A/N: Hello! Well, here's another update! No, it won't be sea quests, sadly...
Damn, I'm supposed to be doing my homework right now... Eh, whatever, I NEED MY BREAK ANYWAY. I just got home TTnTT...
Alright, let's continue our search!
Warning and Disclaimer *kindly redirects you to the first chapter*
Enjoy!
Chronicles of the Drowned City
C.24: The Search Continues...
Night came, and the sea group hasn't come back yet. The two bedridden Guild members are asleep, and the search group had set out once more.
The oceanic Labyrinth seems different at night. The waters are still clear, but dark at the same time. The corals' colors are obscured by the shadows, not showing their usual sharpness. More monsters also came out at night.
Those starfishes, for one, but also that powerful walrus and agressive octopuses, as well as a weird looking creature with a huge, gaping mouth and quite the big stomach.
Quickly getting rid of those, the group made it back to the 7th floor, a few wounded soldires now outside and inside base camp, a few people tending to them.
Walking past the crowd, the group made their way towards where they last left off; the grotesque scene of the lone Armoroad soldier.
Making it back to where the body lied, they noticed that the blood had turned brown, possibly due to exposure. The body itself though, is nowhere to be seen.
Instead, a spear thrusted to the ground nearby replaced the body, a blood encrusted medal lying next to it.
Cia sighed, looking at the soldier's grave. She's at least glad that the soldier managed to get a proper burial.
Walking over to the grave, the group silently paid their respects. Having done that, they walked off, Cia taking one last glance of the grave, rage boiling inside her further.
'I'll get you for this, bitch... don't you know how valuable a life is?!'
Yuki noticed the girl's growing rage. He slowed down, letting Cia catch up to him.
Quickly wiping the tears brimming in her eyes as she took notice of the Shogun next to her, she turned to him, still with hateful, burning eyes.
"What?"
"...Nothing."
"I can tell your thinking something." The Shogun then sighed.
"Listen... I can tell your mad, but try to calm down a bit."
"How the hell do you expect me to calm down?!" Cia snapped. Again, tears brimmed in her eyes. She wiped those off as she continued.
"That girl's the one who caused that soldier to die, I think...no, I know she did it-"
"Based on what, huh?" The Monk blinked at the sudden question.
"...Based on... based on what she did to us, of course-"
"But now it's obvious that she's part of an ancient city choosing to lock itself up! Stop going around in blind rage and think for a second!"
At Yuki's outburst, Cia quieted down, her rage completely diminished. Blinking a bit, the Shogun sighs.
"..Look, I understand how you feel. But this is what she's tasked with. I was a general once, and if I'm tasked to protect my hometown by the higher-ups, I would've done so by any means necessary. Even luring my enemies to their deaths. It's just another tactic people employ. Not the most pleasant one, but still effective."
"Y-Yeah, but still-"
"Would you nothing if I asked you, if you were my subordinate, to protect your home? Keep intruders from coming in?"
By now, the two had stopped walking. Cia stood there, thinking.
Would she..? Would she really do the same thing Olympia did if she were asked to do the same thing?
"You value lives. A lot. Especially after what happened to your grandfather. But you would've done the same thing, would you? That's your answer?"
Finally, the Monk decided to answer.
"...Yes." Yuki sighs. He thought so...
"And no." Startled by the sudden respose, Yuki blinked.
"There has to be an alternate solution to everything. Sometimes it may be hard to see, but... I wouldn't kill, even if it was to protect my home. Nothing justifies murder. You... you've been sinking your head to much in war and blood, I almost pity you..."
"That was back then."
"So... what are you really trying to say to me?"
"Don't let yourself get killed. Think about why she's doing this." Yuki then turned his back towards the Monk, sighing as he began to pace slowly towards the group.
"Sometimes lives have to be sacrificed to achieve what we need. She's trying to protect her home, the lives that live in it, under her ruler's orders. You have to understand why she's doing this and not kill yourself over the conclusions you made based on what little you've seen... sis."
Cia blinked. It's been a while since Yuki called her that... she almost missed it, being called his little sister.
More tears brimmed in her eyes as she looked back again, to see the undisturbed resting place of the dead soldier. This time though, no matter how hard she tried to wipe it away, the tears still spilled out.
No, she doesn't know the man. She doesn't even know his name. But it's heartwrenching to her to see a live wasted like that. The bronze medal indicated that the man is still fresh in the soldier department. He was just about to start his life as one, and look at how fast it ended.
