Name: Kise ? (Kise means dress, dressing , clothing or cloth. Pronounced: Key - Say.)

Blood type: -O (O negative)

Age: 12

Birthday: Khrysaor 9th (Second to last month of the year.)

Class: Shogun

Hair color: Blond

Eye color: Bright blue

Hometown: Kise is suffering from a serious case of amnesia and can only remember a few things. Her hometown is not one of them.

Height: 5'1"

Notes: Kise is Kujura's apprentice. Kise is not considered Marin's apprentice because Marin didn't train her much. There's nothing much to say about her since she is a rather important character. She lost ten years of her memory, and only has two years that she remembers. And those were the years when she met Kujura and Marin. Kise is a fast learner, and pretends to be stupid in order to gain attention. She is very wise. She is apparently Meru's sister. She doesn't even know if that's true. Kise fights in a unique style. She interprets her enemy's movements by seeing which muscles they are moving , and guessing what they are going to do next. Kise is rather annoying ,and the only person who can deal with her is Kujura. Kise tends to laugh like "Kisekisekise". So she technically laughs her name. Kise loves oranges because they remind her of her older brother. He was the one of the only things she could remember. He suddenly vanished one day. Kise remembers him and named the red headband that she wears after him. Marin does research on why Kise lost her memories, and she knows that Kise is also suffering from multi-personality disorder. Kise has grown quite fond to Marin and Kujura. She sees Marin as her motherly figure, and she openly pointed out that if she didn't find her relatives that she might start calling Kujura her older brother.

Pros: She is a great leader, and good at planning. She is good at hand-to-hand combat, and she's a master at using katanas. She's able to use both of her hands well. She can also juggle.

Cons: She's really annoying and she can be oblivious. She pretends to be stupid in order to get attention when she's smart. She doesn't know that she might have dangerous personalities. She's also very forgetful. She never stops talking and if she does she vibrates. She doesn't stop moving.

Hobbies: Eating oranges, following Kujura and Marin, studying the human body,being a pain, and drawing with her left hand.

Chapter Twelve: The Unexpected Tyrants

"Marin." Marin heard the high pitched voice call out to her. "Marin, wake up." It was Kise. Marin squinted at Kise before she turned away from her. "Kujura, she's not getting up."

"Do something."

"But... What if she hurts me?" Kise slowly pulled Marin's pillow away from her. Marin snatched the pillow from Kise and Kise fell on the bed.

"What do you two want?" Marin rubbed her head.

"W-we made you breakfast." Kise got up from the bed.

Marin sat up on her bed and glared at the duo. "What did you do that for?" She asked, but she already knew the answer.

"Well, I got a little worried when you didn't show up last night... You were supposed to watch Flowdia's dog." Kise started to think about the time where she was supposed to watch that dog. Ever since then, she was banned from doing so.

Marin stood up. "Then why did you bring Kujura?" Marin began to make her bed. "It's not like he was worried."

Kise fell silent. "Uh... He was just following me." She spoke.

"Liars." Marin murmured to herself. Marin walked over to a book shelf in her room and pulled out a book that was labeled "Specimens".

"Marin, why is your house so big?" Kise asked when they were at the dining room. Marin wasn't touching her food at all. Instead she was staring at Kujura. Marin didn't reply to Kise's question for sometime.

"I'm the second richest person in Armoroad." Marin muttered as she poked the pancake on her plate. "That old man Elval is the richest person here currently." Marin looked out the window, and saw Pandora's face on it. She was laughing at her. Marin stood up and began to walk away.

"Where are you going?" Kise asked.

"I'm not hungry." Marin left the two in her house.

"She heard us." Kujura suddenly spoke.

Kise frowned. "How are we going to keep an eye on her if she's already watching us?"

Kujura shrugged in response. "I have something to do on the fourth floor ,Kise. It would be best if you stayed here."

"Okay!" Kise shouted. Kise felt a bit lonely when Kujura left. She realized that Marin had left that book she had earlier on the table. Kise peered out the window, and went toward the book. She flipped through a few pages, and stopped at the twenty fifth page. That page was labeled "Third specimen: Kise". Kise stared at the page and there seemed to be a little report on the page. There were also pictures. She narrowed her eyes , and proceeded to read it.

Third Specimen: Kise

Kise... She's a very unique girl. I guess. She has severe amnesia, and I worry that she erased her own memories. All of the proof led up to that. Especially when she speaks of her brother. She only remembers him, and only likes thing that remind her of him. It seems like something terrible happened to her and her brother.

