Eyy.
Chapter 45.
That's about it.
Kay bye.
XXX
If she were to describe her current state Lefiya would probably say she was disappointed at herself, as well as in the decision of her higher-ups.
She was aware she screwed up multiple times in the Dungeon by losing focus and subsequently disrupting whatever Spell she was trying to cast. More than anyone else she was aware of this, the act brining no small amount of shame to her as a mage.
However even Riveria herself told of the hardships that followed those who choose the path of the Mage.
With that said, did she deserve to get punished for her slip-ups?
She couldn't say.
That was something for her Familia's leaders to decide, and they had made their decision. She would accept it as it was. Being assigned to the Punishment Team was not exactly something which disheartened her, Bete was an Executive and he was part of the Team every single year after all.
And yet, even so…
"…"
"…"
"…"
"...Is there something wrong, Viridis-sama?" Asked the boy as he turned to look at her.
'Why do I have to work together with him…?'
"No, nothing…"
At this point her feelings towards the boy were far too complicated to explain in just a couple of words.
On the one hand, she respected his strength and the calm he displayed on a daily basis. On the other hand, his arrogance and the disregard he showed to the Familia as a whole through his actions were far less respectable.
She would also always be thankful for the help he provided with her training, but at the same time she could not forget what he had done to her idol just months prior.
In other words, while she could see the positive sides that he as a person had…
She didn't like him.
They were still part of the same Familia, of course, and no one of Loki Familia was immature enough to compromise a mission or expedition just because of bad blood between them and another. However if she had the option to go on a mission with him or without him, she'd choose the option which would prevent them from being near each other.
'Not like that is an option right now…'
Having been placed in the same two-man team for the duration of the week by Loki herself, Lefiya simply accepted the fact that she would spent exactly that amount of time with the boy.
"Say, do you really need no help?" The Elf asked.
"It's fine, I'm almost done."
Their first task together was to organize the library, taking notes of what books they had on hand and then go out buy new reading material. By all means, nothing any harder to do than for example cleaning, but at the same time also a task which was far more time-consuming.
Their library was gigantic to say the least, mainly thanks to Riveria enjoying a good read as well as the other Elves having reading as one of their main hobbies. At the very least, Lefiya expected this to take them some two days, if not three.
Fuzen was of a different opinion, however.
Having both decided on first dusting and cleaning the library before anything else, the two had gotten to work first thing in the morning. It was sometime after noon now, and that part of the job was completed.
Now all Lefiya waited for was Fuzen.
According to him they could go and search for new material soon as he had a good grasp on which books they had and all he needed was to do the rounds one last time to memorize everything.
'I know that the Captain praised him himself, but there are hundreds of books in here...Can this kid really memorize every title…?'
She was sceptical of his words, but decided not to outright deny them.
He had made a name for himself as someone who did not joke around, after all.
"...All right, I've got them all down. We can go now." He voiced after another ten minutes passed and he finished with the last bookshelf.
"If you say so."
"Mhm. They're just titles, after all." He nodded, looking out the window to get a rough idea of what time of day it was. "Would you like to eat something before we make our way to the book shop?"
"Uhh, sure. I could go for a bit of food."
"Then again, with how late it is I doubt there is anything left in the cafeteria...Do you wish to go and eat out while we make our way to the book shop?"
"Sounds good." Lefiya agreed. Eating out with the boy was not exactly something she had been hoping for, but she did not dislike him enough to turn the offer down.
Without wasting any more time the two left the Twilight Manor and headed into the city.
XXX
Taking out the Jagamarukun from the oil the man shook it a couple of times to get the oil out before using the tongs to place the serving within the wrap, then sprinkling some salt on top of it. "Here you go!"
Takemikazuchi voiced as he handed the Jagamarukun over to the young man who had watched the process with interest. "Thanks, it looks amazing."
"Haha, enjoy!"
Getting his payment of thirty Valis the God waved to the customer before resuming his work of frying the Jagamarukun.
This was his daily work: tending to his food stall. It wasn't much and it certainly did not bring in as much profit as a couple of hours inside the Dungeon did, but with his Arcanum sealed it was something he could do.
After all, he was still a God of War and lazing around was not in his character at all, even if their Familia were to be better off financially. And to be honest, he did enjoy his time spent tending to the food stall.
However, today he found himself less invested in his work.
The reason for this was of course none other than the visit his Familia got just a day ago…
…
…
…
"My Lord, a moment?" Came the question from Ouka after knocking at his door, the God giving the permission for his Child to enter. "It's him. He desires a meeting with you and Mikoto."
It had surprised Takemikazuchi to hear the boy was already back. It meant he had found the answer to his previous question, in record time no less. Surprising, to say the least. "Is he outside the inn? Bring him here."
While Ouka went to bring Fuzen the God himself called Mikoto over from her room: it would be a useless meeting without her being present after all.
Within a minute another knock could be heard at the door, the Captain of the Takemikazuchi Familia opening it to let the young boy inside before closing the door and leaving the three alone. Silence took over for a couple of moments as Fuzen bowed to the two, the steadfast look in his eyes taking the God by surprise.
"You came sooner than I thought you would."
"The answer to your question was not hidden, merely shrouded."
"So, what is the answer, then?"
Fuzen nodded. "You have asked me what I want to achieve by bringing Mikoto Yamato into my martial school. To answer that I will be required to accept my own shortcomings. And so, I will."
The God nodded at the words, crossing his arms across his chest. "I am strong." And then his face twisted into confusion. "Given recent events that have happened in my life, I have come to the realization that I am much stronger than even I initially thought. I may not be a strong Adventurer, or a strong person, but I am without a doubt...a very strong warrior."
"...How does this tie in with your shortcomings?" The God asked, knowing that the boy before him had not come here just to gloat.
"...However, also due to recent events, I...realized that I am lacking many things, too. Things that I cannot achieve just by training, or trying. I can make use of this sword at my hip. Likewise, I can make use of the many Techniques of my martial school. I've spent years mastering them: the motions, the movements, the breathing required to perform each of them effortlessly. It would not be an understatement to say my mastery over them is not unlike that of a Lightning Sword Style Master's, were they were still around."
Takemikazuchi nodded. "I believe you. But...you still miss something, don't you?"
A small nod was his response. "I do. And unfortunately, I cannot run away from this fact anymore. Shameful as it is, I have tried to keep it a secret. Playing make-believe, I think was the term. But, I cannot try to pretend it's not real anymore. Recent events, once again, have made that very clear to me."
