Sorry folks, got my chapters crossed...
So here's 47, and well, I suppose 48 is a bonus? stupid mornings and early working days...
=Warning!=
This chapter, if you didn't catch on from the LAST one, contains some pretty ugly stuff.
Just saying. Have to justify my 'M' rating, and this is one of the chapters that certainly does it. But, its part of the story, so I can't just not put it there.
Enjoy. :)
Chapter 47
She had said 'hour or two'... She had said 'soon'.
So where was she?
Haruhime paced. Or tried to. Hestia had taken hold of the end of her tail, much how she did with Kodori, and watched with a little smile as the girl fidgeted from side to side.
"You're worrying too much, Haruhime." Hestia said with a gentle tug on the tip of Haruhime's tail.
"Lady Hestia!" Lilly, as well as some one neither of them recognized all but fell into the dining room. "You tell her! I'll get the others!" Lilly said to the new face, a Chienthrope dressed in a red vest and black shirt, and a tough looking pair of faded red pants.
The two at the table blinked in surprise as Lilly all but threw her backpack off, some of the contents spilling to the floor, and dashed as fast as her short body and adventurer status would allow.
She had blood on her, the two noticed. A long crescent slash of crimson down her front.
Standing, Hestia looked at the new face and with surprising authority, said, "Explain yourself!"
Still out of breath, also spattered in blood, though it was hard to see against the red, the new face replied, "I'm Rurune. Hermes Familia. He told me to watch out for you if you ever left home." She took another couple of fast breaths, steadied herself, checked her forehead and looked at her palm with a frown, "The Fox caught sight of me up on the rooftops and while she was distracted, a pair of Amazons ambushed Lilly."
Haruhime's eyes went wide, her body starting to shake a little. The sense of foreboding that was building ever since Kodori had started being 'late', pretty much exploded into full blown dread.
"Go on..." Hestia demanded patiently.
"She jumped back down to save her, killing one of them. That's where the blood on Lilly came from, if you're wondering." Her breathing was finally under control now, "The second one ran, and The Fox chased after her. We tried to follow, but lost them almost instantly. I put out a signal to the other three who are on watch with me, but they are still looking. We had to avoid another couple of Amazons too, before we could make our way here."
All of the paired Familia members flooded into the room a moment later. Still covered in 'work' from the project out back, with Bell in the lead. "Lady Hestia," Bell said, his red eyes furious, "We're going. Please look after the house while we're gone."
Silently, angrily, they all walked past. Lilly came up last, eyes worried, "Lady Hestia... It was them. I know it. The Berbera, from Ishtar Familia."
Haruhime shook her head, "But... When Lady Ishtar was banished... Her spell should have been removed."
"They were the same ones! Red leather, with the Familia crest on it still." Lilly replied, "Lady Hestia, what should we do?"
"Where did everyone go?" Wiene asked, head peeking in from around the doorway, her yellow eyes blinking as if just waking up.
"I'll explain... I can't help them look, but I can at least do something." Haruhime said to the other two quietly, "I'm not as fast as any of you... And if they still have a grudge I'd just be getting in the way if they have to find me too..."
Hestia nodded, gathering up the two girls in a hug. "I will wait here, and pray for good fortune."
It wasn't until almost dinner time, when they came back. Haruhime was a wreck of nerves by now, but had occupied herself by trying to prep dinner. If nothing bad had happened, and her feeling of dread was just her worrying over nothing, it was Kodori's turn to cook, and as always, it would be pasta night.
She nearly cut herself when she heard the front door slam open, and the heavy footsteps of the men, and the lighter ones of the women, marched in. As she ran to meet them, she spotted Marius, carrying a bundle in his arms, wrapped in a bloody sheet.
Her heart froze.
"Lady Haruhime." Marius said, his voice, for once, commanding. Absolute. A general on the field. The difference from his usual tone shocked Haruhime, and before she could simply lock in place, she looked up at him, "She is alive. But Do Not Let The Children See." He punctuated each word, his command voice echoing over the marble walls. "Move."
