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..

28. Vol II PIV - A Respite for Peace

Part IV - A Respite for Peace

"Father" - Abbott, Canea Quartett

1.

Freya stood in a small room with wooden floor, and a single window that remained open on a windless morning. The morning light seeped in through the white curtains, and air stood still, motionless. Much like herself.

Her gaze was engulfed with not the grand view of the city that rest below her, but a single still body.

There was no real need to be here, to see this for herself, as it was something she was already deeply familiar with through anothers. But for some reason she ventured from her throne atop of Babel to do just that.

Ryuu laid motionless, her complexion hasn't changed in the slightest. If anything it looked as if she was simply resting and her limbs lay carefully by her side. Free from any rigor mortis, it was as she could be posed in any fashion to resemble the life that once was. But the red stain on her chest that seeped through her red robe was clear proof of the truth.

This was the way of the world. So many had and will continue to breathe their last breaths. It was inevitable no matter the vibrance of their soul.

It was fact. It was completely unavoidable.

Regrettably so.

"It's not wise to visit like this." A voice warned her from the open door frame.

Freya didn't need to turn to recognize this individual, after all, she was one of her children.

"They will both be returning soon." Mia Grand furthered her warning.

Yet despite these words, they fell flat in the silence.

"..It's a matter that is of no concern." Freya calmly said as her gaze remained focused on the one point before her. Knowing that the girl who has gone out will inherently know of the situation residing within the Hostess of Fertility.

"Is it?" Mia countered.

Freya's word was normally treated as absolute, Mia knew this well. It seemed like it was yesterday that Mia had served under Freya as her captain.

"They see you here and they're gonna start wondering about why'd you take such a keen interest in the passing of someone who had no tie to her?" Mia continued.

"No tie?" Freya pondered aloud. It was only then that she looked upon Mia. "Do not forget that there are people who still recognize you as one who had served as my captain, and that alone warrants my presence."

Mia stood still.

"You are still a child of mine. No matter how much you have grown. Do not forget that." Freya said as she approached Mia. "And the city will see it as such."

Freya's cool eyes cast themself onto Mia and simply said nothing. Freya often amused herself by operating under the veil of ambiguity where no one dared question her. Having been her captain for so long, Mia knew that Freya wielded a strategic mind, where her actions were thought and carried out with great intention.

Freya had begun walking past Mia and nearly made it through the frame of the door before Mia called out.

"The funeral will be in the coming days. Should we expect you, Freya?" Mia asked.

Freya stood in the doorfame turning back, she peered into the room for one last glance.

"I wouldn't dare miss it." Freya said after gazing upon the covered body.

Mia nodded silently and turned back to the bed, leaving Freya to return to the exit of the restaurant.

There was word from Ottar that the task that she had set for her children will be completed soon and she should expect that by the end of today. Then she will have her answers.

As she exited the front entrance, she was accompanied by Ottar who patiently waited at the bottom of the stairs outside. He courteously greeted, and then they departed the Hostess of Fertility. Their presence alone had caused the people to part in the street giving a clear path for the two.

For some it was the first time they had seen the Goddess of Beauty walk the street of Orario, gracing the city and it's citizens with her presence. It could not be ignored, nor written off. Freya knew how the minds of the people operated and that the word of her presence in this part of the city would spread.

It was one of many steps.

And it was all something that she could expect and respond accordingly.

But as she traveled down the street she was hit with sorrow that did not originate from herself. It's sensation caused to stop in the street and look coolly onward as a small pool of tears formed in the trembling of her eyes. She couldn't resist it, for as foreign as they were to her, they were still her own feelings. That there was no escaping.

Until today, never had the world seen such a beauty shed a tear. In this short lived moment, it captivated those around her. Few gasped as they watched the glistening tear stroll down her face.

"-… She didn't deserve it…" The voice rang in her head. Though her face remained still and calm, her heart ached and her being churned as the voice filled the space of her mind.

"My Lady?" Ottar softly asked by her side.

The city had heard of the loss that had been struck, and now they would witness first hand its effects on none other than the Goddess of Beauty herself.

Freya's eyes cooly looked up to her loyal child. "It's nothing. Let us go."

Ottar nodded as joined her side with the crowd of people parting way.

2.

This morning was different than most. The Hostess of Fertility was closed, thus it didn't require any fresh foods for the cooks to prepare customer's meals. Instead Syr found herself going to the market to fetch ingredients for the girls who worked alongside her. She had thought it would be a nice surprise to make a meal or two for them, all the while honing in on her craft of cooking.

Normally, on these morning runs, she would often be accompanied by her late friend. And while she had mentally prepared herself to go out on her own, she was struck by the presence of someone who she hadn't anticipated arriving.

Walking by her side carrying a paper bag of ingredients was the boy with rubellite eyes and hair so pure and white, one would think it was snow.

They had walked all the way to the market, and only had just begun their way back. And while words were sparingly used between them, Syr found comfort in his presence regardless.

"Thank you." Syr said, her voice held the warmth and gratitude that could warm anyone's soul.

At first, Bell fluttered his eyes as her words graced his ears.

"Oh um," He mumbled. "You're welcome."

Falling back into the silence, the sounds of their steps gently tapped agains the cobblestone road, and the hustle of people filled the air, all the while occasionally the paper bag would shift and make a stiff and dry crinkling sound.

But the silence, was anything but bearable for Syr.

Then Bell sighed as he faced a train of thought that brought him great hesitation until he finally gave in.

"Syr-.." He paused, and there she could see him structuring the thought into words as his mouth was held slightly agape. And she patiently waited for him to bring life to his words as they stopped at the side of the street. "What would you do if someone you loved came back to life?"

Syr's brow first knit, and then a beautiful sorrow adorned her face.

"Bell.." She gently said in a manner so soft it was as if her words could reach out and hold the wounds of his heart.

She saw the grief that he tried to hide, but it was clear as the sun on a cloudless day. It was that compassion that overruled any other thought that raced through her mind. But before she could answer that question, she couldn't help but ask a question of her own.

"Did you love-… -Ryuu?" Syr nervously asked. She knew of the quality of his heart, and so did so many in the city. He was loved by so many. By those who personally know and follow, and by others who he has never met.

So how could someone like him, never love anyone else? That would be impossible. For a boy who has gone out of his way for the people in his life, there is no doubt that he does indeed love those who he surrounds himself with. His words, his determination to fight; Syr could see it, it was all for love.

There was a place in his heart, one for that special someone, and it was her ultimate desire to claim that place for herself.

The arrival of the question caused Bell's face to blush in embarrassment, and to throw his gaze away from her.

"I-.. No?.. I just-.." Bell fumbled over his words as a slight panic came across him. Ceasing his words he tucked his chin as the sun shone down on them. Leaving Syr once more to wait for the words that stir in his mind. Then he turned to face Syr's gaze. "You were her friend.."

His tone was anything but placing guilt on her, but for some reason it held a weight that seemed so foreign to her.

"-You know what she went through. And what she was and had been willing to do for all of us." Bell continued as he hugged the paper bag tightly as his voice began to grow tight. "And she wanted to do that all alone.. It's just-…"

Syr watched Bell's face wince as he held the emotions underneath a fascade of calm. And though there were standing out in the street with people all around, it felt like it were just the two of them. And the pain that accompanied Bell, pained Syr.

"It's not right, right you know? You can't do everything alone. And even if you try, you can only do so much.." Bell winced at the words. "If I didn't have my friends, I couldn't have reached where I am now. For once I just wanted her to know that-.."

Bell's voice trembled as he tried to compose himself. "I just wanted her to know that she wasn't alone. That she didn't have to do it all alone."

His hands gripped the bag causing it to crinkle as the rest of his body tensed.

"And for the first time, it was like she didn't want to be alone. Finally after everything we went through, she was done pushing us away. And if it weren't for her, none of us would be here." Bell said, and it was clear to Syr that it was thanks to Ryuu's efforts that Bell and his familia had survived.

But Syr knew that it was all thanks to the Bell to begin with. Any hope for change was brought on by his unrelenting desire to do what was right. And that sparked change in Ryuu; it first started in her willingness to go against her conditioning.

And Syr dared not admit it, but she knew like so many, Ryuu had fallen for Bell.

"She didn't deserve it. She didn't deserve any of it, Syr."

From the life that she had witnessed before her, she couldn't disagree with Bell. Not one single part of it. In all of the time that she had known Ryuu, from the day that she had picked up off the streets, she truly believed in her capacity for good and the warmth that still resided in the deep confines of her heart.

It was from his words that Syr understood.

"She really meant a lot to you.."

There was no panic or denial from Bell. The only thing was a silent confirmation as he silently gazed upon Syr whose gaze seemed to have drifted from Bell as she processed everything.

"Didn't she mean a lot to you too?.." Bell asked.

Syr stood frozen in place, at a question that should've been so easy to answer, but it was as if two answers came in at once. Answers that she couldn't disagree with, nor deny. As those two thoughts fought each other for dominance for the domain of her mind, Syr's joyful, carefree attitude faded.

"She did." Syr said in a tone void of any happiness. "More than she could ever know."

That was the truth that she could extrapolate from the two thoughts.

Syr's gaze traveled down the street and her mouth opened as if she were about to speak, but instead she fell to silence. Wincing under the bright sun that shone its light upon them.

"If someone I loved came back to life?" Syr began only to pause, leaving the sound of the daily life filling their conversation. Syr hugged the bag of groceries close to her chest as she turned to Bell. "I would hold onto them, and never let them go."

And as Bell's and Syr's eyes locked, she reaffirmed her desire in a voice so sweet but full of resolve.

"There's nothing that I wouldn't do for the one I love."

There wasn't much to be said from Syr, but she could tell from the look in Bell's eyes that her words didn't go unheard nor misinterpreted. Bell's eyes turned away as her words echoed in his mind. That was all she needed.

For Syr, much was thanks to Bell, but also so much was thanks to Ryuu. Bell's words flashed across her mind, the words iterating that if it weren't Ryuu's actions, her Bell wouldn't be by her side now.

"..-She didn't deserve it."

Then the weight of Ryuu's sacrifice finally hit the part of Syr that she herself didn't expect.

She had lost her friend.

"Oh." She said in faint surprise as gazed upon Bell as sensation had all but crept up on her. From the inside corner of her eyes, a gentle stream of tears fell.

Strangely enough, it was the first time she had shed such a thing in the past twenty-four hours.

Syr desperately fluttered her eyes trying to clear the tears away so that way she could see. All the while nervously chuckling as she tried to reach for her eyes that struggled to hold the bag.

"Here." Bell said as he held out a white handkerchief.

"I'm sorry, I don't know what is-.." Syr said as she accepted the handkerchief. Once in her hand, Bell carefully slipped his hand under Syr's grocery bag and took it in his embrace to free her from its weight.

"It's ok." Bell carefully said in a manner so sweet, that she couldn't help but look away in embarrassment.

Syr's lips tightened in a cross between a smile and a sob as she softly pressed the fabric against her skin.

"You can keep it, I have more back home." Bell said to reassure her. Which worked as the smile turned into a huff of a chuckle.

"Trying to win my heart, are you?" Syr jokingly teased him.

The words caused his face to turn bright red as he was stuck on the syllable of a word that couldn't quite escape his throat. It was just the reaction she expected to see, and it filled her with relief as a smile crossed her face. For he may not know, but her heart was already enamored with Bell and Bell alone.

He was still the same boy that she had always known. Even with the grief that courses through him, wrapping itself around his heart that desperately tried to remain so pure.

It was ultimately what drove her to him, and why she couldn't help but feel such love.

3.

Possibly an hour passed as Riviera navigated the streets of Orario. Her path led her through the nooks and crannies of the city that she had never really explored before, as if it were avoiding the main streets. What led her through these places was a sensation completely foreign to her, like an internal compass that was eager to send her out and about.

Though one thing she became aware of was that her general direction of travel was to the east. Only when she came to the gates of the city wall did she stop. A look of exasperation came over her face as she stared upon the towering wall before her.

He had left the city. The one thing that he said he wouldn't do, he did.

Approaching the eastern gate, she managed to convince the reluctant guard to allow her to pass on familial affairs.

Passing down the line of merchants and visitors seeking to enter the city, they all had their own conversations mumbling about, only to pause and gaze upon who they would call an elven beauty who steeled her gaze on the path that was in front of her. The line of people continued on for some time on the plains of land surrounding the city. And as she stepped out further and further, she had begun to feel the gentle wind against the soft supple skin of her cheek. With its breath it carried the aromas of the world around her.

Stopping she turned to gaze at the distant city, witnessing the travelling gusts of wind against the grass and plant life that cover the plains. In contrast to the still airs of the city, this sensation was so utterly peaceful.

Turning back to her intended path, she continued, with each step came close to a beautiful place. The Seolo forest. Entering the forest, there was no subtle transition between the surrounding plains. It was a wall of trees that stood tall and proud, covered in vines that bore wildflowers so vibrant, it was like she was walking into a paradise.

Between the trees and the brush she found a small path and stuck with it. Leading her further and further into the depths of the forest. Straying away from the main path that so many had taken. She could only assume that this path was carved into the earth by the wildlife that inhabit the forest.

She had considered the possibility of running into monsters here, but their low level would be no threat to her. Only to individuals who didn't carry a faulna. With her adept senses, she had come to find no clue or indication of there being any monsters.

Instead of the lingering feeling of being watched from the shadows, she was surrounded by the sound of intermittent chirping of birds singing songs of all sorts, and the occasional sound of a small animal skittering away, kicking up the leaves or sticks in it's escape upon sighting what it deemed to be a possible predator.

Soon the sound of trickling waters reached her ears, then came its fresh smell, mixed with water and damp soil. She came upon a small river, wide enough to be considered such, but not something large enough to be considered an object. Coming to a stop, she stood in the shade of the trees before they broke from the shore of the coursing river and a sweet smell filled the air, one like the scent of sweet sugars being caramelized.

She didn't want to cross it, in fact, she hoped she wouldn't have to. But continuing her approach, she came to a stop as she stopped a figure sitting in the wavering shade of a large tree.

Mathis sat with one knee propped up close to his chest and the other stretched out, peering across the river, and far beyond lay the sacred Alv Mountains.

