Chapter 54: Eternity's Moment

The plan to explore what remains beyond the door in A5 of the 24th floor is met with exasperated sighs and disappointed expressions. Beyond the door lies a path that transitions into a long narrow corridor. At the end of this corridor is nothing of note; the path simply ends. Unable to accept this at face value, Cyrus and Clarisse both push themselves to thoroughly explore the place, the hour striking 7PM as the reality sets in – their efforts were wasted. Dejected, the leader removes a spool of Ariadne Thread from his pocket and warps his allies back to Iorys.

Clarisse opts to transform into a rabbit; she climbs onto Cyrus' right shoulder, declaring that her feet hurt and that she no longer feels like walking. Though Balto is ready to reprimand her for such behavior, Cyrus holds up a hand to stop him. He scratches under Clarisse's chin, eliciting some sort of defiant noise that is contradicted by her efforts to get him to continue. He notes that this is acceptable. Upon warping out of Yggdrasil, Cyrus instructs the others to return to the inn while he and Clarisse turn in the completed map to Prince Ramus.

As the pair steps into the prince's study, he rises to greet them. His usual pleasant expression is quickly replaced with barely restrained confusion as the sight of the rabbit upon Cyrus' shoulder graces his vision. "Good evening to you, Cyrus; you appear to have made a new friend." The rabbit speaks up, revealing herself to be Clarisse. "Beg your pardon? Clarisse, why are you in that form?" He receives a brief explanation, one that becomes ever clearer once he takes a look at the map Cyrus hands to him. "This floor was certainly no insignificant undertaking."

Cyrus chuckles at this. "It doesn't help that we had to engage a Plague Demon towards the end."

"Sir Logan has told stories of his encounters with that FOE; you seem to be alright, but should you not be resting at present?"

"We still have a party to get to after this; Fiona is the birthday girl, and you're welcome to join us, Prince Ramus."

Ramus adopts a contemplative stance upon hearing this, his brow furrowing as he concentrates. "That would explain why Aria was so adamant in requesting that I take a break on this day." He nods to himself, though to what notion neither Cyrus nor Clarisse is privy to. "It is true that my duties were light today; I have finished all that was on my itinerary." He nods again, his soft smile returning. "I shall turn this map over to our copiers, and then inform the guards of my departure."

As the trio steps into Jenetta's Inn, they are greeted with the sight of Balto, who appears to have been sitting patiently as he awaited Clarisse's return. His tail begins to wag, though his expression is as straight-faced as ever. Clarisse jumps down from Cyrus' shoulder to properly greet her Hound; the two exchange no words, instead butting their heads together. Clarisse then looks back to Cyrus, her eyes expectant. He sighs at this, smiling as he takes the small rabbit into his arms.

Fae rushes over to greet the group who just stepped in, offering a curtsey to Prince Ramus before hugging Cyrus. She looks up to see the rabbit in his arms, which causes her eyes to sparkle. "Aw, what a cute bunny!" She calls to Amy, who practically warps in front of Cyrus. "Check out Uncle's new friend, Aunt Amy; isn't it really cute?" Looking to Cyrus, she asks, "Is this a boy or a girl? C- May I name it?"

"Munchkin, it's me, Clarisse." She is immediately snatched out of Cyrus' arms by Amy, who takes to nuzzling their cheeks together. Clarisse lets out a yelp of surprise at this. "Stinger, what are you doing?!" Another shriek escapes her as Amy rubs their noses together. "No, stop that!"

"I can't help it; you're just too cute!" She then pulls Clarisse away, allowing the rabbit to see the displeased expression upon Amy's face. "How come nii-chan gets to see you transform and I don't? Why does he get to hold you while you're cute and cuddly and I don't?!" She directs her furious expression at Cyrus, who immediately holds up his arms to show that he is unarmed and not dangerous. She returns her focus to Clarisse, her expression easing into something much softer before she hugs her companion close. "Ah well, I can't stay mad at you. You're gonna make it up to me, though; we're gonna be snuggle buddies starting tonight."

"We're gonna be what now? Co, help!"

Amy shakes her head to this. "Sorry, nii-chan; no boys allowed."

"Um…my sister has spoken? I cannot go against her wishes, Reese."

"You traitor! You always spoil her! Balto, help."

