At the Dian Cecht Familia's Home, Airmid is conversing with Zagreus as the Bloody Kaiser had asked her to become the next Saint Kaiser of the Kaiser Familia.
"consider the offer I have given to you over the time of the next three days." Zagreus stated as he leans against his seat and crosses his legs. "To be honest, there are other Healers in Orario that have potential to become the next Saint Kaiser, but you are the highest candidate on the list."
"yes.." Airmid nods as she placed her hands on her lap and looks down before she looks up at Zagreus. "but if I may ask you a question first?"
"what is it?" Zagreus replied as he slowly leans forward to take hold of his cup of tea.
"Zagreus-san, may I ask if it is possible for you to forgive the Loki Familia?" Airmid asked Zagreus who holds up his cup of tear near his face and his eyes are closed. "that Familia has done much good for the city over the time your Familia were away and they are so close in finding the hideout of Evilus' remnants! If you work together with them!"
"it will lead to their death in the end." Zagreus spoke as he had sipped his tea and slowly opened his eyes. "I appreciate your concern for that Familia, but no. that Familia incurred the wrath of Polemos and Thalia." He sets his cup to his lap while closing his eyes once again. "the fact that they have not been killed by the two is because I am protecting them. This action of mine is my last act of mercy." He shakes his head slowly. "There is no chance that my Familia will ever work with theirs. Give up on trying to help the Loki Familia."
Airmid made a small noise before she looks down and frowns.
Zagreus slowly opens his eyes to look at Airmid who remains looking at her lap with a frown before he went and sips his tea in silence.
"w-what if…" Airmid spoke as Zagreus sees her raising her head up and look at the Bloody Kaiser. "what if I can persuade them? Or persuade Thalia Kaiser?"
"clarify what you speak." Zagreus replied while raising an eyebrow.
"I t-thought that if you wish to persuade me to become the next Saint Kaiser then.." Airmid spoke as she looks a bit nervous for a moment before she focus her determination and move forward. "then perhaps I can try and persuade Thalia Kaiser to try and forgive the Loki Familia."
Zagreus looks at Airmid for a moment in silence before he close his eyes and let out a small soft sigh.
"her title may be called as the Saint Kaiser, but her personality is not that of a saint, Airmid Teasanare." Zagreus spoke as he raise his cup and sips his tea. "I suggest that you do not persuade her for her Hera Familia had people she loved dearly." He opens his eyes and they were glowing a bit. "even I wish for her to enact her vengeance against those who harmed her Familia."
"But! But if what you say is true!" Airmid spoke while placing a hand to her chest and leaning forward. "I understand that if my own Familia were to share the same fate as that of the great Zeus and Hera Familia! but please! It's for the sake of Orario and the world!"
"enough." Zagreus spoke out as he silenced Airmid by raising a hand. "do not speak any further." The man drinks his tea as he finished it up before placing the cup down to the table. "their rage is like a fire that has been burning upon a forest. It can only be dimmed if there are no more trees to be burned." He let out a soft sigh and close his eyes. "I wish for you to be the next Saint Kaiser and therefore I encourage you to not get killed by my sister if she is to be your teacher."
Airmid looks at Zagreus and frowns sadly before shaking her head.
"if that is your answer…" Airmid spoke as she slowly stands up and then bowed politely to Zagreus. "then I am afraid that I must decline your request for my assistance to be the next Saint Kaiser." She stays in her bow for a while. "I wish peace and tranquility for Orario, but there are members of the Loki Familia who are close friends. I do not wish to see them suffer for their past actions." She slowly stands up straight and has a sad and apologetic frown. "no matter how awful it is."
Zagreus opens his eyes and looks at Airmid for a moment before he close them and sighs.
"very well." Zagreus spoke before he waves a hand to the side. "you may leave."
Airmid bows politely once again before making her way to the door but stops when Zagreus calls out to her in the last second.
"just know that I cannot forgive the Sword Princess for what she did to my son during that duel days ago." Zagreus spoke out as he crosses his arms on his chest. "her Familia aside, she is the only person in this city who I won't ever forgive no matter what." he glance at the Dea Saint. "I will await the next few days to hear if you reconsider your answer to my request, Airmid Teasanare." He then looks away while his helmet reforms upon his head. "do remember that this is not just a request from the Kaiser Familia, but a request for the protection of the people."
