DISCLAIMER: I do not take credit from Danmachi and its characters.

Read the notes in the first chapter if you haven't done it already.

English is not my native language, so please bear with me. I'll try to correct eventual mistakes if you point them out to me.

Having said that, please enjoy.

Is it Wrong to Try to Stay the Farthest Away from the Dungeon?
-Chapter Four-

Inconvenient Twist

Labyrinth City of Orario
Twilight Manor

(======)

"How is she, Riveria?"

Upon hearing the question, the High Elf exhaled a weary, exhausted sigh. Finn could clearly see the dark bangs under her eyes, unmistakable signs of her increasing lack of sleep.

The famous Adventurer known as Braver pursed his lips into a tight line while Riveria entered the room and took a seat next to him and Gareth, shaking her head without uttering a single word. Her silent answer was more than enough for everyone to understand that the situation had remained unchanged. As soon as she did so, in fact, the whole room feel into a tense silence once again, and despite the others' presence, the silence seemed to stretch for an eternity of agonizing, relentless anxiety.

Right now, they were in the large dining room of Loki Familia's home, Twilight Manor. Almost every single one of the Top Executive members had been summoned, filling the seats and lining the walls. The emblem of the trickster with its ridiculous grin hung behind Finn, who stood atop a seat at the head of the table in the back of the hall. Seated to his side were Gareth and the patron goddess Loki, while the rest of the Top Executive members were seated on the other side, looking as worried and concerned as they were. It wasn't just Raul, Anakitty and the other elite candidates who were worried. Tione and Tiona weren't much more composed than their juniors. The only ones who appeared to be more calm and focused were Finn himself and Gareth ― and, surprisingly, Bete.

Outside, beyond the windows of the manor, the afternoon sun was slowly beginning to set in the sky, hiding beyond the horizon. This day marked the end of the great Victory Festival which had lasted for a whole week, plunging Orario into an aura of celebration and joy that hadn't been seen in the city ever since the days where the Zeus and Hera Familias were still around, when the previous two Great Quests had been brought to an end with success. But while the city continued to rejoice and celebrate the long-awaited death of the King of Monsters, most of the Loki Familia's members had failed to celebrate and bask themselves into the festival. Not that they hadn't tried, of course, but... honestly, they hadn't felt comfortable in doing so.

And how could they? After all, while the entirety of the city and the world were busy celebrating, one of their most important and beloved Familia members had fallen into a state of deep depression. There was no way they could celebrate and bask themselves in the moment without feeling guilty because of that. It just… didn't feel right for them.

Which now led to the current situation.

"So she still isn't over it," Finn sighed, pinching his nose in a frustrated gesture.

Riveria nodded. Her beautiful face looked extremely tired and dull due to concern. "She's been crying non-stop… but I've managed to make her eat something this time. At least," she whispered, donning a hand over her face in exhaustion.

The room fell silent once more. One could hear a pin drop.

Loki was openly weeping on the table. "Waaaaaaaah! Aiz-tan! Why won't you let me see you?" she cried over and over again, slamming a fist against the table while the rest of the Familia watched her with a sad face.

For once, no one among their ranks chose to paid mind to her behavior, since everyone was feeling her exact same concern. Every single member of the Familia was worried for their Sword Princess, and some more than others. Just like Loki, Lefiya was shedding tears from her eyes as well out of worry and concern for Aiz. All of those who admired and loved the Sword Princes couldn't help but feel sad about this current situation.

Originally, it had been only Loki, Finn, Gareth and Riveria the ones who knew about Aiz's origins and her desire to defeat the Dragon. But now that the beast was dead, Finn had decided to reveal the truth to everyone in the Familia, since there was no need to hide it anymore. With the Dragon dead, that news could not bring harm to anyone anymore, as long as they kept it secret between the walls of their manor. No one could no longer chase such a terrible path of revenge and death now that the Dragon was no more; and as such there was no reason to keep hiding it any longer. It was simply the right thing to do.

But even if they now knew the whole truth, some of them were still struggling to understand why Aiz would feel so sad because of the monster's death.

"Tch. Fucking unbelievable," Bete muttered with a snort. "It's been a whole, fucking week. Why is she still crying over a monster?"

Tione eyed him warily. "You know it's not that, Bete. That monster killed her father. Kidnapped her mother. Made Aiz live in fear and torment for her whole life. It's only natural that she would feel that way," she spoke with a sad tone.

"Natural? What's so natural about this?!" he spat, unable to understand. "That lizard is dead! It's over! The news has already been proved true by the Guild's emissaries, so why can't she get over it already?!"

"Bete. Watch your language," Gareth warned him, fixing the werewolf with a stern gaze.

As silence returned to reign over the dining room, Lefiya sniffled a little. "I know it's not easy for her… but, shouldn't Aiz-san be happy about this?" she asked as well. She was still trying, desperately trying, to wrap her mind around the girl's condition; but to no avail. "With the Dragon gone, shouldn't she be more worried about her mother's fate?"

"That is exactly the problem, Lefiya."

Everyone's head snapped to the back of the hall. Finn met his Familia's gazes with a weary expression.

"Now that the One-Eyed Black Dragon is dead, Aiz has lost her only clue and hope to reach her mother," the blonde pallum explained, biting his thumb a little while his mind was running wild with speculations. "She no longer has that tiny strand of hope over which she had latched herself for the last eight years. Her only glimmer of hope is gone, and there's no one who can tell what happened to her mother. The feeling of defeat and helplessness she's feeling must be devastating for her."

Riveria nodded sadly. "I've dealt with Aiz since she was a child," she admitted. "Back then, she was so empty and obsessed with her desire for revenge that she barely even spoke. It took a great deal of time and efforts on my― on everyone's part just to make her open up to us. Her desire to save her mother was the last thing that kept her mind from crumbling due to her young age."

"And now, her long-awaited revenge has been denied to her," Gareth sighed, shaking his head in frustration.

Indeed, this was not a simple matter that could be resolved quickly. It was not something that could be easily dealt with, despite what many believed; and now… and everyone was slowly starting to realize it more and more by the second.

It wasn't a simple matter of desire and dreams. Killing the Dragon and rescuing her mother was more than a simple wish for Aiz. It was more than a selfish goal. It was more than a desire for revenge. It was her drive. Her fuel. Her entire life goal. For this entire time, for the entirety of the last eight years of her life, Aiz's whole mind and body had been trained and focused PRECISELY for the sake of that single-minded wish. For the sake of avenging her parents, slaying the beast, and rescuing her mother. That simple and yet impossible wish meant everything to her. Slaying the Dragon and rescuing her mother meant more to her than what everyone – literally everyone – could ever hope to understand.

It was the core of her person. The drive inside her veins. The fuel pumping her heart. That single-minded desire was the one and only thing that had allowed her to fight and grow strong. Aiz had trained herself, relentlessly, for that. For her entire life she had done nothing but train, and fight, and kill… all of that in order to grow stronger and stronger. In order to become powerful enough to slay the Dragon who took everything away from her. In order reclaim what she had lost because of that monster.

And now, that monster was dead. And she hadn't been the one who slew it for good.

Her life goal had been shattered before she could even hope to fulfill it. Of course this couldn't be easy to accept for her.

