Go back to chapter 46, and hopefully, 47 will be there. Wasn't awake enough when I posted things and got them out of order.

Chapter 48

Hestia watched them leave. Sad, but pleased they got along so well. That they, together, were able to overcome and adapt to anything that the world threw at them. Beside her, Takemikazuchi was smiling as well.

"They burn so bright, our children." the War God said, "The bonds of trust are strong between them."

"Just as she meant them to be." Hestia replied, sighing, "Even... After what was done to her. They trust in her teachings. She is gone, but her methods are not."

"Not gone." Takemikazuchi put his hand on the diminutive Goddess's shoulder, "Our Familia are not the only bonds of trust she has made. I'd never have expected Ganesha himself to come. Miach, yes, he is our dear friend as well, but Ganesha?"

"It surprised me too." They both turned and headed back inside, the midnight air from outside being overcome with the faint coppery smell that had overtaken the manor. "I suspect there is something behind that. But, I suppose, he is a God of the People."

"Kodori-san is quite the person." Takemikazuchi replied with a smile. "I will make sure the children are sleeping soundly."

"I have to talk to that Amazon and Ryuu." Hestia said with a sigh, "I hate to impose on them, but..."

"Good night, Lady Hestia."


"Stop." Haruhime said faintly, a moment before Kodori twitched again. "Aisha-san?"

"Here." Aisha put a bucket in front of Haruhime's chin, and the fox girl coughed, then vomited into it. The amazon rubbed the girl's back until she was done, then put the bucket down and wiped her forehead with a cold cloth. "Can you keep going?"

"Y...Yes." She managed to say, "Put you hands under my arms again?"

Wordlessly, Aisha stood behind Haruhime, and put her hands under her elbows. Haruhime relaxed just a little, leaning back against the tall woman's smooth stomach, and without needing to hold her own arms up, touched her palms to the sides of Kodori's head again.

"Okay." She said after a deep breath.

"It is well we are almost done... I think." Miach said worriedly, "Lady Haruhime is suffering from overdose."

"Been suffering, you mean." the Ganesha surgeon said, "Miss, I'm impressed you've managed for so long, but at this rate..."

"Quiet." Ganesha himself said firmly. "There are two more things left. And then we can consider the Elixir."

"Two more?" Aisha asked. "I'm trying very hard not to count at how many things you've done... But what's left?"

"Her throat." The surgeon said, pointing to the thin cut that had been put there, "I suspect her voice was cut out. Along with her tongue." He sighed, applying his scalpel to Kodori's bicep, while Ganesha brushed the fresh cut with the powder. "We've had to basi"

"Stop." Kodori twitched weakly once again, and all motion around her ceased, then resumed when Haruhime said, "Okay."

"We've had to basically do the damage to her, all over again. But the two deepest cuts are not going to be easy." The surgeon continued, "Opening her throat, is potentially fatal, even with all of us here. A simple cut won't do. Who ever did this, dipped their weapon in healing potion first."

"And her eyes?" Aisha asked, nodding her head towards the unseeing golden orbs.

"The Elixir might not fix those." Nazza said, "But that's something I do know how to mix something for."

"Seriously? Why not?"

"We would have to basically remove them from her head, and that is something none of us here want to risk. This stuff we've been putting into the wounds stops blood from flowing, but putting this near her brain?" Nazza explained, "At worst, they will heal, but she'll be blind until I can mix up the clear-all. Almost every alchemist knows that one. And used it too, on themselves mostly."

"Oh... Is that the stuff for when you get something like acid in your face?" Aisha asked and Nazza grunted an affirmative, "I've used that before. Don't have any with me..."

"It's simple to make, but needs a day. I don't have any on hand, because someone..."

"Sorry..." Miach said before Nazza could explain further.

"Yeah, anyhow..." the Chienthrope grumbled.

"So, what's the second spot?" Aisha asked.

