"This wine tastes terrible!"

Inside the grand castle that housed the Loki Familia, a wine-loving goddess slammed down a cup still half-filled with red liquor.

"Complain all you want, but I'm not buying you another bottle until that one is finished,"

The childish tantrum was swiftly put down by the resident mother figure. Riveria had dealt with Loki's shenanigans far more often than she'd like to admit, to the point that she didn't even look up from the thick tome she was leafing over as she responded to her goddess.

"But Riveria!"

"No means no, Loki,"

The trickster goddess plopped down on a nearby couch, the wine sloshing precariously in her cup. Riveria shot her a warning look, one that promised pain if even a single drop spilled on the expensive couch Loki had insisted they buy.

Said goddess pretended not to notice the warning. Instead, she threw on an exaggerated, sulking face. But her mind was working overtime on a scheme that would earn her a glass of actually good wine (this was the last time she'd take alcohol recommendations from Finn).

Her Familia kept a few decent bottles in the cellar, but it was padlocked shut to keep her out, and only Riveria held the key. So that was a dead end.

If she wanted wine, Loki would need to buy some herself, without letting mother hen know.

And she knew just who to ask!


So it turned out that Gareth was busy, and couldn't sneak out with her to get some booze. But Loki did manage to convince two other members of her Familia to accompany her.

"Loki, are you sure that Lady Riveria gave you permission to be out of the house?"

"Oh come on, Lefiya! I'm your patron goddess! Have some faith in me,"

"It's because you're my goddess that I'm not trusting you,"

"Hey!"

The trickster goddess responded without any real annoyance, cheerfully strolling down Orario's shopping street. Lefiya followed closely behind her, armed with her staff to ward off any would-be attackers or scammers. But as powerful as she was, she wasn't the true crime deterrent.

No, that person stood to the side, distracted by a stand selling fried potato snacks.

"Aiz-tan! C'mon now! I'll getcha your potatoes on the way back,"

"..."

The blonde swordswoman looked longingly at the crisp potatoes, boiling like lumps of gold in a vat of cooking oil. She inched closer, as if that would stop her goddess from calling her over.

"Um, Miss Aiz? It's still awfully early in the morning for fried foods. Maybe we can come back here for lunch?"

"But...the potatoes…"

"Aiz!"

Lefiya tried to gently placate the older, more experienced girl. Loki, though, elected to just whine louder and physically drag her away from the potato stand. It was not the most elegant solution, but it was the most effective.

"Where did you want to go anyways, Loki?"

"Nowhere in particular...I just wanted t' look around, take in the sights,"

Loki flashed an innocent smile at Lefiya, before scampering further down the street, leaving her supposed bodyguards (chaperones) behind. The young elven sorceress sighed, but quickly adopted a bright smile again.

"Miss Aiz! Are there any shops you want to visit?"

It was incredibly rare for the airheaded swordswoman to take any time off. It was even rarer for her to not be accompanied by a pair of Amazon sisters and a werewolf during those precious few occasions.

Of course, she and Aiz were technically still not alone, but Lefiya would take what she could get.

"We should get you some new casual clothing, Miss Aiz! You've been wearing those ones for way too long,"

The older human gave a sort of non-committal hum as her younger companion grasped her hand excitedly.

Score!

In her mind, Lefiya pumped her fists in celebration. It wasn't often that she could get her idol almost all to herself, and she was going to make the most of it! A smile and a rosy blush made its way to her cheeks. She could nearly feel her long, elven years flicking back and forth in excitement.

Where should we go first?! The Fairy Boutique just got a shipment of new stock…but there's also the Elven Collection…and…

In the midst of her daydreams of Miss Aiz wearing a whirlwind of different clothing, came a very familiar voice.

"L-Lefiya…?"

She looked up and saw her dear friend Filvis staring at her with aghast eyes.

The older elf spoke with a crack in her voice, her eyes zeroed in on something low to the ground, right beside where she stood.

Lefiya tracked Filvis's vision, and landed on her own right hand.

It was still clutched around Aiz's.

"Um…Hello, Miss Filvis!"

She tried to be as cheerful as she could, but Lefiya could not help but flush red under her friend's intense stare.

