Chapter 74 In Blood and Glory Arc.

At first, I kind of wanted to laugh. They clearly didn't know who they were dealing with. But, I was sure that even a level 3 couldn't shrug off six point blank shots from a crossbow. None of us were expecting trouble, especially from Rakia soldiers, so no one was wearing armour. And the closest weapons were either beside us on the wagon seat, or stowed away in the living wagons.

Marius chose diplomacy, though he showed absolutely no fear towards the weapons pointed at him. "As you can see, I am not dead." He replied, "And, if you would look to your right, Lord Takemikazuchi is sitting in the seat of the fourth wagon."

"We have our orders." The lead man said, nodding slightly to his right, where one of the other soldiers took out his crossbow bolt, swapped it with another, then shot it into the sky. Expertly, the man reloaded the discharged weapon, hooking a boot into a hoop at the front of the crossbow and drawing the string back.

I looked up and saw the bolt explode with a burst of red smoke. I wondered if someone owed me royalties for that, or if I owed someone.

"We will detain you here until the closest patrols arrive." The lead man ordered, "Everyone line up outside the wagons, now."

Marius replied, "Two of my caravan are with child. Promise them no harm, and we will co-operate."

Marius caught my eye, nodding slightly, and in turn, I looked to Asuka, nodding as well. I had just given the Rakia Prince approval, and let Asuka know it. As I carefully stepped off the wagon, I caught Takemikazuchi's eye, and Welf's as he climbed out of the second living wagon, and repeated the nod.

"We're not savages. Even if they are not human." The Captain said, "They will not be harmed until last, if it comes to that."

Haruhime leaned on me a little, her tails brushing against mine. The Captain sounded honest, or at least, like he was just doing his job, and not posturing like some one who held the advantage.

"As a God. I disapprove of this." Takemikazuchi said, Mikoto stepping in front of Him.

"That is fine, Lord." The Captain said, "So long as your Familia behaves."

Three more groups of six arrived shortly after, and we were all rounded up and put onto one of the cargo wagons, once it was checked for weapons. It seemed none of the men knew who Marius was, or even me, who handed a bunch of them a solid beating all those months ago. True to their word, none of us were harmed, or even poked hard. Simply asked at crossbow point to do as we were told, and would you like a hand up Ma'am?

"You wanted diplomacy." Welf said quietly, "But why?"

"Something is very odd." Marius replied, equally as quiet. Being all level two or higher, our senses were sharper than a level one. Whispering was enough, even over the sound of the wagon as it trundled along. "I look much like my father. And I trained along with nearly every soldier in the army." He paused, "I do not know any of these men."

"At least they are being polite." Asuka mumbled.

"A kind word and a loaded crossbow, will get you more than an angry word and empty hands." Marius said, "If we must fight, then so be it, but, these are my people."

Welf chuckled, "No one knows me either... You'd think hair like mine would be a giveaway."

I looked around the circle, "Well, on your order then, unless some one becomes impolite."

They all nodded to me, then to Marius.

We travelled through the night, the soldiers giving us blankets, while still keeping us at crossbow point. I had to admit, they showed discipline. The caravan was lit on all sides in a square pattern, with a torch barer at each corner, and those who were 'off shift' were simply dozing in the saddle, a weapon across the pommel of their saddle. We, the 'prisoners' were waiting for answers, and had decided that we'd get them easier if we just asked the right people. That didn't stop us from being ready to spring. Haruhime and I took shifts, keeping our magic warm. In an instant, I could summon my foxes, or she could give her power to any three of us.

As the morning light started to crest the horizon, I looked to the nearest guard, "Forgive me, but, are we there yet?"

"No talking." He replied, though, he nodded with his head towards the direction we were headed.

Turning to look, I was a little surprised. We were only a few minutes away from what looked like a... massive... like... a near endless field of wheat. The light from the sun was just starting to catch the tops of the wheat, and the gentle breeze was swishing the stalks around slowly.

Not everything was perfect though. I was no expert, but I could see, and smell, patches of missing or bad vegetation. Past that, I saw a small barn, with a low squat sort of pyramid, though it looked to have eight sides, not four. A granary then? I was picking up other smells too, aside from the smell of horse, soldier, and our slightly stale party. People. Industry.

"Just a little farther." Marius mumbled, looking towards the field. "Hm, shame we have to wait to help this field... Likely lose over half the crop if the farmer doesn't harvest before week's end."

