Author's note:

Yes, I am still alive, and still attempting to write this pondering behemoth.

This interlude jumps around and covers some of the returning people from the last chapter which I updated after screwing it up. My bad.

Also, I finally caught up on the unital ring arc which I left some thoughts on at the end.

Sorry for how slow this is being written.

-asdf

Interlude 5: Stories of the Return

Ganesha familia: Shakmi

"Alive... you are both alive… I knew it!" Shakmi whispered the words so softly that only the two girls in her arms could possibly have heard. They were so different that only their distinctive blue-hair would have clued someone in that they were sisters.

Shakmi herself had modelled herself after her older sister. The one that had grated at her growing up and incited her to head off by herself to the desert. They shared a build and a combat style. It was their younger sister Ardi who had truly managed to find her own way in the world.

Now outside in the snowy winter day, Shakmi watched as her sisters reacted with vastly different actions. Shakti was purely analytical and began eyeing her familia members, figuring out who was still present. Ardi however, looked up at the sky and laughed out loud, trying to grab snowflakes with her hands.

It was a wonder to Shakmi that the girl ever managed to become a prestigious level 5 adventurer. Her head had always been in the clouds and fresh off her two-year death and rebirth, her giddiness had barely been dented. It was maybe precisely because of those latent memories of the missing time that her eyes held such a nostalgic air to them.

It was also at that moment, that Shakmi finally realized what should have been one of her first thoughts. She was no longer the captain of Ganesha familia. In fact, she was now a nobody. A random level four adventurer that was barely worth noticing.

Stunned by the revelation, Shakmi stumbled a step, holding a hand to her head. It still had not fully set in. The day after she had lost her sisters Shakmi had headed back to Orario. Arriving around the same time as the remnants of Ganesha familia that had straggled back from The Final Valley, she had organized them and set herself up as a leader. Having reached level three in the desert as a member of a different familia, she quickly transferred to Ganesha familia and began to help Orario recover. Through over a year of hard effort, Shakmi had struggled to maintain order and managed to hit level four.

Yet, all of that was useless, her family had come back by themselves. Her goal was finished. Her role was over.

"Still getting depressed, little sister?" Shakti asked in her deep melodious voice. Even wearing rags of monster skins, she possessed a presence what Shakmi had only ever been a shadow of. As her name was.

"No, this is the happiest day of my life."

Ardi giggled, breaking from her reverie to shoot Shakmi an exasperated glance. Her azure hair cut in a feathered pattern bobbed slightly as she moved. "You could at least try at sound sincere."

Shakmi huffed, turning away. The poise and dignity that she had lived with always broke around her sisters. "I am being sincere. I just simply did not expect it to be today."

"Indeed," Shakti spoke up. "As much as I would like to revel in our reunion and surprising rebirth, we have a lot of work to do. There are a lot of people coming up from the dungeon that are not part of Orario familias. We need to organize everyone and ensure their safety and transport out of the city."

"Ah," Shakmi mumbled her agreement. "Yes, the other familias will not care. A troublesome problem."

"And why do you speak like it is not your problem, sister?"

Shakmi blinked at the rebuttal. "You are the captain. Why would I head it up? Of course, I will follow orders and help with the re-integration of our members if you need any information about what has changed."

"No," Shakti rejected her in a firm voice. Her imperious bearing showing no hesitation or weakness. "When I was… defeated. I left the familia behind. You returned and kept it together as a functional unit. As such, you are still captain of Ganesha familia and will be for the foreseeable future."

"…Huh?"

Ardi giggled again. "Is that why you were so depressed? Thought we had stolen your job and kicked you off to the desert again? Well think again! I won't let you scurry off and abandon us this time."

"I…" Lost for words, Shakmi looked back and forth between her sisters. One, as tall as a man and as imperious as an empress. The other a bundle of joy and optimism, a smile more radiant than the sun.

Ignoring Ardi for now, Shakmi had to acknowledge her older sister. Shakti had been the reason she had fled; Shakti was the one that she had never been able to measure up to.

I'm older than her now… The unbidden thought helped settle Shakmi's nerves. It would only be by a few months or so, but she was a different person than the young girl who had spat at her sister's feet while leaving Orario behind.

"I do agree that the idea has merit. It only makes sense what you will be dealing with the old lieutenants. Their adjustment back into the familia also needs to be measured."

"That," Shakti chuckled, "is going to be hard. Nonetheless, you are correct. Lead on sister, we have plenty of work ahead of us."

"Finally aligned," Ardi sighed. "I never thought I would see the day…"

Shakmi silently agreed. Before she could start managing the city however, there was a pressing question on her mind. One that had haunted and driven her from the day of the Reckoning. "Did the two of you, err, protect me? After the magic was used, did you stop it somehow?"

