A tense atmosphere envelops as an unwanted meeting occurred between Bell and Aiz. The two who stared at each other as one looks to be in pain and the other seeming sad and guilty.
"Aiz-san…" "Bell.." both spoke out each other's name as the two stared at one another before Bell look away with a look of pain.
Shakti stands nearby in silence, the Brave Kaiser was completely surprised by the Sword Princess' sudden appearance. The blue haired adventurer looks at the scene in a moment of silence before she hears Makaria's voice in her head.
'what are you doing standing there all dazed up, Shakti? Get that brat away from Bell. now!' Makaria commanded Shakti who had a hand to the side of her head before she nods and then went to stand before Bell and face Aiz who looks at her in a confused surprise.
"Aiz Wallenstein, please move away and leave this area." Shakti stated in a serious voice. "you have no business here and therefore should leave this place now."
"but i.." Aiz spoke before she looks at Bell who Shakti covered from her sight. "I need to talk to…"
"You have no need to have any conversation with either of us." Shakti said as she hardens her gaze at the blonde. "if you don't leave, I shall be forced to use physical violence."
Aiz frowns a bit as she thought that Shakti was ordered to not ever allow her to talk with Bell ever again, but since this is the one coincidental chance that she managed to get in meeting the young man, she thought she just had to apologize no matter what.
"Bell..i'm sorry..when I first trained you that day..i…" Aiz spoke out as she tried to look at Bell but Shakti prevented her by holding out a hand to keep the distance away. "Bell. I'm really sorry..i didn't mean to..i just needed to learn..and…i.."
Bell listens to her voice and his heart just aches terribly, his mind slowly resurfacing the memories of the duel between Aiz and Shakti that ended with the confession of what she really thought about him and everything.
"I wanted to apologize for what happened…I am really sorry..and i…" Aiz spoke as she is pouring out her heart in apologizing to Bell who just looks to be in more pain by the passing second. "Bell. I'm sorry. I really am and I wanted to apologize to you so many times and I just wanted us to.."
"enough!" Shakti exclaimed as she looks angry at Aiz. "if you're here to apologize to him, then you've done enough! Just leave!"
Aiz looks at her all confused for a moment before she looks at Bell and sees his back to her, the blonde didn't understand what was going on, but she saw him shaking and could hear the sound of him sobbing.
"Bell? are you alright?" Aiz tried to reach out a hand to Bell but Shakti quickly slapped it away. "ah!?"
"you…just what do you think apologizing can do to him!?" Shakti exclaimed with a furious look at Aiz. "I thought that you could understand things, but the Kaisers were right. You really are an anomaly of this world!"
"What?" Aiz just looks all confused as she couldn't understand what Shakti was saying.
Shakti looks hatefully at Aiz before she turns and tends to Bell who she finds is crying while grasping his hands to his chest.
'I knew that it was strange at first, but I know understand why they wanted me to protect him' Shakti thought with a frown as she went and gently pulled Bell into a hug. She then glances at Aiz who sees the hug and becomes very surprised and confused. 'and I understand why she wasn't liked by the Kaisers in the first place.'
Squinting her eyes at Aiz, Shakti looks away and focuses on Bell.
"come, Bell. let's go." Shakti whispers as she gently leads Bell away from Aiz.
"w-wait! I!" Aiz cried out as she tried to reach a hand to the young man but just as a finger nearly touches his back.
"DON'T TOUCH ME!" Bell suddenly cried out very loudly as this surprised Aiz who seems shocked. The young man is currently in tears and looking to be in pain as he grasped his chest and tugs it tight. "I don't want to see you again! I don't want to ever see you again!" his tears endlessly drips down his eyes as his body shivers and shakes nonstop. "Leave me alone!"
"Bell..i…" Aiz was shooked up to hear his outburst, she thought that she could still be friends with Bell after apologizing but instead it resulted in him just sound all angry and sad. "Bell, I'm sorry..i was just.."
Shakti looks at Aiz and sees her attempt of just apologizing to Bell, this action just riled up her heart as she very much understood that the Sword Princess doesn't really understand the human heart and mind.
"will you just stop and.." Shakti was about to tell Aiz to stop apologizing and leave when the whole area suddenly turned dead silence and she felt a powerful presence nearby. "ah!" she turns and is found facing Makaria who is staring down at her. "M-Makaria Kaiser!?"