This brings a smile to Amy's face. "Ah, good idea; Balto can be Valerie's snuggle buddy. We'll make it another slumber party." She looks to Balto and asks, "Would you like that, Balto?" The Hound nods in reply, his tail wagging to convey the joy that his face will not. Amy nods in turn. "Then we are in agreement; come, let us find Valerie to inform her of the upcoming arrangement." She steps away from the group, Clarisse's protests fading into the distance as they draw closer to the other party goers.

Fae looks up to Cyrus and giggles. "Aunt Amy is weird sometimes." This comment evokes a laugh from Cyrus, and even gets a chuckle from Ramus. Fae then becomes fidgety; her voice is somewhat uneasy as she says, "Uncle…I made you a gift, but I used your cauldron without permission; was that OK?"

"Certainly not." His stern and immediate response causes her to flinch. He crouches in an effort to match eye level, gently placing a hand on her head to show that he's not entirely upset. "The gesture is certainly appreciated, but alchemy is dangerous." He looks over her form, and is surprised to find no injuries. "You don't seem to be hurt, but there's no telling what could happen if you were to pull a similar stunt." He sighs, a soft smile settling on his expression; Fae is currently unable to look at him, her gaze directed at the floor. "Now don't make that face; I'm not mad at you, little one – I just don't want you getting hurt because of me."

Ramus says, "Why not show Cyrus what you made, Fae? I'm curious myself."

She reaches into her bag to pull out a well-made candle. Resting within a cylindrical glass vessel is a mold of wax, pale pink in color; the candle's wick is composed of brown material, but is notably covered in a film of white wax. Fae hands this over to Cyrus. "Aunt Gwen told me you have trouble sleeping at night…and I've heard you talk while having nightmares." Cyrus falls silent to this, his expression a mix of both shock and shame. "Candles help me relax when I get super nervous about my exams, so I wanted to make one for you." As Cyrus accepts the candle from her, she can see a single tear stream from his right eye; a soft smile is on his face as he studies the candle. "Uncle? You OK?"

"This is well-made, little one." He removes the cap of the candle so that he may sample its scent; a peculiar mix of fragrances dance around his nostrils. Of immediate note is the hint of citrus intermingling with a collection of various floras. At the heart of this dance is the scent of spicy vanilla, which serves to accent the aroma's components. He sets the candle inside his bag, opting to pull Fae into an embrace. "This is a wonderful gift you've made, Fae; thank you."

"Y- You're not mad?"

"No, of course not. Your heart was in the right place." He pulls away from her, looking the child in the eyes once more as he follows, "If you wish to practice alchemy, I'd be happy to teach you; just promise me that you won't tend to the cauldron alone until you're properly ready."

Fae nods to him, holding out her right fist with her pinky extended. His expression suggests that he is unsure of her intentions, to which she says, "Aunt Amy told me that promises are super important to you. I'm your niece now, right?" He nods. "Then that makes me a Coelistis, too." She waves her arm up and down, wordlessly signaling Cyrus to wrap his pink around hers. "A Coelistis never breaks a promise; I won't do any alchemy stuff on my own until I'm ready." The two shake on this. "That's a promise from me to you, Uncle." She giggles to herself as their pinkies separate. 'I sounded super mature just then, I bet~'

Cyrus picks up Fae as he rises to his feet. A chuckle escapes him as he directs his attention to Ramus. "Often times, I feel as if I don't deserve the people in my life, Prince Ramus; they're too good to me."

"I need not tell you that such blessings are well-earned, Cyrus, for I believe you are aware of this, deep down." He directs his attention to the dining hall, from which a commotion can be heard. Looking to Fae, he asks, "Might you be privy to the happenings of the dining hall, Fae?"

She nods. "Fi-Fi is having everyone go up against Ari in arm-wrestling matches."

Cyrus chuckles. "I suppose every queen needs a champion." The trio steps into the dining hall to find Aria preparing to begin a match against Evelyn. Melissa and Stacy cheer their comrade on with great fervor; Lissa and Shizuna are cheering Evelyn on as well, requesting that the Masurao avenge their defeat. Cyrus shades his eyes at the sight. 'Aria bested Shizuna and Lissa? Really?' He looks to the left to see Fiona sitting upon a makeshift throne. Beside her is a second throne, upon which Hayato sits. Matching crowns adorn both of their heads; though Hayato's expression and disposition are neutral, Fiona boasts a notably smug demeanor. Her right leg is crossed over the left, and her left cheek rests on her left fist. A raven is perched atop the woman's left shoulder, raising a wing to hail Cyrus. 'This sight is disturbingly fitting for the dress we forged.'