Airmid listens to the man's every words as she thought about it in silence before she slowly nods her head and leaves the room.
When Airmid left with the door closing behind her, Zagreus slowly gets off his seat and stands up straight.
"seems that some won't be as easy to convince alike with Shakti…" Zagreus whispers before he made a noise and turns his head to the side, his eyes glowing brighter under his helmet's visor as he sees a vision of Riveria entering the Dungeon all alone and without any proper equipment. "Where does she intend to go?"
Zagreus watches Riveria in his vision as he sees her just passing by adventurers who gave some weirded out and worried look when they see the High elf.
'seems that her physique and mentality were affected drastically..' Zagreus thought in seeing how Riveria staggers a bit on the stairs and nearly fell. 'is this what Meteria was really worried about?'
The Kaiser tilts his head down a bit as his eyes stops glowing, Zagreus turns his head as Meteria appears behind him. the white spirit floats forward and gently pull the man into a hug from the back.
Meteria speaks out to Zagreus who listens and slowly turns his head to the front.
"you are really the most kindest person I have ever met in my whole lifetime, Meteria." Zagreus whispers softly as Meteria slowly let go of the hug and faces the Kaiser who turns to look at her. he reaches out a hand and gently caresses the spirit's expressionless face before combing some of her floating hair behind her ear. "please remember that I now only love you, I no longer…"
Meteria shakes her head while holding the half elf's hand before she lets go and lean close to hug Zagreus again.
The Kaiser place a hand to Meteria's back as he listens to the spirit's voice and hears how sad and guilty it sounds.
"Why must you think that it is your fault that this had occurred?" Zagreus asked Meteria as he gently caresses her back. "I have already forgiven you for what you had did on that day those years ago. You wanted to protect our son, you wanted to protect me." he slowly holds the spirit and held her in a gentle embrace. "that's why you should never feel guilty like I had told you that night. So please…no more."
Meteria leans closer to the embrace as her eyes began to tear up and started to drip endlessly.
Zagreus holds the spirit of his lover close as he stays silent for a minute before letting out a soft sigh before looking down while gently lifting Meteria's face up to see him.
"I promise you that I can only do this once…" Zagreus spoke as his helmet detaches from his head, the half elf having a rather sincere look in his eyes. "..i made many promises with you, just as I did with her. but I can only keep one promise with her and that's to keep her safe." His lips form a small smile as he raise a hand and cups Meteria's right cheek. "just one day. I will only be with her for one day and only that. I cannot extend it no matter how much power I have. I would be too selfish in my actions which is against my Familia's own rules." He caresses her cheek before he leans his head down to give a peck on the spirit's forehead. "so….please understand."
Meteria looks at Zagreus for a moment before she slowly nods her head and gently place a hand to the chest piece of the Kaiser's armor where a weak yellowish greenish glow could be seen radiating for a few seconds before disappearing.
"You knew that I kept it on beside yours, didn't you?" Zagreus spoke as he looks at Meteria's hand that slowly pulls away. The Kaiser sighs softly before his lips forms a small smile. "you're just like my brother who could always see through me…."
Meteria leans close and hugs Zagreus who returns it before both separated and the white spirit floats back while slowly fading away.
Zagreus watches her disappear as he turns and his helmet reforms upon his head. His eyes begin to glow as his vision now sees Riveria in the Dungeon; walking all aimlessly while ignoring the monsters that are growing out of the walls.
"just one day…" Zagreus whispers before his armor suddenly ignites in black flames that burns him to the point he disappears when it dissipates.
In the Dungeon's 6th floor, Riveria walks in the underground labyrinth as there is total lack of action from the monsters because they aren't spawning out of the walls.
The high elf's footsteps are the only thing that could be hear in the labyrinth, Riveria walks a bit sluggish than before as her clothes are a bit tattered and torn because of monsters that attack her yet were quickly dealt with my passing by adventurers who helped the Nine Hells but their actions weren't given any gratitude because the elven woman just walks in the Dungeon without any care.
