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..

27. Vol II PIII- A Memory

Part III - A Memory

"A Gallant Gentleman" - We Lost The Sea

1.

Aiz awoke late in the night, when the sky was still laden with twinkling stars that filled the void of darkness that hovered above them.

Yet amidst the darkness she gazed at the light that lay silently before her.

Wrapped in blankets and in the embrace of his patron deity, Bell slept.

Aiz could see the dried tears on his face that had fallen as he remained in a dream-like state. Surely she knew why and who the tears were for. A part of her wanted to believe that his innate sense of good will prevail, that darkness that rests in Aiz's own heart, won't fester in his.

If only she could say that.

If only she could reach him, to tell him.

But how could she?

The wall that lingers within her stood insurmountable. A barrier from herself and others. Blunted like a blade unkept, dulled like the stones laying in a river.

Aloof.

Vacant.

Leaving what comfort that chair provided, her body ached in a fashion that was not accustomed to. Yet on her face bare no expression of discomfort, simply the veil of a doll with wandering eyes that couldn't resist peering upon the boy.

A subtle puff of air escaped from the back of her throat as her body continued to awaken.

Leaving the room, she dared not make a sound as she tiptoed down the hallway. It was as if she was never there.

Stopping at the window at the furthest end of the hallway, bathed in a pale moonlight, she gazed at the world that lay in rest. Painted in an amber color, the street lights wielded just enough light to overpower the moonlight and cast its own light down upon the street.

She couldn't help but sigh as her eyes took in the sight. Like her body was telling her that it needed just a little bit more air.

Closing her eyes, she took another deep breath in, and upon the exhale she opened them once more.

The world remained as it was.

But her body felt tickled, relaxed as the oxygen coursed through her.

They had six more days.

And on the seventh day, all needed to do was swing her sword and fight like she always has. Whatever monster that would get in her way, she would kill. Whatever monster that harmed another, she would kill.

Whatever monster-...?

Casting her eyes to the blackened sky, she forced herself to imagine a winged beast in between the stars.

Would the strength that she had amassed be enough?

The creak of a door broke her train of thought, and immediately she turned to its source. From the room that held Bell's familia, came a tall figure rubbing his eyes as his black bangs dangled over.

Perhaps it was out of habit to remain quiet and to speak only when she only felt it was needed, so she stood there silently watching. Acknowledging his existence.

"Aiz?" Ansem said in faint confusion as he noticed her. "What's wrong, can't sleep?"

As quietly as his naturally light weight allowed, his steps bore no sound against the floorboards. It was almost haunting as he approached her side.

"No. The sun is going to rise soon." Aiz said as she returned to her gaze of the resting city.

"Ahh. I see." Ansem said under his breath. Catching on to what she meant.

Soon the sun will rise, just like it always has. Just like she always had watched it. The only difference was how long it took. On the early summer mornings the sun seemed eager to join the world. But when the seasons changed, she found that much like the rest of the world, it remained hidden in it's own slumber below the horizon.

Though she noticed that for some when the days are heavy they tend to be much like the sun. And on those heavy days, they lacked the warmth that she was so used to. But those were during trying times, when losses were heavy and morale was struggling to maintain its height.

All she could think of was Bell.

"But something is wrong, isn't there?" Ansem quietly asked.

Aiz simply nodded as her gaze hovered over the curb bathed in that amber light.

"I-.." Aiz uttered only to pause as the words she sought seemingly escaped her. "-I'm concerned for Bell."

Her eyes raced, following the words in her mind that eluded her. The entire time, Ansem quietly watched her put the pieces together.

"He's hurting."

"He lost someone, that's only natural." Ansem quietly said but the reassurement meant nothing.

"But it shouldn't. I want to make it stop."

"Aiz, sometimes you can't take the pain away." He said gently, and those words sent her eyes up to him. In those eyes she knew he could see it, the helplessness to only one thing. "All you can do is be there for him. Through thick and thin."

"It's not enough." Aiz said firmly under her breath, with a steeled gazed upon Ansem's eyes.

"You know what it's like. Don't you?"

It was a slight expression, one barely noticeable unless one is paying the utmost attention. Aiz's eyes trembled.

"Then you know, it doesn't just go away." Ansem spoke carefully, pulling the truth out from her that even she couldn't ignore. "Everyday is a goodbye, and it becomes a matter of how we cope from there on. Who else better is there to guide him through that than you?"

"I can't." She said as her body tensed up. With no explanation, with no further reasoning a silence briefly filled the space between them as he carefully gazed upon her. It was so much easier to turn her gaze away from him, to fall back into silence.

"Why not?" Ansem carefully asked.

How could she say it? To put it into words, that she never let go. That her reason for everything who she is now, her strength, her status was because she couldn't let go. For a reason, anything but noble.

There were no words that would do it justice. Instead she said only what she knew she could.

"Look."

She stood in front of him silent, knowing that if he could see that Bell needed her, that maybe he could see what rests inside of her.

His eyes didn't waver as they locked onto her eyes as she stood there. It was so much easier than putting it to words than to admit a fault, a weakness. As impossibly strong as she was, in some ways she was still just a girl growing up, facing her own challenges on the path that she had carved out for herself.

"I know, I see it." His voice was void of any doubt, but full of something that she couldn't describe. "That doesn't make you any less of a human being, Aiz."

If there were a word, it'd be empathy. A thing that seemed so distant to her and it left her with confusion written on her face at such a sentiment.

"Rejecting that part of you is only going to give it a greater hold over you. I can imagine what has happened is horrible enough to have affected you like this, but once you learn to accept that it has happened and it is a part of who you are, then.. Well-.." Ansem paused as he searched for the right words. "Then you will be one step closer to being whole."

"It won't be like a switch being flipped, it takes some time. So if he really means that much to you, be patient with him. But also be patient with yourself. Don't be afraid to stumble and fall, so long as you get back up." Ansem said quietly like a softly spoken secret between the two of them. "But if anyone can do it, it's you. I have faith in you."

It felt almost unfair to have him be able to read her like a book, despite being the one who invited it. But how could she deny his words? Those words of faith echoed throughout her, washing away whatever doubt before it could fester into despair.

As soon as that feeling fled, it was replaced by something else.

"Thank you." Aiz said softly.

"Don't mention it." She saw the fondness in his eyes before he turned away to gaze at the night sky. There she barely saw the lines of a smile.

Fluttering her eyes, she brought herself back to reality as the sensation of warmth fled her being.

"What are you going to do now?" He asked as he peered out to the world before them.

Matching his gaze, she shared the same view.

"I'll begin to make preparations for training."

"Training, this early?" Ansem said in faint surprise.

"Mhm. Everyday."

"No wonder you're strong." He said with an approving nod.

"What do you intend on doing for today?" She asked planley.

"I think I'll visit the Guild. See what exactly I've missed. Maybe go back to what's left of the mansion."

Aiz didn't believe what she heard for a second.

"You intend on leaving?" She wore a slight expression of confusion as she tilted her head at him.

"I mean, yeah, I can't really go to the Guild without leaving this place." Ansem tried to state.

"She's not going to like that."

By she, Aiz meant Amid. And immediately Ansem picked up on what she had meant.

"I plan on coming back. It shouldn't be long." He tried his best to reassure her but the expression on her face changed from confusion to concern. "Maybe she won't even notice."

"She'll notice." Even in Aiz's own plain expression, there was a faint undertone of dread. Something Ansem immediately caught onto.

"Wait, are you saying that it's that big of a deal? Like she'll blow up or something. Because I didn't get that impression at all from her."

"Maybe not blow up. Just angry." Aiz plainly said in a way that seemed almost too innocent for her own good as she returned her gaze to the city.

"It's always the nice ones that are the scariest." Ansem said with a shiver.

A quiet nuh-uh escaped from Aiz's lips.

"No, Riveria can be scary."

"Who?" Ansem asked sounding all too confused. Though Aiz shared his confusion, Riveria had been with them the entire time.

"Riveria." She said once more with such confidence as if it would help him recognize the name. "Don't call her old. Or ma'am."

Aiz offered the best advice she could to save him from the same situations that she had endured.

"Duly noted. Sounds scary enough." Ansem said as he faintly bobbed his head, cementing Aiz's advice in his mind.

"Riveria, huh?" Ansem quietly said to himself as he peered across the city.

It wouldn't be much longer until the sun rose. And she already had used an unusual amount of time conversing. Any more and it may through her routine off kilter. Turning away she began her journey home.

"Good luck." Aiz wished.

"Thanks. And hey-.." Ansem quietly called out to Aiz. Stopping shortly down the hallway she turned. "If you need any help with training, don't be afraid to ask. Alright?"

"Ok." She said with a nod.

Leaving the building, she returned to the Twilight Manor in what could only be described as the same path she had taken from the Guild.

Routine. So much of her day revolved around the time and places that she wondered where she'd be without it. She imagined the sensation, it felt aimless. Unrefined. Insidious. Much like how she was when she was younger. Reluctant to acknowledge the teachings of her comrades.

Now, thanks to them, she could safely say that she could not be where she is now without them.

When she arrived, it was quiet with all the members fast asleep that even her light footsteps echoed off of the walls in the lobby.

Making her way to her room, she began her routine. It was this routine that gave her great certainty and she knew what to expect because of it.

Though there was one thing that she had no control over in her routine. It was when she'd stand up on the city wall, in her usual training spot and wait.

Watching the sun rise, she could feel the air sit still around her that it was almost unsettling.

Waiting and watching.

Watching and waiting.

Frozen, almost motionless like a doll.

She'd wait and wonder when Bell was to come.

As the sun graced the morning sky, it's light peaked through the hanging clouds on the horizon sending the colors of the rising sun in an evolution of pinks and oranges. Off in the distance, a flock of birds gracefully fly in the morning sky, gliding through the still air.

It's been twenty-four hours since it all began. And she found herself back where she always was. This time the city remained silent and peaceful. Though she knew it was just a matter of time before the peace would be disrupted and the Harbinger would return.

If only she knew how to tell Bell.

"I'm sorry I'm late!" A voice broke out through the silence.

It was Bell, frantically clutching his belt as it jostled on his waist. He must've hastily prepared himself, determined not to miss out on the days lesson.

At first she was happy to see him, where a smile formed on her face. That changed, into a soft worry as she noticed his expression. Watching him straighten out his armor and gear, there was something different. Something ever so small, that it'd be easy to dismiss it as nothing.

It wasn't his body, or the way he walked. Nor the words he spoke. They all seemed true to him.

Instead it was something else.

"Uhh.. Aiz?" Bell uttered in confusion as she gazed upon him.

Bell kept his head unusually low, as if he was tucking his chin a very small amount.

Her eyes gazed up to the sky above them, it was cloudy yes, but as the day would move on, so would the clouds. Revealing the clear blue sky, that would always be a joy to be under.

Yet for some reason, Bell seemed ever so determined to keep his gaze away and low far from the colors of the sky above them.

"It's nothing." She smiled softly. "Shall we begin?"

"Let's." Bell nodded with strained enthusiasm.

"△▼△▼△▼△"

2.

Ansem walked the twilight sky, as the colors changed from the deep dark black to shades of blue and pink as the sun poked through the clouds that hovered over the horizon. The light had yet to reach the height of the walls, where everything still seemed so blue.

The streets were practically barren, the only exception were the few people he had seen who must've been on their way to work. If they had glanced his way, he'd look the other way or try to blend in so his movements weren't so noticeable.

It was an unfortunate habit from being hunted.

And as he walked he had to keep his head on a swivel as he had only half the sight he was normally used to. Already he had brushed against a light pole and a what he could only describe as a small concrete pillar. Something that must be used to corral an animal of sorts.

It was the early hours of the morning, and fortunately the Guild was just opening.

Something that was confirmed as he approached one of the Guild's staff members who tending the plants just sitting at the window sills.

The inside was sparsely populated and filled with a silence that almost felt sacred. That if he were to make even the most subtle of sounds it'd be heresy.

Wearing the shirt that was given to him from Amid, and the spare set of jeans that hugged waist from Jai's once-Inn, his white armored boots stuck out from the whole theme of his attire, as the jeans tucked deep into the neck of the boot. It all appeared hastily put together from an outside perspective, but everything else he had was either now tattered and unwearable or a full set of armor.

Each step brought a solid thud as he approached the front desk of the reception area. Just as it was yesterday, the same elven woman sat at the desk.

The surprise that adorned her face as she recognized him made a wave of guilt and worry wash over him.

"You're back?" Once the surprise faded, a pleasant smile appeared on her face welcoming the adventurer before her.

"I am." Nervously scratching the back of his head, he looked her in the eyes. "Look, I'm sorry about making such a scene yesterday."

"Oh you're fine." The Receptionist said with a warm smile as she leaned on the countertop. "It's nothing to worry yourself over."

"Thank you." Ansem gave a bob of his head.

"-You must've been gone from the city for quite a while. Haven't you?"

"It feels that way." Ansem paused as his gaze strayed from her. Lost in thought he couldn't help but contemplate everything. How long it has been, and everything that had happened. "I was actually wondering, if I may utilize some of the Guild's services? You know, to catch up on what I've missed. Current events and such. Would you be able to help me out with that?"

"Gladly." The Receptionist said with a smile. Standing up from her seat, she gestured for him to follow her along the receptionist desk. "Right this way."

There they set off for one of the meeting rooms where most receptionists tutor newcomers or fresh adventurer's on the various challenges of the dungeon. From the various environments each different floor held, to the monsters that were birthed there.

And here he was; to try to learn everything he had missed that had happened in Orario.