"I thought I told you not to follow me.." Ansem said without looking.

Riviera narrowed her eyes, as she pondered who he must've confused her with. Then after her delay in replying, he looked up.

The tense expression, one that seemed almost distraught and deep frustration, suddenly faded as his eyes rested upon her, only for his expression to be replaced with what looked like a deep sense of peace, and then came deep breath as whatever tension in shoulders vanished.

She had no idea what went through his head to cause such a reaction, it was none like the one's she had experienced before by anyone who she had encountered. Normally it was hesitation, or a sudden tension because of her status, or awe from the accomplishments that she held. But this expression that he bore? His gaze seemed as if in this moment there was only one thing before him that blocked out the world.

Her.

As if noticing the slackening in his shoulders, Ansem snapped himself back to reality and drew his gaze away.

"-How did you find me?" Ansem said in confusion.

Truth be told, she had no real idea why and so she turned her gaze to the river and the forest that lay beyond it, speaking of the one thing that she did know.

"..You said you wouldn't leave the city." Riviera said as she turned her gaze back to him, sternly reminding him of the word he had given to Aiz. And that the fact that he had broken his word to them.

Ansem's mouth opened as if word were about to come out, but he sunk his head as he played with a small object in his hand.

"I-..." He uttered. "I know.. I just needed to-.."

Then he fell to silence as he winced as a breeze shifted the branches above him, showering him in sunlight. The sun streaked across his black, obsidian hair, as he looked up, the royal blue of his eyes absorbed the light that it was given. But there came a faint glistening down his cheek, a trail of dried tears.

"I just need to be alone right now." Ansem said. And Riviera held her tongue as her eyes drifted over the man before her. He seemed like a lost child, horribly despondent. Someone she found insufferable.

"I understand that you've been through a lot. But I'm afraid that can't happen." Riviera said. The words caught Ansem off guard, and it looked as if the tension that had fled from his body just moments ago had suddenly returned as he sat staring at the ground. "I'm going to need you to come with me."

Ansem sat still, with his gaze focused on the grass just beyond his foot with a despondent look on his face.

"Can I have at least five minutes?" Ansem asked as he avoided her gaze.

"I'd rather not waste anymore time." Riviera sternly added.

"Nine-Hell. Please." Ansem said with a voice so tense it shook the silence of the air, it was as if he was being torn.

Every part of Riviera wanted nothing more than to just plow through this whole ordeal. To get it done and over with. A part of that reason was that if she could time her bringing him in, it may be very likely that Aiz wouldn't be there, that she would be preoccupied with something else entirely. Or rather, someone else. Namely Bell.

Loki would ask her questions, then all Riviera would have to do is escort him back to Amid. She wanted it to be that easy but she found herself neglecting one thing.

"-It's really difficult trying to keep everything together right now. Can I please have some time for myself?"

He was still human. As much as she wanted to rush through it her mind thought back to when they first had Aiz, how she had behaved irractly and almost impulsively, they managed to muster up the sympathy for a lost girl cast away in a dungeon from another time. A girl who had lost her own world.

From the small details that she knew, the holes in the man she was led to believe was 'Mathis,' she knew that he was from another time. From the Hera familia, to the missing information of the deity known as Vishnu, and the warning from Hermes.

The person before her may not be whole, but a fractured individual trying to retain any semblance of normalcy as the world continued to move on around him. And in truth, in meeting him in this time of great distress, she may never know who he truly is as the effects of grief may linger for far too long. She had no desire to discover the quality of his character. All she needed was his cooperation. And if that meant five minutes, then so be it.

"Very well." Riviera said reluctantly.

Scanning the environment, she found a suitable spot to seat herself about fifteen feet across from Ansem. Pulling the bottom of her robe, she gently sat down crossing her legs. Being in an easy position to keep an eye on him, she felt comfortable enough to allow her gaze to wander to the edge of the river, watching the current of clear water.

Ansem raised his hand to his mouth, and he began to chew. She didn't catch what it was, but she held a suspicious gaze over him regardless. As if he felt her eyes upon him, he met her jade eyes, and swallowed.

"Yes?" She said, acknowledging his gaze.

"You were the one staring." Ansem replied as he turned his gaze away. Riviera's eyes traced the lines of his body.

"That thing you're eating, what is it?" There was still a bit of it remaining in his hand, it's texture looked like smoked jerky, but it also appeared soft, nor did it hold any seasoned smell. Rather it smelled sweet.

"It's uh-... It's tree bark." Ansem said as he stared upon it, then held his hand out a free piece that he hadn't bitten into.

"No thanks." Riviera replied.

She had heard of making tree bark into a snack. While it was high in few nutrients, and occasionally sugar, depending on the tree, it was ultimately only a snack that would appease the hunger only for a short time. One that she didn't care for. But it required a few things in order to make it edible. Roasting was a common way to prepare it to caramelize the sugars in the bark by roasting them over an open flame, though she had smelled no fire on her way in.

"What happened?" Riviera bluntly asked.

"Hmm?" Ansem replied after taking a bite.

"Something happened, didn't it?"

Ansem opened his mouth to take a breath and juggled the remaining bit of bark in his hand.

"I uhh-.." He paused. "I found the deity that led the ambush on my familia.."

Riviera remained silent as she carefully watched him anxiously play with the bit of bark.

"Actually.. No, he found me. And I was-.." Ansem's face winced with bits of anger as he corrected himeself. "-So angry that I couldn't think straight.. I had to get out before I did something I couldn't fix.."

"And this deity?.."

"They're fine.." Ansem hoarsely said.

"That's not what I'm asking. Why would someone who attacked you, want to confront you after that?" Riviera said.

Then she found herself facing Ansem's gaze. It was soft, and yet it felt like he was peering clean into her, it lasted for only a moment before he turned his gaze away.

"To make amends." Ansem said softly as he played with the bark in his hand. "Can you imagine what it's like? It was a real slap in the face.."

Riviera knew full well who this deity was, putting the pieces together was a simple as a two piece puzzle. But she never knew why it would be him of all deities that this man claimed would've attacked him, or what happened that drove it all to happen, nor who the second familia was. Yet with all of these questions, she couldn't bring herself to ask them from this man. She needed to wait until her uncle had finished the report. A fact she hated to admit.

"It mustn't have been easy.." Riviera admitted as her voice trailed off and her eyes caught flow of the water beside them. Loss wasn't something that the Loki familia was immune to. With that grief often came the desire for revenge, to exact the same if not worse punishment upon the one who had taken a life that belonged to the Loki Familia.

"Will you please tell me why you came?" Ansem asked. "You said I needed to come with you. It's not about-..?" Ansem trailed off.

Raising her chin, she nodded.

"Your run-in with the deity?.. No." Riviera's stern gaze faltered for a moment and relaxed slightly. Perhaps it was her way of reassuring him. But in reality not even she knew as she gazed upon him. "The water you gave us, it saved one of our own from a curse that couldn't be cured. And our deity, Loki, requested that I find you so that she, I'm assuming, can express her gratitude."

Ansem's eyes softened, gone was the defensive glare.

"I'm glad it helped in a meaningful way." He spoke sincerely, but she could hear the faint sting in his voice that there was nothing to save his own. "If that's all she wants, then I'll come with. But all I ask is to have a few more minutes."

"Only a few.." Riviera kindly said though one question crept from her conscious. "Why-?…"

Riviera's voice trailed off as Ansem's gaze continued to his hands as he patiently waited for her to continue.

"Why did you come here?"

Ansem twiddled with the piece of bark in his hand as his eyes trailed up the foliage that surrounded them. Closing his eyes, as if there was no denying the obvious truth.

"My sister used to come out here all the time." Ansem said in a calm and steady voice. "Whenever something happened that upset her, I knew I could always find her here."

He raised his gaze to the surrounding forest with a soft expression on his face.

"Of all of the places in the world, she chose this place to be her favorite.."

"I can see why." Riviera gently said.

"Mhm.." Ansem said as he fell silent, rubbing the small piece of bark against his thumb in one hand as he slowly slipped into a memory.

"She would always try to befriend the critters out here. You know, silly things. She always loved the world around her so intensely that it drove her to do anything to keep it safe. And I remember one time-.." He said with a cross between a chuckle and a sob as a bittersweet memory crossed his mind. In that split second, Riviera saw something, at first she questioned whether or not she saw it or not. It seemed almost unbelievable.

He paused as he looked into the woods, he curled both lips in as he tried to fight the expression of sorrow on his face as he slipped into a memory.

"She managed to ensnare this white haired elk. It came right up to her. And when I saw it-.." Ansem looked into his hands and looked back into the forest with a smile. "I couldn't believe it. They're so rare. And she had this big 'ol grin on her face as she scratched the bridge of it's nose. When I asked, 'how'd you do that?' she just smiled."

On his face that smile remained as the bittersweet memory of someone who shared the same blood played out in his mind. Seeing it as if it were right in front of him. Every detail, every bit of joy and awe.

"Yeah…" Ansem said as the memory began to fade and reality set in. "She really liked this place.. And I thought that maybe-.."

Ansem's voice trailed off as he gazed upon the flowers that hid in the trees, and Riviera patiently waited. A gentle breeze past through against the branches, grass, and water. In it's wake, it kicked up and carried the scent of forest engulfing them both. The wind licked his skin, and the bangs of his hair danced with the breeze as Riviera's hair attempted to drift in front of her eyes.

"It's the one place I thought I could feel safe too."

But one thing was certain from Hermes' warning, this smile was anything but vile and cruel. It was beautiful. Captivating. And for the seconds that the smile existed upon his face, Riviera felt something wrap around her heart as she watched that smile fade. But that feeling of tenderness lingered, stopping whatever questions that formed in her mind as she fell to silence. And in silence they sat. Listening to the sound of water trickling by, and the sounds of wildlife foraging around them.

She could imagine that this place must be a haven for him. After experiencing everything that had happened in the Dungeon. To escape it claustrophobic passageways and floors that almost seemed to be enveloped in darkness. It would make sense to yearn to be surrounded by life and light. And yet to escape the dangers of the Dungeon, and the tensions of the surface.

To breathe the air of the surface. To bask in its winds.

Even if she were blind, she could see it now, that all he wanted amidst the tragedy was some semblance of peace before he had to return to the chaos. To continue what she could only describe as his moral obligation to face that monstrosity that lurked in the darkness. This time, alone without the aid of his familia.

Yes, that's what it was. Peace, that one thing that consistently desired to escape his grasp.

Minutes pass, more precisely the mental clock that Riviera had kept count of, had all but passed fifteen minutes. But in that time they shared in silence, the sounds and sensations of the forest stuck to them. It was the most that she could spare for him as she had to return to her duties.

"I believe it's about time to go." Riviera said through the silence.

Ansem's eyes fluttered as he was broken from his own mental realm. He looked to the shadows to try and tell the time, surely he noticed that the shadow of the tree had gotten a little bit longer.

"Alright. Let's go." Ansem said as he rose to his feet and politely gestured for her to take the lead. "Lead the way."

Standing on her own two feet, she patted the foliage off of her legs, and began to lead him down the path as she traveled on the left side of him. They had gotten fifteen feet away from the spot where she had found him, when her ears heard the sharp sound of a twig being broken from behind them. Perhaps Ansem didn't notice, but Riviera turned to investigate, anticipating the arrival of an ambitious low-level monster. But instead all that there was the forest.

Jade eyes swept over the environment, scanning for any monsters. But there were none. As the wind gently swept through the forest, rustling the trees, for a moment she thought she saw the silhouette of something move behind the cover of foliage. Though it very well could have been a branch of the shrub shifting under the force of the wind. No matter what it was, it seemed that no malice could molest this peaceful place.

"Is everything alright?" Ansem stood confused, to her sudden stillness when it was her who had requested they leave.

"Yes." Riviera said as she gave the place one last careful look. Without saying another word, she approached Ansem's left side, as he waited. Walking off together, Riviera led them down the small trail that was stamped down by the wildlife and back to the main path that stretched through the forest. Only when the path allowed it, did they walk side by side. And once they approached the end of the forest, they stepped out onto the path that was surrounded by the fields of green grass that stood up to their waists, all swaying in the wind.

It was one step closer, and then another as they walked down the long path. Their bodies bathed in the cool wind, relieving them of the humidity that clung to their skin from the forest.

Even from a distance, the walls of the city stood impossibly tall, towering high above the canopy of the forests that surround them and into the sky. By her side, Ansem gazed at the city that drew closer. There was no denying that the expression on his face, he didn't want to be back. That it wasn't enough time to even tend to the wounds that he had endured. Yet he still matched her steps, and joined her side to beckon her deity's call.

Surely there'd be questions, words, statements, anything and everything that would bring the events of the past back to haunt him. Like a nightmare in his waking hours. And without knowing, a heavy sigh escaped her breath.

"Are you ok?" He asked as his head pointed at an angle to his left.

"It's nothing to concern yourself with." Riviera said firmly.

"Ahh.." Ansem said quietly as he turned his gaze back forward. "Very well."

As they traveled down the path, she couldn't help but notice how his path would slightly go from side to side. It wasn't by much, but by no means was it normal.

"I should be asking you that." Riviera said. "You're swaying all over the place."

He was scanning the horizon, trying to stay alert and aware of his surroundings. Driven by instincts and conditioning.

"I-.." Ansem paused as pointed a finger to his left eye. "I'm still getting used to it.."

Oh.. Riviera took a sudden breath in. She had completely forgotten that he had lost the sight in his left eye. Her gaze traveled from his eye to his left arm where the memory returned to the forefront of her mind, when she gripped his arm after the thorns from the bush had dug into his arms.

Where he had lost his sight, he had lost any sense of touch in his left arm. And that was all that he had told them. That one injury left his entire left side vulnerable. The reason why the sway of his gaze was so exaggerated, it was compensating for the loss of one eye.

"Well, you don't have to worry about the left." Riviera said.

"Huh?" Ansem said, in confusion. But no words escaped from Riviera's lips. Her silence brought a glance from Ansem's good eye, and there he saw something, perhaps there was an expression written on her face that gave him some indication for what she meant.