Why do I feel like I've been caught doing something shameful…?


T-This is completely fine...so what if Lefiya wants to h-hold hands with Sword Princess?

They're, they're members of the same Familia after all...it's to be ex-expected.

I have no concerns or feelings regarding this. None at all. None whatsoever.

...you know we share the same mind, right? I can feel everything you feel? Or did you take all the stupidity with you when we split apart? That would definitely explain some things.

Filvis was doing an objectively terrible job at trying to fool herself. In her mind's eye, she saw Ein looking at her with something almost akin to pity, as if she couldn't believe such a disaster existed in the world.

Back in the real world, a shuffling movement caught Filvis's eye. She watched in slow motion as Sword Princess leaned down, closer and closer, until her lips were just a hairbreadth away from Lefiya's soft pink cheeks

wait what?

Oh.

For a moment, Filvis saw her world split apart. She felt her lips quivering, like she would break out in ugly sobs right then and there.

Somewhere, deep in the Dungeon, Ein felt a sharp sensation run through her magic stone. She clenched her jaws hard enough to break a few of her teeth, but the damage, like all others, was quickly healed by her monstrous magic.

The Sword Princess opened her mouth.

"Lefiya, do you know her?... Is she one of those 'rabid fangirls' Riveria keeps warning me about?"

A beat of mortified silence.

"Excuse me?!"

Her sudden anger broke her free from her despair. The shambles of Filvis's broken elven pride rose from their grave to take offense at that jab, turning her pale skin a deep red.

Pfff!

On the other side, Ein howled in laughter. The sheer volume and force of it sent several monsters running for cover, each one with a look of sheer panic in their eyes. This would go on to confuse a great many adventuring parties down in the Dungeon that day.

As she laughed in mockery of her counterpart, the shock in Ein's magic stone faded away. She felt her jaw unclenching, releasing a tension in her body she didn't know she'd been holding..

Quiet, Ein!

As Filvis stewed in her embarrassment, she was too distracted to recognize the swarm of emotions that her counterpart had just shuffled through.

Lefiya quickly pulled Aiz down and whispered loudly in her ear.

"Miss Aiz, you can't just go accusing someone like that! This is Filvis Challia, Captain of the Dionysius Famila. She helped us out back on the twentieth floor, remember?"

"Oh,"

The swordswoman's impassive face did not change, but she did nod her head slightly in recognition.

"Hello. It's nice to see you again"

Filvis was still too insulted to even think about gracing Aiz's monotone greeting with a response, and just shot her a glare. This confused the swordswoman, who tilted her head and whisper-shouted again to Lefiya.

"Lefiya, is she deaf?"

"I am most certainly not!"

"...ah. Then hello. It's nice to see you again,"

Aiz bowed again in greeting, not out of any intent to annoy, but just missing the social cues being shoved in her face. But Filvis did not know that. She felt an angry tick growing on her head, her hand searching instinctively for her wand, Ein egging her on in their shared mindscape.

Seeing her friend on the verge of snapping, Lefiya quickly redirected the conversation.

"Miss Filvis! What great timing! Would you like to go shopping with us?"

Without waiting for a response, Lefiya stormed in between the two women and pushed them both down the street, chatting all the while to keep them distracted. One was very confused but went along with it, and the other fought to keep a smile off her face as she huffed in mock-anger.

Filvis was still upset with Sword Princess for obvious reasons, but she was slightly miffed at Lefiya too for some reason.

It's called jealousy you dumbass!

Ein I swear to the gods!


They made it about a hundred meters when Lefiya suddenly froze, took a deep breath, then screamed before running off like she was being chased by an enraged Ottarl riding an infant dragon.

Her confused companions were about to call out after her until the younger elf answered their questions preemptively.

"We forgot about Loki!"


They eventually found Loki, completely safe and happy, trying to scam a young Prum into giving her all of his money in exchange for a photograph of Finn, one that had been signed with a forged signature.

"Loki, setting aside that highway robbery, why couldn't you get Captain Finn to actually sign it?"

