"Speaking"
Individual thoughts/Mindscape talk with the twins
*Ability/Spell*
...
Throughout Orario, there are multiple merchants who are willing to sell to anyone, provided the price is agreed upon. That did not stop the feathered-topped God who held a blue popsicle in his hand. He was slender and of medium height with skinny arms and legs sticking out of his clothes, with blond hair with flowing locks. The hat atop his head was only a part of his outfit. He wore what would be called a 'cowboy' in Gekai.
Behind him was a woman with aqua-blue hair and cyan eyes. Her square-framed glasses hung low on her nose. Her name is Asfi Al Andromeda; she is known as Perseus for her works in magical items. As the pair walked down Southwest Main Street, she started speaking, "People are saying a lot of awful things about that Little Rookie person. How he killed a Minotaur at level one, how it's reported that the Loki Familia left it for him, and how long it actually took him to level up. Not to mention the two new Titans that were named Aspis and Harpe. Finally, let's add more fuel to the fire; they are related to the Great Mage and are both level three before ever arriving in Orario."
The God stopped at a stall and picked up a little trinket, a cat teacup. "Even with a blessing, there is no way he managed that. As for the other two, I don't find myself surprised. If they are indeed related to her, then we certainly have a lot to look forward to."
"People also don't want to believe that the rookie did it faster than the Sword Princess. As for the other two, they're twins, so their names make sense. Those two are a part of the Dia Familia. Her only members if I recall correctly," Asfi said, much like how one would give their superior officer a report.
"Touchy touchy people here. However, the more I hear about these three, the more I'd want to meet them. I think they'd shake up the foundation of Orario if they haven't already," the blonde God said, licking the blue popsicle in his hand.
"I don't see why you are so interested in them, and what could you possibly have planned, Master Hermes?" Asfi addressed her God, Hermes.
Hermes chuckled as he turned to face his follower, "Come on, Asfi, are you jealous?"
Asfi grunted, "Listen, interfering in other familia affairs is what I want to stay out of. They could get real messy if done incorrectly."
"Then we don't mess it up," Hermes replied simply.
"Lord Hermes, will you think of my position for once? You are always away and when you come back, you lounge around-" she stopped when she felt him pat her head. To Hermes, he was imagining a plop sound effect when he patted her head.
"Asfi, every member appreciates you. You keep things running when I'm gone. You're so perfect that even your own God depends on you," Hermes ruffled her hair gently.
She, on the other hand, looked down and accepted the praise, "Yeah, thanks."
"Now, we have other business to attend to, let's go to the Hostess."
The two ended up outside the Hostess of Fertility mere minutes later, where two waitresses greeted them. "Good to see you, furrends! Huh?" the emerald-eyed waitress spoke. "Master Hermes."
Hermes raised his feathered hat, "Miss Chole and Miss Syr, it's nice to see you."
Mama Mia was behind the bar and she spoke, "What is it you want this time, Hermes?"
Hermes gave a feigned offended gasp, "Must you always assume that I want something?" Mia simply raised an eyebrow. Hermes raised his hands in a placating gesture, "Okay okay, but it's only a simple question."
"Get to the point."
Hestia and Dia were currently in Dia's Complex, discussing an alliance. The thoughts came from both Irene and Bell. They both had brought up some very decent points and the two Goddesses thought it would be best to come up with terms and other important items. "You know the offer is still on the table," Dia said, pleading with Hestia to live in one of her empty houses on the complex, resided in Southeast Main Street,
Hestia denied it, "No way, I already had Hephaistos kick me out because I was freeloading, and I refuse to do that to anyone else. Plus, the church with Bell and me is nice for the two of us."
Dia sighed, accepting that reason, albeit begrudgingly. "Well, if that is the final detail, then we should go get an official contract from the Guild. They will want to know of this development and since our familias are ranked low enough, they should be fine with it." Power monopolies are what the Guild tries to avoid in Orario. The last alliance between two high-ranking familias only worked because of their end goal, and the deities in question never had the desire to rule Orario.
An urgent knock on the door brought them out of their conversation. The front door was being knocked on repeatedly. Dia almost wanted to ignore them, but her curiosity won out and when she answered the door, it was Takemikazuchi, and behind him was his familia. The tallest male stood with his eyes closed, slightly bowed, while two females were bowed at the waist. Three more members were behind them, bowing slightly as well, "Dia, I know this is a bad time, but my children have something to confess."
