To say that the Loki Familia collectively collapsed once they reached the Twilight Manor might have been a bit of an exaggeration. But only a bit. Looking back, it was a bit embarrassing how some of them fell asleep on the spot. Aiz was one of those. For some reason, the exhaustion only truly hit her then. At least Tiona, Tione and Lefiya helped her get cleaned up a little bit before being put to bed. It has been about a day or two later, with some of them actually sleeping in. But not Aiz. Even as she yawned, she forced her body to follow her routine. After a small workout, she went to the mess hall and got herself something to eat. The expedition felt like it went on for months, but it was 'merely' two weeks at most. Yet even now, Aiz could see the exhaustion on everyone's faces. Thinking back, she bit her lip at the thought that some of them might not have made it, if Bete didn't arrive on time with help. Because that was what he brought.
Instead of only antidotes, the entire Astraea Familia mobilized for them, carrying bags as large as they could carry. While Bete seemed grumpy, she could tell that he respected all of them, Kaguya specifically who teased him by patting his head and calling him a good boy. They started a minor fight, but friends fought with each other sometimes, right? Anyway, not only did they help distribute the potions, Ryuu and Arash even helped with healing. The former with her magic, while nervous, next to Riveria. The archer on the other hand was using his patented... healing arrows. Aiz still had no idea how they worked. People like Lefiya even less so, actually panicking when Arash pulled out those arrows and started shooting and stabbing people with them. They started panicking even more when the poison started to disappear, healing the afflicted completely.
Aiz slowly nodded to herself, feeling awe at the level seven. Mystery truly was a.. mysterious ability to have. Last time he tried to explain it he stated it involved his blood or something along the lines. Maybe it had healing properties? She didn't interact with the man as often as Ryuu for example, who she considered a sort of rival sometimes. At the very least they had a competitive streak when the Astraea and Loki Familia would collaborate, trying to see who kills monsters faster. Often they would get lectured for leaving the vanguard too far behind. Shaking her head, leaving her fond memories, she could only appreciate the familia of justice. They did their services entirely for free, stating that the Loki Familia had enough debts to worry about. They truly were good people. As a matter of fact, they escorted the Hestia Familia, leaving earlier than Aiz and the others did. Apparently Lady Hestia was very worried when they were delayed due to their encounter.
Thinking about Hestia Familia, Aiz hugged her legs and she pressed her cheek against her knees. There were two that stood out to her. While she wasn't sure about the Renard, Haruhime, and only knew that Kojiro was a strong swordfighter wanting to pick fights, Solaris and Bell were the bigger figures in her thoughts. The latter due to his fast growth and definite... difference from individuals like Arash and Kojiro. The latter two had this sense of experience she only felt with her father. The only ones getting close to that were Finn and the others on his level and even then, she felt they were coming short. Bell did not have that whatsoever. He felt too new. Too pure. So his source of growth had to be different. Yet she couldn't figure it out, even after their sparring. Or rather, at the time, he didn't grow that fast and Aiz missed it. A part of her felt she had to spar with him again, to see the difference, but she quickly squashed that thought. It would be selfish. Unfair to him. Not to mention, with the Astraea Familia and his own teacher, she didn't really have an excuse to call for him. The last time was a coincidental meeting. Shaking her head, she moved on to Solaris. The girl blessed by a fire spirit... who was lost and searched for answers. It was like it was yesterday. When the red head rushed over to her, breathing heavily, and hugging her, as if she found a guiding light.
It only made Aiz even feel more bad as she had no clue about Solaris. No idea why she had a spirit's blessing. No sense of familiarity either. So in the end, she bluntly said that they were not the same. Looking back, at the devastating expression Solaris held, she knew now that was the wrong answer to give. The young captain never hated her for it, but there was always a sense of distance that Aiz couldn't help but feel she was responsible for it. Maybe if she shared what she knew about herself... but no. Her heritage was a secret. It needed to be kept as one. As bad as it made her feel.
A satisfied laugh broke her out of her thoughts. Blinking, she saw Tiona and Tione sit next to her, with Lefiya, shy as ever, sitting in front of her. She smiled slightly at the three, nodding at them as they wished her a good morning. Then her eyes spotted what Tiona was raising in the air, as she hummed playfully to herself.
"What is that?"
"It's Mr. Andersen's new book!" Tiona giggled before patting the black cover with the white rabbit on it. "White Fool."
"Huh. Same title as that rabbit, isn't it?" Tione muttered. At once, the four of them fell silent. Aiz nodded slowly as Lefiya seemed to pout for some reason. It was indeed the same title as Bell. The rabbit also reminded her of him, with the red eyes it possessed. A coincidence?
"Yeah, weird." Tiona shrugged before putting the book down and opening it with sparkling eyes. "Oh well, time to get digging!"
"Don't you want to finish the other one first?" The twin asked the book lover, snapping her fingers at her with an amused smile. "What was the name again?"
"Somniatrix!" Tiona's smile wavered as she scratched the back of her head. "Eh... it was getting kind of depressing." Putting her smile back on, she raised her thumb. "Gotta gather my courage before I dive back in!"