The Mage Kaiser looks down at Shakti and Bell before she turns to face Aiz while showing a very irked expression under her mask.
"Haven't you done enough, Brat?" Makaria spoke with a venomous tone. "Not only do you dare show your face to him, you have the audacity to make him shed his tears again?" she went and grabs the handle of the Kaiser Blade and then slowly draws it out while her eyes glows red under her blindfold. "You make me sick, brat."
"n-no…I was just trying to…" Aiz spoke out as she tried to explain her reason for coming and apologizing to Bell but the Mage Kaiser just swings her sword up and creates a huge gust of wind that blew her back. "agh!"
"you were just trying to hurt my nephew's feelings? Is that what you were trying to say?" Makaria said as she held the Kaiser Blade over her head and then swing it down before pointing the weapon at Aiz who is on the ground and is looking up towards her. "not only have you made his heart hurt, but you also made him cry again? Is that what you came to do?"
"n-no..i.." Aiz cried out, she frowns as she looks down. "I was just trying to apologize and.."
"and you think you can do that by just coming to him while he is still trying to recover?" Makaria asks as she swings her sword to the side. "what are you? Stupid?" she then turns her head to the side and look at Shakti. "take Bell to his Home, Shakti. I will handle this brat and then take over your task for the day, understand?"
"but…" Shakti tried to retort but Makaria stops her by turning around to face Aiz and then said.
"just take him back home and then stay by his side for the day" the Mage Kaiser grips the handle of her weapon and then points its blade at Aiz. "Understood?
Shakti looks at Makaria for a moment before she nodded.
"yes." Shakti said before she held Bell's shoulders. "come, Bell. let's go."
Shakti takes Bell away from the area while Makaria stays and face Aiz alone.
"You have done nothing but hurt him." the Mage Kaiser swings her blade around and then pierce the tip of its blade to the ground while her hands were placed on top of the handle's tip. "you think that apologizing to him will make things go better? Do you?"
"that's…." Aiz muttered before frowning when she remembered how Bell looked after the duel. "i…I just thought that if i…"
"you think that it's that simple to give an apology to someone whose trust you broke and trashed?" Makaria said as she grips the tip of the Kaiser Blade's handle. "You think you can just say 'I'm sorry' and things will go back to the way it used to be?" her blindfold and her mouth mask was burned by flames as the Mage Kaiser glares at the Sword Princess with her scarred and nearly blind looking eyes. "YOU TRIED TO USE HIM! YOU HURT HIS FEELINGS! YOU THINK YOU CAN BE FORGIVEN FOR SUCH A THING!?"
A burst of power was unleashed from Makaria as she is enveloped in a blueish white aura that just flares like fire.
Aiz looks in surprise to the scene as she had never seen the Mage Kaiser go and unleash such mighty power before.
As the scene continues, Tione and Tiona appears as they look rather baffled to the aura of power that was just pulsating everywhere.
"just what is this power?!" Tiona asks her sister. "is a Kaiser going to a fight or something!?"
"I don't know, whatever this power is!" Tione exclaimed, trying to ease her tensed nerves that is just shivering from the pulsating power. The Jormugand looking around and she gasped when she saw Makaria standing in front of Aiz who isn't moving from her spot at all. "there she is! Aiz!"
"she's with Makaria Kaiser?! Did she try to challenge the Kaisers again!?" Tiona exclaimed before the two quicky rushes to Aiz's side.
Makaria continues to unleash her power as she glares down at Aiz who is joined by Tione and Tiona, both feeling the direct wave of power from her.
"so you called for backup, huh?" Makaria said as she held her Kaiser Blade up to the sky which started to turn dark with black clouds appearing and forming a swirling vortex of lightning bolts. "no matter. I can erase you all at once."
"Aiz! Did you challenge the Kaisers again?! Why did you do such a thing!?" Tione scolded Aiz.
"n-no…I was just…" Aiz tried to explain herself, but she and her friends flinched when a powerful lightning bolt struck the Kaiser Blade which started to glow with the electrifying power.
"for your sins in fooling my nephew, hurting his feelings, and just making him cry in tears." Makaria said as her eyes flared in blueish white fire. "I bestow upon you…DEATH!" The Kaiser Blade absorbed all the electricity from the lightning bolt and became an electrically charged sword that just glows and shines brightly. The weapon was held up high before its blade was pointed sideways and then swung straight down. "raaah!"