Dia eyed them, and Hestia did too. "Come in, Take." Dia held the door open and the six children plus the God of War entered her home. "To what do I owe this surprise visit?"
Takemikazuchi looked seriously at Dia, and ergo Hestia. "While my children were in the Dungeon on the middle floors, Chisuga was injured and they had to head to the surface, and as a result, they had to pass parade."
"I take full responsibility," Ouka, the captain of the Takemikazuchi Familia said. He is a tall, lightly tanned male with a tough build. He has black hair and eyes, wearing a lavender, red, gold, and black Kamishimo top along with brown pants tucked underneath long white bandages in black boots. His Far Eastern culture in his appearance stood out, as it did with his entire familia. He said his statement with conviction.
"As you are aware, Pass Parading is a shameful action and the reason I am telling you this… is because they pass paraded your children, Dia, Hestia," Takemikazuchi revealed.
One girl bowed even lower if it was possible, ashamed of her actions, and the deities in the room knew it. She looks like Isaac's type, Dia thought to herself, just randomly. Dia looked nonplussed, however; no reaction whatsoever, but Hestia was another story. "If any harm comes to my child, I will hate you until the day I die, but I know what you can do..." the blue-eyed Goddess stood up and walked to Takemikazuchi's children. "...help me find them."
Dia, meanwhile, stood and headed for the door. "Wait, Dia! Where are you going?"
"To the Guild. I'm making a request," she said before leaving her complex and straight to the Guild.
Quickly, the entire party of eight followed after her. One of them was the girl with mid-back length hair. She walked ashamed next to Dia. Dia didn't despise her or any of Take's children. If anything, they got enough of a scolding from their God, but not from her children. "What is your name, child?"
The girl seemed to snap out of her trance as she looked to Dia, "Yamoto Mikoto, Lady Dia."
"Ah, from the Far East, correct?" Dia asked like she and Mikoto have been friends for years.
"That's correct, Lady Dia," Mikoto said curtly. Mikoto's features were also a sight to look at. If Isaac got a look, then Dia could see it working out. She has long black hair which she has tied in a ponytail with bluish-purple eyes. She wears a purple kimono with a sarashi underneath along with a dark red sash and thigh-length boots. She also wears a red shoulder guard on her non-weapon arm, arm guards, and keeps her katana in the sash at her waist.
"Did you see them as you passed them?" Dia inquired, and she let no malice or anger through and that was because she wasn't angry. She was more worried about her children. After all, basically raising them from when they were eight certainly has an impact on how she views them.
"I saw Harpe as I was running by, with a look of what I perceived as shocked. I admit, I disagreed with Ouka, but he is the captain. I…"
Dia put her hand on Mikoto's shoulder, "Do not worry, if I know Isaac, then that look wasn't of shock."
That only served to confuse the Eternal Shadow, wondering what in the hell Lady Dia was talking about. She didn't see it as anything else. "I-I fail to understand your meaning, Lady Dia."
"You need not worry about it, Mikoto. For now, let's worry about getting this request up," Dia said as her whole aura changed. Serious Dia emerged as she pushed open the Pantheon doors. The Guild receptionists all felt the change and Rose was the first to react.
"How can I help you, Goddess Dia?" Rose said in her professional voice, but her ears betrayed her worry. They were currently pinned back, like prey staring into the eyes of a predator, but that predator likes to watch their prey squirm first.
"I am putting in a request, along with a half a million valis as a reward," Dia said, and this was easy to cover. Sure, her business has only started, but she saved up over the years and amassed a small fortune of one point five million valis, this was a third of it, yes, but it needs to be enticing for them.
Rose's ears straightened, her hands shaking slightly, away from view, "And what is the nature of this request, Lady Dia?"
"Simple retrieval. Find the Rookie, Sword, and Shield and return them to the surface, unharmed and alive." Everyone who accompanied Dia watched as she laid down the law with badassery and curtness. Rose wrote something on a piece of paper in front of her. Her handwriting was immaculate as she wrote out the request, despite her shaking. Secretly, she was concerned. They were level three, so what happened?
"That information will not be shared, Rose. I hope you understand," Dia said. Did she just ask that out loud?