Tiona placed one hand on Lefiya's shoulder. "Is… Is there no chance of finding Aiz's mother despite that?" she asked, her voice lower than usual. Even the thick-headed Amazoness knew this was a very, very delicate matter.

Finn shook his head. "According to the emissaries sent by the Guild, the Dragon's body was still intact when they found it outside the city of Preblica," he reported with a focused tone. "There was no trace of life near its corpse, except for a pool of human blood next to the head. Whoever was unfortunate enough to stand close to it must have died. That's what the reports said, at least."

"B-But that doesn't mean that Aiz-san's mother couldn't be alive―" Lefiya attempted again.

"There's no way to prove her survival or her demise… even for the gods," Braver cut her off, gently but strongly. "What it is certain, though, is that there was no trace of Aiz's mother near the body. A Spirit wouldn't leave a trace upon disappearing, so there's nothing we can do to be completely sure of that. As much as it pains me to admit it, the chances of discovering what happened to her are infinitesimally slim."

The temperature in the room dropped several degrees.

Finn continued to speak in order to break that unbearable silence. "That said, according to the eye-witnesses, the Dragon clearly showed a wound on its eye, as if a blade had been thrust inside the skull," he reported, trying to distract his mind. "That is most likely the reason behind its demise. Someone was fighting against the beast, and somehow managed to kill it by a stroke of luck. But whoever they were, it's highly unlikely that they've managed to survive. The Dragon has either devoured them, or reduced their body to ash."

Loki snapped her head towards him. "You just said there was a pool of blood next to it!" she pointed out, confused.

"A pool of blood without a body," Finn acknowledged with a nod. "Which could only mean two things: either the one who slew the beast is lost to us…"

"Or they've managed to survive," Raul whispered, widening his eyes.

Upon hearing those words, realization dawned upon everyone's features. Riveria, Gareth, Bete, Lefiya, Tiona, Tione and even Loki herself widened their eyes, jolting with their bodies and trembling as a shiver ran down their spines.

Tione stared at her beloved pallum with her mouth agape. "C-Captain… don't tell me that you're saying…?"

Finn Deimne closed his eyes and crossed his arms. "There's no way for us to know for sure, but we should keep that possibility in mind," was all the Braver said, staring at his thumb which had suddenly started to throb for some reason. "The whole world has been so busy celebrating the Dragon's death that everyone forgot to pause and ask themselves who actually slew it. And I think it's time for us to start pondering that question if we wish to learn something about Aiz's mother and her fate."

Despite her exhausted face, Riveria shot the Captain a side-long glance. "You think the person who killed it is alive?" she demanded, unable to believe it.

It was a statement more than a question.

Much to the High Elf and the rest of the Familia's shock, however, the blonde pallum shook his head. "Personally, I don't believe so," he replied instead with a serious frown. "If that was the case, then why no one has claimed responsibility for its death so far? There is no way an Adventurer wouldn't wish to be acknowledged for such a feat, no matter their race and origin. It's simply too absurd to believe."

Loki, Gareth and Riveria shared the same thought. I can feel a "And yet," coming…

"And yet," as expected, they knew their Captain too well. "Something inside me is telling me to keep that possibility in mind. I don't know how to explain it… but I think it would be best for us to consider that option in spite of everything. To keep it in mind, at least," Finn admitted, lowering his gaze to the table.

Lefiya was still skeptical. "W-Why do you say that, Captain?"

Finn stared at his throbbing thumb, sharing a silent glance with Loki.

"Just a hunch," was all he answered. Then, he shook his head, and decided to dismiss this discussion before a migraine could begin to assault him. "But I think it's best for us to leave it at here, for now. Tiona, Tione: you two will take Riveria's role to check on Aiz for the night. At the very least, make sure she'll manage to fall asleep."

"Yes, Captain!" they both replied in unison.

Riveria shot him a stare. "No, I'll do it," she began to say with an exhausted tone. The dark bangs under her eyes were extremely worrying to see. "You know that Aiz won't let anyone enter her room beside m―"

"I don't care. You're in no condition to keep staying by her side. Go rest for the night, and make sure to sleep as well. It's an order," Finn commanded with a solemn tone, forcing her to relent.

One by one, everyone began to leave the room without uttering a single word, and once again Finn resigned himself to the duty of consoling a distressed and most likely soon-to-be drunk Loki for the seventh day in a row.

But while they left the room in silence, everyone shared the same thought.

No matter if they believed it or not, no matter their concern about Aiz and her depressed state, and no matter their current state of mind… after hearing the Braver's words, that silent but unavoidable question began to linger inside their mind. And whether they admitted it or not, the entirety of the Loki Familia began to ponder the exact, same question all at the same time.

Who killed the One-Eyed Black Dragon?

Hera collapsed next to her on the bed.

"Why?" she asked. "Why does it have to be like this?"

Her voice was no longer stern and cold. On the contrary, it was thick with pity and sadness.

"Honestly, that child… how can she be so stubborn about this?"

Meteria remained silent, her gaze fixed outside the window.

"What about the child? Doesn't she care about his well-being?" the goddess continued to rant, incredulous.

The woman didn't know what to say. Was there anything she could say to justify her sister's choice?

She exhaled a sigh. Hera's reaction was a loud groan.

Dungeon
Town of Rivira - 18th Floor

(======)

Arien exhaled a weary sigh.

"With this... it makes twenty-six," he muttered, placing a large and considerably heavy leather sack on the ground.

A week had gone by pretty quickly. Contrary to what he had expected, the past seven days had been less boring and endless than Arien had previously thought. Repetitive, sure, but not boring. After all, ever since he had been "teleported" into this place against his will, for the young man the days inside the Dungeon had been a hectic succession of hunting and fighting and killing monsters between the Middle Floors and the Lower Floors, followed by his rest time spent with the Xenos and some occasional training spars with Lydo. It had been a very busy succession of days for him, and time had passed faster than expected because of that.

Indeed, Lydo and the Xenos had played a crucial role to ward off his boredom during this period of "confinement" inside the Dungeon. For Arien, their presence had been a very pleasant experience, in spite of the odds. Every day he had spent time with them, shared meals with them, talked with them... and the more he had spent time with them, the more he had begun to see them in a new light. For in spite of their appearance, those intelligent monsters really did behave and act like human beings through and through. They talked with him, laughed with him, and shared with him all the stories about their previous experiences and struggles with smiles on their faces and emotions shining inside their eyes. It had been quite something to witness, for the young man.

Yes, they shared everything with him, showing an eager enthusiasm that was due to the fact that they were finally able to spend time with a human for such a long amount of time. Arien's presence had been a new experience even for them, after all; and Wiene and the youngest Xenons had been really excited because of that. It didn't happen often for them to spend so much time with a human, with Fels being the only exception (but again, he wasn't exactly a human anymore).

Thus, if he was to be honest, Arien had to admit that these past seven days had been an... interesting experience, for him. Almost amusingly so. Lydo, Wiene and the Xenos had turned out to be quite a friendly and pleasant company, and despite their odd looks and the occasionally sarcastic remarks of some of them – Gros being the primary example – the young dragon-slayer had genuinely enjoyed their presence and company during his forced staying inside the Dungeon. His days would have been way more boring without them; and even if he would never admit it out loud, Arien had slowly grown fond of Wiene's childish and cheerful behavior; so much so that he had sincerely begun to enjoy the time the little Vouivre always wanted to spend with him.