If anything came their way from his blind side, of course she'd dispatch it. To nullify any threat. Of course she would, she had every intention of protecting herself and others just as she always had. And as a result of that, as a secondary consequence, it gave him a sliver of a peace of mind.

"Thank you." Ansem said.

Together they walked, side by side on the path that lay surrounded by the swaying grass of the fields that surround Orario.

While the dread that Ansem was experiencing just from returning to the city was obvious, Riviera held tightly onto her own unease. The city was becoming tense, and she wasn't prepared for all eyes to be on her. To feel like the entire city was going to be watching her every move with great care, and in some cases with great disdain.

4.

As the day grew near it's half point, a loud clash broke the peace in the city. Both Bell and Syr stopped as they just arrived at the Hostess of Fertility. And immediately Bell's eyes turned to the source.

"I have to go." Bell said quickly as he carefully set the bags on the steps. "I'm sorry."

There was no real need for him to apologize, but Syr knew it came out of habit. He was just trying to be polite, considerate to all that was around him. But what she wanted to know was whether or not she would expect to see him tomorrow, though he darted off before she could ask.

As Bell raced down the street, he carefully dodged the foot traffic of those around him. Going at speeds that caused the still air to brush against his face, it felt like a gust of wind. But it was all just an illusion. Traveling down the street, he ventured towards the city center, and once he came to an intersection he stopped and listened.

He was trying to pick up any sound indicating what direction he needed to go. And then finally he could hear the gasps and murmurs of onlookers followed by the calls for help.

With no hesitation he turned to the source, and ran off down an alley that he assumed led straight to it. Through the shade of the alley, over the obstacles such as trash bins, and the occasional foot traffic, he managed to slide out onto the street, coming to a stop in the sunlight.

The street was covered with the remains of a four story high scaffolding that easily reached across the other side of the street. It was a miracle that no one was caught underneath its weight, the worst had been avoided. It seemed that it was set against a large cement-like church building that was undergoing renovations, as its base hung over a large metal fence. And only one section out of three scaffolding had fallen.

"Somebody help!" A voice came from above.

Near the roof, a man hung on the ledge about fifty feet above, his feet desperately trying to gain some support to take some of the weight off of his slipping grip, but the church wall was smooth and had no horizontal grooves that he could use.

He dangled helplessly as he called out for help. And the work hat that he had worn to cover his head from the sun had fallen, leaving only his pale green bandana on the top of his head.

"Hang on! I'm on my way!" Bell shouted.

Bell paid no attention to the onlookers, his eyes plotted out a course up the wreckage and the scaffolding.

Leaping up onto the peak of the wreckage, he delicately balanced himself on an intersection of metal pipe and then looked up to the remaining scaffolding before him.

"Hey it's the 'lil Rookie!" Someone shouted in awe.

With a grand pump, he leapt from the fallen structure onto the standing scaffolding to the right. Reaching the second floor, his momentum carried him in a spin as he held onto the pole that made the outside frame. Stopping, he looked up, there were two more floors of scaffolding to climb to make it to the top, and the gap between first and third set was short and close.

Ideally he'd want to be at the top of the structure to pull him onto it, but gravity had other plans as the man atop screamed that he was slipping. When Bell's eyes looked up, he saw the man desperately holding on with one hand.

Something ignited in Bell, it wasn't like the determination and will to win a fight he had experienced, as this was no fight. Instead, he felt a pressure swell in his chest, then he kicked off of the second floor platform with such ease that he felt it took almost no effort.

The worker's last hand slipped from the ledge. And in a moment where it seemed time moved slow, he watched the salvation of the ledge grow further and further away. The man dared not look down, for he had already seen what was below him.

He was a worker, and horribly normal bearing no faulna. Which meant one thing, this fall would kill him.

That was at least what he anticipated as his eyes grew wide and then closed tightly as he waited for the end that never came.

"I got you!" Bell shouted, grimacing as his arm was being pulled tightly as the man dangled below him.

Bell leapt up and across the gap to a higher platform, reaching for the worker's hand mid strain of catching the man tore at Bell's shoulder, grimacing from the sudden strain, Bell held on the main support of the scaffolding. Using the momentum of the worker's fall, he gripped the main support tightly and swung him around to the second level just below Bell.

The worker shrieked, and came to a rolling stop with a great thud as his body hit the wooden boards of the platform. A deep groan escaped from the man's voice, as he lay in a fertile position gripping his shoulder as his heavy breaths kicked up the dust. Bell fell to the floor of the third level platform, his breath momentarily escaping him. Climbing to his feet, he peered down who remained curled in a ball.

A choir of cheering erupted from the crowd that stood on the street after they witnessed the rescue end in success.

Standing on the wooden platform, Bell gazed out to the people in the street.

They stood waving, cupping their hands to their face, shouting in cheer at the grand spectacle of an adventuring saving the day. Even though in their most ordinary of lives, where they can come across an adventurer on any given day, there was no one like Bell Cranel. And the crowd let him know that with their enthusiasm.

Despite their praise, he found that he couldn't relish it. To indulge in the temptation of such vanity when there was something so much more precious. Bell turned to the man.

"Are you ok?" Bell asked as he carefully landed onto the platform from above.

Only when he heard Bell's voice and sense of being still became noticeable did he open his eyes and see the boy before him. At first there was confusion, as his mind raced to keep up with what was happening. Why there was a young boy before him was beyond him, but as Bell approached, the worker noticed the crimson in his eyes. Then he looked down through the cracks of the wood boards, and saw the remaining distance.

"Oh thank the gods." The worker said in great relief as he pressed his forehead to the safety of the platform.

"-Thanks to you, yeah." The worker said gratefully as he peered up to the boy with an expression that could only be described as utter gratitude.

Bell only smiled with an outreached hand. "Come on."

Helping the worker to his feet, Bell led the worker down the stairs at the very end of the second level platform to the ground where the worker's feet touched the solid concrete tiles that compose the pathway for the garden. To be surrounded even by the chaos and disorder from before as well as the pallets of construction materials that sat on both grass and concrete squares, amidst the garden it all bore great potential to be something so very beautiful.

"Oh, wow." A young sounding voice filled the air with awe.

The sound caught Bell off guard, its source came from just at the corner of the church and who stood before them looked like a small child around Hestia's height with a mixture of ginger and blonde hair, and a face dotted with freckles.

"-It's the Little Rookie." The deity, Lenus said as he stood just out from around the corner of the building. As he finished the sentence a large figure walked up behind them.

He stood tall with broad shoulders that looked like he could carry the weight of the world, the only thing that stood in contrast about him was the soft mid-section. But as he came to a stop, he smiled brightly at the surprise of the savior of their worker and ruffled Lenus' hair.

Lenus immediately shrieked.

"Gah! Would you stop that?!" Lenus shouted in dismay as he swatted at the massive hands of the deity beside him.

But Krishna ignored him as he pushed onward with open arms and embraced the worker.

"Thank heavens you are safe, Alegro!" Krishna said with a booming voice, and then he turned to Bell and embraced him tightly. "-And all thanks to you, my boy!"

Bell let out a welp of surprise as the massive deity embraced him. Even though he was certain that his status allowed him to be incredibly durable in comparison to most normal citizens, the deity's embrace was immense as the bear hug squeezed Bell close to the softness of the deity's stomach. It felt oddly claustrophobic.

Releasing Bell from the embrace, Krishna held up Bell's hand to the crowd who cheered at the gesture.

"Little Rookie!" Krishna yelled in cheer to the crowd prompting a cry of celebration.

It was a little much at first, but Bell couldn't help but nervously chuckle. There was no escaping the deity's grip. He just had to endure it.

As the crowd was riled, Krishna lowered Bell's hand signaling the end of the celebration but the onlookers were slow to wind down.

"Please come with us." Krishna said excitedly, ushering Bell along and then turned back to the worker. "Alegro, you too!"

The worker widened his eyes, he must've anticipated being scolded by the deity, but to his surprise Krishna seemed rather festive instead.

"Bu- but the mess?" Alegro exclaimed which broke Krishna to a stop.

"We'll get Traer and Celeste to take care of it." Krishna reassured the worker as he ushered him to follow.

Yet the worker seemed mighty nervous. Though why exactly escaped Bell, as he had no idea what events happened in the first place. He was just doing what he thought was right.

"Don't fret, my friend! I do not expect you to be able to clean this up yourself after such an event. Come!" Krishna said beckoning him to join them.

Reluctantly Alegro joined, seeming anything but happy.

Walking down the pathway of the garden that stretched alongside the church building, Bell had begun to get the feeling that this was anything but a church. In fact, it felt like he was on another familia's property, and for them to be so welcoming went against everything he's ever known about cross familia relationships.

The metal picket fence passed them all by, and as they strolled by, Bell could feel all of their eyes upon them. Their attentive and curious gaze was easy to ignore, but then he felt one unlike any other. Peering into the crowd he caught a glance of all of the smiling faces that watched them go by.

All but one.

A man with fair skin gazed upon him, dressed in a finely pressed black coat with an elegant vest above a clean white shirt. He stood silent, motionless with the top half of his face hidden by what could only be described as an elaborate masquerade mask made of porcelain obscuring the features of his face.

In the blink of an eye, he was gone. And with him gone, so too was that pinpoint feeling for his gaze. The only word that he could use to describe it, was empty, but not hollow.

It was dark. Bordered by a sensation of malevolence that struck his gut and causing his heart to misfire as his body prepared it's fight or flight instincts.

Every intention that he had to pursue suddenly vanished under the booming voice of Krishna.

"This way!" Krishna shouted gleefully with a gentle jolt from his hand, as he ushered Bell along, snapping him out of the abrupt tension that swept over him like a passing wave.

Krishna's confidence and levity could fill a chapel, and then the deity reached for the boy and pulled him along. Leaving Bell to look back where the individual once was where only an empty spot in the crowd remained.

Leading them inside the church, Krishna opened his arms in a grand gesture. Inside only the first half of its interior resembled a church, and clearly it was undergoing a massive renovation. Scaffolding towered on side as they appeared to work on the columns that supported the second floor passageways that openly strolled the length of the first half of the church.

Separating the first and second was a massive wall decorated in a vaguely similar theme as the rest of the architecture of the church, but it still seemed to be a work in project and not a finalized design. At the bottom of the floor, was a front desk of sorts with piles of boxes that held texts and documents, elsewhere was littered with construction equipment and supplies.

"Behold, the fruit of our labor." Krishan proclaimed and then quietly spoke. "It's still a work in progress."

"Uhh. I see." Bell said quite unsure what to say. He hadn't really gone into another familia's building, especially one that he's never met until now. And to be perfectly frank, all that he felt that he could rely on was to be polite. "It still looks nice."

"Krishna what are you doing?" Lenus calmly interrupted them, but underneath was a scathing tone meant only for his friend.

"We have a guest of honor! And after saving our beloved Alegro, how could we not pay our proper respects by showcasing the work that our hearts put forth?" Krishna proudly proclaimed.

Bell glanced back and forth between the two deities. Realizing that the deity had said one key word.

Our.

"In addition, to simply leave it at a measly thank you, have a good day, come again; would be utterly disrespectful to them both." Krishna said finishing.

"Umm, excuse me, but you said 'our.'" Bell said.

"That's quite right." Krishna confirmed with a proud smile. "This building is the work of two gods, originating from two seperate parts of the heavens, here and now, building bridges and faith across two sets of ideals."

"Oh here we go.." Lenus sighed in the background as Krishna began as he sipped on a cup of tea.

"To build something grand for the mortals of this world. For the children of this world." Krishna rose his arms to the sky.

"And that's?…" Bell trailed off, politely waiting for the big reveal.

"Hospice." Krishna confidently said with a smirk, prompting Lenus to spray the tea from his mouth.

"WE ARE NOT DOING HOSPICE." Lenus shouted, sending his voice through the entire chamber. And it was exactly the reaction Krishna was looking for as the curve of a grin formed across his face that molded with his burly mustache. "WE ARE TRYING TO KEEP PEOPLE ALIVE."

The thought occurred to Bell that perhaps from a deity's perspective, any sort of care to a mortal could be hospice, considering mortals well exactly that. Mortal.

"Here." Lenus quietly said, handing Alegro a small cup of tea.

"Thank you." Alegro quietly said.

"We're in the business of acquiring and making potions, elixirs, et cetera." Krishna paused and bobbed his head from side to side reevaluating his words. "Well rather, me and my kin procure the necessary items, regardless of where, and then Lenus and his own put it all together. We're just the heavy lifters."

"That sounds great, almost unreal, really. But I'm sorry but is this really possible?" Bell asked as he looked between Krishna who stood in front and Lenus who silently sipped his tea behind Bell. "Two familia's together like this?"

"Technically?" Krishna began with a shrug of his shoulders.

"-No." Lenus said firmly and gestured with his cup to his comrade. "But Krishna here had an old friend who knows loopholes."

"Huh?"

"Oh he's no longer with us here." Krishna pointed up to the ceiling, implying only one thing. Heaven. "But there's a loophole for familia's to contract mercenaries. That's a real simple way of putting it, but I assure you it's a very complicated loophole that makes my poor head ache at the thought of writing one of these contracts up."

"…So you're a familia of mercenaries?"

"Yes." Krishna said aloud with a grin. "But also, no. You see being labeled as mercenary opens up a plethora of opportunities that you can operate in as a familia. Some like the Loki familia, are a military power, but chose to submit themselves as more of an expeditionary force for Orario."

"Then Freya, as the other major half of the city. Acts as more of a military power than anything else, because that gives them greater precedence on affairs of the surface, but still not diminishing their ability for expeditionary activities." Krishna continued.

"That's if they ever decide to cooperate." Lenus grumbled as he sipped his tea.

"While their loyalty often defines them in a manner most unusual and reclusive, they have come time and time again in times of need. It's a part of who they are. One mustn't blame them." Krishna tried to rationalize.

"It's not a part of who they are if the damned lady didn't charm them all. It's a violation of their fate. Don't you think?" Lenus began in a scornful tone that seemed anything but childish. And as quickly as Lenus began he sombered down before diving too deep into the bitter depths of scorn in front of a person they called their child.