Kise also seems to have more than one personality. This is only a theory since it can only be supported by small pieces of evidence. There were a few times where Kise would go out of character, and completely forget about it later. And that is a symptom of the multi-personality disorder. (Kise tends to sat we, us, and Kises. She also references to "the voices".) This could also be a reason for her memory loss.

Kise seems to be very dependent on Kujura and myself. I've come to the conclusion that Kise is afraid of being left alone. If she is she doesn't panic, but she'll do something to bring some else's attention toward her. (E.G.: There was a time where I left Kise in a room alone once. And by the time I came back she was wearing a vase on her head.) This makes me assume that she was left alone ,and was without her brother. Kise also dazes out when she isn't mentioned, when she sees something that reminds her of her past, or when she is alone.

Kise gazed at the book and tore that page out. She wasn't aware of what she was feeling. She wasn't feeling herself. Marin wrote reports on her? That report reminded her of when Marin used to despise her. Kise really wished that she knew how she met Kujura and Marin. Kise closed the book and took Marin's plate of pancakes. She sat down on the floor and began to eat them. She felt a burning heat in her head. She ignored it.

See, Kise? I told you.

"Leave me alone." Kise spoke with her mouth full.

If you had just let me protect you this wouldn't have happened.

"I'm not going to get angry... I want to go find Kujura." Kise said to herself. That heat from before wasn't leaving, and the voice kept on nagging her.

"Do you want to get me fired?" Marin whispered to Pandora.

Pandora's facial expression saddened. "What? No. They are considering that?"

"Yes." Marin put her palm to her face.

"Don't worry... I'll make sure that it doesn't happen!" Pandora smiled. "I want to kill you while you're still the Citadel. So, I can inflict fear in everyone's hearts!" Pandora exclaimed happily.

"Pandora, don't forget your real objective." Elizabeth walked over with her red armor on. She carried multiple weapons on her back.

Pandora glared at her. "I take orders from Victor, not you."

Marin grinned. "So you are working for Victor..."

"Be quiet." Pandora wasn't wearing clothes so she checked to see if her hair was covering everything. "Why are you dressed up to fight, Lizzy?"

"Victor spoke with Meru, and said that he might let her associates live... She must prove herself worthy before anything is done."

Marin laughed, "Victor was going to have Pandora kill RAGNAROK?!" she blurted out.

"Yeah. Victor wants to accompany Meru to the Yggdrasil Labyrinth, and since I am his wife and body guard... I must protect him until the end."

Pandora frowned. "So if Meru proves herself worthy, what about our deal?"

Elizabeth smirked. "It will be revoked ,and you will only take the original payment."

Pandora glared at the Red Knight and turned away. "I will not allow that to happen..." She said to herself.

"What was that?" Marin asked.

"Nothing." Pandora hopped away.

Marin looked back at Elizabeth. "I recommend that you keep a heavy watch on Pandora. It seems like she does not want to see them succeed."

Elizabeth gave Marin a look. "I know she doesn't." She looked jealous.

Marin went to ask her why she did that, but as she opened her mouth, Kujura left. Marin crossed her arms, and went to talk after she was sure that he was gone. She looked at Elizabeth again. This time when she went to speak, Kise left the house too. Kise had something in her hand. Marin stopped her , and addressed her about it.

"Kise. What's that in your hand?"

Kise looked a bit guilty. "A napkin."

Marin looked skeptical for a moment. "Why would you be carrying a napkin around, Kise?"

"To clean Niku!" She appeared to be in a sullen mood.

"Why on earth did you name your headband? You named it after meat." Marin looked back at Elizabeth. She was motionless, and appeared to be grimacing.

"No, I named it after him!" Before Marin could say anything else, Kise walked away.

"Typical Kise..." Elizabeth turned away from Marin. "If you want to make her feel any better... go after her." Elizabeth unsheathed one of her swords, and began to head for the labyrinth.

Marin stared at her before she went back inside her house. She looked at the table and realized that her Specimen book was closed. She had it opened when she was at the table. She realized that Kise had read it, and that why she was acting so strange. She shook her head,

"I can't wait for the day I move back to Tharsis."

"Hana... Hana. Wake up."

"Huh?" Hana woke up and squinted at Aoimi. "What do you want?" Hana's voice was softer than usual.

"I need to see you for a second." Aoimi spoke back.

"Wait... You'll wake up the others..."

