Desire

by Ignus042

Bell's journey from the Deep floors to the One-Eyed Black Dragon as he seeks to not only unravel the mysteries of the dungeon, but the secrets behind Ais Wallenstein, the Xenos, and the hidden shame of Ouranos.

4. Part IV

Pages flipped slowly under sharp blue eyes. A small goddess scanned the other book next to her before closing both with light thumps. Turning the first over to frown at the mountain and lightning bolt emblem on its cover, Hestia sighed as she looked out the window. Hidden behind the walls of the garden, she knew Bell was training. Mortals had often surprised her when she was in Heaven; it was why she had descended to the lower world. None had surprised her more than her first child—he had grown at an unbelievable rate in the past six months; not just his level, but as a person. Still, the future she saw coming cast a shadow on her mood. Thinking of the small bunny-like human boy kneeling gratefully before her, agreeing to join her familia, her heart twisted with anxiety. I hope you'll be okay, Bell, she thought. I hope we'll all be okay.

In the garden, Bell slashed the air, delighted at the lack of pain in his limbs. He had been greeted back home with a wonderful party by his familia just the night before. Partly because he was lower level than Ais, partly because Miach had explained that natural healing was more effective than potions and elixirs in the long run, and partly because he felt he owed quite a lot to Miach, Bell had stayed in their care for three weeks. Ais, being a higher level and having received less serious injuries, had recovered more quickly. She had visited whenever able, her time often overlapping with Hestia Familia members. In addition to her and Bell keeping up with each other, Ais had found a natural friend in the shy renart, Haruhime. The red-haired smith, Welf, was also a ready friend; a bit brusque, like Bete, she had said, but far less crude. The far-eastern girl, Mikoto, had gushed at meeting Ais, especially when the blonde knight complimented her skill in the War Game and recognized her as the Eternal Shadow. Bell smiled, thinking about the two of them. Mikoto still blushed whenever she saw Ais, bowing deeply before rushing off to sharpen her martial arts skills. Lili and Hestia had taken longer to come around, but the simple, honest affection Ais showed their friend and captain had reluctantly won them over, not to mention Bell's tenderness towards her. Though new, by watching her sit at his bedside they both knew what they shared would last. Not that Bell picked up on any of that—he simply saw Lili and his goddess being genuinely polite to Ais and not as protective around him.

Slashing the air again, Bell visualized his target before going into a rush attack. He was unused to the new speed and strength. After the party Hestia had taken him for a status update.

He was now Level 5.

Already close to leveling, the battle with Asterius had pushed him over the limit. He had no new skills or abilities, but was too sad to lament that or rejoice at the higher level. He knew the duel with Asterius was inevitable; he also knew that if things had continued normally he would have died. It didn't change a thing. He hadn't beaten Asterius. It was an honorable fight, but not an honorable victory—it was a mercy killing.

The foreign familia emblem weighed heavily in his pocket. He had been unable to part with it, even lying in a sickbed. He meant to ask Hestia about it, but hadn't the heart to do so yet. He hadn't followed up Ais' offer to get Loki's help yet, either. Feeling the weight of the metal pressing into his thigh he launched into a series of rushes. The air cracked and hissed with his movements, a terrifying whirlwind of violet and red obscuring his form as he pushed as hard as he could. He had put away the unicorn horn knife in favor of the minotaur horn and, for the first time, allowed the rage of the bull to fill his body as he fought.

He finished with a huff, winded. It took a moment for the air to clear, vision blurred from the tracks of his blades. A light rustling from behind got his attention.

"Ais!" Ais and Haruhime waited patiently near the garden wall. He was surprised and a bit embarrassed to have an audience, but happy to see her. "How long have you been here?"

She shrugged with a smile. "Only a few minutes. I called your name once, but you were so focused I didn't want to disturb you. Besides…" she flashed a shy grin, "I like watching you train."

Haruhime stood next to her in her maid's outfit. "Excuse us, Bell. Lady Hestia asked me to get you. She wishes to speak inside."

"Thanks, Haruhime," Bell said. Sheathing his blades, Bell reached for the towel he had brought out. Wiping his face, another voice stopped him reaching out to Ais.

"Yeah, yeah; we get it, alright!" The goddess Loki materialized behind her favorite child. "Ye'r a couple! No need to rub it in my face, Rabbit-Boy!" Bell shook off Ais' quiet apology as Loki kept talking. "Come on, let's get inside and get this over with so I can go home."

Loki glared at the walls of the Hearthfire Manor as they marched back in. It was much shorter than her familia's home, but far broader with two massive wings coming off a small central hall. The entire thing reminded her too much of Hestia. Insecurity made her subconsciously rub her small breasts; this place was slightly intimidating.

Itty Bitty herself lay eyes closed, sprawled carelessly on a couch by the fire. Loki was pleased to see a copy of Dungeon Oratoria flipped to the final few pages. Maybe her tagging along with Ais had been the right call after all. She watched the fox girl attempt to get her goddess' attention, but her polite attempts were to no avail.

"I got this," Loki cracked her knuckles with a mischievous smile as she approached. "Alright, Boobs Fer Brains…" Ignoring Ais' warning, she took careful aim before pouncing. "WAKE UP!"

Hestia slid off the couch before Loki landed, quickly jumping on top of the trickster goddess before she could recover from landing. "Nope!" Hestia exclaimed, happily sitting atop her struggling rival. "Not in my house, Flatty!"

Bell, Ais, and Haruhime watched with bemusement, unsure how or if they should intervene. Eventually Loki stopped struggling. "Fine," she pouted. "It's yer house; I'll give ya this one, Tiny." Twisting, she tossed Hestia to the side and sat up, the two sitting comfortably despite the struggle. Their respective followers each raised an eyebrow. They weren't sure they'd ever understand why deities behaved the way they did.

"Got a message for yer kid," Loki said to Hestia. When the small goddess nodded, Loki continued. "Finn wants to see ya in his office." She leaned in with narrowed eyes. "He promised to talk to ya about some stuff after yer little side adventure a few weeks ago." She paused. "Thanks fer that. Ye'r an interestin' kid, Rabbit-Boy."

"That's it?" Hestia frowned. "You know, Finn could have come here. Despite my best efforts, my children like and respect yours. We'd be happy to host."

Loki shook her head. "No good. No offense..." she frowned as well. "Despite my best efforts, my kids feel the same 'bout yers. But they're low-level and can't deal with things in our league. My place is more secure and allows Finn to operate at maximum capacity."

Hestia's frown deepened as Loki ordered Ais to take Bell back to their home, whenever he was ready. The two made a short round of farewells before Ais turned back at the door, waiting for her goddess.

"Nah," Loki waved a hand. "I'll be fine gettin' home, Ais. Besides," she sank into a more comfortable position next to Hestia. "There's a few things I want to talk with this Li'l Shrimp about. Ya go on ahead." Loki sneaked a peek at the goddess beside her as Ais and Bell left. Pleased as she was to see Itty Bitty reading Dungeon Oratoria, she was far more pleased to see the seriousness on Hestia's face as she asked Haruhime to give them the room. Praying the tiny deity was good for more than just picking on, she opted for the direct course of action. "Tell me everything you know about Zeus."

Hestia's response chilled and delighted in equal measure. There was something there after all.

"Tell me everything you know about Ais and Aria."

Outside, Bell and Ais made good time to Twilight Manor. Bell tried to tempt her with spending some time together in the city first, but Ais was in a rare mood. Excited, she only said she had a surprise for him and didn't want to wait. Permitted entry by two very confused and irritated guards, Bell took his first look around Ais' home.

Twilight Manor was tall with many thin towers scattered about. Banners with their emblem mixed with tastefully arranged landscaping to make a lovely courtyard leading to the manor proper. A couple dozen humans and beast-people milled about the area. Some were pursuing leisure activities like reading or simply walking around the courtyard while others were completing chores or training. The ringing of weapons-clatter fell when Ais signaled her intention to train, every fighter backing away with a small bow as one of their executives stepped onto the grass. Bell recognized Raul as Ais motioned towards him. The Level 4 human quickly produced a small package which he ran to deliver. Thanking him, Raul retreated as every eye in the courtyard snapped to her and Bell as the knight beckoned the white-haired boy towards her.

"Here," she said, holding out the package. "I think you'll find this useful."

Thanking her, Bell opened it to reveal two dulled training knives. Drawing one, he felt he weight and grip were very fine. "Thank you, Ais! These are..!"

Her attack was fast and merciless. Bell barely had time to block before another and another and another came. Defending himself with one hand, he fumbled for the second blade still in the box. Finally armed, he engaged the blonde knight fully, sparks flying as his new knives met the girl's own dulled practice blade again and again. Bell's smile instinctively matched hers, both oblivious to the incredulous onlookers seething with rage around them.

One of those in the crowd was a young elf girl. Normally fair and beautiful, she was currently a dangerous shade of red. Lefiya's anger was short-lived, however. Like Lili and Hestia, Lefiya recognized that her beloved sister had found someone else. Unlike them, she was finding it difficult to handle gracefully. Gloom settled on her, a feeling intensified by her realization of why Ais had begun their sparring match when, where, and how she had. It was a statement:

This boy is mine.

Watching them smile as they exchanged blows confirmed her realization. Ais had made them spar in full view of everyone to tell the world this was her choice. That they were from different familias didn't matter. They fought in full view of the public for the sheer joy of not having to hide anything. It was shameless. It was pure. It was agony to Lefiya. Her rival had finally done it. Her sister was gone.

Two thumps came from the dueling ground. The first, lighter one, came from a boot connecting squarely with Ais' chest armor. The second was Bell hitting the ground, hard. Duel over, the crowd's reaction was mixed. A smattering of catcalls and jeering sounded, some in surprise of the boy's skill, managing a strike against their Princess; most for her putting him on the ground. Some grumbled about this outsider boy's presumption, angry and unwilling to admit that their chances with Ais had been dashed. Most, however, were those who had been on the fifty-first floor just a few short weeks ago. These cheered and applauded, much to the surprise and irritation of their peers, though their rapidly changing faces surely meant that the vow of silence their captain had sworn them to was being broken. It would take time to accept, but all of them could see the genuine happiness on their beloved Princess' face. They'd come around, Lefiya knew. The pit of her stomach twinged again. She hoped she would, too.

Focused on the sick feeling in her core, the elf didn't notice the two making their way toward her.

"Lefiya..?"