"Her womb." The surgeon said simply. "I almost missed it, but they did the same potion blade technique there too. It's not potentially fatal, like missing a cut near her voice, but, I have my pride as a healer. We'll basically have to cut out around those places, so it can heal like the rest of her when we give her the Elixir."

"Thank you." Haruhime mumbled, "Stop." Another twitch, "Okay..." Haruhime's eyes had dried up hours ago, but she managed the brightest smile she could for the people hard at work, "Thank you for letting her at least still have a choice. Even if..."

"She loves women?" The surgeon asked, glancing back at the girl, "That doesn't matter to me. Some one is hurt, and I can fix it. That matters to me."

"And that is why you are my best." Ganesha said with a hint of his usual smile, "My eyes see no more save those two places. Anyone else?"

"Don't forget her ears please?" Haruhime said, "I don't care if you get a little blood on me."

"With all the damage... I'd honestly forgotten." Ganesha admitted.

"That would be terrible." Aisha said, gently hugging the girl she was, at this point, basically holding up. "I really like her ears."

"All that's left then, is to 'trim' the ears, the breasts, then the last two places."


"Miss Ryuu?" Hestia started, as she got within sight of the infirmary door.

"Lady Hestia?" She replied, though she didn't relax at all. Ever since she had replaced Marius as the door guard, she'd had her sword out, point on the floor, and hadn't moved an inch since, save to let the occasional person in or out.

"I hate to impose, you've done my Familia so many favours so far..."

"It is no imposition. My sister needs me, so here I am." She gave the Goddess one of her rare smiles, lighting up her pretty round face. "Moreover, I am honoured you trust me to do so, Lady Hestia."

"Then, please, can I leave her in your care for a little longer? And could you ask Aisha as well?" Hestia asked, showing obvious hesitance about entering the room behind the elf.

"She is here as much for Kodori, as her dear friend Haruhime." Ryuu replied, "I won't ask, it may insult her." She held up a hand as Hestia's face fell a little, "Amazon are particular about some things. Duty and Debt are two of them. She owes, and is honour bound to the both of them. There will be no issue."

The Goddess sighed in relief, then nodded, "Thank you." But she wasn't done, "I have to step out, there is something I need to take care of." The letter Bell had read was in her hands, partially crumpled in her tiny fist.

"In relation to Bell and the others leaving, I am guessing?" Ryuu asked.

"Yes."

"Then I will ask no more, but please, be safe." Ryuu said, offering the Goddess a little bow.

"Thank you. There is food, for everyone, in the kitchen. Please, let them know." Hestia replied with a small smile, "I'll be back soon."


None of the Children had noticed. To any of them, the pretty scroll work and flowery edges around the edge of the official guild letter would look like just that. Decorative. But to Hestia, they were words, hieroglyphs, the language of the Gods. "Come to the fourth block, of the seventh district, after they leave, you will not be harmed." Hestia mumbled to herself, as she walked at a brisk pace towards her destination. "Our old home..." She finished, sighing quietly.

The seventh district was quite literally 'the poor district'. Nowhere in the city was 'slum' but this was as close as it got. But even so, it had been home once, and her former neighbours were good people. Thoughts like these flitted through her head, of the good times and bad, with just Bell and Kodori as her Familia.

"Stupid Apollo..." She mumbled to herself as she entered the clearing where her first Familia home was. The ruined church, with the crater over the cozy little apartment under it.

"He was... A strange one." A smoky, indistinct voice said, before a shadow, made by the moon above, detached itself from the only standing pillar left in the clearing of the ruined church. "Lady Hestia, a pleasure to finally meet you." The shadow drew closer, remaining a respectful distance from the Goddess.

With a forced calm, Hestia looked at the figure. Dressed in a black cloak that seemed to drink in the light, wearing black leather gloves that creaked faintly as the figure flexed its fingers, she tried to peer into the even deeper darkness of its hood. "You... Yes, you are human... Aren't you?"