"He stopped signing things for me when he found out that I had been supplying the black market with signed Finn merchandise,"

"I...I'm not even going to ask,"

Shoving that information to a dark corner in her mind, Lefiya led their now four-person party into the shopping district proper.

Just as Orario attracted people from all over the world, so too did it attract merchandise and trade.

Buildings of all shapes and sizes jutted out into the road. Some were low lying, with roofs only reaching the top of a human's head, meant obviously for Prums. Others had big metal doors to attract dwarves, while yet others had ornate wooden carvings to appeal to elves.

Crammed between these shops were hawkers and their booths. They were a rambunctious bunch, always yelling and showcasing their wares to anyone who stopped for so much as a second.

The lively atmosphere bolstered Lefiya, who regained her earlier excitement.

"Is there anywhere you guys wanted to go first?"

"Hmmm...the potato snack stand?"

"A liquor store!"

Lefiya decided to pointedly ignore Aiz and Loki's suggestions, feeling foolish for even thinking that they would give her normal responses.

"What about you, Miss Filvis?"

"I don't care."

The older elf replied with a rather curt tone. She refused to make eye-contact with Lefiya, but she still stole glances at her when the younger-elf wasn't looking.

This behaviour confused even Filvis herself. She understood and accepted the reality: that she had no claim to any of Lefiya's affection. The girl could hug anyone, laugh with them, kiss them, even marry them, and Filvis had little right to do anything but watch from the sidelines.

In this way, it was much the same with her relationship with Lord Dionysius.

But Filvis knew where she stood with him. He was the one who gave the orders, who doled out rewards and punishments. She would never be able to make any demands from him; him, the only one who could look upon her full, monstrous form and still say that she looked beautiful.

She owed him too much. She would never dare to ask him for something he didn't offer first.

That's a given.

A rare, tender emotion appeared on Ein's face.

I'm glad that we can at least agree on this.

Filvis pretended not to see it.

With Lefiya though, Filvis wanted to ask for more. She knew she had no right, she knew that she didn't deserve to even ask. However, Filvis had a hunch that — if she ever managed to choke out the request — she wouldn't be refused.

The girl who looked past rumours, who took her hand and was not disgusted. Lefiya would not scorn her now. Not yet at least, while she was still unaware of the other half of Filvis's mind.

She could see it now: a soft smile, maybe a touch bashful, accompanied by a rosy blush and-

Well! You've gotten quite the ego haven't you! Soon you'll be asking for all the world on a silver platter!

Ein's retort was like a cold bucket dumped over her head. Filvis quickly shoved the notion from their mind.

It was this discrepancy, between wanting and knowing she wouldn't be refused, but still feeling unworthy and letting someone else get the initiative, that frustrated Filvis, and made her lash out.

Lefiya had no way of knowing any of this. All she could see was that her friend was upset at her for some reason.

Maybe she's upset that Miss Aiz, one of my Familia members, insulted her?

Miss Aiz was one of her closest friends and greatest inspirations, but she also had atrocious social skills and could rub people the wrong way. Lefiya didn't want Filvis to misunderstand her.

More than that though, the thought of Filvis being upset with her…

It bothered Lefiya in a way she hadn't expected. She felt her stomach sinking, her fingernails digging into her palms hard enough to leave deep imprints.

Worry about that later! First, let's focus on lifting Filvis's mood!

Slapping both her palms to her cheeks to re-energize herself, Lefiya powered on.


"Why don't we get a bite to eat then?"

"Then..!"

"No Miss Aiz, it's still too early for potato snacks. We should get some proper breakfast first,"

"...aw,"

Aiz lit up briefly at the mention of food, but deflated when it was clear it wasn't the food she wanted.

Instead of potatoes, Lefiya led them all to a quaint little bakery.

It was a clean place, filled with houseplants and handwoven fabrics that gave the building a homely feel. The scent of fresh bread wafted from the back room, where an oven was presumably built.

"Ooooh, that does smell pretty nice! Lefiya, could ya get me a loaf? Just pick whatever,"

"Sure! Miss Aiz, Miss Filvis, what would you two like?"

"Potato bread!"

"I'm not hungry."

Even as the words left her mouth, Filvis knew they would come off as much too harsh. She winced and tried softening her response by adding "perhaps later", but the damage was done.