It couldn't have been more than thirty minutes for Ansem, and the receptionist who introduced herself to be named Eina, gladly offered him all the requested materials on the events of the past twenty some odd years. Her willingness to help was refreshing, and perhaps after witnessing him being distraught, must've been her trying to make sure that he found some closure. Whatever the reason, he wholeheartedly appreciated the effort.

He scanned them all diligently, intentionally absorbing all that he could to understand the current state of affairs, political affiliations, tensions, the rising stars, and waves of news and bouts of drama from within the Dungeon.

It truly seemed that the city was on the verge of falling in despair thanks to the bout of what was called the Dark Ages. And thanks to some mysterious stranger that single handedly decimated most of the forces that wreaked havoc across the city, much was left to the two familia's in charge to clean up everything that was missed.

In the past few years, he'd found a few recurring names. Mostly those consisting of the few Loki familia members he was familiar with. Of course, Aiz's own name popped up consistently, but in the last possibly half of a year there was one that came out of nowhere.

"Little Rookie?" He mumbled to himself.

There was a boy who managed to exceed any and every expectation that was placed in front of him. No matter the obstacle, he prevailed. If he fell, he got back up. To Ansem it sounded like an underdog story, and something he even found himself eagerly reading to find what happened next.

As Ansem scrolled through the various documents, putting the pieces of the history of Orario together, he was able to form a picture surrounding much of what had happened.

Much of it was what he was looking for. Though there remained a few things he wish he hadn't.

Gripping the documents, he wearily scanned the documents that were a part of the file for the Hera familia. With each page his brow knit more and more until finally he reached the end of the document that he had read twice before already.

"What were you thinking, Hera?" Ansem silently exclaimed as he drew his hands over his face while he leaned back into the soft cushion of the couch.

They had gone after the One-Eyed Black Dragon. The last of the great quests. And while her forces alone were to be reckoned with, they should be no laughing matter when combined with Zeus' own as well.

But in the end, they failed miserably. Resulting in their forces being nearly completely annihilated by the damned black dragon. Leaving them utterly defenseless against a power grab. One that he couldn't argue with either.

With the power vacuum came the rise of the dark ages. And with the two once-great powers determined to keep their grasp in the city, they faced an exile after two familia's rose up to take their place.

One he had already heard of and met.

The Loki familia.

Their public file lay across from him, already opened and closed.

The other familia's file was yet to be opened. It was intentionally set just out of arm's reach. And quite honestly, he didn't know if he wanted to open it. It's title read;-

Freya Familia.

The Freya familia was the second to partake in the power grab, that much was obvious. Freya's name appeared time and time again in the various documents. Ranging from the few disputes of her children, to their involvement against the forces of Rakia that attempted a pitiful war on Orario.

He contemplated reaching out, to grab the file and read, to get it done and over with. But it was never going to be that easy.

He couldn't.

Even if his hand hovered over the document, there was no way he could open it.

So instead he organized the multiple documents into the pattern that Eina had left them to make it easier for her to return them to their proper locations. Leaving the sole file of the Freya Familia on its own.

Standing above the coffee table, he gazed upon the file with a blank expression. Contemplating further, caught in a loop of hesitation. Until finally he narrowed his eyes, and pried his gaze away from the file.

Leaving the room, he made his way to his next destination. Hera's manor would remain as it was, and there was yet one place that he had yet to see.

Hera's counterpart; Zeus.

"△▼△▼△▼△"

Riveria rushed through the streets as the sun embraced the world with it's morning light. She had been given one task, and one task only. She is to find Amid and to bring her to the Twilight Manor at once.

As daylight broke over the city, Anakity faced another series of convulsions. Her condition was deteriorating rapidly. And though spoke it, they all feared that because that wretched cursed blade, it may be her last day.

After all of the delaying of the inevitable they had to believe that something was out there. It was why they spread much of their resources looking for any contact, any available information. But now it seemed that the clock was on its final countdown.

Running south, the wind graced her face, kicking her hair up as she reached the main street that held the Dian Cecht familia.

Rushing in, while bearing in mind the resting state of others, she bee-line through the hallways where she knew Amid's own office was. Stopping at the door, she knocked and quietly called out.

"Amid, it's me, may I come in?" Her breath heaved from the run, by all means her body wasn't warmed up for it, so the air that she breathed stung her lungs.

From the other side, hurried footsteps dashed to the door. Opening the door, Amid witnessed the grave expression on Riveria's face.

"Oh my, it's that nearing that time isn't it?" Amid spoke as she gently raised her hand to her mouth. Riveria nodded.

"Please, we request your assistance once more."

"Right." Darting back to her desk, she grabbed a tan leather bag. Opening it she carefully placed a few items in. What exactly they were, Riveria couldn't tell, her eyes were on the hallway, mentally plotting a path back.

"Let's go." Throwing the single sling of the leather back across her shoulder, she rushed to Riveria.

Following the same path that Riveria took on her way down, they reached the Twilight Manor in what could only be deemed as a flash. Their focus disregarded the world around them on that one mutual goal.

To buy just a little bit more time.

Through the gate, they dashed up the paved path that led to the front door. Already it was being opened. On the other side, Raul hid, determined not to be the victim of a stampede. There the two adventurer's continued down the fine hallways of the manor. Their footsteps racing faster than their steps could make sounds.

After following Riveria's lead, they reached the room that Amid had frequented so many times in the past three weeks.

Lefiya stood by Anakity's side, struggling to restrain her jolting body. On the other side, Loki grimaced as she held Anakity's arm, preventing it from flailing around and potentially striking herself or Lefiya.

Without hesitation Amid rushed forward, setting her bag on the chair next to the bed, she reached into her bag to retrieve the contents.

There were three containers, one held a liquid and the other two powders. It was the same concoction that she had used time and time again. But she hurriedly upped the dosage to try to increase its effectiveness as Anakity's tolerance was already becoming too high. That dose required all of the remaining ingredients in the containers that she had brought.

"Amid, dear, would ya kindly hurry up." Loki said as she struggled holding the arm down. By now means was the deity in a mortal body strong enough to restrain her, but yet her will continued on.

Riveria rushed forward. The closer she got, the greater the dread that engulfed her body. As foam poured from Anakity's mouth and eyes fluttered as they rolled back, there were tears streaming from the corner of her eyes.

"Go help her, I'll hold her down." Riveria said as she took Loki's place.

Riveria couldn't imagine the amount of pain she was in. The thought often came to her whether or not keeping her alive was cruel. That to let Anakity endure this pain was out of their own selfishness, an unwillingness to let go.

"Just-! One-!" Amid mixed the contents all into one vial, shaking it violently the powders successfully blended together. "Yes!"

Turning around she began to approach the bed until-.

"Amid look out!" Lefiya tried to reach out to hold down Anakity's leg that slipped her grasp.

Anakity's foot traveled on a path aimed right for her hands. Amid had too much forward momentum in that split second to dodge, and Anakity's leg struck her hand, the topless vial became free from Amid's grasp.

It's dark green contents spewing out in an arch across the room only to fall far from the reach of anyone. It landed on the floor shattering only on the second bounce.

Amid's eyes were wide.

"That was the last of it." Amid gazed at her empty hands upon hearing the sound of shattering glass.

"You're telling me that was it!?" Loki shouted not out of disappointment but utter surprise.

"Amid.." Riveria gazed upon her silently that only said, Do something.

"Damn it!" Loki shouted as she pulled out her hair.

Amid's eyes raced as she searched for an idea. Something, anything. All she needed was a little bit more time.

Then a light bulb lit up in her mind. It was mildly unethical. Not without the proper research even what she had learned from her own patron deity. And after all it wasn't hers to begin with. So she began with a question.

"Riveria, may I make a judgment call?"

"What?" Riveria's eyes narrowed at what she could possibly have in store. "Yes! Fine! Just do something please!"

They were all trying to remain calm, but the sound of their commotion was breaching the confines of the room. Not too much longer a crowd would appear to investigate.

Turning to her bag she retrieved what could only be described as a fine glass vial with what looked to be water.

"I need one of you to hold her head down as I cast." Amid requested.

"What are you?" Riveria glared at the vial of water. This was her judgement, to use something they little knew nothing about other than it was a gift from the man they knew as 'Mathis.'

"Its all that we have left. Nothing else has worked." Amid reasoned.

Not even Amid's magic had worked on her, when they found that out, they still chose her to be the one to provide Anakity care. If one thing was certain, Amid cared for her patients with a passion that couldn't be rivaled. That's what they were betting on. And if Amid believed that this vial of water was their last chance, then who were they to object?

Sighing, Riveria looked to Lefiya.

"I'm going to straddle her to keep her down. You get ready.." Riveria spoke with a cold determination. In response, Lefiya nodded.

Hopping onto the bed, Riveria used what little weight her body providing to restraint Anakity's thighs from thrusting at her caretakers. And pressing her weight through her hands right above the elbow of Anakity's biceps.

"Under any other circumstance I'd be admonishing you two right now." Amid said as she approached with the closed vial in hand.

It was true, what they were doing was incredibly dangerous to everyone's well-being. It was hard enough to control the convulsion with only one level six adventurer and a deity, but now two level sixes should have some greater effect. The only concern that remained was for Anakity, who would be most susceptible to any injury as her body convulsed with the restraints

And under normal circumstances, if time wasn't of the essence, they'd wait out the convulsions, and then provide care. Unfortunately, nothing about this was normal.

"Lefiya, please move aside." Amid said as she approached Anakity's bedside.

Allowing Amid through, Lefiya pushed herself closer to the top of the bed, trying to give Amid the most room possible. Even with that effort, they still didn't have a lot of room to operate in.

Before Amid released the cork of the vial of water, she began casting. Her healing magic had no permanent effect on the curse that wrought itself through Anakity's bodies, but what it did was buy them a sliver of time. Time that they desperately needed.

Ten seconds, that was what Amid guessed they could afford once she was casting.

Wiping away the foam that spewed from Anakity's mouth as she finished her casting, Anakity's body relaxed and her breathing returned to normal. Wasting no time, Amid uncorked the vial and gently opened her mouth, while slowly pouring the contents in.

Small swallows accepted the offering of water, and after a few her body coughed. Covering Anakity's mouth, Amid was determined not to let a single drop go to waste. As Anakity coughed, Amid grimaced as she carefully watched.

Breathing intensely from her nostrils, Anakity continued coughing until her fit ended and finally her body's natural reaction was to swallow whatever contents lay in her mouth. Whether it be the water or saliva.

Everyone remained perfectly still as they watched. Amid's purples trained on Anakity's nostrils, experiencing the steady breath that brushed against her hand. It was well past ten seconds. And slowly, she removed her hand from Anakity's face.

Lefiya's nervous gaze switched back and forth between Amid and her comrade.

"Did it work?" She anxiously asked as her gaze bounced back and forth between Amid and Anakity. None of them could bear the idea of having to put Anakity through this again.

And whatever tension that ran through Amid's body vanished as she too caught her breath.

"Amid?" Riveria gently asked as she prepared herself for another bout of convulsions. She needed to know, or else she was going to have to do what she was reluctant to do.

She needed to know if she was going to have kill Anakity. To release her from the pain of the curse that tortured her.

"Amid." Riveria uttered as she focused intensely on her.

Waiting for any clue or indication of what needed to be done. But none appeared other than a silent expression of awe across her pleasant face.

"Riveria?" Anakity's words were of confusion, and void of strength.

As her voice graced Riveria's ears, she faced Anakity, there she witnessed the color of life returning to Anakity's exhausted face.

For so long they've only seen her eyes closed or the white of her eyes. To see their color and the life that dwell within in them caused an intense sensation of relief to swell in Riveria's chest and behind her own eyes. For a moment, she truly couldn't believe what she was seeing. And to hear her voice-...?

Scooping her arm underneath Anakity, Riveria pulled her up and embraced her tightly. A faint gasp escaped from Anakity's breath of weakness and surprise. She didn't have the strength to return that embrace, so she hung there in Riveria's embrace as her head was craddled against Riveria's neck.

Gone were the days of dread as death crept closer and closer.

"I don't believe it…" Amid said in awe as she bore her gaze upon them. "He was right. Dian was right. But that's impossible."

She slowly turned her gaze to the glass vial in her hand that sparkled as the light refracted through it.

They were words opposite of what everyone was anticipating.

"Impossible? What are ya talking about?" Loki flung her arms out to Amid in preparation to embrace her, but immediately Loki stopped as she spotted Amid's wary expression upon the vial. "You just saved her, how can ya be so grim?"

Amid's eyes flickered between the vial and Loki's eyes.

"Dian told me that this water could only be sourced from one place. Where it's fate dances between salvation for the terminally ill, and a haven for a cruel monster that pollutes its waters. A place that borders obscurity from its own isolation within the mist that surrounds it." She spoke slowly, carefully reciting what she had heard from her own deity.

"You could search and search, only to return with nothing but failure and fatigue. That was what many people were rewarded with." Amid slowly continued as she rolled the vial in her hands. "Water so pure that it can heal any ailment."

Riveria paused as her jade hair dangled with Anakity's own. Holding her tightly, she waited.

"It's there, in the country of the mist, you'll find the Spring of Life. Waters that, if Dian's memory serves correct, remain polluted to this day."

Amid slowly drew her gaze to the vial in her hand.

"It's not just something you give away. It's-.. It's worth a life. Utterly priceless." Amid finally said as she gazed upon Anakity. "And we just used all that we have."

Riveria felt frozen, as those words graced her ears. He knew it's worth, no person in their right mind would give something up so freely. But she had been reminded why, as the memory flashed before her eyes. If it weren't for her work to heal him, and tend to the wounds on his body, he may never have survived.

She had saved his life, upon the request by Aiz. And in return, he gave her a reward.