Then he looked down, left hand grabbing the hilt of his sword. A moment of silence followed as he thoughtfully looked at the blade strapped to his hip, slow nods coming from the boy. "God Takemikazuchi."
"Hm?"
"Would you believe me if I said that this sword once inspired hope and safety in me?"
"...I would. It means a lot to you, doesn't it?"
"Yeah. And still, why can I not stimulate that feeling in others despite being a Lightning Sword Style user…? Well, it's a rhetorical question more than anything else at this point…"
A long sigh escaped his lips, something the God could understand. Following the live broadcast of the war in Altena, most people in Orario and the world at large have come to greatly fear Kenshi. His dragon first of all, yes, but the boy himself as well for being able to calmly cause the amount of damage he did.
"I am strong. And I will continue to grow stronger. However, embodying the spirit of the Lightning Sword Style, that is something I...am not capable of ever achieving. My path is another one."
With a nod Takemikazuchi believed was addressed at himself more than anyone else Fuzen turned his head, hazel eyes meeting dark blue ones. "But perhaps, someone else could do it, instead."
And then, to the shock of both the God and the girl, he went down to his knees, slowly bringing his forehead down until it touched the floor. "You have asked me what I wish to achieve by bringing your Child into my martial school. This is my answer: I want to see her version of the Lightning Sword Style. I want to see that which can only be perverted while in my hands, shine again. That is my wish."
Silence took over the room once again, both God and Child staring silently at the bowing form of the boy in front of them. He was speaking from the heart, both of them could tell that much. And he truly meant what he said.
"...And you think that Mikoto is suited for your martial school? Do you think she could pull through?"
"My familiarity with her is too low for me to answer that truthfully. However, I do not think you have any reason to fail, Yamato-sama."
"What do you think, Mikoto?" He asked her, but his Child could not answer immediately. She looked to be deep in thought, despite her former eagerness at the prospect of gaining more power for herself, and the Familia.
"I...don't know."
"No life-changing decision should be made hastily." Fuzen voiced as he broke his bow and returned to his feet. "Starting tomorrow, my Familia will be taking a week off to deal with internal affairs. I too will be busy, so let us meet again in a week. Then you can tell me your decision, or whatever you need more time to think it over."
…
…
…
Suffice to say, Mikoto had yet to say whatever she had made up her mind. There was still time, of course, and he doubted Kenshi would mind waiting longer than the deadline he had given.
This made Takemikazuchi very happy.
Had his Child agreed to the proposal immediately it would have shown her lack of judgement. But that was not the case: despite knowing full well she wanted to grow stronger and Kenshi being a promising chance at achieving just that, Mikoto had taken her time to slowly and carefully decide whatever she wanted to join the Lightning Sword Style martial school.
The God was glad to see her grow more mature, more responsible with her choices.
'Still...I wonder if this whole thing is even possible…?'
Despite his age Takemikazuchi was not sure whatever this training would be as smooth as Kenshi made it sound.
He had little doubt in the boy's abilities. As a God of War he could trace that which few possessed in the boy.
The resolute, determined flame of a warrior.
But this was not a question of his abilities.
It was a question of his capabilities.
Because being well-taught was different from being able to teach well.
Whatever he was able to teach another person at his young age remained to be yet seen.
XXX
While not uncomfortable by any means Lefiya did consider her current situation to be a rather peculiar one.
After all, while part of the same Familia, her interactions with the boy sitting opposite of her had been minimal to say the least.
Even so however here they were now, sharing a table at a restaurant located on their way to the library. She was quietly enjoying a light salad while the boy opted for a rice porridge. Somehow, she had seen that coming. The boy loved his rice if nothing else.
They had talked little on the way here, or while waiting for their orders. Lefiya herself believed this to be a good thing. If previous events were to serve as reminders, anything besides small-talk would not turn out well between the two of them.
'...Even though I should be the one to try and remedy this, as I'm the older one…'
With a small sigh escaping her lips Lefiya dug her fork into a piece of tomato, her eyes slowly looking up from her food and at the boy.
Even she, someone by far not very familiar with the swordsman could tell something was different about him.
"...Say. Can I...ask you something?"
"Of course. You needn't ask permission, Viridis-sama."
"Mhm. Did...something happen?"
Her inquiry managed to gain his attention, his now mostly green hazel eyes looking up from his food. "Why would you imply that?"
"It's just...you look different."
"I do? I see…" He replied as he titled his head ever so slightly to the side, showing the Elf girl a side of himself people rarely got to see. "May I ask in what way I seem to be different to you?"
"Well...Your expression."
Far too intense for someone his age.
If she had to describe his usual expression in words, that would have been her choice. Members of Loki Familia who had joined years before Lefiya herself even compared his expression to that of a young Ais who at the time had just joined the Familia herself, at the age of seven.
But that was not the case at the moment.
If anything, he acted...calm. Serene. Almost as if he was in a state of haze, something she could hardly imagine him feeling on a normal day.
Fuzen took a moment to let the words sink in, his gaze lowering back to the food in front of him before he gave a couple of small nods directed at no one in particular. "Yes, I believe recent...confessions may play a part in all of this."
To say those words confused Lefiya would be an understatement. However, she knew it was not her place to inquire on the matter further, especially when he obviously did not care to elaborate. As such they simply returned to eating their meals.
At least, until the boy raised his gaze once more. "I am surprised."
"Hm?"
"That you would ask. I was under the impression you hated me."
To no one's surprise his lack of social finesse brought an uncomfortable heaviness to the table. Lefiya took the moment to look to the side, avoiding his gaze as she slowly chewed her food before swallowing. "I don't...hate you."
"I see. Then, I apologize for the misunderstanding."
"I don't hate you...but I don't agree with your actions."
"I believe that is nothing new, generally speaking...nonetheless, I thank you for your honesty. I will take this into consideration if and when we are paired together again in the Dungeon. When that time comes, I hope that you can at least trust in my experience, if not my actions."
While Lefiya was glad this was out of the way, it had also not been what she wanted to get at. Still, now more than ever, the time seemed right to try and clarify. "I trust your abilities, Fuzen. And I know to appreciate how you helped me train a while ago. But...You do realize many of your actions affect the Familia as a whole, right?"
"Of course."
"Do you even know exactly what I am referring to?"
"I believe so, yes." He nodded as he put his cutlery down. "The incident with Ais...with Wallenstein above all, I'd say. At least, as far as you are concerned."
He wasn't wrong, for that was indeed what completely shattered the Elf's perception of him completely. However, it wasn't the sole motivator behind her previous question. "It is not the only one. Your fight with the Kingdom of Altena reflects badly on us all."