"What an odd question," Shakti replied. "Why do you ask?"

"I… I thought I felt you two. We weren't even in the same familia at the time. Our falna was different and yet… I would swear that I could sense the two of you buffering me from the effects."

Once more Ardi giggled and poked Shakmi in the ribs with a teasing elbow. "You must have a lonely love life if your sisters pop into your mind on the verge of death."

"S-Shut up!" Shakmi blushed. An expression she hadn't made in at least half a decade. "I was, am, captain of Ganesha familia. I saw records of all those taken. People with falna lower than mine disappeared, especially from familias with no first-tier adventurers.

"Do not lie to me sisters, I know the two of you protected me. In the depths of my heart, I have always known that the two of you lived."

In the wake of her proclamation, Ardi and Shakti shared a long glance before Shakti sighed in defeat in the face of Ardi's adamant eyes.

"What is it?"

Ardi grabbed both of Shakmi's hands in hers. With their identical eyes locked, Ardi spoke earnestly as she gazed up. "It was not true thought nor a decision, but yes, you are right. There was a sort of subconscious, lucid-dream state where we were aware. Both of you were drawn to you and helped root you in the world. You felt it so strongly because you probably should have been brought in with us but weren't."

"So you did protect me…" Shakmi breathed. "Me, an outsider who abandoned you rather than one of your lieutenants."

"As Ardi said, there was no choice here." Shakti re-iterated. "Either way, from what I have gathered, we made the correct decision. You did more than perhaps anyone could have with little to no help."

"Is that right…" Shakmi had never really thought this conversation would happen. In a way… it was a little disappointing. There was so much mysticism around the reckoning and what had happened that to just suddenly get answers… It would take time to sink in.

For now… Straightening her shoulders, Shakmi turned toward the milling crowd that lingered nearby that she would need to deal with. Her role was not over yet.

Freya Familia: Ottarl

The massive boaz man did not speak a word as he followed his goddess up the final staircases to the highest floor of Babel.

Where she deserves to be… He thought idly. These rooms had previously been occupied by Hera. Ottarl had planned to throw the goddess from them himself but had never gotten the chance. Hera familia had been slaughtered in the Final Valley where his own familia had suffered multiple casualties.

They had not been Ottarl's friends, but he was still perturbed by their deaths. Anything that potentially destabilized Freya's life or made her sad was unacceptable.

One more immediate annoyance was the man who flagged behind Freya as her current attendant. He was tall, if not equal to Ottarl's own impressive size. Ottarl had expected to find Ulfric by Freya's side. How had the boy been displaced by this middle-aged newcomer?

"Ottarl," Freya's musical voice stroked his soul. It was more soothing than finding water in a desert. "Please do not worry about familia matters today. That can wait for tomorrow."

"Goddess?" He asked. Ottarl's gravelly voice echoing in the plush hallway. Despite rarely anyone going this high in Babel, its furnishings were rich and opulent. A marble pattern of royal purple crisscrossed the floor with veins of silver. It suited the silvery goddess perfectly.

Freya led the way to a pair of mahogany double doors nearly three meters high. The man with silver hair rushed ahead of Freya and pulled open one of the doors, bowing to allow Freya to enter.

His form was precise but not demeaning nor was it ironic. The actions were those of an earnest follower. Ottarl could detect no deceit from the man, but neither had he detected any true love of Freya in his motions so far.

Staying silent as usual, Ottarl did not acknowledge the man as he strode in after Freya. He recognized only a few pieces in the room. She had brought some from Folkvangr but had also acquired many new ones.

There was a crystal goblet in particular in the shape of a flower that Ottarl expected Freya had 'requisitioned' from the room's previous occupants.

Taking all of this in in half a second, Ottarl followed Freya to the throne-like chair looking out over the city and took the position just behind it to the left. Opposite the side table on Freya's right side as if he was no more than another of the room's lavish decorations.

Now would come the fateful test. Would the man attack him for the place Ottarl now stood? Despite having his back to someone that could be called an enemy, Ottarl's heart never increased its tempo even a fraction from its slow, powerful beat.

Ottarl could sense the man perfectly as he closed the door and entered the room. He walked hesitantly, steps soft on the plush carpet rug dominating the center of the room. Then, ignoring the chance to attack, he came and stood beside Ottarl further from Freya.

As one minute passed, Ottarl caught multiple side-long glances from the man who was frowning with discontent. Then on the third minute…

"Excuse me, but could you move? I stand there to service our goddess."

