Part III - In The Twilight Of Things To Come

The eighteenth floor was quiet. Something that most like to keep that way. For quiet meant that there weren't any monsters coming from either above or below them to attack the town of Rivira. It's been known to happen once in a great while. The monsters would somehow come to a collective agreement, whether it was intentional or not, to kill and let the blood of humans and alike flow. Even on most days there would be some sound. Some indication of what awaits adventurers who go to these floors. Grumblings, roars, shrieks that'd make any adventurer's spine crawl.

As Aiz stood there at the passage way out to the nineteenth floor, she peered into the darkness that engulfed the tunnel. Beyond it was nothing but silence and darkness that her eyes could not penetrate. For a brief time she felt it was as if she was looking into a mirror. A representation of the thing that dwells inside of her. The thing that makes her go blind and ignorant in a fight. This swirling mass of shadows, of darkness before her captivated her as much as it made her deaf to the world around her.

It took the touch of a boy to bring her back. The sensation startled her as her heart raced and eyes grew wide.

"Bell?" Aiz said in brief shock.

It was the boy with white hair and rubellite eyes who brought her back, on his face a small look of concern. Behind him a short distance a familiar face, or at least the top portion of their face was recognizable. The elf who made the grand entrance stood giving them some distance, almost hesitantly.

"Oh, you made it.."

"Yeah, we arrived not too long ago. But Aiz, are you ok?"

Her eyes returned to normal as her pulse settled when she heard that question.

"I'm-..." Aiz stopped, searching for the right words. Cautious about the depth that she should dive into. "I-.. There's just a lot on my mind."

Aiz returned her gaze to the darkness before them. Along the outside wall of the lay a red streak leading into it's darkness. Almost allowing herself to get pulled back into the realm of her mind.

"If you'd like, we could talk about it. I know sometimes that helps, and I'd be happy to listen to whatever's on your mind." Bell offered sincerely as he stood by her side.

"You would?"

"Mm-hmm. I would."

Aiz took a brief second in an attempt to come to a decision.

"Ok. But just us."

"That's ok." Bell turned to Ryuu, who already was turning away.

"I'll meet up with the others." Ryuu said and dashed away over the trees before Bell could say thank you.

It was just the two of them standing before the floors exit. There was no breeze, nor sound. It was still and utterly silent. Before the silence could consume them both Aiz turned to Bell, away from the darkness of the tunnel before them.

"What do you do when you're afraid?" Aiz felt like she knew what he'd say and do. Just what he always did, he moved forward. Faced it head on. But yet she asked, she had to be certain of something.

"I guess it depends what I'm afraid of.." Bell began only to take the time necessary to compose his words once he realized the gravity of her question. "If it's something in the world how can I overcome it? Even if I don't get to that point right away, I know I can always rely on my familia to guide me in the right direction."

Bell recalled everything that his familia has done for him. The endless support from Welf and his big brotherly attitude. To Haruhime and her nighttime visits when the nightmares kept him up. Hestia too, always cheered him on, and in some cases tried to take the weight off of his shoulders in any way they could.

"They really do a lot for me. I honestly think I wouldn't be where I am now without them."

"Hmm.." Aiz said, contemplating his words, trying to find her own meaning in them. But her plain expression remained unchanged. She recalled the patience and faith that everyone in her team has put into her, at least from what she could recall.

"Does that help?" Bell asked softly.

"I don't know.."

"Right.." Bell said as he fluttered his eyes trying to figure out the best way to help her. "Can I ask what you're afraid of?"

Aiz lifted her hand and pointed to the darkness that's a part of the tunnel.

"That.. I feel like that is inside of me."

Bell's eyes grew in confusion.

"Darkness?"

He waited, sensing that she wasn't done. Allowing her time to compose her thoughts where she could talk. As she did she looked upon her hands, examining the fine details of her armor around her hands and the few sections of bare skin for her to grip her sword.

"I feel ok now. A sort of calm. A different kind of calm from when I'm fighting. But if I'm not careful I feel that inside of me. And it confuses me. I don't like it."

Bell did his best to silence the nervous gulp in his throat. He didn't know what to expect, after all it was the Sword Princess, what would she be afraid of? Yet he could only move forward, he wanted to help to do something for her. Then it clicked within knowing it'd require a certain level of courage that he had to muster.

"Aiz.." Bell said, and before she could comprehend it, his hand was wrapped around hers after she began to have them rest by her side. "If you can't figure it out alone. I'll be here so we can figure it out together. Just like how you helped me get stronger, I want to help you too."

Aiz turned to Bell as his face was beginning to blush and his voice was nervous and tense. But never lacking in sincerity. It was that sight that brought some happiness to Aiz.

"You mean that?"

"I do." Bell said leaving no room for doubt.

"Thank you."

For most it would've been a beautiful sight with two people supporting one another. But for one in particular who couldn't help themself, there was a sinking feeling in their heart as she watched from the trees at a distance away.

"Bell.." Ryuu said mournfully as she watched the entire thing. She was beginning to wish she hadn't as a pain began to spread in her chest.

"How could I think I could reach out to you, when it was her that you wanted to?"

Her beautiful fair skin began to blush in embarrassment as her head began to lower along with her heart.

In the end, she jumped embracing the wind doing as she said she would. Return to the group. Leaving a gust of wind behind on a day that was so still on the safe point.