Molten gold polluted with a mix of emerald faint crimson stared absentmindedly on the outskirts of the Flying Citadel.
Nowhere was it so calm, nowhere but here. In this very place, where none would come to disturb his peace and solace.
None but them two. Though their presence would by no means be a disturbance. One of the two he quite missed, in fact. And it hadn't even been a whole day since she spoke with him, yet her words at that time pierced his heart like nobody's ever had before. Not that anybody's words had such weight in his eyes, either.
One of the many trees and flowers at his back swayed in the gentle wind, caressing their leaves; even that reminded him of her.
He had come all the way down here not out of his own volition, but out of someone else's concern for his well being. How foolish of him. That was all he could think as he grasped at a rose to his left, while he sat on the edge of the flower bed that shortly in front of him bordered with blue skies.
While he worried for her, not having still awakened, he also had to remember that there was someone else doing the same for him. Lest he be blinded again and add to her burden. He chided himself.
Gentle white petals soon turned gilded in his hand, he admired them for a moment. How they sparkled, how they shined in the light of the sun.
Admiration was soon forgotten as the auric flower was dropped with an almost unrecognizable metallic click as he got up with a sigh.
He turned his back to the ever-extending faux skies locked in eternal twilight, and in complete trust of what was rightfully his Mother's domain he let himself fall. Just like he had become used to doing when his worries would pile up.
And fall he did.
While he wasn't quite used to doing so in this form, it did bring its advantages too.
He could feel the air speeding with each second that went by,
the temperature dropping by the instant towards unforgiving lows.
His spiral towards an unseen destination continued unperturbed, unending and most importantly without worry. The continually changing noise of the air hitting his ears like a melody being played too fast to be understood.
One that however didn't require understanding to be enjoyed. And so he lost himself in his musings, his fall neverhalting as the concept of time became but a suggestion.
Minutes, perhaps hours, or even seconds might've gone by. But that didn't truly matter. What mattered was that they ended. All with a sudden sound that rang in his mind, one that - with his thoughts clouded no longer, he easily recognized to be a [Message].
It took him the next seven seconds to register the contents. None too soon his eyes widened and a fall turned to an ever faster rise towards the Heavens- he moved as fast as he could..! weighing every second in the most precious of coins, all until all of his built up momentum transformed into a s...!
CHAPTER: 2 - "Slumber, the Brother of… "
They waited with eyes closed and rising anxiety for the end that was meant to come.
[23:59:58]
[23:59:59]
He let a tear flow down his cheek. This would be their last time in Nazarick, and now, the only existing proof of their friends and guild would be erased..
[00:00:00]
Now that the time had reached zero, the white numbers that were the only thing left in his dark vision faded. With those gone, all that remained was the natural darkness one would see with their eyes closed..
The game had logged him out..
The only thing remaining in his vision being that all-shrouding emptiness. Ironically similar to the one he could feel in his heart.
Without even taking his VR headset off, he kept closed his eyes, falling into the sweet embrace of sleep, the day's emotions and exhaustion catching up to him swiftly as the adrenaline in his veins ran dry.
Perhaps it was an effect of how tired he was, but he hadn't remembered the chair he played YGGDRASIL on to be so comfortable, good on him though, it had not been cheap after all.
With that thought's end, he could only hope to quietly fall asleep and have a dream or two, pleasant if possible. So that he may escape the nightmarish reality that his home was gone forever.
None of that would come.
Even his sleep would be deprived of that satisfaction.
It felt like an eternity had passed, and yet no time at all when he awoke. Not in the literal sense, for his eyes still kept closed. Yet yesterday evening's sad thoughts, drowned with the silence of slumber before, returned to him with a harsh vengeance.
Dammit.. He thought.
"This is so unfair!'' He yelled at the top of his lungs, eyes still shut to try and hold back the tears threatening to burst out. Now that the game had shut its servers down, nobody but his neighbor would hear him. If at all, since it likely was morning and they were thus at work.
