Five individuals had entered Rivira, the 'safe' haven of the dungeon within the Middle Floors. As usual, they wandered through the thick wild of the forest, until they arrived at their location. One that was untouched and unbothered by other adventurers. An unspoken rule, one could call it. They all sat down, on their knees, crossing their legs or just flat on their behind, with their arm resting on their raised knee. They all brought out cups and drinks, before filling them up. Once that was done, Alise let out a quiet laugh, smiling at the weapons imbedded in the mound of dirt.
"Hey, guys. It's been a while."
"Apologies, but we had to go meet Ardee and Syr before you." Ryuu licked her lips. "I…hope you understand."
"You ask that every time we're here," Kaguya commented dryly, rolling her eyes in exasperation. Arash chuckled, patting the elf's head. The girl pouted, but didn't slap his hand away. After that little exchange, silence extended between them. Only the occasional sound of drinking filled the air, with Kaguya being the most 'enthusiastic' about emptying the bottle they brought with them. Alise let out a sigh, her shoulders slumping as she hugged her legs closer to herself.
"I know it's unlike us, to be so…quiet. But…hehe…" She shrugged. "Guess we just want to tie up some loose ends in the worst case?"
"I can tell you guys are rolling your eyes," Lyra muttered to herself before waving her hand dismissively. "But hey, nobody can say we didn't grow more cautious."
"If nothing else, I suppose it's…good that we meet you like this." Ryuu closed her eyes, wincing. "Meeting Syr was…rough."
They all grimaced at the memory. Syr…how long had they known each other? How long was the maid their rock, their 'normal' after they had lost everything? How long was she one of their closest friends? It didn't matter, all that mattered was telling her of their plans. To leave the city for one big mission, a mission that might doom them all. The empty expression she had was…worrying. Something they had never seen before. Her lips quivered, as if unable to speak any words.
"Do you have to go?" Syr would say at last, her voice strained. Torn between wanting to support them and wanting them to stay. It touched their hearts, to know that the usual cheerful and poker face wearing maid showed such vulnerability to them.
"It's family. Of course I have to go," Kaguya responded, her resolve unwavering. Yet Syr wasn't accepting that, grasping her hand, almost like a lost child.
"You have family here too."
"I know…I know. But I will never forgive myself if I don't at least try."
"And what family would we be if we left this delinquent on her own?"
Kaguya had sent a glare at Ryuu at that comment, causing them to smile ever so slightly.
"Oi, who the fuck is the delinquent here?"
Syr had taken a deep breath, before putting on the fakest smile they had ever seen. But none of them commented on it, instead accepting her attempt, to recognize their goals.
"Just come back. No matter what."
"We can promise to tr-"
"No." The heat in Syr's voice had been shocking to say the least. With a piercing gaze that seemed to stare through their very souls, she looked at each and every single one of them for a few seconds. "Just come back. No trying."
"...Alright."
And that was that. The others' eyes cleared up, returning from the memory lane. But Alise? Her eyes remained slightly fogged over. Thinking about Syr made her remember even a further away past. Those days when Lyra was stumbling more than walking. Where Kaguya sometimes fell over, because she thought she still had an arm.
The worst days of their lives. Alise wondered why she thought about them. Those days five years ago, after the slaughter of her sisters…after the shining light that was the Radiance.
They never got to thank Artoria, for putting their fire back on in their hearts. They truly had hit rock bottom, but finally learned how to rise again. Rise above the pain, rise above the memories. Lyra, no matter how many times her face hit a wall, would keep honing her senses, to compensate for the lack of eyes. Kaguya perfected her one armed sword style, while making preparations to get a prosthetic, for the day that the Pallum could move and interact as if she had eyes. The faith of the public was slowly restored with them having picked themselves up. Patrols, expeditions, even just plain odds jobs. Eventually, the civilians had Astraea Familia back in their eyes, alive and well, not dead and crippled. Syr once more demonstrated her 'worth' as a valuable friend. Never treating them any different. Not while their reputation and wills were shattered, not while people started seeing them as heroes again.
