It disappears, echoing an uneasy laugh.

It stares at you and your group for a long time. It definitely had a feminine figure which is strange. Why on earth would a shadow creature have to imitate a human female?

That answer is pretty obvious. This shadow creature is nothing like the ones before. The very fact that this...shadow woman is the result of all the darkness that was formerly blocking the way should respond to that observation.

It is hard to tell, but the glow of the caverns did help reveal some of "her" defining features. "She" had quite big breasts that protruded forward, but you are too worried to really dwell on that fact. More importantly, you notice "she" smiling in amusement with her red eyes staring straight at you slyly.

It is just as the minotaur says, this creature is a league of its own. With Nathraena out of commission, there isn't really a way you can fight such a powerful creature.

There isn't a way you can run either.

Holding the drow close to you and raising your knife close to your chest with your other arm, you snarl.

"We can't run, Djarrus. If you plan on attacking us, do it! I'll wipe that dark smirk off your face!" you threaten, trying to hold your own.

It's an obvious empty threat, but you couldn't die here to a mere shadow. If you did, you would not only be failing Elayna but also Nathraena and her sister!

Ready to defend yourself, you widen your eyes as the "woman" chuckles. Her laugh echoes through the cavern and sends a shiver down your spine. Instead of attacking, it disappeared, fading before your eyes.

Your hand holding your knife shakes and you don't even think about lowering your guard. Was she planning on creeping by and attacking from your back-

"She is gone, human. I don't know whether we are safe, but we may be able to rest easy," Djarrus assured. You didn't relax yet, but your eyes lowered where you see the minotaur's large hands shaking.

He was actually afraid, huh?

Closing your eyes and sighing, you lower your guard and then focus on Nathraena who passed out and is breathing heavily.

She used quite a lot of magic, you think, smiling sadly at the drow. If it weren't for her, you are sure that even the minotaur would have eventually fallen and you would be dead.

The most you can do is carry her and move forward, hopefully finding a good place to rest. You try to smell around you to see if there is any more enemies ahead, but the only thing you could identified is sweat and blood.

"I'm sorry Djarrus, but I'm going to have to rely on you more. You probably have a better sense of smell. Is there any enemies ahead?" you request.

The minotaur sighs deeply, seemingly thankful to still be alive. It feels strange for him to be afraid. For him, he would have accepted **** gladly and sacrificed himself, but that creature was something terrible. He never felt anything like it before.

Focusing his attention ahead, he smelled past the blood and sweat of the mortals behind him as well as his own excretions. He grunted before shaking his head.

"No, there are no enemies nearby. I highly doubt that any wandering creature would have survived the onslaught of the darkness we faced," he noted.

True.

Sliding the arrow holster from your back to your chest, you crouch down and place the drow on your back. Before lifting up, you placed your knife back into one of the holders on your belt. You search on the ground for the knife that the drow borrowed, but is surprised to find that one of the dark elf's dangling arms at your side still gripped the knife.

Amazing. Even while ****, her body still manages to hold some weapon in defense.

Still, you can't have a knife dangling at your side and accidentally cutting you, so you slide the knife out of her hand and place it within the other knife-holder on your belt. With both hands free, you grab the drow's thighs from the back and pull them forward so she wouldn't fall off of your back.

Lifting up, you ignore the drow's large breasts squishing against your upper back and order the minotaur to keep moving forward, which he happily complied.

As you carried the dark elf, you whisper some healing spells to yourself to help accelerate the healing of your cuts. You thought about healing the minotaur too since he has been especially helpful even though he has been ordered to cut down people like you who "pass". In the end, you decided against it because if there comes a time when you have to fight the minotaur, you needed to use every advantage you can get, including using existing wounds to your advantage.

Djarrus didn't seem to mind as you explained to him how you wanted to help heal, but can't thanks to his orders from the higher beings. He understands completely and accepts the fact which makes you feel a little guilty.

"Honestly Djarrus, I truly wish we could meet each other on better terms and become friends," you admit.

The minotaur chuckles. "Perhaps, human. I was rash when I was young, but time alone has made me become more mellow. I can't wish to become friends since a friend is someone who I would rather not kill, especially when I don't have that willpower to resist. If I am ever to be freed and die, I will consider you and the drow as my friends."

You couldn't help but chuckle tiredly. Who knew that there could be such calm and understanding minotaurs?

Madness is a strange place.