Huh?
His voice had sounded weird, like the one he normally used to troll, just more.. natural..?
He heard a feminine worried voice, the very one he imagined someone like Tiamat would have call out to his right,
"Mother..? You're awake..!''
Who's that?! Did someone break into my house?! He thought, instantly forgetting the weird sound of his own voice and leaving all his previous thoughts in the dust.
He tightened the hold on his eyelids and stilled his body in stress. If someone was indeed in his house or his nostalgia was playing a twisted game with him he didn't know, but if it was the former, then so long as he didn't see their face or they didn't notice him, perhaps there would be a chance to avoid violence.
He had nothing of value to be stolen in his house anyway, all that he truly valued lay in Nazarick.
A couple of seconds passed, and he could not help but notice how a loud heartbeat-like sound plagued his ears. Thump. Thump, thump… So looouud! What are those pricks doing upstairs?!
While he was being robbed, too!
He started to panic the slightest bit and his breathing increased in speed, except..? it didn't…? The air felt oddly refreshing… almost smells like mint or something...
"Mother, is something wrong? Are the pillows not to your liking..? Please talk to me..'' That pleading voice again… yeah, his mind was definitely playing tricks on him.
Damn, all that stress about the permanent shutdown of YGGDRASIL I bottled up finally got to me huh? Now I'm hearing my own NPC's voice in real life..
An incredibly loud smack. As if a window or door was opened with the strength of who-knows-what. That was most likely the reason red illuminated the blackness Asmoday had been looking at for the past hour, light slamming into his eyelids.
"Mother!" The voice of a young man, not an irritated yell, rather a panicked exclamation full of concern but also tangible happiness. Asmoday still kept silent and remained unmoving.
As his eyelids slowly lifted up, he could make out he was nowhere even similar to his own gray and white messy room, this was…
My room in Elysium?!
He abruptly jolted up, noticing how he had been laying under silk sheets of black and red lined with gold, in other words, a bed this whole time. Only to look to his right and find two pairs of worried scarlet eyes, one tinted with golden and green, the other with pure aquamarine - each stare at her.
"Tiamat..? F-Fafnir..? What the.. what is t-this.?'' He spoke in a low voice, expecting his normal deep voice to come out, but all he half-heard was the whisper of a sweet high-pitched voice.
Tiamat sighed lightly at seeing Asmoday awaken, a smile on her lips.
"Lord Momonga did say you may be confused upon awakening. He talked of "oll nayters" or something, and how they tire you out. He asked me to give you this letter if that happened." Tiamat responded, a light smile gracing Fafnir's visage in relief as well.
Asmoday was stunned. Staring right at Tiamat as his mind processed what was happening; water - with foam on it - as if a piece of ocean's waves when they reach the coast, appeared and coalesced into a rectangular shape, only to dissolve to mist and become a piece of paper right in front of his eyes.
That's.. Tiamat's customized inventory animation..? The rhetorical question echoed in his mind.
When Asmoday didn't respond, Tiamat got worried all over again, a frown making its way to her delicate visage. In truth, she wanted to comfort and hug her Mother, who was clearly in distress, but she couldn't right now. From what little the Skeleton comrade her Mother so loved to talk to her about told her, making sure she read the letter was the best way to clear the confusion she was feeling. Though she didn't quite know for sure, her Mother oftentimes stated how much she trusted him when she talked of how their other comrades left - so she would too. However that didn't mean she couldn't make sure she was fine... right..?
She mustered a bit of courage.
"Mother, are you not feeling well by any chance? You've been asleep quite some time now.." she hesitated a bit, "I told Brother to come the moment you woke up..! He wanted to see you too but he was getting all stressed for your wellbeing, so I sent him to relax a bit down in the Gardens...'' The girl had been shuffling in her seat slightly and was about to continue, but was suddenly interrupted.