Fae is set on the floor before Cyrus makes his way over to Fiona. She doesn't take note of his approach, keeping her focus on the arm-wrestling match about to occur. "Come now; is there no one capable of matching my champion?" Cyrus steps into view, making brief eye contact before dropping to one knee; he gently takes Fiona's right hand into his own before placing a fleeting kiss upon it. His head hangs low as he greets her, which elicits a chuckle from the woman. She lifts her head to free her left hand, which she then places beneath Cyrus' chin to level his head so that their eyes meet. "Welcome home, my king. You kept me waiting and wanting, so I hope you're ready to make amends. I hunger."

"What shall I prepare to sate you, my queen?" A smirk traces upon Fiona's lips as the question is presented. 'Wait, mistakes might have been made.'

"I am certainly spoiled for choice this year, but I think I shall settle for proper food instead of the tasty morsel knelt before me. You are tasked with preparing donburi; I desire your signature, the very same one you cooked in Armoroad…it has been too long." He rises to his feet before bowing to Fiona. She looks up to him, her smirk ever present. "I trust you won't disappoint, love."

"Certainly not." As he motions for the kitchen, he calls to Amy and Valerie, his voice but a whisper, yet reaches the two all the same. They are at his side in a matter of seconds, with Amy cracking her knuckles and Valerie tying her bandanna to her forehead. The two ladies move to the kitchen ahead of him to prepare the cooking station. He stops his advance beside Evelyn, who appears nervous about her upcoming match.

"She's a tough one, Cyrus; the hope of the people rests with me." She looks up to him, a smile of confidence on her face as she asks, "You'll support me, right?"

He leans in to place a gentle kiss upon her forehead before looking her in the eyes as he replies, "Be it here or Erdboden, I will always walk with you, my dearest Swift Sparrow." He then walks away, continuing his trek to the kitchen without waiting to see the aftermath of his actions. A powerful aura erupts from Evelyn, akin to a rushing torrent as it disrupts the balance of everyone in the dining hall. Cyrus subtly directs his attention to the remaining two members of the Nomads, giving a thumbs-up without speaking further. The two nod in silence.

Hayato looks to Fiona. "We're strange people."

She chuckles in reply. "That we are, my dear Steppin' Prince; that we are."

With the hopes of the fallen acting as the winds beneath her wings, as well as the unanticipated power boost granted by Cyrus empowering her resolve, Evelyn defeats Aria, though not without struggle. Logan looks to Ramus as he absently comments that, "I'm surprised they didn't destroy the table."

Ramus nods, adopting a contemplative stance as he says, "To be true, Aria is quite a destructive force when she gets serious." When dinner is complete, the trio of chefs emerges from the station armed with serving platters. The guests of the inn swiftly take their seats in preparation of the feast to come. As a bowl containing his serving is set down in front of him, Ramus peers into said bowl to ascertain its contents. 'Let's see here…' Within the bowl are lightly scrambled eggs, still somewhat runny in texture, mixed with thick slices of salmon arranged in a ring formation atop white rice. Upon closer inspection, the prince can see that there are slices of onion resting directly beneath the salmon. As he reaches for a pair of chopsticks, he notices that the salmon is clad in a coat comprised of some sort of sauce. He looks to the chefs as Amy and Valerie take their seats. "Pray tell, did you marinate the salmon?"

Valerie smirks. "Good eye, my apprentice. It is as you say; Amy suggested we marinate the salmon in tsuyu and sesame oil before setting it atop the rice."

Amy dons a proud expression, humming a brief and triumphant tune before she follows, "We were originally going to provide three choices for dipping sauce, but the table would have become cluttered; instead, we soaked one of the options into the salmon directly." She looks to see that Gwenivere, now returned to her human form, is rapidly consuming her bowl. "M- Milady, you should pace yourself."