Aoimi looked down at them. " Aw~... How cute..." Aoimi lifted Hana off the bed.

"Stop..." Hana yawned as she said that. "What are you doing?"

Aoimi took Hana into Meru's room and put her down on the bed. Hana looked around and saw Dove, Bare, and Meru waiting for her to get up. Hana went back to sleep in Meru's bed anyway. Aoimi came over with a bucket of ice water in her hands.

"Hey, don't pour that on her. She looks so cute." Meru spoke quietly.

"Not as cute as her panties."

"Shut up, Dove." Bare cringed.

Aoimi looked around for two seconds before she heartlessly dumped the bucket on Hana. Hana screamed, and rolled off the bed.

"What, Aoimi!?" She began to shiver.

"Um... It's not me. It's Meru."

Meru smiled at Hana. "I brought you here because my father wants to test us. So, I brought the people in the guild that I agree with the most."

Hana got up and squeezed some water out of her hair. "I don't think that this is a good idea. We agree sometimes, but we aren't very respectful."

Meru looked down. "I was going to take Ryuu instead of Aoimi,but he's mad at me. And I was going to take Hanasaku, but she's sick. And I definitely cannot take Tanaku, and Niku."

"Why can't you take Niku?" Bare asked while she adjusted her hat on her head.

Meru sighed. "It's to test our bravery..."

"Oh..." The girls said simultaneously.

"But I had to get you two up early because you're in trouble ,aren't you?" Meru spoke to Hana and Aoimi.

"Yeah." Aoimi replied. "When are we leaving?"

"Now."

"My clothes are still wet." Hana stated.

"It's your fault. You should have woken up." Aoimi said back.

"You scared me yesterday ,Isi!" Zero laughed. "You suddenly passed out cold."

"So you slept next to me?" Isis sounded disturbed.

"Nah... That's not all. I made sure your room was clean and stuff." A smug look appeared on Zero's face. "And I found this." She pulled out the book labeled "Prophecy".

Isi's face molded itself into a deep, deep frown. "How did you find that?"

"It was in that chest that you usually keep opened. I knew something was up when it was locked."

"So you broke the lock off?" Isi felt a little violated.

"Yup." Zero giggled. "Don't worry. I'm not telling Ezra. You're like an older sister to me Isi. I don't want him to get upset with you."

Isi began to blush. "You really see me like that?" She asked as she rubbed her cheeks.

Zero looked around. "You, and the rest of Gears are family to me... You and Ezra stopped my older brother from killing me and selling my organs... Remember?"

Isi nodded. Zero came from a very poor family. They were so poor that they wanted Zero to get a job, and she was only seven. When she didn't get a job, her mother insulted her and called her garbage. Zero did nothing about it. She had met Ezra and Isi at a market when she stole food once. They gave her food too. And before Zero knew what was going on, her brother was trying to kill her. Isi seemed depressed when she thought about that. That was because she killed Zero's brother. That was her first time committing murder.

"Are you still thinking about that?" Zero looked Isi in her eyes. "I told you, it's okay. He tried to kill us first."

Isi shook her head. "It's not just that." She rose from her bed. "Hide that book. I'm going to see Ezra." Isis walked away.

"Oh... That's okay..." Zero closed the door behind Isis. She took a glimpse at the book in her hands, and put it in Isi's underwear drawer.

"Ezra? Are you okay?" The glowing woman with twin pigtails (If you want a clearer image ... I should probably say drills, locks, or ringlets) had appeared next to Ezra.

Ezra was sitting on his bed with his hands on his face. "Yes, Hanami. I'm fine."

"Don't start lying to me." She floated closer to him. "Is it because she is avoiding you?"

"There's that, and what happened to Blue Sky..." Ezra shook his head. "Why do they have to blame it on us? We didn't do anything..."

"They just want a scapegoat ,Ezra. Humans never change."

Ezra sighed. "And Blue... The leader of Blue Sky... She was..." Ezra paused. "Blue was the love of my life."

"Well, you must protect them. You will not do it for nothing. Hana still believes in you."

"I know. I read her mind. It just hurts me because Hanasaku's..."

"I know that Hanasaku's the nice one..."

Ezra looked at her. "That's not what I'm saying."

"Oh... I'll give you sometime to think then..." She began to vanish. "Remember, RAGNAROK's fate is in your hands."

She disappeared.

