"This way." The four inside the office heard the Amazoness ushering their visitors down the hallway. They waited patiently and quietly as they arrived, sparing quick glances towards their Goddess, who had gone completely silent during the past few minutes- which was equal parts weird and concerning for the three executives. After all, Loki had always been the talkative and boisterous type- it was unnerving to see her this quiet.
Tione would arrive just moments later, followed closely behind by a Pallum, an Elf, a Far Easterner, a Renart, a Werewolf, and finally, a Chienthrope. Finn eyed them cautiously and curiously as they all took a seat by the couch and chairs which had been prepared in front of the desk. He observed his thumb keenly, looking out for any indicators of trouble; but none came- for now, at least. Beside him, Riveria also studied their guests, taking an especially keen interest in the Elf among the party: he, too, gave off the same impression of High Elf royalty not dissimilar to Riveria- even despite the decades she had spent away from her kingdom and away from her royal family. Gareth, too, swept his gaze over the group and stroked his beard thoughtfully, no doubt trying to gauge the danger each posed to Loki and their familia. In terms of pure threat, he was the most worried about the Renart- since it is unclear what kind of magic he may have in his arsenal.
Beside them, their Goddess did the same thing, narrowing her vermillion eyes and biting at her nails. She tapped her other hand feverishly against the desk, but remained silent, studying the newcomers. She had long since discarded her alcoholic drink, having practically been forced out of her drunken state when she first read the letter. Now, she was wide awake: vigilant and suspicious of the six individuals sitting across the table. She could feel traces of magic lingering in the air- and also something else: something she hoped to simply be a result of her nerves and nothing more. A vain wish, but one nonetheless- after all, the Divine Intuition of a god was scarcely wrong- especially more so the Divine Intuition of a Trickster God like herself. Still, if the individuals before her truly did know about that, then there was no way she could ignore them; she needed to figure out the extent of their knowledge and find any bargaining chip possible to silence them so as to prevent the spread of information. As the self proclaimed Trickster from Heaven, psychological games were her forte- even without the use of her Arcanum.
Tione took a stand just a few paces away at the same position as before, waiting for her next orders. Behind her, a group of Loki familia adventurers had gathered around the room, poking their heads around the door to peer inside. A shorter haired Amazoness, a golden haired young woman, a silver haired Werewolf, and an orange haired Elf stood out prominently as they placed themselves in front of the crowd. Everyone whispered and gossiped amongst themselves, most of which was directed towards the Renart- after all, they were an especially elusive and rare race of beast people that not many see everyday. Of course, this was also on account of the fact that none of them knew exactly why these six individuals were invited into their home; perhaps they were adventurers hoping to join forces with Loki familia? Or maybe strong fighters hoping to test their mettle against some of the best Orario had to offer? They weren't quite sure.
After a few silent moments, Loki finally ceased her hand-tapping and cleared her throat: "Finn, take the others and leave. I will be conducting this meeting privately."
Finn stood up from his seat and turned his head to his Goddess, looking like he wanted to object. However, when he met Loki's gaze, he got her message loud and clear: "Goddess' Orders. You will obey. Leave. Now."
And so, with a sigh, he nodded once to his fellow executives, and then to Tione, and the four of them shuffled quietly out of the room, closing the door behind them and ushering the rest of the familia away.
Already, Finn's mind was working: he knew that the office was built to be incredibly soundproof, meaning that any discussion that was had within would easily stay within; he also knew that any magic Riveria used to try and eavesdrop would be easily detected by Loki, so that was a no-go, too. Still, it would be an understatement to say that he wasn't curious. As a Pallum- one of the weakest races alongside the human race- information was the only weapon he had at his disposal, and he made it a mission of his to know everything that piques his interest.
"Who the hell are they, Finn!?" The Werewolf, Bete, growled out as he glared at the closed door.
"Visitors, or something to that effect, from what I know." The Pallum responded calmly, though his tone of voice was easily understood by the executives. No one addressed it, however, preferring instead to remain silent.
"What do they want with Lady Loki?" This time, the other Amazoness, Tiona, asked as she waved her hands around frantically. "Are they here to join the familia?" This question got many head nods from the rest of the familia, who all echoed the Amazoness' inquiry.
Finn only shook his head, "whatever was in that letter, apparently. Though I guess not impossible, I doubt that would've been it." He fell silent as he retreated into his thoughts, rubbing his fingers together subconsciously before turning to the High Elf by his side. "Riveria, what were you able to decipher from the letter? It seemed like you were able to read it; it was written in the Ancient Script, was it not? Anything will be helpful."
She could only shake her head, "I could decipher it, but there was no real value in that letter- it must've had some secret meaning that I could not understand. Something about a… a Treaty of some sort, but this is the first time I've heard about such a thing; it was never mentioned or brought up during my studies. I've never seen it listed anywhere in Orario's library either, even despite the fact that it's named after our city. Though, I guess that shouldn't be a surprise, after all; Orario's history does go back nearly 1000 years." She stroked her chin, "how a couple of strangers managed to stumble upon such information- if it exists at all, of course- is beyond me, however."
Finn nodded as he finalised the plan in his mind. He hummed thoughtfully. "Then we'll just have to settle for the hand we were dealt. It is as you say: if something like that has been omitted from our library, then it must have been something old- and quite possibly important as well." Finn bit his thumb, even still, nothing was hurting, "if all else fails, we'll simply have to find answers on our own. Come with me; I don't know how long they'll be conversing for, but we should take this time to prepare."
No one denied the unmistakable intention behind his words, and they silently trailed after him. He quickly dismissed the regular members of the familia, leaving them to relax amongst themselves as he brought his executives along with him, explaining his plan along the way. The two Elves, the Dwarf, the two Amazonesses, the Werewolf, and the young woman all followed silently as they heeded his words.
"Why don't we start with a small introduction, Goddess Loki? After all, it is common courtesy to introduce yourself before holding such a conversation." Cleaire asked as she leaned back in her seat.
Loki scoffed, took a shallow breath, then nodded, "you seem to already be familiar with me. But alas, I am Goddess Loki, patron deity of the Loki familia."
"Cleaire." The Pallum tipped her leather hat in response and hid her mischievous smile.