Gwenivere sets the bowl down, revealing its interior to be bereft of any trace of its former contents. "How's this for pace, dear sister?" She looks to the right, smiling at Cyrus as she says, "Seconds, love." When he nods, Gwenivere hands over her empty bowl; in its place, Cyrus places a new bowl – his own – into her hands. Gwenivere's expression beams as she places a kiss upon his cheek. "You have my thanks." She then returns to her feast, albeit at a pace that is more in line with Amy's suggestion.

Fae looks to Cyrus and asks, "Uncle, what are you gonna eat?"

He rises from his seat, a chuckle escaping him. "I'm not one for seafood, little angel; I'll fetch myself a new bowl containing only my essentials."

As Cyrus disappears into the kitchen, Jenetta can be heard humming to herself. "This fish is so fresh~" Looking to Gwenivere, she follows, "It's such a shame that Cyrus can't handle seafood; he doesn't know what he's missing."

Fiona frowns at the notion. "We tried to convert him while he was in Armoroad; that was a fool's effort."

Amy asks, "How are the others doing, anyway?"

"Suzie is getting Shinji and Alan involved in her nefarious plots, no doubt. Last I heard from those three, Shinji was getting ready to plunder some newly discovered sunken temple."

Amy's eyes sparkle at the mention of a temple; her mind wanders to the treasure resting within. "Ooh, what's he hoping to find?"

"A jewel to use for Suzie's engagement ring." Amy gasps at this, clasping her hands together; Fiona chuckles at this. "It's no surprise; Shinji was quite taken with her, even back then." She pauses for a brief moment. "I sure hope I can make it back in time for the wedding; I'd hate to miss it."

Cyrus returns to the dining hall; despite not having been present, he seems to have heard Fiona's dilemma. As he takes his seat, he says, "Before this journey is complete, I should have an item developed that will ease such concerns, Fiona." She arches an eyebrow at this claim, but says nothing in response. "This endeavor will put my alchemy training to the test." He nods to himself as a nostalgic smile forms upon his lips. "I devised the Return Formula back in Etria, but that was limited to one-way travel from the Labyrinth back to town. My new focus is to devise a means of warping that allows for not only travel across the realm, but also inter-dimensional travel."

Stacy and Aria stare at him blankly, giving a simultaneous flat delivery: "What."

A chuckle escapes Cyrus in turn. "It does sound absurd, doesn't it? Of course, that is the path of an Alchemist; you can hardly make progress without going off the rails."

Aria takes a look at Fiona, whose expression suggests that none of what Cyrus is saying bothers her. "You're really gonna marry someone this crazy?"

"This isn't even his craziest idea." Jabbing a thumb in Gwenivere's direction, she follows, "Lady Gwenivere told me that one of his creations can flash freeze a country."

Cyrus sputters his drink, choking in turn at Fiona's audacious claim. He quickly wipes his face before attempting to dispel such notions. "Beg your pardon? The only creation of mine boasting such…such catastrophic power is the Frost Point, and that's only after certain modifications are made to the recipe. I haven't told anyone about that."

Gwenivere smirks, sending a chill down the spines of all who catch sight of it. "You shared the modified recipe with me and me alone, my darling." Cyrus' mortified and surprised expression tells everyone at the table that not only does he not remember such a thing, but if his wife's words ring true, then complications are certain to also arise. Gently grabbing hold of his chin, Gwenivere's grin shifts to become a catty smile. "You were ever so tired that evening; the captain of that pirate crew you and Amy befriended put in a large commission with the Mage's Forge, and-"

Cyrus interjects out of reflex. "Ah crap, I remember that day."

She chuckles maliciously. "Then I need not speak further."

"Fae, I take back what I said before; don't grow up to be a woman like Gwen…be like Evelyn instead." Evelyn blushes at his comment, hiding her face behind her hands.

The child salutes him, a smile on her face. "You got it, Uncle!" She takes a moment to look over Evelyn's features. "Hm…katana are hard to use." She looks to Cyrus as she asks, "Is it OK if I learn how to use regular swords instead?" He nods. "This'll work~"

Time passes as the group dines together. Karoline and Fae fall into slumber soon after their meals are consumed, prompting Shizuna and Gwenivere to take the two upstairs so that they may rest in proper beds. When the hour strikes 11PM, Logan and Aria elect to escort Prince Ramus back to his quarters; though the prince wishes to stay longer, he does not present any objections to the duo charged with his safety. As they depart, Jenetta bids the prince farewell, reminding him that he is always welcome to drop by. The remainder of the group disperses, save for the chef trio and Jenetta, who all work in unison to tidy up the inn before settling in for the evening.

