protection from the elements. Some old bones on the floor, beast not human.

Some broken pottery, and weathered statues. Kammi already disarmed the few still functioning mundane traps that someone installed throughout the room ages ago.

"It says here that you shouldn't enter." I tell them earning me an eye roll from Circa, then turn back to the magic formation carved in stone. "But won't say why." I shrug.

"Isn't that like, always what they put on those ruins?" the rogue woman asks while poking a dagger at a headless statue's leg.

No, it's not. -I don't like this, it's more like something was sealed inside and the enchantments are meant to keep it there, rather than us from going inside. Or so it appears to me. Unfortunately my mana sense can't get past the wards.

"Are you guys sure you want to enter this place?" I know they do.

"It an opportunity of a life time, an unexplored ruin like this..." Poor choice of words from the mage. He doesn't finish his sentence, maybe realizing it himself.

I look back again studying each of them. The hunter clearly doesn't like it here, the warrior just keeps glaring at me and the dwarf is bored. Circa looks at me with expectation. "Can you get us in Red?" she asks when I meet her eyes.

"Yes." And she beams a happy smile at me, then looks all smug at her party. At least Kammi perks up at that, giving her the thumbs up. Tyrel just sighs looking up -Was he hoping they wouldn't have to go underground? Jim just looks more determined, why? I don't know.

Sebastian just looks relieved. Because he was lacking in ability they might have missed out on the pay day. It's clear none of them wants to give it up on this Tomb. As that's what it looks like to me, I've read and played enough fantasy to get the vibe of this place. I can feel their greed.

"You should get some rest, It's late already and this will take time to do it right." I say since some of them look ready to go in.

Not a lie. Rose could likely shred through the wards with her thorns but the 'kids' need to be in their top form if I'm to allow them inside this candy store. I don't care for most of them but Circa and I go a long way back, and I didn't save her ass just to let the Idiot get herself killed in some random dungeon while I'm already here to stop that. So I will take my time unraveling the magic -Maybe I can learn something new while at it.

"Tyrel, you might want to check on your bags." I call to the half, getting a confused look from him."A pair of foxes is about to loot your rations-" I chuckle at him as he sprints out.

Jim nods and gathers the team -minus Tyrel. And starts setting up their night watch schedule. Army guy seems to have the most experience when it comes to organizing them. Having someone to keep watch all time as you sleep is a healthy practice out in the wild, not to mention he doesn't trust me.

He won't like what I'm about to say next.

"I will be going with you." I look seriously at Circa.

"Wha-" "Not a-" The mage and warrior protest at the same time. But I ignore them looking the Idiot in the eyes.

"We can't afford to watch our backs with a demon around, when-" Jim really didn't appreciate my offer.

Circa is confused at first "Red?" Soon her face get serious, brows furrowed she asks, "This bad?"

And I nod. "I'm not letting you in there without me. Th-"

"We had a deal!" the mage also isn't thrilled at the prospect.

"Not really, we hadn't made any deals. Just discussed the situation and the options." I point out to him, I've made sure that is the case and didn't promise them anything. When you negotiate with the demon, remember -it always wins in the end. I've learned my lessons.

As he goes over our talk in his head, angry Jim takes a step forward. Surprisingly it's the rogue who jumps between us. "Cut it out guys. Fuck, it wants to help us, kinda nice ey? I say we let 'im." So odd accent slipped out at the end.

"You can't be serious Kammi, it's a-" Jim won't give up though. I wonder if he met more demons before.

"A demon sure. Rosy one heh, but still. Circa trusts it though, right girl?" And she gets a nod in return.

"It could get us killed down there." He scowls at the short woman. Well I'm not the one to talk as we aren't much different in that department.

"Pfft!" Is what he gets from her in return. "Not like we could do much about it, ey Sebby?" She turns to the mage who is just massaging his temples with a hand holding the other one to the warrior.

"It's fine, Jim. It was never under control anyway, right Circa? You never put any restrictions on it to begin with." He looks at her with slight accusation but mostly just tired.

Through all of this she just stood there watching this play out when her skills could have calmed everyone dawn much faster. But she didn't want to, as it seems she trusts them and doesn't want to break their trust by using her class to influence her team. Nice, stupid but nice.

And they know it, well at least Sebby does.

"If Red says he won't let us in there and even offers to help, it must mean it's dangerous." She comes to me and places one hand on my free shoulder, scratching at her cheek with the other while glancing guilty. "And no, Red is unbound." Circa admits. "But it's fine guys! I've told you we've done this ritual before, me and him."

"Don't get the wrong idea." I decide to make some things straight. "Jim is the one who's right about this whole situation, you should never trust a demon. You would have to be an idiot to do." That earned me some raised brows. "But I won't let this idiot die here." I point at said idiot with my claw getting a playful slap on my shoulder as she is faking outrage at my comment.

There's a small laugh from the outside and Tyrel comes in with his backpack and a pair of dead foxes. "Let's move the camp inside, won't have to set up the tents and you can keep an eye on the demon."

"And I want those two!" I add indicating the new catch.

I will not babysit for free.

―—―—