Lefiya flinched and drew back, retreating to the counter where she distracted herself by placing their orders. She refused to look back and make more of a fool of herself. As she handed over a few coins to the cashier, she missed the way Filvis cursed and slapped a hand to her forehead.

Why am I like this?!

Well-

That was a rhetorical question, Ein!

The Sword Princess wandered off to the bread baskets displayed around the bakery, enticed by the spices and scent she had never smelled before. This left Filvis standing alone near the entrance with the Goddess Loki, patron deity of Orario's second strongest Familia, and greatest threat to Lord Dionysius.

Enemy though she may be, Filvis was rather off-guard at the moment. She eyed the trickster goddess whistling cheerfully, and decided that she posed no threat at the moment. They were formal allies for now, and being overly-cautious would only draw unneeded attention.

Justifications in mind, Filvis refocused on Lefiya. Or, she tried to anyway. But the trickster goddess wasn't about to let herself be shoved aside so easily.

"Hey!" she yelled, trotting up to the black-haired elf, "You're Dionysius's Captain right? Fancy meetin' you today! How have ya been?"

"Greetings, Goddess Loki. I've been fine," Filvis returned with a small bow, trying to hide her mild annoyance.

"Uh huh, ya know, lying doesn't exactly make the best first impressions,"

"Excuse me?"

Filvis turned sharply, her awareness and caution skyrocketing.

Does she know?

How much does she know?

Kill her now, while you have the chance!

But…

From the corner of her eye, she caught Lefiya standing at the counter, waiting for their order.

Not...not in front of Lefiya.

Dumbass! We KNEW this was coming!

The trickster goddess took one look at the fierce, yet troubled look on the older elf's face as she stared at Lefiya, and burst out in laughter. It wasn't a mocking laugh either. It was lighthearted, filled with humour and chortles.

"Damn," she wheezed, "You're really head-over-heels for her, huh?"

Loki patted her shoulder in sympathy. For a moment, Filvis didn't know what she was talking about. She was just filled with relief that the goddess hadn't caught on to her lord's plans.

"Dontcha worry! You've got a chance! There's not a straight bone in that girl's body. Go for it!"

The goddess shot her a thumbs up. And it was at this moment that Filvis realized: she had still messed up.

"O-Oh! Oh no! Goddess Loki, i-it's not like that! Well, actually, somewhat, but no! You misunderstand-"

Her face was an impressive shade of red, trailing from her neck all the way up to her slender ears. This only solidified Loki's suspicions. She winked at her mischievously.

"Suuuuuuure it isn't,"

"IT ISN'T!"

Loki doubled over again in laughter as a mortified Filvis defended herself. They were loud enough that both Aiz and Lefiya looked over, but Loki waved them off.

"Whew. What a good laugh!" Loki began, panting and wiping a tear from her eye. She did finally seem to regain some composure though, and resumed talking to Filvis.

"I don't know why yer so adamant on denying it," she began, "There's nothing wrong with two mortals loving each other. If you two wanna see each other, I sure as hell won't stop ya. I'm sure old Dionysius wouldn't mind either."

"And don't worry about the whole 'Banshee' thing either. I don't really care about it. You saved my kids down on the twentieth floor, and ya seem to really care for Lefiya, so you can't be that bad."

The goddess flashed her a smile.

You know nothing.

She's absolutely clueless! An idiot!

"'Sides...two lady elves doin' it would be pretty hot!"

The smile quickly soured into a lecherous grin. Loki started giggling and drooling like a creepy old man, exuding such perverted energy that it would have made even Zeus proud.

Without a moment's hesitation, Filvis backhanded Loki. The diminutive goddess flew clear across the bakery, where she crash-landed into a shelf filled with freshly baked bread and passed out amidst a pile of gluten.

"My bread!" the shopkeeper wailed. Lefiya felt a pounding headache coming on as she pulled her coinpurse back out to reimburse them for the lost bread.

"Oh my gods, Loki! This is why we can't take you out anywhere! You have to stop harassing women, otherwise you'll be stabbed one of these days, or sued for sexual harassment!"

"'M sorry…" was the downed goddess's weak reply.