"Ah, there is no fooling a God's eye." The person said, "Thank you, for coming all this way. I must apologize for the trouble."

"You don't look like a guild employee... So what are you exactly?" Hestia asked, the letter still in her hand.

"I will gladly answer all your questions, but, not here, we are being watched." The person said, looking up past Hestia, to a tall building a fair distance off. "Again, forgive me, but we must change locations, to have a meaningful chat."

Eyes wide, Hestia spun to look behind her, seeing what might have been the top of someone's head ducking out of view. Before she could turn around again, she felt the presence of the other person just behind her, and with the sensation of walking under the shade of a tree from under bright sunlight, her senses faded away.

Only to be return an instant later. It was a simple, torch lit room. With only a single heavy wooden door. Old, but not dirty, stone walls and ceiling spoke of truly ancient construction.

"Forgive me, Goddess Hestia, but we needed to take a but of a short cut." The voice behind her said, before stepping around her with a faint creek of leather.

"Shortcut? Where..." Hestia started, following the person as they opened the door and stepped into a hallway.

"No more than a simple artifact and an little magic. It is a rather convenient back door. Though, I could count on one hand how many different people have used it in the last... eight hundred years?"

"Oh, so it's an escape route for your Master then?" Hestia goaded, though, even under the concealing blackness of the hood, she could almost feel that the person was smiling at her.

"Ah, one moment." They had come to a blank wall. A dead end in the stone corridor made of the same aged stone. Reaching out with one hand, the figure traced a simple pattern on the wall and mumbled a short phrase. A moment later, a piece of the wall faded from sight, revealing a room beyond.

"Open sesame?" Hestia joked.

"Close." The figure replied, its shoulders shaking slightly as if laughing. "This way please."

A giant stone room. Mostly dark, save for a platform in the middle that was surrounded by four large torches that had been planted in the floor. The design was akin to a forgotten temple, a different style than her old home, but giving off that faint 'forgotten God' feeling.

Except, the person sitting on that platform, in a giant stone throne, his arms resting on the flat armrests and lit by four more torches that were placed on the four corners of the platform, was a God anyone in the city would know.

"Oh. It's you, Ouranos." Hestia said, a little surprised, but greeting Him as if they were passing each other on the street. "It's been... What? A thousand years?"

Glancing sideways, she had the faint impression that the figure beside her wanted to facepalm.

"Fels." Ouranos said, his deep authoritative voice echoing faintly in the massive stone chamber, "You've done well, thank you." Shifting his gaze slightly, he looked at Hestia directly, "Yes, it has been a while. You are well, I see."

"I will return to my vigils." Fels said with a bow, but paused as he got directly behind Hestia, "I will check in on her too." And continued walking before the Goddess could reply.

"W... Well enough. All things considered." She waved the letter in the air, "Going through all this trouble? Why bother?"

Closing his eyes, Ouranos took a deep breath, looking up towards the obscured ceiling above. The motion made it look like He, the God who Prayed for the Dungeon, who had the greatest authority in the city, wanted some kind of divine intervention. But instead, he lowered his gaze back to Hestia, and said, "Fels, had told me you have gifted one of the Xenos with Falna."

"Her name, is Wiene." Hestia said, moving towards the stairs leading up to Ouranos's platform. "And yes. We... Wanted to answer a question for her."

"You may approach." Ouranos said, nodding as the Goddess hesitated to put her foot on the first stair. "We have much to discuss."

"Like what the rest of this mission is about. Or why so many people in the city know about this, but no one -really- knows about it." Hestia grumbled, "Stupid stairs... who even built this place, giants?" Her much shorter legs were having a hard time with the tall and broad steps.

"Fels told me about this. After speaking with your Child, Kodori." Ouranos paused, and to Hestia it looked like he was trying not to smile at her difficulties, "Unless she keeps things from you?"

"No. She doesn't keep any important secrets from any of us." Hestia grunted as she got to the smaller half way platform. "Seriously... going to have to join in the morning training..."

