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..

25. Vol II PI - The Beginning of the End

Vol. II

PART I - The Beginning of the End

"Pain, Loss & Love" - Rupert Gregson-Williams

Author's Preamble: Hello everyone, long time no see! Hope you all have been well! I added a song here at the top. It's just a song that I listened to on repeat to help flesh out the story as I wrote it. So if you'd like give it a listen as you read. Music along with the key that its played in often conveys specific emotions and I felt this one was rather suited for the entirety of this chapter. This may be a trend throughout the rest of the story. Enjoy!
Author's Note: (10/26/2021) I deleted the original copy of Vol II. Part I and this is an attempt to reupload it. There was an error on the site that loaded the previous chapter and it only correctly loaded the newest chapter on the mobile version. While it's a more brute force sort of way to resolve it, HOPEFULLY, this solves that issue. Please excuse the email/notification regarding the same chapter being submitted twice.

Watching Aiz vanish into the crowd, Syr's grey eyes peered into the crowd where the man walked off to. Sitting on the cobblestone, she could feel the cold that radiated upwards through her palms up her arms. All the while feeling equal parts of confusion that raced through her, one uncertain and trying to grasp what it was that she just saw, the other completely lost to it all. Like two sides of a coin submerged in a fountain, clouded in murky water, nothing was clear. One side asking question after question, to clear the murky water that surrounds it. The other, having turned blind from the dirt, simply existed in helpless confusion. The only thing that broke her gaze as she slowly rose to her feet were the amount of people that walked into her view. Blocking her prying eyes from the answers that sprouted in her mind.

Seconds passed and then she attempted to regain her composure as she subtly shook her head in a motion that could be considered nothing more than a faint tremor. Patting the dust off of her uniform, she fluttered her eyes and prepared her cheery smile.

Syr Flover. A waitress at the Hostess of Fertility. Owned and operated by a semi-retired Freya familia member, Mia Grande. And today was to be a big day of celebration for her and her fellow coworkers. During her trip at the store, she carefully selected a few key ingredients, the rest she was certain they'd have. And in no mischievous way would she flash a smile and ask for help, only for her to leave whoever volunteered to perform the responsibilities without Syr. No. For today was a special day.

Picking up the bag from the ground, the light in her eyes brightened.

Today was going to be a special day indeed. It was in every bit of her and her desire to make it so.

Entering the alley, she bounced in anticipation with each stride to the side door that led straight to the kitchen, the very same that Aiz had left, and up the small bundle of steps. The kitchen lay in a state of silence and was absolutely still. Immediately she couldn't help but swing her gaze to find it was empty as if the entirety of the operations there were put on pause. In all of her years serving at the Hostess of Fertility, it was a sight she had never seen. Setting the bag down on the counter, she didn't bother unpacking. Instead she peered through the heating racks further inspecting the pots and pans that slowly cool from the stovetop heat.

"Huh.." She said in faint awe.

It was the first time she'd seen it so still. Like it was a picture, with the beauty of the grit of everyday operations in full view.

Leaving the kitchen and entering the dining area, she prepared herself to be greeted by one of her coworkers by the curving of her lips and the warmth on her face. But she found no one hustling around her with trays of food or dinnerware. It was practically empty, save for the few people who looked as if they were finishing up their meal or putting it in a box. Some tables were still with plates that were completely cleaned off, some still had unfinished meals.

Her mouth slightly agape, and eyes fluttered as her mind began to process the stillness of the room. Stuck in a deep debate between what was expected and what was currently happening that exceeded anything she had mentally prepared for. As she stepped nervously in place, gazing in the environment, that is when she heard a faint sound coming from the door behind her. The very door that led to the second floor of the building.

The sound itself could only be described as an ensemble of breaths, all out of sync and disturbed. Reaching for the door handle, she gripped it with trepidation, then fully committed by opening it up and began up the stairs. It was at the top where she found two cooks standing halfway down the hallway. One facing the wall with her hand grasping their face as they lay their head down, the other wiping away the trail of tears from his face with a white cloth.

The cook caught a glimpse of Syr and briefly opened her mouth to say something but quickly shut it before any words came as her face became stricken with grief. The choir of cries had become louder, one more than the others. As she approached a single person walked out of the room without even looking and down the hallway away from them all. Her blonde hair streaked through the air, where it could be no other than Lunoire. And as Syr stood in the open door frame of the room she found all of her coworkers inside in a room where the opened window would normally give way to a gentle breeze.

But today the wind there had yet to be any wind and the curtains remained idle.

Though Chloe was a trained assassin, she wept silently as she stood at the foot of the bed in the room, gripping the footboard of the bed tightly with one hand, the other clenched shut as she pressed it to her own face.. Anya's own trembling hands hovered over the familiar figure that lay on the bed. She was close, just centimeters away from touching her, but before she drew any closer, she pulled her hands back and turned to Mama Mia.

"I can't!" She yelled, sobbing, as her closed eyes wrapped her arms around Mama Mia. "I can't, Mama! She'd get so mad if she found out!"

Mama Mia stood in place cooly welcoming Anya. Meeting Syr's eyes, Mama Mia slowly guided Syr's attention to who lay on the bed before them all. Laying on the bed that they all surrounded was a figure whose face remained covered by the hood of their robe.

Who it was? She knew. But as she tiptoed closer to the bed, she felt her body operate as if she had no say. As if someone else were driving her forward, reaching out and pulling back the hood of the robe. It was Ryuu, laying perfectly still and her face covered with faint traces of black dust, grime and blood. She was cleaned carefully, but the remnants of evidence still remained on her being. Her breath shook, and her eyes winced as her eyes saw something that confirmed it was all the same.

Today would've been the sixth year that had passed since they welcomed Ryuu into the Hostess of Fertility.

Six years of memories of all sorts. Now shall be nothing more than a memory.

"She's gone." Those were all the words that she could muster as her eyes trembled and a heavy breath that escaped her lungs that made Syr's legs begin to feel weak. She was taken from this world, from her friends.

She turned in an attempt to seek answers from Mama Mia, but she stopped at the sight of something she had missed. A figure standing by the window, with his hands and arms tucked by his sides and his head drawn down. A distance away to allow them to grieve, but choosing to still remain out of what?

As she stepped closer, she saw it. It was as clear as the stars on a clear night.

Within him wrought a guilt mixed with sorrow and anguish.

"Bell?.." She said as she stepped closer, her eyes taking in the sight of the boy who was covered in grime and dust. The pieces of armor that lay over his body scraped and dented, as well as the holes his clothes wore and the burns of his skin, spoke volumes of the foe that he had barely managed to survive.

"I-.. I'm sorry." He uttered softly without even looking up. He trembled, anticipating the scorn and disdain to be thrust upon him. That how could he have let this happen? How could he have let her die? "I tried. I really tried."

"Bell, please.." Syr said softly as she approached reaching for his hands. Cusping it with her own.

"It just didn't stop. It didn't. I tried to stop it. I tried. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.." Bell frantically said as the tears fell down his face and onto their palms.

"Don't be sorry." She knew the fear, that wrought itself upon him, the anguish. Knowing that he never would have let it come to such an end for Ryuu, it hurt her to see him like this. Trembling like a small child. They all were hurting, all in different ways.

It wasn't enough to stop his trembling breath and so she reached for his cheek with her free hand, carefully brushing away the tears that softened the spots of dried blood that he had missed. For a second no more, he met her grey eyes that seemingly looked as if they peered through him.

"What happened?" Her voice was clear and gentle, penetrating the world and any thought that raced through his mind. It was a gentle and caring demand. "Tell me who did this?"

