I do not own Familia Myth or any of the characters.
Recruited
Ethan stared at the magic reinforcements on Bell's arm. He'd had to have it reconstructed after they'd escaped, because even though Ethan had kept his arm from becoming a soup inside of his Goliath Muffler, his healing spells had put Bell's bones back together wrong, so Airmid had fixed them. However, after she had, she had placed the reinforcements on his arm and warned him not to use it. They would help, but only a bit. Other than Bell's arm, and the pervading soreness that all three who faced the Juggernaut were still dealing with, there were no other lasting injuries among the entirety of the expedition. However, the Status Boost amounts were another story. News of Ethan's Level Up had flown across the city inside of a day, and his current levels were also the subject of rumors ranging from just over three hundred to all over seven hundred. Bell's numbers were one thing. Out of his numbers, his Strength was six-hundred-seventy-six, and his magic was only fifty-five. The rest were all over seven hundred. Ethan's levels, however, were all between five hundred and six hundred, except for his defense and magic. Ranging from the small injuries, the Lambton's acid, and even just from wearing the Goliath Muffler like chest armor, his Defense had shot up to nearly eight hundred. His magic, on the other hand, from the number of times he'd been forced to use his healing spell, was over seven hundred. As for his Development Abilities, while Bell's had all gone up one level, Ethan's were more drastic. Aside from his Luck already having reached E, his Spirit Healing and Regeneration were both at C after having been active pretty much constantly after fighting the Juggernaut the first time. And, of course, his new Development Ability was the long-overdue Abnormal Resistance.
"I'm going to head over to Babel for a bit," Ethan finally said as they were passing it toward home. "I shouldn't be long."
"Okay," Bell nodded, everyone continuing for home, Ryu giving him a kiss before passing him her sword for sharpening.
He smiled, then turned, heading into Babel and up to Hephaestus's shop. As he was expecting, she met him within minutes of him arriving.
"I thought you might stop by," Hephaestus said as greeting. "Let me see the pieces and I'll give you an estimate to try and put it back together."
"That's not why I'm here," he said. "Or, not just that."
Hephaestus raised an eyebrow. "Then what is it you want?"
He glanced around, hesitant to pull out the Juggernaut's claws, and Hephaestus rolled her eye, leading him into a dark, private room lit only by a single lantern. He nodded and set all of the fragments of Alf's Lumina on the table in the center of the room, along with the sword.
"I was wondering if you could combine these into a single sword," Ethan said. "The wood being the center for its benefits and the metal the edge."
Hephaestus considered, inspecting the pieces. "It's not going to be cheap."
"I have a trade," Ethan said, setting all twelve claws on the table, Hephaestus's jaw dropping.
"What the hell are these?" she asked, inspecting them, using one to cut the corner off the table like a hot knife through butter.
"I can't tell you that," Ethan said. "But suffice it to say that they're the only ones in existence."
"These are...the best smithing materials I've ever seen," Hephaestus said, then raised her eyes to Ethan. "Six of these will cover the cost."
"Keep the extras," Ethan said. "Either as a running tab, or as a gift, your choice."
Hephaestus sighed, nodding. "Three days. Then you can have the finished product."
Ethan nodded and headed back to the elevator, taking it to the ground floor before heading back toward the mansion. As he was walking, however, he stopped as Finn and Ais stepped out ahead of him, Gareth and Riveria stepping out behind him. He braced himself for a fight instantly, but waited.
"How can I help you?" Ethan asked.
"We heard something happened at the end of your expedition," Finn said.
"Something happened through about half of it," Ethan said. "However, I assume you're referring to the trip back to the surface."
"That's right," Finn nodded. "The report we received was highly...edited. Tell us what happened."
"We were on the Eighteenth Floor," Ethan said. "I left the main group to use the bathroom, but before I could, someone found me. Dix Perdix."
"You killed Dix Perdix," Finn said.
"I know," Ethan nodded. "But if there's anyone in this world I will recognize, it's him. He had the same eyes, the same psychotic, arrogant grin, and that damned spear of his. It was dark enough that I couldn't make him out clearly, but I could see that much."
"Could it have been someone who looked like him?" Finn asked.
"With the eyes of a descendent of Daedalus?" Ethan asked. "No. It was definitely Dix Perdix. Anyway, seconds after I saw him, an Arai found me and Cursed me, so I lost consciousness and had to be carried back."