As promised, Amy hosts a slumber party with Valerie, Clarisse, and Balto. To Amy's own surprise, Clarisse assumes her rabbit form without a fuss, allowing the Pugilist her desired snuggle buddy. Amy pulls the rabbit into her gentle embrace, opting to nuzzle their cheeks together before flopping onto the bed in a manner lacking grace. Valerie and Balto have already fallen asleep at this point. Clarisse comments on the sight, "I guess the fight with the Plague Demon tired her out." She lets out a yawn before nestling within Amy's grip. "All that walking is what got to me." She looks up at Amy to find that her companion has yet to fall asleep. "Hey, Stinger? What's the 6th Stratum like?"

"The 6th Stratum for Armoroad was the interior of an Eldritch Abomination." Clarisse's beady eyes go wide at this. "The 6th Stratum, as I understand it, is quite different for each Yggdrasil Labyrinth. Nii-chan has explored the Claret Hollows of Etria, the Cyclopean Haunt of Armoroad, and the Hall of Darkness nestled in the far reaches of Tharsis' Outlands. Lissa explored the Forbidden Wood atop the skies of Lagaard alongside Raven, that branch's leader; she was with nii-chan for the Hollows, too." She takes a moment to think on what to say next. "If I had to hazard a guess, I'd say Iorys' 6th Stratum will be another biome within space, but far more dangerous than the Untamed Garden."

"You think we'll be ready for it?"

Amy responds with a nod, as well as a gentle smile. "Our allies are strong, and we all make a formidable team." She holds her ally a bit closer, making herself comfortable as her own drowsiness begins to take over. "You have nothing to fear, Reese."

Within another room rented by the Seekers, Cyrus and Hayato sit together at a small table. Both are armed with tall glasses filled with water. A scented candle burns as the two scribble in their notebooks. A pleasant scent has settled amidst the room's air, courtesy of the candle Fae made for Cyrus. Fiona stands beside Diana on the balcony; she takes in a deep breath to sample the scent spilling forth from the room behind her. "The little one has a talent for alchemy." Diana nods in agreement, but says nothing. "Tell me, Diana – Are you a vessel for an Erdboden god like Cyrus?"

A small smile traces upon Diana's lips. "So you know a bit about our world's workings. Aye, child, I am the vessel for Etria, the Goddess of Earth. We often refer to her as the 'Earth Mother'."

"Wait…she shares a name with a town in my world?"

"She originally went by 'Etruria', but eventually decided to change the spelling and pronunciation to make things less awkward for her subjects."

"What's she like?"

"She's a shop addict." Diana need not glance in Fiona's direction to know what face her companion currently wears. "Indeed, one of my most sacred duties is saving the woman's wallet from her own decisions. The two of us have known each other for many millennia now; she's not just a goddess I serve – I consider her as close of a friend as Denise." An abrupt pause strikes the woman, causing her to look to the ground level below to gather her thoughts. The members of the Freeblade Guild soon step into view; Conrad is carrying the sleeping form of Franklin in his arms as Jilian walks beside him. A gentle smile is upon her face; the two onlookers from above take note of Jilian subtly moving closer to Conrad, chuckling at her efforts in turn. Abel looks up and waves at the pair, prompting the rest of his comrades to do the same. Diana and Fiona wave in kind.

"What's it like…being a vessel, I mean."

"Cyrus never told you?"

"He said it was nothing special, but I thought that was just because he and Lord Shinryu never talk." Diana snickers at this, holding a hand to her mouth to keep herself from breaking into full laughter. "I'm serious."

"He wasn't wrong. Being a vessel doesn't bring with it any special abilities. Our job is to serve as information conduits for the god we're connected to." Fiona tilts her head at this. "Having a vessel allows a god to observe the world without exerting too much influence on the populace." She chuckles, turning her gaze to the stars above. "The path we walk is a curious one, child; even with six thousand years behind me, I still cannot reliably predict the future." She looks back into the room beyond the balcony, her gaze falling onto her son; a small smile forms as nostalgic thoughts of days past begin to resurface. She turns back before long. "Since you're a part of his harem now, shall I share with you some of his embarrassing childhood stories?"