"I'm sure Freya didn't charm them all." Krishna tried to counter, which he felt like was going to be a hard position to support given her innate ability to captivate any and all.

"Freya?" Bell mumbled as the two deities began to bicker back and forth.

It was quite possibly one of the few times that he had ever actually said her name aloud. But immediately it brought back memories from the Entertainment district. Though she was so far away he could still hear her voice above all else.

I love you.

That was the night that the entire Ishtar familia fell. And Freya herself joined the battle.

Ever since then, he became very weary of the Goddess of Beauty. Of Love.

"But enough of that. Gossiping of the lady will surely bring one of her loons over and destroy this place. And we certainly can't afford that." Lenus said as his eyes scanned the remains of what was and what could've been within the walls of the chapel. "Thank you for saving Alegro. We may currently not have much but if you want, you may choose anything as a reward. Service or care. You can take your pick."

"A reward?" Bell stuttered. "It's ok, I didn't help out expecting to get anything."

Bell glanced back to Alegro who quietly sipped his tea.

"You are just too humble!" Krishna said with a booming laugh as he patted Bell on the back. "-And that is why you deserve a reward my dear friend!"

"Oh um, it's really nothing.." Bell tried to reassure them but it was for naught. For Krishna's joy and rambunctious energy faded into something more sympathetic.

"My boy, surely, after everything you and your loved ones had gone through, you would allow us to repay you." Krishna said.

"You-…?" Bell stuttered but the word know failed to come out, looking back to Lenus, the deity simply nodded.

"Of course we know.." Krishna said with a bittersweet smile that soon faded. "There's not much that gets past us, with being so close to the Dungeon.. And most important of all, we know this city owes a great deal of its peace of mind to you and your friend."

Krishna turned his gaze to the massive stained glass window that was held in place by brick right above the main entrance that they had just walked through. Through the dirt and dust that had settled on the planes of colored glass, the vague silhouette stood beyond it. It was the Tower of Babel.

It stood in the center of the city, not far from the cathedral that these two deities resided in. Then it only made sense for how they knew, being so close to where adventurers and information can be told, gossiped, or eavesdropped.

"We will not pretend to know what has happened to you as if we were there.." Krishna's voice boomed through the open space of the cathedral as he stared upon the shadow of Babel.

"But if the word that has spread is true.." Krishna paused as he contemplated that future.

"Then soon the whole city will know of the injustice that was incurred." Krishna said as a sad state of facts, and Lenus in the background dropped his gaze to the floor. "It's truly a shame that the one who was swift and brought justice herself was the one to fall to such a cruel end."

Bell fell silent as his gaze wandered with no aim.

"And yes. We know that too.." Krishna added solemnly, hinting at possessing knowledge of Ryuu's true identity. "If she truly were a child of my dear friend Astraea, then I have the confidence that your friend held the values passed down onto her by my own..."

"It's not fair." Lenus said solemnly, prompting Bell to face him. "We were just like you; my familia. We were new to the city about two months ago after finally hearing of the city rebounding after the dark age, and we dreamed of creating this. "

Lenus said as he gazed upon the remaining construction. From his voice alone, it sounded as if the construction had stalled. With little to no members in their familia, the source of their income had ceased. They could no longer pay for the material, nor the workers.

"But my familia, my children were caught when that thing attacked. The only ones I have left now are the few who stayed." Lenus solemnly. But most importantly they too lost people who vowed to work and stand alongside one another.

"But weren't you-..?"

"Supposed to make them? No." Lenus said. "We were on an expedition to retrieve a rare brush with unique healing qualities. Under a direct order from the Guild per our size."

"If hadn't two groups of my own kin fall on the thirty-first floor then maybe we'd be able to pick up where his familia left off. Complete the expedition in their place, but alas.." Krishna solemnly stated. "We all lost the people we hold dear. But the real injustice was that it could have been prevented. And now we all are paying for it."

Could have it?

"There are so many who have fallen into complacency, my boy. Words have gone unheard, and actions ignored. We urge you, as one of the few people in this city that we can trust and adore, please do not fall into complacency and stagnate. And accept this offer, for all we have left is to give." Krishna said with open arms in the remains of what could have been.

Bell stood there in silence, amidst their generosity, as though it was only touched on briefly he began to absorb the reality of the city around him.

"-And all this is very well all that could be.." Lenus said as he held his cup to his chest. Krishna solemnly nodded at the sentiment of their venture having ended before it had truly begun.

"In memoriam of those who have passed on to be reborn at the hands of our friends from above, all we can do now is aid you to ensure that this injustice doesn't continue. So when those souls are reborn, they are brought into a world free from this malice." Krishna paused as the weight of the loss became visible on his face, breaking his dutiful but light demeanor. "Free of this ignorance. Of this injustice.."

Injustice.. That word became synonymous with Ryuu, no matter how much he tried to rid himself of it, to convince himself otherwise, time and time again he could escape the gravity of it's meaning towards the woman he had known to be the most just.

What cruel irony had she endured time and time again, to always be on the opposite side of what she had once stood for. To give up her freedoms, even when she had done what no other had the will to. She was cast out, hunted, forced into hiding; all for her familia, all to ensure justice was brought to those responsible. And when she had desired to take that step back out into the world, to finally embrace the life that she still had, it was taken from her in sacrifice so that way Bell could live.

To take that opportunity away from her as she was on the precipice of change, surely that was the injustice.

And it all could have been prevented.

Bell's jaw trembled then clenched as grief shifted and churned within his being. Even if he tried, would it have been enough? Would he alone have been able to overcome what was set in motion? It felt tantamount to stopping a landslide. That he was helpless to it.

But who else could've helped, who else could have known? His mind raced with no control, in a tumbling mess of people and events from times past. Then the answer came to him, and it sat heavy in his heart.

Braver knew. Absorbed in the memory, he could remember the feeling of the dirt road under his knees and the heat in his chest and the force from his side that tackled him to the ground after Haruhime pleaded and begged for Bell to listen.

They had known that there was a high chance that Evilus was behind the events from yesterday. And there was no familia who had better intelligence and experience on them than the Loki Familia. Even when Bell broke the gag order to warn them of the Juggernaut, they held their tongues on Evilus until they were put on the spot. And when they left for the safe point, there still was no warning.

It felt irrational to think such a thing, but it festered and swelled in his chest and his mind couldn't stop replaying it all. And the more it replayed in his mind, the more it made sense. But along with it, came what felt like a horrible realization.

They knew.

They knew.

They knew.

They knew.

They knew.

…

Aiz knew.

The thought echoed in his mind and stabbed his chest causing his body to tremble. He didn't want to believe it, but the thought seemed so convincing that if there were any other truth it was null and void.

That this was now the truth in his mind. And its weight wore itself down on him that he couldn't bear to be still. That he couldn't be here, anywhere, as the air suddenly felt foreign to him, as it clung to his skin. Desperate to usher him out and away.

He wanted it to stop.

To go away as he felt himself slowly detaching from the world that he knew and who he was.

"I need to go." Bell said as he kept his brow low, before marching off through the gap between the deity's and through the door that was left open.

"Uhh." Lenus couldn't but utter as he watched the person who just saved Alegro flee their presence. "But your reward?..."

Lenus spoke softly in defeat. The boy was already gone, and any calls out to him would be in vain.

"Krishna, perhaps you said a little too much.." Lenus said in a quiet and uneasy tone as starred upon the door with concern.

His friend stood near with crossed arms, and bore a knit bore as concern held its place on his face.

"Perhaps.. Or perhaps the boy has been lied to enough.." Krishna said softly with concern, unable to accept the notion.

"Alegro, what do you think?" Krishna said in an honest quip as he turned to the worker.

Alegro stood holding the cup of tea to his lips. There was silence, as he uneasily gazed at both deity's with wide eyes, leaving his only response being a long drawn out sip from his tea.

"That's a yes.." Lenus said with a tired sigh who then brought his gaze to the ground.

Behind the veil of his benevolent eyes worked a plan. That someway, somehow, he'd repay him.

5.

Aiz stood in her room facing the mirror that hung on the wall with the same expression as so many people had come to know. Lifeless, like a doll. Dressed in a white dress after a bath, she had successfully snuck in without anyone seeing her stained with tomato pulp and juice. Luckily it seemed that many of her peers were either out or busy elsewhere in the building.

Gazing upon her reflection, the only other thing in view was her tidied room.

No one peered over her shoulder with a smile on their face. There never came any word of how beautiful she looked.

There was no mother, nor father by her side.

Though this was nothing new. This was her life for the time being. And it was a slow enduring journey just to get this far.

But for others?

For Bell? It seemed like it was over night. Well, there was no doubt in her mind that he would surpass her. But if only she knew how. And if she did, then it would change everything if she could do the same

She could have her mother back.

Aiz's mind paused as she became ensnared in that one thing time and time again.

"Bell.." His name escaped from her lips.

Breaking her gaze, Aiz's golden eyes wandered the room. It was time to go. Heading to the door, she hesitated for only a second as she gazed to her sword laying on her bed. She had no desire to leave the manor, yet even now she felt bare. Steeling herself, she left it where it rests, and exited out to the hallway.

The light of the mid-day sun, filled the hallway with light, enveloping her in a glow as the light bounces off of the white walls.

Walking with light footsteps, she aimlessly walked through the corridors. Occasionally she'd come to a stop having thought she had heard a whisper from behind her. Everytime she'd curiously cast her gaze behind her there would be no one. And everytime she'd squint, wondering if she were being followed why wouldn't they show themselves?

Sometimes people didn't make any sense to Aiz. They were often akin to vague featureless shapes of enigmatic beings. Their actions and motivations often made very little sense. And sometimes it felt that in order to understand, it had to be drilled and beaten into her.

One would guess that monsters were something that she understood all too easily..

Rounding the corner, she came to a stop and peered down the hallway. Some distance down the hall, she made out Riviera's jade colored hair, as she had her back to her while she was holding a door for another individual. Through the sliver of a gap, Aiz was able to barely make out of the features of Riviera's guest.

"Mathis?" Aiz softly said to herself as her brow knit with confusion as the door closed.

Plagued by confusion, she stepped forward as she moved without thought. Then as soon as the door had closed, Riviera had emerged back out into the hallway and away from Aiz. All without ever realizing that she stood bathed in the light that streaked through the windows.

Slowly Riviera's figure faded as she turned a corner. She was searching for someone. That was the best reason she could ponder, but whether or not it was accurate remained a mystery to her. And being content with that, she felt that surely soon enough she would find out why.

Approaching the door, she stood before the fine wooden door painted in white. Tilting her head, she listened, but she heard nothing but silence on the other side. Carefully resting her hand on the golden door handle, she lightly pressed down checking for the resistance of the door being locked. Instead, the knob turned with little resistance, and the mechanism inside creaked ever so quietly.

It was unlocked and the door slowly crept open.

Peeking her head inside, it was one of the meeting rooms. Or to be precise, it was one of the meeting rooms that Loki was most fond of. With the shades drawn a short distance, they filtered out a small portion of light, yet the room remained lit with an abundance of light from the outside, painting the finely crafted furniture in it's glow as well as the table.

And sitting on the couch to the right was none other than Ansem.

Hunched over, he sat staring at a cup of tea as he rest his elbows on his knees. There was no one else in the room. And as she peered back into the hallway, where she had thought she had heard someone scampering into hiding, there too was no one visibly present.

"Mathis?.." Aiz quietly called out as she poked her head back in.

Yet he remained still like a statue.

Slipping through the gap in the door, she didn't bother opening it all of the way so she could close it right away. Circling around to the marble laid coffee table in front of him, Aiz kept her eyes trained on him. Certain to watch for any movement. It couldn't be possible that he was asleep.

His eyes were locked onto the cup of tea, and his body beat to the rhythm of his heart as his breath slowly came like waves.

"Ansem?.." She quietly said once more as she tilted her head.

Ansem winced, as his eyes fluttered as if he was awaking from a slumber.

"Aiz?" He said in confusion as he tried to make sense of her presence. Glancing to the closed door and then back to her. "I'm sorry, I didn't hear you come in.."

"You're here?" Aiz simply asked with a confused tilt of her head.

Ansem nodded as he clasped his hands together as he drew his gaze elsewhere in the room.

"Yes, your deity requested my presence.." Ansem drew his eyes up to hers.

At first she found herself questioning the logic that ran through her mind. Wondering why was it that the other people in her life often remained and operated as vague individuals, but when she peered upon Ansem she was able to recognize details that escaped her perception with others.

The only reason why she had begun to written off that query, was because she remembered that just like how she had gone through the shock of realizing the passage of time and the consequences of such an event, she remembered that he too is going through the same thing.

By some chance, she wasn't alone in experiencing something that could have been deemed impossible, allowing her to feel empathy towards another for something so specific that it was limited to the two of them. It was through this that she understood, that he was only here by request. Not by choice.

"It'll be ok." Aiz said as she sat down holding the hem of her skirt still below her knees. "Loki is-..."

Aiz trailed off as she tried searching for the right words.

"..-Kind."

As Aiz brought her gaze back to Ansem, she could see that he understood.

"That's.." Ansem said as he peered into the cup of tea. "It really is a relief hearing that.."

Aiz bobbed her head from the right to the left as she carefully watched him become entranced with the cup of tea before him.

"How was training?" Ansem said as he brought his attention to her.

The question caught her off guard, prompting the automatic recall of the events prior all in reverse. From the boy who had thrown their groceries at her, to the way how Bell was behaving. Things she were careful not to dwell on at this moment. Instead she focused on what little she had learned in those moments.

"It was-..." Aiz paused. "Different…"

She waited for a reply, but upon turning her gaze to him she saw that he was patiently waiting. He knew that something was wrong. And yet he was willing to let her lie to him.

Why would you let me do that?

Ansem nodded, gripping the cup of tea and bringing it to his nostrils, letting the aroma's of the green tea and mint fill his nostrils.

"Different doesn't sound too bad." Ansem says with the cup close to his face, his thumb anxiously rubbing the side of the cup, trying to soothe itself. "Change can be good. Maybe add some growth or new approach to something?"

Ansem tried to vaguely reason as his gaze pierced the faint trail of steam before his eyes.