Filvis huffed in indignation. She had been a bit nervous that Lefiya and Aiz would have been furious with her, but Lefiya looked more mortified than anything. She apologized profusely to both Filvis and the crying shopkeeper.

Aiz, on the other hand, suddenly popped up beside the raven-haired elf. She held her arm out in front of her.

"...Can I help you?"

"For you,"

The swordswoman dropped a scroll and a cookie in Filvis's hand.

Curiosity getting the better of her, Filvis unfurled and read the fine handwriting.

To whom it may concern,

If you have received this letter, then our goddess Loki has done something unforgivable to you. You have our heartfelt apologies for anything she may have done/touched/said/etc. . Please be assured that this is an ongoing issue that the entire Loki Familia is working to address, but being a deity her nature is long-lasting, and it is a work in progress.

We will pay reparations for our goddess's actions and enroll her (again) in a sexual harassment workshop. The money will be processed within 5 business days and be ready for pick-up at the Guild. Just say you're there because of Loki. They'll know what you mean.

In the meantime, please accept this cookie, made by our resident star baker, Gareth Landrock, as a show of goodwill.

Sincerely,

Captain Finn "Braver" Deimne

Filvis reached the end of the letter with several more questions than she had before reading it. Even Ein was taken back. The elven swordswoman stared at the Sword Princess, who stared back at her impassionately.

What?

the fuck?

"Do you...just carry this with you all the time?"

"Yes,"

"...why?"

"A new policy enacted by Finn. When escorting Loki, all Familia members must carry one with them at all times,"

"You know what, forget I asked,"

It seemed that there was more darkness in Loki's Familia than she had anticipated. Filvis decided that it wasn't worth delving into.


"Again, I am so sorry about what happened back there!"

"Please Lefiya, it's fine. It wasn't your fault,"

"Still…"

The quartet had decided to take a breather in one of the many side-alleys branching off of Daedalus Street.

Aiz sat on an abandoned crate, munching happily on a bag of potato bread. Loki lay beside her on the ground, groaning and holding a bag of ice to her swollen cheek.

Some ways away from them, Lefiya and Filvis stood by themselves. The younger girl had pulled her friend aside to make sure that she was alright.

The entire trip had turned out to be a disaster. First, she had upset Filvis without even meaning to, Loki made an absolutely horrid impression, and they'd even been kicked out of the bakery by the shopkeeper.

Lefiya felt like crying in frustration.

That frustration bled through the ink-stain on Filvis's forearm. The sheer intensity of it startled her, and filled her with an urge to comfort the girl.

Ein sneered at her in her mind.

Maybe if you hadn't acted like such a whiny brat, this wouldn't have happened.

I...I know…

Look at us. Always alone. Always driving people away. Always making them miserable.

We ruin everything we touch. We should ruin everything we touch. They reject us so we reject them.

Like always, her counterpart always struck at the worst times. Their mind was filled with loathing, towards themselves, towards the gods, towards the world.

The frustration she felt through her soulmate mark suddenly collapsed into a gloom of sadness.

Lefiya?

"Sorry...this trip ended up being pretty bad, didn't it?"

The younger elf gave her a watery smile. The sight of it sent Filvis in a panic, and she rushed to console her. She fumbled forward, half-raising her hand to brush away the tears at the corner of her eyes, but not knowing if the touch would be accepted and backing down.

"No! No, it's my fault. I've been acting rudely to you this entire trip, through no fault of yours. I was directing my own frustration towards you in my cowardice, and then I had the gall to strike your patron deity. Please, forgive me?"

"No, Loki deserved to be hit! That wasn't your fault at all! And everyone has bad days sometimes. I shouldn't have dragged you with us in the first place, not without asking first. Please, it was my fault,"

"No…"

There was a mad scramble as each elf tried apologizing in what seemed like an endless loop, broken only when Ein yelled you're both disasters! in Filvis's mind, which startled her out her apologetic tirade.

Her sudden silence, in turn, startled Lefiya. They both stared at each other, red-faced and panting with exertion after their apologies.

"...pfff!"