Ottarl glanced at Freya first. She was wearing a smirk like a young girl, her eyes glistening with mischievous pleasure. His gaze lingered there for just an instant on the capricious goddess who so often reminded him of the wind.

Turning to face the newcomer, Ottarl considered the man's words. So Ulfric was not defeated by this man… He could not have been if the man wondered what Ottarl was doing by taking the attendant's spot.

"You do not know the familia traditions." Ottarl said simply. "Return to Folkvanger and learn there. Do not return."

For what it was worth, the man did not flee. He did take half a step back however and looked past Ottarl. "Freya?"

His casual usage of the goddess' name crinkled Ottarl's eyes.

"No." Her voice was like an icy wind. "To the death. The winner stays."

The man's eyes widened. Ottarl was not surprised. He reacted with the power of decades slaughtering monsters and fighting the strongest adventurers to ever live.

He was now the ultimate pinnacle of all surviving adventurers. With uncaring force, he slaughtered the gray-haired man with a single blow to the head.

He regretted momentarily the resultant damages that this would result in. Blood from the exploded head had stained the carpet and multiple…

Ottarl gasped. It was the largest reaction he had made since being born again. The body pulsed with blue light and then exploded into particles of light. In moments there was no sign that the man had ever lived.

Sensing the smallest change, Ottarl whirled around to face the hearth in Freya's room. Coalescing there from a storm of light was the very same man, a stunned expression on his face.

Not quite sure if he believed it, Ottarl repressed his emotions with adventurer's instincts. Moving to slaughter the man again, Ottarl sensed his goddess beginning to speak and stopped.

"Enough." Freya spoke in her musical voice. "I showed you this Ottarl so that you would understand and believe the things that I am going to tell you."

"Yes, Goddess." He replied stoically, returning to his post. Ensuring with a glance that all the blood was gone.

"Heathcliff, as you can see, you are far too weak to be useful to me currently. Return to Folkvangr and begin changing that."

"Y-Yes, goddess Freya. May I use the strategy we have discussed previously or…?"

"No." Her voice was imperious. "Train with the familia. You need to learn to fight people, I care not about your ability to slaughter monsters."

"…Very well." Bowing, the man, Heathcliff, left.

"Why was Ulfric not attending you?" Ottarl asked once he was gone.

"Oh, curiosity?" Freya laughed lightly. "You just saw why. I need the information in his head. Even now he is not fully mine. It is intriguing to talk to a mortal who sees as far as he does."

Ottarl accepted that information silently. It did not change anything really. The goddess was attended by those that she favored the most at the moment. Despite the familia tradition, if she ordered him to leave and tell Heathcliff to return as her attendant, he would do so. Just as he would kill the man a thousand times until he stopped returning if she said to.

"Yes, immortality is a precious treasure that can turn into a horrible curse…" Freya mused pointlessly. "My poor children have moved on. Rask, Vanir, Berling, …Allen."

Her voice at the end was a little more than a whisper. Freya may have been an immortal goddess, but Ottarl finally understood why she ordered the rest back to Folkvangr and brought him here. It was not to convey secret information. It was to hide this side of her.

Tears pooled in her silver mirrors for eyes and fell down her perfect cheeks one after another. "I felt it happen of course but to have it confirmed… How silly of me."

Ottarl said nothing. For all the strength that he had gathered, there was nothing he could do to stop this. He wanted to comfort Freya, he wanted to rage and destroy the world that this perfect being should have to suffer sadness of any kind.

"I do love you all… you know that, right?"

"Yes, my Goddess, I understand."

For nearly five whole minutes they stood silently staring into the snowy day while the goddess mourned her followers who had moved on and would never see her again.

Then, with no visible cue, the tears ended, and the goddess' expression grew solemn again. When she spoke, there was none of the emotion once present. "I must tell you about the ones that have come from the other world."

Ottarl had learned some climbing up through the dungeon but did not interrupt. This was the other objective of their isolation.

"These other worlders, they were unwittingly trapped in this world by the very man you met, Heathcliff. He was called in the real world by the name Kayaba Akihiko."

Ottarl, as per usual, did not respond.

Freya, glancing at him, frowned slightly. "This is going to take awhile. Bring me wine."

"Yes, my goddess."

Performing the menial task efficiently, Ottarl handed her the delicate long-stemmed glass of crystal that sparkled like a diamond. It glittered brilliantly as it reflected the white wine inside. Not only was it beautiful, the goblet was a magic item that kept the drink poured inside at the same temperature.

It cost over one million valis to import from Altena. Freya owned a dozen of them.

She swirled and took a small sip. "It tastes better today…" Closing her eyes, she sighed. "Very well. Listen attentively, I will not repeat myself."