"Maybe.." Aiz said as she held her hands in her lap. Leaving herself in contemplation as Ansem returned his gaze to his tea giving her that space.

"In your familia-..?" Aiz started before pausing as she tried to find her words. "Did you train the others a lot?"

She was careful to tread on the topic of his familia, and his role. From what she had understood, he bore a role of leadership, and the last thing she wanted to reintroduce into his mind was any sense of survivor's guilt. That he should've prepared them better or if not him, then someone better.

"I did." Ansem said as his eyes traced the herbs that poked out of the gaps in the strainer at the bottom of his tea. "But there were others too who helped. They filled in the blindspots that we had missed."

Aiz nodded.

"And they were strong enough to go to the Glacier territory?.."

Aiz softly asked as she forced the question out. Knowing all too well she may be straddling a line that she shouldn't.

"They were able to go much farther than just the Glacier territory." Ansem said with a pause. "Each and every single one of them worked hard to do so. But that's only because they allowed themself to be pushed, and stretched well beyond what they were used to."

With her gaze cast to the door, she could've sworn she had heard a whisper. But disregarding it, she turned her attention back to the man across from her.

"Whether it was for family, friends, or fame. Some wanted another chance at life. But it all was for something precious to them. You can say the same can't you?"

Of course she was. It was a large part of who she was and who she had become now. For so long that single desire had catapulted her into being one of the strongest adventurer's in the city. That sole desire.

If Ansem chose to, he could see it as the memories and emotions swell and shift inside of her. That much she was certain of. And yet, he bore his gaze into the bottom of his cup. Leaving her with whatever privacy she deemed was necessary to lie for.

"I can." Aiz quietly said, as she felt her heart become heavy. "I don't want a lot…"

It was a desire and a truth of her being that had begun to escape from her lips.

"Only to get back what I lost."

Yet she couldn't bring herself to say it in front of him.

I want my mother back.

It shouldn't matter who she said it to here, nor was it considered a wish to be granted where speaking it to the world would cancel out the likelihood of it becoming reality. So why couldn't she admit it?

What was so wrong about wanting to admit that they had loved and lost? To admit their desire for something that was taken?

In truth, there was nothing wrong in admitting such a thing. To yearn, and experience heartache. And as Aiz's mind had begun to soothe itself, the thoughts began to overlay that grief and desire with the boy who she had become so fond of.

He too had someone taken from him by a blackened monster.

"I want to make sure that it won't happen to anyone else." The words escaped from her lips with no restraint. She had no reason to hold on to any self-restraint when the thought of Bell came into her mind.

Had she failed him because she hadn't reached the same growth rate as he had? Was she not strong enough to slay that beast below alone? If she wasn't, how could she ever hope to achieve victory in slaying the one monster above all else?

Then came the realization of a truth that she didn't want to admit that was possibly true.

That she wasn't strong enough.

"Yes." Aiz firmly.

"Hmm?" Ansem said as he picked up gaze to find her golden eyes locking onto him.

"You asked if I would want help training; my answer is yes." Aiz said politely reminding him, as he raised his gaze to hers. "But would you be willing to help a second?"

Ansem nodded softly recalling his previous offer.

"I would be happy to help." Ansem said as he carefully held the cup below his chin, cupped with both hands. "Would you tell me more?"

"△▼△▼△▼△"

Riviera's steps rushed down the hallway impatiently. Everywhere that Loki should've have turned up empty. Though this proved to be more of a mild irritation than a cause of concern for her. But it was nothing more than an inconvenience and extra steps for her in the day.

"Why are ya marching 'round like that?" Loki's voice chimed from behind her.

Coming to an abrupt stop, Riviera turned to see Loki poking her head out from the doorway that she had passed.

"I was looking for you?" Riviera began, as she turned to approach Loki who held a begrudging expression on her face, continued leaning against the doorframe.

"Whadya mean? Lefiya should've told ya I was right here."

Riviera stopped and knit her brow, at what never happened.

"Ahh.." Loki said reading the expression on her face. "So, you brought the guy?"

"I did, he's waiting for you in the meeting room."

Loki scrunched her face as she chewed on the inner fleshy bit of her lip, mulling over her thoughts.

"Alright then, after you." Gesturing for Riviera to lead the way, Loki left the comfort of the doorframe and followed by Riviera's side.

"So did you have enough time to reflect?" Loki calmly asked.

It was an utterly vague question that made Riviera wince as she processed the meaning behind it. Possibility after possibility came, but no concrete answer. And that prolonged contemplation was more than enough for Loki to continue.

"-As to why ya held certain information on this guy and his interest in Aiz?"

They strolled down the hallway, that remained eerily vacant. Even with her adept hearing she couldn't hear a single soul in this wing.

"With everything that has been developing-.." Riviera paused, choosing her words carefully. "I felt that this wasn't something that should have been tossed to you."

"Hey now." Loki said in an unusually stern voice as she scrunched her face, catching Riviera's attention. "It doesn't matter even if the world is crashing down, or if one of ya gets in a fight and gets a little boo-boo, when it comes to any of you guys, I need to know. Now is there anything ya wanna tell me before we go any further?"

Coming to a stop they stood in the barren hallway that lay bathed in the glow of the sun.

"I'm having a hard time understanding it myself to be perfectly honest.." Riviera outright admitted, she shook her head in shame towards herself. Wearing the expectation that she should have been more than aware of what and why when it comes Aiz. But this man was an outlier.

An oddity.

"His familia's gone, there's no record of him anywhere, nor of the things that he had told us before. There's very little to nothing to corroborate his story. It's like he was never here and I think that-..." Riviera knew full well where her train of thought was going. To admit an observation that he wasn't from this time. But something about it felt wrong, as if it wasn't for her to say.

As the train of thought moved, what came into the forefront of her mind was a particular memory.

"Hermes said you might want to know this.." Riviera sighed as she closed her eyes as she prepared herself for what she was about to say. "He has a handsome smile."

Riviera didn't know what to expect, all she knew is that it had to have meant something to Loki. That it could've helped in some way, but in truth it was an embarrassment to admit such a thing. There was always that professional posture that she aimed to hold, and admitting such an observation felt like it counter to much of how she wanted to operate and navigate in the world.

"What." Loki said flatly in utter confusion. "Did you just-..?"

"It's just an observation. That's it." Riviera firmly reassured Loki. "And anything else, that I feel should be said, should be through him."

Loki hunched her head forward and squinted in a puzzled manner as she crossed her arms.

Perplexed was an understatement.

"Handsome, huh.." Loki said as she turned back to their destination. "Let's go then."

Continuing down the hall, they rounded the final corner, leaving only a short stretch between them and the room. But instead of what was to be a barren hallway, there lay two figures hunched over each other, stacked comically like two children carefully listening to the grown-ups talking in private.

Stacked upon one another was none other than Lefiya and Tiona with their ears pressed against the door.

"Hey!" Loki said in a strained hush. "Whaddya think you're doing?"

"I was looking for my book-.." Tiona started.

"-And I thought I heard Aiz talking about it.." Upon spotting Riviera, Lefiya's eyes grew wide at remembering what she was instructed to do, then she turned her gaze to Loki who was tapping her finger on her crossed arm in a rhythmic pattern of impatience.

"Oh, I am so sorry." She said in a shameful whisper as she stood up sulking. Before raising a finger to hush them.

"But Aiz is in there.. And I-.." Lefiya stated before stopping mid sentence.

"I never heard her talk so much before.." Tiona said on all fours, under her breath as she pressed her ear against the door picking up where Lefiya left off.

"Is he in there-..?" Loki calmly asked as she tilted her head to Riviera.

"He is." Riviera said.

"Who's in there?" Lefiya asked.

Approaching the opposite door, Loki paused as she glanced to her children.

"I'm about to find out. Go on, scram." Loki said with no particular displeasure. It was evident enough for Lefiya that this was going to be a private conversation, one that even she could calm her curiosity. Tiona on the other hand, Lefiya was certain she'd have to drag away.

"△▼△▼△▼△"

"Ok.." Ansem said as he nodded, processing everything. "I think I understand.."

It was just the two of them. It may have been a couple of minutes of Aiz stumbling and stopping in her words, the point remained the same.

Who was before her was not just one of the strongest adventurer's in the city, but a girl. One whose heart has been numbed and scarred. Whose soul still shined amidst the darkness.

"I'll do what I can to help."

"Thank you.." Aiz said quietly as she cast her gaze to the table before them. There was a mix of relief and impatience in her eyes, battling one another.

The door knob twisted with a faint squeak, and opened. From the other side came a woman who stood an average height, adorning short red hair and vermillion eyes whose gaze hid behind tightly closed eyes. Right behind her came Nine-Hell, closing the door to secure the room.

"So you're the-..." Loki came to a sudden stop as her eyes focused on the man before her who was sitting right across from Aiz.

Catching their attention, Ansem stood up to pay his respects, trying to straighten out his clothes to make himself presentable mid-rise. Holding his hands clasped in front of him, he held a formal posture of paying respect to a higher power.

The silence lasted only a few seconds, before he glanced back to Aiz to see if there was any subtle cue he could read from her. She only nodded her head to him.

"My name is Mathis.." Ansem said as he turned his gaze back to Loki. "I was told that you requested my presence, ma'am?"

Loki remained still as her eyes were trained on him.

"That's right." Loki said confirming his inquiry before glancing at Aiz for a moment.

When pried, Riviera revealed to Loki that Aiz had been a strong advocate of this man. That was all that she could have made sense of the development, and this very well could have been a step in the right direction in understanding exactly who this man before them was.

But sensing the trepidation from Loki, left Riviera feeling uneasy.

"Ya can have a seat." Loki said.

"Yes ma'am." Ansem said politely before sitting down.

Only when he sat, did Loki move around to the back of the couch where Aiz sat. Resting her hand on the finely carved and painted wooden frame, her eyes met Aiz's with a careful gaze.

"You can leave." Loki said.

Aiz blinked with confusion.

"I'd like to stay." Aiz replied back planinly.

"Not this time. The grown-ups are gonna talk now." Loki said.

"Uh-.." Aiz began, as a cohesive thought tried to form.

"Aiz." Ansem said, catching her attention. "It'll be ok."

"Are you certain?" Aiz plainly asked, where Ansem gave her a nod. She sat for a moment, as if processing the situation before gazing up to Loki. "Ok."

Aiz stood up, straightening out the hem of her white dress. Approaching Riviera, Aiz glanced up to her, for a moment, it was surreal for Riviera. There was a small look in her eyes that was different, one that she had never seen before.

That plain, blank expression in her eyes had faded if only by a little.

Reaching the door she glanced back at them, eyes darting to them all. She had every desire to stay, but she knew and believed that she was leaving him in the company of people she could trust. Leaving the room, the door closed and latch shut with a solid click and from the other side they all could hear Tiona's muffled voice erupting from the other side of the door.

"Hey where's my book?!"

They waited for the commotion outside to fall and grow distant as they traveled away. Loki stepped closer to the window in front of her, but still held herself behind the cover of the couch. Subconsciously creating a barrier between her and the man before them.

Riviera stood at a distance, spotting Loki's intentional distance as she gazed out to the world through the window. Carefully watching the two of them from a distance, trying to understand the tension that seemed so one-sided.

"Ma'am..?" Ansem began. "Is everything ok?"

Loki took a moment, breaking herself out of her trance, releasing her grip on the back of the couch.

"For the most part, yes." Loki said before turning to face Ansem. "From what I understand, you played a role in that, on more than one occasion."

Loki approached the couch opposite of Ansem, and dropped into the cushion.

"That water of yours for instance.." Loki tilted her head as she carefully gazed upon the man before her. Her goddess spoke carefully, with a cadence much slower than her normal quick pace that followed with her wit. "Can save lives."

Ansem nodded as he subtly nodded his head, recollecting what Riviera had already told him.

"I heard it helped you out tremendously."

"Yes.." Loki nodded as glanced to Riviera who quietly began her approach to the side arm of the couch nearest Loki. "It saved us all a lot of grief. We know sharing something with us so rare is not something done lightly. Which is why I wanted to thank ya personally."

Ansem held his tired gaze up to Loki.

"I appreciate that, really.. But you don't have to. If it weren't for Aiz-.." Ansem brought his gaze upon Riviera. "-And you, I never would've made it out of the Dungeon alive."

Riviera returned his gaze, leaving Loki to fill the space with her words.

"Of course, but I'm sure you can imagine what my next question is going to be."

Ansem contemplated, then shot a guess out. "Where I got the water?"

"No, we know the waters have long been polluted by a monster. We need to know how much you have available to you." Loki said, and immediately Anserm seemed hesitant. Knowing far too well the value of the resource, that many in the world have not seen nor only think of it as myth. "That water did what one of the city's best healers could not. It cured a wound from a cursed blade wielded by a member of Evilus."

Ansem's eyes strayed from Loki's at the name of the radical group of adventurer's.

"Whether the city knows it or not, we are at war everyday. One of our's nearly paid the highest price protecting the city. And she won't be the last. So we need ta' know and leverage how much of that water is available to keep our people safe."

Ansem sat up, stretching out his left leg and into the pants pocket that was sewn neatly onto his thigh. In his hand came a glimmer from a single vial. He set it down on the table, the fine glass clinked against the marble coffee table.

"This is all I have."

One vial for an entire army. Riviera silently gulped for the realization came upon her.

Many are going to die.

Riviera's collected expression never waivered.

"It has it's limitations." Ansem began as he turned his gaze to his left hand that he slowly opened and closed, his sense of touch still gone. "But if it can help you…"

Ansem trailed off as he starred upon the vial.

"I'd be willing to exchange it in order to gain your help." Ansem said with resolve as he looked up to Loki.

Loki sat silent, arms crossed as she carefully observed him.

"From what I've seen you have good people in your familia, people that I'm told that I can trust…" Ansem took a breath as he gathered himself, in what could only be described as a preparation of admittance. But one other didn't share the same thought process.

"You want our help to fight against the Harbinger." Riviera said cutting to the chase, or at least what she had interpreted as.

Ansem paused, his previous train of thought diverted to this new topic. It wasn't what he was going to say. But instead it was still a mighty relevant topic.