Aiz and the others saw the Kaiser Blade come down, they didn't move as they were frozen in fear after witnessing the accumulated power charged into a single weapon.
As Makaria swings the Kaiser Blade down, she stops just a few seconds and mere inches from the intended target. The power charged into the weapon disappeared as the Mage Kaiser looks surprised.
'what are you doing, Makaria?' Zagreus' voice is heard telepathically in Makaria's mind. The Mage Kaiser slowly standing up straight and then turning her head to the side. 'why are you using such power upon those trash?'
"Why you ask me when you know the answer, Zagreus?" Makaria spoke as her words just confused Aiz and the others. she clicked her tongue while looking annoyed. "What? gonna scold me for letting that brat meet with Bell?"
'If you have a proper explanation as to why you allow it, I will rethink it.' Zagreus replied as the Bloody Kaiser is currently in the Underworld Castle, the leader of the Kaisers is watching Orario from an opened balcony as his eyes glows menacingly under his helmet's visor.
Makaria looks at Zagreus for a moment before she sighs and then swings the Kaiser Blade around before sheathing it to its scabbard.
"I was keeping a good eye on Bell when she appeared and stopped me from intervening…" Makaria said while scratching the back of her head. The Mage Kaiser not bothering with Aiz and the others who are seemingly confused as to what she was talking about.
'who?" Zagreus asks while squinting his eyes.
"Meteria." Makaria replied and this made Zagreus' eyes widen a bit.
"what?" Zagreus whispers as his glowing eyes dimmed. "Meteria?"
The Bloody Kaiser went silent for a moment as he was processing what Makaria had told him.
"Meteria did?" Zagreus whispers with his helmet detaching from his head, his eyes slowly glows. "she stopped you?" he glances to the side as he caught a glimpse of Meteria's spirit floating by before disappearing in mere seconds. 'Meteria…you allowed them to meet? Even after I told you everything?' the Kaiser stays quiet for a minute or two before a thought came and that made him look sceptical. 'no…I should be more concerned on her appearing to the others when her strength should be reserved and not spent too much.' He grips his fists tightly. 'Meteria…just what do you plan on doing?'
"Zagreus, are you still there?" Makaria called out to the Bloody Kaiser via the telepathic mind link.
"go and do Shakti's task for the day." Zagreus spoke to reply. "afterwards, return to the Underworld castle when you're duties are done. Maintain order in Orario while I go and inspect something."
"and what's that?" Makaria asks but didn't get reply because Zagreus cuts off the mind link, The Mage Kaiser instantly clicks her tongue in annoyance. "always with his own privacy." She crosses her arms and sighs while turning around to see Aiz, Tione, and Tiona who were silent at their place. "what are you lot looking at?" she waves a hand towards them and in an instant they disappeared in a flash. "dumb brats."
Makaria turns and begins walking away.
"that guy always do whatever he wants by these days." Makaria said as she just leaves the area before she stops when she went and looks up at the Underworld Castle that came hovering above her head. "can't think on what he might want to do every day."
The time passes as we turn the attention to the front entrance to the Dungeon where the Loki Familia have gathered upon the command of the Kaisers for ssstheir mission.
They all look a bit unwell as this is mostly seen on the former members of the Familia who were forced to tag along on the mission.
"will we be alright?" "I should've left when I had the chance!" "why did I join this Familia!?" they murmured to one another as the whole atmosphere feels negative and not feeling right at all.
At the front of the group, Finn along with Riveria and Gareth were having a conversation with Loki who has been made to wear armor.
"am I really…going to be going into the Dungeon?" Loki asks, scared. The trickster goddess forced to go into the mission by the Kaisers. "am I going to die in the Dungeon?"
"We will do our best to protect you while on the mission, Loki." Finn assured her. the Pallum wearing body armor for his protection as this is the first time, he is wearing such gear for a Dungeon exploration.
"even if you say so, considering how our Familia's teamwork has rather declined.." Gareth spoke as he glances at the surrounding members, the dwarf seeing the negativity spreading amongst the individual adventurers of the Loki Familia and those who were forced to rejoin. "I don't think this will be such an easy feat."
"yeah…" Finn nodded while grasping his right hand's thumb that is aching. "especially this time of the day."
Riveria frowns while gripping the handle of her staff, the high elf feeling down but also angry as she had just met with Tione and Tiona who brought back Aiz via teleportation. The high elf learning that the Sword Princess tried to apologize to Bell but was met with rejection. Afterwards they were confronted with Makaria who nearly killed them, but she stopped for no reason before she teleported them back to their Familia.
