Disclaimer: I don't own anything, not even the soundtracks. Danmachi belongs to Fujino Ōmori, Final Fantasy XV belongs to Square Enix.

Is it wrong to seek answers?

Chapter 38: Chat on the balcony and the hot spring

VARIOUS PARTS – IVY MANSION - LATE EVENING

After opening the door, Noct left the meeting room. Alicia, Tiona, and Tione as well as some of the Dia Familia, saw how Noct came outside rather fast.

„uh … " Tiona wanted to ask him if something is wrong, only to see that Noct suddenly started running away, which shocked herself, her sister, and even Alicia.

When Noct finally came to the end of the corridor, he reached the large balcony he saw earlier when he and Prima looked for Ravus.

This time he decided to go outside, maybe the fresh air could calm him down.

And luckily, the balcony door was open.

After he came outside, he put his arms on the balcony fence and looked at the slightly cloudly before looking towards Orario's skyline.

Right now he was processing the fact that the murderer of his' father and Ravus' both parents apparently is also in this world.

Noct didn't understand why scum like that also had the right to come in this peaceful world. Well, for Noct this world seemed much more peaceful than he knew about Eos.

After a while, Noctis heard the balcony door open.

(OPENING: Sawano Hiroyuki nZK: Mizuki – e of s)

When he turned his head, he saw Ravus coming outside, joining him.

"Hey ..." Ravus said.

"Hey ... " Noctis said back.

While Ravus also put his two arms on the fence, it was silent for a while, until they saw the few clouds disappeared, revealing the glowing full-moon, which shined as bright as yesterday evening.

„When we faced that bastard Glauca … " Ravus started explaining.

„ … he mentioned the possibility that Luna could also be here, somewhere … "

It was silent again for some seconds until Noctis answered:

„ that bastard Eleazar also mentioned the same thing," Noct said with slight anger in his voice.

Ravus' expression turned slightly into that of anger, „this was the whole reason why we decided to move towards Orario since it's considered to be the center of this world, I and even Nyx hoped to find Luna here somewhere, but as you can see … " Ravus suddenly stopped because he and Noctis felt a nice cold breeze.

„ … But I still didn't give up the hope that Luna is somewhere here, that's why we are still looking for her. Even with the conglomerate, we will try to find others like us, to give them a chance to talk with us, that's how I at least how I hope to find my dear sister." Ravus explained.

„And with that, I will help you, of course, brother-in-law." Noctis said slightly mockingly.

At this statement, Ravus looked at Noct. At first with a surprised expression, only to suddenly smirk and then to start laughing, to which Noctis joined too.

„back then I would've punched you for addressing me like that, you know, probably even more than I did with your 'Shield', what was his name again? " Ravus stated.

„you mean Gladio, yeah I remember how hard you hit him and how he flew towards our Regalia." Noctis remembered one of his best friends.

Both princes continued laughing until Noctis asked: „I often wonder if they're alright without you, you know? "

„well, I believe they'll manage it, If Ignis is in charge, and Aranea" Ravus answered.

„yeah … " Noct said while remembering the said Dragoon, only to suddenly remember about Goddess Demeter and her large breasts, and the argument he had with Hestia because of that.

„Noctis ?" Ravus asked, seeing that Noct was somewhere else with his thoughts.

„what? … " Noctis suddenly asked while 'coming back'.

Embarrassed by the thoughts he had while Ravus was beside him, he tried to distract these thoughts by another question

„say, how do you think would Luna react when she would've seen you with Riveria? " Noctis asked.

Ravus, surprised by his question, answered: „well, I do believe she wouldn't stop looking towards her pointed ears."

Both men laughed again.

„so you doubt that she would fell unconscious, like Prima? " Noctis asked

„oh damn it, I've forgotten that ... " Ravus said while putting his stretched right hand in front of his face, „I'll have to explain it to her as well."

Noctis smirked again.

„How did you both started to date in the first place? " Noctis wondered.

„oh that's a quite funny story, you wanna hear? " Ravus suggested

„Yeah, why not." Noctis agreed.

And so Ravus started to explain how he met the famous high-elf and how they started to date. Ravus explained it quietly, with the fear that someone might eavesdrop them, which was very plausible considering that many guests were nearby, not to mention members the Loki Familia like Alicia and Lefiya, or Hedin, whom Ravus especially wanted to avoid hearing that.

Luckily, no one seemed to eavesdrop them.

18th FLOOR - RIVIRIA – 5 YEARS AGO

This year has been a rather hard year for Orario, as Ravus remembered. Because it has been three days before that particular day where he met Riveria for the first time in person.