"Does it, though?" He asked with a tilt of his head. "I can understand that the deaths of those people might still be associated with the rest of you despite the fact I left the Familia during the time of that conflict...but is the upside not worth the downside?"
"Upside, you say…?"
"Well, the fact that just one member of Loki Familia alone has the power to defeat a kingdom is, I believe, rather good advertisement as to the capabilities of our Familia. Not that they were ever questioned, but I do believe they were cemented once again after that...event."
She would have liked to debate with him, but he wasn't completely wrong. After all she had overheard Raul and Aki mentioning something similar shortly after he rejoined the Familia a while ago. "That might be true, but that sort of...bloody advertisement…"
"Hm? It's not like our Familia's goal is for us to be good Samaritans, is it? I understand the way I decided to deal with things might not be the first option for everyone, believe me, it was not my first choice either...But it is, nonetheless, not a wrong way, either. The ends justify the means. And in this case, that mindset applied."
The confession of Treasurer Cicero following the end of what was now known as the Vindictive War had shed light on countless crimes, almost all of them starting with the man himself but all of them also involving other high profile individuals, from both within Altena as well as neighbouring countries.
All those confessions led to a series of investigations being launched by the respective governing bodies in an effort to bring those involved to justice as well as try to calm down the masses and the unknowing victims of Cicero and his cohort of criminals.
As of late, Lefiya had heard that Altena was also busy with reconstructions. Not only tending to the damages Fuzen had inflicted upon their capital, but also reforms which both the young Queen and her brother were working hard to make a reality as soon as possible. Surprisingly enough, there were no visible signs that Altena was considering vengeance against their aggressor.
If anything, the presence of a representative from Altena at the opening ceremony of La Muse, the art gallery owned by Fuzen and his circle of East District businessmen, was a diplomatic sign of goodwill.
"I can't argue with that…But, what about your connection to the East District? I cannot pretend to understand what is going on exactly...but did you not force the rest of us to associate with the District?"
"That is correct." He gave a short nod. "As a member of Loki Familia, I willingly linked our Familia to the East District when I decided to become their Tsuwamono. This link was created through me, the one acting as a sort of middleman between the two factions."
"So then...you do agree with me?"
"That my actions brought disadvantages to the Familia? I apologize, but I do not agree."
"...Why is that?"
"...What is the population of Orario?" His question came as a surprise, Lefiya taking a second to ponder on her answer.
"Wasn't it somewhere close to half a million?"
"A bit vague, but yes. The answer would be 'a lot'. Then, how many people do you think live in the East District?"
"I...don't know."
"It's somewhere close to twelve thousand people." He answered as he grabbed his spoon again, letting the number sink in as he continued with his rice. "It wasn't my idea, but it was also decided that all people living in the East District pay a small monthly fee to me. Everyone agreed to it, surprisingly enough."
"A fee? What for?"
"Most of the money collected that way is used for improvements to the East District itself, or saved up in case we ever have a cockroachinfestation again. The rest, however, is donated."
"To whom?"
"Well, what do you think? Obviously, the money a couple thousand people can spare each month doesn't come close to what a first-rate Familia like ours can make with a single expedition, but it is a monthly, passive income nonetheless."
"Wait, we get donations from the East District?" Lefiya could not hide her surprise, especially since this was the first time she heard of this. "How come I didn't know about this?"
The reply was a short shrug. "Nobody asked. With that said, however, the money donated by my District is hardly the only benefit provided to the Familia. Or the most valuable one. We do live in a city of eyes and ears, after all."
Learning of all these behind the scene deals going on without her slightest knowledge made the Elf feel slightly uncomfortable, even more so since the boy in front of her did not go further into detail, instead opting to resume with his meal, instead.
Seeing how the conversation came to an end Lefiya did the same, though now she had far more to think about.
For a while now, she believed Fuzen's actions to only bring detriments to the rest of the Familia. Now, however...She wasn't so sure anymore.
She truly believed he cared little how his actions and decisions affected everyone else, but was she actually wrong in her assessment?
One thing was for sure: she needed to talk to Riveria to figure out if everything he said was the truth. Because for a long time now, she had disliked him, at one point even thinking it would be better if the Executives just banished him from the Familia.
And she did not wish to hold disdain for him if his actions turned out not to be what she believed them.
XXX
"Mikoto, fall back! Don't stray too far away!"
Hearing her Captain's words Mikoto made a mental note to be more aware of her surroundings from now on: her lack of focus had separated her from the main group, now located some fifteen meters behind her.
Not a big mistake...were they not on the 6th Floor, fighting a group of War Shadows.
This had been their plan, of course. Diving into the Dungeon, trying to defeat those enemies that were still too strong for them individually, as a group.
Their dive into the Dungeon had been a smooth one, encountering only a couple of Kobolds and Dungeon Lizards until the 4th Floor. The 5th Floor had been a breeze, as well.
On the current Floor is where it all started getting a bit harder, encountering Frog Shooters which, while not necessarily very tough, were an enemy they had yet to find an efficient way to combat.
Ouka himself had stated that they lacked experience in fighting enemies which utilized long-range attacks. For now, their tactic consisted of them taking a defensive stance while Mikoto, the fastest of the six, would jump forward and attacking the Frogs while they shot their tongues at the main group.
It had worked well so far, but before long they would need to think of a better, less risky plan.
And then it all went from good to bad.
Perhaps it was caused by an earlier group of Adventurers who passed through, or maybe they were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Whatever the cause behind it, once the group had reached a wider clearing on the Floor where they intended to take a short break the walls erupted and a group of War Shadows fell upon them.
Granted, those were the foes they dived into the Dungeon for. However, a group this big had not been part of the plan.
Not counting the two which Mikoto and Ouka killed in the initial assault, there were still eleven more War Shadows surrounding the group.
This was dangerous for obvious reasons. War Shadows were the most powerful Monster on the 6th Floor, known as the 'newbie killer' for good reasons. They were fast, and no armour a Level 1 was able to afford could help against their sharp claws.
"Stay close, don't break the formation! If we do they'll pick us off one by one!" Ouka shouted, swinging his axe at an incoming Monster. It evaded at the last moment, but at least he kept it at arm's length.
"How do we proceed?" Asked one of his comrades.
"Defend and counter-attack. Don't step out of the formation."
"They'll wear us down before we defeat them all!" Mikoto voiced as she stepped out of the formation, bringing her sword up to block a clawed hand, pushing it back and with an upward slash taking the Monster's arm.
