The port village of Bath was a strange thing. The closest port to the supposed location of Amenoch's Temple, it was also the furthest known port in the Empire. Known for its precursor civilization ruins, it was the home for large thermal bathhouses. Laying on top limestone and vents, they allowed water to warm to comfortable temperatures.

For several decades, the port was a getaway home for the Royal Family. For the history and archaeologist, a treasure trove for another culture. Or just a tourist spot for people who could afford it.

But after the Advent, those days came to a shift and demoralizing end.

When the Van Eltia arrived in port, the Van Aifread pirates were shocked. Here, the people were still living a comfortable life. Malevolence was low. Usually, a port village like this would've starved if they didn't get a regular season of tourists but, here they were, continuing as usual.

As Eizen looked around, he hummed. "Something doesn't seem right here."

"What's not right?" Velvet asked as she looked at the port.

"Bath's general livelihood." Alex leaned over. "After Artorius's death, the Royal Family hasn't made a return to the baths here. Even with the patrols, people are still scared of the open sea."

"First step with solving a mystery." Amelia chimed. "Search for some clues."

Once the Van Eltia was properly docked, the ramp was set down. Eleanor led the party down as the first port members of Bath welcomed them.

"Hello and welcome to Bath!" The woman smiled, "We haven't had many travelers in a while. What brings you here? The thermal baths? The ruins?"

Eleanor smiled back, shaking her head. "A mix of both actually. We're here on semi-official grounds with the Abbey."

"Ooh, the Abbey!" The woman smiled. "Please enjoy your stay here. I must say, the Exorcists here have been a great pleasure."

That immediately rose a few eyebrows. Velvet crossed her arms. Looks like somebody was already here.

"Ah, but since you're here, I guess the garrison here will be transferring, right?"

"Th-that's right." Eleanor coughed. "It's been a while since we've checked in with this garrison. Could you refresh me what their name was?"

"Of course." She giggled. "The Morrígan Wings."

"What?!"

The woman looked at Alex, "Is there something the matter?"

Slowly, the blonde regained her composure. "Nothing at all. Just didn't think that garrison was stationed here. I could've sworn it was the Lions Corp, or even the Pack."

"Ooh, they were stationed here earlier. But that changed with the changing of the Shepherd and the restructuring of the Abbey." She sighed. "We were thinking about leaving this place, but then the Wings came."

The five women looked at one another, then back to their host. "Do they still have their leader here?"

"Yes. A young woman named Minerva Permenides." The woman shook her head. "Poor girl. Bound to a pushchair, but she has plenty of Wings helping her around."

"Thank you very much, young ma'am." Eleanor bowed her head. "We'll talk with the captain of the ship before heading off to the town."

"Please enjoy your stay." She waved as they got moving. Eizen crossed her arms, standing besides Benwick. He could hear what they were talking about.

"Do you think we could capture whatever Wings are here to interrogate?" Velvet asked. Alex was of the same mind.

"I mean, they have a high-ranking member here." Amelia scratched her head. "If we try to make a move on her, then we'll have the entire town asking why."

"And what? Just let them go?" The blonde snorted. "Don't you remember that hellscape near the volcano?"

"There'll be another time." Amelia chastised her. "But not in a place that's so happy for them. Remember what happened the last time we tried capturing one of them?"

"It happened right in the middle of me talking with him." Eleanor reminded. "Escaped and disappeared without a trace."

Alex rolled her eyes but looked around. This place, a beautiful land for the high nobles to enjoy a place beyond the eyes of the commoners and other nobles. She half-expected this place to be in ruins or abandoned.

But here they were, standing. The Shadow of the Shepherd balled her hands into fists. She hated that this group, for destroying not just the Abbey, but the sanctums that housed the Elemental Empyreans, was still doing community things like this. She could barely fathom it. Perhaps this group was splintered like the Abbey was in the years following Shepherd Artorius's death?

"Perhaps we could look for this Minerva girl." Velvet suggested. "Give us clues on what she did, how she's doing it. Maybe we can capture her before she disappears."

The group nodded. Eizen looked to the rest of the pirates, making sure they'd get their stuff before heading off again.

As the ladies walked into the port village, the group smelled the air. A fresh bite of tropical fruits and sea salt lingered in the air. "Let's stop and think." Eleanor said as they walked. "This Minerva person. She's in a wheelchair right?"

"With something like that, maybe we can figure out where she's been." The former therion shrugged. "If I couldn't use my legs, I think the hot springs would a good place to just relax."

In agreement, they headed off again. The famous bath houses for the village's namesake. While the entire spring was enclosed, they found the entrance quite welcoming.

The receptionist beyond the doors smiled, waving them over. "Ah, guests! I wish we had known sooner, or we'd have our specials on us!"

"We'll take that offer." Amelia beamed. Alex crossed her arms. "We're not here on vacation."