A life, for a life.

But now they knew the cure for the affliction that anyone who bears a wound inflicted from that cursed blade, all at the cost of using all that they had. That was why Amid felt that dread, and that was why Riveria froze. They could not afford to suffer another attack with the person who wields that blade with no cure in hand.

With no indication of who, or how many exist, there sits an uneasily sensation for them all despite the relief from Anakity's recovery. This was far from over. And that so many more people would die from its blade.

She slowly lowered Anakity into the comfort of her bed, she gazed upon her and the delicate nature of life. As an adventurer, everyday going into the dungeon was a bitter reminder of the fragile of the mortal body. How quickly the life that exists in them all could be snuffed out.

Which is what makes life such a precious thing.

But both still listened to Amid's words with great intent.

"Whoever managed to obtain this, went through great lengths to succeed when so many others have failed."

Anakity lay with tired eyes, and with full breath. But Riveria couldn't help but notice the hair that had stuck to the side of Anakity's face. Carefully swiping it away, not caring at all if Loki teased her with that cursed nickname of 'Mama.'

"Riveria." Amid carefully called out as she held the vial in plain sight for Riveria to see. "Who gave you this water?"

Anakity's eyes slowly drifted off into a slumber. The previous convulsions having drained her stamina, requiring rest in order to further her recovery. Taking one last careful look at the life that was just on the brink of passing, she contained the relief that swelled within her as she prepared her self to answer Amid's question.

Excusing herself from Anakity's bed, Riveria carefully stood at her bedside.

There was something that she had been hesitant in mentioning to Loki. It was the topic she that eagerly brushed over was none other than the man they had met in the dungeon. Revealing only that they had managed to meet and obtain information from a sole survivor who managed to escape to the safe point, no more.

Nothing in regards to Aiz, nor the few errors that he had uttered.

From being unaware of the Glacier Territory's current state, to the rushing towards what remained of the Hera familia.

All she was required to tell Loki was the type of smile he possesses.

Until then-…

"It was from the same man who made us what he called the elixirs." Riveria finally answered as she peered to Amid, and there she could see the certainty on Amid's face.

One that said, she could now knew who made them.

"The same guy who survived what happened, right? The one who you said lost his whole familia?" Loki chimed in as she stood mapping something out in her own brain.

"Yes, that's right." Riveria said with a humble nod.

Loki crossed her arms and chewed on the inside of her lower gum as she contemplated. Riviera briefly touched upon the stranger when it was only necessary, and diverted back to the most prevalent issues within the mission.

"And he just gave that to you?" Loki chimed.

"No, in his words it was payment for saving his life…"

"Alright. This all is springing up loads of questions that we're going to need answers. I want ya to bring him here so I can meet him." Loki asked, but it was a desire that Riveria found herself in conflict with. "Will ya do that for me?"

There was a laundry list of things that she needed to know about him before bringing him into the place they call home. She needed to properly vet him, and with everything that surrounds him and Aiz, she couldn't come to a clear conclusion on anything. Everything lay a blur. A mess.

"I don't know if I can do that.." Riveria uttered hesitantly. "I'm not sure where he is."

Riveria lied. In that instance, she remembered his distant cries that seemed only for her ears. Cries that led her straight to him. There was no logic or rationale that she could muster to explain the phenomena. For a brief moment, she contemplated the level of her sanity, a curse perhaps, but none of that seemed to fit.

Instead it remained a faint sixth sense that she had no control over.

She wanted to stall, to see if she could buy more time, in that brief instance she contemplated a few options. And any one of them would be suitable but all she needed was the time.

"Oh, I know where he is!" Amid chirped. "Aiz brought him in for care. He should be with the rest of Bell's familia."

"Aiz did what?" Loki said with utter confusion as she looked to Riveria for clarification. To say it would be unusual for Aiz to show any interest in someone that wasn't Bell or a part of the Loki familia would be an understatement. Her involvement with the familia didn't stretch all that far past being a one woman army. Occasionally she'd spend time with the amazon twins, run errands what else was needed. But outside of Bell, none of them could really say that there was anyone else a part of Aiz's life.

Riveria shot Amid a cold glance as the woman who helped saved Anakity's life, unknowingly ruined the plan that she was about to plot out. Amid who caught the glance, shivered slightly as confusion gripped her.

"Did I-..?"

Do something wrong. -Was what she was going to say before Riveria quickly replied.

"It's nothing..We can head out there now, assuming that you're confident that she'll be fine." Riveria looked to both Loki and Amid for clarification, while Amid seemed fine with the idea, after witnessing the effects of the water from the Spring of Life first hand, the only one who seemed suddenly at unease was Loki.

Riveria had a few steps in but was stopped by her deity.

"But what's this guy got to do with my Aisu?" Loki pried as she lurched forward as if to interrogate Riveria. Loki's eyes were always normally hard to see, but as she squinted even more, it were as if they were closed completely.

"She is the one that found him and requested that I provide aid, and well, after that, she's been a strong advocate for him." Riveria said giving a sliver of the truth, knowing that she might as well when she didn't know what exactly would come out of Amid's mouth.

"An advocate, huh?" Loki suspiciously glared at her, while the word advocate lingered in the air longer than it should have. Suddenly the tension on Loki's face relaxed into a smile. "When you bring him back, you and I will talk first."

Loki said with a gentle pat on Riveria's arm. She knew, she had to have known that Riveria was holding out something from her. And when it came to Aiz, it had to have been a boundary that she had crossed.

"Of course." Riveria said with a steeled face before turning to Amid. "Let's go."

"△▼△▼△▼△"

3.

The wind atop of the city blew strong, giving breath to the clean fresh air from the mountains not far from the city. Breath that fueled their bodies.

Breaths that refused to cease as two adventurers sparred with the vista behind them.

Aiz had just parried an attack by Bell, sending him staggering back. Wasting no time she stepped forward, lunging through the air to strike Bell with maddening speed. Aiz's sword cut through the air, striking Bell's blade. And in one swift movement, Bell's grip faltered as his wrist was forced to bend back, releasing the grip of his knife.

The blade spun out of his hand, in a moment that seemed to be slow-motion. Both wielded expressions of surprise as the event unfolded before them. In those fractions of a second, Bell turned his gaze back to Aiz.

Training wasn't over.

Aiz prepared another strike. Dodging the path of her sword, Bell sunk to the ground and kicked off of the wall beside him. All in a desperate attempt to reach the blade that now skid across the stone surface of the wall.

Aiz dashed forward to the scrambling Bell, and brought her sword downwards. Before the blade could make impact, he spun out of harm's way and made one final leap towards his knife.

With blade in hand, Bell pushed himself off of the cool stone floor of the tower, and rose to his feet. There was no time to gather himself, and his next movements were purely reaction.

Drawing his knife up blocking his head, his blade has blocked the downward strike.

It was a head-on attack that Bell was familiar with in all of their time of training with one another.

Bell hunched down in a half squat as he clutched his knife tightly. His head was tilted down hiding the sky from his eyes, leaving a massive blindspot as he glared upon her feet.

The distance between them closed, from feet that rapidly turned to inches, Aiz saw something strange in the eyes that seemed to avoid her. She brought her sword down from above, striking Bell's knife, he managed to divert the momentum of her strike down and to the side away from him.

Swiftly swinging his foot out, Bell changed his stance as he leapt to the side and promptly lunged at Aiz's exposed flank with his knife in hand.

It was a daring move. One that she hadn't seen before. Then again, Bell was always full of surprises, but this?

She couldn't quite place her finger on the word, but something about it seemed terribly off so suddenly. Moments ago, she had parried a swing that caused him to lose grip of his knife. The look of terror in his eyes was undeniable. For whatever reason she couldn't help but imagine that being the same expression he had when facing the Harbinger.

After desperately lunging to regain his knife, she had forced him to dodge and evade many of her attacks unarmed. Initially she thought it'd be a good lesson. But only now had she begun to question her decision.

Bringing her sword back to block the attack, Bell had already closed the distance, negating much of the effectiveness of her sword.

He closed the gap, and instinctively she leapt back. But he leapt towards her again.

Then came another strike that she managed to parry as sparks flew.

He's gotten faster..

She couldn't help but commend his progress, but the sudden development admittedly left her at a slight unease. It felt strangely familiar. As if she had seen this from somewhere before.

Backed up against the wall she darted off to the center of the path avoiding one of Bell's incoming attacks. Leaving him to lunge at the empty space.

He came to a stop at the guard wall, facing the vista of greens and blues along with the earthy colors of the world surrounding them. With that stop came a silence from him as he stood up from his fighting stance. The tension in his arms loosened as he gazed upon the horizon where the land met the sky.

He stood motionless. Almost entranced.

There was no need for caution in Aiz's steps, placing great trust in her own capabilities and Bell before her, as she approached him. Sharing his gaze, they stood shoulder to shoulder.

They had always had some time to view the city during their training, but never had it occurred to her that they had neglected the vista on the other side of the city walls.

Perhaps it was due to placing some sort of focus on what resides deep within the city. To deny any distractions of the world outside that served no purpose in furthering their goal of becoming stronger.

Standing next to him, she couldn't help but wonder how little she truly knew of the world outside. It seemed so large and expansive, but all she needed to know was in the city. The Dungeon and her family.

And Bell. Much like the outside world, she realized that there was so little she knew about him.

At some point, she lost track of her gaze and it happened to land on the boy standing beside her. There she saw the trembling eyes as they met the sky. Returning her gaze back to the outside world before them, she welcomed the silence.

The silence was safe, there was no chance of saying something wrong, but that was mostly because she didn't know what to say. The words that were in her mind were like ambiguous shifting shapes, completely intangible, utterly in utterable.

In light of her observations, silence was the most comfortable. There they stood, gazing upon the world as the breeze from the mountains graced their skins. The air wasn't warm, and in the morning hours it was still pretty frosty. But with the workout they put themselves through, the cold posed no effect on them, other than being a continuous gust of breath from the world surrounding them.

"I think that's enough for today." She said at last.

But Bell shared no words and his gaze faltered. Drawing his sight to the land below the horizon, he nodded in agreement as he sheathed his knife.

She reached for his hand, and at first he was surprised as he was pulled back into this world. The only comfort she could give him was a soft gaze, which he accepted and they left the top of the city wall.

It was the start of their day, their own lives. But she found it in herself to bring him back to the Dian Cecht infirmary. Knowing that Amid wouldn't be happy that both of them had left, she would offer to be his shield from what wrath she may unleash.

But what ended up happening didn't require diverting any wrath.

Amid was gone, away presumably on duty elsewhere, and Aiz wondered if she had noticed their absence at all.

She released a small breath of relief. To anyone it was barely noticeable, possibly non-existent.

Guiding him to his room, he quietly thanked her, though he looked upon her with a curiousity as he stood in the doorway.

"Why did you want to bring me back?" He nervously asked as his eyes danced around her.

For Aiz the answer was simple. It drew itself all the way back to the safe point.

"Through thick and thin." Were the words she had chosen. They weren't words she would use normally when she preferred to fall to silence. Words that she seemed to have picked up from someone else. But they seemed to roll off her tongue without any hesitation.

Bell winced, and fell in silence in place of Aiz.

"You rest, ok?" Aiz politely requested.

"Oh-.." Bell said with faint surprise. "I will.. But I want to check up on everyone first."

"Ok." Aiz said as she took in the color of his eyes, bidding her farewell.. "I'll see you tomorrow."

The words caused Bell to blush a soft red, and Aiz couldn't help but softly smile at the reaction.

Leaving the Dian Cecht familia, she returned to the streets of Orario. Slowly life of the city had begun to awaken and trickle into the streets beginning their daily routine. It seemed just like any other day.

At least it seemed that way up until she experienced something she hadn't in the broad daylight.

An object had hit her, one not hard, but not completely soft. At first she assumed someone had innocently dropped something. Being a high level adventurer, there weren't many things that could cause her any grievous injuries. And she nearly began to write it off as such as she turned to see what it was, but upon her inspection she was met with the same sensation striking her collar bone.

A red pulp sank down her chest, the red, almost water like juices dripping down the shape of her armor.

It was a tomato. Picking it off of her chest, she dangled the mess of pulp in front of her quizzically, and her gaze finally caught the scowl of a young child who held a few groceries.

Her face held a confused, vacant stare as she gazed upon the child.

The first thought that ran through her mind was to ask if there was something wrong, but before that thought could be realized and brought into the world she saw the uneasy glares and whispers that surrounded her.

Gossip circled around her. Then it was obvious, even to Aiz, that word had finally reached the surface of the events that had transpired at the safepoint.

The boy before her gripped their bag of groceries and before he could do anything else, she slowly turned and made her way down the street. The circle of onlookers silently parted ways as she approached allowing her passage. Though the angst may have been in its infancy, no one was truly bold enough to strike such a high level adventurer.

As she navigated down the streets, an unsettling feeling festered in her chest.

"△▼△▼△▼△"

4.

When Ansem arrived he found the remains of Zeus' manor in a condition much like, if not worse than Hera's own home.

Absolute ruin.

All that remained of their legacy was right before him. Now they're both gone. Exiled from the city.

"What happened to you two?" He mumbled under his breath at the ruin that was only now beginning to be painted in a sliver of the sun's warm light. But he spoke as if the words could reach them.

He wondered if they were hurt and lost. Sure, Ansem whole heartedly recognized that Zeus and himself did not agree on many things, primarily Zeu's perverted tendencies, but regardless of that there was some level of mutual respect that was held for one another. Well, at least that is how Ansem felt. Zeus had never turned away a member of Ansem's, nor his sister's, who wished to retire to the Zeus familia. So Ansem could only hope that there was not much bad blood between them.