It shrieked and roared in pain, taking a step back as Mikoto did the same.
"Do you have a plan?" Ouka asked.
The reply did not come immediately, telling the Captain that his comrade was not sure whatever her idea could be counted as a plan or not. "...I'll step out and engage those who come too close."
"They'll surround you."
"Then support me!"
Just then another War Shadow approached the group from Mikoto's left, the swordswoman turning on her hell and jumping at the Monster. Sword met claws, a short stalemate taking place as both of them fought to gain a position of strength above the other.
From the corner of her eye Mikoto noticed another Monster approaching her, a moment's panic setting in. She could not back down, doing so would allow the enemy in front of her to attack. Neither could she side step, for that would leave her comrades exposed.
The second Monster drew ever nearer, trying to make use of the opening it saw. And a moment later, Mikoto saw how the tip of a spear grazed it's chest, forcing the Monster to back away once more.
"I have your back!" Her comrade, Asuka, shouted as she took a step out of the formation to aid her.
Mikoto gave a mental thanks to the girl before gathering strength in her arms and legs, pushing the War Shadow back and swiftly impaling her sword in it's chest. Once the enemy was but ash she stepped back and waited for the next one to attack.
They could do it.
They could win.
However, at the same time, Mikoto found herself asking...if they would be in this situation, were she to possess the power he had showed her from the first day he acted as a Dungeon guide to her Familia.
That steadfast power that could cut down any foe in his path, the offer she was yet unsure whatever to accept or decline.
XXX
How it came to this point, he honestly did not know.
Though not in a life or death situation at the moment, Fuzen's years of training had developed an unparalleled focus within himself. It was thanks to this focus that he could remain calm in mostly every situation, and it was this same focus which allowed him to avoid making any mistakes while partaking in the art of conversation with others, especially those who made it a hobby to put words in the mouths of others.
Yet despite that focus, he had nonetheless made a mistake, one which now earned him the scornful glare of a certain Elf.
It started shortly after they arrived at the bookshop, the place for which they set out from the Twilight Manor.
As per their Goddess's instructions they set out to modernize the library with up-to-date books, for this too was was an important task which could very well make a difference on their expeditions.
Having memorized all of their actual books back at the mansion Fuzen suggested for Lefiya to simply have a look around and grab whatever she believed to be worthy of their library while he looked for new volumes or new editions of reading materials they already had back at the Familia Home.
It was the fastest method of getting their task done, something Lefiya agreed with.
And just like that roughly one and a half hours had passed, with the two of them meeting once more at the counter. Between the two of them twenty-eight books were chosen, most of them by Fuzen.
And it was then, while they waited for the clerk to count their total, that Fuzen noticed what Lefiya had picked.
"Romance novels…? I do not believe we have any naive children among our Familia ranks who would read them. Is it not a waste of funds, Viridis-sama?"
That was the moment it all went down.
"...Excuse me?"
"Those novels. They are a waste of funds, are they not?"
"...Before that. What did you...call people who read them?"
"Well...naive children. Is that not what best describes people who read romance novels?"
Suffice to say, that is where everything started to go wrong if the Elf's angry look was anything to go by.
And here they were now, walking back to the Twilight Manor while carrying the books they bought, romance novels included. Fuzen had initially failed to notice his mistake and tried to engage in small talk, to make the walk slightly less awkward.
The lack of response from Lefiya, however, had not been helpful.
"Did I do something wrong?" He asked in the end, realizing that no matter how much he tried he could not figure out where he made his mistake.
"I don't know, did you?" Her snappy replied helped him little, Lefiya increasing her speed ever so slightly as to not walk together with him any longer.
'...I think this is the part where I should try to understand her way of thinking? Pretty much the one thing that's harder than training or fighting to the death...Haaa…'
This would have been a lot easier for him were she to adhere to a code of honour like he did, but alas, she did not. Nor anyone else he knew in Orario, for that matter.
'...I didn't insult her personally, I think. Nor her race as a whole. I'm also not aware of any mage-code I might have insulted. And she doesn't live by a warrior-code, either...Hmmm...Other people are too hard to understand...'
The thought that he might have stepped all over some elven custom crossed his mind, but that was also not possible. He had read as much about their culture as he could find, in hopes of never insulting Riveria, and he knew he broke no such customs.
Finally, thinking back on everything that had transpired so far, he came to only one conclusion. "...Was it my opinion on people who read romance novels that angered you, Viridis-sama?"
"…"
"If so, I would like to apologize."
"...What's your problem with them, anyway?"
"I have no problem with them. I just see them as unnecessary...because they are."
"Look, some people like to get away from everyday hardships, and novels are one way to do that."
"...You mean, the same way narcotics are used by some to escape the harsh reality of life?"
"…! Don't compare novels to something so nasty!"
"I'm...sorry?" Slightly surprised at the Elf's explosive response, Fuzen stopped in his tracks and stared at her with a raised eyebrow. He had not expected anyone to be so angry regarding something as trivial as opinions on books. "All I am saying is...they are unproductive."
"Well, good thing not everything has to be productive, then."
He would have liked to disagree: his whole life so far had been dedicated to results, achievements, productivity. However, he could not do that.
'...The reasons behind my own actions as of late have been rather questionable, after all...Haaa…'
Though he at least knew why his companion for the day was angry at him, he could not tell exactly what the reason behind said anger was.
Had he known that Lefiya, like many other Elves of Loki Familia, had seen Riveria read romance novels on rare instances, he might have realized that calling people reading such books 'naive children' was also an indirect insult thrown at the Elven Princess herself, and the reason behind Lefiya's anger.
However, he did not know that.
"...May I ask a question?" He voiced, the Elf looking over her shoulder at him before giving a slight nod. "I have never read a novel in my life. However, I have a rough idea regarding what they are about from overhearing others talk about them. My question is, why do people read about such...things, instead of chasing after them, themselves?"
It was a question most people his age would ask: out of curiosity, out of confusion, for many normal reasons. However for him it was much more than that, for he had never truly understood human nature, nor it's wants or needs.
"W-Well, you know...For multiple reasons, right?" If Lefiya was trying to cut the awkward conversation short, her companion did not get the hint.
"Like what? Could you elaborate? If possible, with examples?"
The questions coming out of his mouth took Lefiya by surprise, the young girl herself unsure how to reply. She was just two years older than him and as such not wasn't exactly an expect on the topic, either.
"I-It's...you know...uhh...to let our imagination run wild?"