Ezra sat for a moment. He heard a knock at his door. He waited for it to knock again. He did that to make sure that it wasn't Kogageru banging into his door. Again. He waited for it to knock a third time in order to make sure that it wasn't the sound of Mei Ling throwing chopsticks at his door. And he waited for someone to call his name. Just to make sure that it wasn't Himi. She was crazy sometimes.

"Ezra?" Ezra heard Isi's voice. Ezra opened to door for the princess. She looked to her side. "Ezra, there's something I need to tell you." Ezra seemed confused. Isis opened her mouth to speak, but there was a sudden loud knock on the door. Ezra looked at the door for a second.

"It's Marin." He walked to the door. "I'll get it." Ezra opened the door slightly, and he didn't let Marin in. "May I help you?" He asked.

Marin was in her full armor for once. It was very intimidating. She her eyes seemed to lack most of the scorn within them. She was thinking about something else. "I have a few questions for you and Isis."

"Okay." Ezra opened the door. "What is it?"

Marin snapped back into reality. "I heard news yesterday. There was a couple that went missing, and they were apparently killed. Lady Isis was the last person seen with them."

"So you're accusing her of the crime?" Ezra crossed his arms.

"I'm not doing this blindly, Ezra. Lady Caelum was a witness. She told me everything she saw."

Ezra glared at her. "You know how Caelum's relationship with Isis is. She could just be blaming her."

"Ezra. I would like to ask Isis some questions without you interfering!" She bellowed. Ezra fell silent, and kept his eyes on her. "Thank you." Marin appeared to be in hurry. She even seemed worried.

"How could I be the killer if I do not even know their real names?" Isis spoke calmly.

"Well, Isis." Marin began to pace. "I asked their children some questions some time ago. The couple seemed to be the couple that killed your parents."

Isis furrowed her brow. "How would you know that?"

"On the day of your mother's death, the killers' names were shared with several officials. I just so happen to be one of them. The children shared the last name of the killers."

"I did no such thing!"

"What evidence do you have to prove so?"

"I-I just didn't do it! All I know is that whoever killed them was avenging my mother! They were supposed to die anyway! What difference does this murder make?!"

Marin made a noise, and she calmed down some. She looked Isis in the eyes. "Isis... Revenge is like a disease... Please... Don't let that take advantage of you..." Marin whispered to Isis and slowly left the room. She closed the door behind herself.

Ezra stared at Isis with disappointment. "You killed them, didn't you?"

Isis glanced at Ezra before she sunk her shoulders. "I'm so sorry Ezra... I know that you're upset about being accused for the killing of Blue Sky... No one has to know this time."

"We'll speak about this when I return from the labyrinth. You stay here. Hanami should appear. You need to talk to her." Ezra left.

Meru, Hana, Aoimi, Bare ,and Dove were nearing the staircase that led to the third floor. They didn't have to avoid the the lizard because Hana killed it. When they made it to the staircase they saw Victor, and Elizabeth standing next to it.

Meru went to tell her companions to bow, but they were already doing so. "Father, mother, these are some of my companions from my guild." She introduced her guildmates to her father.

"So, they are Hanna, Anemone, Miso, and Ursula?" Meru face palmed.

"Sure, dad." Meru stated. They began to walk down the stairs.

"How did he confuse my name for Ursula?" Bare inquired.

"I don't know, Bare."

"He called me a type of soup!" Dove yelled.

"Shut up." Meru shushed her.

They finished walking down the flight of stairs. Elizabeth pulled out a red bladed battle axe. Aoimi broke into a wide smile.

"Oh my goodness. You're the Red Knight! I'm a really big fan. I heard that you have over thirty different personalities and fighting styles!" Aoimi gushed.

Elizabeth looked back at her. "It's not as fun as it seems."

Victor peered back at Aoimi. "So, you're a fan of psychos ,Anemone?"

Aoimi shrugged, "I wouldn't say that." she sort of lied.

"I sense something beyond this door." Elizabeth stopped in front of it. "Proceed with caution."

"Thanks ,mom." Meru walked in front of her parents and opened the door. In the center was the hippo from before. Meru suddenly spoke to Hana. "How are we going to get past that?"

Hana didn't hear Meru at first. She was looking at the large gap that was to her right. She was glaring at it.

"Oh, I see that you aren't a big fan of your mother." Elizabeth said.

"Mom. Did your personality switch or something? That was completely irrelevant."

"No, it isn't." Hana turned to the group in front of her. " That gap over there is actually a crater that my mother caused. She was fighting some 'evil one'. Persephone was its name."

