A/N: Harro! *punched* Well, since I haven't updated in a while, I decided to update twice. Haha, yeah, you can thank me later~ *SHOT*
Also, ugh, I'll be honest with ya, I am starting to uh... ya, I'll say it, I'm starting to ship the damn Shogun and Zodiak *headdesks* RRRAAGHH MY OWN FANFIC DID THIS TO ME UGH WHY TTnTT
(Oh, and just so ya know, it's not really so much to romance, but more to uh... kindda like sibling love. Only the Shogun and Zodiak aren't related... hehe...)
Also, if you want to know their ages, go check the A/N at the end of the story~ ^^
Alright, let's get this show ON! XD
Warning and Disclaimer... ya know...
Enjoy~
Chronicles of the Drowned City
C.15: Narmer, King of the Catfish
The next morning, the Guild woke up, looking quite refreshed-more refreshed than usual, in fact.
The same can't be said for Rudollf though.
See, the night before, Rudollf actually did manage to smuggle in some liquor. He sneaked in an alley near the inn and drank about 12 bottles.
12 bottles.
And Guad is especially irritated by this. The man is sober now, yes, but with the headache he's got right now, he can't really focus on anything, let alone fighting.
"I don't think you can come with us today, Rudollf..." said-man easily noticed the irritated look on the Farmer's face.
"Yea', we'll... grab me some water 'nd I'll get better..." Guad sighed. Water. That's always the answer.
"Fine... just... don't get drunk like that again. You do realize the place we're headed to is dangerous." Rudollf nodded.
Cia did some last check-ups on everyone, and it looks like they're ok. Yuki seems to be in better condition, and the rest seems to be alright.
Also, the fact that Chitose works around dead animals a lot and doesn't get sick surprises her. The bacteria and everything floating around in the air around her should've gotten her sick by now. But she shrugged those thoughts off. Some people have a more... stronger imune system, after all.
Adisa on the other hand sat on the bed, quiet for once. What her brother said is starting to get to her. Her father's condition, specifically. What if her father get's sick because she's gone? What if something other than that happens to her father?
Adisa then felt someone tug at her robe. She turned and saw Zakharia, staring at her. Adisa smiled, despite knowing that the girl wouldn't see it.
"What is it? Aren't you supposed to get ready?"
"What's wrong?"
Adisa, slightly taken aback by the question, sat there quietly for a minute. She softly sighed, as she answered.
"I'm okay, don't worry..."
"Your voice tells otherwise."
Oh. Right. This girl's ears are trained. Sighing again, Adisa answered.
"Ok... I'm..worried about my dad." Zakharia kept quiet.
"I left Aeaea... without telling anyone about my leave. I'm just worried that my dad'll get sick because he's worried about me."
"I see." Adisa sighed again.
"Well...," Zakharia began,"do your best here then," she then turned, facing the others in the room,"do your best here and... survive..." she then walked, pacing herself slowly. Adisa sat there, those words slowly sinking in.
Do your best... and survive.
Yeah... Yeah, that's right. Survive. Exactly like what she promised to her brother.
And besides, if they can chart the sea fast enough, they'll get to Aeaea in no time, right?
"So," Chitose said, strapping the last of her many bags on,"what's our schedule today?"
"Simple," Heinrich began,"explore the fourth floor."
"But don't we need permission from the Senatus for that?" asked Cia.
"Which is excatly why we're going to get it first." Yuki then stood up, securing his sash. He then walked to the front door, opening it. Everyone else followed.
The minute they arrived at the Senatus' office, it's as if the Senatus had expected them. They're allowed in immediately, the Senatus herself, which they later found out goes by the name Flowdia, greeting them.
"I take it you are here to request for a letter of marque?" Heinrich nodded.
"For the fourth floor of the Labyrinth, am I right?" She then grabbed a rolled up parchment from within one of the many drawers on her desk, before showing it to them.
"Then, you must accept the task I'm about to give you."