That was, in retrospect, a rather depressing day for Orario because in three days from now on, a certain famous adventurer will cause a rampage that will nearly destroy a certain famous terrorist organization.

Ravus, who two years ago reached Level 6, as well as the other members of the Dia Familia, currently around 50 members, among them 3 other prominent members, namely: Nick, Crowe, Pelna as well as other high-class adventurers of the Dia Familia were on their journey back from the 44th floor, now resting in the 18th Floor, the Dungeon's save haven, where the very young supporters, Iris, Lucia and Oriana, all three of them at level 2, were waiting and protecting their tents for them.

Right now, Ravus was attending a small meeting among the Dia Familia's executives.

„So what's next to discuss? " Pelna asked.

„ Loki Familia's captain, 'Braver' Finn Deimne, heard of our presence and gave us this letter, where he wished for our two Familias to meet since they said they'll remain in Riviria for three days until they return as well. " Nick explained.

„did they requested something special? " Crowe wondered.

„no, an least they didn't mention anything to us." Nick answered.

„I doubt the Loki Familia has any profound intentions towards us since none of them caused us any trouble." Pelna explained his point of view.

„the only thing they might ask us is for Information on the 41st floor, I can't think of anything else they would seek from us." Crowe said her point of view as well.

„what do you say, captain? " Nick asked.

Ravus remained silent for a moment, „did they said when they want us to meet? "

„Uhm, the letter states in the evening at a bonfire, " Nick said.

„then we'll attend, I doubt it would cause us any trouble if two powerful Familias have a friendly encounter. But since our prey needs to be protected, one of us needs to stay here." Ravus said.

Now everyone looked rather dumbfounded by Ravus' decision. Ravus knew that most wanted to officially meet the Loki Familia, but not at the expense of their prey.

Ravus stood up, „I'll leave this decision among you until then, I think that's everything for today, if you excuse me, I need some alone time, " he said while leaving the tent.

Since he was stressed and overwrought, Ravus headed towards one of the hot springs while hoping that no one is using it. The hot spring Ravus saw was rather large and had a ring-like rock formation, only that there were two breaches, making it possible to enter between the rock formation without being disturbed. Luckily, he didn't sense anyone inside the formation.

After he finally reached a fitting hiding spot around the hot spring, Ravus started to put down his adventurer-uniform, then he hid his uniform behind a nearby rock, where it was hidden safely between the rock and a bush. Before he put down his underpants, he already entered the hot spring. After putting down his underpants as well, he carelessly threw them behind him while finally starting enjoying the warm hot spring alone.

As he finally goes inside the rock formation, Ravus leaned against the rock with his back, closing his eyes while undisturbed enjoying the silence, and the warm water of course.

While leaning against the rock, Ravus recalled some of his memories. Ravus recalled the memories of how he recruited his 'new brothers and sisters', which includes Lucia, Iris, and Oriana. Of course, he also counted Nyx, Crowe, and Pelna as his siblings. That's also the reason he allows his Familia members to address him with 'older brother' or just 'brother'. And since he's been accepted and acknowledged as the Dia Familia's captain, Ravus has sworn to protect his new siblings, since he didn't want to make the same mistake he did with his biological sister. He also thought of his beloved sister Lunafreya.

'Lunafreya', he wondered how much of what General Glauca said is truth. Was Luna also possibly in this world? It's possible, since he, Nyx, and the other two died as well. But he searched for her, at least in Orario and all nearby Cities and Countries, which lie between Orario and Crystallum.

His thoughts and undisturbed silence stopped as he heard two voices, two female voices.

„thank you for accompanying me, Alicia, I can watch on my own, you don't need to be bothered anymore."

„don't worry my lady, It's no bother to me at all, and besides, you surely know how much of a disgrace I'll become for everyone if some man would see you like this, just because I was careless." the girl, named Alicia, explained to her presumably superior, who also seemed to enter the hot spring.

Ravus, who heard their small conversation, suddenly became slightly nervous. Not only because a woman was possibly taking a bath in the same hot spring as him, but also because he could feel that one of them was a first-class-adventurer, much like him. 'I have a bad feeling about this' Ravus thought while trying to think of something.

He tried it for around two minutes but then decided to look if those two women were still there, maybe making just a small dive for refreshment.

As Ravus reached one of the rock formation's edge, he peered around, looking if one of the women was there. At first, he didn't saw anybody, but as soon as he slowly went out, he saw a young woman with light-orange hair, what's more, it was a female light orange-haired Elf, who luckily wasn't looking towards his direction.

Ravus slowly but surely, and quietly went back inside between the rock formations.