Her reply had hardly managed to impress the young boy to her side. "...I see. Anything else?"
"Uhh...They also help us...grow our understanding of others, I guess?"
"In what regard?"
A couple of moments of silence followed as Lefiya tried to make heads and tails of what she had just said herself. "Empathy…? I guess that is the closest example. Those novels help us understand a relationship from both sides...I think. So when people find themselves in relationships of their own, they can try to use the novels as examples...maybe?"
"...That hardly sounds like a good idea in my opinion. Different situations require different mindsets and actions, after all. Even if one finds himself in a similar scenario to one found in a romance novel, the real-life causes which led to said scenario might require vastly different actions compared to the fantasy setting from within the novel."
"W-Well, that is...true…"
With no further comments from Fuzen, the group of two walked forward in silence. It wasn't long, however, before the Elf girl began to question herself. And it was then, in that moment of silence, that moment of taking in the world around them, that an actual answer came to her mind.
"Actually…I think above all, the reason why people read romance novels is to get to know an ideal and true love."
"Hm? What do you mean by that?"
"In real life, we don't get to experience the ideal everyday. We don't get flowers, and chocolate and poems everyday. We don't get to sit besides our significant other under the full moon and clear skies everyday. Everyday life is slightly more...messy. Slightly more boring. So...I guess we read about the ideal to spark our own ambitions."
"...Delusion, then."
His reply stung, but for some reason Lefiya found herself nodding with a faint smile at the word. "That was probably not what you wanted to hear."
"No. Out of all the examples, that one is the most...relatable. It makes slightly more sense now. Thank you."
"A-Ah, sure...No problem."
"You are very wise. Have you mayhaps gained much experience in the way of love throughout your life, Viridis-sama?"
It took less than two seconds for her face to turn bright red at the inquiry. "O-Of course not! How old do you think I am?!"
"You have not? I see...is this insight granted to you by your elven heritage, then?"
"W-What does me being an Elf have to do with anything of that sort?!"
"I do not know. That is the reason I am asking."
"Why are you so interested in this topic all of a sudden, anyway?! Are Human males interested in love from such a young age?!"
"...Unfortunately, I am the least qualified person to answer such questions." He wasn't wrong, not just because the nigh-monastic life he had led until recently placed little value on anything that was not the pursuit of strength and honour, but also because he himself reacted differently to emotions and stimuli others would consider positive.
Even his recent confession, it was not out of a desire to get any closer to the silver-haired saint. It was a warning, one he made sure to clarify. "...I am not interested in love, or any of it's facets for that matter. It is a waste of time, be it the hand-holding or the sexual intercourse."
It wasn't until he realized she was not walking by his side any longer that Fuzen turned around to see Lefiya frozen in place, her earlier blush but a pale complexion compared to her current blush. "Y-Y-Y-You know of s-s-s-s…?!"
"Sex? Yes. It's when a man puts his genita-"
"Aaaaaaaaa!" Her sudden scream took everyone nearby by surprise as she threw the bag of books to the ground and covered her ears, running away from him with a speed that surpassed even his own. "Why do you know of such things?!"
Within mere moments she was already out of his sight, the boy letting out a sigh as he grabbed the bag she threw to the ground and ignoring the looks the nearby people gave him, continued on.
'...Why do I know such things...was it…?'
With the question lingering in his mind, his eye began to twitch ever so slightly as the memories of events which transpired shortly before his departure from the Far East began to manifest, revealed from the shrouded corner of his mind where he discarded them to.
His stupid decision to run away from the inevitable.
The imperial capital where he ended at after a journey of many dangers and betrayals.
A discarded sword outside the city walls, his attempt at a new start.
The time of peace and quiet that followed his decision, a time he believed was what he wanted.
A stretched hand, a hand most fair and warm and gentle, which promised him that which he sought.
Months of happiness followed, months that he, begrudgingly, still held dear to this day.
The question followed next, the first and only clue he needed to realize it was all just a veil of lies, that he was just being used for that which was imprinted on his back.
'I'm sorry...Will you help me?' She had asked.
'...Alright. I'll help you, Ma'am.'
The weight of a sword once more in his hand, his blade once again stained dark-red for the sake of another.
The day he sneaked away from home, their home, in pursuit of the truth he knew was kept away from him.
A hidden cult he uncovered by following her from afar, the very people behind her plea of help.
His attempt at stealth all but forgotten as he neared the inner chamber, walking through the front door into the devil's den which awaited him.
Scented candles and moans of ecstasy echoing from every corner of the chamber, the sickening noises of deprived people filling his ears while a smog which encompassed the chamber whole made his head feel fuzzy, weird, dizzy.
The approach of she whom he had believed to be good and warm, peeling away at the mask she had constructed for him with every step she took closer, with each honeyed word that came out of her mouth.
'...Master.'
Now standing in front of him bare in both soul and body, the veil of lies revealed by none other than herself, not a single drop of regret for her tricks and manipulations to be found.
'...Master, I think you should-'
The same hand that stretched out to him all those months ago now once more offered to him, alongside promises of gifts and rewards and pleasures untold.
'Oh crap, he's taking another trip down memory lane...to the loony bin.'
His interest in her now completely gone, his eyes looked past her and to the far end of the chamber. There sat the one who had descended, he who was supposed to be better than any mortal man could hope to be, yet lower than any one person in that chamber.
Smiling. Laughing. Nothing more than a self-imposed plague on mortal values, disgustingly alive.
'Master, you gotta stop thinking of the past. For, like... everyone's sake.'
A hand cusped his cheek, empty promises once more directed at him. He remembered smiling, truly smiling, for the first time in his life. The veil of lies was no more, the truth now bare to him.
Darkness followed, and after the darkness followed red. Moans had turned to screams, then screams to silence before the shard of the fragmented whole forcefully returned to his place in Heaven from where he would hurt no one alive, nevermore.
The end of a new start, and the beginning of another chapter, the new sacrilegious path which he now walked.
Tried as he might, he understood no escape was possible, for at the end of each of his decision, whatever one performed for his sake or another's, only the red cleansing awaited.
A red most pure and true, and simply so-
'Master!'
"W-What?"
'...You are not feeling well. I can feel it from over here.'
'...Right, right...Thank you, Raiju.'
'It's not like you to dwell on memories.'
'It's just the side-effects of having used [Rupture] again. I'll manage.'
'...Says the guy who can't stop dreaming of drawing blood day in and day out.'
'Be quiet, lizard. Don't you have a task to complete?'
'If you had focused more, you'd have seen through my sight that everything is going fine.'
