DanMachi: The Tale of Ansem

by kaziquad

Spoilers in Review Some time has passed since the Daedalus street outbreak and the terror that wrought itself upon the Dungeon. For some it sees that things have gone back to normal. For others their trials continue when the Dungeon cries out, sending Orario into a standstill. And when a sole survivor from the Deep Levels escapes to the safety point, Rivira, only questions remain..

20. CIII: PI - A Bold Lie

CHAPTER III: PART I - A BOLD LIE

On his knees before the entrance to the lower floors, the man gazed up to the passageway as the once immense light had faded to a gentle glow. Whatever darkness from the black fog had cast has now gone. Meaning it was safe to enter.

For now.

But he felt an overwhelmingly familiar sensation as he sat there..

"They killed it." With words whispered only for himself, it was not grief for the Beast. Such a thing would be madness. But a quiet despair as the grave situation the adventurers must have faced, and to what will come.

The gentle glow of the magic circle faded to nothing leaving the burned remains of the white powder. The man falling forward, rolled to his back as he gazed upon the false sky. Examining every fine detail of the crystals that line the ceiling. Imagining what the sky would currently be like.

Normally lying down would bear great joy with warmth and relaxation easing his tense body. Though his body remained screaming, tense and unrelenting in it's drive to get to the surface as each breath took in the dungeon air.

"We have one week to prepare.." He whispered softly.

"You're not supposed to be here. You could've gotten us all killed, you know that?" Jai's voice broke through the man's own internal train of thought. "Not too long ago we had one of them Irregulars here because of some Goddess having the bright idea to come down here."

The man sat up, giving Jai an uneasy eye.

"Woah, hold on. What are you going on about?" Caught immediately off guard he caught the sight of Jai waving his finger at him.

"I know what you are.. And you are not supposed to be down here." Jai's face was unusually red, brimming with anger as his finger jutted out to the man.

Sitting there quiet, he took a deep breath in as he shook his head.

"I'm not a deity." Carefully standing up, using one knee as leverage he slowly rose to his feet with a faint exhausted breath. Through carefully crafted thoughts, he was beginning to speak, to explain but before he could the harsh tone of Jai cut him off.

"Bullshit!"

"I'm not-.."

"It's because of you that this is all happening isn't it?"

The man was silent as Jai's gaze bore upon him. Apparently it was a truth that he couldn't deny as he hung his head, once Jai realized that he brought his hand to his mouth to wipe away the sweat and dirt.

"You've got to be kidding me. My friend died down there.. Words of your own. Do you know how many people died down there? Do you?! What is it? Why did you do this? Did you get curious? You damn gods and your games!" Jai's voice grew into a shout. The once kind and humble smith huffed dragging his feet in the dirt as he paced only a few steps back and forth.

Unbeknownst to him, the man slowly lifted a corner of his shirt.

"What are you doing? I'm in no mood for any of your kinds ga-.."

Carefully reaching over his shoulder the man continued and then turned around revealing his back. There amidst injuries and bruises from the prior journey up, is a carefully designed tattoo, with lines elegantly strolling into one another like the rays of light that rarely lit the night sky. At its center two black dots, all surrounded with scriptures.

"What the-..?" Jai in surprise began to look close only to have the man lower his shirt. "You have a faulna.."

"Satisfied?" The man said with a groan as he tucked in his shirt facing the man. "If you have a photographic memory, then congratulations you now know my entire life story. Assuming you can actually read it."

The man said in a rather dismissive tone. Unconcerned whether or not he could.

"Wait, then how is that-? You were-.. You said the blood-?.." Half finished questions rambled out of his mouth. Any trace of anger was replaced with confusion.

"But you and all of that-.. You were glowing." Jai uttered with an unfathomable confusion.

"The spell made the light. I was just in the center of it." The man said as he looked down at the burned magic circle with the robe hanging over his shoulder. "I used this so I wouldn't go blind."

"You're not a god.." Jai said out loud like an affirmation solely for himself.

"Nope."

"Ahh guy. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said all that.." Jai ran his hand over what hair he had on the top of his head, squinting his nose and eyes upon the realization of his sudden outburst.

"You're fine. A lot has happened today. Anger is possibly one of few most sane responses to it as well." The man noted the grieving process with a deep sigh as he gingerly kicked the dirt below him. "Any chance you can help me hide this? Some people might get the wrong idea."

The man kicked his feet to the ground in an attempt to bury the magic circle from view. Though it was obvious in his current state there was not much he could do on his own.

"Uhh sure, I mean, yeah." Jai answered, still taken away by his own outburst as he kicked his feet on the ground. "About your faulna, I haven't seen any like it. What familia did you say you were apart of?"

"I didn't." The man said as he dragged his foot across the ground.

"Ahh.. Not even gonna share your own name, guy?" Jai said amidst the sound of dirt being kicked.

"Huh?" The man looked up and saw Jai with his hand out to him with confusion.

"Like I get the whole familia thing. Name's Jai. Not sure if I mentioned that the last time we were here."

The man looked at his hand then up to Jai. He was hesitant to take his hand as he stood there for a second. Surely enough though, in order to pay back the kindness he was given he met his hand to Jai's.

"Nice to meet you, Jai. My name is-.." The words stopped coming out of his mouth, the words that he had to work up courage for one particular reason that lay in the truth of his name and the weight it carried. In an odd case of fate, his eyes caught Jai's peering past him, where the man before him spoke softly.

"Oh shit." Jai said bluntly. Walking past the man, he stopped at the edge of the circle. "They're back."

The unusual response caught him off guard until he caught Jai's eyes staring at the entrance to the floors below.

Following his gaze there he saw two figures walking side by side out of the darkness. One with white hair stained red, with eyes of crimson. The other stood just a bit taller with golden hair and eyes too. They slowly walked in a pained exhausted state. Weary from what battle that had endured.

The man's eyes locked with the golden eyed woman in the utmost of confusion.

"Sis?"

The thought crossed his mind, causing him to stagger backwards a single step while her own light blanketed his view. In his being filled with a sudden grief that swelled up to his eyes and a faint gasp trickled from the man's agape mouth, as he tried to compose himself while the two approached.

Realizing that in this time and place, she was gone. And the truth was that these people before him were none other than the Sword Princess and Rabbit Foot.

Across the young boy's open arms lay a white robe with a single arm hanging out from under its cover. And yet there lay something intertwined with the light of the boy's own. A peculiar yet unnerving sight came to his view.

Squinting with his one free eye, it was barely visible, a second light shining weakly. Struggling to hold on. Only to become clearer the closer they get.

Stepping forward he could feel his leg ready to give out if he took another. He didn't need to take another step forward, instead the two were heading directly to him as they followed the path that leads to Rivira. But he couldn't help himself.

"Her light still shines." He said as he couldn't release his eyes from the sight. "She's not letting go."

"Huh? What are you talking about?" Jai asked with profound confusion as they stood side by side.

"I gotta do something." The man answered vaguely with a fiery determination that stoked within him.

Gritting his teeth the man stepped forward, determined not to waste any time. All the while feeling the pressure of grief swelling within in each step he took closer to the woman who resembles his own blood so much. For as far as he was concerned, anyone who had to fare against that thing was his responsibility. No matter the race, level or familia.