"Oh dang. Your mother destroyed half of this floor?" Dove said, shocked.

"Yes, 'Miso'!" Hana shouted back.

"Well, how do we get around it?" Meru inquired again.

Hana pulled out a map. "You see those three doors? I say that we run down to them ,and check to see if any of them are the door that leads to a path forward."

"Got it!" The group of seven dashed away from the hippo. They had to keep running until they reached the third door because Aoimi said that there was nothing important behind the other doors. Once they made it, Elizabeth spoke.

"Pretend that I'm not here." She said.

"Okay, mom. That's fine."

They continued walking, and got into a few new encounters. Luckily for them, most of the monsters were weak to voltage and ice. Hana could easily eliminate them. There were a few things, like the orange mushrooms they encountered, that were weak to fire. But Aoimi could defeat them when Meru used Attack Order.

Elizabeth watched them fight with an impressed look on her face. They were very talented for a bunch of kids who were misfits. She turned back when she heard a rustle in the bushes. She saw nothing behind her. She knelled down and saw a very thin purple strand of hair that had blue on the end.

"Pandora is trying to make this challenge rigged... We must stop her." She spoke to herself.

They made it to another door, and Hana stopped. "I think there's another hippo behind this door."

Aoimi opened the door this time, and everyone followed her in. There was mud scattered around the ground and a hippo resided in the center of the room. Hana groaned.

"More mud?" She complained.

"Crap. That mud slows us down, but doesn't slow down the enemy." Bare added.

"You're right, Ursula." Victor replied.

"I can't wait until this is over."

"Bare, be quiet!" Meru admonished her.

"You six, go down that path that points to the north. I'll go to the northeast." Elizabeth looked down at the mud pointing to the northeast, and saw footprints. There was only one person who was stupid enough to walk in a place barefoot.

Pandora.

"Well, bye." Meru waved to her mother.

"Why do we have to walk this way? It's covered in mud!" Hana cried out. "It might ruin my boots!"

"It doesn't matter. Run!" Aoimi grabbed Hana's wrist. They made it to the door ,and the tyrant was right behind them. Aoimi slammed the door behind her.

"That was a close call. And it was all because 'Hanna' didn't run fast enough!" Dove exclaimed. Victor was far ahead of them so he did not hear them.

"Will you quit it?" Meru yelled. "Don't talk to each other like this in front of the world's most powerful king!"

"Fine." Hana rolled her eyes.

"Meru, you can't get mad at me. I wasn't complaining. I was grateful that Jotunheim's king called me Anemone." Aoimi batted her eyelashes.

Meru ignored her and ran up to her father's side. The remaining girls trailed behind them.

Elizabeth stared at the hippo that near the door her daughter just left out of. The hippo was banging on the door and trying to break it down. The Raging Tyrant seemed desperate.

"Pandora, I know that this is your work." Elizabeth stated.

"I say that it is just the Yggdrasil's doing with a little more emphasis." Pandora came out of a set of bushes. "The Yggdrasil here warped these innocent creatures into demons of this labyrinth. A normal hippo's diet would consist of berries and fish, but the tree turned this race of hippos into man-eating carnivores. It usually has a craving for humans, but since the explorers who made it his far are cautious... These things barely get to eat. I've used my siren song to make its actions for food more savage."

Elizabeth scowled. "Why didn't you do this to the first one?"

"I dunno. I didn't feel like it. But I did it to the hippo after this one. I've also increased their strength, but that's temporary." She rubbed her hands together. "These things have become so berserk that they are even out to eat their own offspring."

Elizabeth unsheathed her red bladed sword. "You're such a sick woman."

"I know, but what are you going to do about it, human? You cannot kill me by yourself."

"You are right about that, but I am not alone!" Elizabeth's personality switched. There was a wide smirk on her face. "Feel the wrath of Ecstasy!"

Pandora pulled out her whip. "Oh, this seems promising!"

The group of six reached another door, but this time they were stopped by a small boy. The girls turned their attention toward him while Victor looked behind them.

"Yes! I've finally found someone!" The boy spoke enthusiastically.

"What?" Bare scrutinized him.

"Are you explorers?" He asked. Hana stared at him ,and went to reply. Aoimi tugged Hana by her hair.

"Hana, I think that's the kid that we are supposed to be looking for."

"At least let me answer his question." Hana spoke back.

"No. Tell him to go home." Bare barged in.

Hana flipped her hair ,and ignored them. "Yes, we are explorers." She said.