'just what Floor am I even on now?' Riveria asks as she didn't pay any mind to the bleeding cut on her right arm that has its wound exposed and is caused by a Goblin from the 3rd floor. 'I don't care anymore…I just wish to die…' the high elf walks before she trips and falls disgracefully while not bothering to get back up. 'i…all my life…I wish for an adventure out of my homeland and yet i…' her eyes tear up when remembering Zagreus who left Orario many years ago and to the time when he returned and never bothered to come to her first. '..he was kind, caring, and loving…he fought to protect those he care and love….yet I just….i didn't help him at all…' tears dripping to the ground, the high elf remembering the time in the past when her Familia defeats the Hera Familia in a War Game that ended in their victory, but her attention is more focused to Meteria who is hiding behind the goddess Hera and seemingly worried on something. 'why didn't I notice it before? Was it because she was his first love? Was it because I wanted to prove that I am better than her? was it because…I was jealous and angry of her actions to him?'
The high elf begins to cry tears that uncontrollably drip down her eyes as she didn't even notice that there are monsters spawning out of the Dungeon and are slowly approaching the downed adventurer.
'I always wished that he would return after that mission…I always wished that I could live a great life with him…I always wished….that I was his one and true love…but..' Riveria had a flashback of the past as she remembers a time when she was with Zagreus somewhere in Orario, the high elf having tea with the Kaiser who seems to have his attention on something else and that something was a someone who came passing by. 'even after everything that had happened between them,'. the high elf's hands gripped the dirt on the ground when she remembers that it was Meteria who passed by and just seemingly look sad and nervous about something. 'he still cared for her.'
The monsters began to surround Riveria who didn't do anything but lies on the ground and just wait her coming death from the beasts.
'I hurt him…I betrayed him…I no longer…' Riveria's vision slowly blurs as she bleeds terribly from her wound that is causing her to lose conscious over the passing second. 'I just wished….i just wished that I could see him….just one last time…' her eyes slowly closes as her sight and hearing starts to become dull. 'I just wished….to be with him…one last time….like those days…'.
Riveria succumbs to her fatigue as her eyes closed and she goes unconscious while the monsters surround and prepared to kill her, but their attempts were thwarted by the appearance of Zagreus who went and killed them all with one swing of his right hand.
All the monsters got killed as their forms becomes black ashes while small magic crystals drop to the ground.
Helmet detaching from his head, Zagreus stands near the unconscious high elf as he sees how tattered and wounded her form is before he kneels and gently picks her up in his arms.
"Meteria taught me how to have love and kindness in my life, but when I met you…" Zagreus whispers as he looks at Riveria before slowly moving down to see a necklace that is exposed out of her tattered attire, the object having the silver locket with the fairy shaped jade gem and the silver wedding ring with the encrusted jade gem. The Kaiser let out a soft sigh as he slowly rises to his feet and begins walking deeper into the Dungeon. "You taught me how to have hope."
Zagreus' metallic footsteps echoes in the corridors of the Dungeon as the Kaiser disappears into the shadows in mere seconds.
Meanwhile upon Orario and within the Underworld Castle.
There is a meeting held in the Lounging Room as there is Melinoe, Polemos, and Shakti who are discussing something by the large round table that has a 3D scale image of Orario made from black sand that pulses and moves around.
"we want you to manage your area that would be at the downtown of the north till the western part of the city." Melinoe spoke as she waves a hand to the side that made the black sand move and made an image of the city up close. "we have 5 groups of your Familia's teams positioned in those areas. They'll report to you of their daily activities, but you'll also need to take into action if there is trouble arising inside."
"yes." Shakti nods before noticing that the black sand made small moving humanoid figures that are walking around the city. "this is?" the Ankusha points at something as Melinoe and Polemos looks and sees that she is pointing towards a figure moving into an alley and just disappearing a second later. "that one disappeared."
"Polemos, bring up who that was." Melinoe stated as Polemos snaps his fingers and part of the sand made a life size image of Filvis Challia's head. "isn't that?"
"Filvis Challia, the Maenads of Dionysus Familia." Polemos spoke as a piece of paper flew into his grasp, the object having the full information of the dark haired red eyes elf who is a wanted criminal. "she's the one we have been trying to find over the past few days."