And she did. Retreating from him, she ran to find Lord Takemikazuchi. Passing Lady Hestia on the way, she took the hand of one of the orphans who was following her. "Let's go this way, its dangerous that way right now. Dinner will be soon."
"Aww, but Lady Hestia was going to read us a story." He complained quietly, "Will you read us one instead?"
"Let's find Lord Takemikazuchi first, then maybe." She replied, fighting back tears, but refusing to show weakness.
Marius was right. The children should not have seen this. Her nose, a little more sensitive than most, Haruhime could smell the sickening mix of blood and dirt. She could hear Hestia sobbing, and two of the men, Bell and Welf, arguing as she approached the door to the first aid room. Marius was standing by the door, fully armed, sword, shield, helmet. He looked down at her, his usually passive face focused as if he were in the dungeon.
"Are you sure?" He asked her, getting in her way with the noise of shifting metal.
"I must go to her." Haruhime replied, "Why are you...?"
"From what Lilly could tell us, Kodori was singled out, and hunted. This was not a random thing. Our captain was targeted, lead on, and brought down." He moved a little, so Haruhime could pass. "I stand here so no one can finish the job while I live. Chigusa and Ouka are braced against the window for the same reason.
Nodding, and patting the big man on his armoured hip in thanks, she passed him and into the room. The lights were at full brightness, and the smell was much worse. And there, on one of the beds, surrounded Lady Hestia, Lilly, Asuka and Takemikazuchi, was... A body.
Welf and Bell had stopped arguing as she entered, the white haired boy looking away from the smith and holding up a hand, as if to say something, but stopping. He simply watched as the golden haired Renard took small steps over to the bed.
The body was uncovered mostly. A simple cloth over the hips and nothing else. Marius was right. It was bad. No, bad couldn't even begin to describe it. One of the body's feet had been cut off. The other was missing toes. The tendon on that ankle had been severed. Both shins, knees and thighs were broken and twisted. Both hands were missing random seeming bits of fingers, both forearms were broken at least twice, both elbows were backwards, both biceps had been cut and the bones underneath broken too. Ribs had been broken, profanity carved into the skin that hadn't been shredded, breasts removed. Nose, lips, teeth, and even the ears were cut away. The only way she could even tell it was Kodori, were her eyes. Both of the golden orbs had been slashed across the middle, but they were still in her head. Her chest still rose and fell shallowly, but she had been broken. Even her throat had a neat little cut across it. And her tails were gone.
Even worse, Haruhime realized, was that the wounds weren't bleeding. Who ever had done this to her had half healed her every step of the way.
Hestia had wrapped her arms around her, even as the strength in her legs gave out and her breath started to catch in her throat.
"We can't just go out and look for them." Welf hissed as Haruhime seemed to just... Switch off.
"We can't just do nothing." Bell growled.
"We also cannot just stand and argue." Mikoto said from her position by the other window that Ouka and Chigusa were guarding. "Would Nazza-san or Lord Miach know how to help?"
"The girl from Hermes should be on the way back with them soon." Welf replied.
"Healing... Won't really work, will it?" Asuka asked, "It's all been healed... so badly..." It was obvious Asuka was just barely holding back. But, as the Takemikazuchi medic, she kept herself together.
"Would any of the other Gods know how to help?" Bell asked.
"Let us past!" The normally calm voice of Miach demanded from just outside the door. A moment later, Him, and Nazza both entered. "Let me... oh..."
Nazza pushed past her God, and blinked, her living hand going to the metal one, before she started shouting orders.
More help had been called, explanations had been given, and after nearly four hours, Ganesha himself, standing next to someone He said, without any of the silly poses, fancy words, or loud voices, called His best surgeon. "We will do what we can, but." He looked to Haruhime, who was holding what was left of Kodori's right hand. "Little Miss... You need to let go, we need to work."
"She... has no tails..." Haruhime mumbled, "Even if she can be healed..."
"What?" They were the first words she had spoken since she had sat down next to the barely breathing body, "That's the least of her problems ma'am." The surgeon said.