Even if her interest in him was only due to her childish curiosity and his apparent resemblance to a certain... Adventurer that she knew.

But in all honesty, Arien didn't want to think about that now.

In addition to that, moreover, being the only human being inside an empty Dungeon had its advantages.

Since there were no Adventurers inside the Labyrinth due to the festivities taking place on the surface, the young man had had all the time and space he needed to hunt monsters during the last few days, and this peculiar situation had easily allowed him to fully unleash his abilities and powers during his hunting sessions. And – oh boy – Arien had enjoyed that. He had enjoyed it a little too much, to be honest. Except for his time spent with the Xenos during meals and sleep time, the young man had focused his efforts entirely on hunting and killing monsters. All the monsters he could find. And that had been a very distracting and time-killing experience, indeed.

Firebirds, Bugbears, Vouivres, Moss Huges, Iguazus, Sirens… no matter the race of the monsters and the Floor they were in, the young man with ashen white hair had hunted and killed all the beasts he could find. Every day. Non-stop. Relentlessly. As long as he had the strength to keep going, he kept going on and on without batting an eye. And after witnessing his continuous coming and going from one killing spree to another, even the Xenos and the Sage Fels had remained stunned by Arien's display of strength and abilities. They had never seen or heard of an Adventurer that could keep fighting for so long without a single day of full rest.

Not that Arien couldn't understand their shock, though. After all, keep following such a strenuous regimen would have been impossible for almost anyone. Spending seven full days killing hordes and hordes of monsters in the Lower Floors – alone – would have been an extremely arduous and tiring activity even for the majority of powerful Adventurers… so he knew that their shock was legit and understandable. If hadn't been for his "peculiar" condition and abilities, he would never have been able to accomplish such a feat alone.

For this reason, no matter how annoying it was, Arien could not blame the Xenos and Fels for their disbelief. He had literally done nothing but kill and kill and kill for the last seven days straight, hunting every monster and beast that lurked inside the Labyrinth thanks to his abilities and powers. Even the so-called Monster Rex – the most dangerous monsters that spawned on specific floors after a certain interval of time – hadn't been spared from his hunting spree. In fact, no matter how absurd it seemed, Arien had killed the Amphisbaena (the Monster Rex of the 27th Floor) just two days prior...

…and now on his seventh day, much to the others increasing disbelief, he had just returned to Rivira once again, having just killed the Goliath on the 17th Floor as well – who happened to have respawned as well after being defeated two weeks ago by the people of Rivira – and placing his twenty-sixth leather sack at the entrance of the empty town.

A leather sack that, just like the other twenty-five he had left in the hands of Fels and the Xenos, was filled to the brim with Magic Stones and Drop Items collected from the countless monsters he had killed during his small and continuous expeditions.

The Xenos could not believe what they were witnessing.

"…I cannot believe it," Ray whispered, staring at him with wide eyes as he returned from his latest expedition. "You really did it again."

The dragon-slayer ignored the Siren and the Xenos' shocked expression, without sparing them a single glance. Instead, he sighed and dusted himself off with a blank face, carefully eyeing his body to make sure that his new outfit hadn't received damage during the previous battle.

After having been trapped inside the Dungeon almost for an entire week, the young man who had slayed the King of Monsters had been forced to discard his previous armor and clothes since they had been completely ruined during the fight against the Black Dragon. For that reason, he'd had no choice but to "borrow" – not to mention "steal" – a new suit of armor from the one and only clothing shop on the currently abandoned town of Rivira. An armor for which he had left a few thousands valis on the empty counter, thanks to Fels who had agreed to lend him some money out of pity.

Now, Arien wore a bluish-gray armor made of leather with concealed press stud fastening and long sleeves, along with a detachable fur collar made with the pelt of a black Almiraj (which was an extremely rare monster, apparently). He also wore pitch black pants and grey boots, along with dark gloves on his hands and a silver sword – his faithful companion Gurthang – strapped on his back. He looked like a full-fledged Adventurer now… even if he did not consider himself one despite his abilities and powers.

Lydo, Gros and the others stared at him with narrowed eyes while the boy kept dusting himself off without a care in the world. Despite the stunned silence all around, the whole group of Xenos along with Fels sighed while Wiene rushed forward all of a sudden and moved to hug Arien with a huge smile on her lips, to which the boy answered by patting her head. Out of everyone in the group, the only one who wasn't suspicious of him was the small Vouivre, due to her young age and the fact that Arien looked like Bell. It was either that, or she didn't care about his powers for some reason.

Gros snorted with a hard expression. "So? You've killed the Goliath too?" he asked him directly, voicing the question that lingered inside everyone's mind.

The young man shot a bored glance in the Gargoyle's direction. "Yep," was his short and curt reply.

"And you did so… alone?!" Let exclaimed in turn, absolutely stunned. Among all the Xenos of the group, the Goblin was the one who still could not fully grasp the fact that the young boy they had saved not even seven days prior was in fact an extremely skilled and powerful Adventurer. He could not fathom how such a thing was possible.

Arien turned to them this time, doing his best to stop his brow from twitching. He didn't even need to use his Divine abilities to sense the disbelief and suspicion hovering around the air. "Quit acting so surprised. It's been an entire week. You guys should have already realized that I'm not weak at this point," he spoke with an unimpressed tone, moving to check the Magic Stones inside the leather sacks he had gathered on the town's entrance.

Fels' stare seemed to bore a hole through his head. Which was surprising, coming from a skeleton with no eyes. "'Not weak' is not the wording I'd use, Arien," he replied back with sarcasm, crossing his arms with a solemn movement. "I knew that the mysterious Faceless was considered a powerful Adventurer seven years ago, but I wasn't expecting you to be this powerful… good grief, this is just ridiculous."

He almost snorted in amusement. Almost.

"Back then, I was listed as a Level 4 Adventurer," Arien admitted with a bored tone. For once, he was telling the truth with his statement. "Even if I wasn't associated with the Guild by any means, they still listed me among their ranks even without knowing my identity and the Familia I was from. It was a choice made out of necessity, since they needed all the help they could get in order to fight Evilus during those dark times."

Fels stepped closer to the young man. The black-robed mage who served as Ouranos' right hand observed him with obvious interest. "But your latest displays show that you're even beyond that level now. A Level 4 Adventurer would not be able to kill two Monster Rex on his own… not to mention defeat all the monsters between the 17th and the 29th Floors," he spoke with conviction. "To be honest, I don't believe anyone would be able to accomplish what you did. Perhaps Ottar could, but no one else."

The Xenos widened their eyes in shock upon hearing that, while Arien remained completely still and unfazed.

"S-So you're saying that he's at least a Level 7?!" Lydo exclaimed in disbelief, his reptilian eyes widening out of human proportions. "No wonder I wasn't able to win during our sparring sessions! You were mocking me all along, weren't you? Hiding your true strength without saying anything!"

The young man sighed at the Lizardman's outburst. He could already feel a migraine coming. "Relax, will you? I'm not a Level 7," he answered with a tired shake of the head. He blatantly ignored everyone's blank looks while he returned to pat Wiene's head. "And I wasn't mocking you either, Lydo. I did conceal my strength, but not because I was underestimating you. I did so unconsciously, since I'm not really used to fight and spar against others. I'm not an Adventurer, remember that?"