The awkwardness made Lefiya break out into giggles. She tried to stifle it, but that just made her laugh harder. Her laughter was infectious, and soon Filvis smiled along with her.

It felt good, to make her happy. The magic of her incomplete soulmate bond thrummed in satisfaction as it conveyed Lefiya's good mood.

"...you know, maybe next time we should talk to each other properly if we're troubled,"

"Agreed,"

Liar. You know you won't.

She would never understand the magnitude of what we deal with.

Filvis could tell her. She could tell her about Ein, about Enyo, about Lord Dionysius and about his plans. It might keep Lefiya alive, it might stop her from having to face Lefiya on the battlefield one day.

But she'd betray Lord Dionysius that way, and that was something she couldn't bear to do.

Not even for her soulmate.

She's not our soulmate.

Filvis prayed that, just for a bit longer, she'd be able to stand beside Lefiya in the warm sunlight.


"Oh that reminds me!" Lefiya said, grabbing a brown paper bag that she had set down earlier, "We haven't had breakfast yet. Miss Filvis, I know you said you weren't hungry earlier, but would you like Loki's share? I...don't think she can eat yet with her swollen cheek,"

"Sure, that sounds nice,"

Lefiya handed her companion a loaf of cheesy bread. It was still warm, and the savoury smell quickly wet Filvis's appetite. She took a few bites and was frankly amazed by how good it tasted. It must have shown on her face, because Lefiya smiled softly at her.

"Did you like it?"

"Hmmm!" she responded through her delight.

"I'm glad! Loki likes foods that are kind of heavy, so I was worried that it would be a bit much for breakfast,"

"No, it's delicious! I'm almost disappointed that we were banned from that bakery,"

"Me too! We'll have to savour what we have right now,"

With that, Lefiya tore a piece of her own loaf. It was fragrant, filled with mild herbs and spices that wafted through her tastebuds with every bite. She hummed in satisfaction.

"Miss Filvis, would you like to try a bite?"

The younger elf held out her bread towards her older friend.

"Oh, um, sure,"

...do I just, rip a piece off? Or do I take a bite?

Oh my gods who cares! You and her both disgust me with your tooth-rotting games!

Lefiya answered the question when she thrust the bread to Filvis's lips. She looked at her expectantly. Filvis felt herself flushing as she brushed aside her hair and bit the offered treat. She was so embarrassed she could barely taste it.

"How is it?"

"Great," she croaked, "W-Would you like some of mine?"

"Sure!"

Filvis wasn't sure if she could handle feeding Lefiya. It seemed far too intimate for her.

You're a coward.

Shut up, Ein.

Make me.

Instead, the older elf tore a piece of bread off with her fingers and held it out, expecting her friend to grab it from her. But that didn't happen.

Filvis watched in slow-motion as Lefiya leaned down and ate the bread from her fingers. Her soft lips just barely brush Filvis's fingertips, but even that small touch was enough to paralyse her.

So she stood there, watching her soulmate eating and humming with a content smile, and was overwhelmed with a single thought.

By the gods, I love her.

Deep in the Dungeon, on some unknown floor, filthy and damp with monster and human blood, Ein found herself growling.

Don't kid yourself.

I love her.

You disgust me.

I love her so…

She'll never be ours, and we shall never be hers. Have you forgotten our debt to our lord?

This girl waltzes in here, flashes you a smile, and suddenly you throw all thoughts of loyalty from your head? You pathetic little thing.

...No.

What?

No, I can protect them both. I can carry out Lord Dionysius's divine will, and protect Lefiya at the same time.

We have to kill her entire Familia.

I'll beg for her to be spared, at least. She's no threat by herself.

So you'll condemn her as the sole survivor.

Anything, so long as she's safe and alive.

You are just as cruel as me.

So be it.

She and Lefiya stood there, talking and intermittently feeding each other, for a long time. Long enough for the sun to pass its highest point, and for Loki to finally regain her energy.

The trickster god smiled knowingly at the two elves, but kept her mouth shut in fear of provoking another slap.

Damn, now I could really use some booze!

In desperation and boredom, she started rummaging through the crates. Perhaps someone had stashed a bottle back here, or else thrown out a bottle of expired-but-not-quite-rotten wine. At this point, she'd take almost anything.