"As you say." Still dressed in rags, Ottarl listened to his goddess' story. Each claim was more unbelievable than the last. Forcing himself to accept the facts, he never interrupted nor asked a question.

Loki Familia: Lefiya

Alive.

She was alive again.

That one fact crashed through Lefiya again and again like the waves of the ocean. Each one a heavy blow that carried clarity and vitality with it. Each hit of those glorious waves scrapped away at the damage in her heart. The injuries that had been inflicted to her that she had never truly recovered from.

Lefiya could sense however that something was wrong. Things were not all fixed now. Ais' hug was too tight, Tiona's eyes too dead.

"Umm, Tiona-san… where is Tione? I thought she would be with you…"

There was no answer. Ais only grabbed tighter, the first-tier adventurers grip turning painful. A normal person's bones would have shattered by now.

"She… She…" The once vibrant amazon looked at nothing, her expression vacant. "She left me behind."

Lefiya felt like she had had punched in the stomach. That was not possible. It could not be. Lifting her head, she did another glance other the group. Over there was Aki, Raul, and Line. Finn was standing with Riveria… "Gareth… Bete?"

The silence was answer enough. Slowly, her eyes tingling, drops of moisture began to pool and then fall staining her cheeks with tracks.

"Why… Why not them?"

Ais' arms tightened again. After their previous parting where Ais was more beast than woman, she seemed exceptionally young. A little girl who was unable to face the horrors that confronted them.

"The idiots went ahead…" Tiona spoke hollowly. "I broke my leg, I couldn't keep up and…"

She did not finish; she did not have to. Lefiya understood. The members of her familia had not been alive at the end. Communication had been so scattered by then that Lefiya had not even known.

"It's… my fault."

Lefiya thought it was the wind at first. The voice was so soft, so sorrowful, and yet young at the same time. Jerking in surprise, she looked down at Ais. "W-What did you say?"

"You heard me. You know it as well. I… I lost us everything. I was weak… and I failed."

Lefiya expected Tiona to say something. To laugh and slap Ais on the back, telling her to cheer up. Instead, the amazon nodded slightly. "Ah, yeah. That's true."

"T-Tiona!" Lefiya protested. The amazoness only shot her a quick dead stare.

"I need to talk to Finn."

Suddenly, she was gone. Glancing around, Lefiya noticed there was a hole around them. None of the others were looking at Ais. If they did, it was a short glance before moving away.

"Ais… Did something happen down there?"

"Everyone… hates me now. Do you hate me too, Lefiya?"

She's talking like a child? Ais had never been verbose, but this direct, simple pattern was more child-like than ever. Ais had never cared before what people thought of her.

Either way, Lefiya could not fight against the rush of emotions upon hearing those words. Tightening her own arms around Ais, she ran her hand through Ais' beautiful, golden hair.

"I could never hate you, Ais."

"But I was so horrible to you…" She whispered, her voice still so faint it sounded more like a stray gust than actual syllables. "I only saved you to use your magic. I… I…"

Lefiya remembered the day vividly. The words. Only a month ago, she would have crumpled at these words. Now, her hand barely paused in Ais' hair. "You made the right call. If I had set-up defensive magic ahead of time, we may have been able to kill it in time."

I could have saved that woman…

Lefiya did not let it bow her back anymore. She had moved past it with Asuna's help. She had redeemed herself by saving them from the bull with the same magic that she had failed to use when Ais wanted.

"But I—"

"Shush." Lefiya said harshly to her idol. It was an odd experience. This was not the reunion that she had dreamed of. In those it had been her diving into Ais' arms and being comforted.

"Why aren't you rejecting me?"

Lefiya laughed. It was such a ridiculous question. The answer was easy. "Because I love you."

It was only when the words were out of her mouth that Lefiya realized what it was that she had said.

"Uhh, t-that is I don't mean in a creepy way but you are just so awesome and cool that…"

A noise like wind chimes stopped Lefiya in her tracks. The pressure on her body loosened slightly as Ais looked up, a soft smile on her doll-like face. "Thank you Lefiya. I needed that."

"A-Anytime…" Lefiya was blushing rapidly as she almost fainted from the moment. Her idol barely clothed in makeshift garments pressed against her looking up…

"So, are you going to introduce me?"

For the first time since meeting her, Lefiya actually considered strangling Asuna. Read the mood! She screamed mentally. The chicken in her however, felt a spike of relief that she could step away from Ais and turn to Asuna.

"This is Ais Wallenstein, the sword princess, level 5 first-tier adventurer. Ais, this is Asuna, a new Elf who joined our familia near the beginning of the year."