The elf started as Ais called her name. "Oh...oh! Ais! That was...that was a good duel. Very well fought!" Was her voice high-pitched? It sounded high-pitched in her ears. Was she speaking too quickly? She made and effort to sound normal. "I mean, yes. Good match, you two."

Her heart tore itself apart in embarrassment when both of them raised an eyebrow, glancing at each other before focusing on her. "Lefiya," Ais said. "Are you okay?"

Growling on the inside, Lefiya quashed her irritation as much as possible before answering. "Fine, fine; everything is fine! I just..." she quickly scanned the area. Thankfully, Riveria was walking towards her. "Riveria! I had some work I wanted to do with Riveria. I wanted to learn more about the Way of the Tree. You know, to be more steadfast and reliable in the dungeon!"

"Excellent." Lefiya groaned. In her haste to make up an excuse, she must have misjudged how far away Riveria was and how loud she was talking. The high-elf was now with the three of them, and Lefiya had signed on for extra meditation and study. "That is a very mature thing to ask for, Lefiya. I think it will do everybody some good." The elegant mage turned to Bell. "Welcome, Mister Cranel. I believe this is your first time visiting our home? It was a pleasure watching your match with Ais. Thank goodness for your level-up..." Lefiya thought she saw the barest hint of a smirk on her mentor's face. "I don't know what would have happened if Ais gave you a lap pillow in front of all these people."

Bell stammered; Ais blushed; Lefiya howled inwardly as her core temperature dropped several degrees. It took a moment for the shock of that image to wear off before she realized what else Riveria had said. "Le...leveled up?!"

"Indeed," Riveria said as Bell managed to nod the affirmative with a small grin. Ais' small, oddly-proud smile said she knew as well. "Could you not read it in his movements, Lefiya? Where was your mind, hmm?" When she didn't answer, the high-elf continued. "Ais, please escort Mister Cranel to Finn's office. He wishes to speak to him as soon as possible."

"By the way, I wanted to thank you, Lady Riveria. Airmid told me Loki Familia paid for my care after coming back from the fifty-first floor. I never got the opportunity to thank you," he bowed with sincere gratitude as he thanked Riveria. "And Bell, please," Bell said as he began following Ais. "Just call me Bell!"

Lefiya's anger broiled again. She stuck an accusatory finger at the back of the retreating boy. "I'll not let you get ahead of me for too long, my rival! I'll catch up to you yet!"

The boy stopped, a sympathetic Ais gently squeezing his arm before he started again. Lefiya thought he might have been going for a weapon, but for some reason he just clenched something in his pocket as he walked away. "Don't call me that," he said shortly. "I'm not anyone's rival."

The hand pointing at Bell lost strength as his comment washed over her. She was...denied? Her rival dismissed her? She felt that her earlier anger should have been inflamed to a higher level, but instead it vanished, replaced by...concern? It was unusual for him to behave rudely, dismissively. She didn't truly know Bell very well, but she knew he wasn't that kind of person.

"Do not take it personally, Lefiya."

"Whaa...?!" Lefiya had forgotten Riveria was standing beside her.

"Rudeness is inexcusable. He will realize and apologize eventually. The reason behind it...as I understand it, that young adventurer had a rival of his own."

"Had?"

"Indeed." Riveria nodded. "He was forced to kill him recently."

"Kill..!" Lefiya couldn't believe it. She had seen Bell fight other adventurers in the War Game and he had stood against Loki Familia and others when the Xenos were on the surface, but the thought of him killing another adventurer didn't seem right to her. "How could...who..?"

"It was about three weeks ago," Riveria said. "And that is all that needs said."

Lefiya thought for a moment before gaping. Three weeks was when Ais had been brought back, injured, presumably kidnapped. Finn and Loki had stopped the mob that had formed when the lower-ranked members heard Hestia Familia was involved—if anyone other than their captain and goddess...well, anyone other than their captain said it, they would never have believed a small familia like Hestia's could have been responsible for rescuing their Princess. But the thing rumored to have taken her..?

"The black bull?!" Lefiya stammered, shaken. "You mean...that is...how is that possible?!"

Riveria placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "The best thing to do is focus on you, Lefiya. Holding one as a rival is not always reciprocated. Bete considers Ottar his; I doubt the Warlord even notices his existence, much. Finn's goal to surpass is a thousand years dead. Even I am driven by tales of adventurers long past, those who dared the unknown and broke all boundaries. I strive to exceed their accomplishments. If Bell Cranel has achieved something you wish to surpass, then use him to fuel your motivation." Lefiya flinched as a sharp eye pierced her soul. "But do not mistake what another has for what you want." The hand slid off her shoulder. "I never thought I'd see the day, but...Ais has formed a romantic attachment. You should be happy your familia member, friend, and sister has grown to the point they are able to make that kind of connection, have found that kind of happiness. Ais' heart is big enough to hold many people—her romantic love has been given to another, but she will always be your sister. Be worthy of it." Lefiya's eyes widened. "Jealousy is harmful not only to oneself, but to the entire familia. You mentioned it as a way to escape, but I think following the Way of the Tree will grant you peace as a person as well as giving you confidence in the dungeon." Riveria moved away. "You know where the books are and I am willing to help you whenever I am able. If you will excuse me for now, Finn asked to speak to me after his meeting with Mister—Bell—Cranel."

Shame and embarrassment weighed heavily on Lefiya's shoulders. Her mentor had seen straight through her. Remembering the resiliency taught by the Way of the Tree, Lefiya stood straight, carefully fixed her hair, and walked calmly to the library. This time, she would focus on her, and apply herself fully.

In the tower opposite the library, Bell waited nervously outside Finn's office. Ais had told him not to worry, but he couldn't help being a little star struck by Loki Familia's captain. But that wasn't what he was really anxious about. On their way up, Ais told him she wanted to talk. He could feel her fear and anxiety. Bell had taken her hand, a few warm, gentle palm squeezes reassuring her. Over the three weeks spent recovering they had spoken about their newfound ability to feel each others emotions. It was strange and intimate and a little embarrassing until they decided it was a good thing: they wanted to share with each other. Besides, as adventurers there were undeniable benefits—they would always have reassurance their partner was either alright or in need of aid.

Bell wrung his hands, still hesitating to knock on Finn's door. Ais had left quickly after showing him where to go, those few moments of hand holding their only farewell as she walked away, reiterating her desire to speak after Finn was done with him before she vanished down the hall. Bell felt her anxiety return as she spoke...and he felt it was tied into something else as well. During his recovery they had agreed they were in a relationship. Bell was overjoyed—an intense emotional response that brought a deep blush to Ais—but they hadn't been alone in the past month, not really. Like a few minutes ago, Ais quickly left before they could get closer than holding hands. Bell felt her anxiety was the key—she didn't want to get too close until after she told him whatever was on her mind.

Bell steeled himself. Whatever was worrying her, she would always be the Ais he fell in love with. He would listen to everything she needed to say, but to get there he had to finish with Finn. He knocked.

The legendary prum's office was simple and efficient. The furniture and decorations were spartan—clean, tasteful, and sturdy. A tall banner from floor to ceiling occupied a place of honor in the middle of one wall. Bell recognized the prum goddess Phiana and her Knights from his Grandfather's storybooks. Next to it was a small armory, Finn's spear and armor meticulously cleaned and ready for action at a moments notice.

The prum himself was smiling as Bell entered. "Good morning, Bell." Finn stood, coming from around his desk to shake hands with the young boy. "Welcome to Twilight Manor. I hope Ais' welcome didn't catch you too off-guard?"

Bell grinned. "It was a pleasant surprise. It's nice not to have to hide anything."

"Congratulations are in order, I believe." Finn gave a small smile at Bell's confused look. "Unless I am very much mistaken, you just reached Level 5."

"How could you tell..?"

Finn gestured towards the window behind his desk. It looked onto the courtyard and the main gate. Just a few years ago, during Orario's Dark Age, that window had been boarded to stop assassin's arrows and Finn had to peek through the cracks to view mobs and other threats to his familia's base. Now it let in a stream of sunlight and allowed the small captain to view his people train or enjoy their day as civilians on the other side of the gate walked by without a care in the world. He often looked out that window as a reminder of how important his work was. Besides, he had an inkling Ais had planned something and he wanted to see how it played out.

"I watched the duel, of course. Very impressive. It's been, what? Seven weeks since you made Level 4?" What he'd overheard between the boy and Riveria—that his growth was due to loving Ais? He couldn't find a reason for him to lie about it and Riveria sensed he spoke truly. It absolutely astounded him. He shook his head. This human's growth was ridiculous; as much as Bell admired Finn, Finn held Bell in equal respect...not that he'd ever admit it to him, of course. Still, for everything he had done for Ais on a personal level, Finn felt only happiness and respect for Bell's advancement. Hearing the story from Ais about his battle with Asterius, Finn knew the level-up was no sham. "But I suppose the past three weeks don't really count, lying in a recovery bed. One month from Level 4 to Level 5...very impressive."

Blushing, the boy tried to wave off the praise. "Thanks, but...I still have a ways to go. Besides, it needed to be done."

Finn watched him hang his head at the end. He really is an adventurer, he thought. I understand entirely. "Bell, he said softly. "I know things didn't have the resolution you wanted, but you did the right thing. Sometimes that's the hardest thing to do and it takes a strong stomach to do it. The moment your blade sinks deep and you feel cheated and robbed as a respected rival dies...it doesn't make you feel like an adventurer. I know." The prum look squarely into Bell's eyes with a hard expression. "But in that moment you are more an adventurer than ever. You danced with death, the greatest unknown of all, and came out on top. You carry forward with the memory of your rival...and strike harder, faster, and more decisively for it." Finn moved to sit at his desk, offering Bell a seat opposite him. "I think you'll find, in time, that a true rivalry grants you strength even after they've gone."

Bell sat, reflecting on Finn's words. He felt the weight of the strange emblem against his leg lighten considerably.

"To business," Finn said. Bell leaned forward. "Last we spoke was in the Dian Cecht Clinic; I believe I offered to discuss demi-spirits with you?" Bell nodded. "There is a lot of ground to cover. It should be stated at the beginning there is much we don't know and most of what I say is only speculation. Also, I should tell you my reasons for sharing information, but you need to understand this is a sensitive matter. Hestia Familia is small and filled with low-level members; I am afraid I must insist everything said today remains here, except for your goddess. Loki has expressed her wish to include Hestia personally in the matter."