Cheeks flushed, she made eye contact with the Goddess, "It will be posted within the hour, Lady Dia."
"Thank you, Rose. Have a good day," Dia said, having just rocked the Guild's boat. Takemikazuchi and Hestia watched with awe.
"Rule one, never mess with Dia," Hestia said as they all exited the Guild and headed back to Dia's complex to discuss their strategy.
"Rule two," Dia said, "If anyone unruly comes by, I will slam the door in their face."
As they all left, a God who remained out of sight of the group strolled in after her. Rose was surprised to see another God walk in and swipe the paper, "Will you be needing this?"
"Lord Hermes, that-"
"Relax, Rose. I want to help, and I have a personal interest in these specific three. So, let me handle this. I got my own assignments. Come on, Asfi, we have business with little Dee-Dee and Hestia," Hermes said as he left the Guild with the only copy of the quest.
The Loki Familia was preparing to head down to the lower floors to continue their expedition. They had other reasons to be down here, but one of them was for material gathering. They needed metals and ores to bring back up to the Goibniu Familia. It was to help lower the debt for Ais since she broke the rapier that they lent her.
Since it wasn't her normal rapier, Desperate, it couldn't stand up to her normal fighting style. Her Desperate was of an unbreakable variety, a Durandal. As for Ais herself, she was staring at the crystal ceiling of the Rivira waiting when she heard multiple thumps close by. Her aloof expression only changed by the rise of an eyebrow.
Curious, she looked over to the entrance to see four figures on the ground, but only one rose immediately and started to speak angrily, "When I get my hands on you, Isaac, you are going to regret this."
That was when Ais spoke, albeit hesitant, "Hello?"
The figure whipped around, "Sword Princess? Okay, did not expect you here."
Ais tilted her head slightly at her. Her stare was constant. It clicked in Ais' mind as she said, "You're looking for Riveria, right… Irene?"
Irene nodded, but her hands were shaking, a detail that the quarter-elf did not notice, but Ais did. Ais isn't that intimidating, right? "Yes, please, it's really bad. Isaac pushed me down here and he was left to fight the Goliath and-"
"The Goliath?"
"Yes!" Irene's hands were in the air. She was on the verge of a full-blown panic attack. "Okay, story later, help me get these three some medical attention. Two of them are on the verge of Mind Down and they won't admit it."
"That's not true," Welf muttered from the ground. Lili said something incomprehensible.
Ais was concerned, yet her expression wasn't showing it. Goliath wasn't supposed to spawn for another week and some change. So, why did it spawn now?
Irene scooped up Lili and Welf, leaving Bell to her. Her cheeks flushed slightly, and Irene noticed. She didn't say anything, but she may have done it on purpose.
"Ais!" A cheerful voice called. Tiona came stomping over and that's when she noticed Irene, "Aspis, what are you doing here? Not that I'm not happy to see you, where's Mr. Harpe?"
Irene's expression darkened, "He's up there fighting Goliath, and I don't have the time to go help him, and I wanna punch him."
"He's not with you?"
Irene looked away, "No." Irene was desperately trying to keep her emotions down, but with each passing moment, it was slipping. "Take Lili, I got Welf, can we go?" Tiona nodded, gently taking the Prum from her arms, while Irene adjusted Welf's arm over her shoulder.
The two compiled as they headed for Loki Familia's camp and they were put in a tent specially tailored for healing. Once Irene batted away the person trying to heal her, she stood to head outside, and she saw the one person she needed to see.
"Riveria!" Irene shouted, gaining the High Elf's attention.
An elf with orange hair and blue eyes rounded on Irene, "It's Lady Riveria to you!"
Irene glared at the elf, making her flinch, "Don't be stuck up, I have more pressing concerns, like how Goliath spawned when he wasn't supposed to!"
That got the elf to shut her trap. "Irene?" Riveria asked, and Irene could see the questions circulating through her head. She glanced to Welf on Irene's shoulder and gestured for another familia member to get him. Two more appeared and grabbed Lili and Bell, much to Ais' disappointment.
"Right now, I'm on the verge of having a breakdown. Isaac's not here, three of my party are unconscious, and I'm panicking really bad right now!" It was only then she noticed her hands were shaking uncontrollably. How long were they shaking?
