Chapter 140

Bell panted ever so slightly as he jogged through the rain. Not because he was actually getting exhausted but because the humid air made it a bit harder to breathe. He let out a sigh of relief as he found some cover underneath a nearby building, shaking his head a bit to dry himself just a bit. He glanced to his side, at his companion, making swift flopping motions with her tail. Haruhime let out a small whine, her usually fluffy tail now only ten percent of its size, utterly drenched. Bell couldn't help but let out a small chuckle, causing her to pout at him.

"Non Animal people have it easy…" She muttered under her breath, causing Bell to scratch the back of his head awkwardly as he put down his bag of groceries to the ground.

"Sorry, sorry."

As he looked at the grey skies, pouring as if they were weeping, he wondered when it rained the last time. Not that it never rained in Orario, but it usually didn't stuck out to him, for some reason. Then again, he could remember the days where Solaris was particularly grumpy. Something about rain rubbing her the wrong way.

"It covers the sun, it gets you wet, rain is the enemy!"

He smirked at the image of her throwing a tantrum, wrapped in her blanket and hissing at the water stained windows.

"Remembering Solaris again?" Haruhime asked quietly, taking him out of his thoughts. He let out a small sigh, shrugging a bit.

"Yeah…does it bother you?"

"You have been thinking about her more than me…I feel like I am doing her a disservice."

Bell shook his head and patted Haruhime's shoulder, causing her to raise her lowered head.

"Don't. We all cope in different ways."

At his smile, she giggled a bit. Then she looked up at the sky with a wistful sigh.

"It's been a while since it's just the two of us," she suddenly said, breaking the silence between them. Bell blinked as the rain drops gently rattled against the ground, before rubbing his chin.

"Huh. That's right. I…honestly can't remember the last time we just hung out together…"

The thought made his mood plummet. For all he called Haruhime his first friend…they never really have many moments like these. The memories of them spending time with each other, awkward but warm, back in the Far East felt like distant dreams. He was glad she was here, at his side, in Orario, but it was mostly as a reliable comrade…not a shoulder to lean on. Not someone to drink simple tea with and enjoy the moment. Haruhime definitely deserved more, especially after the injury she took. She scratched at her eyepatch idly, before realizing him looking at her. He opened his mouth, about to apologize, but Haruhime gently put her finger on his lips, shaking her head with a mirthful expression.

"It's alright. Life in Orario is always busy, haha…"

Bell wished that wasn't true. Alas, with all the repeated need to rebuild Orario, fighting off Evilus and actually earning money through regular dungeon delving…there was indeed a lack of time. Still, it wasn't like he was drowning in work. But the free time he had left was used for…

"I still feel bad…I mean, I know I shouldn't, because Ryuu and I…"

Haruhime nodded when Bell trailed off.

"You were separated for quite a long time. I understand. And your bond is still fresh. I know that you both desire to develop it further," she said, understanding warmth radiating from her. Bell smiled slightly, glad but also feeling guilty even more from this. Haruhime rolled her eyes playfully before covering her mouth as a giggle escaped her. "I never would've imagined you to be such a passionate lover."

He blushed furiously, looking away as he felt Haruhime's amusement grow.

"I never imagined myself to be a 'lover' to begin with," he muttered under his breath. He could still feel it the sensation on his ha-DAMNIT SOLARIS. He imagined the girl cackle in his head, pulling away the memory like it was a picture in his mind. Shaking his head, he glanced at Haruhime, who tilted her head at him for some reason. She let out a hum, a curious noise escaping her, before she tapped her right cheek.

"What is it like?"

"Err, what is?"

"Being in a relationship." She paused before putting a hand on her chest. "Being in mutual love with someone else."

The humid air entered Bell's nostrils as he took a deep breath. He stared off in the distance, imagining Ryuu in his mind's eye, and couldn't help but smile. How could he explain what he felt to someone else? Could words even do those emotions justice? If nothing else, Haruhime deserved that he at least tried. He wanted her to find her own love. Why not share his experience as best as he could, to give her something to look forward to?

"It's like…realizing you lived in winter most of your life. To experience spring for the very first time." "It's not like a bond of blood. It's a bond with someone who decided to be with you, and you decided to be with them. The knowledge that I was chosen, to share the good and the ill with each other…a heavy responsibility that feels…comforting as well." Bell bit his lip before scratching the back of his head. "I'm nothing like Hans, am I?"

"A high bar to compare to. Don't worry, I think I understand. To open your heart like that sounds…intimidating. Yet the rewards sound wonderful." She paused before nodding at him"You are good for each other." Her smile fell a bit as she closed her eyes. "It also puts her mind off…Arash."

Clenching his fist, Bell exhaled slowly at the memory. Setting Arash up for his…needs was heartbreaking. To see the strong archer so immobile, so reliant on others' help. To be fed by others, to be cleaned by others…Sometimes he wondered if he distracted Ryuu too much. The elf always volunteered when she could to take her of her oldest friend. These days it was tough to get her mind off things, to get her outside and let others take care of him.

To know that someone was alive, but unmoving like this…the life of an adventurer was a scary thing sometimes. He smacked his lips before clapping his cheeks.

"He'll be fine. Kojiro said so. And Arash wouldn't do anything to make Ryuu cry."

"Hehe…you're right."

Bell wondered if the rain was easing at this point, idly looking up, before he froze as he felt something through his soles. His head snapped down as he narrowed his eyes. It felt as if something vibrated through the ground. It was faint, very faint, almost quieter than the rain drops hitting the ground. Haruhime turned to him, blinking confused as he licked his lips, unsure himself.