"It is a pleasure," Asuna said with a beaming smile, raising a hand to shake Ais' hand.

Ais, per usual, tilted her head in confusion staring at the hand. After an awkward moment, she took it. "Thank you for looking after Lefiya."

"Huh?" Lefiya grunted. "W-What do you mean, Ais!? I'm the one looking after her!"

"Oh, don't lie, Lefiya," Asuna smirked, "we both know that is not true."

"Hmfph!" Crossing her arms, Lefiya stared away in annoyance, her long elf ears quivering somewhat as the tips burned bright red in annoyance.

Ais, as per usual, looked confused at the interaction. Despite that, she did have a warm smile that barely curled her lips. The haunted death in her gold irises had faded somewhat.

"Your eye colour is amazing," Asuna commented casually, as if reading Lefiya's mind. "Did you get them from your parents?"

"Ehh?" It was not Ais, but Lefiya that burst out with the confused utterance. It was such a simple question. A logical one. Why don't I know the answer!?

Ais' smile died instantly. "Yes, my mother had the same eyes."

Had.

"I am sorry to hear that," Asuna murmured. "I keep forgetting how much more volatile life in this world is compared to my old one."

"…" Silence fell over the group. Ais did not tell Asuna to forget about it and the girl was now too embarrassed to ask any further questions.

Lefiya wanted to say something, anything, to reinvigorate the discussion, to spend more time with Ais, to hear the girl's voice more, but instead she felt a foreboding presence approaching.

The aura of a first-class adventurer froze Lefiya in place. All she could do is close her eyes and hope that her death would be swift.

"Is this how you would treat your mentor? By ignoring them?"

Spinning in place, Lefiya opened her eyes and looked up at Riveria. The high elf was wearing a stern expression, but her emerald eyes were sparkling with mirth.

"Riveria!" Unable to contain herself, Lefiya threw herself into the high elf's arms. It was the first time that Lefiya had ever held or been held by the woman. Unlike almost all of the other adventurers that had returned from the lower floors, Riveria was clothed in a concealing dress that fit her decently well. After all, there was no way that any other elf would allow people to see Riveria naked.

"A more fitting reception," Riveria stroked Lefiya's hair. "I have heard mixed news about you. You will have to tell me everything that you have done when we return home."

"Urgh!" Lefiya shivered in fear. Top tier adventurers would never approve of her decision to leave Orario and find herself. Still, she had done some notable things after returning… right?

"Well," Riveria pushed Lefiya off of her gently. "Are you going to introduce me to this remarkable girl?"

"A-Ahh, yes. This is Asuna, she is a magic swordsman… Asuna, this is the high elf Riveria Ljos Alf, Vice-captain of Loki familia, level six adventurer granted the title of Nine Hell. She is a high elf descended from Rishena, sister of Celdia, the queen of all elves!"

Asuna had slowly throughout the speech grown more pale and her back straightened. When it was finished, she curtsied deeply. "I-It is an honour to meet you, Lady Riveria."

Ais smiled slightly again as Riveria closed one eye in her distinctive manner and sighed heavily. "Lefiya please, that introduction is unnecessary. Asuna, dear, it is good to meet you. I'm glad Loki was able to find some promising younglings while we were… away."

"Umm, thank you?" Asuna awkwardly replied, her face stiff.

"I must admit, I have not met any elf that talks as you do, nor has your hair or name. Where are you from?"

"She is an otherworlder!" Lefiya interrupted, feeling awkward that she had not mentioned that before.

"Oh, yes that was mentioned briefly. They have elves in your world as well? Any other species?"

Asuna grimaced, her eyes glancing to the side as if searching for the way out. Lefiya wondered why for a moment and then remembered what Asuna had told her once. I'm not a real elf.

"Actually, there are only humans in my world."

Riveria raised an eyebrow at that, her gaze falling on Asuna's clearly slanted ears that no human had ever possessed.

Asuna rushed to clarify, "w-what I mean to say is that when I came to this world, I got to choose my species."

Riveria's eyebrows raised further as Asuna blushed awkwardly. "I will be certain to discuss this with you further. Be sure to remember as much as you can before then."

"Urgh." Asuna flinched.

"Now, Ais." Riveria turned her emerald gaze to the golden girl that was lurking there silently. "Come walk with me, we have things to talk about."

Not even Ais was immune to that stare and voice as she bowed her head and mumbled acquiescence before following meekly behind the tall mage.

"Scary…" Asuna mumbled causing Lefiya to giggle silently. "She reminds me a bit of my mother."

At that comment, the forest elf burst into uncontrollable tides of laughter, much to Asuna's horror.