Riveria crossed the distance between them and gently cupped Irene's hands. The shaking slowed, but it didn't stop. Pulling out a handkerchief, Riveria wiped Irene's cheeks, ridding her beautiful face of barely formed tears. Irene would never admit it, but she hadn't felt this warmth in a long time. "You two are separated?" Irene nodded, trying and failing to hold back the emotions now.
Her breathing picked up exponentially, "I can't be separate from him, the last time we were, we-"
"Shhh," Riveria went to Mama Mode as she hugged Irene close and that was it. She started bawling, Irene apologizing all the while. The orange-haired elf was dumbstruck at the rapid change of emotions and the way her teacher was acting, "Lefiya, please go get Finn and Gareth, have them meet me in the executive tent." The group started walking towards the tent, Loki Familia's campground. Riveria put an arm over Irene's shoulders as they headed inside. Riveria was aware of what happened the last time the twins were separated from one another. The story still makes Riveria feel sympathy thinking about it, and the fact that the girl can smile as bright as she does… it says a lot about her strength and courage to move on.
Ais and Tiona watched and followed with different expressions. "So, he's not with you, he's fighting Goliath? Alone?!" Tiona wondered what he was thinking, to be so stupid or brave. Ais wanted to go see Bell, but her interest lied in the story of what happened.
Irene nodded in Riveria's chest, and she was shaking now, "It doesn't help that I can't contact him mentally."
That was when Tione arrived, "Wait, you can contact your brother mentally?"
"We share a spell, Futago's Maindosukēpu, which allows blood-related twins to speak mentally over long distances using Mind. I know he's alive because it's active, but he's not responding," Irene squeezed Riveria's robes tighter, curling them in her fists. She never felt so helpless. "If I was in any other condition, I'd have run right back up there to help, but I can't abandon everyone else. It wouldn't be right."
"Twin's Mindscape," Riveria translated, "that's… rare, so what-"
"It doesn't help that we were being tailed our whole way through the Dungeon," Irene revealed unceremoniously, but the realization horrified her, but she didn't show it externally.
"By who?" Tione asked.
"I'll give you two guesses, and the first doesn't count," Irene spat bitterly. Isaac was right, and she hates herself for not seeing it sooner. Who else would follow two level threes like that?
Riveria already guessed and she knew she was right, "They are trying that here? In the Dungeon? Surely, she has more brains than that."
"Isaac, the idiot, pushed me down here with Bell, Welf, and Lili. I could have stayed with him, helped him fight Goliath, then helped ward off our pursuers. A fruitless task it would've been but I wanted to be by my brother," Irene ranted.
Tione and Tiona gently detached her from Riveria, who looked like she wanted to keep holding her, the scroll's message echoing in the High Elf's mind. The Amazon twins hugged her from either side and Irene clutched to them, and Irene was strong for a level three, but they barely felt it. Her tears were spilling from her hazel eyes. Riveria had to look away, feeling angry at herself.
However, she didn't have that kind of time as Finn and Gareth walked in, "Please update me on what's happening."
And so she did, not leaving a detail out and attempting to fill in the gaps that were in the story. It took a half-hour to get through it all, even with Irene's input every so often.
Dia, Hestia, and Takmikazuchi, and company were all sitting in Dia's home, waiting for the quest to be posted. Hestia called in Hephaistos and Miach because one of her smiths was there with the party as well and Miach is a good friend. Accompanying Miach was the chienthrope, Nahza. What they didn't expect a feathered-hat God to stroll inside like he owned the place. "Oh, Dee-Dee, anybody home?"
Dia let some shock enter her expression, "Hermes, what are you doing here?"
"Well, I heard that you needed some help and I'm offering my services," Hermes replied. "We're best friends, are we not?"
Hephaistos scoffed, "No offense Hermes, but not once have you ever helped Dia clean up Loki's pranks, and you barely talk to Hestia as is. You annoy Takemikazuchi and Miach by literally being around them. Shall I go on?" The Goddess of the Forge was not pulling any punches.
"Okay, Hephaistos, I get the point, but I genuinely want to help. Which if I can have your attention and direct it towards this lovely lady," Hermes gestured to Asfi who was surprised and then blushed at the sudden attention.
"Lord Hermes, please do not do that," Asfi complained. "I will punch you."
