Chapter I: Part I - The Day The City Stopped
The day began like any other in Orario, the Labyrinth City. The sun rose after subtly hinting of its arrival in the twilight hours of the morning. Filling the twilight sky of many shades to one bright blue color. And slowly the people of the city began to start their day, just as the people of the night were ending theirs. And some, well some would say that there just isn't enough time to sleep.
That there isn't enough time.
She watched them from atop of the wall that surrounds the city with golden eyes and golden hair that gently fought against the wind. Aiz Wallenstein. For her it was quiet, secluded enough to gather her thoughts. What thoughts she gathered and kept to herself. While for some that may be put off by her being aloof, she found it perfectly fine. She said only what was needed. And what she truly meant. Each time she speaks one would know, this is the word of Aiz. And her actions, her triumphs of the famed Sword Princess, spoke where she did not.
Standing just at the edge, about ready to leave she felt a tremble in the stone of the towering wall. Immediately her eyes scanned the city. There were no signs of smoke, or a fight in the streets. But she could see the moving dots of people standing still. They themselves not knowing where this sound originated from. Her eyes trailed up and around to the city wall. The walls still stand, that was no surprise. What was, was that birds that were once perched at left at different locations in unison. Meaning one thing.
Whatever made that top of the wall shake, came from the center of the city. Below the Tower of Babel.
It came from the Dungeon.
-Some time ago, deep within the deep levels of the Dungeon.
Spartoi, skeletal-like monsters, carrying sword and shield roam the thirty-seventh floor of the dungeon. Patrolling the corridors and passages to and through the coliseum. A place where the monsters of the dungeon incessantly spawn and fight to die. All to spawn and fight again in a vicious cycle of carnage. These Spartoi, chose in what capacity they possess not to partake but to find a fresh and a more fulfilling kill.
Adventurers.
Occasionally groups come through to the Deep Levels. Some move fast and swift like the wind itself. Striking as they move, not risking any chance of standing still. Others move slowly, deliberately. Scanning the environment, willing to fight whatever comes their way, in a push to reach their destination. Whatever that destination was didn't matter to the Spartoi. What mattered was blood.
Though it has been some time since a group of adventurers have ventured through. And if the Spartoi could be considered competent of the passing of time, perhaps they'd grow frustrated and give up to join the vicious cycle that rages on so close. But they persisted, for what was time to a skeleton?
A deep groan crawled through the walls of the dungeon, as if enveloping the Spartoi. A sound of pain soon grew into a wail. And the Spartoi stopped startled by hearing that walls that birthed them cry in such a way. It wasn't long until that was the only sound that echoed through the floor as the battle in the coliseum seized. A deep rumble grew, followed by the ground beginning to tremble. The Spartoi locked their eyes onto the ground, slowly backing away with swords and shield drawn.
Behind the walls of the dungeon are the womb that gives birth to the monsters of the dungeon. An unsettling fact that most adventurers had to face as they could never truly know when and where a monster would appear from. And just like the walls, the ground before the Spartoi began to bulge and crack. The sound of rock grinding against each other fought against the wails of the Dungeon. And finally the surface broke. A glowing plume of hot air erupted from the ground. It's color was like that of a ray of golden sunlight.
The Spartoi cautiously took a step back from the gaping wound in their mother. Unsure of what was emerging. Whether this could be a Worm Well, or something else entirely. Something new that could pose a threat even to a pack of Spartoi. An irregularity.
Chunks of rock shift as something moves underneath. Clawing its way to the surface. Groaning with each stride forward. It crawled and finally it rose. For a second the Spartoi look perplexed by such a being, only for their bloodlust to overshadow any other thought. They rushed in, six Spartoi to engage the Irregularity. And what followed was a battle that made the Dungeon cry as it engulfed the thirty-seventh floor.