If his legs had cooperated, he would have made it much closer to them. But just a short distance away one leg gave out from under him despite the strength of his will. Stuck in a kneel, a disdainful breath escapes his lips at his own weakness. His arm trembles and shakes as he tries to push himself up, but alas nothing. His body won't comply. Not after pushing itself for so long in these past hours.

"God damn it.."

There was a single second of nothing as his head began to grow light headed, and black crawled in from the sides. Yet before him stood a light.

"Are you ok?" The woman's voice rang out in the silence. In what would normally be considered cold and expression, there lay a faint layer of concern.

Gazing up, he found a set of golden eyes bearing down upon him.

"Oh god damn it.." He cursed to himself again as the sensation of grief wrought itself upon him.

"Her light.." The man said under his breath as he hung his face low, then turned to face the boy. "Please come here."

The boy looked blankly at the man with a face so young and so worn standing at a distance from him. Having to face such atrocities pained the man. But yet the boy complied once the young woman ushered him closer, whispering something into his ear.

"What do you want?" His voice was hoarse, exhausted. The last thing the boy needed was to be out any longer than necessary.

"I want to try to make things right. We don't have a lot of time. So please set her down." The man's voice was taught as he spoke. His shoulder shaking from being unable to bear his own weight.

The boy didn't say anything, yet instinctively held her tightly against his body. Surely a denial at his request but the man persisted.

"She means something to you right? And that thing killed her? It took her away from you. I'm not going to guarantee anything but please let me help."

The boy glanced down to the covered face gripping the body and white robe tightly with hesitation written purely across his face.

"What do you plan to do?" Bell didn't even look at his face as he asked, his voice hoarse and weary.

"Her light." The man says pointing to his own heart. "The thing that makes a person 'them' remains. It's still there. She's still holding on for something or someone. As long as even a glimmer remains, then there's a chance she can be saved."

A gentle breeze brushed against their skin. Swooping down and giving faint goosebumps to those surrounding them.

"I know it all sounds insane but I can't let her light fade when she's fighting to stay. Please. If she truly meant something to you then it is worth a chance. Isn't it?"

"Bell." The woman spoke, her voice clear and beautiful caught the boy's, Bell's, attention as he cast cautious eyes to her. She gave him a silent, confident nod.

His eyes said it all as he processed it. For whatever lay between the man and her was a vague trust.

Nodding, he faced the man.

"Only because she vouched for you." Bell said as he knelt down, carefully setting the body to the ground as if it were a resting child.

Deep within his words layed doubt for him, and utter faith in the woman by his side.

"Alright." The man said, there he hovered his hand over what remained of her heart. "If you stay this close, you might want to close your eyes or take a few steps back."

With no words from Bell's mouth, he remained put, watching the man's hand with an intense gaze. The man glanced up to Aiz with an uncertain expression for Bell. Where she only gave a vague reassuring nod, gesturing to him to start.

"Here we go." The man said with a shrug of his eyebrows, completely uncertain of the results.

Opening his closed hand, the man closed his eyes to muster what mind remained within him.

"Son of the Light, of the Auroras, with bones etched with trials and tribulations through time. With a heart that was once strong, now grown weak, I beckon the Light that I possess to give rise to life. To restore the bonds that were lost as the light of another's grips onto this unforgiving world."

A gentle stream of light trickled like rain in slow motion from the man's palm downward to the white robe. Enveloping the body underneath in a glow that reached out from under the cloth that hid the remains of the woman.

A current of wind gently thrust itself down to the ground just around the dead woman's body. Ushering the dirt and the dust away from her.

"Find it in yourself to release your grip upon this soul, this mind, this body to cycle of life. Restore it's flesh. Replenish the light within it's soul. And to deny those the grief that this loss will cause. I beckon you, Light of mine, as Son of the Auroras, to give rise to life in exchange for any and all that I may have."

With each that passed, the light grew and grew as the robe sheltered the eyes of the people bearing witness to such a spell. What light escaped did so from the edges of the robe as it waved.

"Alterum diem vivere."

Then there was silence.

What light that glowed from under the robe soon faded and died. Yet the man kept his hand still, now incanting quietly to himself in a tongue that fell upon deaf ears.

Reaching the end, he closed his hand, opened his eyes and gazed upon the hand that lay out from under the cover of the robe. Pressing his fingers against her wrist searching for a pulse. Though there remained nothing but the immense pressure of his own pulse reminding him of his own pain.

Her light that once shone twinkling, determined to remain a part of this world, was now gone.

The man lowered his head in shame, unable to look the boy in the eyes.

"It didn't work."

It was a resurrection spell of sorts, one that could be used under only the most specific of circumstances. In truth, he had only used it once before further exemplifying how rare it was to use it. Whether or not it had worked remained painfully unknown to him. Leaving him to question the true capability of such a spell.

And yet, he failed. Not just the memory of his sister and her sacrifice, but the woman laying still before him and the boy who had gone through the worst of it.

"I'm sorry."

Bell's rubellite eyes remained locked where Ryuu's eye would be under her robe. Plain and exhausted. Heartbroken.

But not disappointed.

How long could he live in this fantasy where everyone he cared about lived?

With the answer right before him, it was day one of an unbearable truth.

"Hey! What the hell do you think you're doing dirtbag?! Get away from them!" A commanding and cruel voice barked as it approached.

Before the man could respond, there was the sudden sensation of breath leaving his body as a strong metal object met his stomach and the world turned into a blur.

Bete growled standing in the now empty spot where the man kneeled, with Haruhime in his arms. Watching the man arc through the air with a grimace at his presence and ragdoll against the ground he found faint satisfaction in watching this useless piece of stinking meat get the beating it deserved. With a solid thud, the body came to a stop once it met the trunk of a tree.

"What are you doing?!" A shrill voice broke through the air. For Bete it was almost unrecognizable, having to do a double take it came from none other than Aiz who stood before him with a confused glare.

The sight set him back, never before had he seen such an expression across her face. Breaking the usual constant train of disdain for any and all.

"He was trying to help." Her voice was sharp, as she approached. Looking to him for an answer.

Shocked, confused, his mind wasn't ready for her reaction. What normally would've been a plain cold expression changed into something else entirely.

"Aiz..?"

That was all he could muster, with a confused grimace on his face.

"What have you done this entire mission?"

Her golden eyes and words sharp like daggers, it left him speechless then as she left after not getting an answer from him that confusion turned to a burning anger that made him clench his teeth. An anger not towards Aiz, but to the unknown variable that had entered their midst.

Ever since she ran into the man, he'd known there was something off about her.

And it was all that man's fault.

"△▼△▼△▼△"

The man's body met the trunk of the tree with a solid thump, sending a jolt of pain through his body as his back arched. From his mouth a familiar metallic taste spewed out as his body desperately gasped for air. Coughing and choking on his own blood, it sprayed everywhere.

Gasping a deep breath in, his body slumped to the ground as he lay on his right side.

In his current state, somehow barely surviving his trek up, and effectively using all of his mind, that kick ruptured his internal organs. His blood continued to spill just like it always has since he was but a child, that no matter the wound his blood wouldn't stop.