Bell rocked back in surprise. "Really?! But, I thought they hated each other?"

Finn laughed. "Hatred and friendship are separated by a very fine line at times. I believe there is more to their relationship than meets the eye. Besides, if they really hated each other do you think you'd be here right now? Let alone in a relationship with Ais Wallenstein?"

Bell had to concede the point, blushing heavily.

"You may speak freely to Hestia. I am sharing this information because you have firsthand experience with the things we're dealing with, are a first-tier adventurer, you have a substantial amount of drive we can rely on...and you have a strong relationship with the Xenos. I admit it—I want to use your relationship with them to encourage cooperation and get information out of them...more on that later. I know Ais is waiting for you; let's wrap this up so we can be on our way...there are a few things I'd like to take care of and I was hoping you would help."

Settled in for their talk, Finn began. "What do you know about Great Spirits?"

Images of ancient heroes flashed through Bell's head, row after row of dirt and blood-stained warriors fighting monster hordes across desolate fields in some long-gone place. "Great Spirits," he said. "First Children of the gods, the most loved. Long after the gods abandoned the world they created, the first monster hordes came from the dungeon. They took over most of the surface world, leaving only a few bastions of civilization. The Age of Heroes saw the formation of many great armies and individuals who began to roll back the tide of the monster plague. It began with the foolish hero Argonaut, the first mortal to pair with a Great Spirit. Between then and the time the gods descended, Great Spirits were responsible for increasing the powers and abilities of the hero they bonded with, much like falna today. The last ones died a thousand years ago, shortly after the gods descended."

Finn nodded along. The boy knew his history. "A thousand years dead...why? What happened? Do Spirits die when their hero does?"

Bell shook his head. "No. A Great Spirit chose a hero and bestowed their power upon them. If their chosen died, they could choose another. The death of a hero didn't affect the Spirit, but if the Spirit died then the hero would be left without their power. There are lots of stories where heroes and their Spirit perish; usually because they got separated and surrounded by overwhelming odds. But most hero stories only have happy endings. There are only few ending in tragedy and not all mention the fate of the Spirit in them. There never was a record of Great Spirits or their fates. They just disappeared shortly after the gods came."

"And when the gods came," Finn said, leaning forward on his elbows, "do you know where they first descended?"

"Orario," Bell said promptly. "They broke the cap over the dungeon the ancient people built. Monsters poured out, and the first adventurers with falna stopped them."

"Very good. Now, what can you tell me about Orario's history? Before the gods came?"

Bell stumbled for the first time. "I...I don't know. That it's home to the dungeon and where the gods first came is all I know, really."

Finn nodded. "My turn. You know the walls of Orario are meant more to keep people in than out—even today the guards will let in multitudes of armed people, but you have to get a special pass to leave. This has been ingrained in the people of Orario since it was first built many thousands of years ago. Yes," he said to Bell's surprise. "Orario is that old. You see, when the dungeon began producing monsters, it was not the hordes you are familiar with from stories of the Age of Heroes. A few came here and there, small bands that dragged victims back to the dungeon. The original people of Orario became aware of the danger the strange hole in the ground near them posed. Orario became a shield, a fortress town designed to keep monsters contained. Every citizen was a warrior. When the hordes began to issue forth, Orario was destroyed. In the years immediately after, Orario was retaken and lost many times over until the power of the horde became too much and monsters swept the surface. When Argonaut kicked off the Age of Heroes, the united peoples of Gekai pushed them back Orario and capped the dungeon. Many, many Great Spirits perished. But," Finn's eyes gleamed, "here is my first speculation. You said it yourself—Spirits could be separated, surrounded, overwhelmed. It is my belief that some Spirits were not killed but captured. Dragged back into the dungeon like many mortal victims. What happened to them...we don't know." Finn held up his hands. "Maybe they had a way to return to Heaven, maybe they died in the dungeon. But I believe that at least one was carried to the bottom of the dungeon and corrupted."

Bell thought deeply about what Finn said. "Then...demi-spirits. Asterius called them seeds. Seeds have to come from somewhere."

"Exactly." Fiin looked pleased. "I believe this captured Spirit—or Spirits—have been corrupted by the dungeon. No longer working towards the survival of humanity, they have become slaves of the dungeon. I believe it is possible that they are somehow forced to split from the main body or essence of the Corrupted Spirit. Somehow, the original Spirit divests a portion of its power to create a jewel fetus—a seed—which then parasitizes a host body. From what we gather, seeds cannot wake to claim a host without incredible amounts of nourishment first. Do you recall the green substance on the fifty-first floor and in Knossos?"

Bell nodded. "It seemed unnatural; alive and extremely unsettling. I felt it had a pulse, like a heartbeat, leading to the seed embedded in the floor. Ais told me that over time it could grow from simple green muck into vines, trees—a jungle type environment."

Finn sat up sharply. "You felt the pulse heading toward the jewel fetus?" Finn grunted when Bell answered affirmatively. "Hmm. I missed that. That strengthens my belief of how they are nourished. To make demi-spirits, the original Spirit gives some of its power...but I do not believe it gives away very much. That is why seeds are not dangerous...at first. They are weak and need to grow by sucking nutrients from the green substance and, after finding a host body, by consuming magic stones." Finn frowned. "That all we know and can speculate at this point. I need answers. Unfortunately, every answer I need is at the bottom of the dungeon."

Another's words floated up from the back of Bell's mind. "You must clear the deepest floor of the dungeon. If you don't do that, the human race and the Xenos will never be able to coexist."

"What was that?" Finn snapped his head up so fast the air cracked.

"Fels," Bell said, "the black-robed mage. A couple months ago he told me the answer was in the deep." Bell thought about what Ais had said about the strange emblem he took from Asterius' ashes, how the bull held onto it. "I think the Xenos might have answers or theories to some of your questions. The dungeon is their mother; they were born of it and live in it, but..."

Finn narrowed his eyes as the boy petered off. "What?"

Bell raised his eyes. "They dream of the surface. They...remember." Shoulders sagging, he shook his head. "I don't know. But I feel the Xenos are worth talking to. And if they can point us to Fels, maybe we can figure out what he knows...and how he seems to know so much."

"Agreed." Finn stood, gesturing Bell towards the door as he moved from behind his desk. "Please, go speak with Ais. I need to speak with Riveria for a moment and when you're done, I would like you to accompany us to the Xenos Hidden Village. Is that acceptable?"

"Absolutely!" Bell was thrilled at the idea of meeting the Xenos again, being in a party with the Braver, and, most importantly, finding out more about the mysteries of the dungeon.

Riveria waited on the other side of the door. Changing places with Bell, she told him Ais waited down the hall before closing the door. Bell found Ais a few moments later, loitering restlessly in an archway off the main hallway. Smiling and waving for him to follow her, she led him down the adjacent hallway saying she wanted to have their conversation in private. They passed several doors before stopping at one near the end of the hall. Ais opened it and gestured for Bell to enter. Doing so, he found himself in a small bedroom. A small bed took up one whole corner, a small window opposite looking onto a portion of the city wall. Light from the window illuminated the objects of a small desk—her armor lay neatly arranged, freshly cleaned and polished, with brushes, rags, and pots of oil placed in bins along the back against the wall. Desperate, the first thing to be serviced, was sheathed and resting against her bed. A small closet was on the other side of the room...and that was it. It was small and simple for a wealthy familia executive, without any decoration or personalization aside from the arrangement of equipment-care products on the desk. Bell instinctively knew Ais' room was a reflection of the girl—small, simple, efficient, unassuming...and happy. Despite its lack of color, Bell felt an aura of happy contentment. This was Ais' home, the place she shared with loved ones.

"What do you think?" Ais wrung her hands behind her back, voice small.

Bell cracked a wide smile. "I love it." He reached out, Ais instinctively reaching out to grab his hand. Squeezing her palm, he said "Thanks for having me here."

Blushing, Ais showed him to her desk chair while she sat on the bed, hugging her knees to her chest. "So..." she frowned, coughed, and started again. "So. I'm sure you noticed that we haven't really been alone..?"

"Yeah," Bell smiled kindly. "I kind of figured it was because of whatever you wanted to clear with your family before talking to me—the thing weighing on your heart. And I think that maybe you worry about it changing how I think or feel about you." Bell could practically hear the thumping of her heart as she nodded. "It's okay, Ais. Say whatever you need to. I'll listen."

Relief and anxiety warred on her face as she buried herself in her knees. Finally coming up for air she muttered "This was so much easier telling the others...but, I want to share with you. If we are going to be together, you need to know what I am." She took a deep breath. "Finn talked to you about demi-spirits, right?"

Bell nodded. "Yeah, but what does that have to do with you?"

Ais slowly disentangled herself and pulled a black leather-bound book from under her bed. "Do you know what this is?"

"Dungeon Oratoria," Bell fired off. "Tales of heroes and Spirits from the Age of Heroes. Begins with Argonaut and ends with Mercenary King Albert Waldenstein."

Ais giggled. "You do love heroes..." She frowned. "Albert was joined with the Great Spirit Aria. Albert and Aria had a lot of adventures, and...um, well...they're my parents." She quickly looked at Bell to see his reaction.

Bell sat there. If he didn't know better, he might have thought Ais was trying to play a joke. In a rare moment of divining female emotion, however, Bell knew she was being sincere. "Well...you look really good for a thousand years old."

She shook her head. "I'm sixteen. There's a lot I don't know. My memories from then are just flashes. I remember mother reading to me. I remember watching my father practice his sword technique. I remember their friends; a large group of humans, elves, Amazons, animal people...I remember life and happiness." Her face got dark. "And then it all went away. It came. The Living End. My last memory of my father is him telling me to wait as he turned away from me. All their friends...I remember broken weapons surrounding me in a circle. I was safe but they..." Ais broke off. The pain and heartache in her voice made Bell's heart twinge with sympathy. "I remember my mother. I reached for her, begging her not to go, to come back to me. She looked back." I buried her face in her knees again. Bell could barely hear her as she spoke through sobs. "The dragon took her. It's power was so immense, my mother couldn't fight it. She looked at me...and I simply stopped." Ais lifted herself and hastily wiped her face with a sleeve. "I don't know what happened. I waited for a hero to come, to save me, my mother...everyone. Nobody came. My next memory is waking up to Loki's face. I told her my story. She showed me Dungeon Oratoria..." The knight's usually placid face burned with anger. "I had to find out what happened to my father in a book meant to entertain children! But...he did it. He took the eye of the Black Dragon and drove it away from us at the cost of his own life. My mother...there's no mention of her fate. I know she was facing the dragon, but alone..?" She eyes focused on a very far away place. "I don't know for sure she's alive. But I feel she is. I can't really explain it, but...my wind. It's my mother's wind. It tells me she's out there somewhere. I think she was taken by the Black Dragon. And one day I will get her back."