"She has no magic without them." She replied, though it was as if she was talking to herself, more than anything.
Ganesha looked like he wanted to swear. His usual upbeat personality eroded away, he replied, "Fine. We might be able to help that with mind potions."
"No!" Haruhime shouted, "You don't understand..." She shook her head back and forth, "They would just... drain away. Without her tails, any mind potions you give her would poison her before they would revive her from mind down."
"Lord... If I operate on her while she is in mind down, I'd probably kill her." The surgeon admitted, "With no will, the body will simply die. It's a miracle she's still alive as it is."
"And even if you fix all this so potions would work again... Our Familia simple doesn't have anything strong enough to heal everything that's missing." Nazza said with a frown, "And the Elixir from Dain Cecht Familia or Asclepius Familia... Even without worrying about the price, they don't always have them on demand."
"I'll sell one of my swords." Welf said instantly. "Damn the price, I'll cover it. If it saves her, I'll sell it to anyone."
The entire room, minus Haruhime and Kodori, looked at the smith in shock.
"I, Ganesha, will purchase this blade." The elephant masked God said seriously, "Single edged, please."
"Done." And Welf left the room.
"That just leaves her unable to recover her magic." The surgeon said, sighing, "And us losing money again." He mumbled.
"I'll do it." Haruhime said. "No matter how long it takes, I'll give her my magic." She looked to Lilly, "Bring every mind potion we have, I'll drink them all if I have to."
"The last time you did that, she kind of... exploded." Bell said, shocked, "Will it be okay?"
"Yes. It only happened when she used her own magic as well. But since... her tails..." She trailed off, holding the mangled hand a little tighter.
"Please, Haruhime. If you can do it, please..." Hestia said, "I... I'll make dinner. We'll be no good to her if we pass out from hunger."
"May I have your seal on this, Friend Ganesha? I will take my Familia and fetch the potion." Takemikazuchi said, standing before the God of the People.
"Yes. That would be helpful. I will assist my captain. Lady Haruhime, we will start when you are ready."
For the next full day, the people of the two Familia had to occupy themselves. Hestia was, at best, a bundle of nerves. As before, when Kodori had gone missing, She paced, tried to stay awake, failed to sleep when others of her Familia noticed, and simply hid in her room to cry. Wiene had asked for an explanation, and that made them both break down crying.
Mikoto had happened on them, late into the evening. The two of them holding onto the dark metal fox token Kodori had made. The two, Goddess and Monster had fallen asleep, foreheads together, with both hands on the little figurine.
Lilly had been absent from the home all day, and most of the evening. She had visited every place she could think of to try and find a hint about these Amazons. This prompted Ryuu, as well as Aisha who was having lunch at the Hostess of Fertility when Lilly visited, to show up at the manor as well.
"Tiny. Tell me again, how this happened?" Aisha asked, stopping Lilly from running off again.
"We," Lilly had discarded her childish voice since the start of this incident, "Think it was the Berbera. It was the same group that caught Kodori and Bell the first time. Red leather armour, with the Ishtar emblem on the left breast."
"Damn..." Aisha grimaced, "A bunch of us sort of... Found some place else to stay for a while after that. I joined with Hermes, a few others found other Familia... But there were a few..."
"Can you track them? Or ask for their help?" Ryuu asked, "Where are you going next Lilly?"
"Lilly will help Aisha, if she can. And..." She gave Ryuu a meaningful look, which was returned with a nod. "Lilly will explain everything else too."
"You mean there's more?" Aisha asked, bending down and scooping up the Pallum girl, "I'll run, its faster."
Ryuu watched them run back out, down the path and over the front gate of the manor. Heading inside, she found the place almost chilly. Like some great draft had settled into the bones of the building itself. She knew where to go however.
"Ma'am." Marius greeted her, but did not move from in front of the door. "Are you sure?"
Inside, she could hear a quiet back and forth of single words. The smell of blood, sweat and sickness was strong as well, even out in the hallway past a closed door.
"Please, Sir Marius." She replied with a frown, "I will help, if I can."