There was a sharp trembling breath inwards as he cast his eyes aside, and though he said no words she saw it all. Pulling him close, she tightly wrapped her arms around him as his sobbing grew and grew with his arms hanging at his sides. Her face nestled by his neck, the smell of sweat, blood and grim from the dungeon bothered her none.

"It's going to be ok." Syr said softly into his ear as she caressed the hair on the back of his head. "It's all going to be ok."

Syr paid no attention to the time that had passed as she held her beloved. She would stand there for as long as needed. But as her eyes remained open she couldn't help but peer down into the streets below. And there she saw her.

Golden eyes and matching hair spin, as if anxiously looking for someone mixed in the crowd.

Aiz Wallenstein of the Loki Familia.

It was a sight that caused her normally gleeful eyes to narrow in cool contempt as she gripped Bell tighter. Claiming her one and only from the clutches the soon to be damned. She would not let her beloved be taken from her.

And as Syr held Bell, a wary set of eyes cast themselves upon the employee. Eyes that belonged to none other than Mia Grande.

"△▼△▼△▼△"

In the center of the city of Orario stood the tower of Babel. This massive structure stood taller than the skyline of the city, and reached to such heights that some would say it was the closest to the stars that any mortal could achieve. And amidst the stores and various facilities in the tower, at its very top was a room that held such a grand view of the world below. A view reserved for none other than the Goddess of Beauty herself.

Silver eyes graced the city that so many people called home. And for a moment her eyes stuck on one particular spot in the western side of the city. Swirling the crystal glass of wine between her fingers, the aroma wafted up into the air. By no means was she preparing herself for another sip, to indulge herself. No, this was a tick, an anxious fret that betrayed the cool and narrow gaze of her eyes.

"Ottar.." Her voice that could subdue anyone she would desire broke the silence and from behind her, her most loyal member answered as he stood behind her chair. The throne that she sat on that aimed itself to the window.

"Yes, my Lady?"

There was a pause as Freya took a moment to soak in what her eyes had been locked on. In that silence, it felt like the room was still and cold as she sat as if her mind was preoccupied on something else entirely. As if she wasn't entirely there in the present moment.

"Take some of the others, and scour the city. I want to know everything that happened down in the Dungeon."

"Yes, my Lady." Ottar replied humbly, his loyalty never wavering, and so he left her if only for a moment to pass word to another who awaited nearby in the tower. And soon what she sought will become hers.

Sitting eerily still in the now empty room, only her arm that held her glass of wine moved in that same rhythmic pattern. Slowly swirling the red wine around the curve of the glass. Feeling the weight of it shift ever so slightly. Leaving the only other movement being her eyes as they left the western part of the city. Sweeping over the countless people and buildings she aimed her gaze at the most northern part of the city.

There laid the Twilight Manor.

The place that the Loki Familia called home.

Freya knew that her children would not disappoint her. They would search the heavens if they were able, all to give her what she desired. And soon she would anticipate everything that she needed to know would come into her possession, just as everything else she had ever wanted. Everything that she needed. -But that was the half truth.

There was one thing, one person, the sole object of her desire that continued to evade her love. A person who she was absolutely certain that he was him. Her beloved Odr. Once before he was taken from her, that was the result of a mortal life being extinguished through time, and so she sought after his soul ever since. And in her heart lay absolute certainty that this time she had found him. The one thing that remained of a life they shared so long ago, of a life where they both lost something so precious. To continue where they left off, or start anew.

The determination in her heart would allow nothing less.

Staring out to the manor across the city. What she knew is that her beloved was safe. But that can't be said for everyone where love and loss are so tightly intertwined in this mortal realm. She needed the information, to firmly grasp an understanding of what happened, so that way she could make her point.

"I will not let something of mine be taken from me."

The solemn declaration would reach ears none other than Freya's own. Forcing herself to wait, to bear patience. The only thing she was left to believe she could.

"△▼△▼△▼△"

"Wait for one second!" Riveria's voice harshly broke through the silence of the barren district of Orario as she followed in pursuit of the deity known as Hermes.

Riveria's quickened footsteps sought out the deity who for some reason seemed to be ignoring her. Normally whenever it came to women, they would have Hermes undivided attention, and in this particular instance Riveria could imagine the vain flattery he must be experiencing from her chasing after him. However all that she had received was the sight of his back.

"Hermes!" Her voice strained to be quiet but the frustration within her peaked. She had no more of this game.

They had reached some distance away to where Riveria could raise her voice without having to be concerned of Aiz being alerted of her presence. But still close enough to leap back to her if anything were to arise. Riveria wanted answers, but the damned deity kept dodging her questions. Layers of frustration mounted upon themselves until finally he turned around and faced her with a smile that bore his usual grin that seemed to flash for only a moment with a brief chuckle, then his face turned into a state that Riveria rarely saw. He looked serious while giving her his fullest of attention.

"As flattered as I am with you calling out my name, I'd prefer it if you didn't."

Standing before him, she was taken aback by the sentiment as his voice seemed wary of the circumstances that surrounded them. Speaking as if he knew full well of what would come if he were to come into contact with the man named Mathis. That could be the sole explanation for his hesitancy in making his presence known.

"Like I've said before Riveria, I may not know a single thing about him that's true. And as such I'm afraid that I don't have any of the answers that you're looking for." He said abruptly trying to end any and all points in the conversation. But from the grave expression on Riveria's face, he could tell that she would never leave it at that. Betraying his desire to leave, his feet remained patiently still.

Riveria narrowed her eyes, and took a step closer.

"You followed him here, just like I did. And within the past twenty four hours, I've learned that nothing about him makes sense." Her voice was borderline yelling, as she restrained herself from raising her voice any further. Whatever courtesy and manners were tossed out the window by the mounting frustration between the deity being coy as always to the other developing factors that she was certain that the Loki familia will face. "You may not know him, but you know of him. That is more than anyone can say."

Hermes' narrow eyes darted from one jade eye to the other, paying very careful attention to her as he processed what she had said.

"You're saying that there was no one else with him? No one else that you could say was a part of his familia?" Hermes asked plainly.

"What do you think?" Swinging her hand back to the remains of the destroyed district. "He came back to this."

Hermes cast his eyes over to the ruin of the district before them, where behind the vast layers of buildings lay the 'home' of that man. He seemed to relent with his eagerness to leave the district being put on a temporary hold. But there remained the sign of discomfort written on his face.

"He is alone. Talking about things that I've never heard of. Using magic circles that can only be described as archaic and wielding a journal written in hieroglyphs. How none of us have heard of someone like this is beyond me."

"Is it really?" Hermes responded to the denial as he tilted his head. "You of all people, Riveria, should know how time can pass people by. That alone you should've put together from your time with Aiz."

A cool wave washed over Riveria as Hermes' words sunk in. While it was possibly one of the Loki familia's best kept secrets, through all of the deadends and false leads that were planted, it was always assumed that no one would dare come to find the truth. They made it so, all in order to protect their newest member. The girl that at first Riveria was reluctantly close to, for the sole purpose that she doesn't run off and kill herself in the dungeon in her search for power. Whose affection had grown to something that could only be described as maternal.

Despite all of the safeguarding, there stood one person outside of the Loki Familia who knew. And he presented himself with such subtly that it shook Riveria. The God of trade, or more particularly the trade of information.

"You can pretend all that you want, in face of the facts that present themselves to you. But..-" Hermes grew quiet as they came to the same page of their conversation. "-That's not what you really want to know, is it? The real reason why you're here."

Riveria hesitated only for a moment in the silence that surrounded them. As question upon question raced in the forefront of her mind, her eyes flickered. A single question rushed past all of the others declaring itself the one and only. The single most important question of all. It was not in search of the history of 'lies' that dwelled within Hermes. A question like that served no true purpose other than to fill one's mind with tall tales.

