Fels let out a heavy sigh, despite the fact he didn't have lungs anymore. His bony fingers intertwined with each other, as he processed the events of the last days. Bell Cranel barely surviving his nonsensical, yet awe inspiring, clash with Asterius, the fact that Loki Familia got the key to Knossos at last, all the repair work needed and the fact that Fels had to restock his own arsenal he put into use…considering all those things, it was only natural that the ancient creator was mentally more exhausted than usual.
Still, the wicked were never allowed to rest while work had still to be done. Thus, he faced the representative of the only Familia they could still trust. Hermes out of all people decided to mess with things on his own accord, Astraea and Hestia Familia earned their rest and the less said about what went through the heads of Freya Familia the better.
Shakti had her arms crossed, staring expectantly at the phantom of Orario floating around in her personal office. Fels nodded once before looking at the captain of the Ganesha Familia in the eyes.
"We need to get the Xenos out of Orario. Out of the dungeon."
The woman naturally raised an eyebrow at that.
"After all the effort we did to get them back in there?"
"A temporary solution to maintain peace in Orario," Fels explained his and Ouranos' intentions. "Lido and the others are still in danger. Before, they weren't as visible to our enemies as now."
It was one thing to run interference and investigate mysterious events within the dungeon, to deal with Demi Spirits and the like, who were obviously not as much under observation by Evilus. It was another thing entirely to straight up invade one of their hidden and important bases in Orario and facing the Night Queen herself. Not to mention that Fels and Ouranos desired to change the status quo. The slow and steady approach didn't sit well with them, especially after the courageous actions of Albion. Those words went unsaid, but Shakti was perceptive enough to understand their intentions. She took a deep breath before humming in thought as she pulled out a map of Orario and the nearby surroundings.
"There are a few potential escape routes out of the city, discounting Knossos itself. However, the issue starts when we are outside of Orario. Landroutes aren't an option. Too much attention and I doubt the Xenos can remain…calm while packed and hidden inside narrow carriages."
"Ships aren't exactly that much better in that regard, but it is workable." A snort escaped Fels. "Perhaps we can take a page out of those smugglers. They did manage to transport Xenos around without too many people noticing."
"It is still risky. Not to mention…" Shakti gave a pointed look at Fels. "We don't even have a location for them in mind. Any ideas who would take them under their protection?"
A memory sparked within the mind of Fels. The War Game against Eris Familia. The seven Thrones that oversaw the fights, bearing the strongest of the world outside of Orario. Far East. Rakia. Telskyura. The Empire. Many potential choices, if their strongest warriors decided to play along. Then again, while they were allies to Hans and Arash and Kojiro, it didn't mean that all of them were exactly the most charitable people. Just as he was about to discuss it with Shakti, he felt something pulsate underneath his robe. If he had eyes to widen, they would have strained his skin. Shakti blinked at him as he rummaged within his clothes.
"What is it, Fels?"
He pulled out an all too familiar orb, a device meant to communicate across long distances. He recognized the signature on it and his hand began to shake. He almost forgot about that investment of his. To believe that he would get contacted first…
"I'm receiving a call. From the Dragon Valley." Fels paused. "Or at least from that direction."
Shakti's eyes widened before she leaned backwards, remaining stock still. With that done, Fels activated the connection. A youthful, yet authoritative voice of a woman echoed in the room.
"Greetings. I am Artoria Pendragon." He could hear her smile. "I have heard a lot about you, oh ancient alchemist."
"It is an honor that you know of me. You can call me Fels." He tilted his head. "To what do I owe this pleasure?"
"Word travels fast. Especially if you have an acquaintance with a pendant for archery." A light laugh escaped Artoria. "Suffice to say, I am informed of the events that occurred in Orario. Please give Bell my regards. His loss will only make him stronger. I look quite forward to see his progress in person one day."
"I shall pass it on to Albion."
"Gh."
Fels and Shakti shared a look at the weird noise they heard. Did they imagine that? The alchemist turned his head back to the artifact in his hand.
"Is something the matter?"
"N-not at all. Ahem." The awkwardness disappeared with ease, replaced by her professional air once more. "Anyway, I have not called just for that. I believe my Familia might be of some assistance to you for your Xenos problem. I believe you want to guide them away from the threats of Orario and the dungeon?"
