Stepping out of the darkness, two undead looked around the cave illuminated only by a light of the dying campfire. Huddled together around the flickering flame, the two demi-humans slept keeping each other warm from the chilly wind coming from behind the undead.
The older beast woman had her head leaned backwards with her mouth wide open as she snored loudly. The purred snores rumbled through the cave and occasionally caused the woman's furry ears to twitch, whipping the air in front of them.
The undead mage hanging on Iris's right arm poured mana into the black and white flame burning in her free hand causing the cold cave to fill with lively orange hues as the flame changed colour. The girl's black leather boots tapped with each step she took as she detached from the elf and approached the small pile of half-burned silk.
"Huh? Who's there?" Shiro jumped up with her spear in one hand.
"Wah!?" The sleeping fox who was snuggled up to the older woman suddenly fell over.
"Oh, you're back," Shiro's sharp crimson eyes relaxed as they rested on the two undead in front of her. She bit down on her lower lip containing a powerful yawn as she stretched her arms outwards before plopping herself back on the stone floor. "You look much happier than before. Did you have fun?" Shiro focused on the elf before nodding her head toward the shorter undead crouched in front of the fire.
"Yes..." The elf absentmindedly let her thoughts flow free from her mouth feeling her cheeks getting hotter before noticing the wide grin on Shiro's face.
"I will be treasuring this." The nekos teased the tall undead who sneakily hid her flushed face with her hand pretending she was getting rid of something in her eyes trying to keep her dignity in front of the porcelain doll.
"I don't understand." Kia panned her eyes between the two women while wearing a small frown which was quickly followed by a pout as the two refused to explain what just happened.
"You somehow look even more adorable than before," Shiro began to pull on Kia's cheeks while wearing a jester's smile as she felt a weird connection to the pouting. If only the small undead had ears and a tail she would have mistaken Kia for a nekos. "And I swear you look a little taller than before." She turned to the risen and commented.
"That's because I'm standing and you're crouched," The hoplite said waving off the playful cat's comments. "What's wrong with her?"
"Nakatei?" Shiro turned around where Iris had pointed and saw the fox flush with her head down. "Nakatei, did something happen?"
"NOTHING!" The strangely flustered shaman instantly shot up before becoming even redder when her emerald green eyes met with Kia's eyes.
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"Poor thing," Shiro shuffled closer to the fox and began to stroke her back. "I should have woken up much earlier. How long were you awake?" Instead of an answer, Nakatei shook her head up and down in desperate agreement with Shiro.
*Grrrr*
As Iris watched the two demis crouching near the fire, a dangerous growl sounded from the side causing her to jump to the side ready to kill. Standing under a pillar of rock covered partially with dried-out blood Kia seemed to be fuming with anger as her head tilted up and locked onto a jacket stuck in the ceiling, left there during their battle with the spirits.
Thick fog seeped out from the rock around the mage's feet and began to gather around her palms. Before Iris could get close to Kia a cloud of thick dust filled the cavern accompanied by the sound of stone shattering into thousands of pieces.
When the dust cloud settled down and all three women saw that the thick stone pillar was now nothing more than a pile of pebbles and dust lying under the feet of a strangely happy girl who was pressing Iris's jacket against her chest.
The two demis stared wide-eyed at the mage passing them. Shiro suspected the undead mage to be powerful but she didn't even spot the magical circle the girl needed to cast the earth-shattering spell. It was all done faster than the snap of a finger, in one moment the imposing pillar created by a powerful earth spirit stood defiantly and in the next moment, the pillar was turned into dust.
Nakatei's green eyes slowly started to glimmer as she imagined herself doing what Kia had done all while looking like a legend from a Storyteller's stories. While the fox next to her had her mind drifting high in fantasy land, Shiro who had trouble beliving Nakatei fully before started to reconsider her previous assumptions.
"Thanks," Iris graciously accepted her jacket from Kia. Unlike the grinning kitten who was covered completely in grey dust, the leather jacket was spotless. "You should cast Cleaning on yourself."
"O*Pssiik*kay," Iris feasted her eyes on the adorably sneezing kitten from who dust quickly began to fall off after being enveloped by light for a short moment. "I'm so happy my magic returned to me. I was sooooooo bored without it."
"I'm happy that you are happy." Iris cupped the mage's cheek. In return Kia rested her forehead on Iris's head, hitting her a little too hard as the feeling of relief poured from Kia's side of their connection. The elf felt that the girl casted Clean on her as she purred loudly while snuggling closer.
Iris couldn't relish in the girl's snowy aura as Kia suddenly jumped away full of previously pent-up energy. Delighting in her ability to walk again Kia ran toward the two women and casted a cleaning spell on the two before casting more cleaning spells on every single piece of equipment which got covered in dust. Everyone watched Kia with puzzled looks as she began to create multiple balls of ghostly white light which hovered toward everyone and hung behind their backs.
"Come on we have to go now. I don't want to be underground anymore." Kia pulled Shiro's hand, the warrior seemed unable to comprehend how to react as the girl shoved her backpack into her arms.
Nakatei quickly stood up and prepared to go out all while taking badly disguised peeks at the two undead. Quicker than ever before the four began their journey forward toward the surface, thanks to the girl disappearing every item lying unpacked in the cave with a simple touch.
"What had gotten into her?" Shiro said, she was meant to lead them forward but Kia was walking in front of her turning around from time to time, unable to control her excitement.
"I think she doesn't like underground," Nakatei added. "Iris?"
Both of the women turned toward Iris to see what she had to say but she was concentrating on watching the cheerful girl in front of her after seeing her looking depressed or passive for what felt like millennia.
"Shiro."
"Need something?"
"I apologise for what I said about you two." Iris gave the two a little bow while Kia wasn't looking.
"Don't worry about it. All forgiven." Shiro waved her hand casually looking like she had almost forgotten what the elf had said before.
"Hey, what did you call me?" Nakatei chimed in looking incredibly grumpy.
"She called you sexy." Iris heard Shiro whisper in the shaman's ear.
"What!" The fox swivelled around and stared wide-eyed at the elf looking completely stunned before falling completely silent. The risen heard the fox starting to call her a pervert as she jogged forward to join Kia where quite rained supreme.
"Mind explaining?" The frowning elf asked the nekos who seemed to wear her usual predatory smile as she matched the elf's long stride.
"I saved your dignity." Pearly teeth flashed in Iris's vision as the cat grinned.
"How?"
"I might have not cared about your little episode but as your teacher, I can't let that slide but that's after we take a rest." The risen didn't like the shine inside Shiro's eyes but simply nodded her head in acceptance of her faith.