Chapter IV: Festival
Over the next three days, the twins were seldom seen. The other occupants of Nomad's Landing all knew where they were. The study. While it does contain a library, the contents of the shelves were best left alone. As for how they slept, they could answer that easily.
Horribly.
Now, it had nothing to do with the other occupants of the home. It was just paranoia. The twins were used to sleeping outside in most conditions, and the exception was the beds at the Hostess.
Isaac found that any light noise would wake him, making him restless. He woke up groggy, holding one of his throwing knives under his pillow. Irene was much the same, except her trigger was wound much tighter than Isaac's. She actually threw her shuriken and embedded itself into the doorframe. The twins shared a look of embarrassed exasperation.
They agreed to chalk it up to letting their bodies fully relax for the first time in months. The paranoia from their travels ate at them for an extended period of time. While they could do nothing physically to them, the twins still elected to avoid them.
Anyway, the study. It looked a little bit different compared to two days ago. That thing was the sheer amount of paper boxes that littered the floor.
In case anyone was wondering, that number was twenty-seven. One for each of the Dungeon's floors, labeled. Isaac made sure to have the maps for the floors on top of the boxes. Not a single one was filled in. The closest one was Floor One. The second one was Floor Eighteen as that floor was a Safe Zone—a place where no monsters spawn.
The boxes each contained monsters, topographical structures, and other important details. Floors with a Boss Monster, or Monster Rex up until the twenty-seventh floor.
"Now that that's done, we should be getting ready, Isaac," Irene said, rolling her head to loosen up her neck. Her hair was done in a high ponytail that was tapered off so the loose strands don't fly everywhere. It did put her ears on display, which she didn't mind, and allowed her to let some airflow around her neck. Having the heat bearing down on her made Irene uncomfortable when she was sweating.
Isaac didn't have to do much with his hair, as a few stands just loved to stand out. He probably had to get it cut sometime soon. "Yep, two full days of this. We should remember that these Monsters will be stronger than what we've fought before."
That was common knowledge, the monsters on the surface paled in comparison to the ones that spawn in the Dungeon. For example, a Bloodsaurus that spawns on the surface was equivalent to an Orc on Floor Ten.
"Yes, but there are enough first-class adventurers around today so that we don't have to worry as much," Irene said, passing her brother to exit the study.
The elder twin huffed, "Yet, we're going out decked in all of our gear from Tumalt."
Looking down, Irene was indeed wearing her adventuring gear. Her staff was in its collapsed form on her outer thigh. She could easily grasp the top half of it whenever she wanted. Her wakizashi and tanto rested on her lower back beneath the green cloak. Her shurikens rested in a neat line around her belt. That also included the daggers' hilts visible on her leg armor.
Isaac has his longsword, short swords, throwing knives, and daggers all ready to go. Unlike his sister, his cloak was pinned open and allowed the armor to be seen, alongside the clothing that stuck to his skin. Irene also wore such articles of clothing but was slightly looser for reasons she was not willing to elaborate on.
The two exited the study—entering the living room—only to see Sadie looking at them. The head maid was sometimes overly concerned about them. "There you two are! Lady Dia has been waiting for the past thirty minutes!"
"Sadie, I told you that I don't mind. After all, we are still a little early!" Dia had shouted from the top of the stairs. She had changed into a simple flowery green sundress and a pair of cross-strap sandals instead of her usual outfit.
"Looking beautiful, Dia!" Isaac called.
"Thank you," she said with a smile directed at him. A smile was never far from her lips when her children were around.
Irene rolled her eyes playfully at her brother. "You know, I could put up your hair if you wanted?"
Dia's smile dimmed a little but was no less genuine, "I appreciate the offer but another time, maybe for Denatus since I know how much you try to style your hair."
Irene took no offense to that, seemingly giddy. "No problem but remember, you aren't getting out of it!" I did wonder how she manages to keep it so soft.
'Probably a part of her Arcanum,' her brother's voice quipped in her mind.
Irene recoiled a little, 'Ah, I did it again.'
'It' being the fact that the twins sometimes speak into their telepathy spell on accident. They could do so for so long that it was second nature for them to connect with one another. Sometimes though, they don't want to do that, leading to many situations like this in the past.
"So…where's everyone else?"
Dia descended the stairs and stood in front of the twins, "Kuniko is still resting. Sadie, obviously, is right here. Martin and her are staying here today since they've been to the festival before, I haven't found the time to go and now I can. That leads me to where Bilal is, which is currently in my office. She knows how out of place she is in Orario since Renards are not often seen outside the Far East. As for Rio, he had gotten sick, which…might be my fault."
Sadie piped up, "No, it was not, Lady Dia. You were aware of this, as was I and I explained it as such."
"He got sick from getting his Falna, and he's been on bed rest. It didn't kick in until yesterday," Dia said, enlightening her first two children. They were unaware that was even possible. To be fair, it had slipped their teacher's mind since it never happened to them.