"Vardan." The response from the Elven marksman came plain and simple as he made a short bow in his seat. Loki made a mental note of the lack of a surname which would otherwise be used to identify his Elven heritage. Though, she could feel the same sense of Elvish royalty she found within Riveria.
"Kuzuryuu Akagi." The young woman dressed in Far Eastern garb brandished a devilish grin, "it's nice to finally meet another god."
"Kanamori Yukikaze." The Renart sorcerer remained still and leaned back in his seat, shifting his eyes over to the window and looking out to the approaching night sky past the flowing chimes decorating his wooden, rimmed hat.
"Remus." The Werewolf folded his arms in front of his chest with a grim frown on his face.
"Diane." The Chienthrope huntress leaned back in her seat as she played with a knife in her hands; never did she meet the Goddess' gaze, but Loki paid it no mind.
Cleaire nodded as soon as the introductions were complete. "Alright, now that that's out of the way, we can finally begin. Shall we?"
Loki simply nodded quietly, not wanting to say a word as she studied the six travellers, placing a special focus onto the Pallum.
"So, let's start with the Treaty, since that is the most important…" She tapped her chin thoughtfully, as if trying to recall the information she needed. In truth, she was only stalling, hoping to catch the Goddess off-guard. Even still, the Trickster God's poker face was unflinching, and so the Pallum continued: "800 years ago, during the Golden Age of Heroes, God Ouranos and other gods who resided in Orario at the time, came to an agreement with Goddess Nyx. There were many terms associated with the Treaty, but the most important was this: the Dragon would stop its rampage and be sealed away until the Fateful Day would arrive. Isn't that right, Goddess Loki?"
Loki frowned. She had a burning question at the back of her mind, and yet she did not speak. Instead, she drilled her vermillions eyes into the Pallum, almost as if peering into her soul akin to the way Freya does with her Eyes of Insight.
Nonetheless, Cleaire read the Goddess' mind, and shrugged her shoulders, "you are right to believe that: mortals would have never found the remains of what happened during that time- after all, it did happen centuries ago. And it is also indeed true that none of the information of the Treaty exists anywhere, at least, not physically- but does in the memories of gods and spirits; though they were, for the most part, sworn to secrecy. In truth, it was simply a matter of observation and hypothesis- a true, scientific mindset, if you will- at the beginning, at least. Of course, to begin, we need a compelling question, and such was this: what happened to the Dragon all these years later? All surviving records of fights with the Black Dragon were either chronicled in Dungeon Oratoria or were recorded 800 years ago during the Golden Age of Heroes. During the former fight, the Sword Champion, Albert Waldstein, and the wind spirit Aria fought against the beast and managed to injure its eye and force it into hiding; though, not without being able to escape severe consequences. And during the latter fight, the Heroes were said to have taken up the challenge, but were defeated in a one-sided massacre- at least, from the records, none of the Heroes returned alive." She paused briefly, watching the deity, "their defeat is not what is important here, however; what is important are the years which followed that fight. The Black Dragon, who had been ravaging mortal lands for millennia suddenly stopped its rampage. It is true that the situation involving the Sword Champion is excusable, since the Dragon had been injured at the time, so it simply went into hiding to nurse its wounds and to recover from its weakened state. As for the fight during the Golden Age, not so. Even if the Dragon had been wounded during that fight, the fact that nearly 800 years have passed without anybody seeing or hearing about it cannot be coincidental. Quite strange, wouldn't you agree, Goddess Loki?" There was no response, so Cleaire continued. "I certainly thought it was. So, naturally, I began thinking." She donned a pensive frown and tapped her chin. "The Dragon's presence suddenly vanished; and unless the records of the Heroes' fight against the beast were wrong- in the sense that they actually did defeat it, but had been wiped out in the process, so the others in Orario simply assumed they had failed- then, there was only one other alternative: that some other force- whatever it may be- was able to defeat the Dragon, and no one knew about it. But, as you know, nearly 16 years ago, Zeus, Hera, and their allies went on yet another campaign to fight the two other Grand Beasts: Behemoth and Leviathan, and also the Black Dragon, but got wiped out during their last fight- similar to what happened during the Golden Age. And from that," she held up two fingers, "two possibilities sprung forth: either the Dragon was still alive and history is as it is told, or the destruction of Zeus and Hera familia was also a part of the deities' ploy to hide the fact that the Dragon had been killed many centuries prior. But, now, I ask you: what is the true likelihood that it was the second possibility? Why would familias as strong as Zeus and Hera familia be willing to give up their position as Orario's strongest in order to continue the facade- that the Dragon had not been killed? On top of that, why would the deities- if they knew at all- feel the need to hide the Dragon's death from the mortals in the first place?" Cleaire gestured with her hands, as if passing the opportunity to speak towards Loki. "These are quite the interesting questions, aren't they, Goddess Loki? Would you mind if I asked you to answer them for me?"
Loki made an inaudible groan as she set her hands back onto the desk. Shr sighed and shrugged, "you're right: the Dragon is still alive. Zeus, Hera, and their allies truly did fight the Dragon, and they were defeated. But this doesn't answer my question at all; all this says is that the Three Grand Quests have yet to be completed. It simply means that the Lower World will eventually give rise to adventurers strong enough to finish what Zeus and Hera familia began- no matter how distant into the future that may be."
Cleaire nodded thoughtfully. "Good, at least we agree on some things; this will make moving forward far easier. To continue, might I inquire as to why the Dragon is so adamant about protecting its own territory rather than trying to conquer more?" She paused for a bit, "you know, like how it did for aeons before Sword Champion and the deities' descent? Of course, it's a monster, but unlike most monsters that we see in the Dungeon in the modern era, it's undoubtedly an irregular- a monster which persists from the Ancient Times from before the gods descended to the Lower World-" Loki grimaced. "-It is sentient, and thus clouded by the same desires as us mortals: to destroy and to conquer. And yet it doesn't do this despite having already wiped out several of its strongest adversaries." She stopped to meet Loki's gaze, tilting forward in her seat. "How about that, Loki?"
The Goddess did not respond this time.