Mistress of Fertility: Syr

"Ehh?" Syr blinked and rubbed her eyes, but could not be certain that what she was seeing was true. Her eyes assured her it was not a lie but the sight of four people long dead would disturb anyone.

Giggling, Syr covered her mouth. "Oh, I see what has happened. I slipped and hit my head on the counter. Now I am either dreaming or dead. Ah well, I guess it was a good—"

"SYR-NYA!"

Following closely behind that distinctive shout a body hit her and carried Syr to the floor of the inn. "Uff!" Grunting from the impact, Syr's head was saved from a hard impact by the idiot girl's hand who had tackled in her in the first place.

"Well, I guess that would probably be Anya's reaction in my hallucinations."

"Anya is not a Hallucination, nya!"

"Suure she isn't." Syr chuckled.

"Well, you may have lost some of your sanity, but you kept my bar going, so I can't complain too much." The gruff voice of the dwarfess rang out.

Pushing Anya aside to the sound of another 'Nya!', Syr sat up and beheld the old owner. She was wearing what looked like a tube of Bloodsaurus leather with her arms completely exposed. It was the first time Syr had seen the woman not wearing an apron.

"Come on up," Mama Mia flashed her a smile. "I'll give you one hug one the house and a good mussing as a reward."

"Huh?" Syr was in a daze as Mama Mia's hand lifted her up and pulled her into a tight embrace. "W-What is happening…?"

"We're back girl." Mia whispered into her ear. "We made it back."

Syr whimpered at the words. "You are real, right? I'm not hallucinating?"

"You aren't." Mia confirmed.

The words broke Syr's tough, witty exterior. Sinking into Mama Mia's embrace, she wept openly. Back shaking, she dried her hot tears against Mia's bare shoulders, the dwarfess' tough skin rough against Syr's delicate face.

"Hey! You can at least acknowledge our existence first!"

"Huh?" Syr was ripped away from her hug by Mia's large hands so that she could face the others that had entered. Lunor and Chloe.

Black cat and Black Fist as they had once been known. Trained as assassins, the incredibly powerful of adventurers had made them both give up the incredibly dangerous lifestyle to the point where Mama Mia eventually recruited them as employees.

"Nya, it seems Syr has been missing us!" Chloe said with a smirk. Her creepy fascination with little boy's butts aside, the cat girl with straight black hair was a good person, if a bit of an idiot.

"Hmmpf, why would she miss stupid cats like you two? It's clearly just me and Mama Mia."

Syr smiled at the comment but noticed Anya out of the corner of her eye. The cat-girl had been so excited at first that Syr had not noticed the girl's face. Her eyes were large and red from crying and the usual glimmer and smile had dulled.

"Anya?"

Instantly, the light returned to those red-rimmed eyes as she looked up. "Me, nya? Anya is doing great! The best!"

"…What happened?" Syr asked her voice flat.

"Allen… did not return." Mama Mia answered. Sighing heavily, she shook her head sadly. "That boy was always too obsessed with that damn goddess to live long."

It was a slightly callous statement, but Syr could not think about that right now. Allen… gone? They had all disappeared, but for Allen to not come back while almost everyone else did was extremely surprising. Syr could practically see the surly catman sitting at the counter delicately blowing on his coffee to cool it down. Wincing at the bitterness and adding more milk until it was almost white.

Heart lurching, Syr sighed heavily as she shoved down the emotions. She had finished mourning for not just Allen, but all of them a long time ago.

Anya, however, had not.

Leaning over, Syr donned her normal greeting smile, eyes closed, hands linked behind her back as she stared at Anya. "Anya…"

"S-Syr-nya!? Umm, you look good in Mama Mia's apron…Nya."

"Anya…"

"Although-Nya, there are a lot of empty tables, Nya."

"Anya…" Syr repeated kindly for a third time.

"STOP!" She howled, holding her head in her hands, curling in on herself on the floor, her tail curling up on itself. "I'm fine! I don't care that the brother that abandoned me is gone! …Nya."

"Oh, Anya." Leaning down, Syr hugged the cat girl's upper body. Stroking the girl's back, Syr could feel her shaking clearly through the contact. "Let's get you up to your room, yes?"

"I'M FINE!" At the same time as the howled words, the door opened and let in new customers.

"Ah, I came to greet you, but should we come back another day, Mia?"

The strong but feminine voice was vaguely familiar to Syr's ears. Looking up and over at the entrance she found another extinct group at the threshold of the café.

The goddess Astraea with her distinctive gossamer brown hair and indigo eyes was flanked by her similarly beautiful leaders of her familia Alice and Kaguya. It looked like the others were here as well from the crowd behind them.