No. What raced forward, oppressing any and all, bore itself upon the most natural instincts within in Riveria. Instincts that she was determined not to put a label on. The most basic of all.

"Is Aiz safe?" The words that escaped her lips held a weight as if they were around Hermes' throat. It felt absurd to ask such a question. For who could overcome Aiz's strength? Her will that is like her sword, Desperate, utterly indestructible. But in light of recent events, if how Aiz has been behaving is the result of herself being compromised, then Riveria knew what needed to be done.

Never has Aiz been so enamored with another individual. Not even with Bell. The distance she kept, the gap between herself and others seemingly closed with a stranger. It felt wrong, insulting, manipulative.

Even if it was a stretch to reach out to the one person who seemed to have a vague understanding of at least the quality of the character before them all, then maybe she could relent.

But Hermes remained silent, as he gazed into her eyes as he contemplated where the slightest hint of uncertainty flickered in his eyes. The tension that strung itself through her body slackened in disbelief.

"You don't know.." Riveria said. Her body instinctively took a few steps back, subconsciously preparing herself to return to Aiz's side. To rid her of that stranger. She couldn't have gotten more than a few steps when finally he broke his silence.

"Hold on, now. Just wait." Hermes said reluctantly. Facing his own indecision he reached out to Riveria, though she was out of arm's reach. Fortunately though his words pierced the worry that raced through her mind that she would not allow to grace the elegance of her face. "Your circumstances and my own circumstances with him may be very different. Circumstances, that if what I believe about him to be true, that I may very well deserve. If you've had a conversation with him lasting longer than five minutes, you know him better than myself. And believe me," Hermes let out a proud chuckle as he pressed his hand to his chest. "I can get a lot out of five minutes. But if that doesn't subside your worries, there is one thing that I can impart upon you-.."

Hermes closed his eyes as he conjured up the information from his mind as if hanging his head low. Strangely, it looked as if the deity was in prayer, and as he raised his head, he carefully looked into Riveria's eyes.

"Look back on your time with him, think very carefully about his actions, about the words he uses. Everything, even the smallest of things. And if you run into him again, pay great attention. And see if something stands out, a minor indiscretion, or an obvious outlier. Keep note. "

Holding up his pointer finger before her.

"Operate only on the information you know that you have witnessed and observed. And if by chance you run into someone who knows of him, no matter who they are to you, take everything with a grain of salt and cross analyze."

Hermes paused as the word stood on the tip of his tongue. Not from losing his grasp on what he was to say, but the expression that was written on his face was as clear as day. It was hesitation. An expression that surely no one ever saw him express.

The act of observing and investigating were things many in the Loki familia were familiar with in their constant struggle to thwart off the remnants of Evilus. These actions very well became second nature, as they were often forced to rely on acquiring leads on the smallest traces of information, and working back from it in order to try and paint a large picture of what was going on. And most times they were able to piece the puzzle together that in the end allowed the city and its citizens to survive.

Hermes was ultimately saying things that she already knew, but for her sake he imparted them upon her regardless because he was right. It was all to ground her back in the reality that they all needed to be present in. To recognize the facts before them and act appropriately upon them.

Riveria was able to see that now, but led to a question in her mind. Before Hermes could continue, Riveria's lips parted and words carefully crept out to fill the silence.

What Hermes was doing, filling Riveria with this information, was opposite of everything that she had ever known. Normally that damned coy smile would cross his face, and he would share some cryptic message that possibly only another deity would be able to decipher. But this? He was talking to her with such openness.

"What happened?"

Hermes' breath caught, and sighed briefly then flashed her that same damned smile.

"As much as we deities like to pretend we're perfect, that doesn't mean we're infallible."

A mistake.

Turning away from the set of jade colored eyes, Hermes began to make his way to the center of the city.

"You'll find that the only one who can give you the answer that you crave for the sake of your beloved Aiz, is none other than yourself. Oh there is one last thing.."

Though he paused for a moment, as his head turned back to her by only a small margin as something crossed his mind. Then he turned back to her one last time.

"Has he smiled?"

Riveria blinked at the strange question, and her eyes grew narrow as she thought back. In her short time in his company, never had he smiled. Never did he seem to have any reason to. After all, he lost the people closest to him. If someone were to smile over that, she would be concerned, and most certainly that she would remember.

If it would have happened, she would have forcibly removed him from Aiz long ago.

But not a single memory of him smiling appeared in the realm of her mind.

"No. I can't say he has."

Hermes shook his head ever subtly.

"Very well. If he does, tell Loki as soon as time permits. Describe it to her in as much detail as you can. Whether it was a nice or vulgar smile. She'll pass that along to me."

Riveria wasn't certain why that mattered especially now. Regardless, if it clarified something that was beyond her understanding then so be it.

"I'll be sure to."

"Good to hear."

Hermes tossed his hand in a gentle wave. And just like before, he was off. Vanishing through the ruin of what once was the district that housed the Hera familia. And within the silence Riveria found just that. Silence. The sobbing that was destined for only her ears had seized.

If she were to turn back, to return the ruins of the manor that the two were outside, she would surely find that they were gone. Admittedly, that brought her a brief worry. But that feeling was fleeting. Quickly subsiding as it rose.

"Is she safe?"

Riveria could only glance back to where they once were. Facing the question she posed for herself, she forced herself into a position where she would have to venture to the one place that she wanted to avoid. The Guild's Archives.

But first she would need to make a stop at the Guild to begin filing her report.

Swinging her eyes around the environment in an attempt to reoriente herself, she began to gain a sense of familiarity with the walls that surround her.

It was a rarity that she had ventured here to this district. As it wasn't a place that she necessarily tried to avoid, ultimately she had no reason to scour this place considering that any reason to return to this place vanished much like the familia here a little over fifteen years ago.

Back when the rising Loki and Freya familias drove them out of the city.

"△▼△▼△▼△"

The way to the Guild was uneventful to say the least. After passing through a series of alley's connected with one another, she managed to pass through one district and into another. Eventually arriving at the main street that held the Guild. As if picking up where she left off, from when the sound of cries flooded her ears, she was able to enter the Guild as initially planned.

People strode past her, paying them no mind, her focus on something else entirely, her only desire in this moment was to finish the mission report. Detailing everything.

Including what happened on the twenty-fourth floor.

Riveria could only imagine the backlash that her familia would face not only from the people of the city but also the Guild. But filing it as part of the entire mission was relevant and she could only hope that the Guild would see it as it was.

Something unforeseen. Void of ill-intent.

Yes, she could hope.

Fortunately there was a Guild employee who was willing to aid her in filing the report. Courteously retrieving form after form, asking questions that needed to be asked. It helped create a cohesive and comprehensive narrative of the events that had transpired.

Seated in a relatively spacious room, there were two couches seated across from each other, and a small table in the middle, it was a place where she had spent quite some time when she had first started down the path of adventuring down into the dungeon. Now the majority of the time filling out the forms, much like today as her eyes stuck to the paper where her hand carries the tip of the fountain pen. Its ink a shade of purple, then it slowly faded to a trail of black creating character upon character as it settled on the paper.

She seemed to have gotten lost in the process, going into an autopilot mode of sorts. Making her seemingly unaware of one thing. A question being posed, again and again.

"Riveria." The once calm voice shook.

Rising her eyes to meet the troubled voice, she saw Eina sitting there, her face faintly blushed with tears pooling at the edge of her eyes.

Riveria was startled, partially shocked that she was oblivious to her pleas.

"I apologize.." Riveria shook her head as she brought her hand up to her head in an attempt to focus. To pry whatever distraction from her mind to give Eina her attention. "What was your question?"

