’What is this feeling’, With only darkness infront, one thought crossed through Jia’s mind, which was still heavy due to something.

’?!’

Suddenly realising the reason for her state being caused due to the water she drank from the bottle given by Zeph, tried to call herself up from this half unconscious state but it was worthless.

Somehow, her hearing was working but that was it, everything seemed stop at that moment with her body stuck in that moment, not understanding where she was.

Suddenly breaking that quite environment was a voice.

"ZEPH!"

’What are they doing’, Somehow the voice held hint of urgency, filled with anxiety and fear as called that name but her state was frozen.

As if Paralysed.

"Zeph! Why are you tearing her clothes"

’?!?’

’Wh-what!?’, Hearing those words, Jia’s mind bombarded by surge realising what was going to happen with her.

’Zeph you bastard! Don’t even think of—’

SCRCH

’He tored it!’ Jia mind instantly recognised the sound of cloth tearing making her mind snapped, trying to just somehow come out of her state and kill that guy.

But was stuck as usual, without anything on her to make her even move slightest.

"Laila hold her leg, I need to insert it as soon as possible"

’STOP IT! YOU BASTARDS!’ Jia can’t believe what was happening with her while she was in unconscious state, specifically it wasn’t complete but half where her ears were able to hear everything vividly.

"Stop it Zeph"

’Huh, Estelle, please stop this Bastard’, Jia finally felt relief washing over her as she caught a very familiar voice.

"What is it?"

’Bastard, you are asking what is it!’ Jia can’t believe shamelessness of this man who had just tore her clothes and was about to defile her yet acted innocent.

"Ah, I mean, shouldn’t you cover it with something, So, um u know, for being in safer side"

’....Bitch!’, Jia felt her world turning upside down the moment heard those words of Estelle, it was not under her expectations to begin with, but hearing how Estelle was suggesting zeph to wear protection.

Everything was clear, each of these bastards are in this together.

’I..will....kill..you all, traitors’, Jia’s mind was filled with pain of this moment, realising how she was going to be betrayed today by those who she trusted.

’Do whatever you want bastard...sob—"I hate you Zeph, you are a rascal"

"Huh? Is this what you say to your saviour?" Zeph looking at the young woman who just out of nowhere started to clean off her tears the moment waken up from her unconscious state, felt confused.

"Sob.....I hate—schklt!" Tryingt to stop her tears with both hand’s palm, still not being able to stop the falling waterfall, her teary eyes suddenly widened feeling a sudden pain on her right leg.

"AHHH!" Snapped out of her teary state, Jia’s eyes fallen on her leg which was held by Laila with a small cloth at that place torn where now a wooden stick was stabbed by the young man looking back at her with two beautiful golden eyes.

"Y-you! What is this?" Pain was indeed strong enough to make her wince yet instead of focusing on it, her mind was trying to process things.

Her leg’s part of cloth was torn, a wooden stick was penetrating it with Laila holding her leg down while Estelle being standing with a potion in hand.

’Wait, where are we?’, Jia looked towards the compact space which was slightly cold with darkness all over the place, only a dimly lit place by flames, where her eyes could only see upto a distance with all three of them in her line of sight.

"What?" Zeph raised his eyebrow inquiring the reason for such bewilderment of Jia, seeing her such expression which was expected since, she had been bitten by a Demonic beast.

Indeed due to her body pheromones, Demonic beasts should have been away from her but due to fading of effects of those herbs due to some reason, a poisonous beast bitten her.

"No, whe—thud"

"You are alive!" Laila seeing Jia’s leaning figure, hurriedly hugged her.

"Huh, Yeah, I guess" Jia though first flustered, held widened eyes while hugged by Jia, first glanced towards Estelle and then Zeph, calming herself down as her mind somewhat started to get the gist of situation where everything was slowly getting clarity.

And after hearing Laila’s words, she atleast understood that her condition was dangerous.

Seeing how they were not in the open instead inside some cave, her mind started to relax and an embarrassment washed over her.

"She will be fine, Estelle sleep while hugging each other, Since night will be colder than your face" Zeph sat on his toes, amused as stood and stretched his back tilting his head as glanced towards Estelle with a smile, trying to tease her but found no response.

"....Thank you" Estelle wasn’t aware of what countermeasures she should take due to unexpectedly falling in a situation where Jia was bitten unexpectedly. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

But Zeph somehow saved Jia and brought all of them to a hideout due to that same Demonic beast having advantage right now in open.

So, technically they were in hiding to spend the night in a cave.

’....’ Zeph didn’t replied not wanting to hear some praise and moved to other side of fire in the middle, lying on the ground where several dry grass was scattered, where he laid comfortably beside the already sleeping small black dragon.

"By the way, can I ask you something", Estelle leaned down beside both woman, clearly understanding the cold seating comfortably with her eyes reflecting the fire burning infront of her.

"Yeah" Zeph picked up the small dragon before adjusting it as his pillow, lying down with folded legs, place one above another with hands folded in chest, closing his eyes.

"Wasn’t Jia immune or repeling the Demonic beasts, why that thing bite her?" Estelle felt confused since earlier no such beasts came closer to them, making her also lower guard due to not encountering any such beasts, but then suddenly something bitten Jia.

"Oh that’s" Zeph remembering something turned sideways with calmly sleeping with a yawn I formed," It was that water bottle I gave you, it was to nullify that ability—"

"What you just said Bastard"

Suddenly hearing a voice, Zeph’s one eyelid slid revealing golden pupil understanding that he shouldn’t have told this information.

SWISH

Suddenly seeing Jia abruptly leaning towards pull out her dagger, before sprinting towards Zeph with a clearly murderour intent, Laila swiftly stood and wrapped her hand around her waist, yelling, "STOP IT JIA, YOU CAN’T STAB ZEPH!"