"Very well. You know that they exist. And there are more of them." Ouranos started, "The mission, that only we, and your Alliance know about. It is to visit the Xenos, directly."

"Kodori warned us that might be happening... Before..." She shook her head, and finally cleared the steps, standing before Ouranos, who was still taller than her even though He was sitting. "Anyhow..."

"Hm, yes, she is a mystery, that one." Ouranos replied, "But, through certain means, Fels and the Xenos have been talking. They are interested in meeting the ones who have extended a hand to a monster, and taken her in as one of their own."

"Just so long as they don't try... How did she say it? Meet and beat?" Hestia said, "I tell you, my Children can be so difficult." She sighed, "But, I suppose Kodori had to say something to clear their minds."

"Oh? How did she convince them?" Ouranos asked, his stern face moving, if only to raise an eyebrow.

"Well, let me tell you..."


"Ohhhhhh." Wiene marvelled quietly, looking up at the 'night time' 'sky' of the eighteenth floor. The clear crystals were a deep red, and the forest was swaying very gently with the convection of air in the dungeon. In the distance, the resort town Rivera, had only a single light on in the tavern, and the few lights around the perimeter of the adventurer town.

"I suppose you didn't see much of the place the first time." Welf commented, checking his gear for the hundredth time since they started.

It had basically been a mad dash down to this floor. The two Familia minus Kodori and Haruhime, had taken advantage of the late hour. They hadn't seen a single adventurer on the way, and were able to go all out without risking the 'secrecy' of their mission, as well as run from monsters when they were threatened to get bogged down. No, tonight was all about speed.

"Avoid the town and head for the roots?" Ouka asked, rolling his shoulders and checking the straps on his shield.

"We'll take a short break at the tree line. Equipment check, but as little light as possible." Bell said, finding the path that led into the forest, but towards the entrance to the nineteenth floor, and not the town. "Miss Wiene? Are you doing okay? You're not hurt?"

"Nope!" She replied cheerfully, getting shoulder to shoulder with Asuka and smiling brightly. "It's a little scary... But you are all helping me."

"I wonder what they are like." Asuka said, giving the dragon girl a pat on the back, "I mean... They are monsters. But smart, like Wiene-chan."

"I'd imagine they are even smarter." Marius said, "Ma'am Wiene is only... A month old?"

"True. Though, I bet she's the only one of them who can read." Lilly said with a smile, "Miss Kodori must be so jealous."

They laughed quietly, "But... Even so, she never shows it." Chigusa said, "And even helps, or learns with her if she doesn't know."

A moment of silence, then, "She'll be okay, right?" Asuka asked.

"Miss Haruhime is looking after her." Wiene said confidently, "She gives the best hugs." The dragon girl touched the soft leather collar with the gold and black yin/yang in it, her face thoughtful.


Having been there from the start, it was like watching all the work the two Gods and two mortals happen in reverse. The bottle of Elixir was poured carefully into the exposed windpipe of Kodori, Nazza saying so long as it made it into the body it didn't matter where it was poured, and with a faint glow that seemed almost alive with its own heartbeat, Kodori was slowly restored.

Exposed and broken ribs shivered back into place. The weeping wound on her lower abdomen closed and was made smooth again. Her breasts returned atop the regrown pectoral muscles. Broken legs and ripped muscle knitted and bonded again. Her missing foot returned, along with the missing toes on the other one. Fingers spread out from her palms and twitched as the tendons on her arms healed. Her throat closed, and air wheezed past her newly regrown nose, and finally, her ears, twitching reflexively as they now brushed Haruhime's now slightly bloody kimono.

The surgeon lightly squeezed Kodori's cheeks together, opening her jaw, and nodded as he confirmed that her tongue and teeth had regrown as well.

"Almost like she was never hurt." Nazza said after looking under the towel over Kodori's hips, "Did the eyes make it?"