He could feel his consciousness being attacked on two fronts. From blood loss and mind down.

Reaching out to Rivira, he imagined his bag that held the precious vials of a blessed water within his grasp. So far out of reach, until he remembered the gift that Jai had given him.

A faint glimmer of hope twinkled in his eyes as he reached to his back pouch. To the vial of healing potion that Jai had given him. In no coordinated fashion, he fumbled his fingers around until the pouch finally opened and there he was met by a sharp and wet sensation.

With a hand full of broken glass, he held it to his face.

The vial had broken.

"No.. I can't.." The words came out in a gurgle as blood seeped into his lungs. "I can't die.. Not now.."

Not when they don't know it's not over..

Screaming internally, he could feel the throbbing in his skull slowly as black began to creep in from the corner of his eyes.

I can't..

Struggling to breathe, realizing the fact that he got so far, lost so much all to die like this. Reaching out to the faint light that his conscious could see, determined not to let his sister's sacrifice be in vain he couldn't help but call out her name.

"Serene.."

"Open." A woman's voice gently demanded as if he was some servant stationed at a door.

It must've been the woman, the Sword Princess, or a ghost. He couldn't tell, his eyes rolled around in his skull, unable to perceive the world as his consciousness slips away.

He didn't even notice her fingers on his bottom jaw to open his mouth. Though he did notice the liquid, mixing with the blood and saliva, his body's immediate reaction was to spit it all out. He almost succeeded in doing so if it weren't for the Aiz's quick thinking. Shutting his mouth and covering her hand with it, he finally swallowed.

Only a few seconds passed and then his body went limp. Placing her fingers on his neck she found a pulse. Faint, but it was still there. The potion was already taking effect.

Releasing a sigh of relief she closed her eyes for only a second.

"Here. I can take him to my place. I mean, if you don't mind." Jai had said, having approached from behind but yet he stood at a careful distance from her.

"It's fine. I can take him there." Aiz said as she rolled the man into his arms. "Though I may need to ask a favor from you."

"Uhh? Depends on what it is." Jai scratched the back of his head nervously.

"The rest of his team, they're alive but need a place to rest. May we use what rooms you have available for them?"

Jai crossed his arms as he contemplated the question, there was nothing in it for him. No offer, no deal. Not that she was in a position to speak for the Loki familia. That he knew, it really boiled down to one thing, whether or not it'd overstep any boundaries and impose over the past acts of generosity he's displayed for them.

Groaning, he pointed his squinting face up to the false sky.

"Yeah, I suppose I can do that.." Jai reluctantly said.

"Are you sure? You sound like it's something you don't want to do."

"Just call it my penance. Let's go now, so I can get the room's ready." Jai said as he ushered her to follow him.

"Thank you." Aiz said plainly.

Catching Bell's eyes as he rose with Ryuu in arms, she nodded for him to follow. From behind Bell, stood Bete with a look of profound confusion. Giving him a long hard look, she turned away once Bell had returned to her side.

There they set out for Jai's shop.

"△▼△▼△▼△"

Standing at a distance, Bete watched the three walk towards the town of Rivira. Clutching the unconscious body of Haruhime close to his body, he found himself lost in a scowl as he peered upon the man who lay unconscious or dead in her arms.

Releasing a huff from his lungs his gaze dropped down to the path that lay with a fine black dirt scattered about.

"What the-?" Inching closer and closer, buying his time until the rest of his team arrives, his eyes found the strangest of things.

It wasn't dirt, but a fine powder scorched and charred to nothing but black dust making a large arch.

Walking around the edge of the charred lines his mind vaguely recalling the shape of the lines from not too long ago on the thirty-seventh floor. Glancing up over at the trio's figures slowly fading away the area was clear.

An investigative curiosity swept over him. Kneeling down carefully, yet grimacing the entire way, he grumbled about how it would be easier if he wasn't carrying the dead weight. Resting her legs on his knee, he reached down and dug his fingers into the black dirt. At the distance of a mere few feet it didn't smell much like anything. In it's simplest form it was dust, ash. An object without smell.

Yet there in the center he could smell the stranger and his putrid scent. A smell that he desired to stay away form. On his feet he circled around the remains of the dust, and off in a patch of grass he could see a brown container with a cork hanging from its side.

Taking a single step forward he found himself abruptly stopping. A faint breeze kicked up what scent that the container held and swiftly assaulted his sense of smell. It smelled like that of burnt chemicals mixed with fleshy materials. It all smelled wrong. Clogging his nostrils he released a violent sneeze. Forcing himself to take a step back.

"Gah! What the hell is that shit?!"

With teary eyes, he scrunched his nose, huffing and puffing to remove the scent from his nose.

Swinging his head, he stopped as the sensation died as he backed away from the breeze.

"Bete, did you find something?" A voice called out.

Riveria stood with the others in tow. Their faces all showing the same fatigue.

"Take a look at this.." Bete said as he kicked his foot to the ground near the edge of the black lined circle with reddened eyes from the obnoxious smell. He let out one more violent sneeze.

"Look familiar?"

Riveria approached with eyes held sharp as her gaze traced the lines of the magic circle before them. "Vaguely. It seems that a magic circle was performed here.."

Gently swiping her foot across the remains of the black powder, it spread like ash.

"A technique that required a fuel source.. But I don't see any signs of a catalyst being implemented."

"Well I can tell you that guys scent is all over this and it's making me sick to stomach."

"Hey it kinda looks like some of the markings from where the Juggernut was." Tiona spewed out incorrectly as she adjusted Finn on her back like a small child.

"Juggernaut. Jeesh.." Tione said as she scowled Tiona for two things; one, getting the name wrong. Two; giving the love of her life a piggyback ride.

"Oh yeaah. But weren't there a lot of them down there?"

"Aiz will have gotten a good look at it when she was scouting. Speaking of which, where did the lady go?" Gareth offered as he stood perplexed.

"Where we started this whole thing. At the smith's shop." Bete said, relaying the information. "The guy said we could use his shop again."

"Well that's awfully nice of him.." Riveria said with tone that it was all too good to be true. "In a town of outlaws, why would a reclusive smith suddenly give his residence up as charity?"

"He said something about penance.. Whatever the hell that means."

"Aww, he must be lonely. Let's go!" Tiona said with what enthusiasm and empathy she could muster.

The majority ignored her light hearted statement, others rolled their eyes in exasperation. Yet they followed her as she picked up the trail to the smith's shop. To have a place offered in goodwill that they may lay their heads, and provide the care needed for those injured, no sane person would object.

For to walk in the night, up the remaining floors in an already exhausted state increased a level of risk for not just the injured but also for the caretakers.

Riveria watched her team begin down the path, and before she could join them she was met by the hush of a normally angry voice.

"Hey.." Bete said carefully, his eyes watching the team slowly proceed further and further out of ear shot.

"Yes?"

Bete gave the backs of his comrades a glance as they marched towards the smith's shop, and reluctantly brought his eyes to Riveria's.

"If this was just any other thing, I wouldn't give a damn. But with all this going on, I think you need to keep an eye on Aiz. Something's not right with her."

Bete said in a hush, trying his best to keep the conversation discrete.

