James' team huddled around Eli, quietly talking as Kiara and Jane occasionally checked to see if Lee Seng was still around. Lee Seng wore his Fox mask and leaned back onto the tree trunk. He wasn't given any reason why they were stopped. He assumed it was about Eli… Maybe about him, but from the conversation James, Kiara and Jane were having, they were worried about the effects Eli was under. Apparently, Deimon blood ran through all of them. It had altered their bodies enough but was unstable. They craved for more Deimon blood to make them whole, but the Deimon who had promised them all of this, deserted them. The blood they had was a punishment. A punishment and a reminder that you shouldn't trust anyone.
"We don't know what effect taking the excess energy will have on him." Jane whispered. She glanced over at Lee Seng whose face was covered. He looked like he was sleeping. "Usually, the marker is used to store the energy. Overtime, it'll seep back into our bodies, and we'll be fine. What do we do if he doesn't wake up? We're burning daylight."
"Did you two get anything from him?" James asked. The two women shook their heads. They had tried to inquire about what Lee Seng had done, but he was unsure himself.
"He just said it's new to him. The Deimon died and he got all their powers. He's some sort of 'Perfect Singular,' but he doesn't know what that means, entirely." Kiara answered. James sighed and nodded. He looked at Eli and watched as Eli's chest slowly rose and fell.
"So, he is a Deimon?" James looked behind at Lee Seng for the first time since the incident. He looked like he was sleeping to James and the others, but Lee Seng was listening. He was watching their surroundings with his tendril clones. They moved out of sight and Lee Seng didn't sense a thing.
'The longer we stay here, I'm going to get more anxious.' Lee Seng thought. 'There isn't a peep from any possessed wildlife or monsters.' James sighed and turned back around.
"What do we do? We can't leave without Eli…" James asked.
"And Fox is in a crunch." Jane added. James groaned and wiped his face. The situation couldn't have been worse. Lee Seng sat up and pulled his mask off. The glowing in his eyes faded as he turned to address the group.
"There's no clues to where this Vixen is." Lee Seng told them. James, Jane, and Kiara turned as Lee Seng turned himself to look at them. "I've looked around, but I don't sense anything. It's way too quiet for a curse to be in… Has anyone even seen this thing?"
"Seen but haven't had the sense to tell the tale." Jane answered.
"You're able to look around this entire time?" James asked. "What are you, some sort of almighty wizard? Is this the work of your Deimon powers?"
"I don't know what it is." Lee Seng shrugged. He stood up and rolled his neck. "I can create clones of myself to look around. I was focused on scouting while keeping an ear out for anything around here."
"Isn't that hard…? I've heard Summoners can't even do that sort of thing well." Jane asked. She looked over at Kiara. "Kiara has one summon and she can't do that well."
"I switch between the different clones of myself." Lee Seng told them. "It's complicated stuff, but I don't listen and see what they all see… I only pop around to check."
"And there's nothing?" Kiara asked. Lee Seng shook his head. She sighed and turned her back to Eli. "If only Eli would wake up… We could continue our way."
"We don't even know where this thing is." Jane rubbed her eyes. She let out a yawn which triggered Lee Seng to do the same.
"Well, I have my clones as far as they can go. If they or I move, they'll just disappear. I'll have them keep an eye out for the Curse." Lee Seng informed the group. James took a moment to think. Eli's Deimon spike was expected to happen soon, but he didn't expect it to happen now.
'This inhibits the mission…' James thought. 'I can't leave Eli here to finish it… but I must finish the mission. Someone must watch the Fox Deimon…' Jason stood up and looked at Lee Seng.
"I'll go with you." James conjured a plan. "Someone has to go with you and I'm the best bet. When you run away, I'll be the one who'll kill you. It's the only option we have."
"S-sir, do you really think that's the smartest choice?" Kiara asked. "He's listened to orders and hasn't run away. Surely, we could—"
"You and Jane will stay by Eli's side until he regains consciousness. If he doesn't wake up by tomorrow, send a message to the city. Have someone come grab you three." Jason ordered. "I will go with the Fox Deimon." Lee Seng raised an eyebrow.
"Deimon." Lee Seng said. "Fox Deimon. Didn't think I'd be called that combination of words." James looked over at Lee Seng. He wasn't in the mood for games.
"Let's go. You have my orders." James finished his conversation with the girls and motioned for Lee Seng to go. Lee Seng sighed and looked over to Eli.
"I can carry him. You keep your teammates together and if I do anything to him, you could probably kill me before I even have the chance to act." Lee Seng sighed. He couldn't believe he was offering up more than he should.
"No. I'm not risking you to carry him. You're the enemy." James dismissed his suggestion. Kiara and Jane looked at each other. They gave each other knowing glances. They both knew James' head was clouded. Lee Seng cocked his head and narrowed his eyes in confusion.
"You're going to protect me, right?" Lee Seng asked. "Don't get involved unless I must? I protected Eli just fine. I can—"
"Don't you dare say his name!" James pointed the spear straight for Lee Seng's throat. "You're the reason why he spiked early." Lee Seng watched as James' veins glowed purple.
"And apparently, I'm the reason you're going to spike." Lee Seng whispered. James pushed the spear straight for Lee Seng who didn't budge. He watched as the spear stayed in the same spot. James pushed with all his might. The veins on his arms bulged as he tried to push.
"James, you should stop before you spike, too. You aren't supposed to spike for another couple of months." Kiara warned him. James grunted as he tried to go for the killing blow. Lee Seng sighed and looked at Eli. Eli's body floated up and the two women gasped.
"H-hey! W-who's doing that?" Jane asked.
"I am." Lee Seng answered. He turned James around. "He'll float like that. You can stay with your friend. Kiara can point an arrow in the back of my head and Jane's floating axe can aim at my neck for all I care. Let's just do the mission before I just leave you to find it myself." James began to scream in frustration. He wanted to stab Lee Seng in the throat and watch the Deimon's smug face disappear.
'Why am I like this?!?' James thought. 'Argh! If it wasn't for him then…' Lee Seng pushed James into Kiara and turned to walk. Eli's body began to follow Lee Seng as he moved forward.
"H-hey!" Jane shouted. She jogged after Lee Seng, pointing at Kiara to take care of James. "Wait up, Fox!" James pushed himself onto his feet and let out a ragged breath. His veins were pulsing purple as his eyes locked onto Eli. Eli floated silently next to Jane, keeping up with her as Lee Seng led the way. James used his spear to balance himself and then raised it.
"James. He isn't going to hurt Eli." Kiara spoke. "He has no intention of doing such a thing."
"I don't like this…" James grunted. He thought about tossing the spear straight for Lee Seng but found himself contemplating whether he could do it or not. Lee Seng's image flashed. For a second, James thought he saw the previous leader. His eyes shook as the image of her began to fade. James grunted as he stumbled. Kiara held James up as he fought the hallucinatory visions. "Ah…"
"What now?" Kiara asked.
"Do you… see her?" James asked. Kiara looked up and only noticed Jane.
"Who are you talking about? Are you seeing the leader again?" Kiara asked. James nodded. For a second, he thought she was looking at him. She was smiling like she was looking behind her. She was beckoning James to follow.
"Everything will be alright." Kiara spoke. Her voice almost sounded like the leader's voice for a second. James shook it off and slowly marched forward.
"C'mon… Let's just go." James weakly said. "I don't trust… him to keep Eli like that for long…"
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