"Yeesh, so harsh. But I'm offering to help and Asfi is going to be the one to assist us," Hermes said, which judging from his captain's reaction, this was not in her schedule today.
Takemikazuchi said, "Mikoto, Chigusa, and Ouka will be going, but four is not enough to safely patrol the middle floors."
Hermes added in, "Don't worry, I brought help. Asfi is going yes, but it's someone else, and they wish for their identity to remain a secret. You can come in now."
The door to Dia's Complex opened again and in came a woman wearing a green cape, a hood that covered her hair, daishō on one hip, a wooden sword on the other. "Ladies Dia, Hestia, and Hephaistos," she greeted. "Lord Takemikazuchi. Lord Miach."
Hestia peered suspiciously at this new arrival, "Don't I know you?"
"You may, but I am only here at Lord Hermes' insistence. Shall we head out now? The longer we wait, the longer Mr. Cranel, Mr., and Miss Vlahos are left waiting."
"She has a point," Miach agreed. "I will provide potions since you are all risking your lives. Just bring them back safe."
"That's my line, Miach."
While the Gods and children were conversing. Hermes had pulled Asfi aside. He had one request for her, and she wasn't going to like it. "You're taking me with you, I want to see this boy's power with my own eyes."
"Master Hermes, that's insane! That cannot be done," Asfi chided her familia's founder.
"Please Asfi?"
"If you come with us, you listen to exactly what I tell you, am I clear?" Asfi said, sounding like a mother scolding her child. She was not having anything go wrong with this.
"I'm coming too!" A squeaky voice chimed in.
"Hestia?!" Hermes and Asfi said in unison.
"You know Gods aren't allowed in the Dungeon!" Hermes warned.
"Don't be a hypocrite. You were just discussing the same thing and I need to see my Bell so I can confirm that he's alright," Hestia hmphed. She was not going to be stopped.
Hephaistos, Miach, and Takemikazuchi chose to ignore their conversation as they spoke about other mundane topics until they left for the Dungeon. It was going to be a bumpy trip. Dia ended up speaking, "If you go, conceal yourselves, if the Dungeon finds out you are within its walls, it will pull out an almost unbeatable enemy. Hermes, I swear if you pull anything that puts my children in harm's way, I know some things you don't. And for your familia to be information gatherers, it's ironic."
Hermes regarded Dia in an inquisitive light, but decided not to test that theory, "Your children will come back, I promise you."
"I'm holding you to it, or I get the pleasure of throwing you out of my home, which I can still do since you barged in here," Dia added on.
Hermes wised up and said no more. "We should go," Asfi said. "I have some items to quickly prepare. Meet at Babel in ten minutes."
"Understood."
The two deities entered the Dungeon along with the party of adventurers. Dia stayed behind with Hephaistos and Miach. "I just want them to be safe." Dia clasped her hands together tightly. Since they couldn't do anything but wait, they all departed back to their respective homes.
As for the group, none of them spoke until they hit the eighth floor. "Hermes, why are you really here?"
The blond God chuckled, "Hestia, I told you, I want to genuinely help him."
"Cut the crap and give it to me straight," Hestia sassed to him. The blue-eyed Goddess wanted answers and now was the time. Dia believed that Hermes had a secondary agenda, and he most likely did. Hestia agreed with her close friend, and told her to be direct about it. He was the one deity that can leave Orario without being questioned by the guards. Being the information familia of Orario, he needed to be able to come and go as he pleased, and that meant he knew things other Gods didn't.
Hermes regarded Hestia critically before smirking, "Yeah I do. My employer wanted me to keep watch on this Bell of yours. Of course, I have my own vested interest in him. I mean no harm to him, but I want to see if he has what it takes."
Hestia accepted the explanation, knowing she wasn't going to get anything else out of the slippery messenger, and continued to walk. No one made further conversation, not even as they entered the middle floors. As for the Gods themselves, they wore cloaks to cover all but their heads. They even subdued their divine presence so the Dungeon doesn't summon an Irregular to off them and send them back to Tenkai.
Of course, monsters still spawned and Takemikazuchi Familia watched in awe, "They're amazing."
"They didn't even break a sweat," Chigusa said. Asfi and the green-clad adventurers dispatched a dozen monsters in mere seconds. Faster than they could process.