"Yes." Ansem said with a nod. "In six days, the city will have to stand as one. Familias and all. Otherwise we risk repeating the past. Or worse, delaying our defeat."

The entire time Loki just watched as Riviera filled the void. Knowing all too well of the man before her. There remained echoes of the past, the times when Hermes and herself had hunted him and the others down. All in hopes of satisfying the Trial of Fifty-Eight Days, a prophetic proclamation handed down by Furher's Right, to find and bring the man known as the First Son of Evilus to justice. To ultimately kill him or risk falling into a time that there may be no turning back from.

Ansem was in their grasps. Hung to a wall with chains and metal bar that could not be bent by mortal will. Yet he was freed from his cell and stained with the blood of one of her children who bore no wound. She had been saved, that much was evident. But from what? She didn't know. There was no time to ask any questions.

"I won't ask you to do this for me.." Ansem said humbling himself.

That was the day that she let him go. And after so long he returned asking for help. Speaking of an ideal of standing together. A part of her was moved. Another was terrified.

Had they failed that day?

"But for your familia. To give them a chance at having a better tomorrow." Ansem said. "For your home."

Loki saw it. And despite her calm demeanor, sitting with arms crossed and her vermillion eyes barely visible, she saw his request was all that he wanted for his own. But now that they are gone, he could only impart that desire, that wish, for those who may bear the same weight that his had.

To survive, find peace.

To live.

Loki sighed as she diverted her eyes as her conscience clawed at her behind her eyes.

"That's going to be difficult.." Were the only words that she could muster. Facing the relevant fact that soon this city would be split in half. "You want to unite the familias under a common goal when some of them are just waiting for any excuse to go at someone's throat?.. In under six days?"

They both knew it wasn't going to be an easy task. And Loki could see well enough that this wasn't just some pipe dream but one part of a solution to a problem that soon they all will be facing.

"Look, I'm not saying it's impossible.." Loki said leaning forward. "But have you spoken to anyone else? Ganesha, Dian Cecht-.."

Loki paused.

"...- Freya."

Ansem winced slightly at the name and then spoke of the only other diety who he had spoken to on the matter. "Only Hermes."

Riviera gave a barely audible gasp that seemed more of breath in as a series of dots connected one another in her mind. Then she spoke.

"Why would Hermes lead you into an ambush?"

The air became still and Loki gripped her arm tightly, resisting the desire to command Riviera to stop. But it was too late.

"When you combine fear and desperation, while standing at the precipice of victory-.." Ansem said solemnly as he locked his eyes onto Riviera's. "People will do just about anything to secure that success. No matter who, what or why."

"I can't blame them. I want to. I really do.." Ansem sorrowfully admitted. "But we were all scared. That's all I can bear to say right now.."

Leaning forward to the glass vial of water, Loki's fingers spin the vial around letting the light refract through its clear lens-like structure.

"So this is all you got?" Loki said changing the topic.

"One of a few things, yes." Ansem said softly.

"Alright." Loki said with a huff, then slid it across the table to Ansem, instinctually he cupped his hands catching it, leaving him with a dumbfounded look. "We're not gonna take that from ya."

There grew an immediate worry on Ansem's face, what easily could have been the rejection of his request. But Loki raised her hand in a kind pausing manner.

"But you have our help." Loki said bluntly.

"Just like that?" Ansem stopped, struck by how she would agree so quickly.

"We don't shy away from things like this." Loki said with a nod to Riviera. "We can cover our end and prepare. But what'll make that a lot easier is if you have a roof over your head."

"I don't follow.." Ansem slowly said in utter confusion.

Riviera caught Loki giving her a quick glance, one that she could only interpret for her to chime in.

"Where are you going to be staying in the city?" Riviera asked, rephrasing the statement for Ansem to understand.

Ansem knit his brow as he fell silent being unable to voice the fact. The realization came upon them all.

"It seems that ya don't got anywhere to go, and that given the circumstances, having saved us from such grief-." Loki chimed her preamble before being interrupted.

"You're offering me a place, here? In your familia?" At first Ansem was confused, narrowing his eyes in that single second as he processed what she was leading up to say. Riviera glanced to Loki a wild look of confusion, one that was bewildered at Loki's initial desire to keep him from Aiz. Wondering what spurred that change?

"What do ya say?" Loki offered almost nonchalantly.

"I-.." He uttered as it came to him. "I can't. I can't do that, I'm sorry."

He began to reach for his back but only made it to just above his collar bone.

"That's all I got left of her."

It wasn't unusual for someone to display such loyalty to a deity. Being one, herself, Loki understood that all too well with her own children. But there came a time when that loyalty, after the deity had gone, would be unreasonable.

"I know, but Hera's gone, she's not going to come back to the city." Loki said, trying to reason with him. "So what good is carrying her around like that going to do for you?"

"That's for me to decide." Ansem said firmly, bearing no ill will. "Thank you for the offer but I refuse."

Riviera shot them both bewildered looks that thankfully went unnoticed before composing herself. Any number of people would jump at the opportunity to join one of the largest and most prominent familias in Orario. And here, she just witnessed someone passing up what could be the offer of a lifetime.

Loki sat in the silence of his refusal with a stone expression, one that not even Riviera could decipher.

"Well.." Loki said before coming to stop in her words. "Should ya reconsider, you know where to find us. And regardless of your decision, you'll have our help."

Loki reached out her hand as she stood up.

"We won't run from the fight."

Ansem stared upon her hand, before rising to his feet. His height easily outmatched her own meager size and seemed just a few inches taller than Riviera. Leaving Loki to look up to the man before her. And then they shook, perhaps for a moment longer than intended.

"Thank you." Ansem said as they released. "I'll compile everything into a document. Everything we need to know about the Harbinger, possibly cross reference that with your familia's knowledge of Evilus, and develop a strategy around that."

"Sounds like a plan."

Riviera stood in place, watching it all.

"If I may.." Riviera said politely budding in drawing both sets of eyes upon, yet her voice had a level of sterness and irritation, unwilling to let some things go so quickly. "I do have some questions."

"To be frank, I have many questions." Riviera said, looking upon them both.

Her confusion was evident, the situation before her was something that she wasn't at all expecting. In fact, it seemed so much of what she had anticipated had been glossed over.

"I'll put everything down that we need to know." Ansem reassured her.

"You said you had to go into the Dungeon to perform a ritual.." Riviera continued regardless.

"That's right. To find what is keeping the Harbinger alive." Ansem said, filling in the space of Riviera's words.

"A deity, you said.." Riviera repeated. "How can you be so certain that's true? If you want to bring everyone together to fight this, do you understand how important it is to make sure that your information is accurate? -That you're not painting a target on someone who very well may be innocent?"

"Riviera." Loki spoke, trying to catch her attention.

Ansem dropped his gaze to somewhere behind Riviera. The weight of her words reaching through to consciousness.

"I know those implications very well.." Ansem simply said.

"Then how can you judge, that a god, of all things is one the behind the Harbinger? To trek their way down into the depths of the Dungeon for that. Do you understand the risks for a deity by just stepping foot into the Dungeon?"

Ansem remained silent as he peered into Riviera's eyes.

"That doesn't sound like some monster or ritual can tell you that." Riviera added.

Ansem didn't flinch or sway. He simply remained silent as his eyes fixed solely on her jade eyes.

"What told you?" Riviera asked, yet his face remained steeled. She could recount the arcane magic circle that lay charred into the grass and soil, but how could anyone know of such thing? "Who told you?"

Loki shared his silence, not rallying behind Ansem but rather allowing her Captain to assess his confidence on the matter. For when it gets down to it, if he falters or bends by expressing uncertainty, then how could anyone else have confidence in his words?

"Everything we need to know will be in the document that I'll prepare." Ansem said firmly.

"Bullshit." Riviera blurted out. "You speak of rallying the city but you can't answer a question. There are many things that can determine a group, familia, or army's effectiveness, but there's one thing that stands above all else. That's trust. And if you can't answer a question, no one is going to place their trust in you."

"You want our help? Give us a reason to trust you."

Trust extends so much farther than just loyalty. The will and courage to fight for another, but the faith put into another for the sake of their own life.

Can I trust you with my life? With the lives of those under me?

"I want to tell you. But I can't." Ansem said peering into her eyes that wore immense dissatisfaction. "-Because we still have a guest."

Ansem turned his gaze past Riviera to the door behind her. Making her way to the door, she heard a scramble and as she opened and peered out Riviera was met with a single set of eyes that slowly peered up to her with a wide smile.

Tiona, had fallen on her bottom in a failed attempt to flee she was caught redhanded in her snooping. Leaving her to chuckle at Riviera's narrowed glare. It was possible that she was there the entire time, and if Ansem had been aware of that, well that very well would have limited his level of transparency about everything.

"How much did you hear?" Riviera asked.

"Bout all of it." Tiona rocked forward and peered into the room. Upon spotting Ansem standing next to Loki, Tiona waved with a wide grin.

"Stop that." Riviera said as she ushered Tiona back like a small child. "Your lips are sealed, until I say so. Understand?"

"Gotcha. Lips are sealed." Tiona said as she drew her fingers across her lips like drawing a zipper closed.

Withdrawing herself from the hallway, Riviera returned to the room, with one hand on the door that still remained cracked opened.

"Like I said before, everything we need to know will be in the document." Ansem said, trying to reassure Riviera.

It wasn't ideal, Loki and Ansem could see that much from Riviera's despite her calm appearance, and she looked upon Loki for any indication what would be next.

"Why don't ya take a seat, finish your tea and in the meantime, she'll be right back." Loki said to Ansem before turning to Riviera. "Come on."

"Oh!" Loki walked over to the door and half way to Riviera she turned back. "And it might be best to keep our name out of any conversation with the other Familias. For the time being at least.."

Her suggestive comment didn't require any elaboration, that in order to secure the help of the other familias in the city, it may be best to refrain from mentioning Loki and her familia's involvement.

"We can talk 'bout that later." Loki said.

For what reason was beyond Ansem's understanding. In the politics of the familia's it could range from serious offenses to mundane disagreements of policies. Whatever the case, Ansem understood the vague fact.

Satisfied with his acceptance of the advice, the two left the room, leaving Ansem to return to his tea. A minute hadn't nearly passed until a woman with brown hair poked her head around the corner the door that had creaked open.

"Psst." Tiona whispered as she peeked around the door, with her nose being the lowest part of her face exposed.

Ansem looked to the door, which only prompted Tiona to draw herself back behind the door, leaving Ansem with a look of profound confusion as he cautiously held the cup of tea to his lips.

Returning his attention to the tea and the herbs that have without a doubt seeped for too long, the same figure from behind the door plopped herself down on the couch opposite of him.

"Is there something I can help you with?" Ansem asked carefully.

"Nuh, I'm just thinking." Tiona said in her normal airheaded tone.

"Oh?.."

"Yeah. You just remind me of this one guy in a book I was reading." Tiona leaned forward and framed his face with both her index and thumbs out creating a frame. "What was his name?…"

She wondered aloud.

"Same eyes and everything.."

"Tiona." A voice came from the door drawing both of their eyes to it. Standing in the doorway was the young elf, Lefiya with Aiz by her side.

"OH! Did you find it!?" Tiona jumped up and shouted excitedly causing Lefiya to cringe slightly, as she shook her head. Seeing that their search had turned up no results, brought Tiona to sulk but hunching over and groaning. "Why did you gotta get my hopes up like that?.."

"That wasn't what-.." Lefiya paused only to course correct. "Come on, let's go."

"Tooo find my boook?" A smile grew on her face.

"Ye-" Lefiya was about to say before being interrupted

"-Thhaaat you looost." Tiona said as as she bobbed her way to Lefiya.

Lefiya bore an unamused expression on her face as what could only be a trend of Tiona blaming her for the loss of her book. "I didn't lose it…"

Aiz snuck behind the two, and began to quietly close to the door, only upon the door's locking mechanism clicked did Tiona's voice erupt from the other side.

"I REMEMBER THE NAME!" Tiona shouted excitedly as the handle shook with excitement.

"Tiona, you are being too loud!" Lefiya said scorning Tiona.

"IT'S A-!" Tiona began to shout only to be smothered by Lefiya, muffling her voice.

Only when it was quiet, and the sound of the two had gone, presumably after Lefiya dragged Tiona away, did Aiz let go of the door handle and approach Ansem.

"I'm sorry. She really likes books." Aiz said, trying to apologize for her comrades enthusiasm.

"It's ok. But thank you. I'm not sure I would've lasted long with her here." Ansem said as he held the cup of tea close. "She's like a joyful little ball of chaos."

"Mhm.." Aiz silently agreed as she sat down across from him. Holding her hands in her lap, her eyes scanned the room before resting on Ansem. "Did you tell them?"

Ansem's blue eyes darted up to hers, and slowly drew themselves away as he sighed.

"You didn't." Aiz said, picking up in the careful expression.

"I tried. But the conversation took a different turn." Ansem admitted.

"△▼△▼△▼△"

Loki and Riviera walked side by side down the corridors of the Twilight Manor returning Loki back to her previous location. Whatever Riviera had hoped would have come with their meeting, did not come to fruition. Instead of answers, to the questions that she itched the back of her mind, and the weight of the concerns that followed, it seemed that her deity, Loki, didn't share the same concerns.

This didn't bring Riviera any relief. In fact, it exacerbated the issue. There was talk of trust and communication being a fundamental component of operating within the Loki familia.

Yet here she was blindsided by the fact there was something that was being withheld from her by own deity. The very one that gave her the opportunity and safety to leave her own home of the Elf Kingdom.

There was never was any true sense of malevolence that came from her. No sadistic justifications for violence. It was all for her children. For the city.

For people who Loki didn't even have to know to make a difference for.

But the man named, Mathis, said that it was a time when everyone was scared. Desperate. And the name of a particular deity popped in her mind bringing her to a stop.

"Hera…" Riviera uttered just in earshot of Loki. The name was enough to bring Loki to a halt. "I never told you that I believed he was from her familia."

Standing in the barren corridor, the sunlight streaked through the clear glass windows, painting the corridors in a holy white glow as the two remained eerily still.