"They are whole, but clouded. You'll need to mix that clear-all after all, Miss Nazza." The surgeon said as he brushed his fingertips over Kodori's eyes to close them. "Miss Haruhime?"

"Is she... It worked?" Haruhime, at this point, was looking almost transparent. Her skin was waxy, her eyes didn't seem to be looking at anything, and Aisha was sitting on the stool under her to support the girl.

"Yes." Ganesha said, "Aside from her tails it seems." He knelt down, and looked under Kodori, "There is nothing but a small lump there, where they used to be."

"Our spines are a little different." Nazza said, her own tail swishing exactly once. "Instead of sitting on our 'tail bone' it's curled the other way." She made a hook gesture with her finger, "So it makes sense that's there."

"Now all that remains, is what to do with them." Miach said quietly, noting that Haruhime had simply passed out in Aisha's arms, with a small smile on her face.

"Well, if Ryuu is still at the door, you guys can go home, or nap, or eat or what ever." Aisha said, "And we'll get these two tucked away."

"The problem now is Miss Kodori being unable to generate her own magic." The head surgeon said, "It may be days, or weeks, maybe even a month, but without natural mana generation, the body will die."

"We will find a way." Ryuu said as Nazza let her in. "But for now, we will clean them up, and put them to bed." She looked to the four exhausted looking medics, "If you feel awake enough to eat, there is pasta in the kitchen. If you wish, there are blankets in the living room, and couches enough for everyone." She approached and looked Kodori over, "Lady Hestia has stepped out, but still wished to provide for her guests."

"Most gracious of her." Miach said, standing tall and stretching his arms above his head. "We really should eat something before we sleep. We've been at this for... over a day and a half now?"

"I'm all for just sleeping." Nazza said, looking toward's Aisha, "make sure to get as much of that powder off her as possible. It will dry out skin like no one's business."

"Lord Ganesha?" Ryuu started, looking up at the elephant masked God. "You're tallest, could you help me get her down?"

"I, Ganesha, would be delighted to." He said.


"They look... Adorable together." Aisha said, standing at the door to the two Renard's room.

Even while under mind down, Kodori had rolled onto her side so Haruhime could curl into her middle.

"They are a pair, certainly." Ryuu replied, "Something needs to be done about this however."

"Yes. This is certainly something I'd consider worthy of seeking revenge on." Aisha replied, "So, rock paper scissors for first watch?"

"Indeed."


They were, if the map Lilly was carrying was correct, close to the path down to the twentieth floor. Without Kodori and Haruhime as the extra fighting forward and stat boosting supporter, they were having a harder time than they would have liked. But, as a unit, they were holding out well. Mikoto had brought her own bow, and was shooting the flying swords down one by one beside Asuka. Lilly was focused more on the killer rabbits, who were wielding their stone clubs. Ouka and Marius were holding the flanks while Welf and Bell mowed down every monster they could.

It wasn't the most effective they'd ever been. But they all had a purpose, and that was to keep Wiene safe, and make it to their destination.

"Clear the hall!" Welf shouted, drawing a yellow veined blade from a thin sheath on his back.

The instant Marius had stepped clear, Welf pointed the blade towards the hallway that would take them closer to their goal, and turned every monster down that hall to ash as white hot flame erupted from the tip.

"Thank you." the smith said, as the blade made a bright ringing noise, and shattered. "Go Go GO!"

As one, they filed down the hallway, Bell in the lead, daggers drawn and ready as he dashed down the hall, ready to keep the exit clear with his firebolt.

"Am I imagining things? Or does the dungeon seem... Angry?" Marius asked as he used his big body and shield to protect the rear of the formation as it spilled out into the next room.

"There's the way down!" Asuka called out, her bow making a sharp 'swip' noise, a killer rabbit getting pinned to the wall by her arrow.

*crack*

The wall behind the arrow made a single sound. Before another, and another, and even more cracks resounded through the room. It was like every surface except that of the way down was starting to blister with fresh monsters.