The young man standing to her left bowed somewhat, some of his dark hair gently dangling in the air as his auric iris glinted, playing a game with the uncountable rays of light that hit them from atop.
"I do apologize for having taken so long to come, Mother. Common means of teleportation are blocked in Elysium as you know, and since I do not possess any others besides them I had to fly all the way up from the lowest level, the Garden of Hesperides. I hope you may forgive me. It was not Tia's fault."
Asmoday tried to analyze the situation and understand what was happening, but not a single detail of this made sense. He kept listening to what they spoke about, the information being recorded in his mind, but he still didn't quite know what to make of it.
He unconsciously opened his senses to the ambience, overloading himself with information for a moment, the fresh air - the smallest details of the furthest wall, the incredibly bright light, the loudest silence he ever heard and the most precise touch. His heart started to race the slightest bit, an occurrence which was soon stopped by a strange wave of calmness that washed over him, all instances of what little panic and dread he felt were drowned altogether and all the info was processed.
"Tiamat, Fafnir, I.. am fine." Asmoday spoke slowly, this time taking full notice of his new voice and the ones he was talking with, ".. But, Tiamat,"
The aquamarine eyes of the one in question sparkled, "Yes, Mother..? " The girl straightened up in her stuffed armchair on the right side of the bed, one that could put to shame the most luxurious back in real life.
Asmoday unconsciously chuckled the slightest bit at Tiamat's nervousness, "Are you going to hand me that poor letter you're strangling or not..?" His tone sarcastic and light.
Despite the absurdity of the situation, hearing Tiamat's mention of Momonga moments ago had calmed him down completely. If he was experiencing this too, then there would be no need to panic.
..Is this YGGDRASIL II? He looked around, in front of him was an enormous empty space, leading up to two great white doors. These were indeed his unfinished chambers in Elysium, a massive ring topped by an extremely beautiful dome, at the center of which lay only a pristine bed colored white, red and black, as well as the armchair Tiamat was on currently. All the other space was devoid of furniture, safe for a single mirror which spanned a great surface, though it was quite far from the bed.
Can't be. The Devs would've never let the opportunity to make such an announcement go. He reasoned, amazed at the details he could notice. The ocean of light, bathing the dome-like structure downwards from atop and peeking from the doors he surmised Fafnir opened from in a hurry moments ago.
It was warm, and that wasn't all either.
The details of the curtain-like veils that covered his canopy bed, the ones of the many pieces of cloth that dangled from atop it. They had never been this transparent, this thin, and most importantly, this refined…
His newfound dainty hand traveled the distance to Tiamat's and touched the letter. Upon grasping it in the most literal of senses, his confusion doubled. YGGDRASIL had no sense of touch, that was against the laws for VR, so that one might not get too entangled in it and mistake it for real life. And now that he thought of it..
..YGGDRASIL didn't have the possibility for NPCs to talk. Not because of some VIP package or anything, but because it was literally impossible. Code can only do so much, and creating an AI so human-like in the limited lines you are given is just..
'..not possible.'
Asmoday remained silent now, absolute focus dominating his mind, unlike when he first woke up.
The facts. I need to recount the facts. Just like a strategy game. Think Loyis, think..
I'm supposed to have logged off YGGDRASIL. That much he knew.
The game ended.
His mind was working a thousand miles per hour with alien precision and cold logic, it felt sharp and on point for the first time in a while. Sodas and energy drinks so he wouldn't come home from work completely fatigued had done quite a number on it in the last months..
So am I dreaming?
No. Can't be, I already ruled that one out. Sensations don't apply to dreams.
His gaze went to Tiamat and Fafnir in another part of the room, if somewhere so big with only a bed could fit the criteria needed to be called such. They were currently talking amongst the two of them, calmly discussing something he could easily hear even at such a distance, though he tuned it out.
Hallucinations then..? Maybe the outside's pollution is causing them? The civilian safety services should've long arrived if it were so severe though...