"It isn't ripe yet." Asuka replied quietly.

"Some now, or none later." Marius replied, "Orario, for it's size, holds all the advantages when it comes to research. Rakia is too concerned with war, to tend its own people properly."

"Ares wasn't listening then... A shame." I mumbled, hugging Haruhime, who was still snoozing against me.

"Lilly wonders about that..." She said cryptically.

We past several more barns and fields, some growing other things, like corn or potatoes. Other, smaller fields were dedicated to cows or horses. But, many of the fields looked unhealthy. And much of the vegetation I could see was in some kind of distress, be it rot, insects or wilted.

"Now do you see?" Marius mumbled as I turned to him, "My father and Ares are the worst thing to happen to this country."

Haruhime gave his knee a pat, "We will help you fix it." She said with her best smile.

"Yes. We worked too hard to return you to... this." Mikoto said, looking past the nearest soldiers and sighing. "I see a wall ahead."

"Most pointless wall in history." Welf mumbled, "No one cares about invading this dump."

I was about to say something, when I caught the sound of galloping hooves. A rider was approaching fast.

"Hail patrol!" The rider called, "What business is this?"

The one who spoke to us replied, "A God and a small Familia. And one who claims to be our lost Prince, Marius."

The newest rider trotted his horse towards us. Like the captain, he too had that fancy brush on helmet, only it was blue instead of red. The face that I could see under the helmet was young but stern, with a vivid red scar that went from above his left eye across the nose and down his right cheek. "Our prince died in the care," He spat, "Of the Takemikazuchi Familia. We received word of his death six months ago."

I frowned, while Marius turned to look at the man, "I am Marius. Ask any soldier who was in the last attempt to take Orario, and they will tell you this."

"Those soldiers were banished to the fields for their failure by the King." Scarface replied coldly, "A fitting punishment for those who let our God and Prince get taken." He looked at us, then to the captain, "Take them to second keep." Then to us, "All you have here will be confiscated, and all of you are under arrest. Resist, and you will be punished, relent, and you will be unharmed."

Marius nodded, and looked to us, "Very well."

"They are so lucky I'm pregnant." I mumbled, getting a chuckle from Welf and Lilly.

"Something is very very off..." Marius replied, "Discipline is the same, but the methods have gotten... lax."

"Haven't even asked our names. Or even Familia." Welf nodded.

"Maybe I should have worn my old outfit?" Takemikazuchi commented, "This new one is nice, but no one knows who I am in it."

Mikoto and Asuka shook their heads, "No my Lord, keep that one." They both said together.

"If they shipped all the veterans off to the farms, then these are all green recruits?" I asked, getting a nod from Marius, "Might be for the best then... I am kind of responsible here..."

The wall of the main city was made of stone. Grey and bleak, it looked sturdy enough but I could probably have jumped over it with a little bit of a running start. Or if someone surprised me. Their were guards posted every ten metres or so on top of it, and a full half dozen at the actual gate. With a salute, Scarface motivated the guards to open the big double doors wide enough for the wagons to pass. I wasn't sure what to expect when I actually saw the city, but I was suddenly feeling very lucky to have arrived in this world in Orario, and not here.

That wasn't to say the place wasn't well constructed. The houses and buildings we saw first, as as we went along what was probably one of the main roads, were in a simple Roman style. Stone walls, flat rooftops, single or two story. As we got a little farther in, there was the occasional larger building, with a grand pointed roof, all done in pure white stone. The people seemed relatively well to do, wearing something similar to a Roman toga, though they wore proper pants and shirts under it, like the extra cloth was more for status or fashion than function.

I also noticed that there were no other races than human here. No Amazons either. Then I did see one, an elf, wearing an iron collar and carrying some ones groceries. He was wearing a simple white shirt that went to his knees and was belted by a rope around the waist.

"Another thing on my list." Marius said as he saw me notice the slave.

"Good." I said.

Slowly, our caravan took a turn onto another main street, and just a little up the road was a large building, almost like a very small fort. I could see that most of the windows were barred, and that the walls were not white marble, but red granite.

"Halt." Scarface said, bringing everything to a halt. "Group two, unload the flat beds, group three, search the other two wagons. Group one and four, escort the prisoners.

Again, we were (politely) herded by loaded crossbows. Haruhime and I even got a hand off the wagons by one of the soldiers. Even as pregnant as we were, we didn't need it, but it was amusing to watch the two young men blush as they helped us down. I hoped that the soldiers wouldn't break anything, or try and steal some of the equipment we had. I only brought my gauntlets, just out of habit, but almost everyone else had brought their newly forged adamant equipment. I could only guess what it would be worth here, even if no one but the person I'd made it for would fit in it.