The steel in her voice slammed into Bell like a smith hammering orichalcum. It was a fascinating story, but he felt like he was missing several crucial pieces. "But...how is any of this possible? Spirits can't bear children. And the thousand year gap, but you haven't aged? And..." A sick feeling gnawed at his belly. "Why did you ask about my conversation with Finn about demi-spirits? Are you saying..?"

"I am not like them!" Ais's words cut through the air like Desperate. "The Corrupted Spirit in the dungeon separates a little of itself to create a jewel fetus. That fetus, or seed, needs to feed from whatever taint sources the green substance. The entire process is foul, unnatural." A slight smile played on her lips, wistfulness in her tone. "My parents loved each other. Spirits can't have children...but they can divest part of their power. My mother willing gave a portion of her power; my father gave his blood. You've heard of miracles of Spirit Blood, yes? I believe your friend Welf is an example." Bell nodded. "It has only happened once I am aware of, but the reverse is also possible. If a mortal gives a Spirit some of their essence—blood—the Spirit can use their power as a force of creation. I was not born, Bell. I was created. By the Great Spirit of Air, Aria, and her human lover Albert Waldenstein."

It took several moments to process what she said. He had already come to a decision, but curiosity demanded he ask a final question. "And the thousand year gap..?"

Ais shrugged. "I don't know. I went to sleep under attack; I woke up to Loki's questions. My last memories, reading Dungeon Oratoria...it's why I chose to take up the sword and be my own hero."

Bell nodded. Rising from the chair he went to sit next to Ais. The girl didn't move as he playfully pressed his shoulder into her side. "Okay."

Ais sat there. "Are...are you making fun of me? Do you think I'm lying?"

"Nope!" Bell smiled broadly.

"Then...then...then you..." Thinking back to her familia's earlier reaction, she realized that Bell, too, accepted her. He wasn't afraid or disdainful. He accepted her. "You're okay with...everything?"

Bell nodded enthusiastically. "It's still you, isn't it? Does it matter who your parents are or what your birthday is?" For the first time, Bell dropped his face with a blush. "It doesn't change who you are or how I feel about you." Squaring his shoulders, he sat up and looked her in the eye. "I love you, Ais."

A moment stretched into ages as Ais stared at the young man who wanted to be her hero. With his acceptance and those words, she realized he was. Without reservation, Ais leapt from a sitting position, uncharacteristically assertive as she tackled Bell across the bed. Pinning him down with gleeful strength that easily pushed into Level 7 territory, Bell lost all sense of thought about how much his ribs hurt and how the practice knives Ais gifted him were digging into his back when she said "I love you, too." An instant later, soft, tentative lips trembled against his. Hesitation slowly morphed into confident passion as both of them fully explored each others lips. It ended with a knock on the door.

Definitely bruising Bell's chest as she pushed off, Ais launched herself back into a sitting position, carefully arranging her hair as Bell sat up and unruffled his shirt. "Yes?" Ais called.

Riveria opened the door. "Ah. I hope we are not interrupting. Ais, did you finish your conversation?" Though maintaining her refined exterior, Riveria couldn't help but inwardly roll her eyes and grin. Their red faces were all the evidence she needed to see their conversation had gone very well.

"Yes," Ais said. "He took it really well, actually."

Riveria eyed the boy subtly rubbing his chest and lower back. She could guess what happened. "Mmm. Bell, Finn asked if you were willing to accompany us to the Xenos Hidden Village. Ais, since you're the only one who knows where the entrance is located, would you be kind enough to escort us there and make introductions?"

The blonde girl nodded. "How long will it take for you to get your equipment, Bell?"

Bell thought. "Maybe twenty minutes. All my gear is ready to go, I just need to speak to Hestia for a bit."

Riveria nodded. "Very well. We shall meet you in front of Babel, Bell."

Still on a cloud over finally kissing Ais—her kissing him actually!—and excited at the prospect of their new adventure, Bell quickly bade farewells. Before leaving, however, a certain elf entered his mind. "Excuse me, Lady Riveria? If it's not too much trouble, could you please point me to Lefiya? I was a bit rude to her earlier and I would like to apologize."

"Of course." Riveria did let a small grin escape as she led Bell to the library. Lefiya was meditating among piles of books. Riveria was proud of her student. Even from several meters away she could feel the resolute will and focus the young elf exuded. To Bell it was a very intimidating aura. She looked like a young, delicate forest fairy, but if he closed his eyes he felt like her was standing next to a forest fire, or maybe an active volcano. Her aura and power was like a force of nature. He instantly knew why Ais said Lefiya was one day going to be Riveria's successor—she was a magical powerhouse.

"Lefiya..?" He reached out to touch her shoulder, thought better of it, and called her name instead.

"Yes?" He had expected anger or disappointment. Instead, she was cool and calm, not even opening her eyes. "I am attempting to focus on something very important right now, Bell Cranel. This had better be important."

"Well, uh...you see..." Lefiya opened her eyes and raised a disapproving brow at him. It was chilling to see how very Riveria-esque the expression was. He calmed himself and bowed. "I am sorry for my behavior earlier, Lady Lefiya. I was rude and dismissive towards you for no reason. I am sorry."

Blinking, Lefiya fought down the minor stab of irritation that her mentor was correct. Perhaps she was growing as a person, perhaps it was the recent meditation clearing her head, but she decided to be a big person. "It is perfectly okay, Bell. Thank you, I accept your apology."

Bell wavered between speaking and leaving. He made a decision. "Lefiya...you're Thousand-Elf, right?"

"What about it?"

"Well, I was thinking...if we're rivals, then we should be egging each other on to greater heights, right?"

The elf's eyes snapped open. "What do you mean?"

Bell grinned. "You can learn other's magic by paying attention to other spellcasters, right?" She nodded. "How would you like to add my quick-cast spell to your repertoire?"

It was hard to tell who looked more shocked, Riveria or Lefiya. Riveria spoke first. "Bell...that is an incredibly generous offer. Spellcasters are very secretive of their spells for a reason—they are powerful assets that change the course of battle and the unknown factor of them keeps the threat from potentially hostile familias down because they're afraid to attack. We cannot reasonably accept that."

Lefiya rushed on shortly after. "I take pride in my magical abilities, thank you. My spells are far more powerful than yours anyway!" She huffed.

Bell raised his hands, demeanor calm. "I mean no offense." He turned to Riveria. "I only have one spell; it doesn't involve a chant and everybody in Orario already saw it thanks to the War Game. There is no danger to my familia in sharing it with others." Turning to Lefiya, he said "And your spells are far superior to mine in terms of damage...but mine is fast, disruptive, good in close-quarters combat, and reacts with other magics and abilities. It's very versatile. You adventure with Ais—use it to keep her safe."

Mouth gaping, Lefiya sat in her meditation pose for several moments. When neither Riveria nor Bell said anything else, she rose. "Show me."

Getting permission from Riveria to cast out an open window, Bell aimed high into the sky, away from the manor. "Firebolt!"

Flaming bolts of lightning spread from his clenched fist into the sky, turning a surprising portion of the air bright red. It was the first time he cast magic as a Level 5—looked like it had picked up quite a bit more punch! Even without Argonaut, it might be a strong as Lefiya's Arcs Ray...a fact not lost on the young elf.

"Stand aside!" She pushed past Bell—the insolent human was grinning!—and thrust her fist out the window. "Firebolt!"

A significantly smaller series of lightning flames shot out, but the fire was intensely hot. It was so easy, she thought. What a neat little spell! She struggled to wipe the giddy grin off her face before turning around. "Thank you." She was going for stiff, but a little too much glee got out for her liking.

"You're welcome," Bell said. "I hope it's useful for you." He paused before leaning in. His words were only for the young elf. "I wouldn't entrust it to anyone who didn't love Ais as much as I do. I know she thinks of you as a favorite little sister."

Bowing, Bell followed Riveria out of the library, leaving a stammering elf behind. "Why..! That little..! Human! I..!" Eyeing her books, Lefiya took a deep, calming breath. "Thank you," she whispered. Settling down to her meditation, the grumpiness she usually bore when practicing the Way of the Tree was turned to smiles.

Bell returned home a few minutes later. His goddess was off with Loki, though his conversation with Finn meant that wasn't a surprise. He repeated Finn's words to the others when they commented on his lack of reaction: "Sometimes, the line between hatred and friendship is very fine." Equipping himself, Bell told his friends he was going for a short jaunt in the dungeon with Ais. Rolling their eyes, they let him go with minimal fuss.

Meeting Finn, Riveria, and Ais in front of Babel, they made their way through the dungeon. Finn and Riveria kept to themselves, almost like chaperoning parents as Bell and Ais took point. They made excellent time; not only due to their level, but because of how they worked together. From behind, Finn and Riveria couldn't help but smile at the intertwined movements as each of their fighting styles complimented the other. It was a level of cooperation that, in their experience, only came from a lifetime of fighting side by side. Yet, these two fell naturally into a rhythm that saw them reach the twentieth floor in no time at all.

Explaining how the entrance worked, Ais shyly looked back at Riveria and Finn, who were tactfully examining the far wall of the chamber. Sensing what was wrong, Bell held her hand as they stepped into the water and led her to the other side. Emerging slowly, Bell calmly waved his hands in the air to signal the guards he was unarmed.

The uproar was immediate.

Gros, Weine, and several others rushed the two of them. Ais was more than a little intimidated by rush of affection he received, until a gently prodding at her elbow made her turn. Ray had come to her first. Greeting each other happily, Ais explained the situation.

"Bring them in," Lyd said after the message had been relayed. He now stood near the entrance, the crowd of excited Xenos waiting for the new arrivals. Bell went to tell Finn and Riveria it was safe to enter. Ais grinned at the surprise on their faces—she knew they expected something primitive, animalistic. Seeing the vibrant colors and careful, clean arrangement of their home greatly elevated the Xenos in their eyes. In many respects, it was far nicer than Rivira. After a short tour—in which Ais was surprised to see Finn and Riveria were much more open-minded and understanding of their equipment horde than she believed possible—they settled into Lyd's hut to talk.