Such were the thoughts occupying his mind as of now.
But no.. Suzuki, Momonga, he's real.
And they mentioned him…
His focus was interrupted by a questioning voice as a figure of medium-height approached.
"Mother, I apologize if it might sound disrespectful, but… Is something troubling you?" Tiamat watched the figure of her Mother still, if it could get any more still than it already was.
It had already been a couple minutes since her last word was spoken, and her gaze had been wandering the empty space in front of her for quite some time, as well as looking at her and her Brother not with the usual eyes she'd offer them. More.. dubious. As if they'd vanish if she stared too long or hard. Something that certainly didn't help soothe her worries.
" ' What's troubling me? ' you ask… " a moment passed as Tiamat gulped the slightest bit, had she offended her Mother? She wondered. That would be the gravest of Sins indeed, "It's just.. weirdly..real. All of this.. what happened while we were in YGGDRASIL.. and how it happened.. ''
Though Asmoday's voice came out as a hush and spoken way too fast, yet the thoughts behind it were as calm as the sea on a windless day for some reason.
Tiamat nodded. Unsure of how to respond because of her lack of in depth-knowledge regarding this 'YGGDRASIL' Asmoday spoke of. She exchanged a look with Fafnir, who motioned with his head that he had not much of an idea either. Sure, they did know something, but it wasn't nearly enough to help their Mother resolve whatever she seemed so pensive about.
She took in another breath, " 'YGGDRASIL' ? As in the World Outside, Mother? Where you ventured oftentimes?".
"Y-Yeah. That one… do you.. know anything about it?" Asmoday tried asking, her brow raised the slightest bit.
"Some things. Most I've been told by you, as you know. Or have learned by myself when we went to battle enemies in those dusty old caves. I'm afraid I have no information you might not already know of yourself… I'm sorry.. " What was the reason for the sudden curiosity? She idly wondered, more as an afterthought than an actual question. It wasn't important at all, and she wouldn't expect an answer nor want one. If her Mother needed to know more about YGGDRASIL, she'd help her all the way, and in all the ways she could no matter what, and a not-so-bad idea did come to mind indeed.
So no help there, as expected.. Asmoday's thoughts were racing towards a totally different place, Though, dusty caves..? Does she mean Dungeons? She remembers Dungeon Raids..?
Their conversation came to a halt with a nod from Asmoday. His full focus back to the current matter of most importance: what in the hell was happening, and making sense of it.
A hundred new ideas sprung in Asmoday's mind out of seemingly nowhere when he asked himself that. Yet the most part was discarded the very second he brought them up in his thoughts. A moment later, upon reaching no definite conclusion, he steeled himself.
The letter he grasped read 'Momonga' on the outside, and had quite the refined look. He opened it,
" Serieene.
I am sure you find yourself confused, I was too when I noticed the situation. Don't panic. I'll explain everything that is happening the very moment we meet up. For now however, know that the NPCs are - as I'm sure you've noticed - somehow alive. Just as alive as us, who have somehow seemingly become our Avatars. I've taken the time to confirm this, and I have no doubt I'm just as much an Overlord as I was human but a couple hours ago.
I know this may sound crazy.. well, what part of this doesn't? But I think we've somehow been transported to another dimension or something.
I ask that you contact me through the spell [Message] whenever you are able to. When I awakened, you were in some sort of deep sleep, and no matter how much I tried to shake you or call you, you wouldn't wake up. In the meantime, I asked that Tiamat bring you to Elysium to rest as I sorted out the situation and gathered whatever info I could to later share with you. I was very worried for you, but If you are reading this you must be fine after all, thank goodness.
Welcome home, my best friend. Our treasured Nazarick is still with us."
He moved to fold the letter back to its original form, but while he did so it vanished from both his grasp and existence. Momonga must have used enchanted paper… as meticulous as ever.