"We've all been under a lot of pressure recently, Bete."

"Yeah, no shit. But I'm telling you, going off on Finn, abandoning us on the twenty-seventh floor, and then this. She walked off carrying that deadbeat out of here again after he did something here. Now I don't know what happened on the eighteenth floor with him and Aiz before we got there, but he said or did something that's thrown her all off. And who knows what's gonna happen if this thing isn't over."

His voice shook in frustration, as his eyes darted from side to side recalling the prior events. Only at the end did he look into hers showing the uncertainty that raced in his mind that was hidden behind the facade of tough act.

"Well?" He asked, annoyed at her silence.

Narrowing her eyes she took in a deep breath at the circumstance that even began to affect Bete.

"Your words haven't gone unheard. But I agree, something is not right and know that she already has my attention. But right now we have to get them the care they need. The faster we can do that, then we can move to the next step and that is getting answers."

"You want answers? Well, look over there." Bete said, turning to the container. "Whatever was in that thing was some potent stuff. That guy's scent is all over it too. So go nuts."

Trotting off with Haruhime in his arms, his path arced around the area of the scent to avoid another assault on his nostrils.

Bringing her staff down in a gentle swoop, she managed to snag the container in one attempt all the while cradling the young Pallum in her arms. Sighing at the uncertainty of its contents she attached it to her belt and followed the rest. Leaving that question to be asked at a later time.

"△▼△▼△▼△"

Enveloped in a white bliss, the glow of light was like the faintest of touches that tickled the skin. Giving rise to goosebumps, yet any tension seemed to fade. Relaxing the body. It seemed impossible how such a thing could occur. Such a blessing it was to experience this bliss. This nothing. No pain. No worry.

With deep breaths, his body rejoiced. Finally air. Oxygen. It flooded his system. Sending him further. What did he do to deserve this? Did it matter? It's been so long since his body had felt so light. So grand. That he could overcome any obstacle.

With eyes closed, he smiled.

But like a flag in the wind, the light waved. Shimmering across his face.

"It's going to be ok.."

Through the blinding light he saw her smile. Innocent, pure.

Then black.

The view before him blurred from white to grey to black and then every neutral color in between as his view became replaced with the wooden ceiling that he had become woken up to once before.

The room was silent for all that he could tell. There lay the faint sensation of the bandages still hugging his skull, and his body feeling unusually light. But within there lay a weight that sits on his heart.

"Fifty-eight days.." He whispered to himself.

The mere mention of the words sent the weight through his chest and to the floor. A bitter reminder of precious time wasted that led him to where he is now.

"Oi, Riveria, our esteemed guest is awake." A gruff voice spoke from the left corner of the room. Though as he turned his head, there lay nothing in his view.

"What that?.. Am I going mad?" He thought as he peered to the empty space. With an eye half closed he returned to the position that was the most comfortable.

His staring contest with the knot in the wood board above him lasted only a few seconds as a clearing of the throat broke the silence. It was sharp, annoyed. Practically impatient. What would cause such a reaction?

Afterall, he assumed that he was alone in the room. Until he realized that he never remembered returning to this bed himself. Rather a boot striking his stomach.

Catching him off guard, he rolled his head to the right. His body's immediately reaction was to tense, in preparation of another random strike. But before him a sight like no other. A woman with jade hair and eyes that shimmered in the light stood at his side. With long ears that stuck out from her hair he knew that she was an elven woman, but still he couldn't help but feel a gravity about her that released the tension in his body. He lay in awe.

"So you're awake." She stood washing her hands with a grey towel stained red.

His eyes trailed the fine lines of her eyes that held two jade colored jewels which led to her cheek down to her chin. It should never be considered natural to be so beautiful but yet here was someone that proved him wrong. Even then, all he saw in those few seconds were a portion of her face no more, no less. She appeared utterly captivating. Even though she appeared thoroughly stressed and by all means exhausted, that all was overshadowed by one thing.

"My god, you're beautiful." Those were the first words that came out of his mouth. Not that he could help it. They were words that acted on impulse, escaping the confines of his mind at the first chance while his conscious mind awakens with a loose grip.

Narrowing her eyes she diverted them over to the corner of the room.

"Normally I'd give that a laugh. But right now, this isn't the time for such things." A voice rang from his left in the corner of the room.

Turning his head with an utter look of confusion on his face, he saw nothing in the corner where the voice had originated.

"Oh come on, don't you pretend like ya can't see me. Ye're looking right at me." Gareth said with his arms crossed across his chest.

Turning his head a tad bit more brought the dwarven man into view as he sat cross armed in the chair near the window.

With no words given, his one visible eye constricted at a silent revelation. Sitting himself up and held his hands out in front of him. All seemed normal, he could see his right hand, turning his head he could see his left. Shaking his head, he began to notice the bandages on his skull that covered his left eye. Gripping the edges, he pulled them off but was met by a differing opinion.

"I'd keep that on if I were you." Riveria said as she rubbed her eyes completely unamused at the situation before her.

Ignoring her, he pulled the badnages completely off. The long black hair of his bangs swung down to the sides of his face, with a short buzz cut on the sides that angled up to the back of his head. True to her word, there were bruises and marks from the journey up that remained red and lightly swollen.

Holding his hands up once more, he paused and his breath stopped.

"Shit."

Sitting there for what seemed like an eternity staring at his hands, he looked like a stoned fool. And yet, his breath grew rapid and shallow.

"Oi, you're acting like somethings wrong with ya. What's going on?" Gareth asked upon him resting his head upon the palms of his hands.

Holding out his left hand that lay wrapped in bandages, he spoke simply as he cradled his face in the other.

"I can't see my left hand."

"Huh?"

"It means he's blind in left eye." Riveria added as if it were completely obvious. "From that wound I'm guessing you must've run into a Deadly Hornet. And well if you're blind in your left eye, that means the venom made its way up there."

"Oh, well that's no good.." Gareth said with a concerned grumble.

"No kidding." His voice rang with mild irritation.

Realizing that so much of his life, rather of any adventurer's, was that their ability to survive and endure was based on sight, he couldn't help but feel frustrated at such a meager response. How he could survive unable to properly gauge distances and react properly, was beyond him. It felt like something so very precious was taken from him again. A part of his ability to survive.

"Not to take away from that, but we do have some questions for ya on a very important matter" Gareth continued carefully.

As he peered over to Gareth, there he saw the faint residue from the black fog resting on his armor.

"You're the ones who went down?" He asked.

"Aye, we were fortunate enough to kill the damned thing too." Gareth said with a warm tone like that of someone who could be anyone's grandfather.

"But what has been revealed to us, you are the only one to have come back from the lower levels. And it's been reported that you've said some mighty interesting things. And that has us mighty intrigued. So if you don't mind?..." Gareth said with a kind gesture to Riveria to take the reins.

Turning to her, she stood before him with a sharp gaze that despite its cold appearance held a grace.

"You've hit your head and lost consciousness on multiple occasions. Let's start with something simple then."

"Ok.." He nodded, completely unsure of where she was going.

"What is your name?"

His heart stuttered with a palpitation at the question.

"My name?" He uttered back to her in confusion.

There lay a mixed signal within his mind, confused at how they could not. Not out of any narcissistic sense.