Hermes looked pleased with himself and once they continued walking, he ended up by the green-clad adventurer. He whispered to her softly, since the echo of the cavern might give him away, "I really do appreciate this, Miss Ryuu."
The advent—Ryuu's— blue eyes narrowed, "I am not doing this for you, only to make sure that Mr. Cranel and the rest are returned safely… and I must admit, I am curious as to what happened. I only have a part of the story." At that point, she was murmuring to herself.
They encountered no more trouble, but the group did encounter a cave-in. Ryuu scaled what she could and saw magic stones and drop items, "They did go this way, but where could they have gone?"
Asfi brought up a point, "Why wouldn't they have tried heading to the surface?"
Mikoto surprisingly answered, "I've heard that there are holes that lead to deeper floors, like shortcuts."
Ryuu nodded, and had an epiphany, albeit her mood and tone didn't change "Correct. They most likely went down to the eighteenth floor, the safe zone, since the distance was shorter."
Ouka chimed in with his observation, "It is what I would've done. Taking the time to climb back up would have been a waste of time."
"So, where is one of these shortcuts?" Hestia asked.
Ryuu seemed to be pensive, her blue eyes looking at the trail that was left behind. "We should follow the trail. Chances are, they found one."
Everyone seemed to agree, and with the way things are going, the dread was slowly building. The group found the slide with ease and went down first, the Gods last. Asfi stayed behind with them just in case. Hermes trusted Asfi, and she tolerated him at times but trusted him too. A very loose definition of trust, but the thread existed.
Thankfully, or maybe not, they arrived at the Big Wall of Grief, with no Goliath, but they found something that made Hestia's blood run cold. There was blood on the wall and a pile of ash on the cavern floor. Some bloody footprints were littered about, and it made Asfi wonder what actually happened.
"There were multiple people here, but it looks to be only one person bled here. We should head down to the eighteenth floor and see if they turned up there." No one disagreed with Perseus. Ryuu's eyes narrowed, she didn't like what she was seeing.
Mikoto, Ouka, and Chigusa felt remorse enter their system and they hoped they weren't the cause for this. Even so, they pressed on, descending down to the next floor.
To Rivira.
Loki Familia's executives were all updated, and they were going to try to find Isaac. He was believed to still be in the Dungeon because it takes a good five or six hours to get out from this level. If he was kidnapped on the floor above, then where would they go? The camp was close to the entrance to the floor, and someone was watching it at all times. Sometimes, a monster could wander down or up and cause trouble where it shouldn't exist.
Finn and Gareth left after they asked some clarifying questions, but most were blocked by their Elven word. This was non-negotiable. During that time, Irene stuck close to Riveria. Lefiya was glaring at Irene, and she glared back. She did not have the mental strength to argue, nor did she have the energy.
The panic of no reports of him being seen made Irene almost shut down. Without him, she would have… she can't think about that now.
As of right now, Irene refused to come out of the tent. She was feeling the panic well up inside her chest. It hurt, and her breathing was slowly getting faster. Her hand felt like it was falling asleep. Her vision was narrowed, making it difficult to see Riveria enter the tent.
The High Elf was struck with indecision. She couldn't comfort her like she needed to. "Irene?" The younger quarter-elf snapped her head up and felt nauseous. Her vision swam and her body started shaking. "Irene, focus on me."
"H-He's not here, I-I n-need him here. W-Where will I be without him? Riveria… he's my only family. He's a pillar in my life!" Irene's eyes were flooded with tears and they showed no signs of stopping.
Riveria tried not to let the heartache form, but it did. Riveria still believed that she shouldn't tell them, but the High Elf might let it slip. "Hey, Riveria!" The mage turned to see Bete at the tent's entrance.
"What do you need, Bete?" Riveria asked tone clipped. She didn't have time to deal with the werewolf's douchebaggery.
Bete ignored her in favor of looking at Irene, "Shit, she's having a panic attack. Move, let me handle this."
"I thought you don't care for people weaker than you," Riveria quipped, knowing Bete's distaste for anyone weaker than him. Irene didn't seem to be offended by being called weaker. Right now, she was.
"Hey, elfie, look at me," Bete demanded gruffly, his tone shifting to something seldom heard. Irene's vision was still having trouble returning to normal. Her whole body was still shaking, struggling to be, but Bete's strength mitigated that, holding her in place. Still, her chest hurt with every breath. Riveria knew they mentioned anxiety, but this severe? This was not something she has ever seen before.