Having "become" their Avatars? it sounded insane.. and yet, was also his conclusion. No matter what he did to try to sway his mind off of it, it just wouldn't bulge for some reason. As if it knew that that was the right answer and refused to believe in the wrong.
At the same time, such a thing was far beyond VR. It was an absurd notion. But so was virtual reality a couple centuries ago. So was space-travel. And so was Earth becoming nothing but a wasteland. His inner wisdom kept arguing.
All the proof Asmoday needed was right in front of him, waiting to be grasped at and tested. He wasn't about to completely discard his friend's word either, as much as he was a joker at times.
Asmoday looked around, the room was currently empty of other people. After having reassured both that he was fine, he had asked Tiamat and Fafnir to go on about their day and leave him some quiet, so that he may sort out his scrambled thoughts. Not that there was much to sort since apparently there seemed to be something that was doing the work for him.
Could it be because of my lore..?
He took in a sharp breath, slightly shaky out of uncertainty, the thought discarded for now as unimportant. Whatever it was, wherever it came from, it was helping him, and that was enough.
There was only one way to know whether something as drastic as YGGDRASIL becoming reality had truly somehow happened. And that was doing something that could only be done in YGGDRASIL.
I could try casting magic.. or use a skill.
Or maybe I could try to turn into my dragon fo-
As Asmoday's thoughts halted at the obvious implication, a faint pitch-black darkness engulfed his body, one that kept growing in intensity by the instant.
"Oh, no. Bad! VERY BAD! Nonono! I DIDN'T MEAN THA-" The soft voice turned mighty. Rumbling.
He jumped off the bed and mmediately he recognized the effects of this particular skill of his.. 『Dragonification』. Though he couldn't quite see it, his dignified appearance, that external veil of grace that covered Asmoday's true nature was abruptly lifted.
His mind was in a complete marvel daze, the shock of before long forgotten. He didn't quite know what was happening to him, nor could he feel any discomfort from that warm darkness that embraced his newfound body moments ago. His perspective of his surroundings soon changed, now towering well above where it initially was, not quite touching the incredibly tall ceiling though, thanks to Asmoday's effort to remain in as compact a position as they came.
His horns grew, the sound of crumbling walls and unfurling magnificent wings accompanying them. The great, pristine walls of his chambers, thoroughly enchanted, were not able to protect against the might of his『Dragonification』, even with him giving it his all to not destroy anything. The moment he managed to instinctively stop the transformation halfway and return to normal, in a much faster fashion than before, he found himself floating mid-air in his humanoid form. Only to realize he wasn't actually flying or anything, merely finding himself mid-air the instant he returned to normal, something which ultimately ended in him falling meters on end down onto the exquisite carpet below him face-first.
'That was.. not painful at all.. Wow..' He felt a slight awe stirring at the thought.
Expected though the damage done to the walls was, when he brought up his face from the carpet, and his eyes landed on the major holes in the walls… it wasn't something he could say he felt exactly proud of. Though he had to admit it was good on him for having stopped the morphing process in time, since his full Dragon form would definitely have caused even greater damage. Its taller stature, bigger size and all.
Still. How was he at fault when the skill triggered the instant he felt himself develop the slightest intention of using it, let alone actually use it.
' I guess it's not like there's a menu I can click on anymore.. should've been common sense.. '
That thought however went completely forgotten when he remembered the last thing he saw before his major mess-up.
His reflection in the enormous mirror. Or more like, her reflection in the mirror. Asmoday's.
In that moment, two things that he had been postponing in his mind as insane and not possible had become impossible to negate as the truth.
First. He was a Dragon. Epic.
Second. If he was a Dragon, and he was now Asmoday…
Asmoday looked down, only to find long hair with flaming red tips descending to her waist, a pair of breasts and a beautiful dress as well as some simple but of the highest quality almost heel-like shoes.
"I'm a girl.." He stated aloud.