"What is it?" asked Heinrich.
"You see, lately the Labyrinth is getting chocked with explorers. There is a reason why we brought you explorers down there, though." Flowdia turned to them,"To explore the sunken parts of that place, and maybe further, into the deep. Though, exploring the place will need more than just a journeyman's skill, else it would be a suicide run." Pausing for a second, Flowdia continued,"which is why we have devised a kind of... test, you could say, to test the worthiness of those explorers. Your test will be to best a monster resting on the fourth floor, which we dubbed as "Narmer"." Heinrich contemplated the mission.
But wait, there's no need for consideration. They have no other choice if they're going to explore the Labyrinth further.
"Alright, we'll accept the mission." Flowdia smiled, satisfied.
"Good, good. All you need to do is fell the beast resting in the 4th floor." They all nodded, Heinrich accepting the parchment Flowdia gave.
"Show that parchment to Kujura. He'll let you through then."
"Uh... who?" asked Adisa.
"Hm? I'm refering to the man you've met in the Labyrinth. The one who stopped you from going any further into the fourth floor."
"Oh...him..." Mumbled the Monk.
"Alright. C'mon," said Heinrich, urging the others to move. They followed, and as the door closed behind the small group, Flowdia wondered:
Could they really fell such a beast?
As the group closed in on the Labyrinth's entrance, a reminder came to something that they somehow forgot.
"Oh yeah. Five man team. No more than that." Everyone turned to Adisa.
"Oh...right."
"So, um... we split up like usual?" asked Cia.
"Yea, we probably should." Everyone turned to Rudollf, who's looking fine already. They all then turned to Guad, who shrugged.
Well? Like I said, water is always the answer.
"I'll take th'sea, then!" said Rudollf, almost instataniously. Guad sighed. The love that man has for the sea never dies...
"A King Catfish?" asked Chitose, a sadistic smile gracing her face. "I could use some bodyparts from it... they'd prove fun to work with, I'm sure..." Everyone shuddered.
"Then that means she's headed down to fight Narmer?" Everyone shrugged.
"Ok, then, I'm headed down there too!" Everyone turned to Adisa, eyes shining with light like never before. Heinrich though, hesitated.
"My lady, I don't think-"
"Whoa there, Heinrich. First of all, did I not tell you to NOT call me "My lady"?" Heinrich was about to speak again before he got cut off.
"Second of all," Adisa then flashed him an encouraging smile,"I can take care of myself. I'll be fine! Besides," she then turned to face the entrance of the Labyrinth,"I have you to watch my back, right?" Heinrich sighed. There's just no changing this girl's mind...
"...Alright," he said,"just be careful."
"Obviously I will!" said Adisa before she stromed off into the Labyrinth, Heinrich chasing after her. Chotise stood still though, surprising everyone else, including the Wildling.
"You...not go?"
"On second thought...Where are you guys headed to?"
"Well..." Rudollf began,"first we're gonna sell th'things these kids managed t'gather, then we'll go t'Batavia."
"I'll go with you to Batavia, then," she said, changing her mind. She then turned to face Yuki,"which leaves you to-huh?" She noticed the man has already gone after the others. Sighing, she walked towards the other three.
"Why head t'th'sea? Aren't'cha more intrested in th'catfish?"
"Hmm... I'm sure I'll find a more... intresting species at sea. The catfish can wait." The ninja then started walking,"after all, that's not the only catfish in the Labyrinth. Like all living things, they breed, and you know what happens when things breed." Everyone blinked.
"Uh... earth t'ninja... th'same thing goes ta th'sea, too..."
As the small group arrived in the fourth floor of the Labyrinth, the first person to greet them, as expected, is Kujura, his stance seemingly unchanged from when they met before.
"Have you gotten the Senatus' permission?" Heinrich nodded, showing him the parchment Flowdia gave them. After giving it a quick scan, Kujura handed the parchment back to them, expression unchanging.