"Well, what if I heal him?" Irene immediately suggested, a hand already on her staff, the medium for her spell casting. She was so close to getting through her next magic book. It wasn't a Grimoire but she was close. Maybe that's what she'll do when they come back. The spell that's contained within will be beneficial. She did have to cast this once before and it nearly sapped her Mind pool dry.
The goddess shook her head, "No, this will pass. They call it Blessing's Stinger. Poison would have been the proper term but the terms themselves were contridicarty." This happens to mortals as they essentially accept a foreign entity into their bodies. Sometimes, people experience nothing, other times, they become sick for a few days at worst. No one has died from receiving a blessing.
Isaac hummed, little bits of stress creeping in, "That explains it. What about Kalen, Tristan, and Alice?"
"I have sent the three of them shopping within Lady Demeter's domain off in the northern section of the city. The fields were harvested a day ago, according to the merchants," Martin answered, emerging from a door on the second floor, presumably Rio's room. "I stayed behind because Rio unexpectedly fell ill. Thankfully, he will recover by tomorrow this is a minor case." Once again, his butler outfit was impeccable down to the last-minute detail. "However, that was three hours ago."
"They got an early start," Irene mumbled. Since it was only mid-morning, that wasn't a long time. "Wait, what about money?"
Sadie raised her hand a little, "Myself, Martin, and Lady Dia all had accounts made from years ago. It's a lot for civilians but for adventurers, not so much. No, I won't be telling you how much but it is enough for groceries for a long while."
The elder Cheinthrope nodded, "Yes, and there is a reason for their early departure, Mistress Irene. I expected it to take this long since many tourists and citizens alike underestimate the sheer size of Orario. Thankfully, they decided to wear normal clothing. I will admit, it must be…weird…to be seen in public with a maid or butler attire." The little grimace at his wording was a perfect icebreaker.
Sadie hummed, beaming at Martin for a reason unknown to the twins, "Yes, now you best get going because the Coliseum is on East Main Street, quite literally on the opposite side of Orario."
Just as they were about to walk out the door, Irene forgot something, "Isaac, the letter!"
He casually held up a blank envelope, still sealed, "Right here, I grabbed it when we woke up this morning." His sister pouted a little bit, which was adorable having added to her charm. "If we happen to see her, then we'll give it to her, otherwise, we'll hold on to it until a better opportunity presents itself."
After Sadie ushered them out the door of Nomad's Landing, they entered the hustle and bustle of Orario's streets. There were banners, posters, and monster-like decor around the entire city. The streets were even more crowded, so much so, the trio had to walk in a single file line, Irene in the front, Dia in the middle, and Isaac in the back. While the twins wanted to keep their hoods up, Dia insisted that they at least keep them down so they could enjoy the day.
The twins did give their reasons for why they wanted to keep them up, they did eventually follow Dia's suggestion because it made her happy. She sees their faces all the time but while they traveled, they kept a low profile, so the goddess was being a little selfish.
Dia's visible eye was soaking in the sights as they passed by the Tower of Babel after around twenty minutes of walking. Orario has changed after a long period of time. Why, she remembers when it was nothing more than just a small village that struggled getting itself off the ground. "Hard to believe that there's a whole world that exists underneath our feet."
The younger twin mused aloud, turning her head to the side now that the trio could walk side-by-side, "Lady Dia, why is it that the Dungeon doesn't like the presence of the Gods?"
Dia scrunched her brow, looking like she just ate something sour, "I don't know the full answer but I imagine it has something to do with our Arcanum. There is only one person who might know that answer."
Isaac wasn't paying attention, and that was because his protective big brother instinct was locking in. Many, and Isaac will emphasize many people were taking notice of them. He couldn't help glaring back at them. "Isaac, stop, you know people are going to look."
He grumbled, "Stupid paranoia…"
It didn't take long to notice how many people were staring at Irene's beauty. She was not comparable to a Goddess of Beauty but Irene had her own sort of charm. Coupled with a smile, many men—and some women—were smitten.
The reason for her smile was Dia's reaction, "It's cute when he gets all protective."
"For good reason but in a place like this? They wouldn't dare."
"Jinx us, why don't you?" Isaac grumbled before letting the tension drain out of his shoulders. Dia also noticed this tension while they were out of their gear. They were much more relaxed with it onthan with it off. The goddess surmised that it had to do with how long they'd had it, and how it made them feel safe. That fact alone made her sad but Dia quickly pushed that away in favor of her next action.
Dia grabbed their hands and began dragging them along, even though they could outpace her easily. "Come on, the Coliseum is in sight." Indeed it was as if the streets of Orario were celebrating.
"The tamers apparently brought some monsters from the Lower Floors," an adventurer said as the trio was passing by.
"Yeah, but the Ganesha Familia limits how many they bring up. Three from the Lower Floors, about a half dozen or so from the Middle Floors, and a good chunk from the Upper Floors," another said as the conversation faded.
This was new information, as the twins were committed to their Dungeon duties, so they weren't researching Monster Feria. "So they bring up monsters from the Dungeon?"