Part of Fels wondered just how much Arash and or Hans shared with the people outside of Orario. Alas, the damage was already done at this point, so he wouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth if it wanted to help out.
"That is indeed true, my lady."
"Good. Then let me ask… what do you know about Dragon Valley?"
The next words that spilled out of her mouth shocked Fels to his core. Shakti almost dropped her jaw at what she heard as well. As well as excite the researcher within him. To believe that one of the mysteries of the world had such a connection! Still, he didn't grow so old just to lose himself to emotions. With rationality returning to his mind, he frowned a bit, as best as he could with a skeleton head.
"Nevertheless, it is still dangerous to make that journey."
"Do not worry."
A shiver went down Fels' spine. The aura from the artifact shifted ever so slightly, a feat he thought impossible. Yet instead of feeling like he was talking to a young, yet powerful woman…
"I shall personally make sure that the ones Bell Cranel deems trustworthy arrive safely."
…it was as if he communicated with an all powerful dragon, exhaling steam in anticipation.
/
"I-i-i was right though!"
A loud smack noise, followed by a soft whimpering.
"It's called coincidences, Cassandra! Stop making a big deal out of your delusions! Now help me with the damn sorting, we literally lost a pair of good hands!"
"Aaaaaahhhhh…"
While Miach disapproved of his children bullying each other, he decided to allow it. Soft and goodhearted as Cassandra was, now was not the time to play the 'I told you so' card. Especially when it was a bit delusional to begin with. Sometimes the poor girl worried him. Nevertheless, Daphne usually had this well under control, so he decided to ignore them and leave them to their duties. As much as his heart felt a bit weird about the thought of dismissing Cassandra like that.
Then again, his fellow gods did call him a softie too sometimes. He let out a small chuckle before turning to his reliable captain.
"What do you think, Naaza? About Bell's injuries, I mean?"
The Chienthrope looked up from her mixing, her eyes blinking and losing the focus they possessed. She bit her lip before shaking her head with a sigh.
"It was quite the worrying sight. Though I suppose that was the natural end result." She let out a shudder of awe and a bit of horror. "No person should be moving this fast. Not at his level."
Part of Miach felt a bit of sorrow that the girl would never truly know what it was like to ascend to top rank adventurer, with her trauma holding her back. Nevertheless, he could understand her disbelief at what she saw. From what he remembered, the boy should have been level four, yet he already started to reach the speeds of the Royal Gale or Vanargand. If he was still at level four was a different question entirely, but Hestia had yet to make an announcement to make. Either way, given the nature of that duel…he had no doubt that Bell would soar in strength, level up or not. Still, the man of medicine inside of him disapproved as much as Naaza.
To say that he overexerted his legs were an understatement. His feet were practically mangled when they got to him to apply first aid. The flesh of his thighs were bleeding profusely and torn at several spots. And while Naaza wasn't able to see it, Miach knew for a fact that it was a miracle his bones didn't completely shatter. He heard of the mysterious art of Shukuchi from other Far East aligned gods, but he always chalked it up to them hyping themselves up. But now that he compared the damage that Bell suffered, bad as they were, and the speeds he got up to, perhaps there was something more to those things.
Either way, talented or not, physics defying or not, Miach put his foot down and practically ordered Astraea and Hestia Familia to not let him get off that wheelchair until he personally could assure his injuries did not have any permanence to their nature. While he was poorer than his so called 'rival', he had the skill and insight to make sure that he made the best recovery while their privacy would remain intact.
Nodding once at Naaza, who returned her focus on making tonics that would relieve pain and accelerate the healing process of his muscle fibers, Miach couldn't help but think back to the other center player of this entire chaos. The sorrow and regret of the Senbonzakura were clear and deep in her face, defeating any anesthetic he could've possibly applied. Part of Miach felt regretful himself. If he had looked deeper, pushed harder, then perhaps the clash between sisters could've been prevented. To answer for his crime of allowing this to happen, he was willing to answer any questions she had.
However, there was not much he could say that helped her in a practical sense. He could talk about the ingredients Nana took, except for specific few that he hid from Kaguya. The ingredients that would boost the performance of the empowering drugs Evilus deployed everywhere. He could talk about the inherent talent of the girl, being able to pick up tricks from Miach that Naaza took years to learn. Sometimes it was as if he was looking at a monster as she absorbed knowledge and applied it in a practical way.