"Good. You may proceed if you wish, then." Kujura then stepped to one side, throwing some medicine to the group.
"Consider it a... parting gift," he said, before sighing.
"Narmer...in ancient tongue, that name means 'raging catfish'." He then faced the others,"do not fight it unless you are in peak condition." He then steps aside fully, clearing the way.
"May you live long enough for our paths to cross again. Goodbye." With that, the man leaves. Cia sighed.
" 'Raging Catfish' huh? Ugh... this won't go too well.." A hard nudge came from Yuki, before he too started walking, urging the others to move. Cia sighed, rubbing her sides.
Heinrich mapped the floor, as the others looked around. They noticed that the deeper they go, the more complex the pathways become.
"I... don't suppose this place'll get easier to navigate anytime soon, huh..?" asked Adisa.
"Of course not. There is a reason why they call this place a Labyrinth, after all," answered Heinrich as he scribbled something on the map. Adisa peeked at it, noticing that Heinrich had been writting footnotes on the map.
"You uh... sure that we'll have enough space for the rest of the map?" Heinrich simply nodded.
"Ok..." they all then kept on walking, past rivers and even more monsters that attacked them –demonic fish, steel-shelled crabs and the like.
They then came upon a pathway, where they saw two familiar figures just a few feet away from them.
"Hey!" called Adisa. One of those figures, Hypatia, turned to them. She smiled when she noticed the small group.
"O-Oh, hello. So you made it." Everyone nodded. Hypatia then spoke.
"I... take it your here to fight Narmer?"
"Yeah, why?" asked Adisa.
"There's... something you should know before you fight it." She then turned, her ninja partner, Agata, following her,"We'll explain it to you after we get there. C'mon," she said, urging the others to follow her.
As they walked, again, monsters attacked them. Swiftly defeating those, they pressed on, until they reached a door with a rather... ominous presence in it.
"You sure your all ready?" asked Agata. All of them nodded, Heinrich walking to the door, opening it without another word.
As the door slowly creaked open, a giant catfish-like creature greeted them. It rests in the middle of the room, full of mud, seemingly calm for now. Hypatia then spoke, in a rather hushed tone.
"I'm not exactly sure about the monster itself, but when you try to get close to it, it'll run." She then points to one edge of the room,"see that spot right there?" Everyone turned to where Hypatia is pointing.
"There will be more spots like that in this room. I'm not too sure if it'll work, but take advantage of those spots and attack it from behind."
"In other words try to coordinate yourself with that thing and find a way to sneak up on it!" said Agata.
"We'll be going now. We're... not exactly tasked with defeating this thing. I'll pray to the stars for their guidance. May fortune be with you." With that, both Hypatia and Agata left, leaving the small group to their own devices.
"So... uh... anyone got any ideas?" Asked the Princess.
"This room looks symetrical though..." Heinrich inquired as he mapped what he could see.
"How can you tell?" asked Cia.
"Look at both sides of this room." Cia did just that and noticed that, yes, the two parts are oddly symetrical. Even the placement of the muck. And there are a lot of them in this room, she noticed.
"Then that means those shortcuts will be in the same place?" asked Yuki. Heinrich nodded, still scribbling on the map.
"If your finished, then follow me," said Yuki. Just as Heinrich finished mapping, Yuki started walking, the others following behind him. Heinrich raised an eyebrow. Just what is he planning?
Carefully slipping into the crevice, Yuki walked along the path, the others following him. Reaching the end of the path, they all noticed a tresure chest at the end of the pathway, containing an Amrita.
"Hehe~ if you need some, just ask me for it, ok Zakharia?" said-girl simply nodded.
The group then pressed on, Yuki sighing as he noticed that the giant catfish is facing the other end of the room, the western one, facing the direction of the, which he assumed, is the small shortcut there.
"That shortcut there, in the middle," Yuki began, pointing at the shortcut in the middle of the room,"do you think it connects to the one down there?" Heinrich shrugged.