Standing in contemplation, he thought if he could go out and venture into the world, would they still be here and a part of this world? Would Hera?

It was the beginning of a second to-do list. Once everything was all over, when he'd put an end to the Harbinger and whatever god that he met that day, he'd enact upon the list to fulfill the duties of his heart.

But he still felt as if he could never be free of the past, like it'd always be connected to him. Doomed to be running from his shadow. Never to be at peace. Not while he is the last one standing.

Venturing back into the city, his eyes wandered the city streets, recalling and remembering how everything used to be. But still it remained oddly the same. The only other oddity was the lack of people in the west district much like the east.

So much of it all seemed vacant. It was eerie how a place he had known to be so full of life could seem so dead.

As his feet traveled, he managed to find himself a place in between the districts. A place where the streets unraveled upon each other in some mad mess. He was on the outskirts of Daedalus. His eyes scanned the environment, he noted how the roads arched and bended in the same way as they were before. And the buildings surrounding him were different, but yet all the same.

He was near where it all began to fall apart.

The sun was already rising, and the streets were painted in a warm light. It was so much like it was five days ago that he could still hear their voices.

"△▼△▼△▼△"

"What did you find?" Serene had asked.

They were all standing on the outskirts of the west district, tucked away in one of the side streets that was bathed in the morning light.

Serene stood close peering into Ansem's eyes.

It was the fifty-eighth day. And if Delphi's words were correct, it could all be over today or get so much worse. They had hoped to delegate what they could to Hera and her familia, but everywhere they looked, answers seemed further and further away. It was hopeless. Ultimately, they were forced to distance themselves from the people they called home.

In a desperate attempt since the first week of the Trial, they've done everything they could to investigate. From monitoring potential sites where acts of domestic terrorism could be enacted upon, to picking up the clues left behind and occasionally leaving clues for those in search of the truth.

This was all the while they had prepared and planned out to best thwart the Beast of the Dungeon who so eagerly clawed it's way up floors.

They knew they had to keep it down, to prevent it from reaching the surface, but these past four weeks have been mounting so much pressure as Hermes and the other familia drew themselves in closer at a rate they've never seen.

They were being pulled in too many distractions, running out of time, and running out of resources.

Ansem cast his glance across the members of their familia with unease. At any given point in time, they'd have thirty-two members. They were now down to sixteen in total.

Nothing about the situation they were in was good.

"They hit the tower again. Three detonations on one corner. I could only stop one, but before I could get anything out of him-..He uhh-.." He shook his as he bit his lip in disappointment.

"-Just like the others?" Serene asked with focused eyes. Her golden eyes glistened naturally in the sunlight.

"Yeah. Like the others." Ansem said in defeat. "It's going to be a pain to get in now, even with the cloaks. The place is swarming with guards."

Everytime one of the individuals were caught who were a part of this plot against the city, a stone activated in the back of their skull. They'd only come to find out that it was a shard of an Inferno Stone. Ansem couldn't erase the memory of the man's grin as he pinned him down.

No matter what they tried, knocking them out, to restraining them, there was no use. No one that they had captured survived.

"You did all that you could." Serene quietly reassured him as she reached out for her brother's hand.

"Yeah. How's everyone doing?" Casting his glance to his familia, he wanted to check up on them all before they left. Their well-being was his main priority.

Though as he turned away from Serene, she had her eyes keenly locked onto him. There was no one else that knew him better than her. The twin connection that they shared was almost telepathic. She knew that he was struggling, that he was desperately holding onto a hope that at this point may not be possible. She knew he contemplated leaving them, so that way they all could live a life without worry. Free from having to look over their shoulder.

And if he gave them that opportunity, she knew that no one would leave. They wouldn't let him bear the weight of this alone. They were the pillars on top of his foundation. Creating the thing called home for them all and for each other.

"I'm fine, but Eisiah here is getting a little grumpy again since he missed breakfast." Tessaryne smiled softly as she elbowed Eisiah's arm. Immediately his eyes grew sharper than a knife's edge as he glared upon her.

"You ate it all." He said very slowly and full of a mild scorn.

Tessaryne only smiled and gave him a wink.

"Should've been faster."

The sight caused Eisiah to lighten his lips and turn his scowl away as his face began to blush. She always liked to tease him, and he never told her to stop. As it was that gorgeous smile of hers that he could never deny. It was clear as day to both Ansem and Serene that he was absolutely smitten over her, though he never dared admit it.

An elf of his stature, would never allow it.

"I got an update! Annnd!- A new spell!" Noshuwah cheerily exclaimed as her white hair bobbed against her dark skin. Striking a pose, she looked like she was copying a stance from one of the caster in a book she had read, holding two fingers out on one arm fully extended, and the other hand drawn back to her chest with the palm facing out and open.

"Pl-please, don't cast it now." Muro nervously requested from her.

Noshuwah was a dark elf, and no matter the circumstances she always acted carefree that it was hard to believe she was getting close to eighty-six years old, yet she looked and acted much like a human woman in her late teens or early twenties.

Young and rambunctious. Quite often joyous in her rebellion of others. She was often jokingly called by the others as the embodiment of chaos solely from that sporadic and often destructive nature of hers.

"Huh?" She asked with a wide eyed confused gaze. "Don't you want to see it?"

"I'd like to, but-.." A man spoke from behind her, with a voice warm and thick that if it were a drink it'd be like a hot chocolate on a cold night. The man with sun kissed skin smiled as he patted her shoulder. "How about we save that for what's in the Dungeon."

Keen was normally seen as the fun-uncle of the group. Always barging in, usually making a racket, he was as much of a kid with a mustache and beard as the rest of them. Though it was easy to notice the passing of time on him. His dark majestic hair had begun showing streaks of gray, and his reactions were beginning to slow. What had helped him for so long was the armor that Tessaryne had carefully crafted for him.

It was both colors silver and orange, the color orange being mandatory, with large pieces of armor that looked heavy. While in reality they were anything but. Reinforced with a weave of refined mythril, Tessaryne was able to cut the weight by twenty-five percent.

Essentially it allowed him to move like he had ten years ago.

Just like Raiden, a former member of theirs, Ansem and Serene hoped they could convince him to retire either to Hera or Zeus. The latter more than likely was not so willing as Hera, but that never stopped them from asking if one of their own wanted to leave.

All they wanted was what was best for them. To see them prosper and grow. And all have them had.

Despite the mounting pressure they all faced, they still carried a smile. And as Serene gazed upon her brother, carefully watching him, she saw the corner of his eyes crinkle. It was one of the few ways he could smile without a smile crossing his face.

"Everyone remember the plan?" Serene asked as she turned to the others.

"Oh yeaah!" Noshuwah called out enthusiastically. "Rally point A; assess!"

"Good. Now Keen?" Serene called out.

"Move down to rally point beta. Maybe kick some ass." Keen said with a huff as he elbowed Noshuwah who put her palms together, tapping her fingers against each other and chuckled manicially.

"Muro?"

"We split off into two teams. One is the barrier. The other is meeting up with the contact."

Serene smiled happily upon them. "Good."

Ansem nodded his head as he took a deep breath.

"We'll move out in five. It'll give you time to check your gear. If you already checked it once, check it again." Ansem said firmly.

They all nodded in agreement and proceeded as instructed. Five minutes should be enough time get their gear before they move out. They've done it in less and still operated efficiently. But that was never a concern. What was, was reaching the main operating point in their mission. To go where it all started.

"Hey." Serene quietly whispered as she turned away from them, only to face her brother. "About this ritual. Are you sure that you're going to be ok?"

"Hmm? What do you mean?"

Serene raised her eyebrows up in disbelief.

"You know what I mean.." Serene said as she crossed her arms in front of her, in a self hug. "It's her. Like-... Are you sure you're fine with going back there?"

Ansem hesitated, as he carefully thought.

"She's not that bad, I mean, she's scary, yeah. But when I see her,-… There's yearning. Longing." Ansem said with a shrug of his shoulders.

"How can you be like that even after what she did to you?" She hushed trying to restrain her voice.

"I have no idea what you're talking about." Ansem said as he flashed her a smile. A smile that was so automatic that its sole function was to be a defense mechanism.

"That doesn't work on me and you know it. I don't need to see you like you see everyone to know something happened. You're my brother. You can tell me if you don't want to go down there."

"Serene, it's fine." Ansem bobbed his head as he held her shoulder. "Whatever you think happened, isn't as bad as you think. And I made a promise to her. I don't want to break that. Besides, keeping up appearances might buy us some help. Who knows?"

Serene carefully watched his face for any sign or expression that he was lying, but there were none.

"You're either telling the truth, or you've gotten much better at lying recently." Serene sighed in exasperation.

"In my defense if I ever have lied to you it's because you're really nosey."

"I. Am. Not. Nosey." Serene said with a bob of her head.

"You ruined your own surprise birthday party by making Keen rat everyone out." Ansem said, teasing her.

"Pfff." The puff of air escaped her lips as she crossed her arms. "You guys were acting weird, I thought you were going to run out to the entertainment district. I had no choice but to stop you. It was a moral obligation."

"A moral obligation, huh?" Ansem smirked. "Suure it was."

"Besides, if it was such a surprise party, how did you know? Big brother?"

Ansem couldn't help but tuck his lips. "Well, that's because it was my idea and I wanted to scare the crap out of you."

"You what-?!" Serene shrieked in disbelief.

"Yeah, your hair does this weird hair floating thing. It's kind of funny." Ansem said as he held his hands up to the side of his head, wiggling his fingers, mimicking her hair.

Serene didn't care to be teased, she never did. Of course the only person who ever got the chance to was none other than her brother. He knew full well of that. Where so many others would normally gawk in awe he often reasoned it was to humble her, distract her, or any numerous reason. But really it was because they were siblings. There never was going to be any other reason than because he could.

Even in the worst of times, they managed to find joy with each other and the life they had built. Because for so long, they were all they had, until they found Hera. Before they started their familia.

Two parts of the same whole.

Twin stars making the heart of the constellation known as Alastair.

"Guys someone is coming." The voice came from none other than their scout, Asurien. Her long elven ears perked ever so slightly, and her purple eyes locked onto the corner of the building that rested on the main street, just past Ansem and Serene.

Whatever energy there was in the environment suddenly vanished.

"Well, well, well, what do we have here?" A person dressed in a hat with a feather, and a long coat stepped into the middle of the side street not far from Ansem and Serene. "What a pleasant little surprise."

"Hermes." Serene quietly whispered.

The deity smiled with closed eyes, purely overjoyed.

"In the flesh." He proudly announced with open arms. Then as his gaze rested upon Serene, a flicker of confusion crossed upon his face. An expression that could only be vaguely described as confusion at a face that he didn't expect to be in attendance.

Ansem instinctively put his arm in front of Serene.

"Everyone cloaks. Go." Ansem said ushering Serene behind him

"But-!.." Muro objected, as Asurien gripped his hand.

"I'll be right behind you. I promise I won't be long." Ansem said as he glanced back to the boy.

Their eyes locked briefly, and Muro nodded, accepting the promise. The boy Muro had grown weary of the world recently after experiencing a tragedy of his own. Something that it would have been difficult for anyone to come back from. Though he may have grown timid, he was still in the process of recovering from the trauma, a staple to that recovery was both Serene and Ansem, with the faith and support that they have offered.

Ushering Muro to stand back up. And if it were going to be anyone's word that Muro would believe, it'd be Serene's and Ansem's.

"Are you sure?" Serene whispered as she took a step back to act as a second buffer between their familia and Hermes.

"Positive." Ansem gave her a confident nod as their eyes locked. "I'm just going to have a few words with him. Can you take my bag?"

Serene nodded, as she reached out, retrieving his bag that he swung from his back. Leaving the only equipment on his person, being the utility belt and his sword.

"Umm, yes, I hope you didn't forget that I was here." Hermes said as if politely interrupting, the sound of his voice causing all eyes to be drawn onto him. "I just want to give you all a heads up, that this entire area is being monitored. So you can't possibly expect to successfully flee. It'll be best to surrender peacefully and come with me"

He seemed so sure that he flashed his smile once more.

"Oh yeah?!" Noshuwah shouted with joy at her defiance. "Watch this!"

Reaching over shoulders, it looked as if she were to pull a blanket over her shoulders. Suddenly she vanished, flabbergasting Hermes.

"Wait.." The single word uttered out of his mouth as he was mentally processing what was happening. Mentally saying to himself, that this wasn't supposed to happen.

Before Hermes knew it, Serene was the last to fade from his view, leaving Hermes with a wary glance.

Then there was only one.

Ansem stood in the safety of the back street, before Hermes.

"You'd be wise to call them back. It'll make it much less lethal for them." Hermes quietly suggested.

"That's not going to happen. So don't threaten my children." Ansem coldly stated.

"The way how you use that word, children. It makes you feel like one of us doesn't it? It must feel good." Hermes said with a slight glare.

"I raised some of them since they were young. When they had nowhere else to go. So yes, they are my children. Now; who told you how to find us?"

Hermes gazed at the stop where he last saw what he could only assume was his second in command before bring his attention back to Ansem.

"It was just a matter of time, and by fate it just so happened to be today. On the Fifty-Eighth day, no less."

Hermes swung his arms out in joy, as if all was going to plan. That the rest of Ansem's team leaving wasn't by any means a setback.

"Fate, huh?" Ansem queued back to Hermes. "Well why don't we have a talk, first?"