"You're archeologists then?"

"Not exactly, I'm the Shepherd of the Abbey." Eleanor introduced herself. "And these are my companions. We were here to inspect on a certain wing of ours here. Did Minerva Permenides come here?"

The man nodded. "Oh yes her. Couldn't forget that wheelchair of hers. She frequently came to the hotsprings and the bakery right across."

Amelia looked over, spotting the bakery. Apparently, they were having a sale on melon bread. A soft smile was on her face before looking back to group.

"She bought local?" Alex frowned. "Do you happen to have any belongings of hers?"

"Always. Girl loved buying home grown and insisted on paying full price compared to the discounts we offered for her service." The man's demeanor slowly cooled. "Did something happen with her?"

"No, I'm just an inspector of the troops."

"Ah well, I hope she passes with full colors."

Again, the general demeanor churned Alex's stomach. Maybe this group of Wings had no idea what happened in Mount Cuilthionn. Perhaps they could be convinced to turn on them? But if they couldn't in the past, why do it now?

This rattled the Hound's head. Small puffs of malevolence swirled and spun on her head and shoulders. But something stopped her with a solid pat on her shoulders. Amelia smiled, motioning to the door. Eleanor and Velvet were already checking the bakery.

"I…" The woman looked down; her cheeks flushed red. "Th-thanks."

"You're worrying too much, Allie~." Amelia giggled. "Maybe you'd like a little massage from me once we get back?"

"Your massages are always the best." She smiled.

"Thank you!"

Just as the mood seemed to lift up, Lailah couldn't help but play with a simple flower she picked on along the way. Plucking the petals like it was some sort of game. Alex wanted to throttle the malak for poking fun at their hearts, but she let her go.

It'd be awkward to see her straggling air after all.

Meanwhile, Velvet and Eleanor were checking in with the baker. Apparently, Minerva loved melon bread. Every day, she'd come in for a freshly baked melon bread. Always filled with raspberries and cream.

Growing hungry from his statements, Eleanor ordered a pair of bread. Just as Velvet tried objecting, she already paid for it and got them.

The redhead took a seat inside, looking around. "I still can't believe you can finally taste something other than blood."

"Huh? That? I was surprised too." Velvet admitted. She remembered the constant taste of blood. When she thought she could taste things again, the betrayal it was living in a fake Aball. She shuddered just thinking about it.

Her shivers stopped when she realized that Eleanor held her hand steady. The two women looked at one another before briefly turning away, blushed red. This was ridiculous, acting like some village peasant with a crush.

Velvet munched on her bread, finally cracking a smile. "But Ms. Shepherd. It's been a long seven years. It looks like not much has changed."

"That's the way things are. Talks, meetings, supply lines and reconstruction." Eleanor sighed. "I kinda miss the days we were on the Van Eltia, going from island to island."

"It was something of an adventure, right?"

"Yeah. Even when it somehow ended with saving the world."

"You and Phi saved the world." She chuckled. "All I got was my revenge. Rokurou got his fight and Eizen got his debt paid."

"And Magilou?"

"She… enjoyed the ride?"

Eleanor laughed. "Something like that."

"What ever happened to the witch?"

"I got a few reports of her travelling from place to place. Then they stopped entirely. I got worried about her, but that's when the Wings made their moves."

"Knowing her, she's probably fine." Velvet looked at her bread, inspecting its quality. Not bad, but she felt she could do better. "Maybe."

"Even if she's not here, we shouldn't speak ill of her."

"Yeah, yeah."

Finishing off their snack, Eleanor pushed her chair in, "H-hey Velvet, maybe after this, I want to talk to you about something."

"Why not just ask here?" She lifted an eyebrow.

"I…" The Shepherd gulped. "Velvet, after all of this is over, what are you going to do?"

Her shoulders slumped for a moment. That question again, the one that's been circling her head ever since she returned. At this point, she hated being reminded of it. "I'm not sure. Hell, I'm not even sure what I'm supposed to be doing here. Maybe… Maybe there's a reason. Maybe there isn't. I'll find it out, one way or another."

"I-if you do, would you mind if I came along?"

"You can't be serious. You're the Shepherd. Once these clowns are out of the way, you'll be running the Abbey again. You can't go running off like that."

"So you say that, but since when did you care about what other people were doing?" Eleanor walked closer. "I swore an oath to serve you until the day I die."

"Oath or not, you're taking this way too seriously."

"Maybe I want to be taking this seriously." Eleanor asserted.

"I'm not your pity case."

"I'm not condescending like that! All I'm saying is that I want to stay by your side."

Velvet blinked, her lips forming a small 'o'. Eleanor slowly realized her words, shutting her eyes. That was far too forward with her feelings.

"Do you want a do-over?" Velvet hesitantly asked.