The lizardman bowed to Ais in apology. "I am sorry, Sword Princess. When we asked you to pass on a message for aid, we did not realize the enemy was so close to us." He turned to Bell. I understand Asterius killed the attackers before becoming infected by a seed?"

Bell nodded. "I didn't really save Ais. Asterius did. It is a shame he had to go that way."

Lyd nodded once. "Nobody blames you; indeed, we are grateful. A demi-spirit with Asterius as a host..?" He shook his head ruefully. "We'd never kill it."

That's what we wish to talk to you about," Finn interjected. "Can you tell us anything about demi-spirits, the strange green substance that feeds jewel fetuses, or the Xenos connection to the dungeon?"

Lyd's eyes narrowed. "You speak of Xenos and Corrupted Spirits in the same breath? No."

Finn cocked his head. "The Xenos are a dungeon irregularity; demi-spirits are a dungeon irregularity. No offense intended, but from an outside perspective they seem linked. Please, could you tell us what you know?"

"Hmph." Lyd grumbled for a moment. "Know. That is a strong word. The dungeon is as much a mystery to us as to you. But I have theories."

"Yes?" Finn prodded.

Lyd shook his head. "First understand: these theories belong to me. Most other Xenos do not care to speculate the way I do. They are good souls, but any attempt to find meaning in life bound to a monsters body causes them too much pain. The goal of all Xenos is to reach the surface, and the dream of living under an open sky is all they care about."

"Why are you different?"

"Because I want to know. Sometimes the hard questions and painful answers are the most important."

Finn nodded. His voice took on a slightly more respectful tone. "What are your theories?"

Lyd settled in, much like Finn had when questioning Bell. Like Finn, he asked questions. "What happens when one dies?"

"Reincarnation," Finn replied. "Whoever we are gets converted into a blank slate in Heaven and we come back to Gekai a new person."

"The same soul, just cleansed and reused, correct?"

Finn nodded. "You could say that, yes."

Lyd continued. "What might happen if a soul dies and is unable to get to Heaven?"

Finn frowned, pondering. Lyd stared at him for a few moments as the prum stared inwardly...then gasped. "No."

Lyd chuckled dryly. "Maybe not, but that's what I think."

Finn looked sour, face twisted in disgust. Riveria called out to him, breaking his reflections. He looked back to the lizardman. "Explain it, please."

Lyd held his arms wide. "The dungeon is our mother. It gave us life, our Hidden Villages; but where did our sense of self come from? The first Xenos came into being over sixteen years ago. Are we a new kind of monster...or are we not monsters at all?" Lyd touched the dagger hanging on his right hip. "I know how to use this. Not from the dungeon; I remember. I remember somebody teaching me. I remember struggling and putting in effort to master it." He then pat the sword hanging on his left side. "Same with this. I have memories of being taught skill at arms. Memories with the sun in them. All Xenos have similar memories. We remember plains, forests, fields: the surface world, and battles upon it." He frowned. "Some of us remember terrible wounds and waiting for death." Taking a deep breath, Lyd said "I believe that when you die in the dungeon, there is something in the dungeon preventing your soul from reaching Heaven. Something here absorbs your soul. It doesn't clean it, not wholly. Not like the gods in Heaven can. But there is something here that tries its best to emulate them. I have memories not only of the surface, of a past life, but also as a monster. I was a war shadow and a hellhound before being put in this body as a Xenos. I believe the souls of those killed in the dungeon are recycled by whatever power lurks in its depths—a would-be god attempting its own version of creation. We are the result."

Silence filled the hut. Finn's disgust infected the others at the thought—they all knew someone who had died in the dungeon. The idea their friends and comrades were not at peace filled them with righteous anger. Worse—the idea they had become the very monsters who had killed them, and that it was entirely possible that evey monster killed was actually the reincarnation of a friend.

Bell unconsciously rubbed the familia emblem in his pocket. Asterius had felt a strong connection to it...had he once been an adventurer from that familia? He didn't realize he had spoken aloud until Lyd nodded.

"Yes," the lizardman said. "The dungeon is our mother...and our grave. Many among of have found trinkets lost in the deep they have felt a strong connection to. I believe they were personal possessions from a previous life."

Finn clamped down on the conversation. "Very well. I'll accept that for now. You said Xenos and demi-spirits come from different sources. If the dungeon isn't responsible for the Corrupted Spirit producing the jewel fetuses, what is?"

Lyd looked angry. "Spirits can be taken. It is one of the worse things to happen for the suface world. The First Children are the most powerful beings ever to walk the earth. Without their aid, the monster hordes would never have been overturned. Whenever a Spirit was in danger of being captured, they could leave Gekai permanently."

"How," Finn asked, "can you know that?"

"I have seen it," Lyd replied simply.

"Seen it?" The adventurers in the tent felt woozy. "What does that mean?"

"My last memory of the surface was arguing against the Bulwark. I said adventurers blades would end the problem, not stone."

"The Bulwark?"

"Aye. Some wanted to cover the entrance to the dungeon with a stone plug—a bulwark—to stop monsters reaching the surface. Others, like me, wanted to go into the dungeon and clear out the infestation so they would never rise again."

Four sets of eyebrows shot up. The Bulwark—the cap on the dungeon destroyed by the gods when they descended to the lower world—was well over a thousand years old. If what he said was true, Lyd was the reincarnation of an adventurer who had retaken Orario from the monster hordes and died in the dungeon shortly afterward.

Bell couldn't help his curiosity. "What else do you remember?"

Lyd shook his head. "Not much. Only flashes remain; with time and luck, sometimes we can recall enough to piece together a small story. I have told you everything I know about mine."

Finn took over again. "You said you saw a Spirit go back to Heaven. So then, if they had this ability, why would you say it is one of the worst things to happen if a Spirit became corrupted?"

"Because not all of them did," Lyd's anger returned along with a healthy does of disgust. "Over time, cooperating with mortals changed them. Some became unwilling to leave this world. Putting them down took the aid of multiple uncorrupted Spirits and lots of blood. The marriage of Spirit and monster is a terribly powerful abomination."

Finn grunted. "Is that what you think is in the dungeon? An ancient Great Spirit that refused to leave and became an abomination?"

"No." Lyd seethed with rage. "I think it is something far worse. The abominations I speak of were the result of a dead Spirit—unwilling to leave, they were still killed by monsters. Upon death, they inhabited the body of the nearest monster rather than be summoned back to Heaven. The monster they took mutated in hideous fashion into a different monster entirely. Today, you call these beings Monster Rexes." He continued as the listeners gasped. "No, I think what's in the dungeon is far worse. There is the dungeon itself, with whatever is controlling it trying to play god, and there is the Great Spirit—still alive and it its original body, but corrupted in purpose and allied with the dungeon. The green substance that nourishes demi-spirit seeds; the hybrid creatures made from vines, the still-living bodies of adventurers, and Spirit Magic; the new breeds of monster with strange magic stone properties...all of it is a result of the unholy union between the dungeon and the Corrupted Spirit." Lyd gave another humorless laugh. "At least, that's what I think. Nobody knows, and the only way to find out is to reach the bottom of the dungeon and see for ourselves."

"One last question," Finn said. "Your desire to reach the surface...the demi-spirits have the same desire. The monster hordes of ancient times rushed the surface. How can you say with certainty you come from different sources?"

Lyd shrugged. "We can't, no more than you can say who you were in a past life or who you will become in the next." He leaned in. "I believe the yearning does come from the dungeon itself—or whatever power lies in its depths. But Xenos challenge those depths with the hope of earning our place on the surface." He crossed his arms. "We do not kill surfacers or invade. We stay in our homes and do the best we can until our time comes."

Finn spoke carefully. "You made an offer of alliance. We did not aid you as you wished...but if the offer is still available, I would be honored if the Xenos would join us in the deep." Finn's look could have stiffened the spine of the most fearful recruit. "We will reach the bottom of the dungeon and get those answers. For the Xenos, for the surface—for everyone."

Lyd froze for the briefest moment before uncrossing his arms and cracking a hearty smile. "Deal struck."

A sharp rapping came from the hut's entrance. "Enter!" Lyd called.

The black-robed mage came in, maintaining a respectful distance from the four adventurers. "Greetings, adventurers. I am afraid I must keep this short and beg your haste: you are summoned."

"Where?" Bell asked, but Finn was far ahead of him.

"And what does Ouranos want with us?"

"An audience," Fels said. "Your respective goddesses are already waiting in his chamber." Fels pulled a crystal from his robe. "Hear for yourself."

Finn took the oculus. A moment later...

"Hey! Hey, this thing workin'?" Loki's unmistakable voice came from the crystal orb. "Hey Finn, I'm here with Itty Bitty..." a shrill shriek of protest came from the background "...yes, Itty Bitty! Because ya are! Now shut up, I'm tryin' to talk to Finn! Sorry 'bout that. We're here in Ouranos' chamber, and I gotta say...Finn, you should hear this."

Finn and Riveria frowned. Riveria spoke. "Where do you hide your good booze?"

"Ya know 'bout that?!"

Riveria stared at the oculus, waiting for confirmation that this was actually their goddess and not some sort of magical trick.

"Ugh! Fine. It's in my little office space, a hidden panel behind the goofy-lookin' flower pot. There—convinced it's me?"

Riveria smiled. "Oh, we knew it was you. I just wanted to know your hiding spot."

"Dammit!"

"We'll be there soon, Loki," Finn said. "Try not to start a war with Hestia Familia before I get there."

"No promises." Scuffling sounded in the background before a distinctly male voice begged them to hurry.

Putting away the oculus, Fels felt sorry for Ouranos. At the same time, his boss had been cooped up for almost a thousand years. He needed more socialization than an eight hundred year old skeleton. "If you are willing, I can help speed the journey."

"How?" Riveria asked.

"I am an artificer. The magic is quite complicated. Suffice to say, if you agree to come with me I can get us inside Ouranos' chamber in a few moments."

Finn stood. "I'm curious. You guys?"

After a series of nods, they bade farewell to Lyd and thanked him for his theories. Ais surprised them by asking Lyd to say goodbye to Ray for her. Following the mage, he stopped at the edge of the village and marked each of them with liquid from a small vial. "This will help my magic hone in on you," he said. "And here we are."