'Aiz….you've done too much damage to that child….you've done an irreversible damage to him and everyone.' Riveria thought, remembering how Aiz explained what she tried to do. 'is this because I didn't dare to reveal such a truth? Is this because I didn't do my best to stop what had happened before?'
Currently, Aiz is forced to stay behind with a few low ranked members who will watch and take care of her. The Loki Familia knows that all members were forced to come but they couldn't just take an incapacitated adventurer with them to the Dungeon. However, they were also afraid and worried for what will happen if Zagreus comes and learns that they weren't in full numbers.
"What will we say when he comes?" Gareth asks. "I doubt he'll overlook it…."
Riveria frowns and grips her magic staff, the high elf worried for Aiz and the rest of her Familia.
Before long, the Loki Familia hears thunder roaring from the sky as they got tense when they look up to see the Underworld Castle come hovering above their heads.
"they're here!" Finn said as everyone looks at the Underworld Castle before they see Zagreus come floating down his Home and then lands on the ground a few inches away from them.
"Zagreus.." Riveria whispers as the Bloody Kaiser stood before the Loki Familia with his eyes just glowing menacingly under his helmet's visor.
"seems that there are a few of you not present." Zagreus spoke as his glowing eyes scans the crowd. "5…no, 6 people are not present." He then turns to look at Loki who he glares at. "what is the meaning of this, clown?"
"w-well…they're…um!" Loki tried to explain but the menacing glare from Zagreus made it impossible for her to speak clearly. "w-we're!"
Riveria came to Loki's rescue as she went and stood in front of Zagreus. The high elf looking determined and serious before she went and bowed to the Bloody Kaiser.
"Please forgive us. We could not let out Home's location be unguarded." Riveria spoke in a humble voice. "We had to position a few members to stay and guard the area."
"Would that explain the brat not joining your ranks?" Zagreus said as Riveria was silent for a moment before she nodded.
"Aiz is…the Sword Princess is currently incapable of participating on the expedition." Riveria speaks out. "therefore we had her remain with a few of our comrades to guard our Home. She could not participate."
Zagreus looks down at her for a moment, his eyes glowing very menacingly before they slowly dimmed when he turns his head to the side.
"None of that matters now." Zagreus said while turning around. "Whether she dies from participating in the Dungeon or not. the results will be the same and satisfactory for me when the time comes." He then turns his head to the side. "And nothing you do will be able to be done to save her."
Riveria made a small gasp of a sound to hear his words, the high elf instantly frows with a look of regret, guilt, and sadness. She then stood up and retreated from the Kaiser.
"That is enough talking for now." Zagreus said while turning around to face the Loki Familia's other members. "you all will be now teleported to the Dungeon's 50th floor. Go and investigate the whereabouts of the Evilus rats. You can either capture them, kill them, or whatever. Your main task is to lure them out and dispose of them as you see fit. I could care less if they die or you all die." His eyes then glows. "Try and run away, I can assure you that your existence will be nothing more than a fading memory."
This made some lower ranked members look afraid as they were scared for their lives in and out of the Dungeon.
"now." Zagreus spoke as he raises a hand towards the Loki Familia. "go and complete your mission." His eyes glows and flashes under his helmet's visor. "and try to save your pathetic lives in doing so."
In a sequence, a large magic circle appears below Loki Familia's feet as one by one they all disappeared in a flash.
Within the Dungeon's 50th floor. The Loki Familia's members came and appeared upon the safe zone area as they see that they were all instantly teleported to the area in one go.
"teleportation…" Tiona said as she looks around the area. "I guess the story about how the Kaisers are the fastest being in the world is true because of this."
"Captain." Tione came to Finn who turned to her. "so..what should we do first?"
"right.." Finn nods as he looks at the others. "first we need to set camp here and then.."
While Finn is giving the orders to his Familia members, Riveria stood nearby. The high elf frowning sadly after hearing how cold Zagreus sounded.
'no more….he only has hatred to me and my Familia now.' She shed a single tear that fell and drips to the ground. 'it's all my fault. For being so weak…'
As Riveria was preoccupied with her thoughts, she didn't notice or realize that her shadow had a pair of red and blue glowing eyes within them. The eyes stares at the high elf before they blinked and disappeared.
That's a wrap!
Bye bye