For Syr, they were just silly Alise, Kaguya, Lyra, Ryuu and Arash. Those days, after the attack, were shining bright with hope and justice.
And yet…
Yet the house…was just too empty. The lack of laughter, the missing presences that filled the void that came after that fateful day. Alise and the others became better, ever since their fight against Artoria, which lifted their spirits…but the silence in the Stardust Garden was just too much sometimes. Therefore, everyone, even their goddess, made sure to stay away from it as much as they could, drowning themselves in any kind of work, patrols or charity they could. Looking back, Alise believed that none truly did this on a conscious level. If anyone noticed, it must have been Arash, but even he remained silent. After all, so what if he knew? How could he fix that emptiness that grasped the place they called home? So instead, as always, he remained the ever so watchful eye that guarded them from the distance. Even Lady Astraea avoided their home beyond the bare minimum, to keep it clean and tidy. It was a pathetic, cold routine, one of avoidance for everyone involved…but they all feared to reach that rock bottom again, if they dwelled too much on the horrible memories, of better times that would never return.
Then, one day, warmth returned to the Stardust Garden.
It was weird. Goddesses always had a certain…flare to them. Some appeared of royalty itself, like Astraea, with clothes that match their status. Then there were other gods, appearing more humble, yet just as noble in looks. Other than that, there were those that were filled with confidence and wore whatever they wanted, like Loki or Freya. Sometimes there were the 'practical' gods, like Hephaestus, dressing for the job itself.
Which meant neither the girls nor Arash were ready to meet a goddess that dressed like she was surviving on a budget of fifty valis and a singular toothbrush in someone's dusted over basement. Her white dress could barely be called a dress. It brought Fremdscham to Ryuu who blushed and averted her eyes. Alise couldn't help but whistle at the blue string pushing up her big boobs. Impressive display of confidence in one's appearance. Kaguya raised an eyebrow as she described the goddess, the ribbon maybe the most expensive thing she owned. Suffice to say, Lyra found that deadly hilarious, her mouth covered by Arash so that she wouldn't explode in laughter.
Hestia took it all in stride, actually brightening up even more than she already was. Looking back, Alise wondered how starved for social interaction the petite divinity was. Getting teased by Astraea seemed to be a need than a want, being pampered by the more mature goddess as if she was a little sister. Headpatting, cheek rubbing. It made for an adorable sight. And for once…the girls didn't just go up to their rooms after dinner. To sleep, to pass the time as quick as possible before leaving the Stardust Garden.
Instead, they just…talked. Recounting their experiences as adventurers, as children of Astraea. Hestia was eating up their stories with a wide eyed look of wonder. Apparently this was the first time she interacted with proper blessed children. Before that she was stuck in Hephaestus' office, freeloading. And wasn't that pathetic to think about? Unlike the others, Kaguya made no secret of what she thought about that, which promptly caused the goddess to cry.
It was a nice change of pace. But they thought it was going to be a one time thing. Yet, during their conversations, there was just something…off about the way Hestia looked at them. How she sometimes stopped fidgeting and looked around with eyes that were deep and mysterious, before that depth disappeared to childish wonder. It was then that Hestia dropped the explosion on them.
"Hey, Astraea, need a maid?"
She ignored the weird looks she was receiving, instead looking at the blinking goddess, who put her hand on her right cheek.
"Hm?"
"Hehe, weeeeelll…Hephaestus is this close to kicking me out, so I might need a new home?" She cleared her throat awkwardly and straightened up her back, trying to appear confident and failing, judging from the blush and nervousness that spread across her body. "A-And I don't really have a job, so I thought, hey, since this place is so big you might have a spare room?"
It shamed Alise to know that she was close to objecting. To consider the goddess as an invasion. Yet Astraea widened her eyes before nodding with a knowing look.
"Why not? We're friends after all."
"Cool!"
And that was that. The start of their maid…who did not live up to that title in the early days. Or even later days.