They were just about finished with the paperwork in it's entirety. All Riveria had to do was sign and date on the line at the very bottom, then Eina would be able to carryout the rest of the process. But how long had Eina been trying to get Riveria's attention?

"Is he ok?"

Riveria's eyes fluttered, as she focused on Eina, who sat with her hands in her lap and a patience that betrayed her true intentions. They hadn't gotten to that part of the venture. Sure the mission report was very well completed, ending with a brief explanation that upon the slaying of the monster known as the Harbinger, they regrouped at a once-Inn, owned by a local citizen of Rivira.

She couldn't blame Eina, the city had grown so fond of the boy after his accomplishments but also the heart that he possesses. He was by all intents and purposes someone the majority of the city looked up to. If anything happened to him, it would be quite similar if the princess of a nation had passed. The nation would be in mourning. Sympathy would pour in even despite have little to no personal interaction with the one who had passed.

Riveria shook her head in affirmation.

"He, along with the others in his familia are well, thankfully. They've been taken to the Dian Cecht familia for care. How long they will need to be in care is something that I'm not aware of. But I can't imagine it'll be too long. We've requested Amid herself to look after them. So it's not something Bell or his goddess should have to worry about."

Riveria did her best to try to reassure Eina. The relationship they held was one of respect for one another, after all it was Eina's mother who had cared for her in a time that seemed so long ago. With Aina, Eina's mother, being someone who was practically a sister to Riveria, Eina in some way was her own niece. But the understanding they held between each other was as fond as it was respectable.

Which is why Riveria had chosen her to aid her in the paperwork.

But what she hadn't expected was what had come of Eina who had stood up from her seat as Riveria finished signing her name and shuffled the papers into the folder, all the while hiding her face.

"If you'll excuse me." Eina said with a bow as she grabbed the folder and held it closely.

"Oh, um, yes. By all means."

Riveria was at a loss as to what was happening before her. Eina stood up and walked to the door only to stop with one hand on the door handle. She stood there for possibly a few seconds in hesitation as what Riveria could imagine was something crossing her mind. But as the seconds passed, she opened the door and closed it behind her softly. All the while hiding her eyes beneath her bangs.

From the otherside, Eina hurriedly marched through the hallways of the Guild. Passing coworker after coworker, she was determined not to reveal her current state by hiding her eyes under her bangs. Following the trim of the hallway, she managed to make her way to her desk behind the service counter, and placed the folder onto the surface.

As she hunched over her desk, she caught her breath that began to build up into her chest. Trying to calm her chattering teeth, the sound of someone tapping on the glass broke that she remained oblivious to.

"Eina!" Ross, her red haired werewolf coworker, sharply said she turned to her.

But still nothing as Eina remained focused on the folder before her. It wasn't until, Rose approached her that she saw the dots pooling on the folder's surface.

"Eina."

"I need to go." She uttered without making eye contact to Rose.

"Go? Go where?" Rose asked, the day had just begun and the sudden influx of adventurer's meant that they are at one of their busiest times of the day. But before she could get an answer out of her, Eina turned and left.

"Eina! Where are you going?" Rose shouted.

"My break! I'm going to take my break!" Eina shouted back in no harsh or rude manner as she made her way around the service station.

Rose knew, or at least had a faint idea of what was wrong. Something happened to an adventurer of hers. She warned, just like she warned the others. Don't get attached, because they will get hurt or worse. They will die. That was the nature of them. But despite having warned her, Rose felt a sliver of pity towards her fellow coworker.

Glancing to the confused line of adventurer with no Guild employee waiting on them, she called out behind her.

"Misha! Get up here!"

Not too long after a girl with pink hair popped up.

"Hmm?" Misha nervously asked. This was the day that she managed to convince the others to get out of the tasks that had the larger workload, and thanks to Eina all of that convincing had been for naught.

"Take Eina's seat and help these people."

"But I-!" Misha tried to defend her previous position.

"Do. It." Rose growled as she pointed to the seat at the counter.

Leaving no room for argument, Misha could only pout as she turned to face the desk.

"And no pouting!" Rose demanded as she returned back to her own seat, to attend to the adventurer who she was previously helping.

Riveria thought she was clear about what happened by answering her questions. Her answers weren't strange by any means. They all indicated that there was no ill-will towards Bell nor towards any of his teammates. What happened was an unforeseen tragedy, something beyond Finn's and Riveria's control. In fact agreeing with Bell to return to the safe point seemed like the safest possibility.

Shuffling her mind back through all of her questions that she answered, there was a commonality about the majority of them.

"Bell."

Leaning back into the seat of the couch, she closed her eyes with a sigh. It was the safest assumption that of course she would be concerned about him. After all, in the few times she had seen Bell at the Guild, he was normally accompanied by Eina. There she connected the dots that Eina was Bell's advisor.

What followed was a heavier sigh, one part frustration, one part exhaustion. Both equal in weight.

"How could I have missed that?" Riveria mumbled as she reprimanded herself. "The poor girl."

After hearing about what Bell had gone through, of course there'd be some level of distress. In Eina's line of work, it had to be emotionally taxing to hear such a report about someone who she was responsible for.

It was as if Riveria was saying that Eina hadn't prepared him properly.

"I'll have to make it up to her somehow.." Empathy was something that she was well aware and capable of. But conveying that to another living being proved to be a challenge of sorts as her mind operated not necessarily in absolutes, but found it thrived in effective and logical thinking.

But if it were at all possible she would reach out to her mother. It would be a visit far too long.

Initially she had planned to ask Eina to go to the archives to fetch some documents, but now? Well, now she had no choice but to venture to the last place she wanted to be. A place where minutes seemed like hours, and the weight of the room consistently felt as if it were closing in on whoever ventured down it's narrow passageways of shelves containing every single incident regarding any adventurer, familia, or interaction within the dungeon.

It was the one place where answers would lay in wait for her.

All she had to do was muster up the will to face it head on.

Though visiting Aina would be a visit long overdue, that would have to wait. Leaving the room, she ventured down the hallway and through the corridors of the Guild. The staff paid her no mind, posing no dispute with her presence as she stepped deeper into the bowels of the Guild. There was no reason to stop her. The Loki familia was often touted as given clearance to any number of sections of the Guild, normally accompanied by a staff member, but this time without Eina, no one questioned it.

Each step drew her closer to the final door. And she hoped that if some poor staff member would approach her, that at least she could enlist their help in her quest.

But alas no one came to her aid.

For when people looked at Riveria Ljos Alf, never did anyone see a damsel in distress. Not that she would allow such a look to adorn her, it would be such a disgrace that she forever shame herself. No, what people saw usually was what she wanted to ignore.

Royalty.

Opening the door she entered into the room known as the archives. Normally when one would think of such a place, the normal and best reaction would be to think of a dark and dusty room filled to the brim with forgotten moments in history. A place for memories to die. A level within the Dungeon itself. Those were the most suitable and logical things to imagine. But the room that she entered was full of light from the sun casting it's rays upon them.

Above her was a glass ceiling, with large metal shutters on the outside, left open allowing the light of day to lighten this place, the chains allowing them to open and close hung closely to the shelves for ease of access. The light rays faintly streaked past the darkness as no dust filled the room, as well the dark walnut stained floor remained pristine. In every sense of the word, this place was clean, well kept, and organized.

It would be no trouble for her to find whatever it was that she needed. Absolutely not. No, the reason why she wanted someone to accompany her was for one particular reason. And that reason was to be a distraction to the individual who stood with their back to her.

She needed a distraction.