"That's correct, my child," Dia said, smiling at them, "This would allow you to get some experience before you enter the Dungeon for the first time. That is one of the reasons I wanted you to come along, and that you both need to loosen up."
"Gee, if Dia of all people is telling us this, then where did we go wrong?" Isaac asked with faux sadness.
"It is one of life's great mysteries, Isaac," Irene replied with her tone matching her brother's. Dia pouted at how they were turning it around on her. The twins wrapped an arm each around the goddess, consoling her.
"And here we are," Isaac noted as they were arriving at the Coliseum. It was as big as he imagined but her arena was better… "Wow, there's…a lot of people."
"What did you expect? This is one of the more popular festivals," Dia informed them.
Irene nudged her brother, "And I think today we can use this as Lady Dia said." She motioned for them to enter and they managed to see some members of the Guild. It wasn't Rose but the half-elf, Eina Tulle. She didn't see the trio which was most likely a good thing.
According to the crimson werewolf, Eina tends to shout out important information. So, if she saw them, then no doubt the cover Dia wants them to have will be rendered null. Well, if they actually believed her in the first place.
After being admitted inside the Coliseum, the architecture stood the test of time, as the many marks of battle and general wear showed. This building was most likely one of the first to be built after Babel, a question for Kalen, the twins surmised.
Meanwhile, Dia found a set of three seats close to the action but allowed the twins some sense of privacy. Well, the reason was that Ganesha, the god of Wisdom and Trust—also the remover of obstacles—noticed Dia and invited her and her Familia to the upper booths.
What Ganesha wouldn't admit was that he wanted to talk to the older sister figure that was Dia. He, of all Gods, knew a lot about Dia and her importance and even the importance of the two people beside her. Dia shook her head minutely. Now wasn't the time to talk.
In reality, the upper venue was just the top observation scaffold. Ganesha and Dia took the chance to reacquaint themselves as the main event started. Monster taming.
They started with a Goblin and Kobold. Simple enough. Not very entertaining if you were an adventurer. However, ninety percent of Orario's population were civilians or non-combatants. That trend continued up until they brought out a Crystal Mantis. This one was interesting because this was one of the rarer monsters, the twins noticed, on the thirteenth through the fifteenth floors of the Dungeon. So, the Ganesha Familia managing to capture one was a nice boon, and even the adventurers were interested now. Some had looks of scrutiny akin to wonder.
However, not everything went to plan once the Crystal Mantis went away and the floor opened up to not have another monster ready. The twins turned to the two deities when they saw members of the Ganesha Familia muttering something to the god. "Lady Dia?"
Dia frowned as she turned back to her children, "It seems that something has come up and the monsters that they had below have escaped. I know it is a little selfish but could you-"
"You don't need to ask," Isaac gave Dia a grin, one that showed his confidence, "Since we did study a lot of the monsters that come from the Dungeon," he turned his attention to Ganesha, "Would you mind if I ask you which monsters were missing, Lord Ganesha?" Irene had stepped up to his left as he spoke, hand on her staff.
The god, a muscular burly man with long black hair that went to his upper back and an elephant mask that covered his eyes, looked at Isaac and Irene while scrutinizing them, "I am Ganesha! Certainly!" His smile quickly left his face as he went into detail about what monsters were unaccounted for.
The number turned out to be a dozen. Not many but definitely more than what Ganesha reluctantly wanted to say. He also mentioned that the monsters did not come from any floor below twenty-seven.
"My Familia would help but I need all of my first-class adventurers to help evacuate the population to safety. I am a God of the Masses! I am GANESHA!"
Dia rolled her eyes, "You certainly are. Now, my children, go, and don't worry, I am sufficiently protected with Ganehsa's Familia." Dia knew they would be worried about her, and she smiled softly when she saw them look away, scratching their cheeks in a mirrored manner.
Irene blushed a little, her cheeks a light pink, "You didn't need to call us out like that, Lady Dia…"
"Y-Yeah," Isaac weakly agreed. Regaining his composure, Isaac exited the observation deck, "See you soon!" With that, the twins dashed off, their expressions changing to a much more serious demeanor than what they previously showed. These were not the expressions of two teenagers but the expressions veteran adventurers would make.
An expression forged in conflict. One that shouldn't be on two seventeen-year-olds.
Irene took out her staff from her thigh holster and ran with it. She didn't see the need to bring the staff out in its full form yet. Isaac had yet to take out a weapon but once they left the safety of the Coliseum walls, he spoke mentally, 'Head to the rooftops, listen for screaming civilians or the roars.'
'Understood,' she replied. The two flicked their hoods up and dashed for the closest rooftops, missing the curious glances of a few familiar faces. Isaac clambered up first, extending his hand down to catch Irene's outstretched one. With a firm tug, he pulled up on the roof before taking off behind her.
The two leaped over the gaps with ease, their cloaks billowing in the wind but not falling off their faces. Citizens who looked up would see two green blurs jumping from place to place.