"Her sudden appearance on Orario means that she was either taking supplies or something else." Melinoe stated as she cups her chin and scratches it before she raises her right hand and activates her Halo Gem. "this is Melinoe, I have a report on Filvis Challia. We spotted her making an appearance in Orario. We don't know what she was doing, it bound to be something bad."
"This is Ploutos. Me, Thalia, and Makaria hears you loud and clear." Ploutos' voice spoke out from the magic item's gem. "give us the location and we'll be on our way."
"she was last spotted in the downtown area of the east." Polemos calls out as the black sand reforms to make the image of Filvis Challia going into the alley and disappearing a second later. "that's the location of where we found one of the six secret entrances to Knossos."
"roger that, we'll meet you there." Ploutos spoke before his voice went silent.
"Zagreus, do you hear us?" Melinoe calls out on the magic item as she hasn't heard Zagreus' voice yet. "do you hear us, Zagreus? Give us a respond."
No voice came replying from the Bloody Kaiser as this made the Blade Kaiser a bit curious.
"you think he's still talking with that Airmid girl at Dian Cecht's place?" Polemos asks Melinoe who shakes her head while deactivating the Halo Ring.
"he never replies if he is with Bell or Meteria…but right now.." Melinoe spoke as she begins thinking. "for him to not reply on the call…" her face grew stern as her eyes glows red. "that high elf bitch."
"High elf?" Shakti muttered out. "you mean, Loki Familia's Nine Hells?"
Melinoe glances at Shakti for a moment before she looks back at the 3D image of the city.
"Shakti, you're going to come with us." Melinoe stated as she crosses her arms under her chest. "call out on a few of your Familia's teams to surround the area in a 2 km radius." She then looks back at the Ankusha. "do not let anyone in or out, understand?"
Shakti looks at Melinoe for a moment before nodding in compliance.
"you plan to leave Zagreus out of this?" Polemos asks Melinoe who nods.
"let's go." Melinoe spoke before snapping her fingers and the black sand disperses into smoke.
At the Dungeon's 18th floor called Livira. The safe point of the Dungeon has no monsters spawning out of the walls and coming after any adventurers in the area.
There is Riveria who lies on a black blanket near a small river stream, the high elf no longer covered in wounds and her clothes no longer tattered and ripped. The high elf remains on the bed before Zagreus came.
Zagreus walks to Riveria from the river stream as he went and kneels behind Riveria before carefully lifting her head and holding out a water canteen with its cover opened.
The Kaiser gently pours the content of the canteen down to Riveria's lips as the water seeps into her lips and into her mouth before going down her throat.
It took only about a minute or so for Riveria to slowly return into consciousness, but the high elf is unconsciously drinking the water as she needed to rehydrate herself after nearly a week and a half of just crying.
a minute pass and Riveria emptied the water canteen to the last drop. The high elf let out a small sigh of satisfaction when her very parched throat has been doused with the life rejuvenating liquid.
Zagreus slowly place down her head before he goes to the river stream and collect more water from the canteen, not noticing that Riveria's eyes slowly flutters open and her vision that is blurry begins to see the abundance of green leaves from the trees that she sees above.
"this place?" Riveria whispers in a complete daze as her vision slowly focuses along with her other senses. The high elf looking very confused before she hears footsteps near and sees a blurry image of Zagreus appearing beside her. "who?"
The Kaiser kneels and repeats his previous action in giving Riveria water to rehydrate herself.
Riveria drinks her water as she focused on refilling her body's liquids and soon realize that Zagreus is with her when she finished the water canteen.
"Z-Zagreus? Why are you?" Riveria stuttered a bit in surprise to see the Bloody Kaiser who looks down at the high elf before he screws the cap on the water canteen and place it aside. She glances around to finally realize that she is still in the Dungeon and at Livira because of how often she and her Familia would stay in the Safety Point of the labyrinth. "Why am I in Livira?"
"you collapsed on the 6th floor." Zagreus spoke out as he slowly stands up and begins walking before sitting down near the river stream. "I found you almost being killed by Monsters." he glance back at the high elf. "I saved you and brought you here."
Riveria made a small surprise noise as she looks at Zagreus with wide eyes before she frowns and looks down.