Despite, or maybe because, she was divinity, she was awful at her job. More often than not plates shattered by her trying to do more than she could handle. There was that one time their clothes had a terrible coloring because she came up with the idea to wash them all at the same time. Ryuu and Kaguya were not happy with her that day. But despite all that chaos, they all grew to accept her presence. Even welcomed it. Maybe because of her silliness, life, real life, returned to the Stardust Garden. It was as if someone finally lighted up the fireplace again after such a long time. Their home, a place to be avoided, became their regular gathering spot again. To laugh and tease Hestia about her mistakes, to just relax in peace while Astraea lead her junior around on how to do her job.
One day, the goddess would then bring her own child to the Stardust Garden. Excited, yet nervous, fearing that she would get rejected. Yet how could she?
They welcomed Solaris with open arms. The little menace reminded them of their early adventurer days. Filled with confidence, with hubris. Even challenging them as 'old timers'. Which was where the usual 'vice claw punishment' was born. Yet for all that Solaris was a little shit…she became their surrogate little sister they showed the ropes to.
It was some time after that, as their new routine settled, that they realied something.
Hestia did it on purpose. With purpose, to join the Stardust Garden, after just a short conversation and looking around with the Astraea Familia and their home. Hestia, goddess of the hearth, had wanted to save them from a cold, quiet home. Alise and the others never thanked her. The one time they collectively attempted to do so, the goddess waved them off, a knowing glint in her eyes as she tried to act cutesy, winking at them, just to stumble over a bucket and spilling all the dirty water over the ground.
Solaris trying to dry her off only to set her on fire was a memory Alise would never forget. Many more memories would come after that, weakening the ache and agony they felt each time they returned home.
Alise blinked, realizing they have arrived in front of the Stardust Garden at this point. She put a hand on her chest and realized she wasn't feeling anything at all. A small laugh escaped her as she felt her eyes water up a bit. She shook her head, waving off any concern before opening the door to their home.
What hit them was the gentle heat embracing them back, followed by the smell of…cooking?
"Solaris, I don't think food is meant to look so red!"
Ryuu's eyes widened before she rushed forward, coming to Bell's side. Him with crutches was something she didn't want to accept, preferring him to be in the wheelchair. Yet there he was, looking at Solaris with worry as she stirred the…bright red pot. Lyra grimaced, holding her nose shut while Kaguya made a gag noise. Alise on the other hand hummed with curiosity, rubbing her chin.
"If it doesn't melt your tongue off, it's bitch made!"
"Awawawawa, is this too much or too little…?"
"I would add some more."
"O-okay…"
Kaguya rolled up her sleeves at this point, watching Haruhime flinch at the frying rice she was making. She bulled her way between the Renard and Kojiro, who was busy making riceball after riceball.
"Step aside, I will not allow any bad Far Eastern food to be made in this house!"
"May I help with the cutting?" Arash asked politely, causing Astraea to giggle as she was preparing more salads.
"Be my guest."
"C'mon, potatoes, roast for mama!" Hestia cackling, like a king over their domain. Alise sniffed, wiping her eyes. Ah…since when was this place no longer painful to her? Since when was this a home she would never leave behind if she could help it? With those thoughts in mind, she bowed, at Hestia, her Familia, while nobody was looking. For they didn't want her gratitude…but they would get it anyway. Then, she clapped her hands together with a growling stomach, letting out a hearty laugh.
"Let's all dig in!"
It was a wonder their stomachs didn't bloat over. They made way too much food. Yet the time passed easily, with them inhaling the homemade meal with ease. Joking with each other, laughing with each other, teasing Ryuu and Bell specifically about any details that may or may not have happened yet. All of them wished this moment would last forevermore, for nothing was more fair beyond measure than this daily life.
But alas. The sun would set. Sleep would grasp them. And almost too soon, the sun would rise again, declaring the start of the end.
The end of Astraea Familia's stay in Orario for a long period of time. Their bags were filled and prepared, a carriage ready with any supplies they needed. Just outside of Orario, only Hestia Familia made their final goodbyes directly to them. Yet Alise could see them. Finn. Aiz. Shakti. Other high ranking adventurers. As one, they all raised their fists at them, to which the Astraea Familia responded in kind. Then, they turned their attention back to their closest friends, closest loved ones. Alise almost crushed Solaris in a hug, ruffling the girl's hair.