Cleaire only shrugged, smirking as she leaned backwards. "Of course, these are rhetorical questions; so I didn't really expect you to answer them, since I am already well aware of the underlying reason." Loki clicked her tongue in annoyance. "It would be foolish to believe that larger powers are not at play. After all, we live in a world where gods and spirits coexist with mortals. In all honesty, however, this was the extent of my hypothesis, simply because there was no conceivable way for me to uncover the truth- after all, all of the things aforementioned happened long ago, be it decades, centuries, or even millennia. So, I gave up after a while and simply went back to pursue my other interests. In truth, it wasn't until we had met a travelling companion of ours when the pieces started falling into the right places- when everything started to make sense- not much dissimilar to clockwork. One missing piece which, when, once properly placed, sets everything into motion- and believe me, such a piece has already been placed, whether you like it or not."
Loki frowned. "Travelling companion…?"
Cleaire nearly chuckled. "Indeed, our most esteemed friend, who was the one who gave me the answers to my questions, and the one who revealed to us the secrets of the Treaty."
Loki narrowed her eyes, "and who-"
"-no… what are you?"
"A wanderer, of sorts," the girl shrugged, "a wanderer who knows too much for her own good, I suppose."
The Goddess of Beauty narrowed her eyes and stroked her cheek, the wineglass had long since been abandoned and sat off to the side. "That Treaty was set into place nearly 800 years ago during the Golden Age of Heroes; even I had yet to descend to the Lower World during that time. How could you possibly have-"
"Simple: I was there when it was conceived. I am, indeed, older than I appear, Freya. I have walked alongside mortal men far longer than you- or any god has, in fact." V shrugged, "in terms of pure age, I'm probably only a few centuries younger than you. I've seen it all, watching by the sidelines: the destruction caused by the Black Dragon for millennia; the efforts made by The Empire and the Kingdom of Hellene to stop the beast's rampage using nothing but their wits; the Sword Champion's final stand against the monster; the defeat of the Heroes of the Golden Age; the agreement between the gods which sprung forth the Treaty of Orario; Zeus and Hera familia's campaign for the completion of the Three Grand Quests; the 'birth' of the intelligent monsters, the Xenos; the war waged by Evilus and the subsequent Dark Ages of Orario. I have seen it all, Freya-" she chuckled, "-seen more than I probably should have, in fact."
Freya frowned, but nodded knowingly. "A spirit, I presume? But Ouranos made sure to seal the lips of spirits," Freya nearly scoffed, "to speak of such things would be taboo for them. My dear niece, I can't tell if you're brave or foolish."
"Funny you should say that, actually; after all, what else do I have to lose?" The spirit shook her head, "you should know, don't you? After all, it was you who colluded with the likes of Ishtar, Aphrodite, and many others to bring forth my brothers and sisters of whom I had stood alongside for millennia to watch over the mortals- or rather- everything, on your behalf. And the reward for all of our hard work-?" A wave of rage mixed with anguish washed over her violet eyes as a cold breeze picked swirled chaotically within the chamber. However, Freya stood her ground, hiding her surprise and brushing it off with her usual gentle smile; the Boaz behind her reached for his blade; however, he was stopped when the girl waved her hands to dismiss the thought. "Regardless, the fact stands that I know about the Treaty, and the terms that Ouranos and Nyx agreed to. I know that 800 years ago when the Treaty came into fruition, the Black Dragon was placed into a slumber, which is why it had become inactive for all this time despite the rampage and destruction that had ensued all those aeons prior. I know that when the Dragon was sealed away, Nyx brought yet another factor into the playing field: the Divine Artifacts of which your fellow gods crafted to store their Arcanum while they were gone- they came to the Lower World and were hidden away by unseen forces. I know that when one of those Artifacts, Pandora's Box, is opened, whether deliberately or by accident, the Treaty will come to an end, and the Black Dragon will rise once more. I know that when the Black Dragon rises again, it won't be alone, and it will bring forth a calamity before unseen- and I know it will take a force many times stronger than that of the Sword Champion to put an end to the threat." She continued, "of course, nearly everyone in Orario has long since forgotten about the destruction which ensued 16 years ago on Zeus and Hera familia; and in some senses, the fight against Evilus which occurred 7 years ago. Not only that, but when the gods chronicled the events of Dungeon Oratoria, although it was portrayed as history, it eventually became a fairytale told to children, and it lost its original meaning as a warning of the inevitable. The simple truth of the matter is that things are predestined to get even more complicated than they already are; and they already have, in fact." She stopped for a moment and tilted her head to the side, "of course, the simplest solution is to find Pandora's Box; hide it, and stow it away someplace safe. That way, it would be inaccessible to those with such intentions of plunging the world into Chaos."
Freya nodded and stroked her cheek, "our forebears did indeed try to do something like that. But the search is futile, you see: for us gods cannot simply will the Divine Artifacts into our possession, nor can us gods wield their- our power, lest we risk being sent back to the Upper World."
V hummed, "and the mortals? They are not confined to the same laws as the deities."
"To those who the Artifacts appear before, they are given power beyond measure. To place such power into the volatile hands of mortals is unfathomable. We have done our best to steer away our children from ever coming into contact with the Artifacts, lest they be tempted by such power."
V grinned and raised an eyebrow, "scared?"
Freya scoffed, "do not forget that those Artifacts hold the same power that was once used to destroy you and your siblings." The smile was wiped from the spirit's face as she grimaced and the Goddess narrowed her silver eyes. "Don't you get it? Unpredictability is the bane of eternity. Exceptions are to be eliminated and prevented at all costs."
"If eternity is the answer you seek, then why was it that Zeus and Hera familia decided to complete the Three Grand Quests when they had no reason to? The Dragon had not yet awakened, so the true threat it posed was negligible. They held the highest position within Orario, just shy of Ouranos' rule. Absolute power brings forth absolute control, does it not? With Zeus and Hera familia driving the head of Orario, Rakia would never stand a chance, nor Altena, nor The Empire, and neither would the diplomatic ties with Athens deteriorate. The way you act and the things you say contradict: you claim to seek eternity, and yet you do not grasp for dominion."
"Perhaps they wished to test their power, or perhaps they simply believed it was the right thing to do-" Freya made a nonchalant shrug of her shoulder, "whatever their motives may have been, I do not know, nor will I ever know."