"It could. Let's go see." Heinrich then walked to it, stepping on some mud while doing so.
As everyone got into the small room, they walked, Heinrich as usual mapping. As they got closer to the end of the room, they all noticed that the presence of the catfish is getting nearer as well. Finally, they arrived at the end of the pathway, blue patches of flowers marking the exit. Yuki motioned for the others to stop, as he listened. They all heard the sound of mud splashing, and feet thumping against the muddy, damp beast had turned away from the exit.
With a nod, the Shogun signaled the others to get ready to charge. They did, and when they're ready, and silent prayers are quickly spoken, they leapt out of the small crevice, Cia's mace being the first to come in contact with the beast.
Letting out a cry, the catfish moved back slightly.
The catfish then attacked, the group dodging it. As the catfish kept on attacking, not leaving an opening whatsoever for the others to counter, killing it seemed impossible. This thing is relentless.
Well, there is a reason why they dubbed this thing 'raging catfish'.
An idea suddenly came to mind.
"Heinrich!" called Yuki as he dodged another incoming strike. Heinrich nodded, letting the Shogun continue,
"Get Zakharia to a safer distance from this thing and guard her!" He then turned to the Zodiak.
"Zakharia, you cast spells on this thing. Find out what it's weakness is, and once you do, hit that thing with the spell as many times as you can. Charge that spell if you need to!" Zakharia nodded.
"Adisa, you and I will hold it back. Try to find any other of it's weakpoints while your at it. Cia," Yuki called. Cia turned to him.
"Yeah?"
"You concentrate on healing. Attack when need be, but keep an eye on us and heal any of us when you need to." The Monk nodded.
"Right. Let's do this!" Letting out a battle cry, the Princess charged, attacking the beast, her fleuret hitting it's chest.
A gash formed, as the beast let out another cry, small droplets of blood hitting the muddy floor. Yuki got behind the beast, and began attacking the feet-or whatever it is, intending to immobilize it. However, for such thin... bodyparts, it's strong. Dodging another attack from the beast, Yuki scanned it, looking for anywhere he can attack it from.
The beast then went at Zakharia. Heinrich immediately stepped in front of her, shield ready, taking a blow that would otherwise throw the Zodiak to the other end of the room. As Zakharia got her spell ready, she fired it, releasing a shot of fire from a red, almost orange rune. It connected, and did wound the beast, but not really making the damage she intended.
'Oh. Right. Catfish. It's an underwater creature, of course it's not weak to fire.' With that in mind, the girl got another spell ready, Heinrich defending her.
Two strikes then came from Adisa and Yuki.
"Hey! Over here, ugly!" taunted the Princess. As if understanding, Narmer's attention turned from the Zodiak and the Hoplite to the Princess and Shogun. It charged at them, ready to attack. Leaping back, the Princess tried to counter, but was the smited away by the catfish, her back connecting hard with trees.
"Adisa!" Cia immediately channeled her qi and healed the Princess.
"Ha, thanks!" Charging again, the Princess stopped as a rush of thunder came from on top of Narmer's head, zapping it, and wounding it quite severly. It staggered, and as it did, Adisa took the chance to swipe at it from the ground, forming multiple cuts, droplets of blood turning into a steady stream of crimson coming from the catfish's body. Yuki leaped onto the catfish's back, swiping at it a few times with his katanas as he ran, leaping down again and gaining a bit of distance from it. Another rush of thunder came, zapping it again, this time doing even more damage than it did the first time. Something striked the man as odd, though. That thing didn't try to retaliate. Instead, it looked as if it's getting ready to do something. He then noticed the patch of mud in front of it.
Oh.
"Get back!" called Heinrich. Adisa heard and did as told, as did Yuki, dodging just in time as Narmer leaped up and jumped into the puddle of mud, splattering the mud all over the place. The group gaped at what that thing just did. Did it run?
Everyone was about to move when Yuki stopped them.