They were about to split up to search down East Street, Isaac heading north while Irene headed south, before they heard the roar of a monster. Correction, a neigh.
"A Kelpie?" Isaac inquired, having recalled that this particular monster looked like a horse with fins. The blue mane and hair made it look like someone dyed a horse blue. However, the one advantage it had was it could run as fast in water as it does on land. Thankfully, there were no large water sources for it to run in.
'It is also considered one of the strongest monsters on the twenty-seventh floor. Be wary,' Irene cautiously warned Isaac. She leaped across another roof, rolling to soften the landing. She stopped at the edge of the roof to peer into the streets below. This seemed to be the residential area of the city. The bronze-haired quarter elf narrowed her eyes, listening for the sound again.
Isaac was on another roof, hand on a chimney to support him leaning over the edge. Roofs were surprisingly well-maintained, Isaac noted off to the side. He closed his eyes to listen in. He extended his hearing to pinpoint the runaway.
Breathe in, breathe out…just follow her teachings… he stilled, turning sharply to his left, detecting the monster's presence. In three, two, one…
As predicted, the Kelpie rushed around the corner. It wasn't attacking civilians as they were doing everything they could to move out of the rampaging monster's way. Unfortunately, some of the stands did not have the fortune. Splinters of wood flew in every direction, hitting a few people but they suffered superficial injuries.
'It is not acting like a normal monster,' Irene noted.
Isaac hummed, 'I agree. This monster does not follow the same behavioral patterns as other Kelpie. It looks like it just wants to escape. Something spooked it…but what?'
The twins were left stumped as it continued to gallop down the street. It looked over its shoulder and in its haste, tumbled, crashing into yet another stand. 'I almost feel bad that we have to kill it.'
'It could cause more problems if left alive. I don't know about you, but having it run around and killing someone would grate on my soul.'
A conversation between the twins as to what to do. Sadly, that choice was made for them. The monster was rushing for the exit and the last thing Gekai needed was a Dungeon monster roaming the surface at Dungeon power levels.
The blood-red eyes contrasted with its luminous appearance and if it didn't have those, it was a majestic beast. Isaac reached for his longsword with his free hand, the monster either hadn't detected him or was too occupied to care.
As soon as it was getting close to his position, around one hundred meders away, he felt his sister's presence. He didn't need to glance up to see that she was across from him. With silent synchronicity, they both jumped from their roof, blades extended when the Kelpie was fifty meders away. Time and gravity ensured that they would hit their target.
Shurk! The blades sunk into the beast's back in an instant. The Kelpie reacted as one expected, bucking itself to shake off the unwelcome intruders. Unfortunately, the twins were not letting their prey get away.
Bystanders watched as two adventurers dropped from the sky to stop the rampaging monster, but it was their smiles that had them more worried than the monster.
"Now, die…I'm sorry it had to come to this…" the younger quarter elf whispered but her voice resonated within the area. Normally, she wouldn't extend remorse to a Dungeon Monster but Irene felt that its fate was cruel. However, the protection of the people came first.
Isaac twisted his blade to ensure a lethal wound. He grabbed one of his daggers and aimed for the spot where its magic stone would be. It was where a heart was normally on a horse, so it made finding it easy, but the blade was too short to fully reach it. Using his long sword would be an option but the Kelpie was still moving, sluggishly yes, but still fast for a monster with three blades embedded into it—one from him and two from Irene—and dislodging it would potentially throw him wanted to make sure it was dead and took one of his daggers from his greaves and stabbed it into the Kelpie, aiming for its stone, all while it was still bucking, and whispered, "Fissure."
An earth-type magic circle appeared on his hand and sharp pointed rocks pelted the skin of the Kelpie, making it stagger and begin to tumble. That was the twins' cue to jump off the beast and land safely at the sides of the moderately-sized road. "Finish it, sister." His longsword and dagger were dripping with blood. Flicking them, he cleaned most of the blade off. He'll clean it thoroughly later.
"Understood," Irene said, reaching into her belt and flicking her wrist.
Isaac caught the projectile as it reached his hand, noting the blood on it. "Direct hit, as always."
The Kelpie, however, roared as its throat was cut. A thin red line turned into a waterfall but only for a few seconds before it disappeared into ash, leaving behind a magic stone. While they easily could have dispatched the monster, they were testing themselves. Unfortunately, by the twins' expressions, it did not sufficiently test them. Perhaps a later date.
"Let's go, there's a few more to find. A Lizardman, Battle Boar, Killer Ant, Silverback, and a Dungeon Worm," Isaac listed off the lower tier monsters since they were the ones still around. "Grab the stone, if it's still in good condition."
Irene scooped the stone, "Looks intact…here," she tossed him the stone, and in return, she got her shuriken back, cleaned of course.
Isaac put the stone in a pouch attached to a belt loop, "We also had an observer," he said before taking to the rooftops again in search of monsters.
Irene switched to the mental connection, 'Who?'
'Sword Princess. No doubt she was curious. Then again, this would be mere child's play for someone of her stature.'