"Well, you know about those big hippos. I've gotten past the first two, but this one won't let up. Could you help me get past it, and show me how it's done?" He was smiling at Hana. Hana didn't want to disappoint him. She saw Bare shaking her head.

"Uh... Sure." Hana gave in to that smile. She wondered if she was that convincing.

"Really? Thanks!" He stood behind Meru.

Hana opened the door and waited for everyone to pass her. There were two waterfalls and there were some scattered patches of mud and water. Dove's jaw dropped opened.

"How are we going to get over to the door!? The hippos can just walk through the water! It'll catch up to us in no time!" Dove screeched.

"Keep your voices down. If we complain, we'll only provoke it more." Hana stated.

"Says Ms.'More Mud'!"

"Dove..." Meru growled at her.

"Fine." Dove looked at Hana. "How do we get past it, genius?"

"Follow my lead." Hana walked toward the hippo, and stared into its eyes. It did not seem to be provoked by that.

"Hana, you aren't scary enough." Aoimi smiled. "Lemme handle this." She bragged. Hana took a step to the side ,and let Aoimi take the lead. Meru was surprised that Hana and Aoimi were getting along.

"I'm going to make a leather jacket with your hide!" Aoimi yelled out of nowhere. The hippo yawned before it began to run after them at full speed.

"That worked a little too well, Anemone." Victor said.

"I haven't run this fast in three years! And that was when we robbed those ice cream shops, but Luna just had to stop us. Right, Bare?"

"Now's not the time ,Dove!" Bare cried back.

They had to dash around the waterfalls and avoid the mud that was on the path. Hana banged into the door at first before Aoimi peeled her off the door, and Bare opened it swiftly. They all squeezed in the door, and Meru closed it behind them.

"Forget Ms. 'More Mud'! From now on you're Ms. Door Banger!" Dove laughed.

"I was nervous, okay?" Hana rubbed her face. "That really hurt..." Hana looked back at the boy.

"Thanks, I wouldn't have made it past that thing if it weren't for you!" He exclaimed. "Oh, wait! I forgot to introduce myself! I'm Agata, and I lead guild Murotsumi."

Hana crossed her arms. "Well, I have news for you, Agata." Hana sighed. "Hypatia's looking for you."

"Oh, Hypatia... Sometimes she's pathetic."

Hana raised an eyebrow. Hana stayed with Hypatia because Hypatia reminded her of Hanasaku. They were very similar. So, Hana took that as an insult to Hanasaku.

"Excuse me?" Hana's light and innocent look vanished. "She sent us to look for you. And if we didn't show up, that Tyrant would have eaten you alive." Hana hissed.

Everyone fell silent. There was no sound at all. They couldn't hear any monsters lurking either.

Aoimi, Aoimi heard Midori's voice. if you want to make it out of this place alive... You better run for that staircase. Aoimi looked down at her shadow. She wasn't sure if she could trust her sister. There was a loud banging noise coming form the door they had just closed.

"Run!" Aoimi sped away from the door. And turned down a path. She heard panting beside her ,and looked down to see Hana running beside her. The stopped in front of a creek. It took a minute or two for anyone else to catch up.

"The door... It fell down..." Bare said between deep breaths. "That thing... It's still after us!"

Aoimi, get away from that creek! Aoimi took a few steps back. And looked at the other door across the creek. There was banging noise resounding from that door too. Her allies were already running from one beast, but if there was another behind that door... They would probably be goners. The other hippo could just cross the creek.

She turned around to see that her guildmates already ran away from that area. And she felt something breathing heavily on her shoulders.

"Why am I always the one in near death situations?" Aoimi touched her scar and punched the Raging Tyrant. It winced, and Aoimi took that as her chance. She dashed down the pathway, and she caught up to Dove. "Run faster, Miso!"

"Well, I'm sorry I'm overweight, Anemone!" The two began to argue while running. They both tripped on a Great Lynx's tail. "I guess you're not the only person that's about to die." Dove frowned.

"You were a lot stronger than I thought you'd be..." Pandora still wore her cliché smile. "But in the end you lost the true battle, didn't you?"

Elizabeth held her torso. "Yes, I did. I forgot about that tyrant in the room, and I think that you forgot about a tyrant too."

Pandora's face turned into a blank expression. "What?"

Elizabeth smiled. "My husband's with them. He's a bloody tyrant too, you know. If he finds out that you set his daughter up for failure, he will bring your end upon you."