"No. Stay still, we don't know what it's doing." The others did as told, guard up, listening. They can hear something swimming in the mud. The sound kept going, and going, and going...
A sudden disturbance then came from the patch of mud behind Adisa. Before any of them had time to react, the catfish jumped out, doing a swift, powerful attack as it jumped out and rushed past the group.
They all got knocked back quite a few feet away, those who were in the way of the raging beast suffering the worst damage. Cia being one of them.
"Nggh..." she groaned as she got up. She also noticed that Adisa and Yuki had sustained severe damage as well.
"Hold on! I'm gonna heal you guys, just try to avoid that thing for a bit!" the Monk then proceeded to gather as much qi as she can.
"You heard her! Don't go attacking that thing yet!" ordered the Princess. The rest of the group nodded. They went to each of their stances, looking at the beast, letting it make the first move.
As if understanding what they're planning, Narmer turned towards Cia, who's most vulnerable as she is gathering qi. Noticing this, Yuki turned to Zakharia.
Nodding, the girl prepared another thunder spell. Yuki rushed to the raging beast, planning to get it's attention to the Shogun.
Noticing that the beast is inching closer towards her, Cia started to panic.
"C'mon, c'mon!" she muttered, still gathering her qi.
A slash came from Yuki's katana.
"Oi!" he called. The beast turned to him, getting even more infuriated. Taking a deep breath, Yuki prepared himself if he needed to take blows.
"I said over here, bastard!" C'mon... get your attention on him, already!
It did, and started focusing it's attacks on Yuki. Dodging it's attacks swiftly, Yuki made a sudden mistake. As another swipe came from the beast, he stepped on mud and got knocked back. Cia then called.
"I'm ready!" she said, and released all the qi she's gathered into healing everyone all at once. Zakharia casted a charged lightning spell as Cia healed.
"Thanks!" said Adisa.
"Alright, it looks like it's almost down!" Heinrich inquired,"go all out on it!"
A swipe came from Narmer, but as Yuki felt himself become replenished, he jumped back, dodging the attack just in time. Dodging another attack, he found an opening. Countering the beast's attack, he swiped at it, the gashes that are already on the beast becoming deeper and deeper.
Noticing that the beast was about to retaliate, Yuki stopped his onslaught mid-way, and leaped back. Heinrich came up in front of him, surprising the man. The Hoplite then stabbed the beast "claws", suspending it.
"Now!" called Heinrich. Zakharia then zapped the beast with another rush of lightning, dealing fatal damage to the catfish's entire body.
By now, the beast looked very weak, and is slowing down quite a bit. But then, it turned away from them, and jumped into the mud. Fearing that another onslaught like what Narmer did just now is about to come, the whole party got ready. But after a while of waiting, nothing happened.
The beast had ran.
"Tch.." Yuki then noticed that it had ran back to the middle of the room. The group also noticed that more monsters have come out of the mud, possibly from all of the ruckus that had happened.
"Oh, man, you kiddin' me...?" whined the Princess. Heinrich sighed.
"If we don't finish it now, it will recover. We'll have to go after it again-"
"And finish the job, right?" said Cia. Heinrich nodded.
They noticed though, as they turned back to check on Zakharia, that the girl looked pale and extermely tired. Her breaths are short, and her legs are wobbling, having trouble just trying to stand up.
Barely managing to keep herself standing, the girl collapsed onto the ground, panting.
"This...is..too much..." said the Zodiak in between breaths. She looks about ready to black out anytime soon.
Everyone turned to Cia, their resident healer.
"Well... replenishing energy isn't really something I can help with, sorry..." something then came to mind,"oh, I know!" she then rummaged into her bag, pulling out the Amrita they picked up just before the fight.
"Here, this should help~," the monk then opened the lid and handed the bottle over to the girl. Pulling it closer to her face, just the incense coming from within the bottle is enough to replenish her slightly. Drinking the contents of the bottle, Zakharia could feel a bit of energy coming back to her.