"You want to know-.."

Sweeping the room, over to the dwarf all to be certain that was the question that they wanted to ask, his eyes stopped at a figure with golden hair seated next to one of dark brown, borderline black. It was the Ghost. The Sword Princess.

"-My name?"

The pair of golden eyes locked onto his, as if carefully watching him. Waiting for him to speak.

They were eyes that looked so much like hers. Though he knew she wasn't his sister, to have someone before him who bore such resemblance was a cruel trick.

"Aye, that's right." Gareth said from his side.

Diverting his gaze from hers, he began staring at the corner of the room as his breath settled and then looked upon the person who asked the question.

"My name is Mathis.."

Meeting the jade colored eyes, they bore a skeptical gaze that were seemingly unpleased with the answer that he had given.

"What?" He uttered at her silence until he noticed her changing her gaze to the Ghost before him. There sat Aiz with a tilt of her head in profound confusion at him. As if all the pieces of a puzzle suddenly changed.

"-Why are you looking at me like that?"

Next to her, Tiona shared the sentiment as she turned to her comrade.

"Yeah, what's up Aiz? Something scramble your noggin?"

"I don't know.." Aiz faintly spoke as her gaze drifted to the foot of the bed.

"Aye, you should probably get some air. Alright?" Gareth added.

"No, I'm fine." She gave Gareth a quick glance.

But from the corner of her eyes, there were Riveria's peering down upon her. A sensation that she couldn't ignore.

"Aiz, you're dismissed. Please check on the others." Riveria said firmly giving her no room to argue.

Her golden eyes flickered ever so subtly at her reluctance and processing of everything before her.

"Ok." She said standing up, there she gave Mathis a long look with stern eyes only to leave the room in silence.

Feeling slightly out of place, Tiona soon followed behind Aiz as she left the room. Securing her assumption that maybe she shouldn't be there as there were no objections as she headed to the door. With them gone, Riveria slowly closed the door and sighed deeply. Leaving just the three of them in the room.

Then the door locked with a sudden click.

"A lot of people have shown you good will recently." Riveria said with a stern voice.

Mathis's eyes were locked on the door knob as his heart beat began to rise.

"We'd like to think that would be reciprocated. After all, it was Aiz who asked for myself to heal you. Not once, but twice. So, Mathis, was it?"

There amidst the grace of her being was mixed by a sharpness that sent shivers down his spine. In no condition to fight, nor run he was confined to the bed.

"We want to know everything that happened today. From the thirty-seventh floor, to what you had happened with Aiz on the eighteenth floor. Every detail is vital to our understanding of the events that transpired today. Do you understand?"

As she posed the question for him, he couldn't help but feel overwhelmed by confusion at the latter condition.

"What do you mean, what happened with Aiz on the eighteenth floor? Who's Aiz?"

Narrowing her eyes in confusion, she cast her gaze to her comrade, Gareth, looking equally as confused.

"The girl who sat before you with blonde hair. The girl who saved you twice." Riveria squinted her eyes at him, as if thinking how could anyone ask such a question with the rise of such an adventurer had shaken the city. That the name Aiz Wallenstein could be known no matter where one went in Orario.

"The Ghost." He whispered to himself. "So that's her.."

"No. She is not going to be called any such thing, nor the woman with the golden soul. I want to make that evidently clear. She is Aiz Wallenstein of the Loki Familia."

Sitting there in silence, Mathis didn't know what else to say until she verbally gripped him with a simple comprehensive sentence.

"Do you understand?"

Nodding silently, he cast his gaze away to the floor that Riveria stood on.

"Yeah, I understand."

"Good, now shall we begin?" Riveria stood with a wide stance and crossed arms.

"Yeah.. From the beginning, right?" He offered, as he weakly sat himself upright. Groaning faintly as the bed creaked from underneath and his gut still sore.

"No. Starting backwards."

"Uhh, backwards? That might be a problem. In case you can't tell, I don't remember a lot that happened recently.." Is what Mathis was about to say, until a loud crack pierced the air.

Riveria's ears perked up and turned to the door.

"What was that?"

"△▼△▼△▼△"

The light from the crystal ceiling began to shift and change. Subtly changing as time passed on much like how the world worked on the surface. It was an imitation, an artificial light. Fake. Yet as Bell sat in the far back room, the light couldn't breach the curtains that hung over the windows. With the room faintly lit by the fire that slowly breathed its last breath, the lanterns on the wall picked up the slack. There he sat on a chair, hunched over the table next to Ryuu, watching the fire slowly dwindle away to burning embers.

He was reluctant to get up. To leave her side. Yet inside his conscious screamed at him to move. Where to, he didn't know. He just wanted to believe whatever that man did would work. Though so far an hour has passed. Hell bent on being there if she were to wake up.

Staring at the gauntlet on his wrist, there lay jagged shards embedded in the cuff. The remains of the Occulus that Fels had loaned him. At some point in the battle, the consistent exposure to his key spells firebolt shattered the device, sending shards into his cheeks. With only one of the twin devices remaining it was utterly useless.

Slowly, he released the straps around his wrist as a faint cough escaped his lips. It shifted on his wrist and fell to the floor, before he could react and catch it. With one hand hanging over it, just out of reach, he dazed upon it as the light of the dying embers flickered on the remaining shards. Then there was nothing.

But soon his conscious won over his body as his legs became restless. Proving to be unbearable. Before he left, he gave her one last glance. Hoping to see a sign of life. A faint twitch of her fingers. Anything.

But in the company of the dead, no such thing would come to be.

Leaving the heat of the room, it was as if he entered a different realm. The room was painted in a cool temperature from the light outside, and the air didn't bear the taste of metal and ash. Before him, table with mattress pads that were brought out from storage were placed on the tables as impromptu beds for his familia as they received care first.

Riveria offered insistently, and practically demanded him to be cared for, but everytime he insisted.

"Them first.."

He could still remember the sigh of exasperation from her, as she reluctantly began on the others.

It wasn't long after that she was done, and moved onto the man from before. Leaving Bell the sole conscious member of his familia. His eyes scanned over them, carefully keeping an eye on them. Occasionally one or two of them would release a series of coughs. A sign that their bodies were trying to fight the lingering black fog that stuck to their lungs.

And unfortunately, despite Riveria's best attempts, her efforts to clear it from them were in vain. Even from his own.

From the outside he heard a faint discussion from the members of the Loki familia. Through the shades of the window he could see their silhouettes shifting.

Walking past Welf, who's sword Kazuki stood at the edge of the bed, and Lili down the side furthest from the door, he rounded the corner to find Haruhime curled up. Her breath trembled as his skin lay pale. Covering her with the blanket, her hand slipped from the covers.

"Bell?" She weakly called out his name, as her hand caught his wrist, grabbing the sleeve of his shirt.

Faintly gasping in surprise, it was the last thing he expected. From the slight gap in her eyes he could see the white of her golden eyes sore and red.

"Yeah, it's me. I'm here." Bell said as he lowered himself to be face-to-face with her.

Her face contorted, in pain and sorrow. Bearing such an ugly expression as tears formed in the corner of her eyes.

There grew a concern on his face as he watched her ball.