"True; but imagine if Zeus and Hera familia had continued training themselves for the past 16 years. Empress would have undoubtedly eventually gotten herself to level 10- maybe even level 11, both Gluttony and Silence would have been level 9 or 10." She turned her gaze to Ottar, "King could have become level 9 as well by training with them, as would Sword Princess, Vana Freya, Braver, Nine Hells, Elgarm, and even Rabbit Foot; this is alsonot to mention that Astraea familia, and many others who perished during the Dark Ages may still be alive today. They would have been able to dive deeper into the Dungeon, get even stronger, and then prepare for the day when the Dragon truly would go on a rampage- a fight involving individuals stronger than the Heroes from the Golden Age, stronger than Zeus and Hera familia 16 years ago, and perhaps just as strong as Albert Waldstein. Then, once the Dungeon was conquered, and the Dragon was vanquished, peace could be established throughout the Lower World- Orario's reach would be extended worldwide, and all will be united under the command of the deities to make progress towards a better future. Would that not be the eternity you seek? Would that peace that can be sought- the peace which would bring an end to the endless war in the Far East; the peace which would dismantle the trecherous slavery in the Kaios Desert and the Far South, and the peace which would unify the warring countries of the Lower World- would that peace not be the eternity you seek? The eternity that your children- my siblings- deserve?"
"Zeus and Hera believed that they had what it took to take it down, didn't they? Besides, at the time, with the incident which occured in Hellene with the Behemoth, it was necessary to clean up the area and make sure the monsters did not escape and spread the effects of the Contamination. On the other hand, it was also too risky to allow The Empire to take on the Leviathan using their naval forces. As such, Zeus and Hera completed the task: they scattered Behemoth's corpse to subdue the effects of the Contamination and used the remains of the Leviathan to seal the entrance in Melen. Lastly, the Black Dragon still loomed overhead as a threat. Zeus and Hera simply made the choice that they thought was for the good of the people; that's why they went to fight- even despite the odds."
"Zeus and Hera familia thought that what they were doing was for the good of the people," V corrected the Goddess, "Zeus and Hera never needed to go if they didn't want to- they only did so to appease their familia and not to raise suspicions about the secret the gods were hiding. Besides, if what Zeus and Hera were doing was for the good of the people- and for the benefit of the Lower World- why were they banished from Orario? Of course, they failed to actually bring an end to the last of the Three Grand Beasts, but their effort was commendable and worthy of respect, was it not? You said it yourself: by containing the effects of the Contamination and sealing Melen's entrance, they saved countless lives- they were heroes. Both deities were also the ones to raise the strongest generation of adventurers- stronger than those of the Golden Age- and stronger than the ones we have now. Wouldn't their expertise in raising prodigies and their first-hand experience with the beast be invaluable in the inevitable fight against the Dragon? Attack patterns, weak spots, et cetera; all of that was at your disposal and you simply tossed it away. Had Zeus and Hera still been in Orario, Zald and Alfia would have never colluded with Evilus to wage war and bring about the Dark Ages- and instead would have poured their efforts into training the newer generation. Was pushing them away for your own selfish reasons worth the misery which plagued the mortals you gods were supposed to protect?"
Freya remained silent and simply watched the girl rant. Her silver eyes flashed with indifference.
V sighed and shook her head, calming herself, realising just how heated she was getting- after all, what good would it do if she lost her temper? She hummed and released a sigh, "there was no reason to keep them around anyways. For Zald and Alfia, you simply used them as stepping stones to become stronger- and so you cast them away when they were no longer useful to you. They acted as villains, and they played their role in spreading fear among the people of Orario and those around Orario perfectly. On the other hand, the information Zeus and Hera could have shared about the Dragon would not have been valuable because you, nor Loki, nor any deity, for that matter, had a reason to try to fight the Dragon in the first place." She sighed again, and looked Freya right in the eyes, watching as the Goddess stared back with her piercing, silver gaze, "because, for the gods-"
"-as long as the Black Dragon and the Dungeon remain as threats, the mortals will have no choice but to rely on you for your blessing. Thus, your eternal rule is guaranteed, and you can continue living here until the 'entertainment' you seek dries up. Isn't that right, Loki?"
She huffed. "Simply preposterous. We gods came down to the Lower World because we wished to live alongside our children- we wished to give them a chance to stand against the monsters evolving within the depths of the Earth and the monsters ravaging their lands-"
Cleaire held up a nagging finger, "ah, ah, ah; that isn't how this works, Loki. Everything I've said up until now was nothing but the truth; the least you could do is reciprocate, don't you think?"
Her brows furrowed and she clicked her tongue in annoyance. "No, but there's no way. Neither she nor the Far Easterner have it. She couldn't possibly-" She sighed, cupping her cheek. "What you say is true." The Pallum's face nearly lit up with childish delight. "As long as the Dungeon has not yet been conquered and the powerful surface monsters have not been defeated, we, as gods, will still have a place in the Lower World." She shrugged, "of course, all of us deities know that at some point, the Dungeon will be completely explored, and the statuses of our children will simply keep improving, making them strong enough to defeat any monster which spawns from there. In some ways, the fight Zeus, Hera, and their allies had with the Black Dragon worked in our favour. 'They were strong- stronger than we could ever hope to be- but even they did not stand a chance against the Dragon'; as long as that reminder is kept within the mortal schema, no one will ever try to fight the Dragon, but everyone will fear it. At least, it will give us that much more time to experience and find entertainment in the Lower World until the fun inevitably ends. After all, if they knew that Pandora's Box existed somewhere in the world, and that keeping it safe would put an end to the threat of the Dragon, then wouldn't you think they'd leave to search for it-? To abandon everything us gods have built for the past 1000 years? Once the mortals get their hands onto Pandora's Box, the power that lies within will corrupt them; such things are contagious, you know. You said it yourself, didn't you? Mortals seek power and dominion just as they may breathe, sleep, and eat: even the smallest of crumbs can leave them craving more and more. And when you see someone else who's hungry, you'll inevitably become hungry yourself- it's simply in mortal nature."
"And those talking monsters?" Cleaire asked, smirking as the slightest frown came to Loki's face. "Where do they stand in your grand plan?"