The figure was dressed in white that looked like it was tailored to their physique. A color that went against the standard set by the Guild. But much like this instance, it came to no surprise to her. And their head was adorned with well kept white hair that was carefully groomed back with long ears much like Riveria's own, with a black collar of his shirt beneath his coat reaching up his neck as if to protect it from the light of day. Past the sleeves of their coat, was a black sleeve that covered much of the top of his hand as he carefully leaned over a single small plant that sat on his desk.

Carefully counting the seconds as he poured the small stream of water, he paused once he realized that it should be enough to quench the thirst of his beloved little plant that had yet to blossom. Surely it would be a matter of time before that were to happen with the array of glass panels making up the wall just on the other side of the desk.

One step was all it took that caused a single floorboard to creak. The sound couldn't be missed, not to Riveria's own, nor his. The man perked his head up in such a subtle motion, that he had realized he had a guest. Setting the small watering jug down onto the surface of the desk, he slowly turned with such elegance, that much Riveria, it screamed royalty.

More specifically someone who once held Elven royalty.

As his amber eyes graced his guest, a pleasant smile drew itself across his face causing the fine lines of his skin to wrinkle near his eyes. Eyes that held such a fond warmth aimed at his guest..

Warm amber eyes that met the cold dismissive jade eyes.

"My, my, and what do I owe the pleasure of being graced by the presence of my niece?"

"△▼△▼△▼△"

The streets of Orario were more crowded than usual this morning. People of the working class and adventurers shuffled about as both went about their ways. The working class to their respective jobs, the adventurers, well, anywhere else besides the Dungeon. For the time being, it was labeled as off limits by the Guild until further notice. As for the residents of the nearest safe point?

For the majority of those individuals they were outlaws, and chose the safe point as a place of refuge from the Guild and the city officials.

But with so many on the street, it would be easy to be overwhelmed as the masses flow like streams merging and clashing. And at some point, Aiz had lost her grip of the hand that she held, with the sole purpose of guiding the being behind her. For a brief moment, there was concern, but after a short time she had found him.

He stood by the edge of the street peering into the crowd. The color slowly returning to his face after finally expressing the confusion and grief from moments just before.

Having approached him, they both peered out. It was a mess of people. Ideally she wanted to avoid losing him, which left her with no other choice than to leave the busy streets and to head into the alley ways that fill the districts.

"This way." She calmly said as she reached for his hand one more time.

Allowing her to lead him, they made their way through the twists and turns of the alleys until they arrived exactly where she wanted them to be.

For her it was like second nature to find it. Having wandered throughout the city since she was young, it was pretty much all that she has ever known, aside from the dungeon. So to say that finding the building that the Dian Cecht familia operated out of was easy, was an understatement.

"Wait here." Aiz said as she stopped him just before the door and placed him carefully beside the wall. Obeying the simple command Ansem stayed still close to the wall as Aiz approached the door with the small red flag poking out from the door frame.

With a courteous knock on a wooden door, they waited in the hallway of the most renowned familia in the area of health and recovery. It was here that she felt it was one place that she could bring him and not be able to turn him away. And after surviving what the Dungeon had thrown at him, surely Amid wouldn't allow him to leave until she was satisfied with his recovery. That was what she was betting on.

On the other side, footsteps quietly approached and finally the door opened on the other side revealing the Dea Saint herself through the crack of the door. Her purple eyes pleasantly creased in the corners upon seeing Aiz. The room they knocked on must've been a patient's room, otherwise sure there would be no reason for the level of secrecy.

Though the fact that she was in the infirmary wing should've been more than enough of a clue, it was something that slipped her mind as finding Amid was her sole goal.

"Aiz, by chance did you come to visit?" Amid said as opened the door widely revealing it's occupant.

Her golden eyes scanned the room, and on the hospital bed was none other than her captain, Finn, who sat up in the angled bed. Dressed in a hospital gown, he sat with his arm exposed with a blood infusion trickling into his vein. It looked as though his recovery had started already and was coming along very well in the way that he was conscious and carefully gazed upon her. His eyes said it all, regret.

Aiz didn't care to gaze upon him for too long, though he was her captain and she was pleased that he seemed to be faring well, it felt like that the distance between them after all these years was akin to that of a gorge. A space that she didn't want to cross after all that had happened.

"No."

Turning to face her gaze solely upon Amid, the blunt response that allowed no further questioning took Amid by surprise.

"Please speak with me when you're done. We'll be right outside."

"We?" Amid peeked her head out of the door frame and caught sight of the man standing not too far away. His face was still faintly red, but the keen eyes of the city's best healer could see and sense so much more.

"Oh dear. Yes, I'll be finishing up shortly."

"Thank you."

Amid cast her glance to Aiz with a reassuring nod, before retreating back into the room to attend to Finn as she closed the door behind her.

Turning to Ansem, his gaze upon the floor was like he was staring into oblivion with his face ever so still. It was a face that she didn't like, not due to it being unpleasant in nature, but because she knew of the weight that it carried. From the crying to this. It was much like when she remembered being surrounded by the Loki familia for the first time.

-Of the pain. Yes, that she knew very well.

Followed by the burning rage that would only quelm once the thirst for revenge was satiated. But that in it's own was always a lie. The thirst for revenge against monsters could never be satiated. Eventually one would drown alone in their misery as they searched to fulfill that longing and burdensome desire.

Yes, how she knew that very well.

To look back and think of the days that were so long ago from when she first joined the Loki familia. Aside from the constant pestering and hovering over her, what was it that allowed her to make it this far?

At first, it always seemed that the people who took her in were hellbent on holding her back. For the time, she was convinced so. It was irritating, frustrating. All she wanted to do was to kill all of the monsters. To get stronger. To quench the black flame in her heart that compelled her further and further from them.

It felt right.

But given the chance to turn from them and run, to embrace the ability that lies within the flicking black flames, she refused.

As enticing as the offer was from the hand that was extended to her, the hidden malice was in plain sight. And there she knew she couldn't turn away from the warmth that was given to her unconditionally. That the path of indulging in revenge was not the path for her. And if she were to think back on the person who was who saved her in that moment, she couldn't help but say that it was Riveria.

That was the first time she truly felt warmth since everything had been taken from her.

Because of Riveria, Gareth, Loki, and now despite how much she doesn't want to admit it, even Finn, if it weren't because of them she'd may never have known compassion after she was left alone and with a bitterness in her heart that she couldn't deny.

That it was it. She had found it.

But to convey that to and for someone else? Compassion? There was a lingering doubt that she could ever fully bring these things to fruition. This mental block, this obstacle seemed taller than the walls that stood around the city. Virtually unscalable. Where all she could do was look up to an endless wall, no matter how much wind she summoned.

"Aiz, are you ready?" Amid said as she stood behind her with a small stack of paper neatly clamped onto the clipboard she held close.

"Hmm?" She turned, her plan eyes holding a faint level of surprise as her train of thought was broken. And after realizing what was happening she nodded. "Oh, yes."

"Then follow me please." Amid smiled, but despite that pleasant smile there lay a weariness within her eyes. Something that unfortunately Aiz had missed. Following the captain of the Dian Cecht familia, their footsteps gently thudded against the wooden floorboards of the hallway. Passing rooms on both sides, most closed except for the few that weren't.

Aiz's own curious eyes couldn't help but peek through to catch a glimpse of what lay within. Of the few that were open, mostly were uninhabited, containing merely a bed and whatever equipment was needed on standby for the room. If she knew any better, it would look as if they were anticipating an uptake of occupants. Which would make some sense considering the current situation of the Dungeon.

If something happened and a massive influx of wounded adventurers needed care, they best be ready.

Though currently, it was none other than the Loki and Hestia familia occupying the place. Filling the infirmary ward with a type of unusual silence.

Passing one empty room, she stopped in the open doorway of one that was occupied and filled with the coughing fits of a lone individual.