"Describe the Arai," Finn said.
"Picture a tattered cloak filled with darkness," Ethan said. "No sleeves though. Just tattered cloth wrapped around a cloud of thick black smoke with the hood up. It passed up out of the ground like a ghost, and Hestia says that physical attacks are worthless, only magic works. It's also ranked between Level Six and Level Seven, as are the polar opposite variation, Arae."
"Which are?" Ais prompted.
"According to Hestia, winged, female monsters with long claws that can apply long-lasting, indirect curses on people or families, but that have absurd physical abilities like strength and speed that rate it as the same level as an Arai. Also, Arai have no magic crystal. They have to be destroyed entirely. Not sure about Arae on that one."
Finn nodded, thinking. "Why was it on the Eighteenth Floor? I've never even heard of either of those."
"Your guess is as good as mine," Ethan said. "But now I have a question. If you just wanted to ask me about the Arai, why bring all four of your best, and surround me like an ambush?"
Finn watched him for a moment before motioning for him to follow them. Ethan walked with them to a back alley that was free of anyone who might overhear their conversation.
"We've come to get your help in our next mission," Ais said. "But before that, you need training."
"Is that right?" Ethan asked. "Why?"
"Because we'll be fighting Creatures," Ais said.
"What?" Ethan asked.
"Think of Creatures like the exact opposite of Xenos," Riveria said.
"Where a Xenos is a monster who gained a soul and intelligence, and in doing so became closer to humans," Finn explained, "Creatures are Adventurers who died and were implanted with Magic Crystals, turning them into monsters."
"And we don't fight them simply because they're monsters now," Ais said. "We've been working with the Xenos, so it's not about that."
"Every Creature we've met has been an extremely dangerous enemy who wants to destroy Orario," Finn explained. "And every single one has been roughly Level Five or above for power."
"We tried negotiating with one, but they refused to listen, so we had no choice but to fight," Riveria said.
"So, why do you want my help?" Ethan asked. "I'm only Level Four."
"Because your Skills allow you to wield a power that far surpasses your own Level, and you know it," Finn said. "We don't necessarily need your help, but it will help us avoid unnecessary deaths or injuries. During the last mission in Knossos, after you and Ryu separated from us, the Dionysus Familia was wiped out in their entirety. All eighty of them. There were circumstances we hadn't prepared for, things we had never experienced. We were dancing in the palm of our enemy's hand, but in the end, all that matters is that we lost eighty of our comrades, and we believe that if you are there this time, we can avoid a repetition."
"And since your own Familia will be having down time to rest after their Expedition, that means that you won't be missing anything important with them," Gareth said.
"If I go, Ryu goes," Ethan said.
"Of course," Finn nodded.
Ethan considered. "Can you give me three days?"
"Yes," Finn said. "But no more than that."
"We'll make it work and meet you at your home," Ethan said.
The four Loki Familia executives nodded, and Ethan turned away, only to stop as Finn spoke again.
"By the way, send Anya to our home," Finn said. "Someone's been asking for her."
Ethan raised an eyebrow but nodded and left the alleyway, heading home. As he reached the house, Hestia and Ryu met him at the door.
"Loki stopped by," Hestia said. "She wants you and Ryu to go into Knossos with them again."
"I know," Ethan nodded. "Finn, Ais, Gareth, and Riveria met me after I finished my errand."
"I don't like it," Hestia said. "But I'll leave the choice up to you. We'll lay low and stay out of the dungeon for the most part until you get back."
"Ryu?" Ethan asked.
Ryu considered. "I think we should go. We may not be Level Sixes, but we can still help."
Ethan nodded. "Alright. Your sword will be ready in three days. Once we have it, we're going to the Loki Familia, then leaving immediately."
Ryu nodded, smiling. "Then we get three days to relax."
Ethan smiled, nodding, and they headed into the mansion to do just that. On the way past Anya's room, however, Ethan paused to pass Finn's message along. Anya complained about not wanting to see anyone from Loki's Familia, but left to meet them all the same. She didn't return until the next day, and when she did, it was only to grab several changes of clothing and leave again. Just from her face, Ethan understood. Ray was at the Loki Familia houshold for some reason.
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