Within the coliseum, the group had gathered, voices low but urgent as they tried to piece together what each of them had witnessed. Zeva remained in the medical area, still being treated, and the concern weighed heavily over the discussion.
"So you all saw a building get cut to dust mid-fall?" Quincy asked, disbelief sharp in her voice.
Calvinel nodded slowly. "That's the best way to describe it. It was sliced apart in seconds. I've never seen anything like it."
Even let out a tired breath, rubbing at his forehead. "Just what we needed," he muttered. "Demons apparently moving at the speed of light."
"Well, maybe it wasn't a demon," Larkin cut in, leaning forward. "I mean, ya said the buildin' was fallin' toward the residential area, right? A demon stoppin' that don't make much sense. Sounds more like someone helpin' the city."
A few heads nodded at that.
"That… does make sense," Xain said quietly. He paused, then turned to Quincy, a concern he'd been holding onto finally surfacing. "We're all worried about Hittag and Gurion not being back yet. But what about Vilak and Callum? Shouldn't we be worried about them too?"
Quincy shook her head. "You weren't there when they planned it, so that's understandable," she said. "But don't worry too much. They decided to kill as many demons as possible first—then Vilak's going to perform a massive necromancy spell and raise them all to fight for us. So those two are just going to stay out doing that."
The guard commander raised his hand. "If Gurion and Hittag are in trouble, then we should mount a rescue," he said firmly. "My guards and I are ready if you give the order, Lady Quincy."
Bryanard shook his head at once. "No. You and your guards remain here. The coliseum must be defended in case the demons regroup and attack. You cannot be deployed outside."
"Then who is going to help them?" Edluar demanded, stepping forward. "If something is delaying those two, it's not minor. Whatever they're facing is dangerous."
No one argued that. The tension in the room thickened.
"What if Zee and I go?" Mae said, gesturing between herself and her twin. "The demons are already scared of us. If one—or both—of us show up, we can probably get them out without much trouble."
"That… might work," Quincy said slowly, thinking it through.
"But what if you run into that Demon Lord?" Lexy asked, her voice tight, the memory clearly still rattling her. "If that happens, the demons being afraid of you won't matter at all."
"That's true, and that's another serious problem," Annabel muttered, her brow tightening as she weighed the situation, silently measuring her own chances against a Demon Lord.
Ulrich exhaled and rubbed the back of his neck. "Zeva lost to him. Badly. If she couldn't win, I don't think any of us stands much of a chance." he said grimly. "If she was overwhelmed, that puts the rest of us in a really bad position."
"Well, we can't do nothing," Clara said, her voice tight with worry. "We can't just leave them out there."
"Goddess, there has to be something we can do," Amos muttered, adjusting his hat.
Xain stayed quiet, thoughts turning inward. *If I use it… if he comes out again…* He raised his hand. "I can go."
The reaction was instant.
"Xain, no!" Zee snapped.
"Absolutely not," Calvinel said firmly. "You're a capable fighter, but demons are one thing. A Demon Lord is another entirely."
"Yar not goin' out there, Xain," Larkin added, pointing at him.
"I don't know," Mae said, cutting in. "I think he can go."
"Mae, what are you saying!?" Zee demanded.
Mae shrugged. "You all saw our fight. He beat me. I couldn't even track some of his hits. I used Elven Rage and still got overwhelmed. If anyone here has a chance of getting in and out alive, it's him."
Drack nodded. "Miss Mae is correct. You have all seen how he fights when he reaches that state. It was… grotesquely efficient. Enough that even a Demon Lord might hesitate to engage."
Lia raised her hand suddenly. "I agree! I think sending Xain is a safe bet!"
Several people stared at her, more confused than convinced.
Then, unexpectedly, Elsa raised her hand as well. "I agree too."
Clara turned to her in disbelief. "You as well, Elsa?"
"I'm not saying it's ideal," Elsa said calmly. "But it's better than sending someone to die—or doing nothing at all. And I can prepare protective rituals for him."
That gave a few of them pause. The guard commander, unfamiliar with Xain personally, simply nodded at the logic. Annabel considered it quietly. So did Amos, Ulrich, Dirk, Even, and Lexy.
Zee, Larkin, Calvinel, Bryanard, Edluar, and Clara remained firmly opposed.
Xain, meanwhile, kept his expression neutral. *Not what I intended, but if it gets me out there, it works.*
Quincy inhaled slowly, then exhaled. "Alright. After hearing everyone…" She looked directly at Xain. "You can go."
Before anyone could object, she raised a finger. "On one condition. You do not go alone. I refuse to send you out there by yourself."