Bete sat clutching his stomach as he wretched and coughed. This was the on-going effect of the black fog.

Before Bete could realize that Aiz was there and before Ansem walked by, she quietly closed the door. There was no doubt that he had heard them, and with great certainty she knew he had smelled them. They were most fortunate that he was too preoccupied retching and coughing to notice them, particularly Ansem.

Amid having noticed, turned to them as they stopped before the end of the hallway. There was a large room suited for multiple people, in fact multiple people were already inside laying quietly in their beds as the morning light cast itself through the small rectangular windows.

"Of everyone on your team, he seems to be the only one facing that terrible coughing fit." Amid's brow knit itself in concern as she tucked her lips to one corner, an expression of being dumbfounded. "Here, the last bed on the right. I'll follow."

Leading Ansem through the door, they tiptoed past the rows of beds all occupied as the light breached through the windows on the left nearest the main street outside. All covered in white blankets, some lying comfortably on their backs, two though lay in the fetal position. One faced their friend, leaving their hand exposed out from under the white sheet. Even in sleep, yearning for the comfort of their friend. The others small frame curled into a ball.

Aiz could see Ansem's eyes aim at the hand.

"It's because he didn't take the potion." Aiz said as she led the way.

"Potion? Are you saying any regular potion?" Amid replied in a quiet voice, trying to be mindful of the people currently resting.

"No. It was specifically made."

The reply prompted Ansem to look at her catching her eyes and softly shaking his head.

Don't tell her I made it.

That was the first thought reaction to his subtle movement. Why he wouldn't want it to be known, was beyond her. But after narrowing her eyes inconspicuously, she complied.

"Oh, you must be speaking of the same potions that Riveria had left here then. She did briefly tell me about them with very specific instructions. I never would've thought that she would have such an ability. But I suppose that would make sense." Amid said humbly as she recounted the previous moments.

Approaching the bed, Amid gestured for Ansem to get comfortable. Ansem unslung his backpack and gently swung it onto the bed with a heavy thud causing Amid to flinch at the unexpected.

"What exactly do you have in there?" Amid asked.

"My armor. A journal. That's just about it other than some small personal belongings." Ansem courteously replied with a fatigued voice.

"I see. Perhaps be a little careful swinging that thing around." Amid professionally requested.

The last thing any of them would want, even if it were a genuine accident, was for something to break. That included a bed.

"I understand."

"Good. Now please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Amid, I'll be your physician during your stay here." Amid performed a small respective bow, as Ansem nodded faintly in a movement that was barely noticeable. But nonetheless showed he understood. "I've brought you to this room, because I'm assuming that much like these individuals you must have had a similar experience in the dungeon. Having everyone here will allow the utmost quality of care being provided to everyone afflicted. But I want to assure you that we respect whatever privacy you need."

Amid spoke with her hands out near her waist as if in prayer and opened her hands in a gesture that showed openness, that effectively whoever was under her care was in safe hands. Literally and metaphorically.

You can trust me. Was the unspoken message. For anyone in the medical field can really only treat what they are explained to in full honesty. A doctor can't properly provide care to a lie.

"Yeah, patient-doctor confidentiality.." Ansem said wearily.

"Mhm. I'm going to need some basic information from you. Feel free to sit." Amid said, kindly gesturing for him to sit on the edge of the bed. Taking the clipboard out from under her arm, she gently withdrew the pen from the clip and scrolled under the first question.

"Alright, what is your name?"

Ansem sat in silence, a brief moment of trepidation as he cast a glance over to Aiz who gestured to go on.

"Mathis." Ansem lied all too casually. Just as he did from the moment that he answered when Riveria first asked him.

"Is that your first or last?" Amid asked.

"First, I don't have a last name."

"Mhm." Amid said as she fixed her gaze upon the paper as she wrote his name.

Aiz sat just beyond Amid, and catching her gaze Ansem could see her squint her eyes in confusion as she tilted her head.

Why?

Ignoring her he faced Amid who was already readying the next few questions.

"Age?"

A common thing to lie about. Some people wanted to seem younger.

"Eighty-seven." Ansem said as he cast his gaze to the window on the opposite side of the room.

Amid let out a brief breath of confusion as she gave him a once over. His skin bore no wrinkles, in fact it looked utterly perfect. If he were an elf, even a half elf, that might explain the condition of his skin, but with no elongated ears, being an elf or even a half was out of the question.

"He, uhh, hit his head. There was a fight with a Goliath." Aiz carefully worded the half-lie in a desperate attempt to draw any suspicion away from him. Why he was lying was beyond her. But why she was lying with him made her even more confused. "He's twenty-seven."

Amid briefly turned back to Aiz with confusion on her face, a face that Aiz could only react to by doing nothing.

"Ok then.. What is your height?" Amid said as she turned around, bracing herself for what could be only another lie.

"One-hundred and seventy-eight."

Amid carefully sized him up and determined that to be true.

"Weight?"

"One-hundred and fifty-three the last time I checked." Ansem said plainly. But the answer seemed to be just about enough, as Amid clacked the pen against the clipboard walked to the otherside of the room where there lay a scale next to an empty bed.

"Please come here." Despite her normal kind tone, it was apparent that just as it began, she already has had enough and gestured to him to come to the scale. No one who is as tall and as built as Ansem is could possibly be that light. That would be underweight for his build. So either he is hiding a small frame under the clothes that he's weighing, or he's lying.

Complying, he walked up to the scale and placed his feet on the scale. Still sitting on the chair that accompanied the bed in case of an arriving guest, Aiz watched from the short distance. There she could see the stern expression fade from Amid's face only to be replaced with a flabbergasted look.

"One-hundred and forty-nine?"

"I guess I lost a few.." Ansem said as he stepped off, and carefully glanced at Amid awaiting her next instruction.

"How is that-?" Amid uttered as she glanced at the scale and to Ansem.

"I've always been a little lighter than most. Do you want me to step on again?" Ansem offered.

"Huh? No, no. That's fine for now." With confusion evident on her face, she ushered him back to the hospital bed.

Continuing the questions, the easiest one was the color of his eyes. Those were hard to lie about, as his royal blue eyes seemed to absorb any and all of the sunlight that entered into the room. Though out of curiosity Amid gazed closer.

"Yeah, they are definitely blue, maybe a sliver of silver too." With another box checked she moved on.

"Natural hair color?"

"Black." Ansem said hastily.

Amid gave him another glance as she contemplated giving a closer inspection at his roots but quickly dismissed the idea.

"Alright. Before I ask this next question, I want to further reaffirm that whatever is said here stays between us. Ok?" Amid said giving him a stern but careful expression that tried to plead with him that they are on the same side.

Ansem cast his gaze to the people surrounding them, and sure enough they were all asleep.

"Go ahead."

"What is your race?"

Aiz watched as Ansem knit his brow and gazed away to the trim near the floorboard. Even to Aiz it was apparent that he didn't know.

"You do realize that it is important to accurately state your race? Because paths of care can vary from race to race." Amid gently warned him.

Ansem took a sudden deep breath in, as if his body forgot to breathe, and he caught Amid's purple eyes.

"I don't know, entirely. All I know is that my father was human. I-..." Ansem drew eyes away and shook his head. "-I never met my mother, so I don't know."

Though it was a short statement, there was a solemn expression hidden beneath. A longing.

It wasn't unusual for those who grew up with no family to wonder who and why they are the way they are. To be placed or picked up and placed in another family, there still wouldn't be any sort of clarity. So even to miss having one parent in one's life, could often lead to feeling as if there was a piece of themselves missing. An explanation for who they are and the traits they inherited, gone.