"Do you plan…to keep me alive because…of my lineage to my family?" Riveria spoke out softly as she frowns sadly. "I know that…your Familia wants to keep a peaceful relation with elves out of Orario and…" she grasps her hands on the blanket and clenches it. "I know that they would be outraged if I were to die in the Dungeon.." her tears well up and slowly drips to the ground. "that's it, isn't it? you wish to keep me alive just to keep the elves outside from trying to wage war with Orario, right?"
Zagreus looks at Riveria in silence for a moment before he looks to the river in front of him.
"that is a part of the reason why we Kaisers never dared to do anything to you when you first came to Orario those many years ago." Zagreus spoke out as he looks at the clear water just flowing around the area. "but that was what Melinoe and the others thought about you, I had a different vision of you when you came to Orario that day." He slowly reaches a hand to his neck and soon reaches it out to show Riveria that he is holding a silver necklace that has a silverish white wedding ring with an emerald diamond encrusted to it. "i…the first time we first met. You were someone who had given me something important to remember. you gave me hope of a new life."
Riveria made a small noise as she looks to see the necklace and the ring, seeing how its gem just shines beautifully when it got hit with the ray of light from above.
"you still…keep it?" Riveria whispers with a surprise yet confused voice.
"i made this ring to be the twin that you have on you." Zagreus stated as he pulls back his hand and gently caresses the ring in his fingers. "I made a vow on this ring. I vowed that i would be there for you and would always lend you my strength in your dire times for as long as my heart yearns for your love." He slowly turns his head and showed a genuine, kind, and loving smile to the high elf. "that is what I promised to you on the day I proposed to you, right?"
The Nine Hell's cheeks begins to turn red as she blushes to see such a smile from the Bloody Kaiser.
Zagreus continues to smile before he looks to the river while waving a hand to the side and a three stacked bento box appears in front of Riveria.
"Eat the meal I have for you." Zagreus spoke as he placed his hands on his lap and then gazes at the river's clear and sparkling water. "then we'll continue our conversation."
Riveria looks at Zagreus for a moment before she looks at the bento box near her. the high elf ponders for a moment and then went and opened the bento box, her expression showing surprise when she sees that each stack contains a healthy and delicious looking meal consisting of fruits, vegetables, and meat.
"This meal is…" Riveria spoke in a whisper as she remembers a time in the past when she was still with Zagreus, both are at a grassland somewhere and having a picnic. Both eating a shared meal which is the same as the one that the high elf is having right now. "From that day…"
"You told me that you loved the meal I made for you on the picnic those many years ago." Zagreus said as he looks at the water and sees some small ripples made from small insects. "I had promised you that I would make your life full of happiness in many ways." He lowers his head a bit. "Cooking delicious meals for you is just one of them."
Riveria tears up a bit before her lips formed a small happy smile in return from hearing what Zagreus has spoken.
In due time, Riveria begins to eat the prepared meal as she eats a bit vigorously with the given wooden spoon because of how she has starved herself for a few days and how the dishes in the bento box are delicious from each bite.
Zagreus stays silent as he listens to Riveria eating the prepared meal. He listens but his gaze is focused on the body of water in front of him.
In just six to seven minutes, Riveria finished the meal as she stacked the boxes back together.
"t-thank you for the meal.." the high elf whispers as she thanked the meal given before she looks at Zagreus who is now skipping pebbles on the water.
Taking a small pebble in his right hand's grasp, Zagreus flicks it up before he instantly threw and let the piece of rock skip on the water about 6-7 times before sinking. Afterwards he turns and looks at Riveria.
"sit beside me." Zagreus spoke as Riveria made a small noise in reply, the Kaiser looks at the high elf before looking back front. "I want to spend one day. Just one day with you. To tell you how glad I am to see you doing well when I returned to Orario that day." He let out a small sigh while his lips form a small smile. "and perhaps…to tell you how beautiful you have become."
Riveria blushes once again before she slowly got up and then made her way beside Zagreus and sat down a bit politely.
Both stayed silent for a moment as none spoke a single word, but Zagreus' left hand went and gently place itself on top of Riveria's right hand. The hand just grasping the other from above but in a gentle and loving manner.