'Continue, then. And stop pestering me.'
Feeling the mental strain lessening as Raiju distanced himself from his mind, Fuzen let out a small sigh, now realizing he had just a little longer until he would reach the Twilight. He had been lost in thought for a while, walking back home with just his instinct.
"...how much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart: I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow. Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord who judgeth her...Revelation 18: 7-8, was it…?"
XXX
'Just what is with today?!'
The thought crossed her mind just as quickly as she side-stepped to the side to avoid an attack from behind, avoiding the knife-sharp claws of the Monster, turning on her heal to face it before her sword made it's way to it's chest, cracking the Magic Stone within and bringing an end to the foe as it's form turned to ash.
"I need a Potion!" The girl shouted to her companions, her requested Item thrown her way a second later. Though she had evaded the attack of the last Monster, the one before that had managed to land a hit on her right hip, and while she could deal with the pain, the loss of blood could prove deadly before long.
"We're down to less than half our Potions! Make it count!"
Mikoto nodded at her companion's statement, quickly consuming the Potion and getting into a battle-stance. With only a few enemies remaining, she glanced back at her Familia members.
Chigusa and Asuka were not in a good state, however they kept themselves from using any Potions as their wounds very only superficial. Ouka, on the other hand, having taken it upon himself to defend the group was the most exhausted.
Though he had used Potions to keep himself from bleeding out the fatigue slowly building up in him was visible.
They needed to get off the 6th Floor.
And that is what they planned to do...over one hour ago. However, each time they moved closer to the stairs leading to the 5th Floor, one more wave of Monsters approached them, some encounters even forcing them to fall back to a previous position.
This had been going on for over two hours now, and both their supplies and stamina were running low.
"This damn Dungeon is acting up today!" One of the others shouted as he fired an arrow, one of the last few arrows they still had.
"Ouka, at this rate we might need to simply push through despite the risks! We can't keep this back and forth game up much longer!"
"...Let's eliminate the enemy in front of us first. Then we'll decide how to proceed."
Mikoto nodded and took point again, ready to engage the first enemy to approach and take some of the burden away from the main group.
In that moment of respite however, she had a moment to think: more specifically, how her current situation helped put things into perspective. All of them had trained under God Takemikazuchi for years now, from a rather young age at that.
They should have been far more prepared for the Dungeon than your ordinary wide-eyed newbie Adventurer who never held a weapon in their hand. Yet here they were, struggling on what was only the 6th Floor of the Dungeon.
How many known Floors did the Dungeon had? Fifty? Over fifty?
Just what kind of monstrous abilities did the Adventurers who explored such Floors and survived to tell the tale even have?
How far ahead were they compared to herself and her comrades?
No, more importantly...just how capable was he, who descended down into Floors someone his Level would never be able to survive on a regular basis?
XXX
"Well, consider me impressed." The red-head voiced with her arms crossed around her chest, giving a couple of thoughtless nods as a somewhat aloof smile could be seen on her rather flustered face. "You are already finished here~"
"...You are drunk." The boy replied as he took another step to the side, the smell of alcohol emanating from his Deity too strong to withstand.
"Now, now~ Don't back away, ain't I your cute and adorable Goddess? Lemme hug you~"
By now far more familiar with her antics that he would have liked, Fuzen stepped to the side to avoid the wide-armed hug Loki tried to give him. He had hardly any desires to be anywhere near the woman at the moment. "...One of the three statements is correct."
"That I am cute? Or that I am adorable?"
"That you are a Goddess."
It was alright nearing night, a couple hours having passed since he arrived back at the Manor with the purchased goods, quickly getting back to work in the library. It had taken all day, but at least he could say the task was done: the library was dust free, the old books replaced with newer editions and the shelves had new reading material available.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk...Hurting your Goddess like that...I'm hurt, you know?"
"Pain is just another way to confirm you are alive. You are welcome."
For reasons unknown to him Loki began to laugh in response to his words. Though he did not understand why he was at least glad that she was in a good mood. "That was a good one, 'lil Fuzen! By the way, where is Lefiya?"
"I do not know. She ran away shortly after we left the book shop."
"Why that?"
"...Her reasons for running away are unknown to me."
"Hmmm...It's Lefiya, so she's probably alright. She'll come back home eventually."
"Mhm. Then, I take it this concludes our task today?"
"Yep~ I'll have a chat with Finn later and see what work we can give you and Lefiya tomorrow. And speaking of work…" Loki turned on her heel and made for the door, waving her hand at Fuzen to follow her. "Come with me. There's something that came in today."
"...Understood."
Once they made their long way from the library to Loki's office the Goddess reached for a letter on her desk, giving it to Fuzen. "It's from your drop-dead gorgeous Director."
Quickly scanning through the sentences, Fuzen's eyebrow raised ever so slightly in response to the written request. "Freya Familia?"
"Mhm. It seems that man-eater wants you to paint a portrait of her."
"...It would hardly be the first request our art gallery receives...Though it is the first by a Deity, and the first one which requests me specifically. It even says they want it done at the top Floor of Babel."
"Yup! So...what do you think?"
"My opinion matters little, does it not?" He replied, folding the letter and placing it on the desk. "It was your order that all requests by other Familia first be brought to your attention, was it not?"
"Yep. 'Cuz some of the others are way too scheming and messed up~"
"...What a surprise."
"Buhahaha!" The red-head burst into laughter as she processed the words, almost falling down thanks to her intoxicated state. "You're getting sassy, 'lil Fuzen! Guess you spent too much time with us, huh?"
Silence was his reply and after calming herself the Goddess took a seat, humming for a couple of moments. "Freya is up there on the list with the messed up ones, no doubt about that. Think you can handle her?"
"I don't see a problem. She is, like many others, simply a person who came to us with a request. If she wants a painting, she will get a painting. For the same amount of compensation everyone else has to pay for our gallery's services."
"...Well, she will probably not try anything funny, we're too strong for her too mess around with as she pleases...Still, want me to ask one of the Executives to accompany you?"
"That will not be necessary."
"...All right then, go for it. I'll contact that fine Director of yours and tell her to forward our reply. Though, it will have to wait until we are done with our housecleaning week."
"Mhm. Could you make sure to-?"
"I'll tell Freya Familia your sword won't leave your side, yes."
The fact the Goddess managed to read his intentions this easily managed to mildly disturb Fuzen, but he did not let it show. "...Much appreciated." Still, it showed him that he was still too easy to read. A displeasing thought, to say the least.