Fiona places her hands together, a devilish grin forming her countenance. "Oh, certainly; please do~"

A shiver runs down Cyrus' spine, prompting him to look towards the balcony. 'Strange, I felt an ominous chill…' When Hayato inquires to his well-being, Cyrus quickly shakes his head. "Pay it no heed, Lord Hayato; it has passed."

"If you're certain…are you drawing up another battle plan?" Cyrus nods. "Is this one just to kill time?"

Cyrus shakes his head in reply. "I intend to run this setup against the boss waiting for us at the heart of the 25th floor." He rotates his combat journal and pushes it towards Hayato so that his comrade can read it. As Hayato's eyes begin to scan the pages, Cyrus elects to add a supplementary verbal explanation. "We're going to bank on inflicting Sleep to setup Valerie's use of Fatal Reap."

"It looks like Amy is going to make use of a Titan Killer boosted by both Heavenly Aid and Overexertion; the turn order for this is going to be rather restrictive, is it not?"

"The only real concern is whether or not I can put the upcoming foe to sleep." He rests his elbows on the table, tenting his fingers as he runs the setup through his mind. A momentary distraction graces his mind in the form of a memory. He lets out a bemused chuckle, which elicits an inquiry from Hayato. "I recall that a member of the Etrian Branch used to tent her fingers like this whenever she needed to think. I hope Lily and her world's version of Nagato are well."

"What was that version of my father like?"

He chuckles. "A real hothead, that one; obsessed with strength. This particular Nagato is a half breed – part human, part demon." Hayato's expression lights up in surprise at this. "He's part of the Wolf Clan in his world, though he never really gave us any details. I never pried, but I suspect he was a wanted fugitive of some sort; his mannerisms suggested as much."

"The two you've known are so different from my own."

"That's the beauty of alternate worlds, I suppose. I don't have a counterpart in this world, but one such counterpart does apparently exist in Lily's world." He shrugs. "No clue what the bloke is like, though; I'd like to meet him if fate would allow it."

"I can't imagine him being terribly different from you." Just as he is ready to make a follow-up statement, Fiona bursts into laughter; she holds her stomach with one arm while trying to stifle the volume of her voice with her free hand. Diana holds a hand to her mouth in turn, though she is far more composed. "What do you suppose they are discussing?"

"Something nefarious and unbecoming of the subject, no doubt." Returning the subject to the battle plan, he says, "About the plan banking on the affliction of Sleep, I'm fairly confident with Black Mist in our back pocket."

"Are you going to use Haze Slash or Sleep Gas?"

Cyrus shakes his head. "I have yet to decide. It doesn't matter as far as Turn Order is concerned, I think; Amy's use of Titan Killer should execute before I can move, even with the investment I've put into improving my action speed."

"You should practice it to be on the safe side." Cyrus nods to this. After taking a sip of his drink, Hayato sets his glass down on a coaster; he stares at a drop of water formed by condensation as it runs down the outer side of the chilled glass. "To think, we've almost cleared all of Yggdrasil in less than two months."

"This is only counting the first five Strata; the 6th could pose a myriad of problems for us."

"You think so? I figured our synergy was superb by now."

"It is. Do not misunderstand, Lord Hayato; for all of our worth, the 6th Stratum is the final test." He closes his eyes, reflecting on the labyrinths he's explored thus far. "Of the three I've explored, Etria's Claret Hollows were something else, though the final obstacle waiting at the end of Tharsis' Hall of Darkness was arguably the strongest foe I've ever faced in any labyrinth." He chuckles. "It's kinda funny, considering the trip through Tharsis was the easiest of my three previous journeys."

"Where would you rank this adventure?"

"Second-easiest, so third place." Hayato's mouth goes agape at the lack of hesitation. "The journey through Armoroad hit that branch with many issues; a lot of the creative setups we tried simply did not work with that region's rules. It was also the first adventure where I had to acclimate to not having my left arm." He shrugs. "On its own, I'd place it just slightly above Tharsis in terms of difficulty, but well behind Iorys; I'm more experienced now, so Iorys was at a natural disadvantage from the start."

"And what of Etria?"