-On the surface, Aiz stood surrounded by the white walls of her room as she finished securing her breastplate to the rest of her suit after racing down from the wall to the Twilight Manor. The place where the Loki Familia called home. She then proceeded to go over every piece of equipment and armor that she would take with her. It was this habit of preparation that was a part of the foundation of her ritual.
Suddenly a loud click popped through the air from the loudspeakers placed by the Guild throughout the city. A femine voice spoke clearly and with strong diction.
"Citizens of Orario, please avoid going near the vicinity of the Central Park and the Dungeon at this time. Adventurers on the surface, do not enter the Dungeon, return to your familia to await further instructions from the Guild."
Followed by a click from the receiver being set down, Aiz stood staring out the window. Almost dissatisfied by the announcement. Though she knew well enough than to disobey that order. Whatever was going on caught the Guild's attention. And to maintain a sense of order amidst this time of uncertainty it was best to act as one. Coordinated. Precise. To have whatever active situation be resolved with the least amount of casualties and collateral damage. That was exactly what the Loki Familia was known for.
"Oh hey, you're still here!" A young woman's voice called out from the hallway from the audible sound of bare feet sliding on the hallways carpet.
Turning to the source, she found it to be Tiona with one hand on the open door frame as she slid to a halt. Her thick black hair cut just above her shoulders, with a few pieces of cloth covering her tan skin.
"Of course I am. What is it?" Aiz spoke while tilting her head. She didn't know where else she'd be. It wasn't like her to just run off without someone knowing.
"The Guild's orders came in already! We're having a meeting in the main room. Come on!" She shouted as she darted down the hallway. It wasn't until a few long strides until Aiz heard a loud crash from down the hallway.
"Watch it, you amazon runt!" A disgruntled male voice shouted.
"Oof! Sorry, Bete!"
Followed by the sound of the Tiona's feet pattering against the carpet floor, resuming her race to the meeting.
In the large room adorned with two couches opposite of one another and a coffee table between them, the meeting begins. Aiz sits with a small plate and tea cup in each hand, waiting for Loki to begin as Bete, the werewolf, sprawls out dominating one corner of the couch across from her. Gareth stands at the other end of the same couch watching patiently as Loki sighes with frustration as her eyes scan the letter.
On each side of Aiz sit the amazon twins. Tione on one side nearest Finn, who stands with his hand placed firmly under his chin, and Tiona who bubbly sits up with her hands on her knees. Tiona's eyes bounce back and forth in the room as she anxiously bounces her leg, noticing that something is missing.
"Where's Riveria?" She whispers to Tione behind Aiz. "She's never late.."
"Dunnoe.. Can't imagine she'll be long."
"Huh.." Regardless her head swiveled, half anticipating for her appear out of nowhere where she wasn't looking.
"You've gotta be kidding me. What are ya thinking Ouranos?" Loki shouts with exasperation as she slumps down into the chair behind her.
"May I?" Finn asks, holding out his hand for the letter.
"Knock ya'self out and see if ya can make any sense of it." Handing him the letter, she rubs her eyes and leans over the arm of the chair in the most unusual of positions, carelessly like a cat trying to find a position to be comfortable in as Finn begins his analysis of the letter.
Ouranos, the head of the Guild, the first to descend from Heaven, sit upon a throne praying to Dungeon to keep the monsters at bay. Preventing them from breaking out to the surface as they have done once before. In special, often outstanding circumstances, he will override the Guild's policy and plans to ensure the safety of the people of Orario, as well as the stability of the Dungeon.
Finn shakes his head ever so slightly, perplexed by the letter before him.
"That's it? I can't imagine that's really all we're supposed to do down there."
Beside Finn, Tione leans over attempting to read the letter.
"What's going on, Finn?"
"It seems that we're going to the Deep Levels for a reconnaissance mission. Report any findings back to the Guild."
"Well, what's the problem with that?" Tione tilts her head. It sounded easy in and easy out. A cake walk.