"Never lose that fire in your heart, Solaris."
"I am fire," she replied with a scoff. Then she slapped Alise's butt, earning a rare squeak from her. "And you better not get your ass killed. Us flame red heads are a rare breed here."
"I'll watch out for my ass then."
Meanwhile Kaguya tried to remain as aloof as always, her arms crossed before Haruhime, who had her head lowered with respect.
"Be careful about that new magic of yours. When mastered, it's incredibly potent with your other spells, but the cost…"
"I'll be careful, I promise."
At that, the swordswoman cracked a soft smile and started to pat Haruhime, rubbing her ears specifically.
"Attagirl."
"Hmmm~!"
A bit further away from them to offer privacy, Ryuu was holding Bell's hands, pressing her forehead against his. They haven't said anything for a while, just enjoying each other's warmth and feelings for each other. It was because of that, that Ryuu's eyes widened with surprise when the young man pressed his lips against hers, slowly and carefully, as if not wanting to scare her off. The elf soon relaxed and reciprocated the kiss, leaning into it, eyes closed. Soon, too soon, they broke off, their breath slightly heavy. Then Ryuu pressed her forehead against his once more, smiling gently.
"I love you."
"R-Ryuu?" Bell felt worry creep up in his heart at her vulnerable tone.
"We might die." Ryuu let out a shivering breath. "We might die. Nana…or Gojouno…if Kaguya's tales are true…then she is powerful. Very powerful. So…I don't want to leave anything open. Leave something in doubt."
"We did just kiss…" Bell muttered. He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath, before wrapping his arms around Ryuu. "I love you too, Ryuu Lion. Always. And I will be waiting for you to return. Because you will."
Returning the hug, they finally stepped back from each other. Yet their eyes were still only for each other, radiating with the emotions they felt for their lover.
"Keep working on those other relationships while I am gone." She smirked a bit, waving her finger at him. "But nothing serious until I am back."
"R-ryuu…"
"I tease." She winked at him. "A bit."
Witnessing that all, Hestia was biting her lip. She flinched a bit at the hand resting on her shoulder. The goddess of the hearth let out a long suffering breath before giving Astraea a wry smile.
"I was still holding out for hope I guess. But…" She sniffed before clenching her eyes shut. "Bell will never look at me like that, will he?"
"I'm sorry," Astraea said with a compassionate voice, squeezing Hestia reassuringly.
"It hurts…" She rubbed her arm across her eyes before a weak smile graced her face. "But that won't change anything. I…I will still love him, no matter what."
"You really have grown up, Hestia."
They both let out a giggle before Hestia pressed her lips together with worry.
"Are you…sure you want to go with them?"
Astraea in return nodded without hesitation.
"I have sworn to myself that I would be with them until the end of the line." She looked at her children, pride swelling up in her heart. "I am the one who inscribed the Falna onto their backs. It is only fair I make sure that it remains up to date no matter what."
They tried, to make Astraea change her mind. But the incarnation of justice could be quite stubborn herself. Not to mention, eventually they gave in to the logic that they could use every update they could get on their way to their target. Hestia let out a sigh, before chuckling.
"Surprise the guild is letting you guys go like this."
"Ouranos owes us one. He pulled some strings."
"Still weird to know he's living in Orario's basement…"
At the same time, Kojiro and Arash rammed their palms into each other in a powerful handshake.
"Take care of them, Kojiro."
"I am not the best person for this, so this shall be temporary." Kojiro nodded at him, pulling Arash closer in a show of brotherhood. "May fortune be with you, my friend."
"Fortune and fate alike. I will make it so, if needed," Arash stated, with his pride as a Heroic Spirit on the line. Then he shook his head, mirth entering his gaze. "Haha…this reminds me of one of the tougher things Chaldea went through. This sense of…a looming threat."
"I almost feel jealous of you."
"Don't joke, you are jealous." Letting go of each other, Arash lightly hit Kojiro's shoulder. "But you may have your own opportunities here."