Once again, he wasn't exactly lying with his words. He was no Level 7, nor he was an Adventurer despite his strength and abilities. To be completely honest, in fact, he had no level at all. His current powers and strength were not related to a Falna or the blessing of a god… but they were simply intrinsic to him, related to his own peculiar existence. It was in his nature, in other words. Something intrinsic within his soul and existence rather than his body and potential. He couldn't even be blessed by a god, after all. It was impossible for him to receive a Falna due to his nature, and a certain old hag with whom he had spent the first eleven years of his life had been extremely annoyed by this.

However, no matter how much Arien hated and loathed his condition, there was nothing he could do about it. As a being that was neither human nor divine, and yet at the same time both, the gods' blessings and powers had no effect on him. Or, at least, not in the same way they worked on other mortals. Consequently, his strength and skills could not be examined and judged through common standards and beliefs either. His body and his existence were things that went beyond the concept of "Leveling" and "Humanity", in other words. He was no ordinary being at all.

But he could never say that out loud, unfortunately. Not even under threat.

Gros openly snorted at his explanation. "As if. Your strength and abilities are too obvious to be dismissed. A normal human could never possess such powers without being an Adventurer," he retorted with a growl.

"I do have a Falna on my back," Arien lied, closing his eyes. "But that doesn't make me what you believe me to be. To possess strength and skills isn't all it takes to make an Adventurer."

"If you say that, then what level are you? And what Familia do you belong to?" Gros demanded, not even bothering to hide his suspicion with those direct questions.

The only answer he received was silence.

However, before anyone could speak further, something happened.

"Hey!"

Wiene rounded on the group with a glare upon hearing and seeing everyone's suspicious tone. "Stop bullying Arien, you meanies! You're going to make him sad before he leaves!" she cried with a displeased tone, going to the boy's defense and placing herself between Arien and the Xenos with her hands on the hips and a childish – but cute – pout on her face.

Arien eyed her with silent amusement while everyone faltered under Wiene's glare, even Gros. Once again, the small and naïve Vouivre had come to his rescue just because she liked him. And once again, the sly and cunning human was going to exploit that to his advantage.

Oh, Wiene. Bless her soul.

"That's right, kiddo. Your friends are horrible bullies," he lamented with a (fake) hurt tone, kneeling next to her and doing his best impression of a scared, gloomy boy. "They're always hurting me with mean questions and trying to pry into my own business. I'm really, really sad right now…"

The child-monster hugged him close. "Don't worry! I'll protect you from those big meanies!" she declared while she wrapped her arms around him, shooting a full-fledged glare towards Fels, Gros and the others.

The foolish sage and the Xenos sweat-dropped at their antics.

Ray exhaled a sigh, shaking her head in exasperation. "Wiene, you're way too gullible for your own good…"

"Stop saying such mean things to us, you bully!"

The Siren recoiled as if visibly slapped. "B-B-Bully!?" she cried, flabbergasted.

"Alright, alright, that's enough," Lydo decided to stop this before the situation could escalate, donning a hand over his head with a weary expression. The Lizardman fought hard to keep his face neutral when he saw Arien's devilish smirk behind Wiene's shoulder. "If you want to keep your secrets, that's fine. We were just curious about you."

The young man returned serious in an instant. "Everyone has secrets, Lydo. You guys should know that better than anyone," he said, and he inwardly nodded in relief when he saw everyone flinch a little. Especially Fels. "I know you've saved my life, and I'm grateful for that; but I'm not obligated to reveal everything about myself because of that. I've already promised to keep your existence a secret as a repayment for my debt, and I'm going to keep my word. There's no need to be so suspicious all the time."

Silence returned to reign once more after his statement, and Arien let his words sunk deep for a while as he remained still and kept his eyes focused on everyone with a serious expression.

Until, after what seemed to be an eternity, everyone finally nodded at his words, albeit a little reluctantly.

Finally, Fels stepped forward. "We're not suspecting you of anything, Arien. We're just curious," he decided to explain with a low tone, trying to lift the mood. "There are only a handful of Adventurers in the entirety of Orario who could clear all the Middle and Lower Floors of the Dungeon on their own… so we cannot help but be surprised by your skills. We didn't know there was someone outside the city who possessed such strength. Especially someone who claims he's not an Adventurer."

…well, it made sense. He wasn't wrong about that. And Arien could clearly detect the honesty inside Fels' words.

Yep. It was logical they would reason that way. Their curiosity was well-founded, and Arien knew it extremely well. But unfortunately for them, he would not budge about this. His secrets were just too important for him, and he had no intention of revealing his existence – his truth – to the world. Not only doing such a thing would endanger Arien and bring his presence to everyone's attention, but it could also endanger other people as well. For this reason, he had to keep his secrets to himself, no matter how much the Xenos honestly wished to know him out of sincere curiosity.

Some things were better left unsaid, after all. There were hidden truths that just couldn't be revealed into the open for the sake of the world. And it was better that way.

"Indeed, you're much stronger than we expected," Ray spoke as well with her soft, collected voice. "I believe that only Asterios would be able to match you, among our ranks."

That made Arien pause. He had already heard that name before. "Asterios? You mean the black Minotaur you mentioned to me so many times before?" he asked them, puzzled.

The Xenos nodded their heads.

"Correct. He's the strongest one among our group, and the Guild has listed him as a Level 7 monster," Lydo explained to him with a slightly jealous tone, scratching his head in frustration. "But despite all his powers, he's a bit of a weirdo. He usually prefers to stay alone, and he always spends his time training non-stop in order to become even stronger. It's unfortunate that you weren't able to meet him, really. He's still off to train inside the Deep Floors, and I doubt he's going to return to us soon."

Arien pondered the news with a serious frown.

Well, well. That is interesting indeed, he mused to himself, intrigued. A Minotaur who's as strong as a Level 7 Adventurer, huh?

That wasn't something that could be overlooked easily, in his opinion. It was extremely rare to hear about a person or a monster who was as strong as the famous Ottar, after all. And despite his Divine nature and his powers, not even Arien was sure if his current strength could match the Captain of the Freya Familia. But to hear that there was someone else out here who could give the so-called King a run for his money… indeed, it would have been interesting to meet this Asterios face to face. What a bummer, though.

Fear, the red Harpy with a young face, flapped her wings into the air as she suddenly flew close to him. "Are you really sure you're not an Adventurer?" she asked him again, pulling him out of his thoughts.

Arien shook his head. "Again: just because I'm powerful it doesn't mean that I'm an Adventurer," he repeated, trying not to sound too pedantic. "I do have experience with the Dungeon, but I don't consider myself one because I've never wanted to live this kind of life. Clearing the Dungeon and making a living out of it doesn't interest me, nor I intend to do so in the future. I came here simply because I have a task to accomplish, and I was unfortunate enough to be stuck inside the Labyrinth at the worst possible time. Nothing more, nothing less."

Fels tilted his head to the side. "So you really do not wish to become an Adventurer in spite of your strength?" he asked. Seeing him shaking his head, he sighed. "A pity. With your powers and skills, the quest to clear the Dungeon would surely be achieved much sooner. Now that the Dragon's gone, that is the only quest left into humanity's hands… and your help could help the Xenos reach their dream to live on the surface sooner."