Yuki took a glance at the Monk. He sighed. Maybe he went a little harsh on her...
But the girl is too sentimental. She can't kill even if it would save her life.
The Shogun sighs. That girl... she can be so naive at times...
He walked up to her and gently ushered her forward, the girl still barely containing herself as she silently cried, audiable sobs occasionally escaping her mouth.
"..Stop crying already. What's done is done... it can't be helped."
"Don't.. you think I... know that..?" hissed Cia in between sobs.
Adisa turned to look at the scene, along with Guad as they walked.
"She... values lives that much, huh..?"
"Well... she did tell me her grandad died in a Labyrinth...," said Adisa.
"You think... she'll be able to take it down here? I mean... I know we're going to be seeing more deaths..."
"We are, sure, but y'know... I think she'll pull through. She's tough, we all know that-" The Princess is suddenly attacked with a rush of small coughs. Both Guad and Heinrich went over to the girl.
"H-Hey, you ok?"
"I-I'm ok! I'm just a bit sick, but it's just coughs! I can manage! Besides, my throat doesn't feel as bad as yesterday, haha..." Embarrassed by what she did just now, Adisa walked at a faster pace, keeping herself a short distance away from the others.
The group walked on, soon reaching the stairs to the next floor. They descended, and touched down on the 8th floor.
There are two ways they can go: north and south. They decided to take the northern route first.
At the end of the northern route is blocks, upon blocks of seasalt, somehow crystalized in these waters.
"Uh... what's salt doing down here..?" asked the Princess.
"I dunno... but we might as well leave it. Just in case we need it for later..." By now, Cia had recovered a bit, just enough that she could speak normally.
Not knowing what to say, Adisa simply patted her on the shoulder. A bit of a... encouraging pat, so to say.
A smile came upon the Monk's face as she chuckled a bit. Again, Yuki sighs. Good... at least she's still able to laugh.
The group pressed on, the air seemingly lighter then when they first entered, as Cia is gradually calming down.
A few twist and turns later, the group managed to find a mining point, ores jutting out of the ground,surprisingly still glimmering, even in the lack of light.
Heinrich mapped that spot on the map and walked on, the others following.
Walking onwards, and getting past a few more beasts, the group eventually arrived at another set of stairs... going up?
"Maybe that's going to lead us to the blank spots in the map?"
"Who knows.. c'mon." Heinrich ushered the others forward, climbing up the stairs, coming back into the 7th floor.
They went south, past that giant, green ancient fish, before coming into a box, containing, according to the lable, something called a "Formaldehyde".
Stuffing that inside of their knapsack, they continued walking.
Going through a few more twist and turns, the group are greeted by a familiar sight... to two of the members, at least.
"Oh man, not this again..." grumbled the Monk. Good, she's turning back to normal...
"Should we... is it really safe to go in there?"
"Might be a bit painful, but it's the only way to pass through." With that, Heinrich leaps into the current, carried over to the other side, landing with a loud 'clang!'. The man then stood up as if nothing had happened.
Gulping, the others stepped into the current, steadying themselves as they did.
A few shouts and terrified screams coming from Guad later, the others landed, accompanied by a loud 'thud', their bodies colliding with the ground painfully.
"Arrgh... zat vus...fainful..." uttered Adisa, her face apparently smacked against the ground. The Hoplite sighed, helping her up.
Wiping her face clean, she smiled, her face feeling as if it now has a dent on it.
"Thanks, Heinrich..."
The others got up and, after they recovered, walked on. They found a strange looking bench as they headed north.
"Oh hey, maybe we should take a break here?"
"No... those look alive..." uttered Guad.
"But we should take a break... my feet are getting a bit sore..." Cia then sighs as she sat on the floor, not knowing that there's another coral bench there. Guad was about to stop her, but she already landed there, sitting on it, nothing happening.
Sighing, the group decided to sit as well. After a while, they got up. As they did, Guad's fears are confirmed.
The coral started moving just as the others rose from their seats. Cia, startled by this, grabbed her mace and on reflex, pounded the coral mercileslly before it had a chance to attack, shattering it into pieces.
"Oh god, I thought they had me there... huh?" Cia noticed the others staring at her.
"Hehe... sorry..."
"No, you don't need to uh... apologize... you just saved us from having to fight it..." said the Princess.
"Remind me never to startle you..." said Guad.
"Haha, c'mon, it's not like I'm going to pound you into oblivion... hehe..." She then turned back to look at a scene.
"That shows otherwise..." Sighing, Adisa walked on, the others following, Cia chasing after them.