"Let us hope so."
"You all good to go, Lyra?" Alise asked as the Astraea Familia gathered around their carriage. Lyra put her fist against her chest with a small smirk.
"Already said my goodbyes to everyone."
Alise nodded at that. They were ready then. With that in mind, she reached into her pockets and flicked the contents at her fellow captain. Solaris' eyes widened, as did the others', when they saw the keys in her palm.
"Keep those until we get back, will ya?" Lyra said, snapping her fingers at them. Solaris grinned before pocketing them.
"I will definitely not douse them in chili pepper before handing them back."
The Pallum nodded a few times before pointing her finger at Bell and Haruhime.
"If she does it, kick her between the legs."
"Lyra!" Ryuu shouted, shocked at her friend's crass words. Lyra on the other hand shrugged nonchalantly.
"I am not fucking around when it comes to spice."
"We…will make sure she doesn't do it?"
Laughter sounded at Bell's awkward comment. Then, the carriage began moving, with the Astraea Familia about to settle in. But then, a loud shout echoed across the plains.
"Hey!"
They turned back towards Orario and saw the Hestia Familia raising their fists at them, inhaling at the same time.
"May the Sacred Flame be with you!"
They were shocked, the Astraea Familia, but not shocked enough. As one, they drew their weapons and raised them in the air as well.
"I swear on the sword and wings of justice!"
Thus, justice left the city of dreams and adventurers behind, into the trusting hands of the hearth itself.
/
"Thank you once more for offering your services to us."
Astraea raised her head, unable to hold back her wonder at the sheer size of the ship they were on. To call it a city district in size was accurate enough. Armored like a Monster Rex, it could serve to carry an entire invasion force with ease. The owner of the ship chuckled. Adjusting the skull mask, Kali smirked as she sat on her portable throne.
"Valis is valis, Astraea." She threw her thumb at the crew, all sorts of Amazons staring at Astraea Familia hungrily who were checking their equipment. "'sides, my girls can use the halftime entertainment while sailing."
"My girls might surprise them."
"Oh, I'm betting on it." The two goddesses shared a laugh before Kali crossed her arms behind her head. "Shocked I managed to get this baby?"
"I was surprised you got something so big."
The Amazon leader in turn shrugged before showing a twisted grin, showing all of her teeth.
"Hey, since those Evilus assholes destroyed my last ship, I decided to not take risks. But hey, enough about this baby, you will get to know it very close soon enough." She whistled before raising her fist. "Set sail and never stop! To the Far East!"
With a bellow of loyalty, the ship was moving from the port of Melen. Meanwhile, Alise and the others were done with their preparations. Armor adjusted, weapons drawn, mask pulled up, they entered the arena in the middle of the deck. To afford this much space just for bashing heads in, the amazons sure had their priorities straight.
"Soooo, who will we be fighting first?" Alise asked, smirking at the audience around them.
"That would be me."
The five tensed up, spinning around and pointing their weapons at the shadows, the room at the forefront of the ship. Slowly, with heavy steps, the presence of an apex predator came closer and closer, until the queen of the amazons revealed herself in all her glory, stretching her arms in midwalk. They all felt the pressure pushing down on them, as if gravity itself increased. Lyra let out a strained laugh, sweating the most as she slowly shook her head at the muscular amazon in her combat outfit.
"Ahahahaha…final boss already? Fuck me…"
"That can be arranged." Cracking her knuckles, Penthesilea tilted her head, her eyes glowing wide with excitement."Are you warmed up yet, warriors of justice, or do you need a minute?"
"We were born ready, Asura!" Ryuu exclaimed, shifting her feet as Penthesilea dared to stroll right into the middle of the arena. Rolling her shoulders, she motioned with her hand at Alise, and with that at all the others.
"We shall see!"
That was their starting signal. From all sides, with their weapons drawn, the girls leapt at their target, while Arash was drawing his first arrow. At the same time, the Asura spread her arms open, inviting the challenge with a laughter of pure joy and combat lust, as the capital ship was making its way to its goal.
The Far East.