He shakes his head. "In a class all its own. That labyrinth was a lot like this one in that its standard denizens were relentless; some enemy sets simply did not align with us. There is but one key trait of Etria's encounters that puts Iorys so low in comparison."

"What would that be?" His attention is focused as he asks this, as if in suspense.

"Fleeing combat is actually feasible in Iorys' Yggdrasil. Back in Etria, getting into combat meant you were in it for the long haul. The amount of time you'd waste trying to run away from an unfavorable encounter would have actually been better spent facing the encounter proper." He visibly shudders, his expression now ghastly. "I will not miss those days spent combing the depths of the claret-red caverns. Even if I were to go back, experienced as I am now, I can still see that Stratum giving me no shortage of trouble." His recounted tale is interrupted as a hand is placed on his shoulder. Turning to face the addressor, his eyes are graced with the sight of Fiona; he returns his focus to Hayato as he follows, "The Cyclopean Haunt was just annoying in comparison. Aside from the Revelationer, things weren't so bad down there."

Fiona scoffs at this, adopting a dubious expression as she asks, "Love, have you already forgotten about the Vampire Trees? Those back-stabbing dastards…"

Diana opts to ignore the conversation at hand in favor of scanning the open pages of Cyrus' combat journal. "Hm…a setup just for Valerie? Might this be a gift or a final exam?"

"Why not both?"

Diana smirks at this. "That's my boy."

Cyrus rises from his seat to snuff out the flame of the burning candle; when the leftover smoke fades, he places the lid back on top of the candle. He takes a moment to stretch, letting out a satisfied groan as he does so. "What a day this has been." Looking to Fiona, he smiles as he asks, "Did you enjoy your birthday, dear?"

She walks over to pick up Hayato, whom she holds close. "You bet. Good food, good friends; what more could I have asked for?" She rests her chin on the top of Hayato's head, grinning at Cyrus as she follows, "You even cooked for me; that's a real victory."

A notable frown is present upon Hayato's face, though he makes no real effort to struggle free from Fiona's grip. "Cyrus, every day is like this with her when you don't take us into Yggdrasil."

Puffing out a cheek, Fiona lets out a huff. "I keep telling him that he should appreciate being doted on by an older woman."

Diana chuckles at this. "The lad is probably used to it; he is a prince, after all." Fiona's eyes widen at this, suggesting that she never considered the notion. She turns Hayato around to look him in the eyes. When she asks if Diana's words are true, the prince simply breaks eye contact. Diana laughs. "I figured as much. Carry that composure with you into the future, little prince; I suspect you'll need to fend off many more potential consorts in the future."

Hayato looks to the Guild's leader with pleading eyes. "Cyrus, I need you to teach me."

"Certainly. Here's your first lesson." He walks over and takes Hayato from Fiona. Looking directly at the woman, he says, "Terribly sorry, my queen, but the prince needs to retire for the evening."

The woman rests a hand on her hip, striking an indignant pose in her silence. Her expression is suddenly cold and judgmental. "Alright, I'll bite." Hayato recoils at the shift in vocal tone, not used to hearing Fiona's voice being so frigid in its delivery. "What's his excuse?"

"Same as yours." Fiona arches an eyebrow at this, turning her head to give a sideways glance conveying her suspicion in a way words would be ill-fit to replicate. "The two of you are going to assist me in beginning Fae's sword training tomorrow, of course." He sets Hayato onto one of the beds before walking over to grab Fiona's hand. He stares into her eyes with a soft smile upon his countenance. "That means you'll need your rest in turn, my queen; come, we shall retire as well." To his surprise, Fiona complies, putting up no resistance as she walks at his side towards the bed.

Diana lets out a chuckle at this. "Take notes, little prince; I have taught my son quite well." She chuckles again, albeit with a notable tinge of mischievousness. "He will surely teach you well in turn."

As Fiona climbs into bed and settles under the covers, she gives a passing comment directed at Hayato. "Your dance lesson is still occurring, Steppin' Prince; we'll incorporate it into Fae's lesson."

"Y- Yes, ma'am." He looks to Cyrus, who gives a thumbs-up that Fiona is unable to see. 'This man is dangerous.' He looks to Diana, who merely nods with a smirk on her face. The woman returns to the balcony, rather than retiring alongside her comrades. 'Master Annora might be even more dangerous, actually.'