The inside of the building was lit by torches and smelled faintly of bacon. The decor was bare stone, and made for pure function. If I had to guess, this was either a barracks, or police station. It even had a front desk, where an old grumpy looking man of at least fifty sat. Holding a quill awkwardly in his left hand. His right hand was actually missing, something I only noticed because he tried to scratch his chin with it, but looked at it like he'd forgotten it wasn't there.

"What's this then?" The old man asked, looking at us, "Quite a few guards for such a small party. Women and children too?"

"This man here claims to be Marius, our lost Prince." Scarface said, "He was on a merchant caravan headed here, with a God and His Familia."

The old man looked at Marius as Scarface stepped aside, and I could see that he knew him. But, instead of saying so, he said, "East wing is empty enough, I'll give them a talking to later."

"Are you sure? Even if you are a veteran, your hand..."

"Boy, I could put you, and your entire company over my knee and not break a sweat. I'm sure I could handle..." He squinted, "A pair of Easterners, two pregnant women, a little girl and those two muscle heads there." His eyes settled on Takemikazuchi, "And I'm sure the God will behave, with his Familia held like this."

I think we were all trying our best not to raise an eyebrow, but I was really curious now. With very little ceremony, the old man waved over his shoulder with the stump of his right arm, and we all followed him deeper into the building. A few soldiers got out of the way of our party, but said nothing as we were all divided up and put into different cells. Takemikazuchi got one of his own, Haruhime and I were put across from Him in another, Marius and Welf got a third next to mine, while Asuka, Lilly and Mikoto got a forth across from them.

The cells were at least clean, lit by a window, and any light that might be coming from the hall. The doors were floor to ceiling bars and probably made of iron, or something close to it. With only a simple bench for sleeping or sitting, and a bucket for a toilet, I hoped we weren't going to be here long.

"Right. Suspicious people put away." The old man said, glaring at scarface and his band of crossbowmen, "Now, bugger off. I'll file the paperwork myself, after having a chat with them."

"Are you sure sir..."

"Do I have to make it an order?" The man asked, his shoulders bunching up a little, "Make sure to treat what ever is in the wagons with respect. If they are merchants or the like, we don't want to have to pay them back for anything broken."

The younger man, and his squad snapped to attention, then turned and marched off smartly.

"Kids these days... Greener than a blade of grass, and about as smart..." The old man muttered.

"Is it really so bad, Constable?" Marius asked.

"It's Lord Constable to you." He turned and grinned, "I knew the news was a lie the moment I heard it." I watched the old man step forward and reach into Marius's cell, "You've gotten stronger, gained a bit of weight too I think."

"My year has been fruitful, and the food has been quite good." Marius admitted.

"Then these people here? I know the Crozzo boy, that hair has only gotten more unruly since I saw you last as a boy."

"Bite me, Lord Constable." Welf said, though I could hear the smile in his voice.

"Well, the two ladies are none other than the Demon Fox herself, Kodori. And her wife, Lady Haruhime."

The old man's face looked into my cell, "Last report said only one tail." He said to me, "But... one two three..."

"Six." I said, looking over my shoulder to get my tails to stop moving, "Bit of an incident with a magic book."

"I'll say." He switched his gaze to Haruhime, who waved shyly, "Not something we have around here, but, you two make a lovely couple." He ahem'ed, then moved back out of sight, "That would be Lord Takemikazuchi then? And those three?"

"Lilly, our supporter, who can carry all the things." Marius said seriously, making Lilly giggle, "You actually wouldn't believe how much she can actually carry. Then Asuka, who may look rather plain,"

"Hey!"

"But is one of the most skilled barehanded fighters I know."

"Oh, okay then."

"The one glaring at you is Mikoto, who is a highly capable swordswoman."

"Well... I promise you, I only look confident right now." The Constable said with a laugh, "Begs the question though, why'd you let yourself get caught? I mean... I'm sure even..." His head popped back into view, then went away again, "six? Months pregnant, the Demon Fox could have walked through anything we sent at her. But then you brought four more Orario adventurers?"

"Actually." I stood and made my way to the bars, though my tails were held by Haruhime, "Marius is a valued and trusted ally." The Constable politely stood in front of the bars as I talked, "And while our days are near an end, this is his home, and his people, so, I left the choice to him.