Arien would not be fooled by his words. "You already have the aid of some Familias for that. I'm sure they'll be enough," he sighed, shaking his head while the sage dipped his hooded head in disappointment. "Besides, I'm not going to stay in Orario for long. This place has nothing that interests me, and I've already left it once because of that. As soon as my task is completed, I'll leave again. That is my intention."

Despite his better judgment, Arien had to admit that he felt a little bad when he saw Wiene and Lydo's expression fall a little after his words.

However, the Lizardman recollected himself soon enough, and accepted his decision with a smile. "Alright… if that's what you've decided, then we'll leave it at that," he said with a light tone. "It's not like we can butt in other people's lives. Just having met another human who can accept us has given us a little more hope. That's more than enough for us."

Arien relaxed, and shared a small smile with him. Even the others seemed to accept his decision well. "Thanks. But even if I won't be helping you directly, I'll still cheer for you from afar. I really hope you guys are able to achieve your dream, one day," he said to them with a sincere voice, shooting a glace in everyone's direction.

Once more, everyone smiled and shared a silent nod. For the first time, the previous suspicion and tension finally disappeared from the air.

That is, until Wiene's hand gently tugged Arien's sleeve. The young man turned to his right, only to be met with the Vouivre's crestfallen face, her eyes wavering and filled with sadness and disappointment. She looked so sad that even a blunt and detached person like him couldn't help but flinch a little.

"Arien… if you leave… does that mean that we're not going to see you again?"

Her question lingered in the air, filled with so much sadness and letdown that everyone – and I do mean everyone – winced and began to panic a little. After all, when she asked that question out loud she sounded so little, so sad, that no one could remain unaffected by the sadness inside her voice. Not even Gros and Fels. Hell, even Arien physically flinched as if her words had stabbed him in the heart despite his detached and cold mind.

…ok, that wasn't fair. It was a low blow, he groaned inside his head.

In the end, he took a deep breath and steeled himself. "I… don't know, Wiene," he admitted with a low tone. He kneeled to the ground once again, reaching her eye-level and staring intently into her amber orbs. "Maybe we will, or maybe we won't. Not even I can tell what is going to happen in the future. But if it is of any consolation to you… I can promise to come back and check on you again before I leave the city. If you guys want me to, of course."

Her watery eyes met his. "…really?" she sniffled.

Arien nodded with a serious face and a screaming heart. He didn't know why he was saying those words to her. He didn't know why he was reacting like this either. His lips were moving before his mind could really process what he was saying. But for once, he didn't care one single bit.

He was weak to children, it seemed.

"Yes."

Wiene nodded as she struggled to remain strong. "Then, I'd like that. I'd like to see you again before you leave, Arien," she said with a hopeful smile.

The young man with ashen-white hair inwardly groaned.

Gods damn it. Why is this Vouivre so annoyingly adorable?

On the outside, instead, he spoke with a serious tone. "Alright. Then it's a promise," he swore with a nod, patting her head one last time.

The human and the Vouivre shared a small smile with each other.

A few moments of silence passed.

Until, Fels began to step away from the group with a slow pace. "We should go now," he spoke to Arien and the others with as serious tone, glancing around the empty Floor of the Dungeon and the abandoned town of Rivira that stood just behind their backs. "The Dungeon is going to be opened in a few hours. It would be best for us to reach the secret passage of Knossos before people begin to storm the Labyrinth. From there, I'll make sure you'll be able to reach the Guild without being spotted, Arien. If everything goes smoothly, you'll be able to leave the Dungeon in a few hours."

The young man narrowed his grey eyes. Steeled resolve flashed in his gaze. At long fucking last, he inwardly cheered.

"Very well. Then let's move," he said out loud instead.

But Ray stopped him just before everyone could begin to leave. "Just one thing… what are you going to do with all of these?" the Siren asked him out of the blue, tilting her head in direction of the twenty-six sacks filled with Magic Stones and Drop Items. "Why do you need us to carry them to the surface?"

Arien raised a brow at her question. "Isn't that obvious? I'm going to trade them in for valis at the Guild," he answered, as if it were a foregone conclusion. "Also, two of those sacks are for you guys. You can take them after I leave," he explained with a blank tone.

Seeing the Xenos' puzzled and confused faces, he sighed and pointed at the largest sacks amid the pile.

"You guys grow stronger by eating Magic Stones, right? I'm sure they'll be useful, then," he decided to explain with mirth. "So feel free to take those stones and use them for yourselves. Consider it a sort of payment on my part. A small token of gratitude for saving my life."

Lydo and the others shared an excited smile at his words. The youngest Xenos began to roar and jump around in joy, and Arien watched them exult and bounce around with a small smirk of amusement.

"Well, thank you… but why do you plan to trade so many stones and items?" Let asked him at that point, sounding genuinely confused as he and the other Xenos began to lift the sacks on their shoulders.

The young man sighed as he took four sacks with his hands. "When I woke up here, I realized that I've somehow lost all the money I had with me," he answered with no small amount of frustration. Not for the first time, he suddenly felt the urge to punch a certain Spirit in the face blossom inside his mind. All his money and belongings had remained in the city of Preblica, after all. "That's why I went hunting every day. It wasn't just because I wanted to pass the time, but because I seriously need to earn my money back. If I want to stay in the city until I've completed my quest, I'll need a decent amount of valis to rent a room at least for a few days. I also need to pay back Fels for the clothes he bought me. That was my reasoning."

Wiene blinked at him in confusion while everyone hummed in understanding after his explanation. "Arien… you're poor?" she asked, sounding genuinely confused and innocent with her question.

The twitching of his eyebrow was definitely amusing to see for the Xenos. Fels was openly snickering under his dark cloth, and Arien clenched a fist while his face twitched for a second. The smile that blossomed on his lips was anything but pleased.

"…unfortunately, I can't deny that," he admitted trough gritted teeth.

Curse you, Aria. You just had to teleport me here without allowing me to gather my things first, he growled inside his mind. You're lucky that I was at least able to summon my sword back. If it weren't for that and the Xenos's help, I would have dropped your quest immediately.

Lydo and Gros shared a glance. "I see… that's unfortunate," the Lizardman mused with a sweat-drop.

Fels turned his dark hood towards Arien. "But how do you plan to exchange so many stones?" he demanded at that point, confused. "You said you're not an Adventurer. If that's true, then it means that you're not affiliated with the Guild since your name is not officially registered into the Adventurer's rank list. And the Guild can trade items and stones only with Adventurers who are officially enrolled into the registers," he pointed out, completely serious.

Much to the sage's confusion, however, the young man turned to him with a sly smile. The hooded mage stared at him in wonder.

"That is why I was hoping for you to do me a favor, sage Fels," he replied with a casual tone.

Fels observed him with a weary gaze. "A favor?" he repeated.

Arien Cranel nodded, his grey eyes fixing the ancient mage with a serious and powerful stare.

"I want to meet Ouranos."

Alfia stared at her, long and hard. Her heterochromatic eyes seemed to glow in the darkness of the room. If it weren't for the small magic-stone lantern placed on the bedside table, they might as well have been standing in the dark. The silence was deafening around them.

Meteria knew her sister liked that.