"Definitely angry." Ouka said.

"Fighting retreat! Down we go! Wiene stay next to Lilly!" Bell called out orders, "FIREBOLT! GO GO GO!"


"Wake..." Haruhime heard a quiet voice near her ear. "Wake up child."

Despite her earlier exhaustion, Haruhime managed to crack open an eye. What greeted her made her heart turn to ice in her chest, and her tail stick straight out from her body.

"Shh. I am a friend." She was looking into the black nothingness of a hood. "Your love knows me as Fels. I am fulfilling a promise to Lady Hestia to look in on her.

Kodori had rolled onto her back, and was quietly snoring, leaving Haruhime resting her head on Kodori's arm. Blinking, she made out more of the figure. Though, in the gloom of the early morning, there still wasn't much to see. Just a person shaped 'darkness'.

"Relax. You've had a long day." Fels continued. "In the morning, you will need to ask yourself how much you trust her."

"Trust... With everything." Haruhime replied trying to form words but not quite finding the strength to.

"Shh. Just listen. You are so close to mind down yourself, you need rest." Fels said, "As it is, Kodori will die. Not now, but soon. Her magic was stolen, and she could only rely on you to feed it to her." Haruhime managed to nod at least, so Fels continued, "When you wake up, you will need to ask yourself, how much do you trust her. It is not a question of her betraying you, or anyone. But do you trust her ability, determination, and sense of justice."

"What..."

"You know how to get her started. But, can you trust she is capable enough to see it through?"

Even in her half numb state, Haruhime already knew the answer, but instead of answering him, she thought about something else. "Table... picture... work...shop..." And she was out again.


"Lilly? What are you doing?" They were taking a five minute break. Welf had needed to use a second magic sword, and Lilly had used up one as well, just to make it this far. If the map was correct, they were close to their destination, but they didn't want a last second surprise to catch them.

"Lilly is collecting glow moss." She replied, carefully cutting a swath of brightly glowing green moss from the wall.

"Thinking of selling it back in the city?" Ouka asked.

"This isn't the time to be thinking of profit." Mikoto admonished.

"It isn't just for that." Lilly replied, "Lilly thinks Kodori might be able to make this grow. And we only have two magic stone lamps right now."

"Wiene is sorry." The dragon girl pouted.

"It's not your fault." Marius said, kneeling in front of the girl, "We'd rather you had dropped the lamp, than you tripping and falling on it."

It had been a 'fighting retreat' from the entrance to the twentieth floor to here, and there were a few places where there was no light being produced by the dungeon walls. As the only real 'free' pair of hands, and wanting to make her feel useful, Bell had given Wiene one of the magic stone lamps, but she had dropped it. Luckily, it was after they had left the dark zone.

"What's the map say?" Asuka asked.

"Lilly will check." There was a ruffle of paper, then, "Unless the dungeon plays another trick on us, it's just down that way. But..."

"But?" Bell asked.

"It leads to a pond."

"Oh... Um... Can everyone swim?" Chigusa asked, looking down at her armour, "I mean... I know Kodori-san wanted us protected, but..." She looked at Marius, who was scratching his head.

"Damn." Welf grunted, "I know we're adventurers, but Marius might have to walk along the bottom if we have to swim."

"Miss Lilly?" Marius asked, "You have that climbing rope?"

"Always." Lilly replied.

"No problem then."


Hestia and Ouranos looked at each other. "So, all of these 'monster festivals' and the like have been to try and get the population to accept monsters."

"Yes. For over a thousand years, the Children have been fighting them, but now, there are monsters who are... Not monsters." Ouranos said grimly, "And it would be wrong to simply discard them."

"It would look bad on us Gods if we didn't at least try, right?" Hestia agreed. "But, what can we do with them? They might not be 'monsters' but the people won't see them that way."

"No, they won't. But, we must try. That is why I have decreed all this secrecy. No matter the cost, we must keep the people calm. As well, as I am ruler of the guild, my involvement may weaken the already delicate balance."