She opened the lid to one of the crates, and was greeted by a truly heavenly sight: a dozen bottles of what looked to be high-quality alcohol.

"Jackpot!"

"What did you find, Loki?"

"Heaven's greatest invention: booze! And the good stuff too! Man, what luck! What idiot put this out here?"

The bottles had no label, but the aroma was unmistakable that of high-quality liquor. In fact, just sniffing the scent got Loki decently tipsy.

She even entertained the thought that it might be perfect Soma.

Time for a good time!

Although the goddess did not recognize the alcohol, Filvis certainly did. It was the one one meant for Penia, the one she trafficked out of her Familia home, the one Demeter was blackmailed into growing grapes for, the one Lord Dionysius brewed himself.

The one that could render any mortal and immortal perfectly drunk, down to their souls.

No.

YES!

If Loki drank that wine, she'd be under Lord Dionysius's control. She would no longer be able to function, no longer be able to update or guide her Familia members. It would cripple her entire Familia, take them out of the equation. If they played their cards right, they might even be able to drug each of her executives with the same wine, and add the fearsome Loki Familia warriors on their roster.

If Loki drank that wine, it would guarantee Lord Dionysius's victory.

But Lefiya…

She looked over, saw her soulmate offering her another bite with a small blush and a fond smile.

She remembered the affection she shared with her family, the fondness with which she described each one of her friends, mentors, teammates — from the doll-like human, to the cheery Amazon, to the elegant High Elf, to the boisterous Dwarf and even the prickly Werewolf.

She couldn't do it.

DON'T YOU DARE!

With the charming background of Ein's threats and foul-mouthed curses, Filvis lunged forward and slammed her hand around Loki's wrist.

"The fu-?!"

The goddess was just about to grab one of the wine bottles, but the vice-grip the raven-haired elf had on her said otherwise. Aiz tilted her head in confusion.

"Miss Filvis?" Lefiya called out in confusion, "Is something wrong?"

Filvis fumbled for an excuse, taking care not to lie.

"G-Goddess Loki, my apologies for my rude actions...but this wine...I wouldn't recommend it. As the child of a wine god, I can tell that you wouldn't want to drink these bottles here. I recognize the scent. They aren't...good. No, they aren't good at all,"

The eyes of a deity stared at her, judging her words and her intentions.

Filvis had not spoken a lie, and she truly had no ill-intentions. Far from it, in fact.

Loki saw all of this, and slowly relaxed backwards.

"Eh, guess I'll take your word for it. And here I thought I'd finally struck gold!"

"Ha…"

As the goddess ambled away, probably to dumpster dive for another crate of wine, Filvis breathed out heavily. A wave of cold sweat broke out through her body.

Her mind swam with voices and thoughts and screams.

TRAITOR! YOU TRAITOR!

FILTHY WHORE!

Ein roared in her mind.

I haven't betrayed Lord Dionysius. Not technically.

I haven't betrayed him, and I kept Lefiya safe.

Filvis desperately repeated in her mind.

You've spat on Lord Dionysius's love and favour! And for what?!

The fleeting affections of a girl, who would run away screaming if she saw my true form?!

I'm a fool, but at least her blood and tears won't stain my hands.

At least you are safe.

At least I saved one person in the world.

Oh, Lefiya, how I wish you were mine.

Note:

Featuring Loki as a little gremlin, and Riveria as Loki Familia's resident mother-figure and also their one brain cell, which she sometimes shares with Finn.

I got a few comments on the last chapter mentioning how Aura and Harold gave off Team Rocket vibes, and honestly I think that's the highest form of compliment I could have ever received. Nothing will ever top that.

I'm trying to figure a way to make Ein a bit friendlier with Lefiya, without deviating from her personality too much. I don't think that'll happen naturally though unless she's forced to actually interact with Lefiya herself, instead of through Filvis.

I'm thinking of throwing the three of them in the Dungeon together. Lefiya will either have to literally be blinded temporarily, or Filvis will have to bullshit through her teeth and say that Ein is her long lost twin sister.

I'm torn between the two, There could be great comedy in both. Let me know what you guys think.