But this time he went back backward, in case that he could see if the light-orange haired elven girl would come around the hot spring towards his field of vision.

But as he went backward, he bumped into something unusual. It wasn't hard rock, because it wasn't that hard. What's more, whatever he bumped into, it moved. Did some animal or monster form the Dungeon entered the hot spring as well? 'No, if that's the case then it would start screaming or the like'

Then it hit him, 'oh s**t' he thought with a nervous and slightly embarrassed expression. He wasn't hitting on a monster or simple animal. It was a person. And what's more, it's the other female he heard talking back there because Ravus could feel her energy.

Ravus stood still for a while, since he knew there would be justice if he was about to see a woman naked at a hot spring, and as the captain of a powerful Familia, he couldn't afford that kind of judgment, not only because his fellow comrades might laugh at him for eternity but also because his Familia's Image would be damaged.

But Ravus knew he had to solve this situation skill- and careful.

„Just to be clear..." Ravus started talking, but more quietly so that only the woman behind her could hear him, „... I was the first one here, but since I don't wish to cause any trouble, I'll leave immediately."

„I think that's impossible right now." Ravus heard the female's quiet voice for the first time.

„why? " Ravus asked, also still quietly.

„you already saw her, right? If you were about to leave right now, my subordinate Alicia won't hold back for sure. She's on high alert right now." the female stated with a rather serious voice.

Ravus remained quietly for some seconds, „do you think she'll remain on that spot she's right now."

The female remained quiet for a while as well, „I'm not sure about that, why ?"

„because of my clothes. I hid them of course, but when you claim that your subordinate is on high alert … "

„she doesn't seem to move right now, and if you've hidden your clothes safely, then I guess there's no reason to be worried too much." the female reassured him

„Hmm, it seems I have no other choice than to stay here" Ravus concluded while still being nervous since it's he never thought to be in such a situation after all, „may I ask, who are you ?"

„I'm Riveria Ljos Alf, Vice-Captain of the Loki Familia, and you ?"

„I'm Ravus Nocks, Captain of the Dia Familia" Ravus introduced himself, „I didn't expect to meet the famous high-elf of the Loki Familia, especially not like this."

„I also didn't expect for the also famous 'silvershark' to waylaying me at these waters."

„I never intended as you may guess, I hope you don't see my presence here as some kind of provocation towards your familia as well as towards your kind." Ravus stated.

„I admit that I was rather careless for not noticing that someone is already using this hot spring, so I won't fell provoked under no circumstances, even not if you want to look at me "

Ravus stood still again, did he heard her right, „please, could you repeat that I think I may misunderstand..."

„I allow you to look at me." Riveria said again.

At first, Ravus wasn't sure if he should really do it, but since she clearly doesn't mind, he slowly started to turn his head towards her.

After he turned his head, he saw a very beautiful, green-haired, and green-eyed female Elf. What's more, she was also as naked as himself. The only thing staying between her naked body and Ravus' eyes was her towel she held in front of herself.

Even her chest is larger than he could imagine, maybe even as larges those of the Dragoon Aranea Highwind, whom he met during his time in the Niflheim Empire, as he remembered, in any case, those were above average, as Ravus suggested while still looking towards Riveria's chest.

„hmm hmm" Riveria grunted slightly.

„I'm sorry, "Ravus now noticed that he was staring at her, which made him looking away again, blushing, „now I'm sure that I'll get death penalties in all Elven Forests around the world for this sight."

„only when someone else finds out" Riveria corrected him while Ravus saw how she was about to leave.

„you're leaving already? " Ravus wondered with a slightly sad expression on his face.

„you want me to stay ? " Riveria asked while looking back towards the Dia Familia Captain's bare muscles.

Ravus looked away shyly, which made Riveria chuckle for a moment.

„If I'm not mistaken, our Familias are going to meet this evening anyway, see you then." Riveria said.

Riveria started to go out of the rock formation. Ravus heard how she called her subordinate Alicia to collect her clothes so that she can put them on.

After Ravus felt their presence slowly disappearing, he dared to come out.

As he got out of the hot spring, Ravus, still naked, went for the spot where he has hidden his clothes.

But as soon as he took them out, he found out that a very particular part of his clothes was missing.

'my underpants' he thought shockingly while realizing that he lost them.

While remembering how this could happen, he remembered that he carelessly throw them behind him before going inside the hot spring.

At this point, he turned his head towards said hot spring. He looked around, hoping that no one would come here soon, then he started to look at the waters again, only to realize that his underpants were nowhere to be found.

After putting his clothes on, without his underpants, he went straight back to his Familia's quarters.

(ENDING: FM-84 - Running In The Night (feat. Ollie Wride))