Then the High Elf recalled that Irene mentioned that they never separated unless they agreed on it. The two of them relied on one another. Without one, the other would become worried beyond belief, but this… was something else.
Irene suddenly felt a feeling of peace swell in her chest, her breathing slowly returned to normal, her shaking subsided, and she could feel her hand again. Bete had let a hidden werewolf trait out. The features weren't just for show. Riveria felt like she had just seen a new side of Bete. "Are you lucid?" his tone stoic.
"Y-Yeah. T-Thanks," Irene responded, her voice meek.
Bete stood up, threw his hands in his pockets, and headed for the door. "Thank you, Bete."
The werewolf snarled, "I didn't do it for you, you old hag. I just wanted her to shut up."
Riveria allowed a small smile to grace her features before she turned to a calm, collected Irene. "We'll find him, okay?"
"We need to. Isaac and I haven't been separated like this since…"
Riveria gently pulled Irene to her feet, "Come on, I am not letting you stay in here. How about you go see the rest of your party and the rest of the floor? I'm positive that the Cranel boy is up."
Irene knew what Riveria was doing; distracting her from the problem. What didn't help was the fact she could still feel him mentally, but he just wasn't there to respond. It made her more nervous and Riveria noticed. "Get your head out of the clouds, Irene, and focus on what's in front of you now."
Irene pouted, "I know, but you know how close we are. I mean, Grandma said you were there when we were born."
Riveria allowed the memory to play for a moment. Irene has never seen the High Elf smile like this before. "I was, and it was a happy time for all, especially your parents. Your grandmother was happy that her daughter was happy."
The quarter-elf chuckled once, "You know, I wonder what it was like with you around, Riveria." Irene could feel a glare from somewhere. Irene sighed, "Your student doesn't seem to be happy with me. I guess she doesn't like it that I am not referring to you by your official title."
"Lefiya, please come here," Riveria ordered, one eye closed.
The blue-eyed elf stood beside Riveria, "Yes, Lady Riveria?"
"This is Irene Vlahos, the granddaughter of my mentor, the Great Mage." The emerald elf looked at Irene, "This is my apprentice, Lefiya Viridis, known as Thousand Elf."
Lefiya seemed to have a realization, "Wait, granddaughter of the Great Mage, Hecate?"
"Yes, and Riveria has been in my life when I was a child, even though we never saw you. But according to grandma, you were there," Irene said. "By the way, did you ever hold us as children? I know full elves, like you and Lefiya, was it; anyway, elves have huge aversions to touch, right?"
"Correct," Riveria replied, one eye still closed, the other watching her… mentor's grandchild. Lefiya said that her people of Wishe Forest didn't adhere to that custom all the time. Loki fondling her flashed through Lefiya's mind.
"So, did you ever hold either me or Isaac?" In conversations like this, she didn't feel anything when saying his name.
"Once," the High Elf said, and she didn't elaborate.
Irene pouted, "Aw, come on, you can't just say that and not tell what happened?"
"I do not feel that it's proper of me to discuss it with you," Riveria argued.
What Irene said next made the trio pause, "Ah, so you resented us? Okay… don't worry, I'm used to it," it was meant to be a whisper.
"Why would you say that?" This time, it was Lefiya who spoke.
Irene paled once she realized what she said aloud, "You don't know what it's like to be a quarter-elf in a forest of halves and fulls who want nothing more than to 'cleanse' the bloodline."
Lefiya did not have anything to say to counter that. Riveria gently put her hands on Irene's shoulders. She knew what she had to do, "When we find Isaac, there is something I will need to tell you both. For now…"
Whack!
Irene's head was pushed to one side, mouth agape. Riveria spoke calmly, "Do not think I resent you. Do you understand that?" Irene brought her hand up to her face, feeling the red mark forming. "While I studied under the Great Ma—Sofia—she would take every opportunity to gush about you two. After a while, I had gone to training and I had asked, 'How are the twins?' instinctually. She almost dropped the pot she was holding and then hugged me with all her strength. It was then I realized what I had said. Through her stories about you two, I learned that holding resentment over someone who was born into a world full of it doesn't deserve it. I apologize for hitting you, but do not speak of yourselves that way."
