The VENOM Squad: Vespid & Octopus (Book II)

Chapter 10

"Hey!" Nana called out as she looks back at the others. "There's water here!"

Lolita rushed towards the flowing water and checked it. She summoned one of her tools which is in the form of a stick and dipped it into the water.

"What are you doing?" Harith asked as they watch her.

Harley laid the unconscious Chang'e on the floor and waited for Lolita to finish what she's doing.

"This tool of mine reacts with the liquid. If it turns gold, the water is not safe for drinking," Lolita replied. "Let's wait for a bit."

Nana sat beside Chang'e and lets out a sigh.

"What have we done?" she asked no one in particular. "We entered in a dangerous realm willingly and now, we're suffering the consequences."

No one spoke. Only the sound of the water is heard. Each of them thinks the same but what can they do? They cannot turn back, all they need is to continue their venture and maybe, they'd find their way out.

Lolita took her tool and sighed in relief.

"The water's safe," she said which made Harith dip his face and drank as much as he could. Harley lets his group freshen up first before he could perform the healing spell.

"Are you all done?" he asked. They all nodded in satisfaction.

He carried Chang'e and laid her adjacent to the waterway. He lets her hair and a small part of her head be wet. He brought out his wand and focused on the water which would help him in the process.

The others watched him for witnessing him perform magic is astonishing despite how many times they've seen him do it.

"This is the spell that I intone,
Flesh to flesh, and bone to bone."

As Harley speaks, the water starts to climb up on Chang'e's hair as if it has a mind of its own. It slowly covers her entire body as if it intends to drown her. Some of the water starts to vaporize and turns into fog, surrounding the others and making the place moisture.

"Sinew to sinew, and vein to vein,
And Chang'e is whole again!"

Harley felt his energy being drained but still, he did not give in and finished the spell. The water that once covered Chang'e retreated and as it leaves her body, the girl remained her consciousness.

"Chang'e! Are you okay now?!" Lolita asked as she helps her sit down.

"I'm okay now, thank you," she replied as she looks around and saw Harley in his knees.

"Harley," Nana said as she walks towards him. And before she could say anything else, he gripped his chest as if he's in pain.

Harith rand towards him and held his back with both hands.

"Healing thought sent in flight,
Bring the brightest of blessings this night,
Send this healing white light from above."

Just before Harith could finish his spell, Harley coughed. Chang'e and Nana stood up and hesitated to walk towards him. He coughed in pain once again.

"Harley!" they both yelled as they see the blood that came out from him.

"Surround my friend now from this painful bout."

A white light was emitted from Harith's hand and it seems to push him away but he fights its force.

Chang'e starts to feel guilty. She clasped her hand together, as if enclosing herself from the others.

"This is happening because of me," she muttered and her guilt grew even more when Harith was sent flying backwards and hit the wall with his back.

Lolita went towards him and helped him recover. Chang'e stared at Harley who seems to be gasping for air.

"Why am I so weak?" she asked herself, almost teary-eyed.

"I'm so sorry," she apologized. "Please forgive me."

"Don't be like that, Chang'e," Lolita said. "We help each other. Only us could help ourselves, we've got to work together."

Harley recovered and he laid down on the floor and stared at the ceiling.

"Thanks, man," he said without looking at Harith.

"Don't mention it," he replied.

"We'll have a short rest before we move on," Harley said as he closed his eyes.

Silence covered the group. Chang'e gazed at the Harley who seem to be sleeping at that moment. He did not just save her once or twice and she has not paid him back yet in any way. All she could say is thank you and what is even worse is she feels like a burden in their group.

"Is he really asleep?" Lolita whispered.

"It seems like it," Nana replied.

"By the way, Harith, you haven't told us you could do some spells, too," Lolita said.

Harith raised his brow as if Lolita is saying something absurd.

"We're mages," he stated, "Isn't it normal for us to cast spells?"

This time, Nana raised her brow in annoyance.

"That is true to the four of you but casting spells like what you did a while back is like advance magic," Lolita commented.

"Practice makes perfect," Harith replied proudly. "Not only Harley could do that."

"Are you saying I ain't having enough training?" Nana asked with clenched fists.

Harith shook his head in response.

"I actually like it that I am better than you," he said with a smirk.

This time, Nana felt really offended so she summoned her boomerang and threw it right towards him.

"So I could protect you from harm," Harith added which stunned the Leonin girl. Her boomerang puffed into smoke before it could hit Harith.

Lolita smirked as she enjoys watching Nana slowly blush. Harith looked at her and held the back of his neck in embarassment for she had witnessed something that should be kept a secret from anyone.

After some time, they all decided to sleep and rest. But Chang'e remained awake for she felt like she does not deserve to rest. She did not do anything helpful ever since they entered the Enchanted Forest. And as a punishment for herself, she must not rest and become useful even just for one time.

While she is staying awake as a lookout for the others, she suddenly jolted up when the place started to turn dark. She stood up but she stopped when everything turned black.

"Don't be such a coward, Chang'e," she whispered to herself as she balled her hands into fists. She was about to speak but slowly, a light that seem to come from the moon had lit the place.

"Is it night time?" she thought as she looks up but all she could see is the ceiling. Until this very moment, tje source of light still remained a mystery to them.

A light tapping sound resounded in the room. Chang'e looked around and sharpened her hearing so she could locate where the sound is coming from. As time ticks, the tapping sound became louder. Chang'e felt nervous as the footsteps came nearer. And it is not only a footstep of one, but footsteps of many.

She looked at the only entrance and saw a lot of red glittering under the light of the moon. Chang'e was at a loss of words when the first enemy came into view. It is covered in bandages, from its head down to its feet. The only opening was at their eyes which looked like the red rubies.

She spreads her arms and four moon energy balls appeared. She prepared to either attack or defend.

"I hope I could defeat them," she thought. "And please, the light covering this room, I hope it's moonlight so I could withstand these enemies."