Amid sighed as the tip of her pen tapped between two options. There was no correct way to go about it, as though demi-humans still are to some extent, human, the variations in which their respective race are staggering when it comes to care. Blood types may be cross race compatible, but there could be specific limitations considering pathogens, allergens, genetics. To put down 'human' would be reckless, and as a physician, it would be utterly irresponsible for Amid to put that down.

"Are you truly eighty-seven years old?"

"The last time I checked.." Ansem replied.

Watching carefully from behind, Aiz could see the hesitation as Amid finally rested on the later option. With a swift movement of her pen she made her choice based on the information at hand.

Demi - subtype? -unknown/unwilling to release.

"Alright." Amid said with a sigh. Holding the clipboard in both hands, she tapped the clip against her collarbone as she contemplated the next steps of the process. "Because of your specific case, I'm going to need to get some slightly different paperwork. I will be back shortly unless there are any other guests that arrive who need treatment. Ok?" Amid gave Ansem a glance that while seemed professional was laden with exhaustion, not from the conversation at hand, but quite possibly from the amount of work that she has recently been operating with.

"That's ok. I don't really think I'll be going anywhere any time soon." Ansem answered.

Footsteps gently thudded near the doorway that caught everyone's attention. They were slow and weary, and as they approached the door the source glanced around.

"Speak of the devil." Amid said under her breath.

Bell gently cast his eyes on everyone laying in the beds with a faint sigh of relief. Slowly his rubellite eyes traveled down to where the trio occupied. His face shifted from that tired expression to a faint blush.

"Oh I'm sorry. I just wanted to see-..." Bell began but was quickly cut off by Amid.

"Don't worry, we have just finished up." Amid said gently with a reassuring smile. "Please take your time with them."

Before Amid took off, she took a moment and turned to both Ansem and Aiz.

"I will be back, but like I said, it may be a little longer than expected." Amid nodded towards Bell, indicating that she had yet to process him for the day.

"Ok." Aiz said plainly, and Ansem nodded.

"If I wanted to take a shower and clean up, where would I go?" Ansem asked.

"We can discuss that when I get back. Ok?" Amid flashed him a reassuring smile before she set off to Bell. Leaving Aiz with Ansem.

As Amid left, she began her conversation softly with Bell that could best be described as purposely discreet that even Ansem and Aiz didn't pick up on it. Not that they necessarily needed to.

As Ansem turned back to face Aiz, he found her with a confused expression on her face. The very same expression that she had on her face from when he first woke up at Jai's once-inn.

"Why did you lie again, Ansem?" She asked in her normal volume. Ansem's eyes gently widened as he raised his finger to his lips to have her try and lower her voice about such a thing.

"How do you know I was lying?" Ansem asked in a hush that was kept between the two.

Aiz carefully glanced at Bell, and for a second Ansem picked up on the source of her momentary distraction. They were at a distance away that even for them and whatever level they may be at, surely the words that Ansem and Aiz would say would stay solely between them.

"Morituri." Aiz replied in an equally quiet voice.

Ansem's eyes fluttered as his eyes darted back and forth, trying to process how and why that would be the sole indicator.

"You cast it against the Goliath on the eighteenth floor." Aiz said as if that was all of the reasoning that she needed.

"You do know that it's not unheard of people sharing the same spell?" Ansem offered to her, in an attempt to try and convince her otherwise as he was betting on her confusion as leverage.

In some ways it was true. Certain spells can have similar effects and casting, and possibly operate under different names. Especially the most basic of spells. But the likelihood of a spell being so powerful, being shared between two people or more decreased as the various traits that determined its power, casting length, and effect went up.

For Aiz, it was a no brainer.

"Why do you not want anyone to know your name, Ansem?" Aiz asked once more, as she tilted her head in confusion. Absolutely unrelenting.

Ansem sighed, and carefully looked back to Amid and the boy he knew as Rabbit Foot. They were slowly attending to each and every occupant of the beds. Amid took her time answering every question Bell had, assuring him that they were getting the care they needed.

They were still at a safe distance for Ansem.

"Because there is or was someone out there that was taking my name and dragging it through the mud. My name is not a good name because of that. And if people remember any of it, it's going to make things very difficult especially with that monster coming back." Ansem said very carefully with an intensity to make things very clear. "If we are to stand a chance against this thing that attacked us all in Dungeon, we need to stand together. To be united. But we can't do that if we are fighting amongst ourselves."

Ansem gazed upon Aiz, but the look in her eyes, in her being, couldn't help but wonder.

"Even if it means nobody knows who you are?"

"If that is what it means for us to have a chance at winning? Then yes." There was an unbreakable resolve in his eyes.

"But I know who you are…"

"Then let's keep that a little secret between us. Ok?"

Aiz took a second to herself. It wasn't that it felt unfair to her, but rather that there had to be some other way to go about it. To operate with no one truly knowing who one was, sounded lonely even for Aiz. And after everything the Loki familia had done for her, she couldn't help but want the same for someone else.

"There is someone else you can trust." Aiz said as she brought her golden eyes to his. "I trust her with mine.."

"Your secret?.." Ansem was confused, wondering if she had somehow mentioned it before, but nothing stood out to him.

"Mhm.. Her name is-.."

"Aiz.." Bell said softly from a distance. He stood stiff, with his arms at his side, and his face was trembling and blushed as he took a bow. "Thank you."

Aiz gazed upon the trembling boy. She knew that if it weren't for everything they had gone through together, that his familia may never have been taken care of. In fact, none of them may have been in this particular spot to begin with.

And for the first time, Ansem witnessed a gentle smile across her face as she gazed upon the boy.

"Come now, Bell. Let's go get you started." Amid said as she ushered Bell into the hallway so that way they may begin his own recovery.

Given that Bell himself had been drowned and endured, there was a precaution that Amid wanted to take in providing special care for the boy. In order to do that, she needed for him to have his own room in order to complete the number of tests needed to be sure everything operated as it should be. Heart, lungs and all.

After all, the Loki familia was paying for it all. Amid could spare no test for the sake of the boy.

But as Aiz sat there with a smile on her face, and a softness in her eyes that hadn't faded, Ansem could see it clear as day.

"You like him." Ansem said with a warmth in his voice.

Aiz looked away and nervously cast her gaze anywhere to try and avoid it.

Ansem could help but chuckle at the spectacle. And in that brief moment, Ansem forgot all of the pain that was coursing through him. Instead what filled him was that warmth.

"You can tell?" Aiz asked nervously, as if the best kept secret in the world had been leaked to the world.

"Yes." Ansem answered bluntly with a chuckle. "Why don't you go with him?"

Aiz tilted her head and swung her gaze to the feet of the bed.

"We're from different familias."

"And?"

"A lot has happened." Aiz said as she mentally recounted the events from the past twenty-four hours.

"And you're going to let that stop you?" Ansem asked.

Doubt filled her mind in those brief moments of hesitation. Leading her to believe that the safest thing was for her to stay put right where she was. It held the most predictable outcome, and it was possibly the best one out of them all.

"You shouldn't be alone." Aiz said as a blatant excuse.

"Don't use me as one of your excuses. I'm grateful for your help, but he needs you." Ansem kindly reprimanded her. But it was the last few words that caught her attention.

"Hmm?"

That subtle hum was clear enough. How are you so sure?

"I saw it in him. You're one of the few people he can trust. And sometimes, when people want the help the most, they don't know how to ask for it."

"...But I should stay and look after everyone." Aiz said, moving her reasoning to the others in the room.

"But you want to look after him, don't you?" Ansem pried, and the only answer was Aiz shyly nodding. "So go ahead. Go to him. Leave watching over these guys and gals to me and the doctor. Ok?"

"And his goddess? I-.." Aiz paused to find the right words. "I think she doesn't like me."