"That it was the first place I found him as soon as we all left the Dungeon."

"No.. You didn't." Loki said without facing Riviera as she stood in the glow of white light.

"You knew him, didn't you?" Riviera said softly, almost in disbelief, yet Loki remained silent. There was no denial, but silent confirmation. "He said things that are not from this time. Things that could only be dated back when Zues and Hera were still around.."

Riviera fell silent, as her memory raced to connect every possible connection, any possible scenario. It was as effective as throwing something against the wall and seeing if it stuck, but from her time being raised in the Elf Kingdom, and being under Finn's command, she had learned a thing or two about assessing the likelihood of any particular thing from information. These were the most likely options.

"Is he.." Riviera spoke carefully, dancing whether or not she wanted to know the answer, yet she carried on with calm composure. "-Is he a victim of our actions from fifteen years ago?"

Atrocities. That was the world that resided in the forefront of her mind, and swelling in her heart. She could not take back those dark days. Days that no one would've anticipated that the city would have been subjected to. But it was all for the greater good.

Wasn't it?

"No." Loki said with a heavy sigh before turning to face. "Not yours, or anyone else here."

Loki's eyes were never visible, but in this light Riviera could see a sliver of vermillion color in her patron deity's eyes. And the expression Loki carried was one of resolve, as someone who will not bear the guilt of the past but one who is willing to right the wrongs of her past, by operating in the present, on what she can do now.

"But mine." Loki said as they stood a distance from each other that felt like some great divide.

Riviera tried to wrap her mind around it. It was something that her conscience actively fought, that she wanted to deny. She had seen the grief and sorrow that strickens Ansem. What reason drove them to attack him and his familia?

"But why? All of it?" Riviera pried, trying to understand, desperately seeking answers that seemed to continue to elude only her.

Loki stood silent as she planted one hand on her hip, mulling her response over in her mind, all the while chewing on the soft inner tissue of her mouth. "If you think the Dark Ages were bad, well before that one of the many commons fears we faced was the fall of Babel."

There was a quiet look of disbelief on Riviera's face as it processed the idea of such an event.

"Riviera, that almost happened." Loki said clearly in a matter-of-fact tone. "Everyone was damn near petrified at the thought of these horrible things being committed by someone. So much that we were willing to believe anything we were told. Even if it were wrong.."

The thought hit her like a sack of bricks as she braced her hand to her brow as she realized she had just berated a person who knew first hand of what it was like to have blame placed upon them for something they didn't commit. The end result, was that she felt she had made an ass of herself.

"-Look, I'm not going to tell ya trust him. That's something you've got to come to on ya own terms. But I will tell ya, that after all that he's been through, I wouldn't blame him if he wanted to watch the world burn, but he doesn't want that. He doesn't got that kind of heart."

"But what happened?.." Loki stood in contemplation as she weighed the options and their individual outcomes. "…-You said it yourself, if you want to know anything 'bout him, it's going to be words better comin' from his mouth." Loki said finally. "No one else's."

"You're willing to put that much faith into him?" Riviera asked, trying to help her come to terms with her own ignorance.

"Yes." Loki said with unshakable confidence.

Riviera couldn't summon any more words from the realm of her mind, instead she simply existed, processing Loki's words, her diety turned and walked away. Leaving Riviera to bathe in the white glow of the hallway. Speckles of dust glimmered in the sunlight that spanned the growing space between them.

With Loki out of sight, Riviera turned, pivoting swiftly in a manner so elegant as she sought to return to Ansem. She wished she knew what to do, what to say. How could she handle such a delicate situation wherein they were momentarily fostering a victim of Loki's endeavor from a time that she was reluctant to mention?

Was any of it her place to take action on? To resolve on behalf of her deity?

Thought after reckless thought came and went like the rushing foot traffic on a busy morning. With each thought, there was no clear answer nor direction. Instead all of the results from the possibilities in her mind seemed blurry.

All that she knew that was within her power was to guide him back to the Dian Cecht familia for continued care. When she arrived back to the room, she paused when she heard the familiar voices conversing behind the closed doors. Her hand lay idle by her side as she carefully listened.

Aiz spoke carefully, pausing intermittently in an attempt to choose her words. Whatever conversation Riviera had stumbled upon, must've been at its tail end, as the two slowly drew into silence. Or perhaps, the two had noticed Riviera's lingering presence. Surely Ansem had, as he had noticed Tiona's.

Taking her cue, she opened the door revealing that Aiz had returned back to the room as she had before. When the door behind her closed, she felt the gaze of the two upon her back, who were expecting her return. In that moment she couldn't find herself able to face him as she bore her gaze upon the golden colored door handle that wore faint signs of wear from years of wear.

"May I ask her?" Ansem said to Aiz. Though Riviera's back was to them, she was certain that in Aiz's silence she had nodded. "Nine-Hell?"

Upon his beckoning, she turned to face them. As she briefly gazed upon Aiz, she couldn't help but wonder-..

What had you seen to have such faith in him?

She possessed a vague understanding of the sudden reveal that Loki presented, but the simple facts that surrounded Aiz and him continued to be beyond her grasp.

"Yes?" Riviera said as she faced him. There lay a look of uncertainty and deep concentration on his face as he prepared himself.

"How deep have you gone into the Dungeon?"

Her face felt heavy as she weighed her answer. As she knew that it covered the first discrepancy that she had noticed from Ansem's recounting of his familia's and his own endeavors deep in the Dungeon.

"Most recently, the fifty-ninth floor." Riviera casting a firm glance to Aiz.

"Then it's true?" Ansem asked. "-That it's no longer the Glacier Territory?"

Riviera nodded. "That's correct."

There was no hiding that he wasn't from this time, that was something that they all had come to terms with. But whether that was what drew Aiz to him, Riviera doubted.

Ansem drew into silence as he leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees.

"A lot has changed..." Was all that Riviera could muster as the weariness Ansem wore upon himself.

"Yeah-.." Ansem said softly as he began to anxiously rub his thumb on his left hand. Before gazing upon Riviera. "I'm guessing it's time to go?"

In light of everything, Riviera felt that there wasn't much or anything else she could do, much of who he was stood behind lock and key leaving her to opt to agree with him.

"Whenever you're ready."

Ansem stood up slowly, bracing his hands against his knees pushing himself up in a manner that Riviera could only describe as tired and worn. It was evident that even still he hasn't fully recovered from the events prior. The only thing missing was an old-man-like grunt as he rose.

"Aiz?" Riviera said prompting her golden eyes to dart to her.

"It's best I stay in for the day." Aiz replied as her gaze darted back to Riviera. Ansem nodded as if he fully understood why.

"Tomorrow then?" Ansem asked.

"Yes." Aiz softy said with a nod as Ansem returned her nod.

Riviera carefully watched the exchange, it was all too surreal. How these two individuals had come to form such an understanding so quickly was beyond her. Despite her reservations of the development she reluctantly came to acknowledge its existence. It was far more than that one commonality of misplaced through time.

No, it had to be more than that.

"I'm ready." Ansem said as he turned to Riviera.

Without words, Riviera opened the door, and so they began their journey back to the Dian Cecht familia.

6.

"Sarah's Notebook" - Max Richter

The Archives stood as they always were. Quiet and still. The air was still, and the dust simply sunk to the floor as they glisten and bask in the light that creeps in from the sky lights and the large set of windows showcasing the garden outside.

All was still.

All was silent.

Ettore sat at his desk, pen in hand, staring at the piece of paper with mad scribblings in elven that held no true sense of continuity. Amber eyes winced and darted from one end of the paper to the other. As if reading lines that never were, structuring the things that needed to be said. He remembered, he swore he did. But dare he say that so much time had passed that it had skewed his memory?

No..

He had too much pride for that.

So if not time, why couldn't he remember?

Closing his amber eyes, he rest his weary head in the palms of his hands in frustration. Everything was there, in the confines of his mind. He knew it.

He swore he could.

Clenching his heads, he began to grimace only to sigh as he perched his head back up onto his hands, peering out to the corner of his desk. Right before him, stood the flower nestled in its little pot. Reaching out, he held a softly freckled petal, and with a forlorn gaze he had come to realize something.

He was going to have to humble himself once more. He was going to have to return to his home for the sake of his niece.

"It's time to go." Ettore said.

Unlike most in the Guild, he had the luxury of coming and going as he pleased. The archives would still stand in his absence, never to fall into disarray. Most times, he could see the envy in a few of the other Guild staff, most prominently from the receptionist who deal with the first hand consequences of the adventurer's and their stories from the Dungeon.

They would never understand, mostly because he never sought to explain it to them how he had earned his place here as he felt they had no true reason to know. In turn, this distance constructed a wall between him and the majority of the others.

A wall that he didn't mind.

Packing his carrier bag, he slung it across his shoulder, and reached for the small pot wielding the freckled flower. Carefully carrying it in the nook of his hand and torso.

Pulling a chain with his free hand, a series of metal shutters descend over the window panels. Slowly blocking the sunlight from entering the Archives, and upon the final shutter lowering the room was enveloped in darkness.

A solemn sigh escaped from his breath as he stood motionless gripping the chain.

It was an all too familiar feeling and an unwelcome one at that. Cradling the flower close to his body he took one more breath before securing the chain in place.

Leaving the absolute darkness, he entered the hallway of the Guild that stood layden with finely stained wood and the sound of life. Locking the door, he could feel the life of the building behind him as Guild staff pass him by, carrying on with their duties. Finishing his own duties, he began through the hallways, dodging the looks of others by keeping his gaze looking past and through them.

Making his way to the main area of the Guild, adventurer's filled much of the space, all trying to wait in line to get in touch with the receptionist. Surely waiting to find out more as to when they may venture down into the depths of the Dungeon.

Crossing the barrier behind the receptionist area to the lobby, he bee lined through the crowd. Occasionally a few random adventurer's would attempt to approach him, only to be brushed off by a common statement.

Official business, excuse me.

A formality that was most he could afford to spare them as he was determined to keep moving forward.

Stepping out into the streets of Orario, he basked in the sun as it stood at its peak in the sky. Its warmth blessing his skin, but if he dared to be idle, to bring his closed eyes up to the sun he would begin to feel a faint singe near his neck.

Singing his neck he had. The small pain bore no concern, but a faint reminder to keep moving. There was only one direction he ventured down.

South.

After all, he had heard it from one he hadn't expected, that the clock was ticking down.

"△▼△▼△▼△"

"Is everything ok?" Ansem asked a short deity with two long black ponytails laiden in a white form fitting dress. The deity was standing in the doorframe of the room where many of the boys familia were resting, along with his bag. She stood peering out into the hallway with her hands cupped over her mouth, looking past them down the hall.

Riviera looked back, unsure of what had transpired, as the state of the hallway was in the same condition as she had always known it to be.

"I'm not sure.." Hestia said softly, Ansem was halfway reaching for the second door to open, before Hestia looked up at them both unable to recognize his face and why he would be attempting to enter the room where her children were resting. Reaching out her hand, she placed it on the door. "But-… Would you please mind telling me what exactly you're doing?"

Ansem was caught off guard as he returned his hand back to his side.

"I was assigned to this room..?"

Hestia took a shallow breath in as it dawned upon her.

"You're the guy from yesterday."

"Yes, the guy from yesterday. If you don't mind?" Ansem said as he returned to open the door. Hestia took a sharp breath in, preparing to say something in worry, but immediately stopped herself once Ansem opened the door.

There were more people in the room than the last time he was here, most notably was the dwarf from the ventures in the Dungeon previously, along with a few of Dian Cecht Familia members, standing by the Hestia familia members bedside. A few of Bell's familia were awaken, the renard and the red-haired boy both were sitting upright with the console of the nurses on staff.

"What happened here?" Riviera asked Gareth who stood near a few nurses just a few beds away.

The dwarf turned to them and recognized the familiar faces baring an expression of bad news.

"Aye, Riviera, so you were with him this whole time." Gareth said before turning to Ansem, with a wave of his hand in a manner of getting the hard stuff out of the way. "Firstly, I want to apologize."

"For what-?…" Ansem asked him then laid his eyes on the red-haired boy, who was watching him. The boy turned his gaze to Ansem's bed that lay empty. "Where's my bag?"

"About that lad.." Gareth began before Ansem walked past him to his bed. The floorboards creaked under his feet, in a manner completely unlike than before. As if they had gone under immense force sometime between now and this morning. Then he saw the torn pages bringing him to a halt. The surrounding floorboards were splintered and had few fractures where the space in between floors could be seen.

His journal was torn in pieces, and his bag in no different condition, all laying on the floor at the feet of Hephaestus who kneeled before the scene. In her hand shattered pieces of porcelain that clung together by the strands of mythril wire embedded within, near her other hand a torn page of hieroglyphic writing.

"We tried stopping 'em. He was in a real foul mood. But by the time we got here it was too late." Gareth said.

Ansem stood silent over the remains of his belongings.

He practically had nothing left.

Clutching his fist, his knuckles turned white.

"Who did this?" Ansem's voice shook.

Hephaestus peered up to Ansem, her idle hand resting near the torn page, watching him carefully as Gareth approached his side.

"Before you go getting any bad ideas, just take a second and breathe." Gareth said trying to usher Ansem away from lashing out.

"Gareth.." Riviera softly called out as she approached the two, gesturing for him to let her handle it. Gently placing her hand on Ansem's right arm, she sheparded him away from the scene. Turning him to face her, she peered up into his royal blue eyes that seemed intent on not looking at her. "Mathis-..."

Calling his eyes to hers, the rapid pace of his breathing began to slowly settle.

"Nine-Hell, all I have left now is the clothes on my back, which aren't even mine." Ansem said restraining his voice.

"Will you please tell me their name?" Ansem asked with a shaking breath.

Hephaestus stood up, carefully carrying the remains of his belongings to his hospital bed, where she continued her examination of the armor. All the while paying silent attention to the conversation taking place before her.

Riviera cast a glance to Gareth, seeking affirmation on the matter, who nodded silently.

"His name is Bete. And he will be disciplined accordingly. We'll make this right." Riviera said as she tried to once more shepard his gaze back to her. "Will you trust me with this?"