"No, that's… that's exactly what I wanted to say." She affirmed. "It's been seven years Velvet. And then you suddenly came back and all those feelings I thought I buried. We thought we lost you. I thought I lost you. But you're here."

Just before her hand reached out and held hers, Aoife broke the awkward admittance by swinging the door open. "Oi, both of you. I think we found our Minerva person."

The two women looked to her and nodded. Just before they left the bakery, Velvet looked over. "After this, we can talk."

"Y-yeah, right."

Once the ladies regrouped, they headed off, led by Aoife. To their surprise, the woman in the wheelchair was pulling herself. Another person was with her, a young man with a spiky hair. His armor was torn in several places, dinged with rough edges here and there. Minerva didn't look exactly pleased with this person being her guard. Amelia's eyes widened for a moment as they continued. A slight glare at the strange escort before looking back at the wheelchair-bound woman.

Not bothering to hide themselves, the pair eventually met up with the rest of them, partially blocking the way.

"O-oh. You must be the Shepherd." Minerva weakly smiled, coughing. She pulled an iron mask to her face, taking deep breathes before continuing. "Alexandra Fenris Breuse, Amelia Le'Blanc, Lailah, Aoife, and Velvet Crowe. That's all of you, is it not?"

"How do you know our names?" Velvet frowned.

"Because Melchior talked quite a bit about many of you. Possible problems if should they arise. And many of you have."

"I don't think you should have any right to talk about anything, murderer." Alex growled back.

The other man leaned forward, hand on his dagger. "Eh, Minerva. Hey. Let me cut this bitch."

"You will do no such thing." Minerva rebuked. "I'm sorry for my associate here. He's rather unhinged."

"Is that what you want to call it?" Amelia rolled her eyes.

The man sneered, jerking an extra knight at his side. "What would a sell-sword like you know?"

"Enough. Stop antagonizing them." Minerva pulled a small cane from her chair and wacked him onto his head.

Alex couldn't help but laugh. "Ha, sit boy."

The guard barked, pulling his blade out. Alex did the same. For a brief second, blade and dagger snapped. The blonde caught his blade out, twisting it around the hilt before forcing his guard down. Alex yanked around, dropping his blade to the ground. He yelped, spewing a long line of curses.

"Woah, woah, woah!" Amelia stepped forward. "I'm sure we can all act like adults and just settle this nicely." She turned to Minerva first. "Got it?" It was less of a suggestion, and more of a threat.

"I'll get you for this you damned dog…" The man huffed back. Minerva whacked him on the head again. "So it seems we are at an impasse. There is very little you can do to contain us. We'll spirit away as we usual do. But we did leave a gift. She's being kept in our cells."

"What kind of gift is this?" Amelia crossed her arms.

"Oh, the kind that only Velvet Crowe and Eleanor Hume would know." She smiled. "An old friend of yours. Very talkative."

"Why aren't you taking this gift with you now?" Eleanor sighed. She knew something was up. "You weren't planning of just leaving her in the cell, were you?"

"Oh dear, no. I was going to tell the locals about her before leaving but since you're here, you might as well free her."

"What kind of trouble did she cause?" Velvet amusingly chuckled.

Alex looked lost.

"Oh, trying to sneak into the Water Empyrean's temple. Nothing much she since we kept tossing her out until a few men decided to just capture her."

"Sounds like her." The Shepherd rubbed her temples.

"Indeed." Minerva smiled. "If that's all, we shall be leaving. Goodbye."

"I won't forget this you bitc –!"

Both of them disappeared, leaving no trace behind. As Velvet looked to Eleanor, they pair played with the ends of their clothing. "Come on, we better go help her out."

"H-hey, hey!" Alex yelled. "Can somebody please tell me what's going on here? Who's this person we're freeing?!"

"Oh, you'll see." Velvet cryptically explained.

A few minutes away, they arrived at the Abbey headquarters there. In reality, it was the jail cells with an extension. Entering, they heard the soft cry of 'Bieeeennnnnnn'.

The women rolled their eyes as they continued to the source of the sound.

Two people were chained in a cell. The first was a small Normin with a tophat, ordained with a red bow. His purple body and red wings made him looked a bit more mischievous than other Normin Alex knew.

The second occupant was a lanky-looking young girl. With purples and pinks, her fashion style was eccentric to say the least. Long platinum blonde hair draped her back with a witch's hat sitting on her head. By the Empyreans, this girl looked like a mess.

No, not because she was tortured or anything. Just the way she looked and kept herself. Who the hell wears books for a skirt!?

"You look better for somebody locked for eternity." The girl coughed in an over-dramatic tone. "And so, my saviors have arrived!"

"Yeah, yeah." Velvet snorted, fiddling with the keys. "Just hold still while we free you Magilou."

Thus, one rises above. A true All-Star…

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