"With respect, Ma'am. It's bad. As well, there are two Gods, an alchemist, a surgeon, and Lady Haruhime working on her already. I am not sure if there is any space to help." Marius replied stoically.
"If I cannot help, I will take your place, so you can sleep." Ryuu replied, the big man taking a half step to the side and letting her pass.
It really was worse than she had thought. Almost a full twenty-four hours since they had found Kodori, she had been basically tied to the ceiling with a collection of what amounted to finger thick bands. Hanging freely, this allowed the surgeon, who was very carefully moving around under Kodori, to work with what looked like a hammer and a chisel. Nazza, was crouched next to him, with a little jar and what looked like a bloody paintbrush. Every time the surgeon tapped the end of the chisel with the hammer, Nazza would dip the brush into the jar, and apply a fine white powder to the location.
Above, Miach and Ganesha were working with scalpels and more of that powder.
It looked like a live dissection.
Haruhime, who was sitting on a stool and very gently holding Kodori's head, said, "Wait." And The body, Kodori, twitched weakly, before settling again, "Safe." And work would resume.
"No closer, Ryuu-san." Asuka said from her place at the window. "Unless you can help..."
"She can." Nazza said, not looking away from the surgeon's hands, "Know where the workshop is?"
"Yes." Ryuu answered.
"Inside, main room, on the left. Workbench with all kinds of glass and pipes. Should be a jar like this on a little blue flame. It should be ready. And if you see any more bottles with blue beads in it, bring that too." Ryuu nodded, backing away, just managing to hear, "Mind pills... she invents stuff like its a hobby..."
Haruhime was in pain. Not just sick with worry, at seeing her love and lover cut open in dozens of places, bone exposed, blood very slowly dripping past the white powder Nazza had been applying. But in actual pain. She had sat almost motionless for nearly the entire time since they started. Only moving once, to let Welf and the two Gods rig up the straps holding Kodori up so they could work on her ruined back as well.
"Stop." She said numbly, feeling the steady flow of magic she was feeding her opposite flicker, Kodori's body twitching feebly in response, then settling again, "Okay."
Her rear was beyond numb. Her stomach was sour from all of the mind potions, and pills she had taken in, and she had to maintain contact with Kodori, on the only spots her torturers hadn't cut or flayed off of her. Where human ears would be.
But she endured. The contact let her focus the flow of magic to the tiniest trickle. Just enough to keep Kodori from going into mind down, but not enough to bring her back to alertness. If it wasn't for Nazza, and Lord Miach, with what ever they had put into the wounds the surgeon and Lord Ganesha were re-inflicting on Kodori... Haruhime couldn't even begin to imagine the kind of pain it would bring.
Yet, every so often, Kodori's body would try to pull in a little more of her magic, as if on instinct. And Haruhime would have to cut off her link for just an moment.
She, Bell, and Mikoto had saved her life once. She would endure this, and return the favour.
Eina knew something was wrong. Not just 'wrong', there was always something wrong in the city. Too much paperwork, people getting careless in the dungeon, people getting careless out of the dungeon, too much work, and even with the new hires in the Guild, there was always too much work.
But she had been given a message to deliver personally to the Hearthstone Manor. By Guild Master Royman himself.
After his chat with Kodori, he'd become much easier to get along with. He still grumbled, but it wasn't 'because she was a half blooded elf', but because something was genuinely wrong. But today, he'd handed her the letter and said, "Deliver it personally to your friends. It is very important. And ask to meet the new girl."
That last part, he said in elvish. Very quietly, so neither of her two co-workers, both humans, could hear him.
As she approached the Manor, the sense of 'wrong' was amplified. Bell was standing at the gate. On guard. And looking angry.
Bell was never angry. Serious, yes. Determined, sure. But angry? Never.
"Oh." Bell spotted her, and bowed, not waved as he usually did, to her. "Miss Eina."
"Hello Bell." Eina couldn't help but feel, for the very first time since meeting the boy, a little afraid of him. He was all three, Serious, determined, AND angry. "I... What's wrong?"