Mia shared a look with Syr and nodded. Turning to Lady Astraea she spread her hands in a welcoming fashion. "Come on in! I'll never turn away customers while we're open. Pick a spot and I'll send a girl over to get your order in a bit."

"…As you say. Come in girls."

Behind the goddess and leaders there were only two more people, an elf and a prum. That would be Gale Wind and Thrail. Where was the rest of her familia?

Anya used Syr's distraction to try and pull away. Grabbing onto the girl's cat ear in a tight grip made her release a harsh shriek like an actual cat. Glancing at Chloe and Lunor, Syr gestured back to Anya for them to help Syr restrain her.

"Grr…" Anya growled but did not resist as the other girls each took one of her arms.

"Let's go, Nya!" Chloe prompted. "We'll drink a bunch in your room and then find some cute boys who will let us use their ass as a pillow!"

"Only you would want that, Nya!" Anya shot back.

"Anya," Lunor insisted. "We almost made—"

"It's all Syr's fault!" Anya cried. "She reminded me, Nya! I was fi-fine until… Un… Nya…"

Astraea stopped on her way to the table and wandered over. "You are… The Fromel girl, yes? The sister to Freya's chariot?"

When Anya flinched, Astraea nodded morosely. "I am sorry for your loss, girl. For those of us that remained behind it has been nearly two years already. For you… it was only yesterday, or maybe today even."

The goddess' words were sincere and even. From almost anyone else that words would have sounded slightly condescending at best, while being unwanted. Anya, however, nodded and sniffed.

"He was a horrible brother… but, but…"

Anya couldn't finish, she threw herself into Syr's chest and began to sob again. The noises a mixture between standard cries and a cat's whimpering.

Catching an exasperated glance from Mama Mia who had helped herself to her old apron that Syr had not moved from its peg on the wall ever since she disappeared.

Before Syr could start maneuvering Anya up the stairs, Syr looked at the goddess. "Your familia… the others are they…?"

Astraea's sad smile was enough of an answer, but she still spoke the words anyway. "They fell during the fight to dragon fire."

"I see…" Syr murmured. She knew the Astraea familia members of course, everyone did. It was an iconic group of women that was composed of almost exclusively first-class adventurers. Still, she only knew them by name and art. She could not mourn people that she did not truly know.

Astraea nodded and headed back to the table at the same time one of the waitresses got them glasses of water to start.

"Oh, goddess, did you hear what happened?" Lyra's voice carried over to Syr's ears as she tried to move for the stairs in the back.

"Hmm, something exciting?"

"Oh, you are talking about that." Kaguya laughed in an elegant fashion.

Subconsciously, Syr slowed her pace as Anya's wailing had subsided to sniffling.

"What happened?" Astraea sighed.

"Please, it is not important—" Lyu spoke hastily.

Lyra covered her mouth with a hand and carried on. "A boy touched Little Lyu's hand without her snapping his neck."

"Hmm, although maybe she saw him as a rabbit instead?" Alice wondered.

There's no way…

"Oh, true, true!" Lyra laughed raucously. "Bright red eyes and a mop of white hair!"

It is!

"Oh my," Astraea sighed. "That one that came out of Babel with you, I suppose? I met his familia captain and know Hestia quite well. Do you want me to put in a word for you, Lyu?"

"S-Stop teasing me!" Lyu finally exploded her entire face scarlet. "I know nothing about the boy—"

"Hence the date," Kaguya broke in.

As the rest of the table laughed, Lyu's shoulders caved in, and she nursed her water with a surly expression.

Those boys… Shaking her head, Syr performed her duty as a friend and escorted Anya to the upper floor with Lunor and Chloe.

Loki Familia: Finn

"You did what, exactly?"

The cold severe words were delivered in a tone that was entirely irresponsible for a follower to take with his goddess. Seated behind the captain's desk in the Twilight Manor however, Finn was feeling far from respectful.

"Look!" Loki demanded meeting his icy eyes head on. "We had mortgage payments to make, debts to pay and the like. I know Freya familia did something similar."

Finn's hand clenched reflexively on where the Fortia Spear rested beside him. Or rather, where it should have rested beside him. It was now gone. Sold apparently. For the dozens of millions of valis that Loki had needed to stay solvent in this money-driven world.

"Who could even afford to purchase our weapons?" Finn asked, trying to keep his tone level. There were only three people in the room currently. Himself, Loki, and Riveria. The high elf was staying silent but her piercing glare directed at the goddess let her know exactly what she thought of the decision as well.