Riveria made a noise as she looks at the Kaiser's hand before to Zagreus himself. The half elf Kaiser having a small smile while glancing at the Nine Hells.
Neither did speak a thing as both stayed in their position while slowly leaning close together.
Unknown to the two, they are being watched from a crystal mirror that is floating upon Makaria's grasp.
The Mage Kaiser along with the other Kaisers are at a downtown area of Orario that has been sealed off by the members of the Ganesha Familia who are led by Shakti.
"that bastard…." Polemos growls angrily to see Zagreus hanging around with Riveria in the Dungeon. electrical static dance around his gripping fist. "for him to break his own words!"
"wait." Ploutos spoke as he went and grabs Polemos' right shoulder. "he said that he will only do this for one day." He glances at the image once again and see how Zagreus is now talking to Riveria who is blushing because of being complimented by the Bloody Kaiser. "as much as we are enemies with the Loki Familia. the promise that Zagreus made with her is something that he has to keep, therefore…"
"it means nothing!" Thalia stated sternly as she slams the bottom end of her staff to the ground, causing it to crack and the land to rumble a bit. The Saint Kaiser looking very displeased. "he said that he won't ever come to her when he returned to Orario! The fucking hell does he think that he is doing now, huh!?"
"we'll handle him later." Melinoe spoke as she glares angrily at the image of Zagreus before she turns and started to grip her right hand repeatedly. "right now, focus on finding that elven brat and her god!"
"do you plan to challenge him for the rights as the Leader of the Kaiser Familia afterwards?" Makaria spoke as the crystal mirror in her grasps disappears into sparkles. The Mage Kaiser facing the Blade Kaiser who turns and looks at her. "you know that you can only do so if it is for a valid reason. It is in our own Familia's rules."
"Breaking his own promise and going against his own words is already a valid reason to challenge him to take the rights of the Familia's leadership." Melinoe stated in a stern voice while her eyes glow crimson red. "I had enough of him doing what he wants ever since he returned to Orario." She turns and waves her hair to the side. "The leader of our Familia has to be one who keep the words that has been vowed with one's own name! there cannot be any selfishness involved in any matter!"
"alike with how Helios would've done so?" Ploutos spoke as this made the atmosphere to be suddenly thick and tense.
"Hey! Ploutos!" Polemos went and grabs Ploutos by the collar of his attire. "you bastard! What you think of mentioning his name when we're in such a moment!?"
"Do you plan to stop us from challenging Zagreus!?" Thalia added in while raising her staff and pointing its tip towards the Iron God Kaiser. "do you have any idea how much rules that Zagreus is overruling with his rights!?"
"I do." Ploutos stated as he glance at Melinoe who is silent but her hands formed hard clenched fists. "as low as I just went. I don't want to see a possibility of either Melinoe or Zagreus or any of you killing each other." He then looks back at Polemos and Thalia. "we formed our Familia to protect Orario and ensure justice upon all. we do not form it just so that we can fight each other for silly reasons."
"What is so silly about fortifying our rules!?" Thalia exclaimed while her staff gets pushed away by Makaria. "we vowed to never be selfish in our actions as Kaisers! Zagreus is breaking that vow of ours by alluding himself with the likes of that elven bitch!"
"He is not breaking his vow." Makaria stated while getting in and pushing away Polemos and Thalia from Ploutos. "Zagreus did vow that he won't ever forgive the Loki Familia for their actions in banishing Zeus and Hera Familia, but he never vowed that he would not give his last kindness to Riveria for just one day."
"you guys with your fricking loopholes of the rules!" Polemos growls angrily as he summoned his halberd axe into his grasp. "you just want to justify his actions as something just instead of violation against his own words!"
"enough!" Melinoe called out as the other Kaisers turns towards the Blade Kaiser whose back is to the group. The scarlet haired elf begins walking away. "let's focus on finding Filvis Challia first before we deal with Zagreus at a later time. Understand?"
Makaria and the others looks at Melinoe for a moment before both eased up and nods.
The group of Kaisers soon moves out as they began to head for where Filvis Challia was once located. They head into the alley and soon finds the hidden entrance to Knossos.