"Sure, sure. It's getting late so why don't you go get some shut-eye? We still got a long week ahead of us."
"Actually...I was hoping I could go back to the East District for today."
"...Why is that?"
"My presence is required there."
"But there is no meeting planned anytime soon, correct?"
Unfortunately, she was right, and Fuzen had to consciously keep himself from looking to the side as he answered her. "That is right. There is no meeting scheduled today."
In truth all Loki Familia members were required to live at the Twilight Manor, just like all members of any one Familia lived at their respective Home. The fact that Loki herself allowed Fuzen to spend at times even whole days in the East District was an exception, however, her exceptions for him could only go so far.
"Hmmm...All right then. Just make sure to be back in the morning."
"Of course. Good night, Loki-sama."
XXX
'That was close. Luckily, she did not inquire further. Not even I can lie to a Deity after all. And silence would just make it even more suspicious.'
He thought to himself as he left the Twilight Manor and headed back to his mansion in the East District, a certain pressure leaving his shoulders once he no longer felt Loki's gaze upon his back.
While glad he was allowed to do as he pleased this time around, he also knew he was asking for too many favours as of late. Not a behaviour he was proud of, but something necessary nonetheless.
'With everything that has happened so far, I would not be surprised if Loki or Captain Finn would grow suspicious of my need to come back to the East District this frequently. They are both well aware of how we operate over here, and are also aware on which days we hold our meetings. I'll need to act quickly.'
Yet while that was something he knew he would need to do soon enough, there were still many things that needed to be considered. And that required time, something he was slowly running out of.
'I'll also have to consider either one of them just showing up at my gate one day without prior announcement. Not to mention wild cards like Tiona who barge in without even waiting for a "Come in" first."
So far he had been lucky neither of those scenarios happened while she was awake, however he could not rule out the possibility of them happening sooner or later.
'...They can't learn the truth. That is the one explanation I do not want to have to give. Not like I even could to begin with...Haaa…'
By now he had already reached the District and could see the upper Floors of his mansion in the distance. With one more sigh leaving his lips he walked past the gates and, following the Ki signature he was now very familiar with, walked around the house.
"Come on, come on…"
Sure enough, there she was. Facing a tree while her outstretched arms were directed at it.
"Come out already…"
In her rather focused state she failed to hear the approaching footsteps from behind, nor did she notice him once he was standing but a single step behind her.
'Her lack of awareness of her surroundings is troubling...Should I hire someone new to teach her how to be focused at all times?...No wait, who would I even hire for something like that…?' For just a brief moment the image of a black cat popped up in his mind, but he vigorously shook the thought away.
He did not want that woman anywhere near his…
…
…
…?
...acquaintance.
"...Alya."
"Kyaa!"
Letting out a rather high-pitched squeak and jumping up higher than even Fuzen though was possible for someone her size and strength, Alya turned around, wide-eyed and clearly taken by surprise.
"I-I wasn't doing anything!"
"…"
"...R-Really!"
'Trying to make me reconsider my decision by demonstrating she is unable to control her powers at all...was it?'
Today, it was a tree.
And before that, it was the mansion as a whole.
At the very least it seemed that his scolding about how people would die if she were to blow away the house got to her and she decided to try and pull her little stunt on a smaller target, but even so…
'Depending on the force that tree could still fly halfway across the District and crush someone to death...Haaa…'
"...You are still up for adoption, regardless of whatever you can control your powers or not, Alya. The only change would be the limitations to your freedom."
Unhappy with his words her expression changed into a disobedient pout, Fuzen almost sighing once more but managing to hold it in as he pointed to the porch, taking a seat on it with Alya following suit a couple moments later. She did not look up at him however, instead drilling a hole into the ground with her gaze as her legs moved up and back.
"Did you cause any trouble for anyone today?"
"No."
"Speak clearly."
"No."
"Good. Did you eat anything besides sweets and Jagamarukuns?"
"Mhm."
"Respond clearly."
"Yes."
"Good. How about your homework? Did you finish it?"
"Y-Yes."
"...Repeat that while looking me in the eyes."
She did as asked, however found herself unable to keep the eye contact for longer than two seconds, quickly looking to the side to avoid his gaze. "S-Some of it…"
"...Understood. I'll help you finish it afterwards."
A long silence followed, a time during which he tried to think on how to proceed. He tried to draw wisdom from his most recent read, called 'How to Talk so Little Kids will Listen: A Survival Guide to Life with Children Ages 2-7', however he had come to realize that such books helped him little in real-life situations.
"Why do I have to go?"
An expected question came from Alya.
It was only normal for her to ask such a thing: the only life she knew would soon be taken from her. However, though he had expected a question like that to arise sooner or later, he could not give her an answer on the spot.
"...Generally speaking, the way of the warrior is resolute acceptance of death. Can you understand what that means?"
A few more seconds passed until Alya shook her head. "What's it mean?"
'Hmm...The book said to use terms as simple as possible to explain concepts to sub-sized ones…'
"The sun is gone, isn't it?"
The girl looked up at the sky, then to her left and right before nodding her head as a small frown took place on her face.
"But, it will shine again tomorrow, will it not?"
"That's normal…"
"It is, isn't it? And that is what we call certainty. The sun will appear from behind the horizon again, even after it has set. That is a certainty. Likewise, a baker knows that tomorrow he will wake up and make bread. And an Adventurer will wake up and know he will be facing Monsters in the Dungeon. All of those things are certainties: they will happen. And they will continue to happen, day by day."
"…"
"However, just like they are certainties you can be sure of, there are also uncertainties. Though the sun may rise again tomorrow, you do not know whatever it will be a sunny day or a rainy day. And though an Adventurer knows he will be facing Monsters in the Dungeon, he does not know for sure whatever he will live or die. Another such uncertainty is...this." He ended as he twirled his index finger around.
"What?"
"This District. This house. This environment you have started to know and get accustomed to. Everything is here, now. However, not all of it is certain to still be here tomorrow. The women living here will get better with time and go on their separate ways. The District will grow and expand, new people coming in just as much as other people will no doubt leave. And most probably, I will be gone by the time either of those things become a reality."
"...What do you mean?"
"...I guess what I am trying to say is...you'll experience many changes in your life. And this is just one such change. That is the same for all of us. And all we can do is to accept those changes as they come. You can try to fight them, the same way you have been doing for the last couple of days, of course...but more likely than not, it won't matter in the end."
Whatever his words managed to get through to her, he did not know. If the confused look on her face was anything to go by, then most probably she failed to understand it right now. But at the very least, somewhere in the future, she would look back on this and realize what he meant.