"They are the direct descendents of the bygone monsters of the Ancient Times; they have the same capabilities as mortals- to get stronger indefinitely- and thus are not confined to remain stagnant in their strength. This is why we've always tried our best to instill a fear of monsters into the mortal schema- not that the task was particularly hard- monsters and mortals were born to be enemies, after all. If those monsters become the rivals of mortals, then the mortals, in turn, will also be reliant on our blessing to fight off those so-called 'savage' monsters. Since these monsters will also get stronger alongside the mortals, it will eventually give rise to eternal war. War is what makes people reliant- and that is what makes things stable." She hummed, "I believe the saying goes: 'it is better for a ruler to be feared than to be loved'; in some cases, I can agree; but other times, I don't. It is indeed true that fear rules better than love, but if the situation allows for it: in order to maintain the appearance of a benevolent leader, it is far better to misdirect that source of that fear onto something else. It is far better to be relied on than to be feared, since, at some breaking-point, fear inspires bravery; and bravery inspires revolution. Revolution, by its very nature, inspires change- the enemy to the eternity we seek."
The Pallum smirked in response; she slid her hand onto the desk, "okay, then, let me ask you this question: what would you do when the Black Dragon does awaken once more? As it stands now, Zeus, Hera, and their allies were unable to defeat the beast, and they were far stronger than anything Orario has to offer right now- even Rabbit Foot will need time in order to get strong enough to defeat the Dragon- whether that's strong enough to do so with allies, or strong enough to do it himself. What do you think happens to your little game once it's over?"
Loki hummed, as if the answer was already obvious- and in truth, it was. "Well, of course, there's nothing that us gods can really do. Since we can't use Arcanum, there's no way for us gods to defeat the beast, and the Lower World will simply be destroyed. But is there really anything to worry about? Pandora's Box has not been found for nearly 800 years already. Besides, for us gods, it simply doesn't matter. When the Lower World is destroyed, we will return to the Upper World alongside the souls of our fallen children; we will keep them there, and continue our lives in the Upper World where the Dragon cannot reach. The mortals who come with us will serve us, and we'll recommence our lives." Loki allowed a devilish smile to form on her face. "Happily-ever-after, is it not? The mortals who come to the Upper World can receive our attention and our affection; they can live in a world where they need not care about the hardships of life; they need not face pain and misery. They can live however they please and remain ours. Forever, until the end of time. Who wouldn't want that life?" Loki stopped for a moment. "Then, if we ever get bored, we'll simply make a new Lower World, and have even more fun- and we'll do it, again, and again, and again until we're finally satisfied." Loki shrugged, "after all, for us gods, these worlds will appear and disappear almost instantly. We're immortal, after all; we've always had enough time."
The Pallum considered the Goddess' words for a moment, "I see- I mean, I can't say I disagree with your sentiment; after all, if I was a deity, I would probably do the same thing," Cleaire chuckled as she tapped her chin thoughtfully, keeping her amber eyes locked with the Goddess' vermillion irises. She rested her chin on her knuckles, "we mortals are quite the interesting and crafty bunch, wouldn't you agree? You've watched us for aeons, after all. We mortals have neither the immortality nor the supposed perfection of gods and spirits; but we will find any way possible just to survive a day- an hour- a minute- a second longer." She made a hearty sigh. "'It is better to rule with fear than with love'. It is this humiliating cowardice of ours that allows us to move forward; we run after our ambitions; and if we can't, we'll walk; and if we can't walk, we'll crawl; and if we can't crawl, we'll use our wits to make progress. It is this humiliating cowardice of ours that allows us to move forward- to struggle, to learn, to polish our wisdom, and to become stronger."
Loki remained silent, leaning back in her chair and narrowing her vermillion eyes.
"We aren't the benevolent and superiorbeings that you claim to be. We mortals reach high, but, whether fortunately or unfortunately, start low. But… as long as we can breathe- as long as we have the capacity to grasp our ambitions, we will. And we'll do anything it takes, even if it means having to give up on everything else." Cleaire returned the Goddess' smile, and stood up from her seat, the other five following suit.
Loki let a deep breath escape her lips. "I suppose I have a few final questions to ask, if you'll indulge." She narrowed her eyes. "What do you get from doing this? Why go through all the trouble?"
Cleaire stroked her chin and hummed, "I have something I want to prove," she said, shrugging, "I'm from the Far South- and I wear that badge proudly. As you know, I've never known of the existence of gods until just a few years ago when I escaped and integrated into normal society. But it is because I don't know who they are that makes me hate them." Loki grimaced, "the Kingdom of Hellene has always been an independent nation, preferring to remain that way. They worked hard, they failed, they persevered, and they succeeded. What was that effort really worth? Several millennia of scientific advancement brought down in one fateful night by a monster later defeated by a group of adventurers possessing the blessings of deities. Why find a way to break past the limits placed onto mortals when we can simply be reliant on gods-? To be blessed with fortune and power?" She paused for a long while; then: "but… being from the Far South- and especially a Pallum, one of the weakest races- has allowed me to realise that I don't need the powers granted by gods, nor must I be influenced by their whims." She turned, gesturing to those by her side. "As for them, they have their own goals; but it isn't my place to reveal them- not that I know the full extent of their ambitions, anyways." Cleaire smirked, "how is that? Satisfied?"
Loki only took a deep breath and sighed, "I see…" she murmured quietly, folding her arms over her chest and tilted her gaze downwards.
"I suppose now would be a good time to end this conversation. This has been quite the productive meeting, hasn't it, Loki?" With a huff, Cleaire turned heel and approached the door without looking behind her for even a second- and without saying another word.
As the door creaked open, the six stepped outside the silent office. However, before they truly left, the Pallum gave the Goddess one last set of parting words. "Oh, by the way, I would suggest you be careful around these parts from now on." Loki stared at the back of Cleaire's head. "Rumours have it that a vengeful spirit has recently stepped foot inside Orario- with a vendetta- and the indomitable will to dethrone the gods. My best wishes- and, also, my condolences, Loki. Things are about to get a lot more interesting, let me tell you; and this time, your divinity won't save you; so I wouldn't count on it."