'Don't discredit yourself or me,' Irene responded. 'I wonder if she was tracking this one as well.'
'Perhaps but she's already gone. The good thing is we are heading in the opposite direction,' Isaac reasoned.
So, the process repeated. They only managed to get the Battle Boar and Dungeon Worm. Some people, most likely adventurers, reported the sighting of an Aqua Serpent. While they wanted to fight it, they had more pressing concerns.
A rampaging Silverback hellbent on its prey.
Ais Wallenstein. Level five. Executive of Loki Familia.
She often was referred to as Doll Princess because of her blank expression and general apathy for most things. So, while she was out with her goddess by request, Loki, monsters had broken out from their cages. Loki lamented but eventually sent Ais on her way to deal with the monsters. Eventually, Tione, Tiona, and Lefiya had joined in.
While her blade was being repaired and sharpened due to excessive use, she had to be somewhat careful with this replacement. She had tracked down the Kelpie that was escaping.
Escaping from her. The monster was smarter than it appeared, recognizing the danger that was Ais herself. The golden-haired, golden-eyed beauty was only sixteen. She's been doing this since she was seven.
She chose to pursue the monster from the rooftops, guiding it away from a majority of the civilian population. The unblinking eyes of the Sword Princess caught two more presences while she pursued the Kelpie. So, she wasn't surprised when they both leaped down and proceeded to destroy the monster.
With her enhanced sight, due to her level five Falna, she was able to make out their faces from beneath their green cloaks. Recognition flashed in her eyes. These were the two from the bar a couple of days ago. The ones who helped Bell. The ones who declined Loki's pseudo-invitation to the Familia.
She didn't dislike them by any means but she did want to speak to them. Unfortunately, there were still monsters on the prowl. So, with the power of her magic, she turned and moved on.
Something told her that they would be popping up in the next few days.
The Silverback was on the hunt, as it didn't seem to care about the twins who were pursuing it. "What the hell is it after?" Isaac asked as the Silverback jumped across three different alleyways, over a main road, and was now on Daedalus Street.
Daedalus Street was often called the Surface Dungeon or Second Labyrinth. The reason for that was because of how the area was designed. The roads often intersected at the most peculiar angles, the buildings looked like someone just smushed them together, and to top it all off, getting lost in there was entirely possible.
Thankfully, the twins knew that if they went in a direction and hit the outer wall, all they had to do was turn around and go in the opposite direction. That is, if they were on a rooftop.
Sadly, not everything could be so easy. This Silverback was a monster from the twelfth floor, with white fur, pale skin beneath it, and trademark red eyes. However, the twins noted that a swirl of purple was mixed in. At least, they thought it was purple, perhaps it was a trick of the light, but they wouldn't know because not all the information was before.
"Is…is that Bell?"
True to their words, Bell was indeed fighting a Silverback. One of the chains was broken and the other was being used as a whip in an attempt to bat the boy away. "Yes, but his Goddess seems to be in the middle of it."
Isaac glanced behind a small outcropping to see the twin-tailed, busty goddess, Bell's patron deity, hiding behind it, peeking over the top to witness the fight. "Should we move her?"
Irene shook her head, "No, it seems to be fixated on her but Bell is distracting it. If we move her, it could cause more unnecessary problems and damage."
"We could easily kill the Silverback," he countered, head turned toward her, one eye visible as the hood did not shift with his neck. His free hand was on his belt, grabbing three throwing knives in preparation to distract it.
Irene shook her head beneath her hood, "No, it seems fixated on him. Some civilians are even peeking out their windows…and if we try to join in, it won't end well. Plus, there is the rule about adventurers claiming kills. This one isn't ours."
"Didn't we break that when Miss Wallenstein was shadowing us?" he countered.
An impish smile, "She didn't engage with it first, so I guess there can be exceptions to the rule."
Then Bell did something that neither of the twins expected him to do, which was using the Silverback as leverage to send himself on a clothesline, slingshotting himself back and slicing the monster in two, revealing the magic stone.
"Damn…that was pretty crafty of him," Isaac admitted. "Looks like he has great potential."
Irene merely nodded, "Now, let's return to Lady Dia. I must admit that leaving her alone for such a long period of time whilst in an unfamiliar place-"
"Unfamiliar to us, yes but not to her," Isaac interrupted, sheathing his throwing knives and turning to face his sister.
That was when they felt a chill run down their spines and into their very being. Both grabbed their respective weapons and unsheathed them, Isaac his sword and Irene her staff. "W-What the?"
The stare was intense as well as heart-stopping but not in a promising way. Whoever this was chose this moment when their guard was slightly down. However, Irene felt that this stare was far more…
Isaac grasped onto Irene's free hand, "We need to move, now…"
"B-But!"
"No buts, Irene, let's go!" Isaac said in a protective older brother tone, Mental Stability had kicked in for him first, then Irene next as he was pulling her away.
With that, the two dashed back to the Coliseum with speeds that most would say rivaled an upper-level four.