"I guess this is a tie then." Pandora stated. "But if we're talking about the physical battle, you've lost."

"I know that. I've lost so much blood that my vision is blurry..." Elizabeth still wore a prideful expression. "I know that I'll win the war, Pandora." The Red Knight pulled out a ball of fuchsia thread. "And next time, I won't be alone."

"Oh, I look forward to that."

Hana was already on the last stair. She suddenly lost her balance and somehow landed on her back. She took a few deep breaths, and went to rise from the floor. She was almost up when Meru flew down the staircase, and landed on Hana's stomach.

"Meru get up!" Hana wheezed.

"Fine." Meru got up.

Hana tried to get off the ground again, but Victor landed on her. "Sorry, Hanna. You're a very comfortable cushion."

Hana coughed. "If one more person lands on me, I'm going to shock them to death!" Hana didn't move from the floor.

"Why don't you get off the floor then?" Victor asked.

"Because you two are friggn' fatter than fat!" She whined. Bare and Agata ran down the stairs.

"Where's Aoimi?" Meru asked Bare.

"Probably in a near death situation. I doesn't matter, something always saves her." Bare fanned herself with her hat.

Hana began to get up ,and stopped when she heard a loud noise. It turned out to be the sound of Aoimi running down the stairs. On the third to last stair, Aoimi jumped and landed on Hana's stomach. Hana made a sound to express her anguish. And it sounded like a dying pig. Aoimi cackled at it, and looked back up at the stairs. She saw that Dove was about to jump, and quickly rolled off of Hana. When Dove landed on Hana, Hana screamed very loudly. There were a few cracking sounds too. Dove got up.

"S-sorry ,Hana." Dove rubbed her head.

"S-sorry doesn't make up for this." Hana did not stutter on purpose.

"Hana, are you crying?" Bare leaned over her.

"N-no. My eyes are just producing water for the fun of it." Hana spoke with sarcasm. "I never thought that I would become a cushion."

"I know! You don't even have boobs!" Aoimi joked.

"Aoimi..." Meru gestured at her father.

"Whoops... Sorry."

"No, it's okay. It's true." Victor replied.

"Dad...!"

They stood there for a moment. "Hey, greens. How'd you get that thing of your trail?" Agata asked Aoimi.

"Welp... I ran into a Lynx, and I... I threw it and the hippos... The hippos ate it."

"Ew..." Hana finally rose from the ground. "How'd you throw a Lynx that big anyway?"

"She grabbed its tail and touched her left hand for some reason. When she threw it, those things went crazy over it."

"Why are you saying that like there was more than one hippo after us?" Meru asked.

"There was another one that was coming after us. You ran to the stairs faster than light." Aoimi peered down at the ground. She found herself grinning at her shadow. "Thank you, Midori..."

"What was that?" Bare inquired.

"Nothing."

The group walked forward a few steps before they were stopped by a familiar blonde man. He seemed to be glaring at them until he saw Hana and Aoimi. Once he saw them, he began to smile.

"Oh, it's you. Was it guild RAGNAROK?" It did not seem like he wanted them to answer that part. "You seem to be one of the luckier guilds."

"Lucky?" Hana murmured to herself as she glared at Aoimi and Dove. Hana stared at them ,and they actually appeared to be listening. She wasn't listening. She was going to kill those two girls. Her stomach felt like a deflated balloon. When she finally stopped her daze, she started to pay a little attention to the man's words.

"Trespassing farther into this labyrinth is forbidden." He said. Hana always knew when to stop dazing out. Hana gave the man a certain look that asked him why. "It is just too dangerous. Only people of higher callings can proceed." Hana made a face. She felt a little let down.

"Hey, Hana. There's always High Lagaard!" Aoimi exclaimed.

"Or we could go to Etria, and beat the crap out of everything. And steal all of their money!" Dove cried out.

"High Lagaard's cold. And no Dove."

"What about Aslarga? That place is pretty heated if you ask me." Bare suggested.

"No, my younger sister's going there!" Dove frowned.

"You have a sister?" Meru asked.

"Yeah. Her name is Tei. She's a total bimbo."

"Or you could ask for a higher calling." A low voice added. It was Hanasaku. She was with Ryuu, Inki, Tsukiro, and Yoshiko. She did not look like herself. She looked beyond livid.

"That's a wonderful idea!" Aoimi shouted before she looked back at Hanasaku.

