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

Chapter 1917: Chapter 1917 Frosty Reception

— Kat —

The fog cracked open revealing… more fog. The timer had finished and it was obviously the way to go. What had once been a lazy drifting blanket of fog had turned into a swirl that clearly led inwards. It also had thick border lines, almost as if someone had sliced into the space. Only Lily’s senses revealed it was purely a visual effect. Kat shared a look with Hedera, who gave her a firm nod before they walked through.

After stepping into the fog a few paces it was everywhere. You couldn’t see anything except fog, and it couldn’t have been an illusion. Even pushing her demonic energy into her eyes didn’t help cut through the surroundings. Visibility was shit and then… it went from nothing at all to something minor.

Oh, and for Lily and Hedera there was a massive wave of cold. Like they’d just opened up a freezer and it was blasting them right in the face. Even with Lily snuggled up close into Kat it was particularly cold. Hedera was shivering, her teeth clacking together as she moved. “Are you alright?” asked Kat.

“N-n-n-no-o-o.” clacked Hedera.

Kat nodded looking around. She couldn’t see too far in any direction and there weren’t any obvious caves. There was a bit of a slope nearby but that wasn’t guaranteed to be anything proper. Instead, Kat took note of the fact that she was actually about waist high in snow. Quickly getting to work she spread her demonic fire out amongst it and started to dig down. Shovelling first snow and then ice out of the way to make a little resting spot. It didn’t take long, all Kat wanted was a little hole underground to sit in. It took maybe three minutes to be done.

Hedera leapt down into the gap, and then squeezed herself through the low overhang Kat had made, pulling a sleeping bag out as she lay it across the ’seat’ Kat had made. Shivering all the way, Hedera eventually got comfortable by accepting her fate and just leaning against the back wall with her legs pressed up against her.

Lily sealed the entrance with a thick sheet of paper. There was a thin line at the top to keep air flowing somewhat but it cut off what little wind was getting into them for the moment. It wasn’t permanent, but the drain wasn’t going top be too high. Hedera started to rub her hands together, breathing on them and trying to warm up. Kat just let her go about it. Not sure any of the more obvious methods of warming up would be appreciated here.

Eventually, Hedera stopped shivering quite so much, her breathing got more regular and her arms dropped back down to her knees so Kat thought it was safe to ask. “Are you ok? Do you not have winter gear?”

“Umm… hmm… apparently not?” said Hedera with a wince. “I thought my armour’s climate control enchantments would be up to the task. I mean… they SHOULD be. When the suit was made I specifically asked about extreme heat and cold. I was told that while it wouldn’t be perfect, especially on the heating side, I’d be safe from the cold. I thought that was a fair trade-off because I’m an archer. If it’s really that hot I can swap out of my armour and take the extra risk… or just stock up on other things that will keep me cool. Which I did. I didn’t bring too many… but they’re not going to help me much here.”

Kat cringed at the answer. “Ooh… that’s not ideal. What are your thoughts on what we do now then?”

“I… I’ve got some ’warming stones’ but they’re more for use overnight with a sleeping bag. They really aren’t meant for prolonged use. They need time to recharge… and that’s sadly a few days. It’s why I’ve got multiple. Still… can’t really be used during the day, or well, not easily and so… yeah,” sighed Hedera.

Kat let out a hum as she tried to consider the problem. “Alright… so what’s the plan? Are you ok with continuing? The snow is pretty bad here. It would mean waiting for the fog timer again, but with Weaver around we can make our way to the other side without losing too much time…”

Hedera shook her head. “No, you and Lily are fine. I’d feel bad forcing you to go so far out of the way. I’ll just deal with the chill…”

Kat rolled her eyes at the suggestion. “Lily isn’t entirely fine, it’s pretty cold for her as well.” Lily nodded from between Kat’s boobs to agree with the point. “It’s just not as bad as it is for you…”

“But you’re completely fine yes?” asked Hedera.

“Yes. This much cold isn’t too much for me. It also doesn’t have that… magical? Magical bent to really cut through my resistances,” offered Kat.

“I understand with you mean. Some areas get attuned to the mana in the air creating a feedback loop. As cold as this place is though, it’s just… naturally that cold. The mana isn’t intensifying the effects without the appropriate temperature drops,” confirmed Hedera.

“Exactly… so… are you really fine just carrying on?” asked Kat.

“Look… part of my state had to do with the sudden change in temperature. I’m sure I’ll handle it better going from this little spot up to the real chill outside… and I think we’re going down into a pit right? It’s probably warmer down there. Especially if we take some of the underground paths…” offered Hedera.

“I was expecting to just glide down with you either being carried or hanging off me somehow,” explained Kat.

“Oooh… yeah that would be faster. Um… hmm… do you know if there’s even a town at the hole nearest to us?” asked Hedera.

“Not for sure. Remember they move, the snow is hard to see through and the map wasn’t all that useful. I can go out and check? I don’t really expect to see anything though,” offered Kat.

“Um… I’m not against it?” admitted Hedera with a wince. Kat just shrugged and sent a mental question to Lily. A moment later she was leaving her girlfriend behind in the warmth as the paper door was pulled away. Kat had to step through the snow that was already accumulating somewhat on the ground outside said door, but that was a potential future danger and not much of a worry right now.

Flying gently out of the gap so as to not cause it to collapse or something Kat headed off towards the edge and leaned over… only to see… hmm… is that a thing? The hole didn’t seem all that deep actually. The angle wasn’t as steep as she thought it was, and while Kat couldn’t see the other side. She… might be able to see something about the bottom?

*It’s really hard to tell if there’s anything there. I don’t think it’s a town… I don’t there’s enough space down there. Though… is that like the edge of a building?* Seeing through the storm was extremely difficult. No amount of improved eyesight could really help when the problem was shit getting in the way. Even just looking through what gaps in the snow she could in slowed time didn’t improve her vision infinitely.

Kat ducked back into the hollow and Lily hopped back over to Kat… after she shook off the snow that had collected in a few places. Kat was careful not to get any on Hedera. No reason to give the poor elf more problems. “I can’t see all the way down… but there IS something there. Not sure it’s a town. If pressed, I’d say it probably isn’t a town… but there’s almost certainly something. Might just be a rock but it doesn’t seem like it,” announced Kat.

“And is it just as snowy down there?” asked Hedera. Kat nodded. “Not ideal… but you said there was something there?”

“Ehh…” Kat made a ’so-so’ gesture. “I think there’s a structure of some kind at the bottom. I’m guessing it’s either some ruins or a challenge.”

“I see… I’m alright with checking it out in that case,” sighed Hedera.

“About that…” said Kat slowly. “I’m not against it but it’s also not too far away. I was thinking that if you want you and Lily can stay here. If it’s a major landmark, a town, or I get teleported away you can come in right behind me… otherwise you two can just sit it out.”

Hedera shook her head. “I already feel like I’m not properly contributing to the team. Kat… you made a HUGE amount of orbs just last night… and that was only half a night’s work. I’m not going to just sit in this cave while you’re out completing challenges and earning orbs. If it causes… issues… I can work my way through them,”

“What if you pick up frostbite or something that’s actually an issue? Sure Thyme can heal it, but you’re risking a lot. I’ll have no idea where you might end up…” countered Kat.

“It’s fine. Frostbite is harder for people with mana to get if there’s no mana in the snow causing issues,” stated Hedera. Kat narrowed her eyes at the elf. That… was true but it sounded like she was leaving something out. Still… if she really wanted to help Kat wasn’t going to say no.