Walking onwards, they found a set of stairs. Mapping it, they decided not to go down, instead stay and map further.
They found a shortcut that conveniently enough lead them towards the sets of stairs, and also found their way back towards the four-way, with the giant, green fish in it.
Mapping those, the group walked on, eventually coming into a flustered looking Sentry.
"T-The woman, we found her!"
"Where?!" Cia instinctively asked. Startled, the Sentry answered.
"She... she went down the stairs up ahead. The others went after her, but you should go, too!" Cia nodded, thanking the man and sprinting off. Yuki and the others chasing after her.
They descended down the stairs, catching up with Cia. Yuki grabbed her by the shoulder, stopping her immediately.
"What the hell do you think your doing, sprinting off like that?!"
"Wh-wha..? When did I end up here?" Yuki sighs.
"Are you really so damn blind with rage that you can't even remember what your doing?"
"Look, I'm sorry, ok, it's just-"
"Try to control yourself! Please, for god's sake, try to control yourself! Do you want to waste your own life?!" By now, Yuki's starting to lose his cool. This girl sometimes...
Adisa decided to intervine. She walked up to the two, putting some distance between them before again, patting the girl's shoulder.
"Listen, we know how mad you are. I feel the same way too, in fact. But throwing punches anywhere won't solve a thing! It could accidentally get you killed, in fact.." Yuki took a deep breath. Cia merely stood there.
After a while, she too took a deep breath, though her eyes are still slightly livid. Turning her back towards the others, she spoke.
"Sorry, I understand... let's go." They then walked, the air becoming thick again, so thick it could be cut with a knife.
They walked on, Heinrich mapping, finding a Sentry searching the area.
After explaining that they are helping them with their search, the Sentry speaks.
"Yeah, we have chased that woman down, to the dead end in the south. But just as we had her cornered... she got away. A swarm of ancient fish attacked and... five of my men went down in an instant. Maybe you should head down there. We're searching somewhere else."
Thanking the Sentry, the group continued on their way.
Finding a treasure chest with an ice mist inside of it, and backtracking, the group continued forward.
Circling around a few more ancient fish, the group headed towards where they're directed to.
They came upon a wild path, coming into virgin territory, though it's just a big clearing.
Deep into the clearing though, they saw Olympia, the girl they've been chasing after this whole time.
Cia merely gritted her teeth, trying to control herself as the others asked her to all this time. But who knows how long she can contain herself?
Noticing the group's approach, Olympia turned to them, her stare as icy as when they last saw her. Though that didn't deter them in any way, just surprising Adisa a little.
"Guild Zephyr... I see you decided to keep on with your quest." Her tone is still that cold, emotionless one. The group gave no response. Olympia sighs.
"Go home if you value your lives. Your continued search for the Deep City will only mean your deaths."
"No way!" spat Cia. Yuki gripped her shoulders in an attempt to calm her down.
"...Fine, then." Olympia then raises her hand to the air, signaling a beast to come out from the reefs behind them, the same crocodile beast they saw in the first floor of this stratum!
"I won't do this easy. If you choose to ignore my warnings and persist with your quest, then so be it..." The blue cloaked girl then lowers her arm, signaling the beast to strike.
Cia immediately grabbed her mace, and, with the strength of her rage, delivered a hard blow towards the croc's head, it's skull cracking.
"No way in hell am I letting you stop me!" Cia, by now, completely went berserk, bashing the croc as many times as she can, not looking as if she's going to run out of breath anytime soon. Yuki sighed.
"Adisa."
"On it!" She chanted, and imbued Cia's weapon with ice, her blows now freezing the beast little by little.
Well, if she's going to go berserk, as much of a jerk move this is, let's use it to our advantage! ...That's Yuki's plan, at least.
Besides, maybe this should help her with her anger.
Cia kept on bashing at the monster, not giving it a chance to attack. Yuki decided to join in the fray, as well as to look out for his sister, in case the thing decided to make a move and attack. He swiped at it with his katanas, watching it's jaw movements as it's the best indicator of when the croc will make it's move.
Suddenly, it's jaw began to open wide, it's arms raised, directed at Cia. Yuki noticed this, and leapt towards the girl.
Well. It was good that he kept watch.
"Cia!" The girl momentarily stopped her onslaught, only to be shooved away by Yuki himself, the arm colliding with his body, throwing both the Shogun and the Monk quite a few feet away.
It then turned it's eyes towards both Adisa, Heinrich, and Guad, immediately charging at them.