Dia, who was chatting with Ganesha about current events—and for them, current was a few centuries—felt her children's worry as they arrived before her. She stood and gently grabbed their hands, "What happened?"
The twins took turns explaining parts of the story, saying it in the simplest terms until they reached the point where they felt the gaze. As soon as Dia heard that, her eyes imperceptibly narrowed. 'So…you finally extended your reach…you lasted four hours longer than I had thought. That will not do…'
"You don't need to worry about that, Isaac, Irene. I told you back at the Landing, you wouldn't have to worry about this," Dia said, watching the twins' expressions morph into confusion before melting into understanding. The sighs of relief they had sealed the deal. "Ganesha, thank you for the company, and I do apologize for this getting out of hand."
"I AM GANESHA! Not to worry, Dia. You've been around for a while and have helped me in the past. I should be thanking you instead," The masked elephant god said with his trademark smile. "I shall be helping deal with this…after all…something happened."
"If you need our help, Ganesha, please don't hesitate to call," Dia offered, giving him an olive branch, and dusted off her skirt. The Coliseum was barren of people, aside from themselves, but Dia also noted that the twins' posture still held tension. Most would think they let it all go already with her reassurance but Dia knows them better. They won't feel safe until they are in the confines of Nomad's Landing. A safe place.
They had left the Coliseum, weapons sheathed and hoods raised once more. People were still scrambling about but not as many as before since the situation was now handled. However, they did not want to feel that stare again. Irene felt like it was reaching into the depths of her heart and compressing it. Isaac felt like he was being smothered under it. The only reason they were able to snap out of it was their skill. Yet the effect lingers.
"Oi, is that you, Dia?" A voice called.
Dia turned her head to see the one and only Trickster. Loki, patron goddess of Loki Familia. With her were five different people. The Amazon twins Tione and Tiona Hiryute, the Elf Lefiya Viridis, the Human Ais Wallenstein, and the High Elf Riveria Ljos Alf.
To those that didn't pay attention, it was the last person that made the twins stiffen where they stood. They both turned to one another, 'Are we giving it to her now? This could draw unnecessary attention,' Irene argued.
'We should do it now because we may not get another decent opportunity, the letter feels like it has been burning a hole in my pocket,' Isaac responded.
"Loki, finally nice to see you."
"Where the hell have ya been?" Loki asked as she approached Dia with a lecherous smirk.
Isaac stood in front of Dia, "I will ask nicely once to not attempt to fondle my goddess in my presence." Loki only looked up to see his blank glare and raised an eyebrow. "Do that to my sister, you will lose that hand."
"Isaac!" Irene chastised, yet was thankful for his defense.
Loki looked a bit sheepish before backing up. She ignored the threat since his words were sprinkled with a lie, "So, your children helped too?"
"They did," Dia said, walking around Isaac to look Loki in the eye. The Trickster seemed a little wary at how she was currently eyeing her. "But I have heard good things. You made it as one of the top Familias?"
"Yep…" Loki said with pride but there was something in that undertone that only Dia picked up. "So, you're the twins' goddess?"
"I am indeed. I do hope you haven't tried anything," Dia shifted her posture which expressed something that only Loki understood. Sometimes, it felt like the gods had their own sort of body language.
The red-headed tracksuit-wearing goddess shrugged her shoulders, "Nah if they are already in a Familia, I don't have the desire to steal, poach, or anything of the sort. I accept those that are willing to transfer or ones that I see potential in." Loki opened her eyes just a smidge to convey the seriousness in her tone.
Meanwhile, the children of their respective Familias were having an awkward stare-down. The twins were looking anywhere but Riveria. There was a chance that she could recognize them for more than just 'the two they saw a couple of days ago' at the Hostess.
Irene nudged Isaac to go ahead with their objective. He groaned before pulling out the blank envelope from his pocket, still in perfect condition, and walked towards Riveria.
The jade-haired High Elf looked curiously as he approached but showed no signs of hostility. Something that Lefiya misinterpreted, "What do you think you're doing, not even addressing Lady Riveria?!"
"Once she reads this letter that is for her eyes only, she will understand why I haven't," Isaac replied tersely, taking trace amounts of satisfaction from Riveria scolding Lefiya soon after, he couldn't help but have his lips quirk up a bit. Then, he spoke in another language entirely, "On my honor, the message has been delivered to you, Lady Riveria Ljos Alf of the Royal Alf Forest. May the stars shine bright."
At this, Dia and Loki looked over to Isaac, the former with fondness and the latter with intrigue. Irene also spoke in the same language, "We apologize for the secrecy but it was necessary. We do not know the contents of the letter but to our knowledge, it is from a mutual contact."
Riveria, normally composed, openly gaped at them, "You speak our forgotten dialect?"
Forgotten dialect was not the correct term per se but the High Elven Language was not often spoken unless one resided in the Royal Forest or if one was taught under a High Elf but the latter situation was seldom heard of. To hear the language here meant only one of two things. "Is this from…?"