"Kodori was hurt." He replied simply. "And I am making sure no one enters this gate to get to her."
"Oh..." She paused, then pulled out the letter. "Well... Since this is an official letter, I guess you are acting captain?"
Bell accepted the letter, and actually looked like he was going to rip it up, but stopped, shook his head, slapped both his cheeks at once, and sighed, "Sorry..." He said to her, running his thumb under the wax seal.
"And, Mr. Royman told me to ask to meet the new girl? Eep!" Eina backed up a half step as Bell's hands did rip the letter, but it looked to be more a case of nerves this time, not anger.
"Mr. Royman..." He considered, rescued the letter from the envelope and put the two halves together, not reading them yet. "Yes. We trust you, Miss Eina."
Eina was starting to feel like something was going to jump out of a shadow or something and attack her. This was far beyond what she knew of how Bell acted. "Lead the way then?"
"Just a moment." Turning, he looked towards the main door, and yelled, "Ouka! Switch!"
"OSU!" Came the reply from the big spear man before he started to approach.
"Shh." Bell said as he very carefully opened the door to Hestia's room. "Lady Hestia?"
The Goddess was sitting in bed, with an unfamiliar girl resting her head in Her lap, sleeping. Eina was shocked, for many reasons. First, it seemed like the Goddess herself was... Dim. Gone was the familiar energy when ever she had seen her, be it visiting like this, or going to buy potato puffs on her lunch break.
No, just like any mortal, She looked like a wreck of nerves, tears, and almost no sleep.
Next, was the girl. Dressed in what looked like a pool of ink that was somehow in the shape of a robe, her appearance was... Alien. Pale blue skin, what looked like small scales peeking out from the shoulders of the robe, long ears, longer than any elf, silken white/blue hair, and a small gem on her forehead. Her own lessons to Bell and the others shuffled through her head and her eyes widened.
And in yet another moment of Bell being out of character for his usual self, before Eina could make a noise, he had placed his finger across her lips, his red eyes more 'dungeon self' than 'social self'.
"She's been crying almost every moment she's been awake." Hestia explained quietly. "She won't even let me hold Kodori's stone while she's sleeping." Eina was shocked again, as the Goddess pet the girl's head as if she were just another sleeping person.
Bell took his hand away, and gently pushed Eina's shoulder, directing her back towards the door. Once outside, the door closed behind him, he said quietly, "Her name, is Wiene. I found her, wounded and alone, after being attacked by monsters and people. I offered my hand to her, and brought her up."
"But... She's..." Eina shook her head, it wouldn't do to start name calling. So instead, "And then?"
"Kodori helped me convince the others, and we hid her until we got home. It took a little while, but we gave her a name, taught her some of the things about us... Even if she was born in the dungeon, she is more 'human' than some of the people I know." Again, Bell surprised her, "Heh... I'm sounding more like Miss Kodori..."
"Lady Hestia... Took her in?"
"It took a little convincing, but after Miss Kodori helped Wiene realize the difference between 'animal' and 'person', Lady Hestia gifted her with Falna."
"And... Royman knows... I think I may need to sit down a moment." Eina admitted, Bell offering his hand and shoulder for her to lean on. "Lady Hestia mentioned a 'stone'?"
"Oh... One moment." He turned and tapped on the door very quietly, opening it, "Lady Hestia? May I... Thank you." He vanished, then returned, a small white rabbit sculpture in his palm. "Hold this. And walk with me to the kitchen, I'll make you some tea, Miss Eina."
It was surprisingly heavy for its size, with small ruby flakes for eyes. "It's... Metal? Silver?"
"Yes. Miss Kodori made Lady Hestia a full set, Lord Takemikazuchi too, one for each of us." The two of them made it to the kitchen, Eina noticing a faint coppery smell in the air. "Sit down, I won't be long."
"It really does remind me of you." Eina said with a small smile.
"Close your eyes, and put both hands on it." Bell explained.
Doing as instructed, Eina held the bunny figure in both hands, closing her eyes.