The world seemed to twist for several moments, light and color shifting and churning before setting into the image of a darkened room. Four pillars fire with lit braziers on top illuminated steps leading to a throne. An ancient looking god sat atop it, stoically staring straight ahead as two bickering goddesses played below him. Palpable relief washed across his face as he felt Fels presence and his guests. Loki and Hestia noticed the shift in attention and greeted their children happily.

"We got a lot to tell ya," Loki said. Hestia looked sad beside her. Bell wondered why there was such a stark difference between the sad Hestia and the chipper Loki, but Loki's children saw the tight lines around her eyes and mouth—their goddess was worried.

"Indeed," Hestia said. "Turns out the trickster goddess is great at keeping secrets. Who knew?"

"Ah, stuff it ya big-titted Loli. Ya ain't so bad yerself."

Finn decided to bypass both goddess and go straight to Ouranos. "You summoned us here, Ouranos. What did you want to talk about?"

Hestia frowned and Loki grinned. "Oh, it's juicy, Finn. Ye'r gonna hate this."

Everyone staring at him, Ouranos sighed. "Before the dawn of creation, there were the gods of Tenkai. Before that, there was me. I was the sole being in existence...and it was boring. Desiring company, I created a new being. A goddess."

Bell was sure all of their eyes bulged. "You created a goddess?" Finn asked. "How?"

Ouranos nodded. "I took of myself, of course. I divested myself of a portion of power and gave it life. She was to be my perfect companion—after all, she was me." The ancient god's countenance grew dark. "But I was wrong, arrogant and foolhardy. As god of the sky, I chose to create my partner as an equal opposite—a goddess of the earth. Her name," he said with sadness, "is Cel."

The adventurers frowned. "We've never heard of her," Finn said.

"I took great pains to ensure nobody did." Ouranos sighed again. "Though I created a new being blessed with god-like powers, there was no real soul. She desired to create, so I made a place where she could play to her heart's content. I made Gekai."

"What!" The exclamation was universal, but the other allowed Finn to continue the questioning. "All the gods came together to make Gekai and its inhabitants."

"Well..." Loki stepped up. "Not entirely true, not entirely false. The gods did all come together to create new things. See, Ouranos did come first. When we hit the playin' field, Gekai already existed, not that we had much interest in it at first. It was only after losin' interest playing with our divine powers we turned to a new arena for entertainment. Gods and goddesses made Amazons, humans, animal people...all the races of the lower world made in our image. Mountains, oceans, deserts—everythin'. We just had fun. And then..." Loki looked chagrined. "...we forgot. Like a toy stuffed under a chair."

"You. Forgot." Finn said dryly. Loki nodded with a cheesy grin while giving a double thumbs up. Finn sighed. "So. You made Gekai for Cel. What happened next?"

"She had fun, at first. But her lack of soul became blatantly and hideously obvious very quickly. She used her power to shape monstrosities no sane being could imagine. Gekai became a hellscape of tormented imagination, each creation preying upon the last. When the other gods made themselves known, I did not want them to learn about Cel. She was flawed, and she was my responsibility. She is me." Ouranos clenched a fist. "I thought she could use more time to learn to control and appreciate her abilities, but the others deities were beginning to show interest in Gekai. I created the dungeon."

"What!" Another eye-bulging exclamation rent the group.

Ouranos held up a hand. "It was not how it is today, or was during ancient times. It was a peaceful, comfortable place. I am a god of the sky, but I did the best I could to make miracles happen in shaping the land. I made places of beauty and plenty for her to study and emulate—you now call these places safety zones, like the Under Resort."

"It's a school," Finn said. "You created the dungeon as a school for an insane goddess?"

"Close enough," the sky god nodded. "My creations drifted apart as she used her power trying to copy my work. But she couldn't do it. I believe she honestly tried, but in the end she could not overcome the limitations I created her with. I was a fool."

"So you locked her up," Finn said. "You couldn't teach her, so your school became a prison."

"Yes. She tried at first...but repeated failure has an incredibly negative affect on those without resiliency—and she was a young, petulant, insane goddess. She had no resiliency, no ability to learn from mistakes or bounce back. Still, I held onto hope. I closed the dungeon, locking her away from the rest of existence as the other gods and goddess came to create their works on Gekai. It started to fall apart after the gods stopped playing. I do not know for sure, but I believe she studied how the multitude of visiting gods used their arcanum. She found new ways to subvert nature with her powers and the newly created peoples of Gekai suffered for it. She called for me to show me her latest creation. I was wary, but did so. I witnessed the first monster created with a soul."

"With a soul..? You mean, Lyd was right? Monsters are reincarnations of people?" Bell asked.

Ouranos nodded. "Lyd does not have the full picture, but yes. Cel had opened the dungeon—the hole you know today. She lured people inside, took them, and reforged their souls into the first monsters." He inhaled deeply. "She was proud."

Ouranos paused for several moments, letting the flared anger of the assembled adventurers simmer before continuing. "After that, I lost all sympathy for her. I attempted to destroy her...to no effect. I still do not know how she does it, but I believe she somehow learned how to guard against arcanum by watching the other deities who created their way across her world..."

"Her world?"

"...yes. Gekai was created for her, remember. That you inherited it does not change the fact she believes you are all her toys." Ignoring the indignant faces of the mortals below him, Ouranos continued. "She somehow made herself impervious to arcanum. When I tried to kill her, she stared at me in confusion, in anger; betrayal. Since then, no god has been able to enter the dungeon without incurring her wrath. The walls close and a powerful irregular monster is created to kill them because I tried to kill her."

As in Lyd's hut, silence reigned. After a time, Riveria asked what happened next.

"The gods left, civilization flourished, and the dungeon gaped open like a wound upon the land. As I could not harm her with my power, neither could I close the dungeon. She had taken control of her prison and turned it into her fortress. Small bands of monsters roamed the surface as well as the soulless creations she now disdained—you see, she envied the new monsters she created. Her creations had something she didn't, and it pleased her immensely to order them about. I think it gave her the sense of superiority she desired. She used her empty creations to capture mortals on the surface and bring them to the dungeon where she turned them into the monsters she so delighted in. Like a plague, she grew the monster hordes of ancient times. Then she destroyed her old creations. As Lyd suspects, the souls of those killed in the dungeon stay in the dungeon. Whatever method she uses to keep arcanum from affecting her acts as a barrier to Heaven as well. Every monster killed will be reborn; her numbers will never cease."

"And then the gods sent the Great Spirits?" Riveria asked.

"No." Ouranos, Loki, Hestia, and Finn answered at the same time. The deities looked at Finn, who grinned wryly. "There's only one thing the gods agree on—Gekai was boring. They didn't show interest until much later."

"Indeed," said Ouranos. "From time to time a Great Spirit would descend if they personally found a deserving person, but none of them had been directed by the gods. Not until Argonaut."

"The Argonaut?" asked Bell. "The Fool Hero?"

"The same," Ouranos nodded, "though history remembers him unfavorably. I will not tell his true story out of respect for the man himself. I will say with absolute certainty that without Argonaut, not a mortal would be alive today. Gekai would be the undisputed playground of Cel."

The adventures played through every variation of Argonaut's story they remembered. Was it really possible..? He was credited as the one who kicked off the Age of Heroes, after all.

"Interesting, but besides the point," Finn got things back on track. "History can fill in several hundreds of years in the next part of your story. Eventually, mortals pushed the hordes back to the dungeon entrance and plugged the hole." Finn glared at Ouranos. "You were the first god to descend, the first to grant falna. Why did you lead the gods down only to break open the seal?"

"To kill Cel." Ouranos sighed at their blank expressions. "With the dungeon closed, the threat to mortalkind was over. No more monster hordes...and no more camaraderie or cooperation. Your only fighting would be against each other. As all of you very well know, there is a vast difference between fighting a monster and fighting a person. Had you been left alone, you would have lived bountiful, peaceful, full lives...until the day Cel broke free and annihilated you all." He shook his head forcefully. "I came down and bestowed falna as a way to show the god's worth to mortals, to earn their trust. When the others came down, I convinced them it would be more fun and would cement their place as leaders of familias if they were wartime commanders—destroy the Bulwark, let loose the monsters, and let the world see normal people with your falna perform amazing feats of heroism. The ploy worked, and the familia system is still used today."

"Ye'r a real bastard, Ouranos," Loki said.

"I'll second that," Hestia nodded.

Finn held up a hand before things could degenerate. "That explains your creation of the Guild and the ban on arcanum...but what about your goal for us? You want mortals to kill Cel. You couldn't do it with arcanum, but we can with steel?"

"Finn?" Riveria asked.

Finn waved an accusatory hand at Ouranos' throne. "He created the Guild to monitor familias and track their progress through the dungeon. He wants to keep tabs on any changes inside Cel's old prison, see if she's learned any new tricks...and help the familias who are strongest since they have the best chance of killing her. That's why the Guild didn't do too much to protect Zeus and Herra when they fell. The Guild appreciated their years of service, but they no longer had the manpower to handle the task, and that's all he cares about." Finn glared at the sky god. "The fact the the Guild also provides a government of sorts and stability to mortals is secondary. It's all about Cel. Even the system of taxation and level-up reporting; it's not about making money at all. It's about forcing familias to spend more time in the dungeon, gaining more experience and going deeper. Ouranos used the simplest, most brilliantly efficient method of enticing mortals ever—go in the dungeon, work to clean up my mistake, get paid."

Ouranos bowed his head. "It is as you say."

"And the ban on arcanum?" Riveria asked.

Finn took control again. "Cel learned some nasty tricks from the other gods...if deities began using arcanum all over the place, who knows what she'd pick up next? With the current system in place, Cel can no longer learn from others...and her power only affects the dungeon, am I right, Ouranos?"

Ouranous bowed again. "It is as you say."

"But how?" Riveria asked. "Arcanum is banned for all gods—the others would know if you're using any. And even if you were, you admitted that you were powerless to affect her. How are you keeping her power limited?"

"Prayers," Finn snapped before Ouranos could speak. "Its the reason he's not left his chair in over a thousand years. He can't use arcanum...but he can communicate directly with the dungeon and the insane goddess in it." Finn laughed humorlessly. "After all—Cel came from him. He's not really using power—he's exerting all his strength to keep Cel from using hers. Like trying to keep your stomach tightened—she is suppressed so long as he retains tight control. The regular respawn rate, the long delay between floor bosses; everything that keeps the dungeon relatively tame and not spewing out monsters like in ancient times. It's all him. He recreated Orario as a proving ground."