They switched back to Koine, for the sake of everyone else, "No, the letter is not from your father. He would most likely attempt to execute us on sight for simply being alive."
A small scoff, "That does sound like him…but to satisfy my curiosity, how do you know that language?" Riveria asked, slowly regaining her dignified composure, internally cursing herself for letting herself be surprised. In this situation, she could not be blamed for something so unexpected that even the Dungeon wouldn't be able to pull this off.
"Simple, we were taught from a young age. It was not our first language so please forgive us if we have mispronounced something," Irene said with a smile, which to Riveria, added another clue as to who these two were. The High Elf's eyes focused on their faces before they widened slightly.
"Then you're-"
Isaac raised a hand, gently cutting her off before she could finish the thought, "I see you noticed," Isaac said from beneath the hood, slight traces of mirth could be seen in his hazel eyes. "We will have more time to talk eventually, right now, we should probably head home. Dia?"
The goddess nodded, before looking back to Loki, "Remember, I am gravely serious and you of all people know I mean what I say."
Loki nodded with a nervous demeanor, "Got it." With that, the Dia Familia trio turned and headed home to Nomad's Landing, the goddess grabbing one of their hands and pulling them along.
The High Elf looked over the letter in her hands, seeing that it was blank but once she extended her senses, she felt the magic within it. A magic signature that she knows by heart. One did not forget it so easily. She turned to Loki, "Do not disturb me for the next day. Unless someone is dying and needs me for support, then and only then should I be bothered."
Lefiya, who had since recovered from being chastised, spoke up with confusion, "Lady Riveria?"
'Could she have left something behind? No…that's not like her. Those twins…that smile…could it be? Why did you never tell me?' "This is High Elven business. Lefiya, continue your lessons in the library. Have Alicia help for the time being."
"Riveria?" Loki inquired. "Do you think-"
"It's plausible but I need to read the contents of this letter. If I'm right, then your next Denatus will be the most historic in recent history."
Loki's divine intuition didn't steer her away from Riveria's objective. "I see, and considering what Dia told me, you won't be wrong."
Curiosity rose in the other four Loki Familia members present. "What did Lady Dia say?" Tione asked, crossing her arms under her bust. She was more unimpressed about the whole thing but said nothing.
"It's not what she said, it's what she implied. Little known factoid, Dia has been in Gekai for almost nine centuries, way longer than most deities in general, she maybe is the seventh oldest goddess on Gekai but she never started a Familia until recently."
"That's relevant, how?" Tione pressed her questioning as they journeyed back to Twilight Manor.
Loki opened her eyes and spoke lowly, "That means that Dia knows a lot of things that many want to be left in the unknown."
"Blackmail?" Lefiya exclaimed, wondering if such a petite goddess would do such a thing. Oh, you poor ignorant soul.
"No, insurance so that no one attempts to poach her children once they figure it out," Loki said, voice devoid of all playfulness. "There's a story that surrounds Dia that most of Tenkai know but wonder if it's true or not."
Tiona looked interested, "What kind of story?"
Loki clicked her tongue, "It surrounds Dia's temper, which is considered to be the highest of all of us."
"I want to meet them," Ais said softly, shifting the attention to her, eyes still focused on the direction they left.
Loki raised an eyebrow at her precious Aizu, "Oh? Why?"
She received no reply.
Loki walked along in silence after that, thinking of what Dia was really saying to her. The Trickster laughed to herself, 'She always was the observant one of us. Good on you, because I don't want to be on the receiving end of your fury. I've heard the rumors.'
Riveria Ljos Alf sat in her study, also known as her room. As an executive of Loki Familia, she was more than entitled to a room of her own. Even if she wasn't, then she would have requested—demanded—a room due to her preference to not be seen. Thankfully, being a member of the Core Si-Five…Riveria's thoughts paused.
The letter in her hand.
She felt like she had been staring at it for hours. Yet, it has only been twenty minutes since she arrived home in her room. Sighing for what felt like the umpteenth time today, she slowly opened the letter, the crinkling of the envelope, the scents that lingered on it. It smelled like the Hostess but had faint traces of the twins' scent. Blame her level six nose for noticing.
Once she had the letter in hand…it was blank. Yet, she already knew that this was some sort of magic item. By bringing forward magic energy of her own, the writing became visible to her. It's perfect for anonymous messages between mages. The High Elf began reading the letter, and Riveria found herself impressed by the quality of the writing, neat, organized, and small.
To my student…no that's not right. To my precious friend. I do hope that this letter makes it to you. I imagine that one of two people handed you this. I had so much I wanted to tell you but for my plans to work, I needed to hide some pertinent information. Please accept my apology, little Riv.
Now, I shall tell you this. I am alive and the Vlahos line is still breathing. Rumors of my supposed death are greatly exaggerated. The day we fought the Dragon…it was not a pretty sight.
I…cannot go into details as it still haunts me. Only a few members survived and I asked that I be left to my own devices.