Somniatrix. Literally translating to "The One Who Dreams", the alias for the main figure of the story, also known as Doera the Liberator. A woman called the 'second hero' after Argonaut. Aiz never read the story herself, as something about the figure bothered her. In summary however, it was about a slave breaking out of her chains, to bring 'true freedom' to all beings, to take fate into their own hands if the gods didn't want to help. It sounded nice on paper, but from what she gathered from Tiona, Doera faced many failures. Presented as a tragedy, as an inevitability as opposed to Argonaut's comedic tones. It was only natural that the peppy amazon was a bit more reluctant in pushing through the story. Still, as she saw the girl hum to herself, turning the pages rather quickly, Aiz felt her heart warm up. Lefiya as well smiled before turning to the others.
"Tiona really likes books."
At the elf's words, Tione let out a dry snort.
"You tell me. It's the whole reason she dragged me to Orario." She tapped the side of her head with her finger. "I can recite Argonaut from memory thanks to her."
"So knowing that Mimir is here... " Lefiya muttered, her head lowered as a dark color filled her expression. Aiz and Tione winced before the latter nodded slowly.
"She's the self proclaimed number one fan. That girl, Liliruca, usually takes exception to that. Weirdly enough Mimir is... nicer to Tiona than most."
Lefiya looked up, her eyes empty.
"...I can't imagine that."
They all remembered it. When Lefiya first met the 'wisdom of Freya'. At first the elf was excited in meeting the man. But then Hans opened his mouth... and tore her apart. Every insecurity she had, any flaws she possessed, were thrown out into the world. By the end of it, Lefiya was a sobbing mess. Even worse, Mimir accepted the blue eye with a laugh when Bete out of all people kicked him in the face, telling him to shut up. Weirdly enough, once Lefiya got out of her depressed state, she pushed herself harder than ever, growing faster than before. So Aiz had conflicted feelings about the man. She herself was victim to his sharp tongue. Yet she could not deny that he was telling the truth and that spite was a great motivator.
'Proto Avenger'. Something about the way he said those words, that pity in his voice... it shook her voice. As if he referred to more than just words.
"Aaaaaaah!"
Everyone in the mess hall shot up, tensed up, and weapons ready, whether they were actual weapons or the butter knives they were holding. They all looked at Tiona, who jumped off her seat and pointed at the book as if it was cursed.
"What?! What's wrong?!" Tione snarled, worry filling her voice. Tiona stammered, repeatedly pointing at the book.
"White Fool! It-It-it-"
"Spit it out, ya idiot!"
"It's about Little Argonaut!"
The hall turned silent. Processing the words. Most had a confused expression on their faces. Yet Tione, Aiz and specifically Lefiya, realized what she meant. The elf frowned deeply as she tilted her head.
"Bell Cranel?"
"Are you sure?" Aiz asked, causing Tiona to nod furiously.
"Yes!" She raised the book, her face practically glued to the pages before looking back up and pointing at the paper. "He's never named, but it's clearly him!"
"You're just imagining things," Tione sighed, waving her hand dismissively.
"Am I, sis?!" Tiona raised her hand and began to count. "The title! White Fool! Besides, didn't he mention going around the world? Well guess what the character is doing in here!"
Everyone glanced at each other. Well, if she put it like that... and didn't Loki state that Freya offered the title at the Denatus? Not to mention, Hans was close to Arash in a way... so there was a chance... Aiz nodded to herself. At once, everyone in the hall moved, causing Tiona to yelp as they gathered around her.
"Move over!" Tione shouted, forcing herself next to Tiona. Aiz moved just as swiftly.
"Excuse me."
"I gotta see this!"
"Move it!"
"Get your fat ass outta my face!" Aiz blinked when she heard Bete's voice before hearing Lefiya's squeak helplessly.
"You're squishing me!"
"Get your own copies! This is mine!" Tiona screamed, trying to swat them all away like they were flies. Before things could escalate, like someone choking to death, a loud slam on the ground froze all movements. They all turned to the source, before flinching collectively at Riveria's glare, tapping the ground with her staff a bit more.
"Enough! You are all grown adventurers! You should be ashamed of yourself!"
"Yeah!" Loki agreed, raising her fist before pointing at the high elf with a smirk."Just let Mama Riveria read the book to ya!"
"Ye-" The noble paused before turning to their goddess with a frown. "Wait, what?"
"Seconded."
"Thirded."
She turned back to see the other executives raising their hands, amused expressions on their faces as well. Riveria opened her mouth to object, but then she saw the looks of everyone else. Annoyed. Pleading. Expecting. In the end, the high elf sighed, rubbing her temples.
"Very well. But only because we just returned from an expedition."
With loud cheers, they spread out in the hall, as Tiona presented the book to Riveria. As usual, she had a good narration voice, Aiz noted. It was often the voice that pulled her into sleep. But this time, she was wide awake throughout the entire impromptu session. With the way the air was filled with excitement... she was not the only one.