"the last time we got in that place, there are dozens of traps and monsters awaiting us." Ploutos spoke as he punches a fist to an open palm. "we disarmed them all, but there might be some new ones made inside."
"then let's destroy them all before we find that elven brat." Thalia stated as she raises her Saint Cross up before she went and slams the bottom to the ground, causing an eruption of magic to pulse out and destroyed the entrance to Knossos.
"there's about a few paths that the place diverged into." Makaria spoke before each Kaisers jumps into the entrance. "let's split up and find that elf then get her to cough out where her god is."
"fine by me." the other Kaisers replied as they soon flies into Knossos, each splitting off into groups of three when they go to a diverge path that splits into three.
Back at Livira, Zagreus remains with Riveria by the river as both had only been talking about their time of the past and the time that the Bloody Kaiser has been spending outside of Orario for the last 15 years.
"Athens, Rakia, Empire, each and every country and kingdom that I visited have all given the news that the Loki Familia became one of the top two most strongest Familias in Orario." Zagreus spoke as he looks at the water while Riveria stares at him. "I am proud to say that knowing your Familia takes the spot as one of the strongest is a relieving thing for me, because if that bitch's Familia was the one who ruled the city. it would lead to terrible consequences in return." He close his eyes and smile softly. "to know that she is being kept in place to the ground by an ally…" he turns and open his eyes to look at the high elf. "that is something relieving to me."
Riveria looks at Zagreus before smiling and nods then looks to the river.
"it's just…something normal to do." Riveria spoke out. "you told me how the goddess Freyja is someone who should not be underestimated. Loki said the same and agreed." She looks down while smiling a bit more. "We just knew that we couldn't let her go and become too strong."
"is that so?" Zagreus whispers as he looks to the river with the high elf. Both staring to the clear sparkling water. "it was truly a wise choice for us to trust you and your familia for the safety of Orario during our absences." His lips forming a soft smile that slowly turns into a sad one. "trust, huh?"
Riveria notices the change of mood as she looks and frowns sadly to Zagreus before looking down to her lap.
"I really tried my best to protect Zeus and Hera Familia.." Riveria spoke out while tearing up a bit. "I wanted to use my authority power as a High Elf. I tried to gather followers to help me, but…" she grasps her skirt tight when a flashback of her being yelled at by the goddess Hera appeared in her mind. "the goddess Hera…"
Zagreus glances at Riveria for a second before he looks away and closes his eyes.
"Meteria asked Hera to do so." Zagreus spoke as Riveria made a noise and look at the Kaiser with wide eyes. "she asked her goddess to do the War Game and made themselves be banished in the process. She wanted to do everything possible to keep her child safe from harm." He slowly opens his eyes a sliver and there is utter sadness radiating from them. "she wanted to do everything possible to keep me and Bell safe."
The Kaiser let out a soft sigh as he slowly looks to the glowing crystal hanging in the ceiling of the 18th floor.
"the Kaiser Familia is the Familia of powerful adventurers whose duties are to protect Orario from danger." Zagreus spoke out softly. "the members are from different Familias whose only wish is to keep the city and the people safe." He closes his eyes and shed a single tear. "yet the strongest Kaiser was protected by a talentless woman who loved him dearly." He tilts his head down and had a small sad smile formed on his lips when a flashback of Meteria just smiling happily appears in his mind. "and to think that people say that she was the weakest adventurer of the Hera Familia. what a lie." He raised a hand and place it to his chest where a small blue glow emanates from under his armor. "Meteria is the most strongest adventurer of the Hera Familia." he lowers his hand and let out a long sigh before whispering. "that is the truth."
Riveria looks at Zagreus and frowns sadly, knowing that the half elf still cares for his deceased first love.
Silence instilled itself between the two as they didn't speak a word to each other.
Zagreus slowly opens his closed eyes as he stares at his lap before he turns and looks at Riveria.
"don't blame yourself for what had happened to Meteria." Zagreus spoke out softly as he looks back down to his lap but while remembering a past of him being with Meteria. The white haired woman wearing a white sun dress and straw hat while at a flower field somewhere along with having the most happiest smile that could ever be seen. "She knew the risks of having a Kaiser's child and she sacrificed herself to ensure her wishes comes true." He closes his eyes and softly sigh. "that is why she asked me to forgive you and your Familia. that is one of her last wishes that I promised her that I would keep and uphold."