"Correct," Ouranous said. "Though there are times she is beyond my ability to suppress, like when her anger flares at the presence of a god in the dungeon. I used my presence here and the structure of the Guild to make Orario the training ground for monster slaying. One day, the adventurers of Orario will reach the point of being able to reach and kill Cel. When they do, the greatest, longest lasting threat to mortalkind will be eliminated."

"And you think that time is very close." Finn's frown spoke volumes. "There's no other reason for telling us this. Now answer my question: how are mortals supposed to kill an insane goddess?"

"How do you kill a regular monster or a demi-spirit?" Ouranos replied. "Presumably, with great difficulty. She is a being on a scale of power incomprehensible to you. She can and does use arcanum. But she can be killed. It is important to remember—she is soulless. Loki can attest to what happens to a god killed in Heaven—they come back. Cel has nothing to bring back from death. She will simply cease to exist."

Loki nodded. "Sadly, I do know that."

"And what do you know of the Corrupted Spirit in the dungeon? Is it an original, living Great Spirit from ancient times? What is it doing there?" Finn asked.

"Difficult to say," Ouranos answered. "I believe so. I do not know it's name or which god it answered to. I do not know its abilities or its goals. I do believe there is only one, however."

Finn broke the long silence that stretched after that. "So. The dungeon is a prison for an insane goddess who is actually a part of the god of the Guild who wants us to kill her. There's also a Corrupted Spirit which is an original First Child of the gods who can break away pieces of itself to produce demi-spirits, all of which want to reach the surface." His glare sharpened on Ouranos again. "She's an earth goddess, Ouranos. Why do all her creations long for the sky?"

The ancient god bowed his head. "She is me. I created her to be a goddess of the earth...but an earth without sky is lonely, just as I was when I created her. The desire to reach the surface is a reflection of my own flaws."

Finn pondered the situation for a long time. "I don't want to scare anyone," he said. "But I have no idea what to do right now. I need more information. And don't," he harshly warned the sky god as he made to speak, "tell me the answers are in the bottom of the dungeon. I got that angle covered already, thanks."

Everyone remained silent for a long time, processing the enormity of the task before them. Ais had the next question, voice trembling as if she feared what she might hear in response.

"The Corrupted Spirit in the dungeon...is it really one of the First Children? An original?"

Ouranos frowned. "It is certainly possible. Cel keeps me out of her realm; I cannot see into its depths. I would not write it off as an incorrect assumption."

Ais decided to be blunt. "Do you know what happened to Aria?"

"She's not the Spirit in the dungeon."

Silence drew out at his statement. Finn spoke up. "So...you do know?"

Ouranous frowned again. "Yes."

Ais and the other members of Loki Familia were aghast at the statement, Loki included. Their goddess wasted no time berating the ancient god. "Ouranos, ya ass! How could ya sit on info like that all this time?! Did it not occur to ya we coulda used that?"

"It would not have done you any good," Ouranos said. "She is far, far from here. Any effort to reach her would take months and the fight at the end would be futile."

"Maybe let us decide that, ya pompous jackass!"

Ais was like a rock, staring at Ouranos with undisguised fire in her eyes. "Tell me. Now."

Ouranos sighed. "The Black Dragon is more than a powerful beast. You learned from Lyd that Spirits killed in the dungeon became fuel for Monster Rexes, yes?" He continued when they agreed. "In a moment of innovation, Cel managed to create three insanely powerful beasts using multiple Spirits as fuel: Behemoth, Leviathan, and the Black Dragon. I think she made them on a whim—why does an insane goddess do anything? But the Black Dragon was special. The Behemoth was supposed to be her specialty. Being a goddess of the earth, it was supposed to represent all her strength and skill...yet Zeus toppled it almost easily. Leviathan, I think, was made simply for symmetry—she created earth and sky, so water had to be represented. Zeus found that slightly more challenging, but only because it was a water creature and different tactics had to be used. He still prevailed. When it came to the Black Dragon, Zeus believed the Behemoth to have been the best Cel could do. A monster of the air would surely be no challenge. It was to be his downfall as it was mine."

The other waited as Ouranos dipped his head, true sadness entering his face for the first time.

"Your father was one of my last followers," Ouranos told Ais.

Ais' expression changed wildly; Bell could do nothing as the turmoil boiled over and raged inside her. "What do you mean?" She demanded.

"Albert Waldenstein and the Great Spirit of Air, Aria. I am the first god, lord of the sky. Albert was my Child from Gekai, who bore my falna; Aria my Child from Heaven, whom I created." Ais was rocked by this news. Unable to speak, Ouranos continued. "When the Bulwark was destroyed and my new Guild began organizing expeditions to map the prison-fortress, the Under Resort was quickly discovered on the eighteenth floor. I realized my original creations were still there, spread across the dungeon. I ordered a series of forts built inside the dungeon as a supply chain for adventurers. The goal was to have protection and resources for the army of adventurers on their way to end the threat of Cel once and for all. And they truly were an army—at the time, familia differences were not as fractious as today. There was unity among adventures. The Behemoth and Leviathan had already left the dungeon years before. Nobody knew about the Black Dragon. Only one fort had been built when it crawled from the depths—Rivira."

Ais' eyelashes fluttered. "The Black Dragon...came later? It attacked my home...my village. It attacked Rivira?"

"The first of many iterations of the town. Albert and his comrades, as well as the Spirit Aria, served me. Ouranos Familia led the way to the bottom of the dungeon. I knew Aria and Albert had fallen in love. They had discovered a way for Spirits to have children—they told you this, did they not? A reverse miracle. The blood of a human and the power of a Spirit. They asked me for permission. They desperately wanted a child, but they would not if it endangered the mission. I agreed to their request." Ouranos looked far off in the distance. "After so many mistakes on my part, I was happy beyond measure that some good may come of it. You were a beautiful child, conceived by the best of both worlds, Heaven and earth. I watched Albert and Aria raise you for years...and then they went into the dungeon. Rivira had been built, and they were adventurers at heart. You would be safe, they said. With their god pacifying the dungeon and surrounded by their friends and allies, it was unthinkable to them that any harm could befall their daughter. You were raised in the dungeon, in the first Rivira, until the Black Dragon escaped. It clawed its way through the fort, annihilating my familia—your father drove it off. At the cost of his life, he fought not to keep it away from Orario or the rest of his party. He fought to keep it away from you and Aria. He was half successful."

Ouranos paused for a breath. Loki jumped in. "Well? Don't leave us hangin' in suspense! Ass..."

Shooting her a disapproving glare that slid right off, the sky god continued. "It is impossible to know for certain, but there were eyewitness accounts from survivors. Aria was not killed, but taken. I can still feel her, like a god feels falna. I imagine that, as a monster made to be lord of the air, it wanted to consume Aria, the greatest and most powerful Spirit of Air—more specifically, my Spirit. Cel commanded it to consume your mother to capture her essence and increasue its power. It succeeded in the capture, but did not completely subdue her. Your mother is still fighting. She has been fighting for over a thousand years."

Bell, Riveria, and Ais all had to stop Ais from attacking Ouranos. They could not, nor feel any desire to, stop her verbal tirade. "That's my mother! How could you do that! She was your Child, and you left her to rot for over a thousand years in the clutches of a monster! And she's still there! You can feel her, you can lead us right to her location, but you sit on your throne and let her suffer!" A normal girl would have broken down into tears; Ais Wallenstein could cry while requiring three first-tier adventures to keep her from tearing apart gods limb from limb. "Tell me why! Where is she! And my father—are you telling me he died in the dungeon, that his soul has been trapped there this entire time? That adventurers have been killing my father over and over for a millennium in different monster bodies?!"

For the first time, Ouranos stood. "Why do you think I am here?" he asked. Holding out a hand in a pacifying gesture, Loki gently placed her own on Ais's shoulder. At the touch, Ais collapsed into Bell's arms. The young man hugged her close, putting as much consolation as possible into his touch.

Ouranos sat again. "The One-Eyed Black Dragon is too strong. It has not managed to consume Aria, but with her as a captive it has still received a substantial boost in power. I questioned the abilities of Zeus Familia in bringing it down and saving your mother; after two great victories, they became overconfident and did not heed my advice. It destroyed Zeus Familia as it did Ouranos Familia. The combat strength of Zeus and Herra was greater than every adventurer in Orario combined today—any attempt to rescue Aria is doomed to failure. Killing Cel will release her hold over the beast and cut down on its power. To rescue your mother, Cel needs to be destroyed." He raised a gentle finger. "Further, sending you to fight could lead to unknown and potentially disatrous consequences. As a child of Aria, you possess Spirit Magic. Tempest—your mother's wind. Perhaps you could use your abilities to help subdue the beast—but you are mortal, the daughter of a human man. Your power will never be in the same league as a Spirit...an in addition to being boosted by your mother's abilities, remember the Black Dragon is powered by many ancient Great Spirits. If you were unable to contain the beast and your allies were unable to kill it in time, it would consume you too. With the addition of your power, it truly would become unstoppable. Not to mention the effect on Aria if you were taken. She may lose her will to fight and be completely consumed by the monster." Ouranos tried to smile, his ancient face cracking along unfamiliar lines as he tried to show kindness. "Your mother is fighting hard every moment of every day because she believes in you, Ais Wallenstein. Your moment is not now—and do not waste it foolishly when the time comes. So far as your father goes...I am sorry."

Slowly, Ais pushed herself off Bell's chest. "You're one to counsel people on what's foolish." Carefully wiping her tears, she head toward the stairs. "I'm going home, Loki. I can't listen to any more of this."

"Ais..." Bell began.

"He's right," Ais said dully. "I want to go after my mother, but he's right. As we are, we'll die. And corpses won't save anyone." She only took a few steps before Ouranos called out to her.

"Would you like to know what happened? The time between when you last saw your mother and when you woke up to Loki?"

Loki and Ais both whipped around to face the sky god. "That's low..." Loki muttered under her breath. Still, she was incredibly interested in Ouranos' input. Ais had been a mystery for a long time...at least, she had until earlier that day. "I think you should hear this, Ais. But, I'm not goin' to demand it. You don't have to hear this here, either, if you want to keep it private. I found out this part of the puzzle just this morning."

Looking around at the others, her gaze lingered on Bell the longest. When he smiled, she relaxed and walked back to the group. "What can you tell me?"