For now, however, changing the subject seemed to be the most sensible thing to do. "And I personally do not think using your gifts to try and fight this change is the best usage of their power."
"You mean my Magic?"
"Yes. You are already amazing to be using such powerful Magic at such a young age, without a Falna or Chant for that matter, and trying to use them to cause troubles for everyone else, yourself included, seems like a waste."
"But...I really can't control it…"
She was not wrong. At the very least, not entirely. The few times he had tried to help her use them turned out rather...badly. It had not been a complete catastrophe, however much was left to be desired. It seemed like his coaching had been of little help to her.
'...Actually...I only ever tried to teach her verbally. Maybe she's the type to learn by doing…?"
With a new idea in mind Fuzen stood up and crouched in front of the girl. "Alya, hold up your hands."
Doing as she was told Alya waited for a couple of moments as Fuzen held his hands above hers. It was then that she felt the breeze, her eyes widening as a green-tinged whirlwind of miniscule size took shape in-between her palms.
"...There you go. I started the process: now you keep it going."
"W-What's going on?!"
"If you can't manifest it on your own, then learn by controlling that which already exists. I'm going to pull my hands away now. It is up to you to keep that under check, and not let it grow or shrink any further."
"B-But I can't!"
"You need to have more confidence in yourself." And with those words he rose to his feet and backed away.
Obviously enough he was ready to step in were she to lose control of the Wind. However, there seemed to be no need of that as the girl managed to keep everything under control, a feat which had her smile from ear to ear. "Look! I'm doing it!"
"You are, aren't you? Good job."
The first time she awoke, she had razed the forest Fuzen retreated to after his attack on Altena to the last tree: miles upon miles of woodland, blown to kingdom come by her manifestation into the real world.
How exactly, he did not know. Fuzen was too busy treading the thin line between life and death at that moment to see anything. However, it was not hard to figure out it had been her when he woke up and found her besides him, the uncanny similarity between her and Ais Wallenstein giving him some insight into her origin.
Besides that there were the few instances during which he trained her in his own backyard, but with the exception of a couple gusts of winds she had yet to manifest any real control of her Wind Magic.
'...Guess I'll have to think of another way of training her...Haaa…'
"Fuzen, look, look!" Her voice shook him out of his thoughts, watching as she pulled her hands apart and the whirlwind grew, then pushed them closer together and it shrank to it's original size. "I'm doing it, I'm doing it!"
"Indeed. Well done. However, don't let it get out of control. Remember, there are many people living here. Your power could always hurt them, if left unchecked."
"I'll be careful! Hey, make one, too! Let's see which one can make a bigger one!"
"...My previous words entered through one ear and left through the other uninterrupted by anything in their path, didn't they…? Still…" He lifted one arm up towards the sky, only his index finger raised and just one moment later wind started to gather around it, growing in size until it resembled a ball.
Then it expanded in all directions, the branches of the tree behind him shaking violently as most of the leaves fell to the ground and the windows and doors on that side of the house shook violently. Alya, her hair now swept backwards, could only stare with wide eyes at him, surprisingly not losing her focus enough for her tiny whirlwind to dissipate. "I am nonetheless a warrior, and shall turn no challenge down. And you...are way too young to try and compete with me on any scale."
"...But you could have hurt someone."
"...Come again?"
"It shook the doors and windows. It could have hurt someone."
A long silence followed, time in which the two stared at each other and for the first time, Fuzen's expression changed just enough so that surprise was now visible on his face."...Are you...mayhaps, lecturing me?" He asked with a raised eyebrow.
"...It's true, right?"
"…"
"…"
"...I will be making some tea now. We will drink it. Then…" He pointed behind him. "You will be cleaning that pile of leaves."
"Ehhhh?! Why?!"
"Because I say so." He voiced as he turned on his heel, pointing at the whirlwind between her palms as he walked away. "And keep that up until I come back."
Ignoring her pout Fuzen walked inside and headed for the kitchen area, taking a moment to decide which tea to brew. He could have gone for any, really, but Alya didn't like the bitter ones so he had to choose with that in mind.
Once he started brewing it, however, he felt the intrusion of his mind once again.
'Master, it's done. The girl and her Familia are leaving the Dungeon as we speak.'
'...That took longer than expected. Are they all still alive?'
'Of course, I made sure not to pressure them to death.'
'How did they fare?'
'Well enough. They got roughened up pretty bad, but the girl never lost her spirit. They survived, in the end.'
'...Good.'
'Master, where's my praise?'
'...Excuse me?'
'Do you know how hard it is to force the Dungeon to spawn Monsters and lead them towards a group without getting busted in the act? I came this close, this close to being seen like...two times.'
'Two times is still two times too many, lizard. It hardly qualifies as something worthy of praise.'
'Someone woke up on the wrong side of the pillow...Master's cruelty is matched only by his dignified appearance. Because you are the Master of I, Raiju~!'
'...Just keep an eye on them and keep to the plan if they enter the Dungeon again.'
'Can I at least grab some grub? I'm a big boy, you know? And big boys need their food~'
'You are leeching off enough Ki already, you oversized Monitor. And you don't even need to eat, you just choose to do so. Think about my money for a change.'
'The betrayal is unbearable! My own Master, treating me like this, while that girl gets all of his attention! Raiju, sad...~ Sniff, sniff...'
'Urgh...Get out of my head already. Damn drama queen..'
Now having far more control of their connection that the time Raiju first manifested, Fuzen forcefully 'ejected' Raiju out of his mind, the peace and quiet returning once more. They were still linked and they could still share thoughts, however at this point they could both just focus on ignoring the other to such a degree the other's thoughts became just a distant buzz, no more annoying than a fly.
'...This is dishonourable, to say the least. I am aware of that much. However, if the girl does decide to take me up on my offer, I need to know what she is made of first, and if she has the thirst for strength required of a Disciple. It is dishonourable of me to be using tricks like these ones, yes...But at the same time, she and her Familia could benefit from the experience.'
Maybe someday in the future, if she took him up on his offer, he would tell her of this underhanded tactic he used against her. And he would stand trial in front of her for his actions.
But now, all that mattered was to test her. And he would use whatever was necessary to achieve -
Crash!
Shatter!
"...A-Alya didn't do anything!"
By the time he heard her voice following the sounds of stuff crashing and shattering, Fuzen was already halfway on his way from the kitchen to the porch. '...This sub-sized one is going to kill someone sooner rather than later...Haaaaaa…'
XXX