And with that, the door closed, leaving Loki alone in the office, sitting behind the wooden desk with a pensive frown on her face. With a shaky laugh, she bit down on her nail once more- this time, drawing her shimmering golden ichor. Her vermillion eyes shone with an indescribable glint of fervor and she felt a shiver go down her spine. "Fuck. I got played."
xxx
The group of six made their way down the quiet halls of the Twilight Manor, coming the way they entered: moving down a series of corridors and staircases, and reached the front door in a matter of minutes. Cleaire eased the door open and stepped out onto the front courtyard, strolling along the stone walkway of the Twilight Manor front garden. They paced forward, but slowed to a stop to face the eight individuals standing along the path, blocking their way. Cleaire audibly clicked her tongue in annoyance, cursing under her breath.
"Greetings, esteemed travellers," Finn made a gentle bow of his head and greeted them, approaching them with civility and respect- but the spear he kept by his side said otherwise. "My name is Finn Deimne, Braver, and Captain of the Loki familia; it's good to meet you- though this is technically the second time, I suppose." He turned and gestured as the others who stood by his side introduced themselves as well.
"Riveria Ljos Alf, Nine Hells," the Elf bowed her head and curtseyed.
"Gareth Landrock, Elgarm," the Dwarf made a curt nod with his head, stroking his beard gently.
"Tione Hiryute, Jormungand," the longer haired Amazoness who has escorted them into the premises folded her arms in front of her chest.
"Tiona Hiryute, Amazon, nice to meet ya!" The shorter haired Amazoness made a giddy wave of her arms.
The Werewolf, Bete Loga, Vanargand, scowled and growled, not bothering to introduce himself even with his Captain's insistence on such formalities.
"Ais Wallenstein, Sword Princess," the golden haired teen said as she scanned her equally golden eyes across the six strangers, filled with their usual vacancy.
"Lefiya Viridis, Thousand Elf," the orange haired Elf gave the six strangers the stink eye and puffed her cheeks angrily.
"And I assume you have something you want from us?" Cleaire didn't bother returning the greeting and instead got down to business. "Out with it, it's already quite late, and I'm also a little bit tired. I would ask that you not waste my time."
Finn did not falter, and instead continued along with the conversation- or rather- interrogation. "Quite right; of course, I'm merely curious about the discussion you had with Lady Loki-"
"Then ask your Goddess. That's none of my problem if she doesn't think it's worth sharing with you."
Finn raised an eyebrow as his knuckles turned white on his spear. However, he continued with his usual tact and prudence, even despite the Amazoness who stood beside him already seething with rage. "Of course, you're right. Simply, I worry that Lady Loki has had too much to worry about these past few days with Rakia and Evilus, so I thought it'd be best if I caused less undue stress to her by simply finding the answers elsewhere." He made a curt bow, "anything you can tell me will be greatly appreciated."
However, Cleaire did not respond in the way Finn hoped; instead, her face gained a furious scowl. She scoffed. "I have nothing to say to the likes of you, Braver," she spat out as her hands tightened into fists, curling around the two weapons holstered by her hips.
Beside Finn, Tione looked like she wanted to lunge forward and strangle the Pallum. Her Captain stopped her before she could, though. After all, resorting to violence should always come last. Of course, he did not know for certain if the individuals before him possessed a blessing from a deity, but from what his gut told him, they didn't. Regardless, he knew better than to be complacent; the last thing he needed was to underestimate his opponents and enter a fight he and his familia couldn't recover from. As such, he tried the last trick he had at his disposal: "I believe that as the Captain of the Loki familia, it is imperative that I know everything and anything that may be of importance to ensure the safety of Orario and its people." He shrugged, a gentle, but forced, smile graced his lips and he stepped off to the side, opening up the path. "I won't hold you here any longer; you are free to go. But, please, if you have any issues, I will always be here for support- someone you can trust and confide in. After all, everything I do is for the good of the people of Orario; which is the vow I made when I chose to become the Pallum's Light and to become the paradigm of the feats bravery can-"
Cleaire snorted. "Pallum's Light, my ass. Go fuck yourself, please."
A confused mumble came from Finn's lips. "Excuse me!?"
Then, all hell broke loose.
"I'm not here to tell you what to do, Freya." The spirit shrugged, "whatever it is that the gods decide is beyond what I can control." She took a step closer to the throne. "Think of it as a warning, of sorts." Her eyes met Freya's silver irises, and the Goddess understood the unmistakable intent within them: "whether you rise or fall, I will be here to see it all. Sometimes, revenge is a dish best served cold- that much is true. But it tastes oh-so-much sweeter when you don't have to lift a finger at all."
Freya sat atop her throne, frozen, as she considered the words of the spirit before her. Behind her, Ottar made no sound, either, as he, too, silently contemplated the conversation which had just been held between his Goddess and the spirit girl. He shifted his rust-bronze gaze between the both of them as he awaited his Goddess to continue; but a wave of the hand from his mistress grabbed his attention and signalled to him the end of their discussion.