"Stupid politics. Now I understand why Kodori says it like a swear word." Hestia grumbled.

"Working with Hermes, to keep as much secret as possible. Ganesha, to try and educate the masses about monsters, and show that they can be tamed. I have been trying to slowly push the idea forward. But, we no longer have time." Ouranos's deep voice sounded weary. "There have been rumours from the dungeon, of monsters stealing equipment. Of black market deals, trading monsters that can scream like a person." Ouranos closed his eyes, "You descended recently, so you wouldn't know of the 'Evils'."

"Know? Not really. But I've heard them mentioned... umm... Twice? And I was probably eavesdropping..." Hestia fidgeted with her hands.

"They were, simply, Familia who made a point to try and upset the balance I was trying to establish. Most were either banished, or killed. But I suspect there might be one we missed."

"Ikelos?" Hestia suggested, remembering the name Bell mentioned.

"I see..." Ouranos opened his eyes again, looking down at the Goddess, "He is much like Soma, in that he simply wants to do as he pleases. Though, his hobbies are less... Wholesome, they were, at the time, never illegal."

"He had asked directly if my Bell had seen a Vouivre girl." Hestia said, "I think that makes it clear, right?"

"Yes." Again, the God sighed, "I will do what I can about it."

"Good." Hestia replied shortly, "I have a question though... Who is Fels?"

"Again, you wouldn't know, being recently descended." Ouranos took a deep breath, "Fels... Fels the Fool, was once human. A brilliant mage and alchemist, as well as the greatest enchanter I've ever known among the Children." Ouranos had a far off look now, "He was obsessed with finding the secret of immortality."

"He wouldn't be the first, right?" Hestia said with a raised eyebrow, "I mean... um... Some of the Children get attached to us..."

"He was one such man." Ouranos agreed, "Eight hundred years ago, he came close. But ultimately failed."

"Oh? My lord? Are you talking about me?" Fels said from the bottom of the stairs, "He is wrong... Or half wrong, at least."

"Since you are here, Fels?" Ouranos said tiredly.

"Certainly." Hestia was a little jealous at how easily Fels made it up the steps. "You see, it would be better to say, I was only 'half successful'."

"Half?" Hestia was curious now, still unable to see under the hood of the inky black robe, even with the bright torchlight.

Slowly, Fels reached up with both hands, and pulled down the hood. "Yes. Only half." It was a skull. Surrounded by a thin black vapour, the 'face' under the hood was in fact, a smooth skull. "The rest of me is like this as well." He explained, even as Hestia tried to say something but couldn't.

Finally, she managed, "But, you, how..."

"To my knowledge, I am the only one to have created the Philosopher's stone." Fells put the hood back up, "Except, while it granted my soul immortality, my flesh was not so lucky. I am, over eight hundred years old. Though my body died long ago."

"That's... Kind of horrifying." Hestia finally said.

"It certainly took a while to get used to. But now, I make my self useful, regardless." The hood turned to Ouranos, "The dawn approaches, if I am to use the back door, it must be soon."

"Agreed. I am tired, Hestia, though it was good to see you smile again." Ouranos said, his serious face shifting slightly into something that might have been a smile.

"When Kodori is on her feet again, maybe she'll have an idea about all this." Hestia said, giving Ouranos another smile. "Sleep well, Ouranos."

On the way back to the 'back door', after Fels had closed the fake wall again, he said, "I suggest, that you hurry home."

"Oh? Why?" Hestia asked.


I woke up. And I was very very angry.

Notes.

Well then. That was an interesting exercise for me. Writing in 'second person' isn't as easy for me as it used to be, long ago. But, I think I might put a few more bits like that in for a few scenes that need to be put in. I can't have all of you (yes, you guys/girls/beings, the readers) be in the dark about EVERYTHING that doesn't happen around Kodori.

5 days until update. :)