The croc was fast, Adisa had no time to react. Instead, Heinrich stepped right in front of her, shield ready, parrying, or at least suspending, the mouth that came to try and tear into the Princess.
Guad then stepped forward, while the croc is suspended. He used his hoe to bash the thing's kneecaps into pieces. Well.. not really, but he broke the joint.
The croc screams in agony, Heinrich taking this chance to stab it in the gut.
Blood poured out of the croc's stomach as it staggered back, the gluttony in it's eyes now replaced with pure anger.
Yuki and Cia had recovered from the impact. Taking notice of the now weakened croc, they nodded to each other in silent agreement.
The croc is resilient, that's for sure. Even with the gaping hole in it's stomach, it still managed to step forward, dashing towards the group, it's arm this time extended, ready to grab it's prey.
Yuki, this time though, came up in front of them, and with a few, quick swipes, managed to slice off the croc's arm.
It again screamed, and as it reeled back in pain, Cia came up behind it, but this time, she doesn't look like she's going berserk.
Instead, she's looks calm as ever. Maybe, for a person who's recovering from anger.
With a loud cry, she bashed her mace into the croc's skull. The crack they heard of the bones shattering made them swear that there will be a dent left on that thing's head. A huge one.
Well now. Apparently the Monk hadn't recovered from her anger yet.
In fact, she's so fueled with anger that as the croc plummeted onto the ground, she doesn't look anywhere near tired.
Olympia looked at the scene, her once cold expression now replaced with that of pure shock.
"H-How did you..." Though Cia, nor did the group respond.
Olympia's expression suddenly darkens.
"...I have no choice, if I must-"
"Stand down, loyal servant of the Abyssal King. Your duty has been done."
A deeps, bassy, yet clear as crystal voice suddenly rings from the heavens. The group and Olympia snapped their heads towards the skies, seeing nothing above them, no being whatsoever.
The voice speaks again.
"And you, young ones! Mark me well, we have our own designs in stopping you. Though naturally, you have your own circumstances. Such is this world." The voice then heaved a deep sigh, as a shimmering, blue sphere took form. It glided just in front of the group's reach, as if beckoning them to grab and take it with them.
"This Sea Bead has power over this grove. Use it to take you through and find your way to me. I, Oceanmaster Ketos shall greet you. Overcome this challenge, and I shall grant you access to the Deep City."
"B-But-"
"This comes from me and the Abyssal King himself. Return to him now, and leave the rest to the King." Reluctantly, Olympia nods. She turns to the coral reefs behind her, making her leave, just as ordered.
Taking the bead, Cia turned to the fleeing girl.
"Where do you think your going?!"
"...Following orders. I suppose this is goodbye then, members of Zephyr. I doubt we'll meet again." Without another word, she leaves, leaping through the reefs. Cia merely gritted her teeth, clutching the shimmering, sea-blue bead in her hands.
But then she sighed. Beating up that croc helped with her anger a bit, sure... but then, is going after Olympia and beating her up really the right thing to do?
After all, as she witnessed just now, Yuki was right, she merely was following orders. Judging from her reluctance when told to abandon her task though, Cia noticed something else;
Loyalty.
The girl took a look at the bead in her hands. Her loyalty made Olympia do all these things.
Maybe she shouldn't have judged the girl the way she did...
"Ey, Cia, c'mon! We're going back to base camp!" Unbeknownst to the Monk, the group had decided to report back to Kujura on their findings.
"H-Huh? Yeah, coming!" The girl chased after them through the wild path.
Maybe things do justify murder...
No, nothing justifies wasting a live. But then...
Not everyone can be like her. A way out that's hard to see...
Even the smartest of people would abandon the search for an alternitive, and choose to snuff a life out.
But then, Cia contemplated Yuki's question again...
Would she? Would she kill to protect? Kill because of loyalty, like Olympia?
-To Be Continued-
A/N: HA! SURPRISED THAT YUKI AND CIA ARE SIBLINGS?! :D
Haha, their status as siblings'll be explained later XDD wow, I sure am throwing a lot of siblings in this! But anyway, if your confused about Cia's sudden drastic change in this chapter, here, I'll sum it up for you.
The reason she got so damn mad and cried when she saw the dead soldier's grave is because she values lives. Her granddad died in the Labyrinth, and it made her see how valuable a life is, and it makes her so damn mad if a person is killed for no good reason. Also, when she's mad she cries.
Anyway, that's all, I guess, huehuehue : )
And now I shall go and upload this *sneaks into FFN account*