"That is if you strive for greater than to see the labyrinth's sights... Then return to the Senatus and petition them for a letter of Marque. If you wish. " The man finished.

"Thank you." Hanasaku grabbed Hana, and Aoimi by their hair. "I told you two to stay at the inn!" Hanasaku spoke when she tugged them back to the staircase. "I let it go when you went on the DREAM , but that was only because you saved our teachers, and got us a new guild member!"

"Hanasaku, calm down some. We were helping Meru." Aoimi tried to coax her.

"Don't talk back to me!" Hanasaku threw the book that she had in her hands at Aoimi's head. "I'll give you a small exception..."

"Well, aren't I the leader here?" Hana sounded as if she were boasting.

"No. You're the representative of the guild. I lead this guild, Hana." Hanasaku snapped back.

"What proof do you have?"

"If you don't shut up, I'll have your head!"

"Fine, fine. What's the exception then?"

"You an explore the labyrinth, and take side quests, but you cannot partake in the mission that we have to complete in order to get a higher calling."

"Fair enough." Hana pouted.

"And you have to walk home." Hanasaku added.

"Fine, just go already." Hana looked at the four that came to the labyrinth with Hanasaku. Yoshiko was poking a beetle that was on a rock, and Inki and Tsukiro were watching closely. Ryuu was walking toward Hana.

"Hanasaku, can I walk back with Hana?"

"Go ahead Ryuu." Hanasaku called out to Meru. "Meru, your coming with us. Bring your father too."

"Okay." Meru responded. Hanasaku kicked the rock the beetle was on, and pulled out some Ariadne Thread. They vanished soon afterwards. Hana turned around and headed up the stairs.

The man stood still for a brief period of time.

"Somebody has a new favorite guild." A voice called out from behind him. It was Marin. "I thought that you liked guild Brawn, and guild Gears."

"Marin, what are you doing here?" He asked.

"Have you seen Kise?"

"Why?"

"I may or may not have hurt her feelings."

"No, I haven't seen Kise."

Marin combed through her hair with her fingers. "I'll have to find her tomorrow... Today's one of the busiest days I've had in a long time."

It was noon when Hana returned from the labyrinth. She was confused because Ryuu asked to come with her, but didn't say anything the entire trip.

"Hana, never do that again." Ryuu finally said. "Hanasaku was boiling like a teapot. I've never seen her like that."

Hana smiled. "I have. We were one year-olds."

"How do you remember that?"

"I dunno. I threw my pacifier in the garbage, and I took hers. She slapped me really hard after that."

"So, she always slapped you?"

"Yup. Hanasaki told me about the first time Hanasaku slapped me. I was twenty one days old, and Hanasaku was five hours old. They put us in the same cradle,and she slapped me in my face." Hana stated. "She did since day one."

They were walking in the Armoroad square. Ryuu began to walk faster for some reason. Hana didn't stop him. He probably just saw Meru in the crowd. He was not a fan of teenage relationships. Hana looked around, and realized that she was separated from her guild.

"Hey." Agata was still with her. "I never caught your name."

Hana stared at him. "My name is Hana." She left out her middle name ,and last name on purpose. "I'm in charge of the guild RAGNAROK." Hana glared at nothing. She was a little uncomfortable about what Hanasaku said.

"Oh... I thought about what you said earlier, and you were right. So... Thanks."

"No problem." Hana began to head to the inn, but Agata stopped her again.

"Do you have any free time tomorrow?"

Hana knew that she would have more than enough free time on that day. "Yeah, I do. Why do you ask?"

"I was wondering if you would like to hang out tomorrow."

"Yeah... That's fine."

"Okay then, bye." Agata was gone in two seconds flat. Hana felt a light tap on her shoulder. It was Aoimi, and Bare.

"Hana, did he just ask you out?" Bare asked.

"No."

"Sure, he didn't..." Aoimi put her arm around Hana's shoulder. "Stop being so modest, Hana! He technically did."

"No, he didn't!"

"Don't worry, we won't tell Ryuu!" Aoimi and Bare spoke in unison.

"Get away from me."

"D'aww~!" Aoimi giggled.

Yay. Another long chapter!

Let me be honest here. I only made Hana daze out because I'm forgetting what the characters are saying. I remember the important stuff though.

Next time: Next time is a chapter that certain people might have waited for. What? The Narmer fight? Nah. It's RAGNAROK V.S. Gears! This is probably going to be a really, really long chapter... But it's happening!

P.S.: I think it's funny that it's happening in chapter 13.