"It sounds too easy." Aiz says as she brings the rim of the teacup to her lips and gently draws generous serving of tea.
"We'll be the first one's in, and with no information of what has happened down there, we're going in blind. And whatever caused the disturbance in the dungeon, did it on a scale that even Ouranos is immediately taking charge."
"Which means the ol'putz doesn't even know what we're walking in on." Loki chimed in as she covered her eyes with her arm, sighing before flinging herself up right in the chair. "It also means, ya' see sometin ya' don't know what it is, ya get out. Here me?"
"We will." Finn confidently reassures Loki, knowing all too well the stress that sometimes accompanies her having to watch her children going into the unknown.
"We're not some little rabbit that runs when it gets scared." Bete growls disdainfully.
"Little rabbit? Wait, you're not talking about Argonaut are you? I thought you were over that?" Tiona tilted her head in confusion at the sudden development leaving Bete to groan. "Wait, I wonder what the letter Argonaut and his familia got says?.."
Finn nodded his head as an idea came to him, agreeing with Tiona.
"Is there nothing else in there?" Gareth asks with his helmet tucked under his arm.
"Bete's outburst aside.. This letter pertains to only us. Though I can imagine that the other familias are playing a role, it's just a matter of what role it is. Once we get to Babel, we should be able to get some more information. For now, everyone make their preparations. We'll be leaving in thirty minutes. Aiz, I'd like you to stay back to speak with you for a moment. Everyone else is dismissed."
Finn spoke confidently, yet when he approached the topic of asking for Aiz to stay back he spoke just a little gentler. Of course she nodded. And the two waited for everyone to leave. Loki was the first to leave as she grumbled about Ouranos, followed by Gareth, the amazon twins and finally Bete who seemed reluctant to get up. On their way out Tiona couldn't help but exclaim what has been on her mind since the beginning.
"Why is no one asking about Riveria? Ugh!"
They vanished down the hallway, their footsteps faded from earshot. Leaving just Finn and Aiz in the room. She sat still on the couch taking a sip of her tea. Carefully he approached her.
"Normally I wouldn't ask such a thing after recent events, but how is your relationship with Rabbit Foot?"
The rim of the cup just touched her tips but before she could pour the tea, she pulled it away and sat it down on the small tea plate resting on her legs. Her eyes drew themselves down, focusing solely on the shimmering reflection of the ceiling on the surface of the tea.
"I don't know."
It didn't seem that long ago when the monsters broke from the surface in Daedalus street. When armored monsters wreaked havoc in the city, leading adventurers on a hunt throughout the streets of Daedalus. Sparking a chain of events where she crossed sword and knife with Rabbit Foot. Where he defended a monster. A single Vouivre. And when he was at his weakest against her, the monster came back to fight for him. To plead. Sacrificing its own claws and wing for the sake of a human life. For Bell's.
Her breath shivered at the memory. It went against everything she knew about their kind. About her reason why she wanted to slay monsters. Why she chose to train and fight everyday.
"I see.." Finn says quietly as he ponders.
"You want me to visit him and see what their letter says. Is that right?"
"I do. I believe that for this operation it'll be in our best interests to communicate with the other familias to ensure some sense of order and coordination. Though I will not push you to go there to see him. I can easily go there myself. Him and I have spoke on a few occasions."
Finn spoke calmly and collected, as already he had a plan. A perfect reason why he is the captain of the Loki Familia. He understood when and where to push boundaries. To execute maneuvers. Most of all, he understood his teammates. Leveraging them in ways most couldn't hope to, due to his innate sense of strategy.
"I'll go." Aiz nodded her head and she plainly declared.
It took him by surprise for only a split second. But in return he gave her a hopeful smile before leaving the room.
"I look forward to hearing how well it goes."
It was still early morning, the sun had reached over the height of the city walls, and yet Aiz sat alone. Seemingly uncertain, nervous about seeing the white haired boy.
"So do I."