Riveria listens to his every single word as slowly her eyes tear up and sadness overtake her very soul.
'I knew it…' Riveria thought as she had a flashback of herself angrily shouting at Meteria for breaking Zagreus' heart before, the white haired woman just looks down with a frown before she suddenly smiles sadly to the high elf who gets surprised by it. 'I could never best you no matter how much I try…'
Zagreus looks back at Riveria for a moment before he senses something that made him quickly get back up to his feet.
"Z-Zagreus?" Riveria calls out to the Kaiser who is looking around the forest with a tensed up gaze.
'this presence…' Zagreus's helmet reforms upon his head and his eyes flashes brightly under the visor. The Kaiser sensing a powerful magic presence growing somewhere as he felt it. 'a Monster? no. it's something akin with..'. in an instant, the Kaiser sees a blurred and static image of a woman's back, she has long and wavy blue hair and wears a dress that looks to be made of water. 'no, it can't be..she's no longer even…'
"Zagreus? What's wrong?" Riveria calls out to the Kaiser who remained quiet before he suddenly clenches his hands into hard fists. "Zagreus?"
Zagreus stays standing in silence for a moment before his helmet detaches from his head and the man turns to look at Riveria.
"it's nothing." Zagreus spoke as he went and sat back down. "I just sensed something unusual."
"What do you mean unusual?" Riveria asks the half elf who shakes his head in reply before he looks at the river.
"let's just focus on our time here.." Zagreus spoke softly. "I can only be with you for this one day only and there are more things that I need to tell you."
Riveria looks at Zagreus for a moment as she can tell the seriousness in his voice that meant something very important.
The high elf stares at the Kaiser in silence for a whole minute before she nods and looks to the river once again.
Meanwhile in the domain of Knossos.
Melinoe and the other Kaisers who have split up in groups of three, suddenly comes back together when their paths are intertwined and mixed at the end.
"Something tells me that we were walking in circles." Polemos spoke when he met up with the others.
"we've been to the areas around this manmade dungeon and found nothing new about it." Ploutos stated as he holds a scroll that he soon holds out to the group. "but I did find this."
"what is it?" Makaria asks while Ploutos gives the scroll to Melinoe who unravels it.
"some sort of formula and blueprint of something." The Blade Kaiser replied as he sees countless symbols being written in the scroll but there is the drawing of a large round object with a human and monster inside it. "but just looking at this drawing…"
"it can't be something good considering it was found here of all places." Thalia stated in while having her guard up. "and might I add that we're not currently alone?"
The other Kaisers look around as they see trap doors opening for dozens of monsters made by Evilus like Virga, Violas, Venenthes, and Viscum. All just surrounding the group who are gathered in one place.
"the bitch must've thought that we could be killed by these shits." Polemos spoke as he outstretched his right hand to the side and wields his tomahawk axe that materializes into his grasp. "she thought wrong."
"kill each one and then spread out to find that little rat." Melinoe stated as she raise her right hand and slowly grips her fingers that made loud bone popping noises. "this entire place is worked by a magic item that controls everything. She has to be nearby to activate them."
"question is on how close?" Makaria asks.
"let's find out after we kill these monsters." Thalia replied before the group disperses when the monsters began to attack.
Screams from the monsters began to echo as each and every one of the manmade creatures were getting shredded and torn to pieces by the Kaisers who relentlessly killed them all, while not knowing that they are being surveyed from several stone statues' glowing eyes.
Somewhere in the Deep Floors of the Dungeon, there is Dionysus who is watching the Kaisers in action within the domain of Knossos as he sees their every single movement from a mirror in hand.
"perhaps sending in Filvis to lure them was counterproductive." Dionysus spoke while cupping his chin and scratching it a few times. He then smiles a bit amusingly. "but maybe not." He turns and smirks upon the sight of the large demi human that parasite the dragon monster which is currently eating more and more magic crystals. "only time can tell when they encounter this beast of mine."
Dionysus chuckles before he begins laughing as the sound just echoes with the passing second.
That's a wrap!
Bye bye