There were only a few people who knew of Ansem and his familia's movements. Two of them sworn silence. The other? There was never a doubt that lay within Ansem's mind about Vishnu. It was thanks to Vishnu that Ansem was able to provide for his own. Through the things Vishnu touted as 'Trials.' Missions that sometimes spanned the continents, other times dived deep into the depths of the Dungeon. They always pushed Ansem and his own to their very limits, riding the edge of failure, where one wrong step could mean death.

For the deity known as Vishnu, these Trials, were rights of passage. And when completed, they were rewarded generously, and bestowed a greater honor by the deity themself.

And currently Vishnu had been far away for some time, with a letter of his last location possibly sent to the Guild awaiting Ansem's arrival. With Vishnu gone, that left someone else had been keeping a careful eye on them.

Someone must have been watching them and caught on, possibly found a pattern. But it made no sense how none of them had caught onto someone tailing them when they were intentionally sporadic. The only explanation he could reason was that much like how the ones who call themselves servants of the First Son of Evilus had become so difficult to track, there must be some who have caught glimpses of their movements, hoping to feed Hermes and the others information on their whereabouts.

Which now left him one hope.

In their time, he could try to pry some useful information from the God of the Trade, a courier of information, there may be some benefit to the delay in following suit after his familia. To put them ahead of the curve, or possibly to turn the tide in this blasted guerilla warfare by combining forces.

To team up with Hermes, and the other deity who lays in hiding. That was his hope. But he was no fool to believe in the impossible, only to give it a chance for the sake of his familia.

"Oh, a talk?" Hermes glanced back into the empty street behind him and then to the rooftops. Once deciding that it was to his liking he stepped out into the middle of the empty street with welcoming arms. "I'll most certainly entertain that."

Standing in the safety and shade of the backstreet, Ansem took a hesitant step forward. Stopping just at the edge of light and darkness. Something didn't feel right, his face winced as he processed it.

He could feel a pressure in the air, the tension. If he were to step out into that street, he'd be utterly defenseless. No armor. Only his sword. So long as the Hermes stood nearby, no one should make a move. At least that is what he hoped for. No one would dare be insane enough to risk harming a deity. Gazing upon the rooftops he could see the faint lights that stood in wait.

The souls that shimmered and pulsed, all in accordance to their quality. From the lives they have lived, to the things they have overcome. What awaited him out in the street, hidden, ready to attack on the word 'go' was an army.

"You've gathered quite the militia." Ansem said as he stared out to the rooftops. Though it may have been a faint glimmer, blinded by the sunlight, their presence was obvious. A sentiment that caught Hermes off guard. "And considering the circumstances, I don't blame garnering this level of force. But I'm not the monster that you think I am."

Taking a deep breath in, he exhaled as he raised his foot to take that last step.

"-We need your help." Ansem said as he stood in the light of the day, exposing himself to the world that deemed him a monster, inhuman.

Yet Hermes reaction was not of profound shock, nor outright denial. It was silence. He was waiting for more. Waiting for the monster to bleed its heart out and show it's true colors.

"You want to ensure the safety of this city. Right? I bet you're willing to do just about anything. I know this is going to be hard to believe, but hear me out." Ansem held out the palm of his hands as he spoke carefully knowing all eyes were on him. "I want the same thing."

He took a pause, waiting for the defiance that never came. And when he found it ok to continue, he spoke.

"Just like how there is something bad happening up here on the surface, there is something equally horrible that is clawing its way up through the Dungeon. A monster is hellbent on reaching the surface. And everytime we kill it, it's summoned again near the same spot, on the same floor where's it been killed. And everytime we go there, we find bodies of people who fit the description like those who just bombed Babel." He gestured out to the tower that still stood tall. Undeterred by the bombings as if they were nothing more than fireworks.

"There is a connection between the two. There has to be. Whether it's two factions with similar agendas, or one operating on two fronts; I'm not sure. But my familia have lost so many, our resources are drying up. If we are to have any chance in stopping this thing, all of it, we need to work together."

He couldn't go to Hera. None of them felt like they could risk letting the goddess who gave them a home, bear such a burden. To be questioned, convicted and possibly exiled for all of the wrong reasons.

Nor could they take the jobs from Vishnu and risk leaving the Dungeon unattended, leaving the monster to run free. To allow the Harbinger to make its charge to the surface.

They were running out of options and resources. And Ansem bet it all on this moment. A last ditch attempt to salvage the hope they all needed. To combine forces and take it all head on.

Or die holding it down.

"What you're saying is that you all won't last much longer, is that right?" Hermes gently queued back to him baring no particular expression. None that held any contempt or kindness.

"Exactly." Ansem as he held his distance from the deity. "This isn't something any of us can win on our own. If we are to have any chance, any hope,-."

"Stop." Hermes abruptly said in a manner so cold that he couldn't help but oblige.

"That's quite the stirring speech." Hermes said with an unusual look of appreciation on his face. "Words so sweet and full of heart that they could stir anyone up. But I won't fall for those lies."

"What?" Ansem answered flatly. "Did you not hear anything I just said?"

He took a step forward, only for Hermes to take a step back. Determined to keep his distance.

"Oh I heard you. But I was also warned about precisely this. You know it pays to do your research."

"So there was someone." Ansem mumbled as his face became suddenly focused on the bit of information. But immediately his mind switched gears to focus on the present moment before him. "Look, I know things look bad right now, but this is only going to get a lot worse if we don't work together."

"We already are working together, Ansem." Hermes said politely but with words so sharp there was no denying what he meant. "You made sure of that. You forced it all to come to this with all of the lives you have taken, corrupted and killed. "
"I- I didn't. I'm telling you that none of what's been happening up here has been under my command. You have to believe me, Hermes." Ansem pleaded. "I never wanted this, any of this. This isn't the life I'd want for my children. For anyone!"

"Then you should have thought twice before pretending to play god." Hermes' voice rang cold with apathy.

At every opportunity, Ansem and Serene would host solo operations under the cover of night, leaving key bits of information on the Evilus threat. All in hopes of them being recognized as separate entities from the one's currently attacking the city. And what Hermes' words meant was that he and the others have actively been ignoring Ansem's and Serene's own information that they had left for them.

That their efforts had been for nought.

Whoever this person was who had been feeding Hermes information that he had the utmost faith in. They had successfully thwarted Ansem's and Serene's every attempt to salvage not only their reputation, but also the safety of their familia.

All he ever thought about was the safety and future of his own. And sometimes it seemed that it was all he could think about to where it became a bad habit.

"Oh no.." Ansem said, taking a step back as the color fell from his face. Realizing what was about to happen.

"Now normally, I'm not one to gloat." Hermes said as he opened his arms revealing the barren streets. That they had this planned. Hermes took a step closer to Ansem. And then another. "But you lost. You're surrounded with nowhere to go. And we are very eager to end this. So if you'll come willingly, we can then move onto the others."

Ansem shook his head as it all was finally hitting him as he slowly backed away. There never was any hope for cooperation. It was going to be just him and his own. Fighting and dying until the last one drops. And then who knows what would happen when the Beast makes its way to the surface? Would they finally believe the words he said? Would they believe his warnings?

"And if you come peacefully, then the I can personally guarantee that none of your familia are placed in harm's way."

All of the information that Ansem and Serene have carefully fed them on their own observations on the surface being put to waste, he couldn't allow to waste any more time here. Not on a lost cause.

"But, again, that's only if you come peacefully."

He needed to get back to Serene.

To Muro.

Asurien.

"…-I need to get back to Tessaryne." He muttered words that he didn't know he had said aloud. The gap was closing between him and Hermes, who eagerly took a step forward.

"Don't draw this out any longer, Ansem."

But upon uttering that name of the girl they had adopted, it was as if someone pulled the air so tight that none could breathe. Ansem felt a burning gaze upon and then instinct kicked in.

Hermes stood at arms distance away, just close enough that Ansem could push him away from the area of the attack, and with the blink of an eye he drew his sword and thrust it to the sky.

The attack came from the direction of the sun. Blinding him, he had only one hope and that was to block. With the full force of the attack falling on his sword, he could feel the blows force travel through his arm and buckling his knees as the ground began to cave.

As the shadow of the attacker loomed over him, he opened his squinting eyes where he met the hazel eyes that seemed all too familiar. For a moment he thought it was Tessaryne adorning armor that looked foreign on her, but the dark red hair that was carefully tied into a bun was something she would never do, nor had she ever faced him with such a disdainful glare.

Then came the realization that this was not Tessaryne.

The next sensation was a swift and solid kick to Ansem's gut as the attacker leapt away from Ansem and his block. Sending him to the ground near Hermes. Immediately Ansem recovered and landed on his feet and held his sword out.

Her blade was drawn out and the light shimmered off of metal. A blade forged by hands that had spent a lifetime honing. It was the first time he had encountered this woman who bore such a resemblance to Tessaryne. And never had she spoken much about her family since their passing in the Kobold desert. Only had they known from the traveler's log that it was Tessaryne and her parents amongst the individuals attacked by monsters. But what if the people who were attacked weren't the entirety of her family?

Ansem could now see it. The motivation, the drive. Her reason.

Then came a growl as their eyes locked.

"Where is my sister?"

Ansem stood with his sword at the ready to defend any attack, but the words that graced his ears shook him. Tessaryne had never told them that she had family to go home to, only that she chose to stay with them. Inside the deepest parts of the woman before him, he could see the torrent of emotion.

Flowing emotions of wrath and love. A raging fire that could not be snuffed out. It was a fire that burned a shade darker than the flame he had seen in Tessaryne's own soul. But there was no doubt, this was in fact her own sister.

Ansem prepared himself to speak, to assure her that she's safe. Freeing one hand from the hand and a half grip, he held out his palm to create a gentle buffer. To show that he didn't want to fight.

"Wait-.." Was all he could muster before his voice was overwhelmed by the deity behind him.

"Vera, what are you doing?" Hermes shouted as he sat on the ground, trying to scramble from Ansem who was within arm's distance and weapon drawn..

Ansem turned to see the expression of the deity. The fear in Hermes' voice was unmistakable, his expression perfectly rational. Fear at being so close to what the city perceived as evil incarnate. Whatever posture of power that Hermes had, vanished with Vera's sudden and unplanned introduction. It created an unknown number of variables, that much was evident.

They locked eyes only for a second, where in the distance voices could be heard calling out to the newcomer, Vera, making their pleas to have her return. That this wasn't the plan.

But in those few seconds, Hermes glanced at Vera with wide eyes and immediately Ansem turned nearly one-hundred and eighty degrees counter clockwise. His eyes scanned from right to left as he turned, looking for the direction and motion of the attack. The right was clear, he didn't need to worry about the sun affecting his vision. Leaving directly above him and his left side, he found no indication of an attack from the front nor above.

Leaving his left side the prime opportunity to attack.

Her attack came in an instant once she saw the open opportunity to attack.

With both hands braced on the grip of the sword, he swung it perpendicular to the ground with the tip of the blade facing down. Then came the shock from the left as Vera's sword struck the blade held out to guard.

The sound of metal on metal broke the stillness of the air around them. Leaving the only sound of Vera's rushed breath as she steadied herself.

There came no surprise or awe from her. It was as if it was all expected. That she was testing him for weak spots.

Gauging his ability to fight.

She momentarily withdrew, gained new footing and dove in for another attack.

"Hermes, call her off!" Ansem shouted as desperately tried to parry the attack. Those words failed to meet the deity's ears.

"Damn it, Hermes!" Ansem shouted as another attack bore itself down upon his blade. "Please!"

Hermes shrieked at being at the forefront of a battle that no divine being should be exposed to. He scrambled to his feet and ran as the strikes rang out. One after the other. What started as a slow series of swings grew in pace and tempo. He feared for his life, for they operated a level far exceeding his mortal body's capacity to comprehend.

All it would take was a single swing, a misplaced attack, and he could be slayed and return to heaven. The work that he had invested into this world, his goals, his own journey amidst the unpredictable chaotic nature of this realm was in jeopardy.

Gazing up to the rooftops he found the squad of adventurer's under Vera's leadership. Their eyes locked on the battle behind him, watching in awe of the woman they long had admired. The woman they chose to lead them.

But their expressions were mixed, as if they knew of this inevitable moment from the start. A few called out, begging her to stop. Those calls much like Ansem's own were null and void.

As he ran ragged, one of their eyes cast their gaze upon him. It was a girl, a caster. Then her eyes darted to the battle and turned wide.

"LOOK OUT!" Sikora shouted to Hermes as she pointed to the battle.

Hermes couldn't help but stop and turn, it was instinct to evaluate the threat, to determine the course of action to survive. He had anticipated there would be an attack directed at him, one that maybe he could leap out of the way of and dive into safety.

What he saw was nothing what he expected.

There came a light not from the streets, but from the rooftops. From this distance they looked like volleys of fireworks, bulbs of white light being cast into the sky, arching slowly. All aimed at one point.

They weren't fireworks, but a series of attacks being cast from the rooftops with the sole exception of the lone adventurer fighting the First Son of Evilus.

Vera held her sword high, her words dulled by the sound of the incoming attack.

Hermes' eyes grew wide at the sight. It was but a series of short moments that unraveled into a mess. And though they anticipated this section of the city becoming a battlefield and had quietly evacuated a portion of it. There were still citizens residing here.

With the massive volley of magic beginning to descend, when it made impact, Hermes quivered at the thought that they may be no different than the monster they had hoped to stop. None of this wasn't supposed to happen. All of the commands and procedures that were implemented were ignored. It was the human, or rather, mortal reaction. To be on the precipice of victory, to be willing to do anything to succeed.

And much like the domino effect, it all started with the action of one individual who defied the will of the gods.

Hermes cast his eyes upon Vera, who roared as she finished her cast causing a beam of red light to pierce the sky.

Then it all came crashing down.