Then he explained how other ingredients went missing that were meant to deal with mental issues. Minds that were muddled, minds that were split in half, minds that would disappear only to reappear later. When he reached that point, the expression of Kaguya was at the verge of breaking once more. The knowledge that the girl was fighting against whatever was inside of her in her own way, only to fail her…Fortunately, Kaguya managed to fight back against her own despair. Instead, a fire lighted up in her eyes and heart.
He opened his eyes again, returning to the present. He noticed Naaza staring at him with an unreadable expression. With her work done, she took a deep breath, worry and confusion clear in her face.
"Lord Miach, why didn't you tell her?"
The god bit his lip. The memory of explaining the ingredients that went missing, except a certain few. He shook his head with a sigh. While he felt he should've told Kaguya the whole truth, after seeing how she reacted to the mind related ingredients, he didn't believe she could've taken it. After all...
"How could I tell her that her sister is doomed to die?"
/
Deep within the depths of the dungeon, within its darkness, only the noise of crystals being crushed by teeth could be heard. Behind the Night Queen and the Gojouno, a figure gouged herself on the materials, letting out sobs and maddened laughter at the same time, as if she relished and despised what she was doing. Of course the two leading figures ignored the poor creature entirely and instead focused on each other.
More specifically, on their hug.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" The Night Queen asked, in a soft tone that would've weirded out many in the area, if they weren't literally mindless at this point. The body of Nana chuckled, rubbing the Night Queen's hair a bit.
"Sometimes we have to do things the right way. To settle it in the lands of our origin is just fitting." They separated their hug. "We are more worried about you."
"Please, I didn't live through all these years only to fail here and now." The slave trader let out a heavy sigh. "It'll just be a little bit lonely. You're the only one I can actually trust."
"Didn't you tell me that trust is foolish?" Gojouno asked, raising a mocking eyebrow. The Night Queen shrugged almost casually before smiling a bit.
"It is. Can't help myself however. You've been with me since the start, after all."
"Don't get too sentimental. It is weird."
"Maybe so." The two shared a small laugh. Then the Night Queen waved her hand. "See you later... Five."
"Heh. Been ages since we have heard that name."
With that, Nana's form disappeared into the shadows, leaving a void inside the area and in the Night Queen's heart. She stretched her arms with a satisfied groan.
"Haaaa…let's hope that Thanatos will stop complaining eventually. Dealing with the fanatics is his job after all."
Now that Loki Familia had their hands on a key, the entirety of Knossos went into siege mindset. The deranged labyrinth worker screamed profanities for ours that someone dared to defile his work, but that was easily ignored. It was a bit surprising that the god himself, the waste of space, actually complained about this. But what did she care? With the assets they had still left, Knossos was still an iron shell that will break the teeth of the Braver and his people.
So with that unimportant thing delegated, she turned to a more personal project. She at last turned to the mess that was the creature behind her, that Filvis. Her eating didn't stop. It was as if she watched an addict, knowing that they were in hell, yet diving deeper and deeper. It was ironic, how this thing decided to exchange one prison for another entirely, by virtue of emotions and thoughts that made no sense.
Dedication to an old cause. Guilt of the old cause. The voices in her head. The voices in her heart.
The Night Queen cared for none of that. Instead, she calmly walked up to the thing crawling on the ground and forcibly raised the girl's chin, forcing the half monster half elf to look her in the yees. Without mercy, the orbs of darkness stared Filvis down, with a wide, face splitting smile splitting the shadow that covered the Night Queen's face.
"Tell me... what did Dionysus have planned before he got caught?"
Filvis was about to scream, yet the magic of the Night Queen was already starting to take its hold, fogging over her eyes. As she was losing herself, several hooded figures loomed behind the Night Queen, as if presenting a line up she would join.
Meanwhile the Night Queen let out a small laugh as the creature shared age old plans. Ah, the wonders of recyclement. And one more piece to replenish the pieces she lost lately. Quite a reliable one as well, as she was completely under her thrall eventually, monster bits be damned. This was how the illusionist liked to do things.
If one wanted to get something done, it was best to rely on their own tools. After all...If she shackled herself to others, relied on them, then was she truly free to pursue her goals? Naturally not.