He made a light bow as he stepped forward, his own personal thoughts about the discussion running rampant in his mind. He first considered the Treaty of Orario. It opened up several pathways: Pandora's Box would be found and guarded indefinitely by Orario; it would be found and guarded by Orario, but eventually falling into the wrong hands and opened; it would be opened on accident by someone who had no clue of the consequences; or it would be found by so-called bad people, and it would be deliberately opened to plunge the world into Chaos. Of course, there was also the possibility that it would not be found, and from what he gathered from the conversation, it seems as though this possibility was the most probable, and the former four options would be unlikely to occur in his lifetime- and perhaps in the lifetimes of many who would come after him. Of course, this is not to say that it wasn't impossible- that was a common fallacy among mortals: that improbability equals impossibility; but that was wrong, and a mistake he would be damned to make. He then considered what the girl had said about the deities instilling fear in the mortals using the Dragon, the Dungeon, and the talking monsters- the Xenos. Did he believe it was real? Absolutely; in fact, his Lady had outright acknowledged the idea, so he had no right to discredit that notion. Did he believe it was a bad thing? That, he was still trying to figure out. If he was a deity, would he have done the same thing? What even determines good and bad? It certainly wasn't as black-and-white as most people make it out to be. Perhaps it was his own personal biases at play, but he could never believe the deities to be truly, inherently evil- or at least, evil in his eyes; after all, it was Freya who once extended her hand to him all those years ago when he had already taken a step towards Death's Door. The same is true for Allen and Anya- both of whom are certain to share the same feeling of gratitude he did. He could imagine the same scenario had played out for many of the adventurers he knew, both in the modern times and in past eras- after all, the world was, by and large, an ugly and unforgiving place. Perhaps one could argue, though, that they were only saved because they were interesting enough to catch the eyes of the gods- after all, if the deities truly were all-benevolent and merciful, then why is it that the Far East is engulfed in war and disease? Why do the children born into the Far South suffer in captivity as slaves, doomed to be traded between the filthy hands of degenerate merchants, even at a young age? Why do people suffer? Why do they experience grief? He had originally asked himself these questions when he was young- but it was only when he became a first-tier adventurer and was able to see the world from both perspectives- from the perspective of the lowest of the low and from the perspective of the highest of the high- that he was able to find his answer. The deities were flawed- he knew that, but of course, not everyone did. It is true he is loyal to Freya, and holds the deities- or at least, some of them- in high regard; but he was not a fool. They were flawed in the same way that mortals were flawed- at times, they could be selfish; other times, lazy; and also petty. Like mortals, the gods were also multifaceted; like mortals- like all sentient things, in fact- they were infinitely complex. But while the mortals must make use of the limited commodity known as time, the deities do not, for they have all the time they would ever want and need. But this simple fact that he knew is why he has devoted his life to his Goddess. Just as Freya had once extended to him her hand and saved him from the clutches of Death; he would do everything in his power to repay the favour- and to save her in turn- to show to her her flaws and to help her overcome them so she could truly be a Goddess worthy of admiration and respect.
After all, everyone has their own goals, their own ambitions, and their own motivations- it is that ambition which drives them forward. This was simply his. But he knew that it could not be achieved should he stay idle. So, just like the ones who have dreamt of the same dreams before him, all he can do is to take a step forward- unendingly, and unendingly- no matter the struggle and adversity he faces. He knows that this dream of his may not be realised in his lifetime; he also knew that it may ultimately not be him who inspires such change in Freya; but he felt joy in the fact that he had played a part- no matter how small or insignificant it may be. Even still, with the arrival of Bell Cranel, Ottar was almost sure that his goals would eventually be fulfilled; so he held onto hope- even if it was only barely a twinkle- for he knew that the foundations he laid and the spark he nurtured would be important for his dream to come to fruition.
He followed closely behind the girl, watching her with veiled curiosity. As the two reached the door, he gently pushed it open, and allowed the girl to walk out first before stepping out himself, closing the doors behind him, leaving his Goddess alone, sitting atop her throne, and digesting the contents of their discussion. She had a small frown on her face, but he was at ease, for he knew that that was not a frown of discontentment, but rather, a pensive frown of contemplation. It simply meant that she was already planning for what comes next- and it was a dazzling sight for him to behold.
As soon as he heard the click of the door shutting, he lunged forward and deflected a spear thrown at the girl, sending it flying to the side and squaring his stance, holding his greatsword defensively in front of him. Of course, he knew the girl was more than capable of defending herself- in fact, he was almost certain that Freya had ordered him to escort the girl not for her safety but for the safety of her assailants.
Allen snarled, "get out of the way, Ottar. I'll fucking kill her." He dropped his own stance low, building the tension in his legs, coiling backwards, and preparing for a massive dash forward. He knew he would not be able to overpower his Captain, but in terms of sheer speed, he was capable of breaking through- even despite the level advantage Ottar possessed. He wasn't dubbed Fastest in the City for no reason, after all. The two Elves flanked him from the right side, and the four Pallums stood on the left. Both groups were ready to advance at a moment's notice should the cat man charge.
But the Boaz remained steadfast and unflinching with his silver blade planted firmly against the marble flooring. His gaze said all that was necessary: "Lady Freya has ordered her safety. If you attack her, not only will that be disobedience against our Lady's will, but she will also fight back; she will kill you."
After a few deciding seconds had passed, he turned to the girl with silent words of permission, and the two went along their way to the elevator, riding it down to the ground floor, exiting the Tower of Babel, and entering into the nightly atmosphere of Orario. The rest of the seven executives shared one last glance before they entered their Lady's chambers- after gaining authorisation, of course- to attend to her desires and to ease her worries. The feeling of animosity left them as soon as they entered the chamber as the sense of devotion and reverence towards their Goddess overcame them.
The nighttime breeze swept through the nearly barren streets of Central Park- few adventurers milled around as they entered the Dungeon late at night, which may be preferable due to less traffic- but they were few and far between. The moon hung high in the night sky, casting its light along the rooftops of Orario. Ottar observed the spirit as she walked, leading the both of them onto North Main. He had a burning thought on the back of his mind, and yet he knew not of how to initiate the conversation- or if he even wanted to find out the answers to his question. It was true, he was no feline, but as the saying goes: 'curiosity kills the cat'.
"Shoot."
"Pardon?"
"You have something you want to ask, don't you? Go on; I'm all ears."
After a moment of hesitation, the Boaz spoke. "The conversation you had with my Lady seemed to tell me you have abundant knowledge about the Black Dragon." V did not deny or acknowledge this assumption, but Ottar simply continued, using her silence as affirmation. "As it is right now, how would Orario fare if the Dragon were to reawaken?"
She nearly scoffed, but caught herself. "As you would expect: terribly. If Zeus, Hera, and their allies, which consisted of at least a Battalion of level 4, 5, 6 adventurers, a Platoon of level 7 adventurers, a Squad of level 8 adventurers, and a level 9 Field General, could not survive an encounter with the beast, then how could Orario, who currently only has one level 7 and a handful of level 6s, hope to stand a chance?" The question was met with silence.
After a short while: "how strong do you think we'll need to be in order to defeat the Dragon and its allies?"