"Hey it's ok, Haruhime. You're safe." Placing his free hand on hers, he tried his best to reassure her. "We made it to the safe point. Ok? You're safe now. You can rest."

Yet she didn't release her grip on the boy who saved her. Desperately clinging to the boy as a source of protection, where even though the Beast had been slain, she still sought him.

"They knew.." Her voice quivered and her grip became unbearably tightly as she clenched his sleeve as she revealed a truth that spawned it all. "He knew.."

Whatever expression of compassion fell from his face.

"What?" His mouth left agape at the truth. Watching her face turn to a state that he couldn't bear.

"Finn knew.." As her face contorted in pain with tears running down her face, Bell felt something stir inside of him that he was deeply unfamiliar with.

"They knew what?" He asked carefully, trying to calm the anger that breathed within him.

"They knew there was something else.." She said as she squirmed in pain on the makeshift bed. "That it wasn't just the Juggernaut back on the twenty-seventh floor"

Kneeling before Haruhime, he fell silent as he tried to comprehend her words.

She still sought him for safety for even being in the presence of the Loki familia currently terrified her. That nowhere was safe.

The truth caused his breath to shake, and his jaw clench shut as a newfound feeling began to burn. This rage burned inside of him hotter than a fire he's known. Utterly dumbfounded, he slowly rose to his feet, questioning why, how?

Remembering the promise Finn had made, that they'd work together and come home together. That it was an ideal that he could agree with. The reconciliation between the two before they left after it was revealed that Finn and his team withheld information about Evilus being involved as a main culprit in today's events.

"He gave his word.." And yet, there still lay the Beast who waited in hiding. Where they happened to come across it. "And he knew there was something here? Something else?"

His breath shook as his gaze shifted before from Haruhime, then to all of his familia who lay bedridden with an incurable plague. They were all left in a cruel state. Completely and utterly helpless.

As his eyes settled on the door that led to the room where Ryuu lays, it all could have been avoided. Bell uttered ever so quietly.

"He knew.."

In the end, Finn chose to lie. To break his word as he made it. For a second time. And they were led to the slaughter.

"Bell?" Her voice shook as she clung to his sleeve.

With a pressure rising in his chest, he gazed down to Haruhime. From behind him the conversation outside continued. Within that conversation a single voice stood above the rest.

"I'll be right back.."

He didn't know what else to say. What words to comfort her. Not with this pain, this fire in his chest. And without thinking he marched to the door. The door swung open as he planted his palm squarely in its center.

With breath hotter than a Hellhound's, there in a group of three people stood Finn in the empty street, leaning against his spear watching two other members walk away.

Instinctually, Finn's peripheral vision was alerted by the sudden movement, and there he caught sight of Bell's reddened face. A look that he had never seen on the boy, but the Pallum knew that this was going to be anything but pleasant.

"FINN!" He roared before lunging at the culprit. The liar.

Finn's eyes widened, as he tried to take a step back. Whatever words he uttered were cut short as Bell tackled him to the ground.

Landing on the dirt, there was a solid thud followed by the metallic clink of Finn's staff bouncing on the ground. Feet shuffled on the ground, and Bell sat on top as both of their feet kicked up dust.

It was the start of a fight that was purely dirty. That held no technique and required no skill.

"Bell, what are you doing!?" Finn shouted as he grasped Bell's hands.

Gripping Finn's collar, Bell pulled him close with their faces nearly touching.

"You knew!" With one free from Finn's grasp, he cocked it back and swung. Hard knuckles made contact with the soft cheek of the Pallum and the cheekbone that lay underneath.

Soft tissue broke and blood spilled from Finn's lips. The sudden force knocking Finn's conscious grip on Bell away that gave Bell another chance to grab his collar. Heaving his collar up and shoving him back into the dirt he shouted in the face of the Loki familia's captain.

"You gave your word!" Bell's fist drew back one more time, and then followed a solid crack. "And you lied! Twice!"

Finn's head rolled as Bell heaved him up by the collar, his eyes struggling to lock onto the boys.

"Did you see what you've done!?"

Bell cocked his arm but before he could release the strike a silver blur engulfed him. Freeing Finn of Bell, Bete tackled the boy onto the ground. Holding him into a chokehold, Bell writhed determined to escape the inescapable grasp of a level six.

"Calm down, brat or you're gonna get your teeth bashed in!"

Bete locked his arms under the boys with one behind his neck and the other in front of his throat to silence him. But it proved useless against Bell's rage.

"Look at them!" He shouted, his eyes locked onto Finn's. "Look at what you did to them! After everything we've done!"

Bete reluctantly tightened his grip around the boy's throat.

"Never! Never again, Finn!" His voice struggled, fighting the lack of oxygen that his body desperately craved to continue his rampage. Gripping Bete's forearm, he tried to pry it away for breath, but it proved to be in vain.

"Never.."

With no choice but to succumb to the strength of a level six, he pointed to Finn.

"Again."

Bell's voice trailed off as his consciousness slipped away after making his declaration.

There grew a small crowd of people who watched the entire ordeal.

It was the first fight between the Loki and Hestia familia.

In the doorway watching it all stood Aiz.

"What the hell just happened?" Gareth shouted as shuffled down the stairs.

Without speaking, Aiz stepped aside then after Gareth, Riveria soon followed out with hurried footsteps. Her eyes watched them all from such an emotional distance that it seemed almost normal.

Riveria gazed over the scene. Tione was checking up on Finn, where Bete rolled Bell's unconscious body off of him. As her eyes scanned the incident, finding all that she needed to know, there came an unusual and heavy presence looming over them all.

People stood in the streets, some peeked out of the windows, who have witnessed it all. And soon enough, word will spread like wildfire of what happened. Of the words shouted. The very thing Riveria wanted to prevent had already begun.

And then she uttered something very un-elf like under her breath.

"Shit.."

It will then be only a matter of time before word reaches the surface.

"Everyone get inside. We're having a meeting." Riveria said firmly giving every single conscious person her attention. Trying to restore the situation.

"△▼△▼△▼△"

Standing on the inside of the building watching the person she was so close to be tackled by the werewolf, Bete. She didn't gaze upon him with any disdain, she knew that he was doing was in accordance with the Loki familia. Defending their captain. But wasn't Bell defending his own?

It was too much to process as she felt the stress cling to the back of her skull and her shoulders tightened. Taking a deep breath in, and one long one out she closed her eyes.

It helped, if only by a little.

From behind her, her adept hearing picked up on footsteps carefully stepped down the stairs. She knew it wasn't Tiona. A person who would waste no time in joining the fray, without a single care of her footing. Which is why sometimes people complained about her elephant feet.

Turning around, he stood there leaning on the railing that stood on the landing of stairs before the final set down.

His royal blue eyes skimmed over to the door, to her where they locked for a few seconds.

She didn't know why his name being Mathis confused her so. Or why she wanted his name to be Ansem. She did consider it not being out of the realm of possibility that much like Bell's spell named after the iconic hero, that maybe this man, Mathis, shares a similar spell to that of Ansem's. As a gentle stream of doubt and confusion washed over her, she didn't notice him approaching from the stairs. His sudden presence just a few feet from her was startling.

"Was I that caught up in thought?"