"Are you really sure?" Alfia of Silence asked her, one last time.

The younger sister clenched her fists. She glanced at Alfia's round belly. Her face was a mask of resolute decision.

"Yes."

Once again, there was no hesitation in her answer. Not even a trace of doubt inside her mind.

"I'm warning you, sister: your condition may get worse," Alfia spoke with a cold tone, fixing her sister with a powerful stare. "No, it will surely worsen because of this. Raising a child is no small feat. You'll need to take care of it every day, all the time, at any hour of day and night… and I'm not going to be there to help you with it."

"I'm prepared," was all the other sibling said.

The woman with ashen-white hair narrowed her eyes. "We both know that your body cannot handle it, Meteria."

"Hera-sama will assist me," her sister reassured her, unfazed. "If it is for the child's sake, I'm willing to do anything."

As you should be as well.

Those words were left unsaid. Meteria did not openly utter them with her lips, but Alfia could still hear the reproach all the same. It was written in her sister's eyes. In her pursed lips. In the cold, resolute glare she was sending in her direction. It was echoing in the silence of the room like a cruel, disappointed whisper filled with poison and distaste.

The woman felt her hands begin to sweat. "…why are you willing to go that far?" she whispered. Despite her desperate attempt, she couldn't quite stop the trembling of her voice as she spoke that question out loud. "I don't know if it'll ever happen, but you should keep that resolve for later. For a child who'll actually be―"

"What? Be what, Alfia?" Meteria cut her off, sternly. "Mine? It that what you're trying to say?"

Again, the older sister found herself unable to retort under her younger sibling's cold stare. Her voice was eerily cold, a sharp contrast compared to her usual kind and understanding behavior. Even the disappointment and resentment in Meteria's face were painfully impossible to miss. And despite her better judgment, Alfia was discovering herself unable to bear them. They were simply too painful – too shameful – to accept.

"He IS mine, sister," the younger woman spoke, fixing her face with a solemn gaze. "I may not be his biological mother, but that child is mine now. From the moment you chose to give him away, behind our backs, you lost the right to consider him yours. You may be the one who's carrying him right now, but the child belongs to me already. There is nothing to discuss."

Alfia's arms were trembling. Something hot and vicious and baneful was bubbling inside her chest.

"Stop talking like that! Stop treating me like a monster!" she snapped, unable to stand it any longer. "You have no right to judge me, Meteria! Just because I took that decision, it doesn't mean that you're better than me! What do you know about me, huh? Can you even imagine what I'm going through? You think I asked for this?!"

"I never said that," her sister retorted, unfazed. "It was YOU who chose to close yourself off, Alfia. I never said it was going to be easy, but you know I would have stayed by your side and helped you go through with it no matter what. I know this was not what you wanted… but that doesn't make it right. Now it's too late."

Alfia gritted her teeth. Tears were staining her cheeks and lips. "…I've never asked for this," she hissed in a broken voice.

Meteria shook her head, her eyes glued to the woman's round belly.

"The child did not ask for it either."

Labyrinth City of Orario
Chamber of Prayers

(======)

Click. Click.

Footsteps echoed on the darks stairs before sinking into the darkness below.

Keeping his expression neutral, Arien descended the stairs of the secret passage built under the Guild's headquarters with a silent step, following the dark-robed mage Fels as he led him through the underground passage that connected the Tower of Babel with Ouranos' chamber.

Now that the Dungeon had finally been opened again to Adventurers, Arien and Fels had parted with the Xenos inside the man-made labyrinth of Knossos. And after having exchanged a small goodbye with the intelligent monsters, the two of them had soon moved to use this secret passage to leave the Dungeon and head out as soon as possible before the Guild or someone else could detect their presence. However, although Arien wanted nothing more than to see the sunlight again after an entire week of having been trapped inside the Labyrinth, he knew that it was not time to leave yet. He still needed to do one last thing before he could finally leave the underground life and reach the surface again.

He needed to speak with Ouranos, the founding deity of Orario, the unseen leader of the Guild, and the god who offered prayers to the Dungeon.

Fels led him through the stairs in silence, and Arien followed him with a serious face. At the end of the stairway, they finally reached the underground altar after five minutes of walking, and Arien soon found himself entering inside a wide, empty room where four torches burned and offered the only source of light. The stone chamber resembled an ancient temple to his eyes, and the young man with ashen-white air observed the only occupant of the room with a narrowed stare.

"I've brought him to you, Ouranos," Fels spoke with a serious tone, before stepping away from the room and disappearing into the shadows.

Arien Cranel and the elder god of the city stared at each other with narrowed eyes.

Until, after an eternity of silence, the young man finally decided to break the ice. "…long time no see, Ouranos," he greeted him with small bow, flashing a smirk at the old god sitting atop his large stone throne in the center of the hallowed space. "It's been, what, seven years? You haven't changed at all… but I suppose that was to be expected. Time and years are nothing but useless notions for a deity such as you."

"…Faceless," the towering god replied solemnly with a deep voice, the light of the torches shining in his blue eyes. "So you have returned, huh."

He looked down from his seat at the young man with ashen-white hair, who had approached without concern or fear despite knowing full well that the god before him was not one to be messed with.

"Please drop it with that nickname. I no longer wear a mask, as you can see," he waved him off with a sigh, his grey eyes narrowed as he stared at the elder deity with a blank gaze. "I know that Fels has already reported to you everything I said about myself, so there's no need for childish games. Just call me Arien, and let's get this over with. I'm not here to talk about the past."

Ouranos' face remained stoic despite the blatant lack of respect the other was showing in his presence. "Why have you returned, then?" he demanded instead.

Arien placed one hand on his hip and tilted the head slightly to the side. "Trust me, I had no intention of returning to this awful place at all," he explained with an empty voice, his eyes flashing in irritation for a split-second. "However, due to some unforeseen events, I've been ordered to fulfill a quest, and I was forced to return here against my will. That pretty much summarize it."

For a long while, silence echoed in the chamber once again.

The elder god stared at Arien, long and hard. The young man stared back at him with a blank face.

In the end, the silence was broken once more. "…it seems that nothing has changed," Ouranos finally spoke after a while. And when he did so, he spoke more to himself than to the young guest in front of him. "Just like seven years ago, no matter how long I stare at you, I still find myself unable to understand you. I can't even tell if you're lying or telling the truth when you speak, even now that you've uncovered your face," he mused with a serious tone.

Arien did not react to his statement, for he knew there was no need. After all, he was already expecting this.

It was inevitable. Due to his peculiar birth and his double nature as a human and a Divine being, his existence was something that even the gods themselves could not understand and recognize despite being… well, gods. Their powers and aura had no effect on him due to his own Divine nature, and they couldn't even detect if he was lying or telling the truth with his words because of that. Unlike the other mortals who could be read by the gods with just a single glance, Arien was an existence that they could not read at all no matter how hard they tried.

Of course, the same thing could be said for him as well. Just like the gods could not read Arien like the other mortals, Arien could not read the gods as well. The young man was unable to detect a lie or a truthful statement when he was faced with a god or a goddess, and his powers and abilities had no effect on them either. For two entities such as them to face each other was like staring into a twisted mirror: neither of them could discern the complete image of the other due to the broken glass. Thus: they could not wrap their minds around the other completely, and they failed to understand each other despite their similar – and yet different – nature. It was simply an unavoidable effect.