"It's difficult to tell- for the Dragon, I mean. The Dragon's allies- the Harbingers, as they are called- can be marked off at around level 8 or level 9, since Zeus and Hera had to defeat some of them before fighting Behemoth and Leviathan- they'll be as strong as floor 63's Yuki-Onna but definitely weaker than floor 79's Chimera. The Dragon itself, of course, was never defeated, so it's impossible to tell just how strong someone needs to be. Considering Zeus, Hera, and their allies were able to wound the beast- albeit not to the extent of Sword Champion- it is safe to say that it would require at least a level 11 to deal any significant injury. Of course, a single level 11, is, as you would expect, not enough. You'll probably need at least a couple hundred level 11s to stand the barest of chances to actually kill the thing. Once you get into higher levels, the odds begin tipping in your favour. If I had to guess-timate, Sword Champion would have probably been on par with level 11; and it would probably take a level 15 to defeat the Dragon comfortably- a level 14 may suffice as well- but, that would be dependent on external factors." She stopped for a moment, "as you would expect, though, it would take an absurd amount of time for anyone to reach those levels- even with the increased longevity provided by the Falna. Someone like Rabbit Foot may be able to reach that in just a couple of years if we take into account his recent achievements. Then again, there's also no guarantee that the rapid rate of growth we observe will continue at those extreme levels- in all likelihood, it'll be dependent on how deep the Dungeon goes and how strong the monsters get."
He paused for a bit, wondering if he should tread on such territory. He allowed a deep sigh to rumble from his chest. "And these Divine Artifacts?"
The spirit nearly turned back and smirked. "Hmm? The Artifacts certainly would tip the odds in favour of the mortals; they simply hold that much power. Of course, they're not without their own drawbacks." She paused, "it would be unwise to think of them as a convenient tool to get stronger."
"What about you?"
V hummed. "What about me?"
"If you were to quantify your power using the Falna, what would you be?"
"Strong enough to fight alongside the Sword Champion, I suppose." If Ottar was impressed, he didn't outwardly express it. Still, he had another thing on his mind- or rather, something he wanted to observe- simply, he wanted to understand the gap which existed between his level 7 and her theoretical level 11.
He stared for a few silent moments before he decided to take the shot. "I wish to…"
"Mmh?" V narrowed her violet eyes.
"I wish to ask my Lady for permission to fight Balor soon." He drew the black blade from his back. "After listening to your conversation, I have grown worried about the future. I want to take every opportunity to test my strength and to see where I need to improve. This may sound selfish," he paused and held the blade out in front of him, readying his stance, "but I have yet to finish living my life."
Her mystifying violet irises met Ottar's rust bronze eyes. After a few silent moments had passed, her lips parted: "I suppose-"
The both of them felt a pair of eyes tracking their movements, and V turned her gaze over to East Main, catching in the darkness of night a mass of silver feathers retreat into one of the side roads- into the confines of Daedalus Street: the network of roads and walkways which made up the Southeast-Eastern sector of Orario- Daedalus' surface labyrinth. Ottar watched the girl turn away from North Main and instead move towards East Main.
"Seems like I have some business to take care of, unfortunately. Sorry about that." V shrugged her shoulders, though Ottar simply waved the apology aside. "You can go back to your Goddess, now. I'll be alright from here."
Stoically, the Boaz made a light bow of his head before turning back and returned the way he came, taking purposeful strides towards the Tower of Babel, entering it, and riding the elevator to the top. After tonight, he was still unsure of what he felt about the spirit- on face value, her goal seems to be the defeat of the Black Dragon; but was there another motive behind it? He had much to think about, and he was sure that their paths would cross again- for better or for worse. For now, though, he would focus on the fight ahead.
V paced down East Main, ignoring the scarce people who continued their work even late into the night. After a long walk, she turned to the right, and plunged into the heart of Daedalus Street, simply following her gut as she traversed the winding roads and narrow passageways. Eventually, she came to a clearing- a broken lamp light flickered off to the side, illuminating the walls engraved with Daedalus' signature: the capital letter delta from a bygone language from the Ancient Times.
And in the center stood a figure, clad in robes of deep shadows. She trained her violet eyes onto the figure, and approached steadily. A grin crept onto her face when she came to a stop just a few paces away.
"Why, if it isn't the Sage. How's immortality serving you? Good? Bad? Oh, but I suppose you got the short end of the stick, didn't you?"
The figure did not respond to the verbal jab, and instead simply continued with the task they had been given, "I am Felsthe Sage no longer, now, only the Fool." The raspy voice seeped out from under the hood, "I will be taking you to my Lord."
V shrugged and sighed, "of course you are."
And then, without any other words, the figure turned, and with the swish of their cloak, disappeared into the darkness. V followed closely behind, the smile on her face progressively turning deeper and deeper into a frown.
The adamantite doors slid open as Fels stepped inside; a few moments later, V entered.
The torchlight flickered as the girl stepped foot inside the chambers, and the figure sitting atop the throne shifted his robes as he laid his piercing sky-blue gaze onto her.
Fels led the girl forward until she stood just before the steps leading to the throne, surrounded on all sides by four torches mounted onto ivory pedestals. Fels retreated into the shadows, disappearing off to the side, though they remained present.
V met the Old God's gaze. Blue and purple clashed- off to the side, Fels, for what it was worth, gulped as they felt what amount of Arcanum Ouranos was allowed to use and a subform of Arcanum spirits like V used- Hypostasis- swirl around the chamber chaotically, causing the torches to flicker and swirl, as if even they felt agitated. Then, the spirit broke the silence-
"Ouranos."
The God, at first, did not respond, and instead kept his gaze fixed on the girl. He rested his jaw on the knuckles of his right hand. A deep rumbling sound echoed throughout the chamber, causing the torches to sway even more. The Old God, Ouranos, narrowed his sky-blue eyes; and then, he spoke-
"Vindicta."
So… Ottar. He seems a little OOC (at least, from what I've gathered from his appearances in the main series; maybe there's something I'm missing since I've never read Episode Freya; he is also portrayed in this way in other fanfictions). I can personally understand why Oomori decided to write him to be obsessively loyal: it is more accurate to mythology and it gives his character the flaw it so desperately needs. My problem with it is that it simply creates nuance- or lack thereof, in this case. This is a creative design choice I've made for my story so I can write in the way I want- I want the 'side characters' of the main series to play some role in the developing plot. So, now you might be wondering, "so he's just not gonna have flaws?" And the answer is no, because if I made him flawless, that doesn't fix the problem and in fact, makes it worse. Instead, he simply has a new flaw. In essence, he still is kinda loyal, but in a different way.
On a side note: school has already started for me, so chapters might be coming out slower.
That'll be it for this chapter. As always, reviews are helpful.