"Rivira was on fire, Aria was taken and the remnants of my familia were in total discord. They did however, witness two very important things. First, they saw your father, surrounded by wind Spirit Magic, rush forward to blind the beast in one eye, causing its flight. Second, they saw Aria right before she was taken. She turned away from the beast...towards you. It is important to remember you are mortal; your human blood demands you age and die. But you are also part Spirit. Not only do you possess the wind magic of your mother, but since you came directly from her power, she was able to affect you much like how I repress Cel, though gods are harder to hold. Being a Spirit, Aria was able to entirely crystalize your essence, effectively putting you in a very, very deep sleep while your body became..."

"A jewel fetus." Ais couldn't believe it. After everything she learned, after everything she'd seen. She really was no different than the abominations in the dungeon. She was just like the corrupted demi-spirits.

"No," Loki and Ouranos spoke at the same time. Loki waved away the old god. "I got this. Ais, first I'll tell ya what I know from personal experience, then I'll tell ya what I learned today. Ya woke up nine years ago and agreed to join my familia in order to save yer mother and avenge your father. But...ya were in my possession for six years before that."

"What are you talking about, Loki?" Riveria's aura had suddenly become extremely dangerous. Beside her, Finn was only slightly less angry.

"Easy, easy," Loki held up her hands. "I never showed her to ya because I had no idea what we were dealin' with. As soon as I had an inklin', I told ya guys right away. It was fifteen years ago, when Zeus Familia lost their strength and we forced 'em out. Well, I met Zeus in the process. I wasn't about to kill him; y'all remember, it wasn't that kind of takeover. Well, it was for Freya and Herra." She shook her head. "Dumbass bimbo killed every one she could find and sent Herra back to Heaven. But Zeus...he had done a lot for Orario and, despite being a huge ol' pervert, was really good to his kids. I didn't want to kill him or his followers. We scrapped a bit, and in the end Zeus agreed to fold."

"What?" Finn said. "We didn't win; you arranged a surrender?"

"Yep!" Loki exclaimed happily. "We got the top spot, Zeus and his people got to live...so long as they stayed out of Orario. I had no idea about all the backroom dealin's he and Herra had with the Guild, though..."

Ouranos coughed.

"...and we'll cover that later. Point is, I spoke with Zeus before he left. He took me to a storeroom in the heart of his familia base. I thought at first he was showin' me some sort of treasure room, but there was nothin' in this room 'cept fer two very alarmed guards—he never told them I was comin', see—and Ais."

The blonde knight started. "I was in a storeroom? Under guard?"

Loki waved her hand. "Under guard may be a bit too strong. They were more like...babysitters. Just in case, ya know."

"In case of what?"

"In case ya woke up. See, Zeus wasn't a dummy—he knew what he had in ya. Knew exactly who and what ya were. Only problem is, he had no idea how to wake ya back up without usin' arcanum. So, he kept you safe and posted constant watch over you in case you woke up randomly. He didn't tell me everything—I only learned more earlier today—but he did tell me you were the most important, valuable thing his familia had; he said to take care of you and that one day he believed you'd be instrumental in taking down the Black Dragon."

"Why does everyone keep saying 'woke up,'" Bell asked. "Ais told me she woke up to your face, Loki; Ouranos said she was put to sleep by her mother...what does 'crystalized her essence' mean? Was she turned into a stone or something?"

Loki waved off Finn and Riveria's reprisal before they could say something they'd regret. "He's not too far off from the truth, actually." She turned back to Ais. "Ais, whatever your mother did affected the Spirit Blood inside ya. She was the one who worked the miracle that gave ya life; what she did before bein' taken was suspend it. The Ais kept by Zeus Familia was encased in crystal. Not like a jewel fetus, which is a tiny chip of power that requires whatever unholy nutrients Cel and the Corrupted Spirit provide—nah, the Ais I saw was a fully developed seven year old girl. The crystal surrounding a jewel fetus is paper thin; you were solid. Riveria could cast magic at you all day and not crack that shell. Your mother gave you life with love, a huge portion of her own essence, and the help of your father...and she protected you with almost everything she had left. Nothing in the dungeon, not even the Black Dragon, could have hurt you. She knew you'd be carried to the surface by her comrades; the hope was ya'd be revived by another Spirit or by a god."

Ais was silent for a long time. Bell could only imagine the kinds of things running through her mind; it was too much to process. Figuring the best thing he could do was be her pillar of strength, he stayed quiet and tried to send as much comfort as he could through their connection. When she finally spoke, she was calm. "But...gods can't use arcanum and there weren't any other Spirits around. That's quite a gamble. And if only Spirit Magic could wake me, how did I ever wake up?"

Loki nodded. "It was quite the gamble, but it was all she had. She couldn't let her little girl get killed when she could stop it. As for why you woke up..." Loki frowned. "Was there anything else in the book?"

Hestia spoke up for the first time. "No, you covered all the main points."

"Book?" Bell, Finn and Riveria looked at Hestia. She held up the book Bell recovered from his old home.

"Bell recovered this book. It's a variation of Dungeon Oratoria written by Zeus himself. It's more of a personal record than a storybook. Zeus paid more attention to Gekai than any other god, besides Ouranos. He was the one who sent the Great Spirit that helped Argonaut and was the second god to come down and bestow falna. He was the one who destroyed the Bulwark and helped Ouranos set up the Guild system. When Ouranos' people were wiped out by the Black Dragon, Zeus recovered Ais and brought her to the surface. Ouranos left her in Zeus' care due to his strength and influence, not to mention his goal of tackling the Three Great Quests."

"Zeus..!" Hestia's glare didn't stop Bell's confused shout. "You mean my...?!"

"Yes, yes, alright!" Hestia tried to shout him down, but Loki wouldn't have it.

"Calm down, Shrimp. We've been gushin' over my kids, it's time yers got a little attention." She turned to the rest of the group. "Turns out, Rabbit Boy here was raised by the one n' only Zeus. That's right," he said to Bell's amazed face and Finn and Riveria's sharp looks. "The leader of our old adversary raised this boy fer thirteen years." She winked at Bell. "Betchya didn't know yer Gramps was famous, huh?"

Bell took a closer look at the book in Hestia's hands. "That emblem...Zeus Familia?" His goddess nodded. Pulling out Asterius' emblem, he showed it to the crowd. "The black bull, Asterius. He said he felt a connection to this when he found it in the deep floors. He was once an adventurer...a member of Zeus' Familia! My grandfather..." Bell couldn't believe he had been raised by a deity. He was just...Grandfather. He looked to Hestia. "Is this true?" When she nodded, Bell felt faint. "Well...I mean, that's not significant, right? What does who raised me have to do with anything?"

Nobody noticed Ouranos and Fels staring hungrily at the book.

Loki shrugged. "Nothin' really. I just wanted the heat off my kids for a bit. Thanks fer being a good sport."

"Sweet Phiana," Finn breathed. Keeping track of everything was starting to get extremely annoying. "Okay. An insane god and an ancient era Great Spirit inside the dungeon—which is actually a prison-fortress—need killed, which will destroy the dungeon, its monsters, and release all the souls it ever captured back to Heaven, in order to weaken the super-charged One-Eyed Black Dragon so Ais can get her mother back, the Three Great Quests can be completed and every major threat posed to mortalkind will be eliminated. Ais used to be a rock kept in a vault and our new ally was raised by the patron god of our most accomplished and dangerous foe who we threw out of the city. Did I get that right?"

"Pretty much!" Loki chirped. "Though, I don't think ya have to worry about Bell holdin' a grudge. I mean, look at 'im."

"Thanks," Bell told Loki. He turned to Finn. "I don't. I didn't even know. I like the way things are now, and I respect Loki Familia. But I'm more interested in..." He nodded at Ais, who had a question on the tip of her tongue.

"How..." Ais's voice was very soft. "How did I wake up?"

Loki scratched the back of her head. "Not really sure on that one...one day I heard some noise comin' from where I kept ya and instead of a crystal there was a pretty little girl starin' at me."

Ouranos cleared his throat. "I have a theory. Nine years go, there was a very strong surge of arcanum I did not authorize. It was arcanum used in a way that gods haven't touched in thousands of years—a god in Gekai was making a Spirit."

"The hell?!" Loki exclaimed. "How did they get away with that? And who would..." Her eyes narrowed dangerously. "Freya."

Nodding, Ouranos said "Yes. I should clarify—she did not create a new Spirit, but she gave unique abilities to a human follower nine years ago. At the time she uplifted this follower, Ais must have been close enough for the residue of Freya's arcanum to activate her, to wake her up. That, or close contact with the follower in question. The presence of Spirit Magic in them would be enough."

"Syr..." Bell whispered before coming to his senses. "I mean, nine years ago is when Freya Familia opened the Hostess of Fertility. Freya uses some of them as personal helpers to help her achieve her goal—finding her husband, her destined partner. Freya wouldn't have risked using arcanum too close to Loki, but Loki would have come into contact with the waitresses at the Hostess. And when she went home..."

"...the residue from contact with the Spirit caused Ais would wake up. Damn." Loki hated the idea that her beloved Ais came to her because of Freya.

"Freya..." Ais had a strange look on her face. "Syr?" she whispered to Bell. "The sandwich girl?" Neck hot, Bell nodded. "Hmm. I'm alive because of the sandwich, lap-pillow waitress." She paused. "Next date, let's go to the Hostess. I'm leaving a large tip."

Bell could feel the confusion, anger, and sadness still twisting just beneath the surface, but that she was making jokes was a good sign. It had shocked him when they began to spend more time together; she still didn't joke in front of other people, by privately Bell thought she was hilarious. It warmed his heart knowing that after all the heat she took, she could still crack a private joke with him. She was tough.

She was also focused. "Finn," she asked. "When are we going back into the dungeon?"

Her captain didn't hesitate. "Two weeks. We get the supplies double-time. Ouranos," he raised his voice to include the sky god in question, "will help pay the bills as well as act as liason with Ganesha Familia. Loki will go to Hephaistos and I will go to Freya and Dian Cecht. Riveria, I want open recuiting of elven mages regardless of familia—recruit quickly; use your noble status if you have to. You're going to make your Fairy Force as large as possible. The sooner you find bodies, the more time you'll have to train them. I'll assign Gareth to open recruiting of mercenaries. Ais, you and Bell will go to the Xenos; drum up as much support as possbile." He stood tall, spear dug into the ground. "Old grudges and petty disputes don't mean anything any more. The entire world is represented in Orario, and all of Orario will be drawn into the fight." He gripped his spear, the air crackling under tiny fingers that belied their true strength. "We're going to war."