Chapter 278: Balloon House

Cassius waved Aisha off, as he finished marinating the hog.

"Relax, Aisha, it’s not a big deal." He said, his tone nonchalant as he glanced at her. "It’s not even manual labor. It’s a perfect job for Julie’s skills because of how simple it is."

He then turned to Julie, his voice steady as he pointed toward the two tents nearby, their canvas sagging and patched, looking more like tarps on sticks than proper shelters.

"You see those tents over there...Well, just like how she and Skadi already set those two tents up, I want her to set one more tent up."

"Wait, we’ve already got two tents set up." Aisha’s brow furrowed, her voice confused as she glanced at the tents, her posture shifting with uncertainty. "That’s more than enough for tonight. Why do we need another one?"

Her head tilted, her expression puzzled as she waited for an explanation.

Cassius shook his head, his voice firm as he lifted the hog, placing it on a bed of leaves he’d set aside.

"Those tents are fine for desperate knights on a last, ditch campout." He said, his tone resolute as he worked, the spices crackling faintly. "But right now, you’re with me on this mission. And I’m not letting my knights sleep in what’s basically a tarp on sticks."

"...Just thinking about you all on the hard ground in those things makes me sad." His eyes softened, his voice sincere as he glanced at them.

"Cassius, it’s fine, really." Julie said, her tone gentle as she gestured at the tents. "We’re used to it. All of us. are. It’s not a big deal to sleep in those for a night."

Her lips curved into a small smile, her shoulders loose as she tried to ease his concern. But Cassius shook his head, his voice insistent as he continued marinating the parts of the hog that he had just missed.

"Just because you’re used to it doesn’t mean you have to settle for it."

He said, his tone firm as he reached into his storage ring and suddenly pulling out a bundled tarp-like package, about a meter wide and tall, wrapped tightly like folded leather, its surface shimmering faintly with an sheen.

"...Especially since I’ve got something better right now."

He tossed the package to Julie, who caught it with a grunt, her eyes widening at its surprising weight, her voice silent as she staggered slightly.

"Take that and set it up next to the other tents." He instructed, his tone calm as he pointed to an open spot, his hands returning to the hog. "Make sure there’s nothing around it, no rocks, no branches."

"There’s a small hole on the outside of the package...Use your wind elemental magic to push air into it and just inflate it, nice and steady."

Hearing this, Aisha’s curiosity flared, her voice bubbling with questions as she circled the leather-like bundle in Julie’s hands, her eyes narrowing as she inspected it.

"Cassius, what is this thing?" She asked, her tone sharp with curiosity as she poked at the package, her fingers tracing its edges. "It doesn’t look like a tent at all! Why does she need to put air into it? What’s that got to do with tents?"

Her voice rose, her eyes darting between the bundle and Cassius, her stance eager as she leaned closer.

Cassius chuckled, as he drove a large spear through the hog to set it up as a rotisserie, his hands steady as the meat began to turn.

"You’ll see when Julie inflates it." He said, his tone mysterious as he glanced at her, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "It’s better if you find out for yourselves since I don’t wanna ruin the surprise."

His grin widened, his hands adjusting the spit, the marinade crackling faintly as the fire licked the hog.

Aisha and Julie exchanged a glance, their voices silent as they nodded, their curiosity mirrored in their wide eyes and eager postures.

"Okay, fine, let’s see what this is." Julie said, her tone bright with anticipation as she hefted the bundle, her hands gripping it tightly as she moved to an open spot away from the sagging canvas tents, her steps careful.

"No rocks, no branches...got it."

She set the package down, her voice muttering as she searched for the hole Cassius mentioned, her fingers brushing over the smooth surface until she found a small opening.

Aisha hovered nearby, her voice low with excitement as she watched, her hands clasped together. "This better be good, Cassius. If it’s just some weird bag, I’m gonna be mad."

Julie then took a deep breath, her voice soft as she uttered a spell under her breath, her hands glowing faintly with green wind energy as she channeled her magic, her mind steady despite her earlier mishaps.

"Here goes nothing."

She murmured, directing a stream of air into the hole, her eyes narrowing with concentration as the glow intensified.

And almost immediately, the package began to quiver, the grass around it rustling as air was sucked in at a rapid pace, the hole expanding slightly as Julie’s magic filled it, her voice gasping softly as she maintained the spell.

"It’s...it’s working! The air’s going in and the package is getting bigger!"

Skadi, watching from beside the hog, let out a squeal, her voice bursting with excitement as she circled the bundle, her hands clapping wildly.

"It’s getting bigger! It’s getting bigger!" She shouted, her tone awestruck as she darted around the package, her eyes wide. "The tiny little thing is growing! Master, look at it go!" Her voice rose, her steps practically bouncing as she watched the bundle expand, its size doubling before their eyes.

Aisha’s jaw also dropped, her voice sharp with disbelief as she took a step back, her hands flying to her cheeks as the package swelled, towering over her.

"Is this some kind of monster?" She exclaimed, her tone half-joking, half-alarmed as she pointed at the growing structure. "Cassius, that little package is turning into...what, a giant leather beast? It’s taller than me now!"

Her eyes darted to Cassius, her voice rising as the bundle continued to inflate, its shape shifting into something unrecognizable.

But Julie shook her head, her voice filled with awe as she kept channeling her wind magic. "It’s not a monster, Aisha." She said, her tone soft but certain as she pointed at the emerging structure, her eyes tracing its forming outlines. "Look, it’s got...a door! And those are windows, right? There’s even a pointed roof!"

Her voice grew excited, her hands trembling slightly as she maintained the spell, the package now resembling a house made of the leather, its surface taut with air.

Aisha nodded slowly, her voice softening with realization as she stepped closer, her eyes wide as she studied the inflating structure.

"You’re right...it’s a house! Not wood or stone, but...leather? Like a balloon house!" She said, her tone incredulous as she reached out to touch the surface, her fingers brushing against the smooth, taut material. "Cassius, how does this even work? It’s like you stuffed a whole mansion into that tiny bundle!"

Her voice rose, her curiosity bubbling over as she glanced back at him who was casually spinning his hog without a care in the world...