"That how it is then?" He made to scratch his chin with his right hand, sighed then switched to his left, "Well, if nothing else, I thank you for not filling our infirmaries." He sighed, "I'm very sorry your triumphant return ended up like this, but..."

He paused, and I could hear boots coming towards us from down the hall. Again, his tone changed, this time to an irritated one, "I don't care if you're pregnant, you half monster, you'll just have to wait until we find out what's in your wagons, and determine if you pose a threat." He winked at me, then turned, "What do you want cadet?"

"Sir, you would not believe what's on those wagons..." A young voice said, just out of sight. He sounded like he was just barely holding in his excitement.

"I'll go take a look in a moment. You better not have had any of it go missing, or so help me I'll hang you by your britches off the wall, upside down from a pike!" He stomped off angrily, calling back, "And I'll be back to continue our little chat."

I waited until the sound of boots was gone, then said, "Well, seems not everyone has forgotten you."

"I am... very disappointed that you are all being treated like this." Marius said sincerely, "But yes, something is very wrong here. That man taught me how to us a shield, and even one handed, he should still be out on active duty, or at least drilling the new recruits."

"Heh, I remember him from when I tried pulling out some of these bars for scrap metal." Welf chuckled, "Gramps tanned my ass so bad that day..."

"So, what do we do from here?" Asuka asked, "I mean... It's not like we can't just open the doors..."

"Do you trust me?" Marius asked, making us all reply with a unanimous "Of course."

"Then, please wait just a little longer."

Food was brought, a rather bland oatmeal that while filling, was almost tasteless. A short while after that, close to sun down, the Constable returned, though, he only passed by, handed Marius something, then left again.

After he left, it sounded like Marius unrolled a bit of parchment, then said, "How quietly can you open your doors?"

"Lilly picked hers hours ago."

"I'm sure Haruhime could bend these with no problem, they're only iron." I said.

"I trust you won't forget me?" Takemikazuchi said with a smile.

"At third bell, we leave. I know the way to where we're going to next." Marius said.

"And our cargo? Equipment?" Asuka asked.

"It's under the care of the Constable. But we won't have access to it."

"Will they have better food there?" Welf asked.

"Doubtful."

"Damn."

'Third Bell' was apparently a signal for both curfew, for the citizens, and the last guard change for the day. Military state that it was, I suspected they had little in the way of a 'night life' here. Unlike Orario.

"We have about five minutes to leave." Marius said quietly.

"Love? Would you like to try?" I asked Haruhime, who stood up and went to the bars. "Get a good grip, then apply more force slowly until they start to bend."

"Like..." She said, gripping two of the bars, then trying to pull her hands apart. "This..."

I watched as the thick iron bars slowly started to bow, then bend, then she let them go with a little huff of effort, "Almost." I said, looking at the bars, "Oh... Right, we need a little more space now I suppose."

"Stop fooling around love birds." Welf said, "I'll get Lord Takemikazuchi."

"Need a hand ladies?" Marius asked, looming over the two of us as Haruhime got hold of the bars again. "Here, you bend them a little further down." He took hold of the bars just a little higher than my head, then with a creak, the two of them forced them apart to allow for Haruhime and I's 'expanded profile'.

"Right, now?" I asked, stepping out.

"This way, light steps if you can." Marius said, heading further in to the building.

We met no one as we made our way down more of the red granite halls. A left, a right, down a flight of steps, then finally, through an thick wooden door. On the other side was what looked like a waterway, though the water was maybe ankle deep. There was even a canoe there, though it looked like it hadn't been used in a while.

"Most of the large buildings have this kind of thing. Emergency escape routes. Or, in a pinch, emergency water supply." Marius explained, "Though, I'd suggest not drinking the water around here unless you boil it." He shrugged, "Just one more thing Orario has that we do not."

He didn't wait for comments, as we were still on a bit of a time table. Instead, he took the first steps into the muck, pressed his foot down a bit, then nodded to us. It wasn't the worst we'd dealt with, the dungeon wasn't always the cleanest, but it was far from pleasant.

"Mia is going to give me a talking to again." I mumbled, hugging my tails to keep them out of the water.

"Lilly wonders why you don't just make better ones?" Marius had picked her up, as the muck was almost to her knees.

"You don't try and reinvent the wheel." I said, getting a chuckle from Welf and Marius.