Hermes closed his eyes and waited for the shockwave. A shockwave that never came. And when he opened his eyes he found before him a short stature girl with a large hat who spoke at a rapid pace. Casting a spell, a glow enveloped them both, and a transparent dome of purple light encapsulated them.

"△▼△▼△▼△"

5.

With their speed, and coordinated movements, Serene and the others made it roughly three-quarters of the way to the entrance of the Dungeon before they all came to a stop. If they had continued, they would have made it to their destination in no time.

"Something's not right." Tessaryne stopped as she pulled back the hood of her cloak and leaned forward. Her face was flushed, and her breath rapid as sweat dotted her face. Hunched over she looked as if she were about to vomit.

Serene and Eisiah followed suit, dropping the hoods of their cloaks. Serene glanced to the others, where she assumed they had remained hidden.

"Only us." Serene said to the hidden members. Indicating that any more people revealing themselves could draw unwanted attention.

"Again?" Eisiah said as he approached Tessaryne, who nodded as she leaned into his side.

Serene stood silent as she watched them. It wasn't the first time that this had happened for Tessaryne, it had happened time and time again in the past twelve years that they had her. Slowly it developed, becoming greater in its effect on Tessaryne. It came on like a fever, but it was no illness. There came what she could only describe as auditory hallucinations, but she had no previous diagnosed psychosis. She was and always has been perfectly healthy.

Mentally and physically.

The members surrounding them had no clue what was afflicting her. But Serene stood still because she knew that Tessaryne wasn't the first to experience this sudden and recurring unease.

"Just like Raiden." Serene said quietly, it confirmed all of her suspicions.

Upon hearing that, Tessaryne met Serene's gaze. And though she could only see the expression that bares itself on her face, and not her soul that rests within, there was no mistaking what was going through her mind.

"Ansem's in trouble." Serene said.

Tessaryne nodded as she returned to hunch forward as she steadied her breath. One calm breath came, and then another as she stood straight up.

Throughout the time that they had raised Tessaryne, she was always always the one eager to provide care for Ansem after a battle once she had found out the secret of his ailment. No matter how often he told her not to worry, regardless of the injury, she always provided care with the help of Raiden. Often her arms were covered in his blood, staining her clothes and skin.

But she paid it no mind. Though she was a child, she knew of the lengths that both Ansem and Serene were willing to go. And when Raiden retired that left solely Tessaryne to provide the care he needed after obtaining an injury in battle, or from the many trials that Ansem had undertaken from Vishnu.

It was a connection forged from blood.

"I have to go back." Tessaryne declared through her exhaustion she had already taken a few steps forward. "It's not good."

"What are you talking about, you're not going-?" Eisiah began before he was stopped mid sentence.

Before Tessaryne took another step forward she immediately turned back to Eisiah as if something suddenly crossed her mind. "One quick thing-.."

In a swift movement, Tessaryne swung one hand behind Eissiahs head, and pulled his lips to hers. Tessaryne closed her eyes for a passionate kiss, while Eisiah's eyes remained wide and his face blushed as his hands instinctively hovered over body.

It was evident that every part of him was in conflict from the lifestyle and culture that was ingrained in him. But in that moment, his eyes relaxed, and his hands gently rested on the armor.

Their lips parted and their foreheads rested against one another.

"I wanted to save that for later once this was all done, but I guess we'll have to finish it when I get back." Tessaryne said faintly, words for only his ears. And though her eyes were content, relaxed and closed, Eisiah couldn't help but admire every single detail of her face while it was so close to his.

At first, Eisiah stuttered and fell over his words.

"You're not going." Eisiah's voice trembled his heart fluttered, trying to maintain any and all composure.

"I have to. Besides, you're too slow to stop me. You can't even get breakfast."

"-You better come back." Eisiah demanded with a faint trembling.

His walls, his will that was steeled much like an iron blade was all a front that was crafted for him in the life before him. He knew it and so did she.

Never once had they talked about it. There was never any need to.

She knew of the character, of the heart that rests behind those walls.

Sliding her hand to his cheek, she gave it a gentle pat.

"I'm not running away. Not from you." Tessaryne smiled as she gave him a wink.

Eisiah's face remained blushed, with a soft gaze as he watched her take her steps away from the group.

"Nothing reckless." Serene carefully warned Tessaryne before she left.

"Never." Tessaryne slyly said before darting off.

Eisiah stood frozen, his tongue in knots, and his hands clenched tight as his gaze locked onto her fading figure adorning the majestic armor that she had long spent crafting. Though Serene knew he would never admit it, since his first declaring of her initial addition to the familia as nothing more than an act lower than pity, he had grown profoundly in love.

"△▼△▼△▼△"

6.

Riveria hustled through the streets of Orario in a brisk walk. She had no desire for distractions, or detours. She simply wore a focused gaze that would lead her to her destination. Ignorant of any and all that was around her in her task of retrieving the man named Mathis, who had given them the water from what Amid had learned was from the Spring of Life.

She was eager to complete the task before her of finding and returning with Mathis, as it was merely to get the conversation between her and Loki out of the way. As she was caught redhanded with withholding information from Loki thanks to Amid. There was still much she had to understand about the sudden development between Aiz and this stranger.

While she had hoped that she would have time to make sense of this, events had decided otherwise. And instead, she relented any sense of control over the matter, and sought only to focus on the task before her.

Each step brought her closer to the Dian Cecht building that housed the resting. She knew that was the destination. But as she traveled southwest, each step brought a nagging feeling that yearned for her to change direction and head southeast.

A sensation that never in all of her years had she experienced. And much like the cries that were only for her ears, it was nerve wracking and frustrating at how something she had no control over was beginning to afflict her.

"-Was I not suppose to bring it up?" A voice rang from her side.

Broke free from her tunnel vision, she had finally realized that Amid had been trying to keep up throughout the entire trek to the infirmary run by the Dian Cecht familia. At first she was surprised, though her face didn't show it.

Riveria could only assume what Amid was referring to was about mentioning the location of the man named Mathis, specifically mentioning Aiz being involved with his whereabouts.

"It wasn't ideal, but something was bound to happen." Riveria said brushing off Amid off.

"Ahh.." Amid simply said. "Well I'm sorry if it overstepped any familial boundaries."

Keeping the peace, being polite, Amid was purely being Amid.

"Don't worry yourself about it." Riveria said flatly, and that was the honest truth in her eyes. Now that her tunnel vision was broken, her eyes wandered from side to side. Occasionally her jade eyes made contact with the various citizens of the city. Some quickly looked away, others held their gaze long and hard.

Gazes that seemed far too intense than what she was used to.

Word had spread already, has it?

It wouldn't matter, they weren't that far out from the infirmary and soon all that'd be left would be the trek back with Mathis in tow.

"I mean, I know it's already difficult, with Aiz and Bell. They look kinda cute together, wouldn't you say?" Amid began to ramble on her observations from the day prior. "So I guess it was a little strange that she brought Mathis in."

Riveria shook her head once more. She didn't know how, but apparently some of the others were catching on to how Aiz was growing fond of the rising star. They're training was held in private, and they didn't actively seek eachother out to spend time together.

A woman's intuition, she pondered as an explanation.

She was happy for Aiz, to have found someone like that in her life, but they were separated by the familias that they were contracted to.

They may be on good terms one day, and much like the battle of Daedalus street, they may face each other once more on opposing sides. There was no escaping that possibility. Familia's clash, while they either rise or fall. That was the nature of life here for adventurer's. There would be no everlasting peace. The fall of Zeus and Hera were prime examples.

Though to have their bond maintained despite their clashes, she began to hope for them.

"You don't there's a little-, you know, love triangle going on? Aiz has gained quite a bit of a following in her time as an adventurer."

"Don't be ridiculous. You're basing that off of the few observations you personally have made." Riveria plainly said, as they closed in on their approach of the Dian Cecht building.

"Oh." Amid's words came to a halt. And there Riveria realized the harshness of her words.

"I'm not upset with you, but I'd rather not talk about such things. Instead, are there any updates you can give me on Bell and his familia?" Riveria cast her a careful glance as they made their way through the now lively streets.

"There really isn't much to report on, Riviera." Amid began. "I've been working on the potion that you've given me, which should be around today that I'll have it finished and ready for administration. But other than that, they'll be resting. For how long?- I'm not sure."

Their shoes gently thud across the cobblestone street, as they walk side-by-side. Two captains from different familias, coordinating care for a third familia. It was a very unlikely thing to see and witness.

If it weren't for the outstanding circumstances between them, one would think that the barriers between familias would be broken down for a greater cause. But for the Dian Cecht familia, who primarily operated in the medical side of the familial operations, they remained vastly neutral in their relations with other familias.

Only in times of great need would there be unity across the city. Even then, it would be a fragile and very temporary alliance. This was the way of the familias in Orario.

"But I'm certain they'll make a full recovery. Like I said, once the potion is administered, rest should be all that they need." Amid continued.

"Good." Riviera said flatly, she was grateful this was the case. If any else were to succumb to what the Harbinger had released upon them, then she feared that would only tear whatever hope there was at recovering from this incident between familias.

"It's very likely that this won't be the last that we'll see of injuries like these." Riviera began with a careful tone, carrying the weight of a warning that caused Amid to wince in surprise. "This potion, we'll need more of it."

Riviera couldn't imagine the weight that Amid already carried as the captain of her familia. But from those words alone, Amid was able to understand that the monster that had caused these injuries will return.

"And in case the worst does happen, may I ask that we obtain them?"

The whispers that traveled through the city was undeniable. Though her time was spent carefully attending to the sick and injured, word had traveled to her ears from her cohorts of the events that had transpired in the dungeon.

Though she was able to piece together that while the words seemed to carry a vile tinge to them, the actions and sentiment the Loki familia carried with them over the Hestia familia were anything but vile.

"I'll do my best." Amid said as they reached the entrance to Dian Cecht infirmary.

"Thank you." Riviera said as she opened the door.

They strolled down a few hallways and up a flight of stairs to the second floor, rounding a few corners they reached the hallway that overlooked the main street where the Guild was located. Passing Finn's room, as well as the few others who choose to stay and receive care after the battle between two irregulars, they reached the far end of the hallway and stopped right at the door that held Bell's familia.

"He's right in here."

Amid stood aside as she slowly opened it. Bell's familia were the first in view as the door opened from left to right.

Scanning the room with the sweeping motion of the door, she found of all Bell's familia resting. As the door fully opened, Amid peered in where she anticipated Mathis to lay resting.

"Are you sure he's in this room?"

Amid paused and glared at the empty bed that held only the man's backpack.

"He was.." Amid tiptoed through the silent room and ventured to Mathis' bag."Or at least he should have been."

Riveria stood in place and hesitantly followed behind. Stopping in the middle of the resting her gaze became distracted. It was the first time that she had checked on them since they reached the surface and the sight of them still recovering gave her a sense of unease. Amid had told that their recovery was going along well as she tried to decipher the elixir that Mathis had made. It was great news. Riviera hoped that soon they'd be awake, and this trouble would be behind them.

But with Mathis' warning, that trouble would continue on for others.

"He left." Amid shook her head and pursed her lips. "But I'm guessing that because he left his bag, he'll be coming back."

Amid gently flung the strap of the backpack as she laid it back down onto the bed. Daring not to try and lift it after witnessing the weight of it.

"-We could wait?" Amid offered uncertainty as her mildly irritated gaze hovered over the resting familia.

Realistically it was about the best option that any normal person would have. Orario, with all of it's nooks and crannies, was a fairly large place to search for someone. Unless you had someone actively tracking a target, it'd be pretty difficult.

But whatever this feeling was, Riveria couldn't ignore it.

"You can wait here. I'll go look for him." Riveria said quietly, careful not to disturb the resting.

"Wait, how can you be so certain that you'll find him?"

"I'm not. But I'd rather not waste time standing idly around." Riveria said as she reached the open door.

"Oh, well, good luck then. Just when you're done with him, will you kindly bring him back here? I doubt he'd run off, but I also doubt this would be the first place he'd return to."

"Very well."

Wishing Riveria the best, she left, leaving Amid to continue her duties. As well as waiting for the eventual return of one of her patients.

As Riveria left the building, she began her journey through the maze of the city.

"△▼△▼△▼△"

7.

Tucked away in a small side street, two sets of eyes carefully watch Ansem from a distance. Hermes hugged the wall as he peeked out from around the corner, peering at Ansem's back as he stood in the empty street.

If his memory served to be correct, they were close to where it all happened.

"Is that so?" Hermes asked while sheltering his eyes from the sun above. His face fostered a look of stern focus as the news graced his ears.

Asfi had tailed him for the past twenty four hours, keeping a careful eye on him and his interactions. And occasionally she pried by asking a few disguised questions. They all led her to one conclusion.

"Damn, that makes things much more difficult."

"Asfi." Hermes quietly whispered to the captain of his familia. She stood a short distance away, holding her helmet as if she were prepared to take flight. Taking a deep breath he returned to the side street and turned to her. "Whatever happens, I'd like you to refrain from interfering."

Asfi squinted her eyes suspiciously at him.

"No matter what happens, I want to handle this myself. And only myself." His heavy words softly made it to her ears, certain for them to be heard by her and only her. "Do you understand?"

"I do."

Asfi's expression remained narrowed as she put on her helmet. Disappearing from the world, leaving Hermes to walk out into the street not far from where Ansem stood. Hermes had to have gone mad, bonkers to think this was any sort of good idea. But the facts still remained that none of it had truly ended with Forher's Right.

That was the quiet deduction from the god of trade, as he witnessed the rise and falls of familias. The coming and going of mortal lives, one's who fought valiantly.