"I only sold to the guild!" Loki broke in quickly, defending herself. "Cut a deal with old Ouranos himself. I'd guess he still has those weapons stored in a vault somewhere. I'm not a bloody idiot, ya know? I wasn't gonna let Altena tear apart your staff Mama Riveria!"

"If you had, you would have quickly found yourself watching events proceed from Tenkai." The high elf replied coolly.

Loki wailed in despair and began pleading with the high elf. Finn barely gave it half an ear as he stared at the thumb on his right hand. It twitched lightly.

It had continued to give him cryptic signals since his rebirth but since awakening Finn could only be amazed that it existed at all.

Vivid memories flashed through his mind. A flanking maneuver to relieve pressure from the flagging Hera elites. An unstoppable tail swipe that Finn had not predicted. Gareth and Tione sacrificing themselves in an attempt to block the appendage. Even with their deaths, Finn's right arm had been blown away at the shoulder.

Missing his dominant arm and half in shock, Finn had struggled to maintain his familia's morale. They had been winning, but that was entirely from the heroic feats of Hera and Zeus familia.

He had been useless during the fight. His thumb locked in a rictus of perpetual spasming to the point that it had been completely useless until he lost it.

Finn ripped his mind away from the memories and the feelings of uselessness that had flooded him that day as he stared into his lifelong friend's unseeing eyes. He refused to cry or bow his head thinking about the mangled corpse of the girl that thought she loved him.

What he had to focus on in the future was the feeling of being born from the dungeon. It was clear that this was a new body that the dungeon synthesized. Finn would have to look into this. It must have formed the body around the confines of the soul. As his injury was recent, his soul still remembered having an arm… right?

The girls' conversation had wrapped up. Once more Loki's red eyes had hardened from chastised girl back to those of a deity.

Knowing it was useless, Finn asked anyway, "Loki… what is the dungeon?"

"The dungeon," she replied, voice sad, "is the dungeon."

The only answer they ever got.

?: Revis

"Gah! Hah!" Coughing out the fluid in her lungs, Revis' body heaved as she propped her body up on all fours. Her large naked breasts shook with the motions.

Possessing a body that rivalled even goddesses, the creature known as Revis slowly stood up on the rocky, uneven ground.

Then, she looked back at the wall. It showed exactly what she knew it would, a hole large enough for an adult woman to fit, albeit barely. With only cursory glances around, she knew exactly where she was. An abandoned corner of the thirty-third floor. She could hear the roars of the large reptilian monsters and squawks of the flying ones. There were thick areas of vegetation on these floors that made them a pain to navigate. That led to these floors being poorly explored. Many adventuring groups simply skipped them, taking direct, fairly short paths from the water capital to the white palace.

Blessed with extraordinary senses, Revis felt completely at home in all floors of the dungeon. The dungeon was her mother, quite literally now.

As memories crashed down on her, she held a hand to her head and heaved again. "That fucking dragon… What the hell did it do to me?"

Revis' life had been one hell after another. Disfigured by a pox as a child, she had scraped out a living as an adventurer with party members that could barely stand to look at her. She had died and been reborn once. As a monster she now possessed a body that many women would kill to possess, and more men would kill to hold for a night.

As she got the body and looks she had been robbed of, Revis lost the emotions and desires that had once made her human. Instead, she was trapped in the dungeon, hiding desperately from the elite adventurers that strode its depths, each one able to kill her with a look and a wave of the hand.

Then, those same assholes were the ones that killed the one-eyed dragon and managed to fuck it up enough that it killed her as well. But not properly. Her soul had receded into the dungeon where she had existed semi-conscious. Not alive and not dead. Trapped in a purgatory of being half able to sense things happening around her.

"Haha… but I lived." She raised her head, insane eyes shining with a malevolent green light. "And they did not."

Revis could tell. She did not know how, but she could sense each and every person that had been born from the walls. She had a desire to hunt them down but there would be time for that later.

For now, she would find that group. The ones that built the attachment to the dungeon, Elivus or something like that. She did not care for their plans, but they knew of her, or at least her kind.

One had been born close to her. A woman with pink hair, short like Revis'.

Uncaring for her nudity, Revis sauntered into the deadly forest, seeking her prey.

Post rambling:

Thanks for reading.

As mentioned at the top, I caught up with SAO's main story and... uhh, it was... frustrating?

Does Reki not realize that he tortured most of the characters in a war where they felt pain? Also splitting the storyline between Unital ring and the underworld is becoming frustrating. On that, the fake Eugeo dude has to be one of the worst ideas I've seen and I'm the one writing this fanfic... I can't imagine being a Eugeo fan and having this guy show up.

In short, a lot of potential, but the novels feel too short to tell this slower arc that Reki is attempting. Oh well.