"Did you feel that?"

"Feel what?"

"Hm. I just…thought I felt the earth shake…Maybe I imagined it."

Still, even as he dismissed the thought, he still had this creeping sensation in the back of his neck. Was something happening in the dungeon? He shook his head. No, impossible. If it was close enough to be sensed on the surface, the Guild would be going crazy by now. And there was nothing possibly strong enough to affect the surface from so far below if that was the case. Maybe the stress was getting to him at this point, with all the back and forth with Evilus and the Night Queen…

"This is nice."

"Us standing under cover during the rain?"

"It's been hard to find a calm moment, with just us." Haruhime closed her eyes. "We both really changed a lot since the Far East, haven't we?"

Bell rubbed his chin in thought.

"Hm. I'd say we are still the same. Just…more confident and experienced, I suppose?"

He remembered when Haruhime was a stuttering mess, unable to even hold basic eye contact. How much it took until she was actually comfortable around him. To compare that past her with the current martial artist was like comparing the moon with the sun. And yet, he stood by what he said. After all, Sakamoto Haruhime was kind to the core, and always had been. The Renard blushed a bit before raising her knuckle at him.

"To friendship."

Bell didn't hesitate to meet her knuckle with his, as the rain began to clear up.

"To friendship."

The first sunrays pierced through the grey skies, shining down on the friends.

/

"We got new intel from Filvis."

Lyra slowly put down her spoon before letting out a long suffering sigh. Astraea smiled wryly as everyone else shared similar reactions, letting out groans and sighs as they put down their own utensils.

"Really? Right when I was eating?"

"Gah, we just got home! Can't Evilus take a vacation or something?" Alise complained before chomping down on her meat, chewing on it. Nevertheless, the entire table sat up a bit more straight, focused on what their goddesses had to say. Hestia cleared her throat before twirling her finger, pointing towards the ground.

"So! Good…wait, bad…errr, just news?" Hestia shook her head. "Anyway, Night Queen has been sighted in the dungeon!"

The sound of wood cracking caused everyone to jump. They turned to Kaguya, who remained perfectly steady, with her prosthetic hand crushing the table in her grasp. She smacked her lips before nodding slowly.

"Continue."

"Err…"

"Allow me." Astraea folded her hands on her lap, causing Hestia to let out a breath of relief. "Filvis gave us information that the Night Queen appears to plan to leave Orario in its entirety, bringing plenty of escorts with her. Some old faces, from what she could gather. I will give you the details on a later meeting." She narrowed her eyes. "Just know that the Night Queen appears to have stopped holding back. She is using her Fear Aura now."

Bell froze, eyes wide. It was unnoticed by the others, as they chatted amongst them, sharing their reactions.

"Guess play time is over," Alise muttered, crossing her arm and giving Kojiro a glance. "Is the aura really that bad?"

"It is quite literally stopping you in place if you are not mentally prepared, and even then…"

"Because it can never be too easy…" Ryuu trailed off as she looked at her boyfriend, narrowing her eyes with worry. "Bell? Is something wrong?"

So many things. The Night Queen couldn't have been, shouldn't have been, able to use the Fear Aura…because that was what Nyx had. A curse that exploded out of her in response to her own emotions.

Yet Bell had no proof. Proof that the Night Queen and Nyx were separate people. Still, if he went with the common belief they were the same person…this whole set up didn't make sense still. Why would Nyx, if it was Nyx, only use her Fear Aura now? It was good in terms of shock value, of keeping people in place to run away…But in this situation, using her illusions to get away was a much better way. None of them had a way to see past them, as far as Bell was aware of. She could just hide herself from view and stroll through the guild to pick up coffee before leaving Orario on its entirety.

Bell leaned back against his chair, staying silent as he mulled it over, staring at the table.

So why the show? He could imagine it was to send a message, to prove to Orario and Evilus that she was still in the game and could openly escape…but…While the Night Queen appeared to love her theatrics, this seemed a bit much. It all depended on the theory that Nyx and the Night Queen were the same people. Something he didn't believe to begin with. Unlike most other people, who at best humored his belief. He shook his head, deciding to keep his objections to himself. Instead, he focused on the main goal here, and gave Kaguya a pointed look.

"No, it's nothing. We just have to capture her."

Kaguya twitched before rolling her eyes dismissively.

"Yeah, yeah, stop the evi-"

"I mean it. Capture. Her. Not send her back to heaven."

Everyone blinked at the heat and finality to Bell's voice. Kaguya was taken aback for just a moment before letting out a snarl. Yet Bell remained steady, sensing a ghostly hand pushing him from behind.

A captain had to be resolute with his decision. Thus he didn't even flinch at Kaguya's growing anger, at the denial of satisfaction, the satisfaction of hurting and "killing" the one responsible in her eyes.

"You-!"

Before she could do anything, Alise was already on her feet, stretching her arm out between Bell and Kaguya. The latter sent her captain a betrayed look, but the Scarlet Harnel just gently shook her head.

"I agree with my fellow captain here. We gotta get some answers. Got it, Kaguya?"

"...Tch…"

"Ooookay. So, what's the plan?" Lyra asked, not so subtly changing the subject. It was Ryuu who spoke up first, reaching out for Bell's hand and giving it a squeeze.

"Is it not obvious? We cut them off in the dungeon." She hardened her grip. "And this time, we will have a perfect victory. For Solaris."

Everyone nodded with grim determination. Bell exhaled and squeezed Ryuu's hand back.

Whoever it was that was trying to escape, whatever Evilus tried to achieve…this time, they would not lose anyone while stopping them. This, Bell swore.