It was as if Bell were standing next to her, almost touching her shoulder. The scent of his armour and simple shampoo, as if he had just arrived at the guild hall for his morning lessons. His smile as he greeted her, his embarrassment as she reminded him of something from her last lesson, his modest head scratching as he traded in his magic stones at the end of the day.
Unable to help herself, she opened her eyes and looked around, confused. Bell was watching her from next to the not quite boiling kettle. The scent had faded back to the faint coppery smell, and Bell's face wasn't smiling.
"That's... Amazing." Eina said finally, "It was like..."
"Miss Kodori couldn't think of a final name, but Lady Hestia called them 'memory stones'. They are her first real try at enchanting, and they do... Well... Exactly what you just experienced." Bell said, sighing, "When Lady Hestia holds them, we feel her too. It's different for all of us, but..."
"What does it feel like for you?"
"Like She is holding my hand, and walking beside me." Bell replied with a small smile. "It sounds silly... But..."
"It's not silly. It's amazing! She could probably make a small fortune selling these." Eina said, trying to divert Bell from thinking about Kodori's current state, and towards a future with her still in it.
But he shook his head, turning to tend the kettle, "No... She would need to know the person. How did she say it... She would need to go drinking with everyone who's God wanted one made for?"
"Hm.. I wouldn't mind one of you." Eina said before she could stop herself, her cheeks heating up a moment later.
Again, Bell didn't act embarrassed, instead putting down a cup for Eina, then sitting down as well. Instead, he said "Miss Kodori said you might. If she gets better." The boy sniffed then, squinting his eyes shut a moment, then opening them again, "When she gets better, I'll ask for you."
Eina gave the boy a pat on the shoulder, then sat back again to sip her tea. "Still have the letter?"
"Y...yes..." He reached into a pocket and put the two halves of the letter on the table in front of him. He didn't read it all out loud, but sort of mumbled out the main points. "Hestia and Takemikazuchi alliance... Formally requested... Ouranos?" He stopped and blinked in surprise, "Consider this a guild mission. Come as soon as you are able, the night of receiving this letter if possible. The presence of your newest member is mandatory. Come equipped for a proper trip into the dungeon..."
With a sigh, he leaned back, holding one side of his face with a hand, "This is terrible timing."
"Again, you sound like Kodori." Eina teased gently.
"Without her... And Miss Haruhime for sure..." Bell mumbled, his eyes going distant as he thought.
Eina smiled behind her teacup. This was the Bell she knew from the start of his career. Thoughtful, careful. She didn't like the thought of Kodori being hurt, but it pleased her that Bell could still operate without his captain. "Should I return and tell Royman to wait?"
"No. Miss Kodori has told us her thoughts on this. Mr. Royman knows. Lord Ouranos knows. Lord Hermes knows. Lord Ganesha knows. We have allies, no, Wiene has allies in this. But we need to go to them. They can't expose what they know yet. The city can't accept the Dungeon Born yet, but there are those who want to help them, even so." Bell was pacing now, two steps turn, two steps turn. Just like Kodori when some one was holding one of her tails.
Eina smiled again, not hiding it this time, "You've grown Bell, and you do listen. You make me proud to be your mentor."
This time he did react like his usual self, and dissolved into a stuttering idiot.
That night, after a dinner no one seemed to really be able to eat, Bell took everyone to the living room. Hestia managed to bring Wiene from her room, but the dragon girl still held the little black fox token. Aisha had returned, and replaced Mikoto in the infirmary, while Ryuu had replaced Marius as the hallway guard.
Quietly, Bell got up from his usual spot on the biggest couch, and stood in the middle of the room. Eyes sweeping over everyone's faces, he started.
"The timing for this, is terrible." He said, holding the two halves of the letter. "But, Miss Eina delivered an official guild notice, directly from the guild master himself, Mr. Royman."
"Kodori mentioned him. How her second meeting was much better than the first, at least." Welf said, his leg dangling over the arm of his favourite chair, "What's it say?"