"...Thanks," she said. She felt a hand grab her. Yuki's. Getting up with his help, she walked, though her legs are still wobbling slightly.
"You sure you'll be ok?" asked the Shogun. Zakharia nodded, albeit not looking at where the man is.
"We'll have to try and force that thing away from the other monsters there, and kill it as fast as we can." Everyone nodded, and followed Yuki into the crevice on the eastern side of the room, attempting to force it to go somewhere.
It was an arduous process trying to get that thing backed into a corner. But after some careful navigating and planning, they finally backed that thing away to the eastern side of the room, right at the south. Getting ready again, and silently muttering some more prayers, they leaped out, Adisa stabbing that thing on the sides with her fleuret.
It let out a shriek, and backed away. Yuki turned to the direction of the other monsters, noticing that they haven't gotten those things' attention yet.
"Now! Just like before!" He hoped Zakharia wouldn't tire out before the battle ends. Or anyone else for that matter.
A strike came from the beast, but Yuki reacted just in time and dodged. Adisa then went up to it and started swiping and stabbing it with her fleuret. A flurry of thunder also rained down on the beast, wounding it even further.
Noticing that the beast is almost down, the Princess called out to the others.
"Go all out! This thing's almost dead!" the others nodded, getting their weapons ready. Adisa then noticed that Zakharia has, again, ran out of energy. Yuki noticed so as well. Something then came into Adisa's head.
"Hey wait a sec', I uh..." a slight pause,"there's this technique I mastered that'll grant your weapons elemental affinities. Luckily, I mastered one that grants thunder!" Yuki smacked his face for a bit.
"Why didn't you tell us about that sooner...?"
"Hehe..."
"Well then, use it already!" Adisa did as told, muttering incantations before casting the enhancement spell on Yuki.
"There! All the attacks you do now should also zap the thing!" She then muttered the exact same incantation and casted the spell on Heinrich, who was currently defending Zakharia and stabbing that thing with his spear.
As the spell was cast, lightning coursed through the weapon, running through the beast's body. It retracted, jumping back. Heinrich dragged his spear out of the catfish's flesh as it jumped.
Yuki swiped his two katanas at the beast, lightning zapping it with each strike. He jumped back as the beast, surprisingly retaliated, despite how weak it is now.
Cia smacked the thing with her mace, a sickening crack resounding in the air. She had broken one of it's bones. The beast again, attacked. Cia dodged, and countered. The beast retaliated again, it's strikes becoming more desprate, but weaker.
But then, it jumped in the mud again.
Did it escape?
"No, wait!" called Zakharia. They all stood where they are. They listened, and heard the sound of something swimming in the mud.
Oh no.
Getting ready for another deadly attack, as there was no way to predict when and where that thing will come out in, they stood still. Zakharia however, stood where she is, wide eyed. She's nearest to the patches of mud.
Looking around, the girl felt her heart beat faster. She felt so tired, she could barely move, but her senses are up and so is her guard. The beast then came up behind them, no one having time to react as it dashed, desperation making the beast's blows surprisingly that much more powerful, the Zodiak, unfortunately, sustaining the worst damage.
...Which, of course, could've happened, if Yuki hadn't ran to her just in time to take the blow in her place. The amount of damage both people suffered is nearly equal, though.
Coughing up some blood, Cia noticed that the beast had slightly recovered from it's trip inside the mud patch, but is still slow and fatally wounded. She looked at the others. The damage each and every one of the people in this room sustained is quite fatal as well. They might've broken some things too. The Monk certainly has. She's sprained her feet and broken her rib-cage a bit.
Concentrating the last bit of energy she has on gathering qi, she prepared another healing spell. The others stood, aside from Zakharia, ready to intercept that thing despite their condition.
The girl, however, felt desperation starting to overtake her. That feeling of uselessness, it's starting to come back. She's too tired to do anything, let alone cast spells. She can't even move!
She knows how much damage everyone's sustained. If they were to take another blow like that, well then, that thing will be free to feast on them.