Ansem nodded, and pursed his lips. Deities could be notoriously difficult especially when it came to their followers.

"Aiz. Do you want to live your life, having given up on someone because of a deity?" Ansem asked, and Aiz could only shake her head, no. "Hey."

Ansem said, trying to gain her attention. As she raised her eyes she saw him pointing to his chest where his beating heart lay. And gave it a gentle tap.

"Then don't give up on what this is telling you. Because after everything that has happened, he hasn't given up on you."

Aiz nodded, and took a breath in as she steadied her breath.

"You saw it? You're not lying?"

Ansem had lied, time and time again to everyone about the most important thing someone possesses; their name. And though he quite possibly had good reason, to avoid the conflict that may arise from the declaration of such a thing, Aiz wanted to be sure.

Ansem held up his hand as if taking an oath and took a deep breath in.

"I swear on my father's name and my own name, Ansem. That I am telling you the truth." He gave her a gentle gaze as he lowered his hand and he spoke softly. "He needs you."

Having admitted his own name for the first time, it was enough to set the cogs of her mind to work towards her favor. Aiz sat still, but her head was nodding as she racked up the confidence to stand on her own two feet. And before the momentum grew she glanced at Ansem.

"We'll be ok here." He reassured her.

"Right. Ok." She rose to her feet and stood in place without moving a step forward. And with her hands clenched to her side, he could see that she was beyond nervous. "Thank you, Mathis."

He couldn't help but drop his head to hide the smile that grew on his face. Only once it's warmth had faded from view did he look up.

"Oh, Aiz."

Ansem gently called out amongst the sleeping adventurers.

"Why are you helping me?" He asked with a genuine curiosity.

Aiz stood in the aisle just before the door, and her golden eyes held their own resolve at a decision she had made some time ago.

"Because you're just like me." She didn't elaborate any further, because if what she knew of Ansem were to be true then she didn't have to say anything more.

"Your secret?" He asked with eyes that could see the light of any being. And she nodded to reaffirm what he saw.

"Thank you." He said full of heartfelt appreciation. There she set off to accompany the boy.

Though that pain from losing all that he had known was still so vividly present, he had a hope and it was in all thanks to that girl. That hope was not sourced from the act of slaying a monstrous beast, or swooping in to save the day. But it was from that one act that held such tremendous strength of heart, a strength that it seemed that she didn't know that she could possess.

Compassion.

Because what he saw was that he was not alone.

And finally the sole individual conscious, he smiled a smile so bright and warm that no one could deny its grace. Almost ironically his smile was handsome.

As he sat and the warmth that graced his face faded, there was a moment where he thought he had seen a flicker of light from the window. At first there was genuine confusion that crossed his face. The phenomena could only be described as if someone had a small mirror and was focusing the light in the room and by chance it caught his eye. But as he scanned the wall to his right, there was no light.

"Huh?" Ansem said as he stood from the bed and carefully approached the window. Across the street there was no building that housed such a light, nor was there any magic that was being cast. At least not that he was aware of.

Scanning the people that populated the streets with a confused glare, he found no trace of the light. Standing up he scratched his chin.

"That was strange..?"

Running along the edge of the window was a small perch that ran from left to right alongside the building's outside wall. Where the room ended to his right, that perch went out to the street as a separate part of the building reached out briefly for two windows, and then continued back out to the right.

If by chance it wasn't the light of the sun or other worldly means, he contemplated that by chance it could be the light of someone else. A soul. Knitting his brow at the thought, he reached for the shade that remained at the top of the window and pulled it down. If by chance it was light being reflected into the room, then at least the shade will protect him from it's rays.

But on the off chance that someone was keeping an eye on him? Well that thought made him uneasy. Especially after admitting his own name.

"Damn it.." Ansem slapped his hand to cover his eyes in disappointment. "I'm such an idiot."

"△▼△▼△▼△"

Footsteps gently tap against the wooden floorboards. It was none other than Aiz beginning her search for Amid and Bell, with a newfound sense of confidence. Having paid special attention to the rooms as they all initially passed by, she searched for one of many clues indicating where they may be. And if those failed she could rely on her adept hearing. Which possibly was invasive to every other guest, but from what she had seen, the others were of her own familia.

As the light of the outside world shines into the wooden hallway, it gives a stark contrast between the natural earthy colors of the wood, the painted blue beams, and the glow of the light outside.

Finally after a few moments of searching, she had found it. Or at least she hoped she had.

There was a small red flag sticking out of the doorframe, indicating that it was occupied and in session.

Approaching the door, she stood silently as she mustered up the will to knock. She took one breath in, and then another out.

And finally, she knocked. It was quite possibly a little too harsh of a knock that seemed a little urgent, but the pounding in her heart couldn't be controlled. And the sound caused even Aiz to gasp.

On the other side of the room was silence followed by the tap of footsteps that hurriedly tapped towards the door.

"Yes?" Behind the door Amid poked her head out, and once she saw Aiz, confusion graced her face as she tried to ascertain why Aiz was visiting. "Umm, is something wrong with Mathis?"

"Oh, um there's nothing wrong. I was here-.." Aiz began to nervously ramble and the locomotion that was barely moving came to a stop.

"Aiz, is that you?" The familiar voice called out from behind Amid.

"It's me." Aiz replied back, with the faintest levels of nervousness hiding within her voice.

Amid out of respect for the conversation, held the door ajar so the two could see each other. Bell was sitting on the edge of the hospital bed. She must've knocked as Amid was asking some questions.

"-I um.. I wanted to be here… For you… That is if you want me here." Aiz tried to string her thoughts together, but at best they came out like chunky peanut butter. Uneven bits of tone and uneven word pace. Even Bell could tell she was nervous as her eyes danced around the room.

"Is that ok Amid?" Bell said as he fought through his own mental and physical exhaustion.

"It's completely up to you. It's your private information, Bell." Amid said, trying to bear in mind that Aiz is from a different familia.

"Ok." Bell said, shaking his head. "Yes. I'd like that."

Gesturing for her to enter and take the seat next to the bed, she couldn't help but feel light on her toes. And whatever worry that was there in this moment had vanished.

Taking the seat beside Bell, Aiz placed her hands in her lap and watched Amid close the door.

"Well I suppose now that the two of you are here, there is the possibility that I could begin the process for the both of you. Are there any objections?" Amid professionally asked them.

It didn't take long for Aiz to agree, her reasoning was that it would only be fair. Of course, Bell's face blushed and tried to persuade her not to out of the fact they were from different familias. But that was countered by acknowledging that he was going to do the same.

Giving in, Bell agreed with a feeble "ok."

Standing in the middle of the room, Amid couldn't help but stare in silence with a smile on her face. A smile that blocked the purple from her eyes.

"What is it?" Bell nervously asked.

"Oh it's nothing." Amid softly said. "It's just that you two are acting like a couple."

Immediately Bell's face flushed to the brightest red humanly possible, and Aiz hid her eyes under her bangs as they both nervously fretted about the statement. Their responses didn't quelm Amid's joy, in fact it got a warm chuckle from her.

"I suppose that's enough of that. Let's begin, shall we?" Amid said as she held out her clipboard.

Bell glanced to Aiz where their eyes caught each other's and nodded.

"Ok."

"Lets."

Author's Note: I was aware of the recent change that for whatever reason the site had loaded the previous chapter (Vol I. P 25) in place of VolII Part I. I thought it was resolved after waiting the 30 mins, and then 45 min time that it should normally take to update in the system. And even then after looking on my cellphone, it looked as if it was corrected yesterday. So as of 10/26/2021 I recorrected it, again, which means this is the third time now with this site. Hopefully it is now resolved.