"To the Hestia and Takemikazuchi Alliance." There were a couple of small smiles from around the room as Bell started. "It had come to our attention, that certain things have been made known to your two Familia. You are formerly requested to go to the twentieth , by order of Lord Ouranos God of the Sky, Protector of the city, and founder of Orario."
"Ouranos..." Marius mumbled, "The first God to descend?"
"Yes, he was the first of us to Descend. It was Him, and his Familia, who drove off the Black Dragon, though they were only able to injure it." Takemikazuchi explained, "This allowed the capping of the dungeon, and founding of the city as we know it."
Marius nodded, then went back to looking passive. Bell looked around the room quickly, and continued, "Consider this a Guild mission. You must go as soon as you are able, the night of receiving this letter if at all possible. Your newest member's attendance is mandatory in this. As well, come equipped for a proper excursion into the dungeon. This will take you to the twentieth floor, to a location marked on this map."
"Then there is some sort of scribble I think is a name... It's very fancy." Bell finished.
"Huh..." Welf said, scratching his head, the rest of them silent.
"Miss Eina said this was a mission. An official one. And only we can know about it." Bell explained.
"Mission?" Wiene asked, "Into the dungeon?"
"Yes Wiene... We have to take you into the dungeon." Mikoto explained, patting the girl's hand gently.
"You... aren't going to leave me there, are you?" Wiene's golden eyes were starting to tear up again.
"No." Mikoto answered plainly, moving over and giving one of her rare hugs. "You are Familia."
Everyone in the room nodded, the dragon girl seeing it and managing to stop herself after only a single tear, "And we do not leave Familia behind." They all said together.
"Do you think this is what Kodori was talking about? Meeting the other... Xenos?" Ouka asked, "I'll admit, I'm curious, but level twenty is still a bit of a run, and when we get there... Then what?"
"Oh..." Bell laughed a little nervously, "Miss Lilly? I'll need your help making a copy of this..." He handed her the letter, "On the back, I kind of ripped in in surprise, when Miss Eina told me she was told to meet Wiene."
"Miss... Eina?" Wiene asked.
"You were sleeping." Hestia said, taking the girl from Mikoto's light embrace and hugging her properly. "But, Kodori calls her 'best adviser'. Eina has taught almost all of my children about the dungeon, Takemikazuchi's as well."
"She's a bit bossy." Welf started, sitting up properly, then standing, stretching out his back, "But, the information she teaches us has saved all our lives at least once, each."
"So... Miss Eina is wise?" Wiene asked, earning a tired chuckle from everyone.
"Yes." Bell said, scratching the back of his head, "Now, it says we are to leave at midnight... That gives us... three or so hours to get ready. Miss Kodori would probably say get some sleep, or maybe try one of her... What did she call it?"
"Instant coffee pills." Asuka said, "Bleh. Wakes you up, but the taste..." She shivered in her chair. "Tastes like the smell of a really dirty monster."
A couple of others nodded, also making a sour face.
"So we are leaving Kodori and Haruhime here. Should we ask Miss Aisha and Miss Ryuu to stay? Do you think that's too much to ask?" Bell asked.
"I'll ask them." Hestia said, "I think Ryuu would be happy to, and isn't that Amazon one of Haruhime's best friends?"
"Yes." Mikoto said with a nod, also standing, "She protected her, and kept her company during her time with Ishtar." Even the rigidly polite Easterner had dropped the title from the Goddess's name.
"I guess that's all then." Bell said, looking around as everyone who wasn't standing got up and made ready to leave, "Let's..."
They all paused and looked at him, the boy switching gears, to show his determination as was proper before a mission.
"Let's complete our mission. And return, to make our Captain proud." Bell said, "And prove that we have learned, grown, and become two Familia who work as one, to overcome All."
"Yeah!"
Notes
This was... Kind of hard to write. I've been writing 'first person' for so long now, (since October! Wow... Like... damn.) that switching to a 'fly on the wall' perspective makes me feel like I'm writing... I dunno.
Anyhow, Look forward to the next chapter! I hope I wasn't too graphic for some of you... I mean... You know, I'm gonna put a warning up top before I save this for the day.
Be awesome, and see you soon. :)