And both Arien and Ouranos were aware of that, since they had already met in the past.

"Arien… who are you really?" the gods demanded.

The young man with ashen-white hair remained absolutely unfazed. "That is for me to know," he answered with an empty voice, his gaze hardening a little under Ouranos' powerful stare. "However, I assure you that I'm being honest here. I did not wish to return to your accursed city ever again."

"Is that so?"

"Yes. I wouldn't lie about something like this. As I've said, I had no intention of returning. I just couldn't say no to a certain request, and thus I found myself here in spite of my will," the young man explained with sarcasm, his expression a mask of neutral impassiveness.

Literally, he added inside his mind.

The god Ouranos hummed for a few seconds. "In that case, can you tell me what your task is?" he demanded, direct and serious as ever.

Arien snorted. "If you really want to know: I've been forced to accept a dying woman's request. And I came here to fulfill it," was all he said in response.

"That request being?" the god pressed.

The dragon-slayer sighed. He really wouldn't budge from this, huh? Not that he wasn't expecting it, though. "To find a certain person and deliver a message to her," he answered with annoyance. Despite his dislike for the gods, he knew that he had to say at least this much in front of Ouranos.

He didn't have a choice. Orario was the lid of the great pit that endlessly spewed out monsters, and Ouranos – its founding god who offered up prayers to the Dungeon – was both the most crucial deity in the entire city and the keystone upon which the whole mortal realm rested. Were his prayers to be disrupted, it was entirely possible the destruction of Orario might follow. Therefore: it was best not to antagonize such a being, no matter how he loathed the gods and their endless whims.

Besides, if telling the truth could help him achieve his goal sooner, then there was no need to keep it secret.

"I was actually hoping you could lead me in the right direction," Arien continued soon after that, fixing the god with an amused smile. "If you tell me where I can find the person I'm looking for, then I'll be able to fulfill my quest and leave the city all the sooner. Isn't that logical?"

Ouranos remained completely unfazed.

"Then let me ask you: what do you intend to bring upon Orario with your presence?"

His question echoed inside the throne chamber for what seemed to be an eternity.

On his part, however, the dragon-slayer answered as calmly as he could. "Nothing," he replied, emotionless. "I do not intend to bring harm, or change, or anything of the sort to this city and its habitants. I'm here just to fulfill my quest, and then I'll leave as silently as I've returned. That's what I'm planning to do."

"And what about the Xenos?" the god promptly added, deadly serious.

He scoffed. "Stop wasting my time. You already know the answer to that," he answered, staring straight into his blue eyes.

Arien might be young, but he was no fool. He knew that Ouranos was always tracking the course of events in the city and the Dungeon through Royman, the Guild and the others he relied on. Consequently, he had already learned of Arien's meeting with the Xenos and their mutual understanding through Fels as well. Beneath his unchanging expression, the founder god was extremely cunning and informed about everything. Therefore, there was no need to answer a question to which he already knew the answer.

He would keep the truth about the Xenos hidden to the world, but he would not aid them in their quest. That was his decision, for he had no reason to meddle in this kind of affairs.

"And is it really a coincidence that you, of all people, came back here as soon as the news of the Black Dragon's death began to circulate?" the gods demanded again, suspicious.

The only answer he received was silence.

Ouranos stared at him for a while, long and hard.

In the end, however, he closed his eyes and exhaled a silent breath.

"…fine. In regards to the aid you offered to the Guild and the city against Evilus in the past, for the moment I shall put my distrust aside and believe in your words," he relented, relaxing his body while the young man remained completely still in front of the throne. "But regardless of what you wish for, I am still called the founder god of Orario. As such, my good faith and efforts must be in service of those who live in this city. Therefore, Arien, I trust that your return shall not become a cause of concern for me… and for the people of this city. Is that clear?"

Despite himself, the young man nodded at the god's warning. "Understood."

Ouranos nodded as well. "Very well. Now tell me: who is the person that you seek?"

Arien took a deep breath.

"I was told her name is Aiz Waldstein," he answered.

Ouranos' eyes snapped open upon hearing that. Even the founding god, who was always so staid and unflappable, could not help betraying his shock.

"…Waldstein?" he repeated, his voice deep and confused.

Arien nodded at his shocked expression. "Indeed. Apparently, she is the daughter of the ancient Hero Albert… though how she managed to survive to this day is beyond me," he spoke with a shake of the head.

However, the young man narrowed his eyes instantly. He could not read and feel the emotions coming from other divine beings, but he had noticed the flash of recognition inside the god's expression all the same. It was simply too unmistakable to miss.

His brows furrowed into a frown. "…why do I feel like you're not surprised by this?" he mused, fixing the elder god with a serious stare.

Ouranos closed his eyes. His face had long returned to his usual stoic expression.

"Albert Waldstein was the first human who received a Falna. I know that because I was the one who bestowed it upon him, a thousand years ago," he answered with utmost seriousness.

Arien's eyes widened slightly. "So you knew he had a daughter?" he asked.

The god shook his head. "I did not. However, I did suspect something. Ever since a certain girl appeared in the city, I was instantly reminded of Albert, and thus I began to speculate about a possible relation of blood between the two. But still, to hear that she's not a simple relative but his own daughter… how she survived to this day eludes my comprehension."

The young man pondered the news for a few seconds, feeling as confused and lost as the elder god was. In his opinion, no matter how this so-called Aiz had managed to survive, it just had to have something to do with Aria and her powers. But there was no need to reveal that much to Ouranos. Not yet, at least.

In the end, however, Arien ignored thoise thoughts and decided to get straight to the point. He had no interest in this girl's backstory and origins. All he needed to do was to find her and deliver his message as soon as possible. Then, he could finally leave this matter behind and start to focus his attention on another, more "pressing" matter for him. A matter that was of utmost importance for him, for a long series of reasons.

A family matter.

One that he could not overlook even if he wanted to.

"Is this girl the one I'm looking for?" he pressed again, unimpressed.

Ouranos nodded, albeit a bit reluctantly. "She goes by the name of Aiz Wallenstein these days, and she's a renowned Adventurer who belongs to the Loki Familia. She also goes by the alias of Sword Princess," he answered in all seriousness. "I cannot think of another person that would match that description," he concluded, closing his eyes.

For a few moments, Arien mulled the info in his head. His brows furrowed further.

"Loki? The trickster goddess with alcohol addiction?" he muttered, his mind filled with memories from a time long past. Confronted with Ouranos solemn nod, he donned a hand over his face while a weary sigh escaped his lips. "Damn it. I never liked that annoying tomboy and her Familia. I know they were supposed to be allies back then, but those so-called children of hers were nothing but a pain in the neck for me. Always stuck up and prideful… it was definitely annoying to deal with them," he hissed with an irritated scowl.

"Regardless, now they're one of the most powerful Familias in the city, second only to the Freya Familia," the elder god spoke with his deep voice devoid of emotions. "If you wish to find the Sword Princess, you must head to the Twilight Manor, where Loki and her children reside. That is all I can tell you."