"I agree." Mikoto said, "I would wear them too, if Mia-dono didn't guard the secret of the person who makes them."

"She keeps her cobbler secret?" Takemikazuchi asked, His pants just barely swishing into the water due to the gata sandals He wore.

"I tried to ask where to get them directly, but she just..." I shivered, "lifted her ladle and frowned at me."

"How much farther, Marius-san?" Haruhime asked, holding my hand as much for support as comfort.

"Not far." He looked ahead into the gloom of the tunnel, the torchlight behind us all but gone now, "There, see?" Ahead there was a faint light, not the yellow orange of a torch, but a white one, like a magic stone lamp. "Good." He said, "We're still in the clear."

"I hate wet boots." Welf grumbled, picking up the small magic stone lamp as we got to a small landing. Still made of red granite, the walls were old and damp. I kind of missed the dungeon and its self cleaning. "Hey, isn't this ours?"

"The Constable said our things were under his care." Marius said, "We're almost there..." He looked up a narrow flight of steps, "I think this is near the third garrison." He looked to Welf.

We all looked to the smith, and he sighed, "Suppose I'll drop in and say hello to the old man. Figures he'd be in on this."

Marius nodded, "I'm sure your father and grandfather have been pressed into service making weapons and armour. If the Constable is sending us to them, they can be trusted."

"Yeah yeah..." Welf grumbled, heading up the steps, "Hey Lil'e. Wanna pick this?" He tried the door handle, but it didn't move, "We're trying to be quiet still right?"

"Mister Welf has an anvil head." Lilly giggled as she climbed the steps and pulled a couple of small wires from under her robe.

I kept imagining the mission impossible theme playing in the background, as our mixed bag of heights weights and profiles moved from bushes, building corners, and even clung to a wall to avoid the occasional pair of guards as they patrolled the streets. That, or the Scooby Do gang trying to be sneaky.

But, after about ten minutes of ducking around white marble and red granite buildings, we came to a grey stone one. In the dark, at least. It might have been white marble, but with the smell of a forge coming from inside, it had probably been set on fire a time or two. Knowing Welf, and getting an idea of his habits from his family, I'd guess his father and grandfather wouldn't bother polishing the soot off the walls. Aside from a small wisp of smoke coming from a chimney, an a single light from a small window, it looked like no one was awake.

"Probably polishing something." Welf said, looking around, "Clear?"

"Clear." Marius said from the rear of our group, and we all did one last quick step towards the house.

"This door." Welf waved as he got to a side door near closer to the chimney. A stack of wood and coal were nearby, making me think this door was for the forge itself. "It's open?"

"Hurry in." A voice said from inside. I dimly recognized it as Garon, Welf's grandfather. "Going to be cramped in here..." He grumbled as we all filed in, "Prince Marius. Good to see you."

"And you, it's been a long while." Marius bowed to the old smith. "I'm sad to say I lost the sword you made me, all those years ago."

"Oh?"

"Yes, it was thrown off a cliff, after I lost a duel." The prince gave me a glance, "But, it served me well until the end."

"Can't be helped." He looked at our group as Lilly latched the door and we all tried to spread out and get a little shoulder room in the smithy. "Who's all this then? I know... You." He pointed at me, "Less tails, and not carrying, but I know you."

"Kodori Haruhime," I said, extending a hand, "I helped Welf make the black blade." We shook, his hand was rough, but even though he looked in his fifties, his grip was solid, and his shoulders looked like a collection of rounded bricks stuffed into a shirt.

"I'll be interested in hearing more, after. And this is?" He looked to Haruhime.

"Sanjouno Haruhime." She also shook his hand. I'm sure the sharp looking eyes of the old man caught our matching rings.

"Huh." He said, "Another story for later then. And..." He looked at the rest of us.

"The shorty is Lilly, our supporter. Asuka and Mikoto, two of our forwards, and that is Lord Takemikazuchi." Welf said, "So can you tell us what the hell is going on?"

Garon shook or bowed to each of them, then said, "It's... a little twisted. Let's move to the main room. Have to be careful with the light though."

The workshop was a neat place, with a pair of anvils, a large furnace, a small compartment just off of the furnace for smelting, and tools lining the walls. Much like our shop back home. The main room however was almost like a shop. Racks of weapons, stands with armour and helmets, and a single well abused training dummy. It did however, after a little quiet moving, have enough space for us to stand or sit. Garon helpfully got a basin of water so we could scrub our feet off and set up our boots near the banked furnace to dry out.