He hadn't quite thought of that up until now. Though he didn't quite know how much time had passed since he awoke either, and it definitely wasn't much. So it could be somewhat justified, given how he had witnessed his own creations seemingly come to life and turned into a Dragon all in what felt like minutes. All the while his mind seemed to be in a totally different place and refused to comply with what he thought he would be feeling.
But it still felt weird how just about nothing of his completely different stature, hair, vision... hell, different body altogether had felt unusual.
' Instead..' , he took a couple steps from where he had landed when he returned to his human form, ' It feels totally.. weirdly.. and most of all unexpectedly... normal. '
Asmoday inspected her body, but no matter how much time she spent doing so, all of it felt natural, as if he had been born this way.
That chain of thought was soon broken, her memories reminding her that she had yet to do something since she awoke. Excitement accompanied by a confident smile taking over her features.
The very moment she prepared to cast Magic for the first time, in but a moment her mind flashed with the hundreds upon hundreds of spells she had learned, both her instinct and reason itself suggesting he'd already long mastered their usage beyond all practice.
Suddenly all the jumble in Asmoday's head seemed to order itself and a strange calculated calmness, similar to what he felt before, but much more radical and somewhat more.. natural - one that normally someone would expect to be born only from years of experience - took over.
It felt as if the intention to cast alone was enough to finally start-up a Second Nature of sorts that had laid dormant up until that point. Something which would've been thoroughly appreciated prior to her almost tearing his chambers to rubble.
"[Message]", Asmoday spoke aloud. Though in truth she didn't quite know if she needed to do so. In YGGDRASIL players normally just spoke the names of the spells as courtesy to their fellow allies, not for any need of actual casting.
[{Momonga, are you there..?}] Uncertainty seeped into her tone.
A beep-like sound echoed in her mind, before it was replaced with a voice she was so damn happy to hear.
[{Asmoday-san! You're awake! }] She could hear the smile in his voice.
[{Yup! I'm so happy to hear your voice Momonga.. so.. it's true then..?}]
[{You mean what I wrote in the letter? Yes. Very much so.}] The Overlord paused,
He then continued,
[{You haven't tested it for yourself yet? I had thought you'd immediately discard messaging me right away and go around casting whatever came to your mind. }]
Asmoday rolled her eyes. He wasn't wrong though. And she'd definitely go and do that right about… well, when the conversation ended. She cheekily smirked.
[{I want to see you in person, Momonga, so we can better discuss our.. situation. And you can also properly update me on what you've been up to so far.}]
[{I couldn't have said it better Asmoday-san. I imagine you're still in Elysium?}]
[{Yeah. To be honest, I woke up just about half an hour ago or something like that. I didn't really have the time to do much beside realize what was happening and make a mess of the place.}] She lightly grunted. Her chambers had a couple damn holes in them now...
[{Make a mess of the place…?}] He questioned.
[{A-Ah.. I-.. I'll elaborate more when we meet! Yes..! When we meet. Anyways! Where?}]
[{I'd like to meet as soon as possible, but I'm not finished with something yet. You can take some time to yourself and play around with your powers a bit, get used to them. Though I'll tell you, I'm just about as used as you could be myself, does that apply to you too?}]
She wondered for a moment, but the answer was quite obvious.
[{Yeah. Definitely. At first I kind of messed up with something, but since that It's like I turned a switch on and now everything's perfect. Though I'll still do some testing and let you know. About the place then?}]
[{Let's keep it in Elysium. In a couple hours, sound good?}]
Her brow raised, [{Sure, but.. Elysium? How so?}]
[{I've been to most of Nazarick since YGGDRASIL came true, but I sent for Tiamat to bring you to there, so I've yet to see it. Plus I'm also sure you want to admire your place for as long as you can before we step into Nazarick or out of it. Would you prefer otherwise?}]
The Overlord's concerned voice came through the mental link.
The corners of Asmoday's mouth tugged upwards,
[{No, it's fine. Sounds good then, I'll see you in the next couple hours at the Helios Plaza.}]
[{Very well. See you later my friend.}] A final beep cut off the conversation between the two.