Enough about that. I imagine you must have met two individuals. Two that are with a certain petite Goddess that goes by the name Dia. That's right, now close your mouth, as those two are my grandchildren, the last ones of the Vlahos line, and who I am hedging my bets on. Now comes the hard part. I am asking you, nay, begging you to please keep an eye on them and protect them if a few deities decide they wish to hoard them. You can even pull off the 'Core Five' line of thinking and not even the Gods could interrupt as they know how valuable we are. Hera certainly knew. My grandchildren are free spirits, they will not be tied down by a deity they have no obligation to serve.
The twins are my last remaining family. It hurts to know that I had to bury my daughter and my son-in-law…but if they pass from this world and move on to the next…I shall visit you personally for my last greeting.
That isn't supposed to be threatening. My apologies if it is.
Speaking of the twins, They are aware that you were my student. So, they knew who you were from the beginning. I would come but my hands are full with an important project and the fact that I am under a banned Familia.
As for the Core Five, they are not aware of my survival. In short, I am invoking that favor. Not. A. Word. When I was 'confirmed' dead, the Vlahos line was no longer a part of the Core Six.
Riveria, even if you are not my daughter, I did view you as such. Your bright ambition, determination, and caring attitude were refreshing. I taught you because I also saw what Dia sees: Potential and Growth. So, I know you're making me proud and hopefully, one day when you have a student that has the same look in his or her eyes that carries the same traits.
From yours truly, S.V.
Riveria put down the letter, taking a deep breath. She then read it again and again. She noticed the last part of saying 'when' she gets a student. This letter must be at the very least five or six years old. Then, the High Elf council—the Core Five, formerly Six—would attempt to bring them back in.
All for their bloodline. It was no wonder that the Vlahos line was considered the 'black sheep' of the Six. Their ability could not be ignored and since the Age of the Gods, it has been another blessing so to speak. Riveria was not jealous of her own blessing that came with her own line.
The almost century-old woman—who looked to be about twenty-six physically—reached into the inside of her desk and pulled out a folder. This folder contained her blank status sheets every level up and the sheets that came before she leveled up. The first one she looked at was when she became level six. She skipped all the other ones until she made it down to the last one, when she first received her blessing from Loki.
Everything looked as standard as a blank status should. Except for one skill. The Bloodline Blessing. Reading it, it increases her magic efficiency, potency, and chant speed. Riveria put the sheet down, looking out her window to see the evening sky. "Where did you go, Sensei? You contact me now…after all this time?"
A deep frown crossed Riveria's perfect visage.
"I need to speak with them soon," her eyes tore away from the sky and back to the letter. "Did you leave something else in this, Teacher? Knowing you, you always had a bag of tricks."
That was something her teacher loved to do, play jokes to get the student to loosen up. 'You're too stressed, take a chill pill.' At first, Riveria had no idea what a chill pill was but her teacher admitted she heard her deity say it. It was another meaning for relaxing.
With nothing else on her mind, she got changed into a full-length nightgown and entered a deep slumber.
In an unknown, undisclosed location, someone could be seen working on something, multiple notebooks scattered about, boards filled with diagrams and equations, and in the middle of it all was a single person.
They were on the verge of a breakthrough. Their focus was split between three things and each one of them was equally important. Balancing the equations, the amount of magic energy, and mixing the correct ingredients.
The stand in front of them displayed a batch of potion vials. Each one has a different version of their tests. This was something they'd been working at for years, their prized research…
…all for a friend.
A different sort of magic energy rippled in the 'lab' as they called it, "Ahh, so she finally received it…good."
"Did you…say something?" A new voice said, watching the whole process.
The magician hummed thoughtfully, "Looks like they are starting to make moves. I must admit, I am nervous but I have confidence in them. As for you…" they held out one of the vials. "Would you be so kind?"
The second person sighed, "I still don't understand why you are still trying. Just because the last one wo-"
The first person's tone dropped, "You of all people on Gekai know why I still try. After all, you are going to meet him. One way or another. Now. Drink. The. Potion. Or I will force-feed you…"
Taking the threat as it was, the second person grabbed the potion, whispering, "Here goes…" before drinking the potion all at once.
The first person smiled at the second with eyes that only radiated comfort and satisfaction. 'I do it all for you.' Their smile widened once they noticed the effects from the previous test, only this time it was much stronger.
Judging by the widened eyes of the second person, they felt it too.
Just like that, the world got a little brighter.
….
I told you this would be my nect upload. Thanks to my friend, Anubis_F0X, for being a real bro and proofreading and telling me my fight choreography is shit.
He's right but still.
What am I brewing up? A lot. I'm more hyped for what I've written in chapter six, like it felt so damn liberating to write.
Anywho, this chapter. Yes, Monster Feria did go slightly different but largely stayed the same. This was just to give a chance for the twins to give Riveria the letter. It looks like someone has extended their reach. Don't worry, Dia will know soon. This last bit? OG readers might be able to guess the first person and maybe the second.
To answer, yes, they lived. Am I planning a future event now? Yes. Gotta leave myself a plot thread to follow. Next upload is DxD: Brain.
See ya.