The next thing she heard shocked her. They're charging again.
No, don't! You'll all die!
'Why am I so useless?!' the Zodiak thought. Suddenly, a voice resounded in the back of her mind, and time seemed to stop for a second.
"You need to focus. Let your senses lead you. That's what you can rely on since your eyes are down. Also..." a slight pause,"even if you feel tired, at your limit, know that you can push yourself past that. Do that, and you might be able to save others. Being able to push yourself is essential if you are in the battlefield.'
The Zodiak got knocked out of her thoughts as the catfish attacked, throwing her back. She collided with a wall of trees. Coughing up a bit of blood, she tried to follow the voice in her head. Gathering the last bit of what she had left to cast a thunder spell, she waited, charging it as much as she can as the catfish inched closer to her by the second. It got ready to attack her. Yuki was about to run to defend her again, when he noticed that the girl looked prepared. He stopped, knowing that he would only get in the way.
The beast's "claws" came down, inching closer, and closer...
"HA!" the girl let out a cry, as a rune appeared on top of the beast's head, letting out a powerful rush of thunder, so powerful, it burnt the beast badly and wounded it, to the extent that maybe the lightning had directly damaged the insides as well.
The beast collapsed, lightning still coursing through it's body, zapping it even post-mortem.
Zakharia sat there, wide eyed. She never thought she'd be able to cast such a powerful spell. In fact, she noticed that the instant that spell connected with the beast, it died.
Everyone else gaped at both the beast and Zakharia. The beast fell, a burnt pile of flesh. Yuki was especially surprised by this, but then smiled, walking over to the still shocked Zodiak-albeit wobbling ever so slightly, patting her head.
"Like we told you yesterday. Your not useless." Zakharia reached out to the hand placed on her head, before smiling.
Yeah, maybe she's not as useless as she thought she was...
A rush of energy then came through them. Everyone felt their pain lessen a bit, as Cia went and collapsed onto the ground, panting.
"Sorry... that's... all I can... do.. for now..."
"Oh god.."said Adisa,"I can't believe we just... survived that.."
"Uh.." Heinrich then pointed behind them. Everyone glanced at where Heinrich pointed to, noticing that those other... things have inched close to them, getting ready to attack.
"I think it's high time we run!" And so the group did as Cia told, running to the exit of the room, closing the door behind them just as one of those things are about to attack.
They entered a room, a small clearing really, with some stairs at the end, leading to...
Oh hey, looks like Chitose's wish will be granted soon enough!
"Those... are stairs to the next stratum, right?" asked Cia. Everyone nodded. They could see blue, watery hues coming from the other side of those stairs, as well as the sound of water itself. Heinrich mapped the room.
"You... still have enough energy to map? Really, Heinrich?" asked Adisa. Heinrich simply nodded.
"I think it's high time we head back." Everyone nodded eagerly as Heinrich fished out an Ariadne Thread, warping the group out of the Labyrinth.
-To Be Continued-
A/N: HOLY. MOTHER. OF GOD. 5K+ WORDS. OMG. NEW FUCKING RECORD XDD!
Ahem, anyway, yay for Shogun and Zodiak charachter development! *dances**smacked*
Well, I was also going to tell you about their ages, right? Ok so it goes like this:
Heinrich is the eldest of the group, being about 30 years old, while Zakharia is the youngest, being 15 years old.
Adisa and Cia are about the same age, 17, with Adisa being 7 months older than Cia.
Guad and Ribu are also as old as Zakharia, only Guad is 9 months older than Zakharia while Ribu is 3 months older.
Rudollf and Yuki are only one year apart, Yuki being 19 and Rudollf being 20.
Also, a little tidbit: Zakharia is also the shortest of the group, hehe... second shortest would be Guad, second tallest would be Rudollf.
Anyway, that's all I guess ^^
Also, I REALLY suck at fighting scenes still TTnTT...
And now I shall go proof-read this *sneaks into the first page*