Standing just before her, firmly gripping the railing of the stairs he peered not to her but to the peer beyond her shoulder to Bell's familia.

"She never said there were any injured.." Mathis said as his voice fell flat at the sight.

"Mhm.." Aiz simply agreed. "They lost their masks."

"I wish that was the first thing they told me.." He said under his breath as he turned around and headed up the stairs.

"Huh?"

Stopping at the landing, he peered down to Aiz.

"Unless they get the proper elixir, they're not going to have much time left."

Continuing his march up the stairs and out of view, he was gone.

"Wait." She uttered but in a tone too soft, it went unheard.

Rounding the corner, Mathis went straight down the hallway that was lined with multiple doors. For all he knew Jai's shop was at one time an Inn that was converted to a blacksmith. Regardless, he needed to find the owner, Jai.

He never knew what door it was that Jai called his own, but he had a feeling it was the one on the very far right.

Knocking with the knuckles of his fist, he waited.

Nothing.

Sighing as his body still wasn't prepared for this simple activity, he knocked again and was prepared to keep pestering until he was stopped by a voice from the door to his right.

"I'm trying to get some shut eye if you don't mind-!" The door swung open, and Jai stuck his face out. The irritated look on his face faded once he realized that it was for the next door over, that was ironically empty, but conveniently enough the person Mathis wanted to see answered either way.

"-You're up?.."

Mathis nodded.

"What do you mean, they're not going to have much time left?" Aiz had followed him up the stairs. Her brow was knit in layered confusion as she interrupted them.

Mathis gave Jai a courteous glance that solely said, hold on..

"That black fog is poison. It's going to cling to their lungs and decay them from the inside out." The white of Aiz's grew in horror and upon seeing her distressed he held up a finger asking her to hold on. "Unless.."

Mathis turned to the smith.

"Unless I get your help. If this all happened within the past few hours then there's a good chance I'll have enough time to make the elixir."

"What does that even mean, guy? Make an elixir?" Jai said in an irritated manner as he rubbed his eyes.

"Yes, everyone in my familia knew was required to know how to make it in an emergency with various substitutes. I need your help while I go back into the dungeon to grab a bushel of horned foreleaves. That's the furthest thing we need. Everything else I'm sure can be found at some shop here. But that is where you come in. I need you to grab a few things up while I go down under."

"You're going to help them?" Aiz uttered to Mathis.

"That's the goal, yes. This is just going to take a little bit of time. That's all." Mathis replied back then turned back to Jai.

"Look I want to help, but I don't even know your name, remember? It's like you've been dodging the question."

"Ahh.." Mathis' mouth was left agape, at the realization. But also turned to the golden hair woman who stared upon with a great deal of attention.

"What's the matter, guy?" Jai eyes darted between Aiz and Mathis without understanding what exactly was going on between the two.

"Aiz where are you? We got a meeting!" Tiona shouted from somewhere in the building, obviously paying no respect to the currently incapacitated members of Bell's team.

Aiz's ears perked up, where she glanced down the hallway behind her. She stood reluctant to leave, split between her responsibilities as a member of the Loki familia and her own curiosity.

"Aiz come on! It's important!"

Her stern eyes darted from Jai back to Mathis, and spoke clearly with one warning.

"Don't lie. Not to him." With a subtle shake of her head, she left. The heels of her boots slowly faded down the hallway and stairs giving rise to a choir of voices sounding off at her arrival. The meeting had begun.

But Mathis couldn't help but stare at where she stood as a lingering feeling of grief and nostalgia swept through him.

"She always knew.."

No matter when or where. Serene always knew. So how did she know?

"Hey. What did she mean by that?" The sound of Jai's broke Mathis' train of thought.

"Huh? Mean what?" Standing thoroughly confused, he didn't know what to say.

"She said not to lie. What did she mean by that?"

"I'm not one hundred percent sure, but I think I have an idea.." Mathis said as he looked down the hallway. "I'll tell you when I get back. But not here. There are too many ears here."

"Woah, woah, guy. First of all, if I'm helping I'm coming down with you. Just because you're up and moving about that doesn't mean you should be. Second of all, fine. But how can you not trust the Loki familia? You're as safe as can be with them around."

"Because for the life of me I can't remember anyone being named Rabbits Foot, or Sword Princess the last time I was on the surface.."

"They're household names pretty much now.. Have you been living under a rock or something? " Jai seemed amused at the idea that two of the most popular adventurers were names that went unknown to the man.

"I don't know. I really don't."

Mathis, sighed as he shook his head. Recalling a specific moment after he left it all behind, all for the name of his familia, his sister. Falling into a mass of oblivion where light ceased to be the thought and closeness to such malice brought a shiver down his spine.

"I just have to grab something from my bag. Can you meet me by the circle?"

"The one from before?"

"The one from before." Mathis nodded.

Entering the room, he sought for his backpack. The single thing that survived with him. An item that possessed such sentimental value that he couldn't remember going anywhere without it. After all, all the things that he possessed were within. Which was to say, he didn't have much.

Running his hand over the leather flap that was dyed white and stitched with black and blue threads, the edges of leather were pressed together with a fine silver lining. Rummaging through his bag, he sought two things that were of the upmost importance in this situation.

It should've been on top, the spare mask. But it was nowhere to be found.

"What the hell?"

Lining the interior of his backpack was a pouch that he specifically had added for it. But the pouch was opened and empty.

"Where did it go?.."

Sifting his hand through the items that weren't many, he had no such luck.

"Uh-hm.." A sharp voice broke the silence. "Looking for this?"

In the door stood, the elf with a sharp gaze. And in her hand his spare mask. The black fabric that glimmered from a mesh underneath, held its shape despite her grip on it. And after being returned to Riveria from Bete, she figured that there was only one place for it to return to.

"You went through my bag?"

He narrowed his eyes in suspicion of her.

"Of course not. You gave it to me as what I'm assuming was to give it to Aiz." As she stepped into the she reiterated. "To the girl with the golden soul."

Mathis froze his gaze upon her, carefully watching every movement she made.

"Would you care to explain what you meant by that?"

He could feel his heart stop in two ways, one he could ignore, the other though felt like it was going to kill him. Looking away he hung his head in frustration.

"They say that the eyes are the window to the soul. So what would you say if you saw someone with golden eyes?"

"I'd approach it in a literal sense." Riveria crossed her arms. "And I'm sure most people would as well."

Mathis let out a deep sigh in defeat.

"Isn't there an important meeting that's supposed to be going on?"

"My contribution was brief but effective. You're going back down. Why? After you lost your familia the sanest thing for anyone would be to go running to the surface." Riveria countered.

He couldn't bear to look at her, all he could do was roll his head back, feeling stuck in place. Helpless. She was right, and he couldn't deny that. Every part of his body screamed at him to continue up. It yearned to breathe the fresh air of the surface that felt like it had been an eternity. But also to run. To run so far away. That was what his body wanted, what it screamed. All to survive.

He wanted to live.

But there was no point in surviving other than one thing.

"You're right. I want to run so far away and not look back." He said as he stared at the ceiling above, as if his eyes were trying to reach the surface themselves. Bringing his gaze to her jade eyes, his own trembled and his voice shook so subtly that it were barely perceptible. "But I can't. Not when the people down there are sick and need help. And that's what I'm going to do."

