551
"What's wrong half-elf? That was your reason for coming here, is it not?" Dolos tilted his head towards the side in confusion, as if he couldn't read and understand the girl's mind.
To respond, Robin adeptly threw one of her throwing knives into Asai's thigh, with just enough speed and strength to penetrate a single inch deep.
"They're fake. It's not them." With great belief, Robin Sol firmly stated as her golden eyes remained fixated upon the old man, as her usual connection via [Robin's Desire] didn't trigger at all.
Before Istvan could seek further information or clarification, a wicked smile stretched upon the gentleman's face again as he clapped his hands in delight.
"Bravo~ Bravo~ You've bested me yet again." At this point, Dolos, the god of trickery didn't even spare the templars any thought, as he focused solely upon the girl who remained unyielding, no matter how many tricks, pranks, sleights and attempts at deception he threw at her. Her mental will strong, even after having gone through so many mental assaults, truly impressed him.
The two fakes upon the floor melted like paint, seeping through the wooden podium and into the abyss, as a single new portrait emerged, depicting a dungeon portal.
Tapping upon his chin, stroking his moustache, and itching his butt, Dolos nodded in conclusion.
"Here are your rewards, take them and leave. Bother me no more, for I am a busy man." Without looking back, he turned and instantly vanished within a blink of an eye. Leaving a small box floating in his position.
"I-I survived? I'm alive!? Sweet blessed mother!" Having momentarily fainted in fright, and recovering, Ian was frantically and joyfully massaging his neck as he eased the soreness away. Even after the threat of death was gone, his hands continued to shake as his nerves had yet to subside. Seeing this, Istvan poured the man a cup of tea, ordering him to drink and consume, as they would need their strength for later. Not one to decline tea and biscuits, the templar enjoyed what he felt to be the most delicious meal he ever had.
Robin threw a single biscuit into her mouth, before wrapping up the others with her handkerchief and storing them into her empty potion pouch, saving them for the real Asai.
Opening the box, and taking the lone item colourized for her, she found the little item wrapped within an envelope that doubled as instructions.
"Heavenly Compass. Effect: Permanent Tracker, compass will point to marked target [N/A] regardless of distance. Requires target's blood to designate, permanent effect, unchangeable."
"Figures..." Whilst she was hoping for something that would benefit their current mission, she wasn't exactly surprised that someone as unpredictable as Dolos would reward her with something like an enchanted compass. One that wouldn't even help her, as the needle was currently spinning around endlessly as it had no designated target set yet.
Shifting her tired gaze towards the templars, she began to regret not having kicked the man harder, as he had evidently led them astray.
Catching her golden eyes lingering upon them, the two templars quickly finished their drinks, shoved the biscuits down their throats, and dived into the chest themselves, claiming their rewards for surviving the rollercoaster of a dungeon.
Feeling no need to hide their items, the two men revealed two small vials each as they read their notes out aloud.
"Vial of water, unlimited supply of purified water. Unbreakable..."
Unlike Robin, who was actually expecting another prank or trick, the two men felt flabbergasted as they received something as simple as infinite water. Granted, such an item was amazingly powerful and beneficial to armies, the two were hoping for a holy sword akin to Excalibur in prowess and beauty.
Ignoring their lack of fervour, the half-elf marched on through the portrait's dungeon portal.
..
Upon exiting the dungeon, Robin couldn't believe her eyes as felt the lost connection reconnect, tangs of pain scratched across her body like a whip as [Robin's Desire] transferred 15% of the pain that was still hurting the unconscious man.
Victor Del Lagos and Hebi were greatly surprised to find Robin Sol, and shortly after, Istvan Deuce and templar knight Ian popping out of thin-air. Ignoring the prince of humanity, Robin dropped to her knees as she gently placed her unconscious lover's head upon her thighs as pillows. Only after reassuring herself that he was breathing fine, as his condition actually improved by a large margin the very moment she began sharing his burden, did Robin look over towards the prince who was a complete mess and saluted.
Quickly saluting the knight back, he suddenly found his two loyal templars throwing themselves into his chest in joy. Rubbing their noses into his chest as they quickly pulled biscuits out to shove into the man's mouth.
Hebi. Continued to watch in silence, as she tried to understand the relationships and dynamics between the humans. Which only dropped her into greater confusion as more questions began to pile up. Seeing the scrutinizing gaze from the only other female around, she wore her politest smile and waved.
"Hi, I'm Hebi, I was a prisoner here, until Asai there saved me. Please do consider us friends~"
Seeing as the woman who had strange cat like eyes wasn't hostile, Robin just nodded in response before throwing a biscuit into her own mouth. Biting, crunching and chewing it into a paste that mixed with her saliva as she fed the man below mouth to mouth, as he choked upon the thick-liquid paste, Istvan offered the girl his newly acquired item. Which, unlike the accessories and items that had been deactivated prior, was working as intended. However, as the weapon was restricted to Istvan, Robin held his hand with a tight-grip to utilize the item. Sating Asai's naturally growing dehydration and hunger.
"Thank you."
Seeing the saintess' bright smile, and receiving her appreciation, the man felt his heart pause as he almost fell head over heels for the woman once more. Until his prince's voice snapped him out of the daze.
"Istvan, is this everyone?" Being smart enough to know, he still hoped that he would be wrong, and that Istvan would give him the answer he wanted.
"Yes, my liege... It is just Ian and I that's left..."
Whatever anger, wrath, frustration and weakness the prince was currently feeling, he dismissed it all to the back of his mind as he focused entirely on escaping with the group. From a thousand strong, the renowned elite templar order now stood at three members...
"Hebi, this is all of us, we'll rest for a little longer before resuming our escape as planned.
This is Robin Sol, Istvan Deuce, and Ian. Lads, this is Hebi, a friend."
The half-snake, half-human woman nodded as she accepted her orders, pleased that she would continue to prove herself useful even after having found everyone. However, her nipples were quite itchy as she wanted to personally feed the slumbering duke with nutritious milk, from the tap.