"Right." Welf started, wiggling his toes from his place in our circle. "Much better."

"Sorry I don't have more comforts, but they work me hard, and give me little." Garon said, "All I have is a bed in the back. Your father is at another one of the garrisons, in his own shop."

"Is it truly so bad?" Marius asked.

"A year ago, when we lost the war." Garon snorted, "Or what ever you want to call that utter insanity of an offensive. The king took the news badly." He handed out mugs to everyone, it smelled like mint tea. "Your father and I got back a little before the remnants of the main force. Lady Hephaestus simply detained us long enough to make sure you got home safe, then applied the boot at the nearest gate."

"Sounds like Her." Welf grinned.

"When Ares returned a week or so later, and gave the news of your capture, the King wanted to raise an army and try again. But, Ares actually said no. That before war could happen again, we had to make sure Rakia wouldn't fall to something simple, like hunger or disease."

"Huh, He did listen." I said, Haruhime patting my hand as we knelt together.

"Except... No one really knew how. In a flurry of construction, we improved our water supply, or repaired what was already in place. But the crops were still just as temperamental as usual, our livestock is still far short of what the people need, and we still don't have a way to treat many of the sicknesses that occasionally sweep through." Garon explained. "And, surprising everyone, the King, your father, didn't... disobey Ares, but certainly showed a little more initiative that usual."

"So the old line of soldiers?" Marius asked.

"Yes. As punishment, the troops you went with were sent to the farms, or even to the outer areas past that, to try and make the land productive. No surprise, they didn't have much of a clue on how, and many of them either came begging to be allowed into the ranks. Those were very quietly executed." He crossed his arms, "And those who didn't try and return, many fell sick and died, or starved, waiting for help from the King."

"He's... Gone insane..." Marius mumbled, putting a hand over his eyes and then scrubbing it through his short cropped hair.

"Then, we got a letter, saying you died." Garon said, "The King made a proclamation that day, saying that since the old soldiers failed, a new army would be raised. Ares was put to work that day, inducting all comers, and many forced recruits into his Familia. Your father and I were told at spear point to work for the King, making weapons and armour as quickly as we could. Anyone with even a shred of skill was there with us too."

"Surprised you agreed." Welf said.

"Had to. It was made plain it was that or death." The elder Crozzo replied, "For the next six months, until now, the people are either training for war, or hiding in their homes hoping they don't get pulled in. Ares hasn't made a public appearance for months now too."

There was silence for a moment, then, "I only sent one letter back." Marius said, "To my mother. And unless I've forgotten how to write, it said I was well and actually having a good time."

"Lilly has a bad feeling." Our supporter said, "Lilly also wonders, what about Apollo?"

"Them?" Garon snorted, "After their failure to protect Ares, the King banished them. They looked like they might cause a fuss too, and while they were low in number, they had that pretty boy... Hyakinthos? Yeah. Rakia's only level three was captured and divested, so we would have had no chance. But, Apollo simply replied, 'This place holds no beauty. We are leaving'. And they packed up and left."

"A shame. I kind of wanted to visit them." I said, getting a bunch of 'grew a second head' looks. "What? I wanted to make sure my package made it. I hate not keeping a promise."

"Has there been any other odd things happening?" Asuka asked, "I mean... I only know what Marius-san has told us, and what I've seen so far, but has anything else happened?"

"The timing of the letter bothers me too..." I said, looking to Marius, "We sent it... Almost a month? Before that thing with the Xenos got resolved."

"Well, there's the thing..." Garon said, all eyes on him again, "Another God delivered it."

Asuka, Mikoto, Welf, Lilly, Marius, Haruhime and I, all did a facepalm.

Notes!

So, I'm sure a few of you have noticed the big differences between Orario and Rakia. In the books (yes, I'm still doing this) Orario and the magic stones provided by the dungeon do so many things. Water filtration, magic potions, crops, plumbing, hot and cold water on demand, lights... The list is long. But, Orario has a near monopoly on the stones, and VERY tightly controls the supply.

If your wondering why I said 'near' it's because the Posiden Familia is on the literal other side of the world, where there's an underwater entrance to the dungeon. (If I recall right, at least.)

Rakia has none of those benefits and so they have to resort to technology appropriate for the time. Torches made of wood and pine sap, water that is exposed to open air most of the time, or well water, both of which are not really fit for drinking unless boiled or made into beer or wine.

But anyhow, explanation done. See you soon. :)