"But-"
"No buts. You are a strong woman and have the potential to be a powerful mage yourself. Tione mentioned a shadow you think yourselves in. You'll find a way around it, or through it, but you are more than Sofia's granddaughter," Riveria gently brushed Irene's cheek. The girl threw herself at Riveria, not giving a single damn at who was witnessing.
She had to stretch her hearing, but Nine Hell swore she heard, "Thank you."
"Anytime, Hachimitsu."
Lefiya observed in… a various number of emotions, but the soft-heartedness Riveria was showing rarely came out. Now, she understood why they call her 'Mama Riveria.' To add to this effect, she noticed the smile on her face, like something monumental just happened, right under her nose.
Whether or not Irene showed it, she was distracted now, and Riveria was glad. If she fell into another panic attack, it would have to be Isaac that gets her out of it. The trio walked along the eighteenth floor without a care in the world. They all knew she needed it. Tione and Tiona stopped by, hugging her gently, glad she was feeling better. The Amazon twins followed along in the group, making small talk.
"Irene!" A voice shouted. She turned to see Bell up and about, and Ais was right by him. He made his way towards her and Lefiya's mood turned sour. Irene had to hold back a giggle because she was sensing jealousy.
"Hey, Bell! How are you feeling?" Irene asked, slightly cheering up to see him on his feet. "How's Welf and Lili?"
He had a bandage around his head, and probably one under his clothes. He didn't seem that injured when they were traveling. "I'm doing fine, in a day, these will feel like they never happened. Welf and Lili are waking up, they're fine after some rest." Bell took a glance around and the question was on his mind. His mouth opened to speak but-
"Don't," was all Riveria had said. Bell got the message, and Irene tried again to reach him, but it was like having a signal and receiving nothing but static in return. A spike of guilt spawned in her heart, and she didn't know what to do with it.
Darkness.
That's what the cloaked figure was waking up to. Their hands weren't bound, but they felt so weak.
They hated this feeling. They tried reaching out in their mind to her. It didn't work, they don't have enough Mind to do so. They tried to remember what happened. The details were fuzzy, but they remembered Goliath.
And fighting it, and then… their back throbbed at the memory. They stirred on the ground, rustling something, presumably their clothing.
"Ah, sleeping beauty's awake, finally. I was getting bored," a voice said. It sounded like they were standing over them. "Wakey wakey, Harpe. Time for you to get acquainted."
Thundering footsteps approached, "Allen, leave. I must speak with him." The first voice grumbled before stomping away. "Now listen to me closely, Mr. Vlahos. You are in the deeper levels of the Dungeon. Your goal is to make it to the eighteenth floor. You will either live or die, but ultimately, the decision is up to you. You have been treated and your equipment has been untouched and repaired. My Lady wishes to see your strength. Do not let her down."
Isaac, now identified to be in the deeper floors, tensed as he felt a sense of dread wash over him and seep into his pores. This was bad. Not only was he injured previously, but he also passed out, his mind was not up at full strength and he was separated from Irene. His left arm seemed to be fine like it was never injured. Well, it looks like he really was healed. Quickly checking his person, he found his three potions still sealed. So, they used theirs?
She is soooo going to be mad at me if she isn't freaking out first. Isaac shakily pushed himself up, "Why?" He asked as he stared at the King.
Ottar remained silent.
"Maybe one day I'll get an answer to that question," Isaac wheezed. His hand went to his back, where he felt the bumps of skin from his wound. His leg felt crusty, meaning the blood dried on it. It was really uncomfortable... he probably looked like something out of a haunted house of horror. "Could you at least tell me what floor I'm on? So I can strategize?"
Ottar found no reason to deny this request, "Floor thirty-eight."
Isaac paled. He was that far down? And he had to get to floor eighteen? Did the books say what level he had to be for down here? Was it level four? Ottar turned and started leaving, his footsteps echoing in the darkness, and then, Isaac was all alone.
Only one place to go: Up.
...
Hachimitsu means Honey. I was going to say Koibito, but it means lover. I wanted Riveria to say sweetheart, but I didn't want to make any confusion. If you couldn't tell, I'm leaning on a plot point, and if you figured it out already, congrats, If you haven't that will be revealed soon.
Otherwise, we continue onwards. See you on Saturday!