"Evilus." Riveria said out of the blue.

There was a sudden silence as Mathis stopped, and tilted his head with narrowed and confused eyes.

"Avacado." He said hesitantly.

Immediately Riveria jerked her neck back at the reaction creating an unusual expression of confusion on her face.

"What?" She asked sharply.

"What do you mean 'what'? You're the one saying random words." He quickly defended himself, turning his attention back to his backpack.

Riveria fell silent, as he turned back to his back and pulled out a small pouch of coins. The hefty bag made a dull thud sound as it landed on the wooden dresser.

"What's that?" She asked.

"It's payment." He said as went back to rummaging through his bag. And reaching the bottom, he carefully unzipped the small padded compartment. Within it held a rack that could hold four slim vials, yet only held three.

Riveria opened the small pouch and inspected a single coin.

"If I were a collector, I'd accept these." She gently placed the coin back into the pouch and pulled the strings closed. "These have been out of print since before I was born."

"What?" It was a raspy response, one of confusion that he couldn't compose appropriately. "That's not good enough?.."

Completely missing the point, he reached down into his bag, holding a single vial. Pulling it out, he stared at it hesitantly.

"If I do this, I'd only have one left.. Then I'd have to travel back to get more.. No.. that'd take too much time. There isn't enough time. But still could I manage with just one?.. After everything she has done it'd only be right.."

From saving him twice at the request of the woman named Aiz. She could've said no. Though he could imagine that a secondary reason was purely for informational purposes. Whatever the case, he felt compelled to repay the generosity.

Without her, and Aiz, surely he wouldn't be alive.

"Here. Please accept this then." Holding out the vial to Riveria, she carefully held it in her hand. Her eyes scanning the contents through the clear glass vial that was shaped like an elongated gem.

"And what is this? Water?"

"In a way. Yes." Mathis says pulling out another vial. Gently tapping the glass. "It's for the things that can't be healed through normal means."

Twisting the cork, counter clockwise he then pulls it up and off.

"While the vial is unbreakable thanks to it being enchanted, store it somewhere securely where you won't lose it.. You're looking at one of three that are currently in Orario. And I have the last two."

Riveria reverted to silence as she hesitantly put it in her pocket, accepting the payment if water could even be called that.

"Ye who have little faith." Mathis said as he brought the vial to his own lips, consuming one of the last two.

There was no immediate perceptible effect to Riveria's eyes. But she didn't stop him from leaving after handing him the mask. Instead she waited. As his footsteps stopped in the doorway just past her, he turned to her.

"I never got your name."

"And why do you want that?" Riveria spoke flatly with her back to him.

"Well it occurred to me that I never properly thanked you for agreeing to saving my life. And I'd like to know the name of the person who saved my life to thank them properly." He offered rationally.

"You can call me Nine Hell."

"Ahh." With his mouth slightly agape, he understood why. It was easiest to keep a distance by providing an adventurer's alias. That he knew all too well.

"Very well. Thank you, Nine Hell."

Without turning, she stood there waiting until she heard the door open and close she couldn't help but shake her head in exasperation.

"He's going to get himself killed.." She groaned under her breath.

Following his footsteps down the stairs she stopped at the circle of her team. Approaching the Amazon, Tione, she whispered in her ear mid-meeting.

"Come with me."

"Huh? Ok.." She humbly agreed, and followed her up the flight of stairs to courteously have a conversation.

"What's on your mind? I'm assuming it's important." Tione said as she curiously bobbed her head.

"The man who just left, Mathis. He's going back into the dungeon and I need you to keep an eye on him."

"Wait, the guy who was basically bed ridden the entire day? That was him?"

Riveria shook her head in agreement.

"And you let him leave? I mean, not to question you on that, but was that the best decision?"

"Right now, I don't know. Which is why I need you to keep an eye on him. He is not to see you nor to be aware of your presence. You're the quietest amongst us, and can track him. Where as Bete would surely, well.. He'd be himself. If he does anything suspicious, let him. Report everything back to me when you return."

Tione nodded her head in agreement, accepting this task. Knowing that of all the things they've gone through, this should be easy enough.

"Sure, I can do that!"

"△▼△▼△▼△"

On the surface, any night like this would have a full moon. In fact, when Mathis closed his eyes, and if he used a little bit of his imagination he could convince himself that he was bathed in its glow as it streaked through the atmosphere and down upon his body as he sat in prayer.

Through closed eyes, he felt as if he could see its glow from under his eye lids.

It felt lovely. Euphoric.

It was a feeling that left him yearning to keep his eyes closed.

But it was a bitter reminder that as he breathed in, he could still taste the air of the dungeon upon his tongue.

Opening his eyes that were pointed to the ceiling, there he could see the false sky painted with a light glow to mimic a starry night.

There was no sky. No moon. And no stars.

No matter how much he looked to the false sky, he wouldn't find the twin stars.

On his knees, bathed in this false light, the prayer was complete. The Dungeon gave no cry in denial of this simple wish of passage. All he could do was hope it was accepted.

"Hey.. How'd you get here before me? I left before you did." Jai approached from the cover of darkness that seemed all too natural for the kind hearted man.

"Very, very carefully." He uttered nonchalantly as he carefully turned to face the man.

The contents of the glass vial were already taking effect. He could feel his body replenished and rejuvenated. Though mind capacity wasn't in the best of states, his sense of well-being felt so much better. No longer did his body ache and woe, he could walk. Run. Jump. Albeit, not too much all at once. Well aware of taking his time, he carefully walked the rest of the way after leaping through the streets of Rivira.

"Sure, sure.. You ready?" Jai said.

"Not yet. Just one more thing." Standing on his own two feet, he faced Jai. The man who in such a short amount of time had done so much for him. And there he held out his hand.

"No more dodging the question." Mathis said, facing the truth before him.

"Don't lie. Not to him."

Mathis' eyes peered off into the distance, there he noticed something. A gust of wind in the trees on a windless night. But aside from the faint breath he could hear in one tree, it was what lay beyond that gripped his attention.

A second set of eyes peered upon them as he felt Jai's hand against his.

"We're being followed.." Mathis whispered, solely in earshot of Jai. He was confused, he could understand the first one in the trees. The brown haired Amazon from before. But this set of eyes felt different. And the light that was shown from this individual off in the distance didn't seem all that friendly.

"We are?" Jai's face fell stiff.

"Yeah. Two of them. They don't seem to be together. One is a friendly, I'm guessing the Amazon from before. The other one I'm guessing is not."

"Well fuck." Jai began to sweat at the revelation. "Let's get going then. The sooner we get down there, the faster we can get back. Good thing we got one of the Loki familia covering our ass."

Stopping Jai before he could led the way, Mathis bore an apologetic expression. "Hey. For now, call me Mathis."

"Got it, guy." Jai said.

Before Mathis could comment on Jai's unusual worry, he had already taken the lead with a torch in hand heading to the passageway entrance.

Hopefully, the venture down shouldn't take too long. Considering that to the last of his knowledge, the thorned forleave bush was located on none other than the twenty-fourth floor.