She sighed pleased, giving one last look at a few missing parts of the wall that lay on the floor. A smile graced her features, excitement and happiness building up at the prospect that the world Loyis, the Earthling who was clearly not here anymore, for he had fused with a fictional character to become what Asmoday currently was; had been living in virtually for the past years day after day, had become his new reality.
Asmoday lifted her arm in front of her as she issued a single, absolute command to the familiar presence lurking in her mind.
『 Heartseeker』… Come to me.
The air above her was fiercely split and the mellow ringing of metal sounded through it in the form of vibrations. There, from that small opening in the ceiling, an object could be seen speeding and twirling towards the ground, obscured by the light that encompassed it.
The weapon moved with untold speed, its shimmering tip unmistakeable, until it found itself in Asmoday's grasp, finally having stopped its course. She brought the magnificent halberd down to the floor with a clash and the incredibly large room, sturdy though it was, resounded with echoes of metal hitting pristine white marble.
Heartseeker responded to Asmoday's call promptly, something she was pleased to see. Its shaft was made out of one of YGGDRASIL's very branches and was covered by an otherworldly metal. Even just at its sight, it glowed with a hue of power.
She smirked the slightest bit.
After a couple seconds or so of admiring and moving around the halberd, though in truth it wasn't necessarily only a halberd since it could change and form, the Dragon snapped her fingers, no longer feeling the need to consciously focus in order to use her skills.
The world around her blurred as『Wordly Traversal』, a skill of hers, manifested its imperative authority to Space. Her body blinked out of existence in an instant, as the sound that accompanied the occurrence suddenly cut off just as quickly in an eerie way. The moment her surroundings came back into focus, she found herself standing atop the incredibly tall Sky-Reacher Tower, leaving dead silence to reign in her chambers.
She materialized slightly above in the air and she gracefully landed on the rod atop the Sky-Reacher's ceiling that was the apex height of Elysium, a single foot on her tip-toes balancing her from falling while she gazed down. From up there she could spot tens of towers, a slightly smaller room, three domes: one bigger than the others, a chapel, must be the Grand Hall, that one, she thought as she looked at yet another chapel-like structure down below. And in the distance, the Helios Plaza, where she needed to go.
An even larger smile made its way to Asmoday's visage, Heartseeker no longer anywhere to be seen, already in its ethereal form so that it could be summoned at will and its powers could still be used.
She willingly lost her balance and plummeted in a controlled manner down the castle's towers, jumping from wall to wall, ceiling to ceiling.
Wow… The sheer fun she was having at just leaping from place to place was unmatched, this is amazing! She giggled.
The cold air brushed against her face as her acrobatics became more and more complex. Flips and mid-air rotations of all kinds that would land precisely where she wanted came off as natural to her now. Sure, she could've used 『Wordly Traversal』to get to the plaza faster, but where would the fun be in that? She reasoned, she was in no haste after all.
Thus did her parkour fun continue for some time.
Fair aquamarine scrutinized each and every label as a certain individual gracefully walked amidst the sea of high-tier tomes and precious books that was the legendary archive of Nazarick, where all knowledge would be stored for further use.
She was currently sitting on a wooden ladder that rested on one of the many bookshelves of the Library of Ashurbanipal.
She deflated.
Sigh.. None of this is what Mother's looking for…
Tiamat brought the book she had taken back into the shelf.
I'll have to look in the other sections, perhaps I'll find something there.
A new voice interrupted her thoughts as a red robe made itself known in her peripheral vision.
"My..! Mine own eyes aren't deceiving me, art those gents? Mistress Tiamat, 'tis good to see you here!" The velvet-clothed bony skeletal mage spoke.
This was Ashurbanipal, the keeper of the library. Him and Tiamat were on good terms, she'd oftentimes come in the library along with her Mother and Ashurbanipal would offer his help to her, only asking for minor favors in exchange.
