8-15: To Go Back Home
With all the goodies in tow, it was finally time to leave the dungeon. With one quick checkup with Eleanora, they went on their way. The labyrinth of the 14th floor was now just a straight line back to the 13th.
The lack of creatures was still unnerving to them, but not as much as when they were trying to push forward. Though, of course, the girls tried to light up the situation.
"This is going to be so much paperwork..." Sable groaned, causing the girls to giggle.
Meanwhile, Veronjca was still a bit dizzy, with Cassidy helping her.
"How long does this last?" Veronica asked her friend, ending with a slight cough.
"Until you regenerate your magic again, and get some rest. It's a pain, but you eventually get used to it as well." Cassidy answered, keeping Veronica stable.
Dragging feet, sore groans, and the occasional stretching was what all the girls were doing in their journey back. However, there were a few snags, like weaker creatures trying to ambush them, but thankfully, they were actually easy.
'Lilith? Lilith, are you there?' Veronica tried telepathically connecting to the demoness, but was met with no response. 'Lilith? Please tell me something.'
"Shut up, I'm trying to fix this." Luckily, she was still around. But what was she trying to fix?
'Fix what?'
"Something that isn't good if it isn't."
At least Lilith was still around. So, abiding to her wishes, Veronica stopped speaking to Lilith.
Each floor was a simple way back, thanks to how the dungeon works. Though, that doesn't necessarily mean they're home free. There's still the occasional ambush, and the few times the dungeon played tricks on the girls, taking a bit longer to get out than normal. And, surprisingly enough, no lewd traps this time.
Well, there was one, but all they needed to do was tease the cutest one in the group. Seemed quite lenient, all things considered. And, with a flustered Sirtia, the girls were able to move on.
Though, a strange thing was that Veronica was still exhausted. Typically, even a beginner mage would've been recovered by now. She didn't exactly need Cassidy's help anymore, but her head was in pain and her heart was pounding. She had this scratchy, tickling feeling in the back if her throat, causing her to cough again.
She could still breathe fine, but it was like a pressure of some kind was trying to hold her back. It was odd, but the girls kept going, slowing down to keep Veronica with them.
Floor ten, nine, eight. The girls were making good progress. Not much longer to go to get out and relax. Seven, six, five.
Then, Veronica coughed. And again. And again...
She started having a huge coughing fit, losing her balance and leaning onto a wall as she covered her mouth and coughed into her hand. It wouldn't stop. Her throat was in so much pain, her knees buckled under her. Breathing was difficult, as if someone, or something, was standing on her chest. Kt was a familiar feeling to her. Finally, her coughing fit was over.
"Veronica, are you alright?" Seraph asked, stopping by and crouching down to help her underclassman.
Veronjca removed her hand from her mouth, she was shocked, but not surprised. Her hand was entirely coated with a red liquid. Blood. Her blood.
"Well that's not good..." Veronica muttered as she collapsed to the ground, unresponsive.
"Ver! VER!" Cassidy yelled out, running over to check on her.
To Cassidy, Veronica's condition was all too familiar. Then it clicked. This was why she never recovered. For some reason, her sickness returned. A sickness that would've killed her years ago.
"E-Elly! You can heal her, right?" Cassidy asked worried, her tone more like an order than a question.
Eleanora rushed over and attempted to heal whatever damages there were, but Veronica's condition never grew better.
"We need to get her out of here now." Sirtia stated, picking Veronica up and hoisting her onto her shoulders. Veronica may have been taller, but Sirtia was definelty stronger.
Then, running all the way back out of the dungeon, the girls only had one thought. How can they help Veronica?