His tone left no room for discussion. It was clear for Arien that Ouranos did not wish to speak further about this matter. Not that it mattered, though. The dragon-slayer had already learned everything he needed. Even if he never had anything to do with the Loki Familia directly, he was fairly familiar with them thanks to his previous visit to Orario seven years ago. There was no way he could not be aware of them, after all.

And if this Aiz girl was a member of that Familia, he knew where to find her.

"Good. Then this is settled," Arien spoke, exhaling a silent breath. Despite himself, he offered a small bow to the elder god, deciding to at least show a bit of gratitude to him since he was allowing him to act freely in the city despite their mutual distrust in each other. "I thank you, Ouranos, for the info you've bestowed upon me. I promise to keep a low profile and to not use this information to foment discord and chaos upon your city."

"As you should," Ouranos nodded in acceptance.

"And I also hope you won't mind granting me that little favor I've talked about with Fels," the young man added immediately, with a sly smirk on his face and a casual tone of his voice.

The god only closed his eyes at the boy's amused expression. "I'll let it slide," he allowed it with a nod. "As long as you maintain a low profile and keep your promise, I'll allow you to stay in the city. Now tell me what else you wish to know. I will answer it to the best of my abilities."

The young man was inwardly surprised by his words, caught unawares by the ancient god's sharp instinct and intuition. His lips curved into a smirk after a second of momentary stupor. "I see. So you've noticed, huh?" he mused with amusement.

The founder god of Orario stared at him with a stoic expression, his blue eyes narrowed into a frown. "I may not be able to read you directly, child, but I can see the glimpse of restlessness inside your eyes," he explained without batting an eye, unfazed. It really was impossible to completely hide one's emotions in front of the first god who descended from Heaven. "There's something that you seek. Something you wish to find apart from the Sword Princess. No, not something… someone," he intoned, observing his face and reaction intently.

The reverent, proud, but almost fragile smile and features of a boy crossed Arien's face all at once.

"…and I believe I know who is it that you seek," Ouranos finished with a solemn tone.

An instant later, the fragile expression disappeared; and a cold, emotionless expression appeared on dragon-slayer's face.

Ouranos closed his eyes.

And behind the closed eyelids, the old god saw the figure of a lone boy with ashen hair.

Hera was frantically glancing at her trembling frame. Perhaps for the first time since she had known her, the old hag seemed genuinely concerned for her well-being. Her worried but resolute expression was hardly easy to miss. A few fellow Familia members were there as well – since they were all women, obviously – looking no less worried than their patron goddess as they stood next to the bed.

Alfia felt sick, and not only because of the labor.

"This is going to be harder if you don't try to relax, Alfia," Hera spoke with a gentle tone, placing a hand on her sweaty shoulder.

The pain was excruciating. The contractions had barely begun a few minutes ago, but it already felt like an eternity for her. Her body felt hot, and burning, and numb. The tearing and mind-splitting pain was blinding her vision. No matter how hard she tried, it was impossible to relax and let it flow in a decent manner, no matter how accustomed she was to enduring pain due to her condition and profession.

Meteria was by her side, holding a basin of water. She passed a linen cloth to the goddess, looking just as concerned as she was.

Hera took a deep breath, pulling up the sleeves of her elegant dress.

"Let's begin," she steeled herself. "Push!"

The screams began. And Alfia's world became nothing but pain.

Labyrinth City of Orario
Twilight Manor

(======)

Inside her mind, enveloped by the darkness of her room, Aiz Wallenstein was fighting a war.

Sitting on the bed with her legs curled up to her chest, the battle cry of a young man melded together with a Minotaur's ferocious roar echoed inside her head. The memory of a vicious fight was raging behind her eyes.

With their lives on the line, the two males threw themselves into mortal combat, both launching starry sparks into the air as they tried to drive home with Labrys ax or knife. The throngs of people enclosing their battleground prayed, crying out with enough force to make the city quake.

Praying for the victory of the boy who'd set off on his Adventure.
Praying for the birth of a new Hero.

Aiz remembered observing the violent scene in silence back then, standing still and unmoving inside the Labyrinth City.

But now, only the quiet darkness of her room surrounded her vision.

The werewolf by her side, along with an elf and a dark-elf swordsman – all counted among the ranks of first-tier Adventurers – could not pull their eyes away from the battle. Five months prior, a similar fight against a Minotaur in the Dungeon had fascinated the Adventurers of Loki Familia. The battle, the howl, and the will of the young boy were bound to light a fire in the hearts of many. The entire city, even.

But now, Aiz's heart was not pounding in her chest the way it had those times before.

Trapped in the dark, she felt closed off from the world around her, as if she'd stumbled into a maze with no exit. As if she were a child who had nowhere left to return.

Her hope had now shattered.
Her life goal had disappeared.
And her whole, cold world had been broken before her very own eyes.

The only image that reached her eyes amid the blur of water and tears was that of the young boy who bled, cloaked in flames.

She kept thinking, wondering what was on his mind as he fought.

His answer had contradicted hers, when she had asked him directly. For what reason was he battling a monster? And to what end? There was little doubt that the fight had been a fight to the death, but it appeared as though the boy and the Minotaur yearned for this from each other, like they now understood each other more than anyone else – leaving Aiz behind.

Try as she might, Aiz couldn't come up with an answer.

But she did understand one thing.

He would become stronger.

He would start running again.

He would overcome this trial – a night filled with heretical monsters.

That day had become a day she would never forget. The day a boy who had become an Adventurer a scant five months prior would set off on the path to become a Hero.

―but what about me?

―what about me as I am now?

That was the question that still blinded the girl's mind. Amid the pain and the suffering, beyond the tears and the desperation, uncertainty had begun to fester Aiz's sword.

Her vow to kill monsters had been broken.

Because she no longer had a goal to fulfill.
Because her vengeance had been denied to her.
Because the Black Horror had already been killed…

And it hadn't been her hand the one that slew it.

When she had challenged that boy's will with her own, she'd been the one who'd lost.

Now, she felt like her will did not exist anymore.

At the moment, the boy's gallant figure and Aiz's current state could not possibly be any more different. The fleeting thought that she could still cling to him and return to how things had been in the past soon faded away.

The Black Dragon was dead.
Her mother was no more.
Aiz Wallenstein had a goal no longer.

She raised her head, staring outside the window with a tear-stained face. Droplets of water were still falling from her dull, empty eyes. As she gazed at the moon, she wondered what she was supposed to do from now on. She pondered what would become of her now that her dream had been destroyed.

"Mother… Bell…"

And even though she asked and asked―

"…what should I do?"

―the stars and moon winking in the night sky offered no answer.

ORIGINAL AUTHOR'S NOTES

I was originally planning to post this chapter a week after the last update in order to match the amount of time that Arien has spent inside the Dungeon… but then the issue with my account happened and it slowed down my writing process quite a bit. So, I'm sorry for the delay. And I also apologize to you readers for the sudden change with the account and the posting of the story. Unfortunately, I had no other choice, and this was the safest and quickest solution if I wanted to keep the story going as fast as possible. I hope you can forgive me.

Once again, I thank Gavius for agreeing to post this story on my behalf. It really means a lot to me, and I'm sincerely grateful for that.

Next chapter: "Hostess of Fertility". We're finally going to see some familiar faces and enter the main stage of the plot.

Thank you for reading. Comments and criticism are always appreciated, and I will always answer to those who'll let me know their opinion.