An elegant beam graced Tiamat's mouth before she spoke.
"Well, well, if it isn't my favorite keeper? Hello there Ashurbanipal, it's good to see you too."
The skeleton mage moved towards her, though no expression could be seen on his skull made out of all kinds of bones, she knew he felt as delighted to see her as she did him.
"So, what endues thee h're mine own lady?"
She moved off of the ladder, "Truth be told, It's a bit of a private affair… Though I was wondering, you wouldn't happen to possess any YGGDRASIL-related books, would you?"
A hand went to Ashurbanipal's chin as a couple seconds or so passed.
"Mmhm.. Forsooth, th're art a multitude. Just nay in this section, shalt I guide thee to them?"
The pale blue haired Dragon took five or six seconds to respond, her gaze having grown much more serious and focused in that time.
"Thanks Ashurbanipal. But I have something urgent to attend to, perhaps later?"
He bowed slightly, "As thee wisheth. Please sendeth mine own most respectful regards to thy broth'r and most wondrous moth'r, Supreme One Asmoday."
"I will. Talk to you later!" She nodded and disappeared behind the great doors in a hurry.
Moments passed and one last jump got Asmoday to the borders of the Helios Plaza. She couldn't help but marvel at its beauty. It was inspired by how the ancient Roman Circus Maximus looked, though it remained in line with the color palette of Elysium by being made out of marble and sand, along with some columns on top of which were golden braziers currently not lit. Because of that, as well as the fact that the constant twilight didn't produce enough light, it was currently the only completely dark place in Elysium.
Red fabric gently swung back and forth as charcoal low heels descended the ramp of stairs leading to the inside of the Helios Plaza, though in truth it functioned more as an arena than a proper plaza, reason for which she was currently here.
Fwoosh!
Some distance behind her she heard a faint sound, that of wings.
She turned toward it as a joyful expression made its way to her face, "Tiamat! I'm glad you came!"
The girl walked up to Asmoday and bowed a bit as a greeting, "Mother. It's good to see you're back to your usual cheer ," Her voice and tone, though sweet, would've come off as disrespectful to some others. But she knew it wouldn't to Asmoday, whenever they were alone, formality - though important - wouldn't be as important.
"Yeah.. I agree. It's… good to be back. Sorry about what happened back in the castle, I was still a bit confused."
"No need to apologise, Mother. I received your [Message], how may I help?" Her slit eyes held the well hidden desire to just spend time with Asmoday, but she was called here, so she was needed for something. Meaning it wasn't the time.
Asmoday motioned with her head towards where she was headed seconds ago, Tiamat closely following in her steps after nodding. They reached the center of the long arena, a light frown on Asmoday's face for the first time since coming to this world.
"Man, It really is too dark out here..." She could still see of course, clearly so, too. Which might've been thanks to her new Dragon physiology, now that she thought of it. But with the Helios Plaza being overshadowed by the castle, compared to when she woke up in her chambers and looked around, it felt as if her surroundings were.. incomplete. Like picture in black and white.
"Allow me, Mother." Tiamat's sweet voice sounded as she raised her arm, but was instead stopped by a smirking Asmoday.
"No need, Tiamat. I've been feeling.. Ah.. Ahmm.. How to say this? Groggy, since I woke up. Which is also why you're here, I wanted to spar a bit." Tiamat's eyes widened, though she spoke not.
"But first," Asmoday no longer looked at Tiamat, instead letting her eyes fall on the braziers up top, "let's fix this irritating darkness, shall we?"
She took one last glance to where all the columns were placed.
"... 『Elemental Breath』" She spoke calmly.
She twirled her finger in a circular motion, through a precise use of the variation of『Breath』each brazier lit up in a glorious fashion as eight bright flames blazed to life, one for each column.
Proud of the results she took another look at Tiamat.
"So.. are you ready?" She questioned.
"..For?"
"Our spar, of course!"