The passage of time for a god could happen in the blink of an eye. But as he bore his sight upon Ansem's back, it all felt like it was so long ago. And from what he had seen, it appeared the man hadn't aged.

Wondering what truth actually laid in the words that he spoke. Hermes couldn't help but think of how differently things would've gone if he had listened.

Blessedly ignorant.

Divine stubbornness.

"Hello, Ansem." There was no smile, no sly expression, just a vacant face carefully watching the man who he knew practically nothing about. A fact that now he was willing to admit. Hermes stood before the man with great caution, for he was the one who they all believed was capable of such great violence, and on that dreaded day he showed so little.

Upon hearing his name by that voice, he could see the tension in Ansem's right fist that hung by his side clenched, as he slowly turned to face Hermes. Hermes could see the torrent of emotion in Ansem's eyes as they met.

"-It's been a while."

Facing Hermes, he could see that it was like Ansem hadn't aged a day. Nor had he forgotten. Hermes couldn't help but notice the lack of his sword, but the remaining empty clip that would've held its sheath. And much of his attire was bare and fresh. He looked stripped of so much that he had.

The scowl that grew on features that bordered the divine, looked menacing beyond comparison. Ansem said no words, all he did was take a step towards Hermes. Instinctually, Hermes' body yearned to take a step back at a feasible attempt of securing his own safety. But he calmed that desire and remained still with firm footing before Ansem.

From grief to anger. It was as undeniable as it was unavoidable. The only way to face it was head on.

"△▼△▼△▼△"

8.

Vera's blade came swinging down towards Ansem, leaving a vacuum in its wake. He could only side step it's path or risk losing his sword in an attempt to parry the blow. The latter being something that was vowed could never happen.

Side stepping clear of the strike,Vera's blade struck the ground leaving her side and back vulnerable.

In a swift movement, Ansem navigated the space and positioned himself behind her. Kicking the back of her leg, she stumbled to the ground. As he was preparing a strike to the base of her skull to incapacitate her, Vera swung her armored left arm out striking him with her elbow clean in his side.

The force sent him skidding across the ground on his belly. With the grip on his sword never faltering, he grimaced as the pain swelled through his body.

She had speed, strength in comparison to most high leveled adventurers. He had did his best to avoid dealing any intense injuries, as he pleaded with her, but just like Hermes it was all for naught.

Rising to his feet, he clenched his sword. Recovering his breath just as Vera took the time to steady herself.

It may have been five or ten minutes, but the wear on the body that happens in battle makes everything feel like hours.

Most battles often felt this way. The longer they were drawn out, the greater the likelihood of there being a mistake made. Hence a battle of attrition is naturally one to be avoided. In order to assure victory, it pays to be quick and decisive. To do one's research on their target, and to understand their weaknesses.

Which was precisely what Vera was doing. Ansem didn't fully understand how, but she had a fairly competent understanding of how he operates.

That only furthered the reason why he needed to end this quickly.

"This has to stop." Ansem said aloud, "Yield."

Raising his sword, he pointed the tip of the blade to Vera as she struggled to rise to her own feet. Her armor tinked and clanked as the plates rubbed against one another, as gravity pulled her down.

"As long as I breathe, as long as I know she's out there, I will never yield." Vera growled. Her will remained steadfast, and her determination for that one thing unshaken no matter the obstacle.

"I will bring her home." Vera growled as she bore her teeth.

"NOW!" Vera's voice roared with the command.

Ansem's eyes held a brief confusion until he saw the volley of magic that had begun their arch towards them from the rooftops behind her. A shot of adrenaline coursed through his body as it screamed to run. To flee from the incoming attack that would surely engulf both Ansem and Vera.

There was to be no escape. This carpet bomb of a magic attack would cover a wide area, decimating any escape route.

But that wasn't his concern.

How could they be so willing to act like the thing that they want to destroy the most? How many people are going to be caught in this attack?

This was the desperate measures that the protectors of this city had decided to take. In comparison to the terrorists that haunt this city, they both acted on the extreme on both ends of a spectrum.

Fear gripped their hearts. To where they felt this was the only way.

As the volley began coming down around them, magic blasts shook the air as they made impact with the buildings and streets that surrounded them. Neither of the two flinched from the deafening impacts.

Instead, Vera rose. Pointing her sword to the sky, she began to summon a spell. Her words falling null over the sound of the blasts. And there came a red light from the very tip of her sword.

"-Of Dawn."

Those were the only words Ansem's ears were able to hear as a violent red beam of magical energy was summoned from the sky. It looked as if it breached the heavens, baring a divine wrath to any in its path.

Vera's eye glared upon Ansem.

Then she cast the attack, swinging her sword down like a hammer against an anvil. It's red light raced down the streets with a distorted roar of noise.

How did it come to this? Ansem thought in this perilous moment. He never knew why someone had decided to take his name, his likeness, and place such a terrible reputation upon it. To drag it in the mud.

More than likely, he'd never find out. But he dare not resign himself to a death by Vera's hands. There was much work left to be done. To keep his familia safe, to make sure that they can live a life free of the terror of the Dungeon, and the forces of the city above.

He wouldn't rest.

Nor kneel.

Hunkering down, he grimaced, as he held his sword out. The red light gleaming off of the silver edges of his sword that reflected onto his face.

If he fell, he'd get back up.

After being kidnapped as children, and abandoned in a world that frequently saw them unfit for it's domain, he and Serene had nothing. All that they were left with were the gifts they had been given, their inheritance. Something so intangible, and painful if they ever dared to use it.

Without the intention of searching for them, they began to foster the hopeless as they trekked across the lands. To turn the tide of despair into something brighter. They had found a use for their inheritance, a cause worth facing the pain, to shape the lives surrounding them for the better. To give hope of a future that they all could believe in.

The familia that they built over time were all that he ever had. He dared not lose that.

He shifted his weight forward to lunge, and as he took his first step all of the forward momentum he had conjured had shifted by a foreign entity. In that split second he considered that it was from a blast that had impacted nearby.

From the corner of his eye, he saw what it was.

Tessaryne had raced through the battlefield as the volley of magic rained down around them. She carried a speed unrivaled in the armor she wore, as she dodged the near misses that fell from the sky, like shooting stars hellbent on creating the end of times.

Ignoring the forces that detonated, she ran faster than she ever had. Down the streets that lay in ruin, she reached the epicenter of the battlefield. Standing enguard before her was Ansem preparing himself to act as the red beam of light raced towards him.

It was all in a split second. The moments between the blink of an eye.

Tessaryne tackled Ansem to the ground, sending them both out of the red beam's path. Skidding across the cobblestone road, they rolled and came to a sudden stop as Ansem's back hit the curb of the sidewalk.

A sharp groan escaped his breath as Tessaryne slowly rose to her feet.

"What-?" Ansem uttered in confusion. He had told them all to go, that he wouldn't be far behind.

Tessaryne's long red hair, carefully braided, hung down the right side of her neck across the armor across her chest. Even though she had just arrived, she appeared to be in a disheveled state in contrast to the clean condition of her armor.

But her gaze was eerily locked onto the target before her. The one who sought to do Ansem harm. Brandishing her sword out in front of her, she was determined to hold her ground. Through Ansem's eyes, he could see the ferocity that blazed within her.

An amber fire was set ablaze within her. The fire beat and coursed through her like a drum being beat. The fire of her soul was full of wrath and rich with the power to inflict harm, but it never had any desire to do so. At the center of the amber fire, in the center of her being, a white light shimmered like the core of a star.

Pure.

Benevolent.

Even after the atrocities that she had witnessed in the Kobold desert, that light remained. Clinging onto the threads of hope that strained by the weight of the trauma that surrounded her.

That was why Ansem chose to do something incredibly selfish. Before she was given the choice to return home, or to join their flock for as long as she saw fit, it was discussed with the rest of their familia about giving her the choice. And in their familia there was one rule, it had to be a unanimous decision. All but one was in agreement in offering her refuge.

It was none other than Eisiah.

It's an act lower of pity. His words were like daggers, and his unrelenting disdain for those who he felt were beneath him were often overlooked because of Ansem's sight. To see into his being and witness the quality of his soul. But it was different this time, Eisiah's total apathy was uncalled for and sparked something that even Serene hadn't seen.

As composed as he was, Ansem was pissed. He vowed one thing if she were to accept.

Then I'll do it myself. -To bear the weight of raising a child who was not their own, to where Eisiah would have no stake or say in her raising. It would all be on him. No one else.

To protect that fragile grip to hope she had.

Laying on his side in the torn streets of Daedalus, he gazed upon her as the volley's of magic rained down around them. She'd grown into such a mature, capable woman. Strong in body, mind and heart. And though he knew he could never replace the father she lost, he felt that if he were to have a daughter, surely he'd choose no one other than her.

But now she was the last person he wanted to see here. Bearing no mind to Vera, he wanted to keep her far away from this standoff. To stay far away from the forces that actively hunted them down. Because to them, to the protectors of this city, she would be nothing more than collateral damage.

But to Vera-?

"Tess?" Vera quietly uttered wide eyed as she gazed upon her sister who held her blade out enguard to Vera. Ignoring the blasts that breach the air around her and Ansem. Gone was the fragile little girl that she had called her younger sister. In her place was someone else entirely.

As reality set in, an anxiety followed. The person she wanted to bring home was in the middle of the battlefield.

"Hold your fire!" Vera called out, but the volley didn't cease. What they saw was backup for the man that the city feared.

"I said, 'stop firing' damn it!" Vera roared as she looked at the surrounding rooftops. Only then did the attacks come trickling to a stop.

With the dust shifting as the air pulses through the air like the world breathing around them, it slowly settles to the ground.

Lowering her sword, Vera hesitantly took a step forward as the dust settled around her. Her gaze locked onto her little sister.

It had been so long since she had seen her. Fourteen, maybe fifteen years now? For so long she had thought she was dead until she had received word of a smith roaming with a nomadic group of adventurer's. A smith adorned with hazel eyes and hair the color of a deep glistening red Upon hearing that news, she set out with the armor and sword she had crafted to track her down.

To bring back what family she could after all that she had lost. And aside from the Uncle that awaited Vera back in Rakia, Tessaryne was all that Vera had.

"You're really alive." She uttered under her breath in relief and awe, and then she held out her hand and spoke firmly. "You're coming home."

Tessaryne winced upon hearing her voice, with her gaze locked upon the attacker, she firmly held her sword out before her, ready for anything. Then she heard another voice.

"Sister-.." Ansem groaned as he got onto one knee. Only then did that break Tessaryne's focus, as she carefully watched him return to his own two feet with a grimace at hearing that word.

He briefly checked the devastation behind them, and the street lay in ruin from Vera's attack. The street was gouged down the middle and the buildings surrounding it had their faces blown off.

Anyone who dwelled in these homes would either be severely wounded or wishing they were dead.

"That's not happening." Tessaryne called out calmly to Vera.

"You have a sister?" Ansem asked in a whisper as he stood close to Tessaryne.

"Only by blood. She made sure of that." Tessaryne reluctantly said.

Ansem glanced back to Vera who waited with a scowl on her face as she watched Ansem stand so close to her sister.

"Can you resolve this?" Ansem offered but Tessaryne only shook her head.

"No. She's-…" Tessaryne paused for the right word but it never came. "It's better if we get out of here quickly, do you have anything up your sleeve?"

"Hey! You get away from her you bastard!" Vera shouted.

"You don't want to straighten anything out with her?"

"You don't do what she did, and expect forgiveness. Family doesn't do that.." Tessaryne firmly said. Ansem could see the pain that dwelled within her just from the sight of her sister. Whatever she had put Tessaryne through was enough to drive her away from her. The last straw. That Vera was the reason why she didn't want to return home. The reason why she never brought her up..

Whatever it was, now wasn't the time to ask. All he could do was agree, that truly it was better for them to flee under the cover of one of his spells.

"Alright. I can do auroras. That should give them a bit of a distraction so we can get out of her. Can you buy me some time?" He knew that so long as Vera was dealt with, he could try to concurrent chanting to avoid whatever magic attacks came his way. But that also meant he wouldn't be able to attack. If he was solo, then he'd be concerned, but he trusted Tessaryne and her capabilities.

After everything they had gone through, he was fully confident of her strengths, knowledgeable of her weaknesses, and determined to keep her safe.

"Tessaryne, you're going to come with me. That is not optionable!"

"Of course." Tessaryne said as she gripped her sword tightly.

"Thank you. Just watch out. She has a real mean habit of finding your blindspots." Ansem warned but upon uttering the warning, Tessaryne grimaced. She knew that already.

"△▼△▼△▼△"

9.

Hermes gave in to the expression of sheer anger that adorned Ansem's face, backing up with every step that Ansem advanced.

"I-.. I-.." Hermes stuttered, not out of nervousness, but only when he turned his gaze briefly behind him to check his path, to avoid tripping on the curb, then his mind would continue its thought. "I'd like to have a few words with you. If you don't mind."

Ansem's glare never changed and no words were uttered.

"Ansem, please-.." Hermes politely requested as the shade of the alley covered them. "We can talk this through."

Ansem stopped and dropped his head, that was the first reaction Hermes had gotten out of him.

"Talk?" Ansem said back with a trembling voice and a shaking fist. "You want to talk?"

"Yes. If that's-.."

"So you can do what exactly?" Ansem cut him off with a scornful tone.

"Pardon?" Hermes tilted his head, whatever headway he thought he was gaining suddenly vanished.

"Lure me into another trap?" Ansem clenched his fist. "Well I'm right here, and I don't see another army of yours."