Riviera didn't know why he was so insistent on looking away from her, but everytime she brought his gaze back to her, she could witness the anger fleeing from him and in its place was a calmness being instilled upon him. It seemed illogical, after all, she was an elf, not a deity of beauty who could captivate one by looks alone. Whatever the case was, she saw that it was soothing him, making the unbearable, bearable.

Though he fell silent, his silence brought no objection to her desire to resolve it by her own means rather than letting Ansem getting involved. To her understanding of Bete's initial thoughts on the stranger, he was the exact opposite in approach than Aiz was.

"Thank you." Riviera said quietly.

"If it's of any reassurance, the kid got himself kicked out of the building after making such a commotion." Gareth said softly in the presence of the few still resting individuals. "The likelihood of this happening again, slim to none."

Ansem remained silent, as he turned his gaze to the shattered pieces.

"If it does happen again.. It'd be the third incident." Ansem said firmly turning to Riviera, Ansem locked his eyes to hers. "Then I will handle it."

She couldn't break her eyes from his. It was a kindness that most adventurers from another familia would not give and that she was being afforded a chance to correct a wrong of one of her own, only because she had asked him to confide in her. And giving the grave damage done to his own personal belongings, there will be no second chances for her to correct his behavior.

That if he chose to rebel against Ansem once more, she could not ascertain with any certainty what would come of it. With no true idea of the capabilities of the man before her, for the first time she began to draw genuine concern for Bete.

"Very well." Riviera said after giving a long pause.

She couldn't allow it to get to that for either of their sake. Looking past Ansem, she found Gareth not far behind him, nodding to the door, the two Loki familia members left the room after apologizing to Hestia who quietly looked on into the room.

Watching them leave, Ansem's gaze veered around the room as he turned to his bed, midway catching the watchful gaze of the red-haired boy. Under any normal circumstances, he would speak of being glad the boy and the renard were awake. Having seemingly made a recovery.

Yet he could not find it in himself to speak as his jaw remained clenched shut.

Facing the bed, Hephaestus stood on the other side. Her examination moved from the armor to gingerly shorting the remains of pages back into the remains of his journal. There were no pleasantries shared. No words. Instead, to retain what posture he could, he remained silent. Quelling the sharp tongue that desired to eagerly lash out.

Taking her leave, Hephaestus returned to the red-haired boy's bedside, where Ansem could hear the whispers of a conversation briefly taking place. It's exact context, unbeknownst to him. All that plagued his mind was how was he supposed to continue to fight when he could no armor and the sword he was given now stands lost?

"Damn it.." He uttered under his breath, clenching the bedsheets, as it felt that the cards were continually being stacked against him.

7.

Ettore stood at the gates of one of the most powerful familia's in all of the Orario admist the twilight sky of the setting sun. Across the fence lay a lawn, strewn with a beautiful and bountiful garden, with pristinely laid white cobblestone out making it's pathway for none other than Freya's personal carriage.

Folkvangr.

Reaching for the gates, a figure appeared before him. Brandishing a look of scorn on his face, he wore no other interpretation than to say 'what do you think you are doing?' Ettore himself payed no mind in giving an explanation, as a mere second passed as the figure's expression remained, but he chose to step aside, allowing Ettore entry onto the property.

"Thank you, Hedin." Ettore said kindly as he jostled the flower pot tightly, securing it close to him. There was no telling what violence would erupt from his return, violence that would be labeled as nothing more than training. A silly lie, that he knew.

Casting his eyes around the garden, he found there to be no signs of training. No patches of torn grass, upheaved fountains or trees. It wasn't unusual for repair of the gardens to be quickly completed after bouts of training, but it seemed as if there were no signs or indications of training having taken place whatsoever.

"Hmm." Ettore hummed to himself as he caught the oddity.

Hedin crossed his gaze, after securing the gate.

"With all due respect, you've chosen a very poor time to return." Hedin warned. "This way, please."

Ettore knew any courtesy that was afforded to him was solely due to his lineage. The same could be said by any disdain. That was if any of those around him truly knew of such things which he held close to his chest like the pedals of the flower he carried.

"Oh?" Ettore offered, as he followed suit. "Perhaps you'd be willing to enlighten me to what strickens the place?"

"It's too soon to say." Hedin said reluctantly.

Opening the front doors to Folkvangr, Ettore was met by the gaze of countless eyes cast upon him that dotted the pristine beauty of the mansion. The greatest commonality they shared was the sense of deep loathing laying within, a feeling that he was all too familiar with, and one that he paid no mind.

Counting the new faces while he could, he could also see the one's who have managed to keep their place in the familia. As he recognized a few of them, equally less of them had recognized him. Despite that familiarity there remained no change from the glares or stoic faces they adorned.

Within the abundant and varied faces that called Folkvangr home, there was only one woman who stood out, her presence could only be described as cold and watchful. Almost as if she were waiting. Her one visible black eye bearing down upon him as the other lay sheltered under her gray hair. In some ways, that stoic icy-ness reminded him of his arrogant youth, but by only a small margin.

This variety of life that Freya had managed to reach out and draw under her leadership had never ceased to surprise Ettore.

Following Hedin's, Ettore was led through a brief maze of corridors that ultimately led to the backyard. With Hedin holding the door open, Ettore paused before him as they both gazed to the small structure that lay tucked deep in the garden.

It resembled much a small temple. Bearing marble pillars supporting it's structure and beautifully carved stones walls, with bushes and collections of carefully groomed and sculpted floura surrounding it's base.

"It's that bad?" Ettore said as his gaze couldn't be broken from the temple.

"Mmm." Hedin hummed in agreement. "You can try your luck, but with Ottar, you're probably going to have to wait like the rest of us."

Ettore gulped as a wave of concern washed over him, he didn't want to deal with the Captain of the familia. He was too simple of an individual, cut and dry. There was no swaying or persuading him. But time wasn't a luxury he had.

"Hmm, very well." Ettore said as he bounced his shoulder trying to readjust his strap.

Hedin gave him no reply and simply watched Ettore venture down the brick path leading to the garden entrance.

The only sound was the faint clack of the sole of his shoes tapping against the brick path, and the bubbling water cascading down fountains that dotted the garden. Surrounding him were a plethora of colors, and the insects that sought to maintain the garden. From butterflies to bees hovering over the flowers, aiming to retrieve the pollen.

Each step brought him closer to rounding the corner of the temple where the entrance lay. Assuming that Ottar, Ettore took in a deep breath. There was something eerily unnerving about the man who stood so stoic and simple. But contrary to his expectations, Ottar was nowhere to be seen at the entrance.

Ettore glanced back to Folkvangr, and so too was Hedin gone, apparently resuming his own business. Standing at the open entrance, he tapped his knuckles on the stone column near him.

"Freya?" Ettore asked and he was answered with a resounding silence. Under normal circumstances, there was no exception on who may enter such a place, so if Freya was truly here, then surely her Captain would be stationed where Ettore stood?

Standing impatiently at the entrance, there could be no other option where she would be, why else would Hedin lead him out here?

Taking one step forward into the vestibule of the temple, he had two options to go left or right as a carefully designed stone wall stood between the space inbetween the entrance and the interior of the temple.

Turning right, he rounded the corner into the shadows of the temple that bore no lanterns, and after reaching the interior of the Temple, Ettore stopped, as a gentle blue glow came into view that emanated from the center of the room. Before him stood Freya painted in the blue light, who cast her eyes down, entranced at a rectangular pool of water that rocked and gently waved as if it carried the tide of the ocean. And blue embers rising and falling from the waters surface.

"My lady." Ottar softly said, upon noticing Ettore's presence.

Ettore gazed upon him with confusion, wondering why on earth would he have been allowed here? Though he was certain that Ottar would have thought the same.

Freya turned slowly, exuding a manner of cool elegance, where she recognized the visitor with a softness in her eyes. If she could have smiled, she would have. But even she knew her limits in expressing herself.

"Ettore. Please, come." Freya asked, allowing Ettore to join her side as she returned to her daze of the blue glow beneath the waters.

"Freya? Is something the matter?" Ettore asked as he cradled the flower pot close to him side, joining her gaze to the shimmering water as they stood side by side. Ettore stood only a few inches taller than the deity.

"I am awaiting an answer to decide that very thing.." Freya said as the blue embers danced around her. "And soon I will share that with you. But what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?"

"Initially, I had hoped to see if you'd allow me access to your library." Ettore softly spoke as he shared her gaze to the water.

"You say that in the past tense; why?" Freya pondered, as she took notice of the flower pot and book bag at his side.

Ettore sighed as he held the flower pot tightly.

"Seeing you here again, concerns me." Ettore said softly in admittance. "The last time had to have been fifteen years ago?"

Freya bobbed her head to one side, causing the bangs of her hair to bounce like the softest of springs due to it's natural curl.

"Fifteen years ago was an act of compassion." Freya said cooly yet tinged with a solemn tone. "Returning the kindness she had paid, when I was not able to.."

"Yes, I understand that, but why now?" Concern lingered in his voice as he sought to understand. It was that, what drove her to turn and face him. Her silver eyes slowly danced between his left and right eyes.

"Something dear was taken from me." Freya said, though her eyes were free of tears, it was how she kept chin tucked that caught his attention that prompted him to reach out.

"Oh dear. Come here." Ettore said. Without hesitation he embraced her with his free arm. He knew very well that in this embrace, he ran the risk of losing himself to her charm, but when he asked, she chose to allow herself to be void of her usual ambiguous explanations that carefully dodged whatever came her way.

And yet, she accepted the embrace for only a moment, acknowledging the risk. Before stepping back and returning her gaze to the water while her torso faced Ettore.

"I need to understand if it were an accident or something intentional. And if the latter-.." Freya trailed off, leaving Ettore to pick up the rest.

"Fair. Hell hath no fury.." Etore said nearly under his breath as his amber eyes still held concern over her. In all likelihood there were few who Freya and her familia would stand up to and take action, merely because of their raw strength overpowered so many others that it would be counterproductive in making a point in staging something.

Which meant one familia if he began to narrow it down. The thought of it churned in his stomach.

"-But if I may?" Ettore offered, drawing Freya's attention. "If the worst comes to fruition. May it be best to leave a wound surface deep instead of crushing the heart of the issue? People value their reputation, but a wound left for all to see would be irreparable. A scar.. Leaving you as the sole being able for them to make a recovery, be it your will and by your will alone."

Freya winced as her eyes drew to his neck that lay sheltered the scars underneath his black turtleneck.

"A time may come where they come for your aid. A time that very well may be coming sooner, rather than later." Ettore said, bearing an ominous tone. "The irregular, known as the Harbinger, has returned. With it, I fear the worst that history may repeat itself.."

Freya's eyes drew themselves down to the glow of the water before her. Ettore knew that she had descended to this realm long ago. A time that she rarely, if ever, speaks of.

Approaching the walls of the fountain that held the water, she rested her palms on the edge of it, peering down into the shallow depths of what lays underneath with a forlorn gaze.

"…-And the book?" Freya asked despite seeing that it was true within his being, and still she bore no ill will to his initial intent.

"Yes. It can give them, us, a chance to end it. Once and for all." Ettore admitted with a grave expression upon his face as he turned his gaze to the fountain.

The temple had always been a sacred place. One that only a select few have been deemed worthy enough to enter. Though Ettore never had to bear the worry of gaining such worth. Things that upon facing the ire of the others, he revealed only to be circumstantial. He was first to Ottar, in his time spent with Freya in her familia. It seemed only right, that after so long he too would be able to join her in this place.

Though Ettore was certain, it's meaning to Ottar was still untold.

"How precarious.." Freya said under her breath, in mild frustration as her silver eyes narrowed into a glare.

Ettore waited patiently, his heart racing the entire time as he faced the pool of water after bearing her touch. It wouldn't be long until along with his racing heart, his mind too would settle. It was thankfully due to his rigid and disciplined upbringing that afforded him such a moment, to not be immediately enthralled and swept up in her charm.

Freya turned and cast her gaze around the tomb as she took a breath in. Her attention seemed split, pulled in a separate direction.

"Yes." Freya said at last, though her voice remained cool, Ettore knew that Freya's patience was wearing thin from something that had begun to naw at her conscience. That her current courtesies were being afforded only because of their relationship. "Ottar will take you to the library."

"Thank you, Freya." Ettore said with a slight nod of his head.

"You may leave." Freya said as she solely faced the pool of water, closing her eyes.

"Of course." Ettore said softly before turning away to leave. He approached the mountain of man, Ottar, whose sole expression was a stone face with eyes following his every movement.

They had both prepared to take their first steps in leaving to the vestibule before they both stopped.

"Ettore." Freya called out.

Ettore froze as Freya's voice filled the room. The leather straps of his bookbag crunching under the strain of his suddenly tight grip. Slowly he turned to face Freya with immense unease.

"I will judge them as I see fit." Freya declared in a tone no louder than they had just been speaking side by side, yet her voice filled his ears.

Despite being the sole beings in the temple, Ettore knew that in that moment, she had received the answer she needed to make the ultimate decision. And that no matter what possibilities he could drum up, it would never answer the question of how she had come to it other than a deities omniscience, if there truly were such a thing.

"Be it by your will, and your will alone, Freya." Ettore said in a tone fitting of a king, who had submitted to a divine power. And divine power it was.

And so the two left the confines of the structure. The structure that Ettore was so reluctant to admit was indeed a mausoleum, a resting place for the dead, nestled in the most elegant and carefully taken care parts of the garden. Leaving the Goddess of Beauty to resume her secondary natures if she so chose.

To become-

The Goddess of War. Of Death.

Author's Note: Holy crap, it's back. I do apologize about the long wait for this. Being 100% transparent, I have a new job that required a large amount of training, and the workload often detracts from the quality of writing. I've been effectively chiseling away at this over time, for two reasons.

One; I don't want to give you all garbage.

Two; I'm still getting my bearings at work.

As for the next addition, it shouldn't be another ten months. That'd just be unreal and unfair. If it comes to get that close or if work has to take priority, I will note the story as "PAUSED."

Other than that, happy new year. Please continue to stay safe, especially with current events going on in the world.