"-To ask for your help." Hermes said, correcting him. He hoped that would be enough to calm him down. But what he didn't anticipate was the sudden sensation of being gripped and swung to the wall of the alley. It had happened so fast that his mind couldn't comprehend it. The sheer force of it thrust his hat free from his skull, revealing his orange hair.

It was a bitter reminder that even now, Hermes was confined to a mortal body. Limited to the rules that he had vowed upon his entry to this realm. But here was someone given a faulna, some diety's ichor, exceeding the normal capacity for speed and strength, leaving Hermes at the receiving end of it.

Then his eyes grew wide. A fist slammed into the brick wall just inches from the right side of his face, and he trembled. The bricks were turned to dust and his right ear rang.

"You have the audacity to ask that, after I begged, begged, for your help? After I begged for you to call off Vera? After I told you I wanted Tessaryne buried." Ansem gripped the collar of Hermes' shirt.

"That never was the plan.." Hermes grimaced as Ansem pushed him against the wall. "It wasn't meant to end like that. No one was meant to die."

"Bullshit." Ansem yanked Hermes against the wall, with the sound of rustled fabrics and a soft thud from the impact. "You threatened my familia. And now they're all gone. You got exactly what you wanted."

Hermes gasped, as his mouth opened and closed, desperately trying to get air as Ansem slowly held him up, leaving his feet to dangle and kick the wall.

"They. Are. All. Gone." Ansem's red face was adorned with tears for the fallen. For the ones he tried so hard to protect. "You won, Hermes. You got what you wanted."

"Ansem-.." Hermes struggled to say as he gripped Ansems hands, trying to pry them loose to get as much air as possible. "-I'm sorry."

"That won't bring them back!" Ansem roared in agony and rage as he squeezed tighter. "Your thoughts and prayers mean nothing!"

The color of Hermes' face started to shift and changed as the air that his body desperately gasped for lacked, and the blood that his body needed was blocked. Darkness slowly crept in from the corner of his eyes. Surely he'd lose consciousness first, as his mortal body's brain would be deprived of oxygen. Then shortly thereafter, his heart would stop.

"You're a god! You're supposed to be so much more than any of us could ever be!"

What would follow would surely be what Ansem would have anticipated. Hermes' arcanum would be released in a violent explosion. Engulfing them both, and while Hermes may safely return to Heaven, Ansem would be obliterated.

"So why couldn't you listen?!"

Hermes would be barred from returning to the mortal realm. All of the work that he had invested would collapse from under itself without his care, and his familia that he had built would be forced to search for a new home.

"Why couldn't you see I was telling the truth?!"

There was still so much he had left. For himself. For his plans. For so many others. Perhaps this is what it felt like for Ansem. To be so close to losing it all.

"Why didn't you see my soul?! All you had to do was look!"

"Not.. All.. Gods can see-.." Hermes struggled. "-Souls."

But Ansem's grip remained unrelenting, and all it took for his time to come to an end was for Ansem to squeeze a little harder.

"Ansem-.." Hermes gasped with what breath he could conjur, and he looked him in the eyes. Then came words that he struggled to speak. "It's been a long time.."

"How long?" Ansem writhed as he asked the question in agony. It was an answer he that persisted in avoiding him. With no record of the Forher's Right, the Trial, he felt blind and bare. But even in the short time he had returned, he yearned to avoid it as it was further proof that all that he had known was gone.

"Four-hundred years." The words barely escaped Hermes' lips as Ansem grip allowed the air for only a moment. Yet Hermes persisted in speaking with so little air as the darkness crept in from the corner of his eyes.

"Don't-.." If this were to be the last breath he mortal frame would experience, then by all means he had one last thing to say as he gripped Ansem's arm and looked him in the eyes.

"-Become the monster we wanted you to be."

The anger and grief adorning Ansem's face faded into soley grief. An emotion not only sourced by his loss, but at the taboo he was at the cusp of completing. And when that realization hit him, Ansem released his grip, dropping Hermes.

Hermes sunk against the wall behind him as his legs barely held any strength to hold him up. Ansem staggered backwards, his hand still reaching out empty with a look of shock on his face.

Hermes reached for his throat, coughing and gasping for air as he leaned forward resting his elbows on his knees. Sweet relief rushed through his body as his breath returned. Any longer

Reaching for his hat that lay on the ground, he gently patted the dust off of it and rested it on the top of his head.

But upon gazing upon Ansem and the visible shock written on his face, Hermes couldn't help but wonder aloud.

"How long has it been for you?"

Ansem's red face, trembled as he gazed off to the world that surrounded them both.

"Five days." Ansem said. Then the weight of Hermes' words finally struck Ansem, causing him to cup his hand over his mouth and close his eyes as the disorientation set in.

So long was the world that he knew. And so far away it had become. Turning around, Ansem leaned against the wall opposite of Hermes, hiding the waves of emotion that adorn his face as his head sank low.

Hermes let silence fall between them. To give Ansem some space and time to process it. Though he wondered how Ansem could have survived so long without aging a day, and if everything that was said about him was a lie, Hermes hated to admit it; but he was left with more questions than answers. And in the trade of information, that ached within him.

"I know it's hard to believe-.." Hermes gently said, echoing the words that Ansem had shared so long ago, as he watched the man he once was contracted to hunt down barely hold it all together. "Hell, even I questioned my own sanity in the contemplation of such a thing; With the return of the threat that you described so long ago, and everything that had transpired-… No, that's not it." Hermes said, correcting himself.

"-With all the things that we weren't willing to admit, all of the things that we ignored out of fear; over time I've come to realize that you were right. And that with everything that had transpired on those fateful days, and I am truly sorry for what had happened, to you and your familia."

Hermes gazed off into the city, the place that he called home.

Never did Hermes think that he'd be in a position like this, and he was confident that was the same thing coursing through Ansem's currently fragile mind. Yet there remained silence between them.

"With the return of the monster that you tried to warn us of, could only mean that the one behind it all has decided to pick up where they left off."

"What do you mean?" Ansem asked.

"We are on the verge of history repeating itself, Ansem. And that if we are to prevent that tragedy from reoccurring, I feel that utilizing your expertise on the matter may help us all greatly." Hermes stopped as he turned his gaze to Ansem.

"Now you believe me?" Ansem said.

"I do, yes. We need your help. And in turn, I will offer you my own help."

Ansem closed his hand that rested on the wall. Hermes couldn't blame him if he was still angry, full of rage, and facing a torrent of emotion. It wasn't the first time that Hermes had seen someone lose everything and it will likely be the last. That was the curse of being an immortal being in the land of mortals.

"We need to stand together." Hermes said at last.

Grief was inevitable.

"I will help you." Ansem firmly said at last. "And I will do everything in my power to keep those with us safe when it comes to those that align themselves with the Harbinger. But I want to make one thing very clear with you."

Ansem slowly turned away from the wall revealing his reddened face.

"I will never forgive you." Ansem declared with his pointer finger aimed right at Hermes.

Hermes couldn't object to it. Even as a deity, he had no right.

"Very well." Hermes nodded.

There was a faint hesitation in his voice, as he carefully gathered and shaped the words in his mind.

Ansem's gaze subtly shifted to his peripheral view, gazing down the alley. When Hermes followed his gaze, he found nothing, but Ansem looked convinced of something residing in the shade of the alley near them.

"And can you tell her to stop following me?"

Hermes flinched as he glanced at him and then back to the empty space in the alley.

"Wait-?" Hermes began but stopped when he saw Ansem beginning to walk off and out into the street. And when he glanced back to the empty spot, he found Asfi removing her helmet, lifting the veil of invisibility from her figure, then he was struck with an even greater confusion. "He saw you?"

Asfi nodded. "Apparently from the start."

With Ansem's footsteps fading, Hermes dashed out into the street.

"Ansem, wait a minute! Where are you going? There's still much we need to discuss!" Hermes shouted as he came to a stop in the empty streets. Ansem stopped and turned to Hermes.

"I need some space to get my head on straight. Will you let me do that?" Ansem glared at Hermes, not in any rebellious way, but it was an artifact of his previous demeanor. The whirlwind of anger and grief still raged under the poorly constructed facade he had cast upon himself.

"You're not actually going to give me a choice are you?" Hermes said back in his observation which led Ansem to shake his head.

"Not really, no." Ansem flatly said.

Hermes sighed in frustration as he watched Ansem turn away leaving Hermes with Asfi.

"Should I follow?" Asfi curiously asked.

"No. Not this time." Hermes said as he turned to her. "The last thing he needs is to be pestered."

Hermes grew unusually silent, dug his hands into his pockets and started walking in the opposite direction of Ansem.

"That went a lot better than what I was expecting." His voice rang with relief despite the sore sensation that throbbed around his windpipe.

"I'd say that is an understatement." Asfi said. "But what was it that had changed your mind on him?"

"Hmm?" Hermes stopped and then took a long glance to the fading figure behind them. But the view in Hermes' mind was not of the street that was laid before them, but a darkened room with a woman laying still in bed resting. She was stabbed in the gut, but her body bore no wound and breath continued to rise and fall. It was a strange moment when she awakened, and he remembered it so vividly.

The first words that Vera had uttered stained so clearly on his mind.

We were wrong.

"Oh, call it a hunch." Most sane people would seek out revenge against the one that had taken the life of someone they had loved. But instead, when given the chance twice, Ansem didn't fall into the temptation of revenge. Then Hermes paused before turning his gaze to Asfi. "Why didn't you start with him being able to see you?"

Hermes cast a suspecting glare upon Asfi who cooly looked away.

"Because I didn't believe it myself at first, therefore I expected you not to as well unless you saw it for yourself."

"Huh.." Hermes said. "I'd say you thought right. Come on."

Hermes began marching off down the street once more.

"-We have a lot of work to do."

"△▼△▼△▼△"

I beckon the light that resides within,

One pure and whole, to use this body as a vessel.

Whatever progress Vera made in attempting to stand failed as she stumbled back to the ground as her legs trembled with exhaustion. Hearing the incantation beginning, a shot of adrenaline pumped through her vein, urging her body to react, to move. Gripping a chunk of cobblestone in her hand, she grimaced as the world turned black in the corner of her eyes as fought the exhaustion from the onslaught she had endured from her younger sister.

To give shape to the intangible.

To offer its warmth to the damned.

In contrast to the black that surrounded her vision, came a light that began to glow under Ansem's feet. From her squinting eyes, she couldn't quite make out where it came from. It seemed the light was peeking from the cracks of the cobblestone surrounding him, slowly growing, slowly reaching out from him.

There was a window of time that was made available to her as Tessaryne leapt back. She tried to share words asking for Vera to stop.

Come forth, a light whose origin we can't comprehend.

Her head began to wobble, as she gripped the chunk of cobblestone. The darkness grew as her grip on the world around her began to falter.

Come forth the light of the Seraphim.

"I will bring her home." Vera declared as the light grew and the ground trembled.

Whipping the chunk of the cobblestone at mind numbing speed, the stone turned into a blur as it traveled through the air. Not even a fraction of a second later, she knew it hit her mark. She anticipated the ignis fatuus to follow, but it never came. His spell was completed.

And the blinding light engulfed them and before Tessaryne could react, and before Vera could question herself, she leapt forward with her blade out.

It was not fate that she had wanted for her younger sister. Not after all that she had done to her. But she believed that being in this monster's presence had corrupted her soul beyond any repair that she could muster. Her loyalty to this monster was sickening

That this was the only way to save her, after she had given her chance after chance in this battle.

Vera's blade pierced Tessaryne's armor just below her chest, and once Vera was certain of that, she angled her blade up, piercing her heart.

Tessaryne gasped in a faint shriek as her body tensed. Vera could see the white of her hazel eyes, and the haunting expression of death looming on her sister's face. Then came the metallic clank of Tessaryne's sword falling to the ground.

Vera's breath trembled as Tessaryne weakly gripped Vera's face. Trying to grip her armor. To do something, anything to free herself. But it was useless. They both knew it.

"Bully." Tessaryne weakly said with her last breath.

Ansem tried to regain himself, pushing himself off of the ground, dust clung to his skin and in his mouth. A throbbing pain surged through his neck, causing him to instinctively grip it. Rising to one knee he looked up. In the light that surrounded them that surged like the auroras, he saw two figures tightly close to one another. He recognized them both by the light that shimmered within, but he was struck with confusion.

Why were they so still?

Then the amber light began to wither and shrink to it's center, causing Ansem's eyes to tremble at the realization.

"No." He tried to utter. He tried to get up, but fell to the ground. And when he fell, he tried to get back up again, he was forced to bear witness to something he had hoped he would never have to see.

The light of Tessaryne's soul vanished, shrunk into itself leaving only her body in this mortal realm. All of the life, all of her potential, and the things that could have been; life, sadness, pride..

-Love.

It was all gone.

The kindling flame of passion between two souls was snuffed out before it was truly realized.

Vera removed her blade and carefully Tessaryne to the ground.

The light slowly receded back to the center where Ansem sat, and when the light vanished he was kneeling as a faint layer of steam wafted off of his body as he clutched his throat. Barely hanging onto his consciousness as the breath he needed evaded him thanks to the strike to his throat, Vera approached.

"How many more must suffer from your greed?" Vera growled before she struck him with her armored knuckles in his temple.

Everything had gone to black for Ansem. And the siege on Daedalus street ended. The requirements for the fifty-eighth day were nearly satisfied. But the toll that was paid in order to garner such progress, to be at the brink of success?

Vera gazed back to where she knew her comrades stood and waited. And if she focused her weary vision enough, surely she would see them both. Hermes stood at the far end of one street, sheltered by her comrade Sikora. And standing amongst the rooftops with Rudy and Lomenstein, stood her own patron deity who decided to reveal herself.

Loki.