Zald sat inside his cabin, a tired look on his face as he watched the fire crackle. Not even the wood snapping could snap him out of his stupor.

His thoughts ran wild with memories of Bell growing up. From when he was first born to the day he left. All the memories came flooding back to him.

Reading the kid stories, teaching him how to hunt. Teaching him how to use a sword while Alfia trained him in magic.

He remembered all of it.

But his mind also wandered to the torture he was suffering right now, whatever that may be. He couldn't imagine what Bell would be like when they got him back.

Would he still be the same? His dreams of the Long Night preparing him for misery such as that. Or would he be worse off, a shell of his former self?

Zald didn't want to know the answer. Well, he did, but he was hoping to everything that was holy that the first one was true. That Bell would still be the same despite the hardships he went through.

He was snapped out of his thoughts by an incessant tapping on the window. Turning his gaze away from the fire and to the window, he saw a raven tapping its beak against the glass.

Zald saw the letter attached to its leg and quickly got out of his chair. He walked to the window and nearly threw it open before grabbing the letter.

The raven, seeing its job was done, flew away as Zald shut the window. He hurriedly moved back to his chair while opening the letter. Once he read it, he immediately got back up and grabbed his sword, rushing out of the cabin and to Hera's office.

Dear Zald

I need your help. Orario has been weakened by Evilus and has been prone to terror attacks. The Empire is also building its forces on the roads to Orario. I need you to bring a contingent of reinforcements to Orario to help us prepare for this war.

I know it will take time for you to get here, and we'll hold out for as long as we can. But we need your help.

Bell has also sent me a letter telling me not to come for him. So I can only hope he'll come back to us soon.

Get here safely

Alfia

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"Congratulations, Raul, you've leveled up," Loki said, smiling. Despite everything that had happened, Loki allowed herself to be happy for Raul.

Raul felt a sense of joy as he put his shirt back on. Despite losing an eye and nearly dying, he had finally leveled up. He was now a first-class adventurer.

"Hard to believe I'm finally a first class. I don't feel much different, though." Raul said, putting his shirt back on.

"Well, with everything you've been through recently, that's to be expected. So you walking alright without your cane?" Loki asked, sitting on her desk.

Raul nodded. "Yup, I have most of my mobility back. I still have trouble using my sword and depth perception, but hey, what can you do."

"Well, don't worry too much about it. You're still healing. Don't be in such a rush to get back out there."

"But shouldn't I? With Evilus terror attacks and the possibility of war, shouldn't I be working on getting back to a hundred percent?"

Loki gently smiled before getting off her desk and placing a hand on Raul's shoulder. "You should, but after you're able to get used to your disability. I don't want you getting hurt even worse if you're not fully ready."

Raul let out a disappointed sigh. "Alright, Loki, I'll take it easy."

Loki frowned and ruffled his hair. "I'm not saying stop, I'm saying slow down. Wait til you gather a little more of your strength first before training like hell."

Raul chuckled before looking to the ground. "Does this mean you want me taking on my captainly duties now?" He joked.

"Not yet, as if right now Rivieria is acting captain. Good news is you're the new Vice Captain."

Raul's eye widened in shock before looking at Loki. "W-what, me, Vice Captain?"

Loki merely giggled. "What you expect Gareth to want it? He'd rather drink himself to death than take on more responsibility."

"B-But I'm only level five!" Raul protested.

"That's true, but do you really think my other executives are leadership material?" Loki pointed out.

Raul went to say something but stopped. "Well, why not Aki? She's a better leader than I am, and she leveled up as well?"

"That's something you'll have to discuss with her. I think you two need to have a nice long chat pretty soon."

Raul furrowed his brow. "About what?"

Loki smiled before flicking his forehead. "Oh, you lovely dense boy. I do wonder how she puts up with you."

Raul just scratched the back of his head as he was even more confused now.

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Alicia and Haruhime sat in the backyard of the Twilight Manor. Met and Silver were resting with them as the two kept following Alicia and Haruhime around.

The two were sitting under a tree, enjoying the shade as the wind softly blew. Neither had said much, thrust into a small depression with Bell being gone.

Haruhime was slightly more affected than Alicia. Bell was her hero, and as such, to her, he was supposed to be invincible. Her mighty hero wasn't supposed to fall.

But he did.

Stabbed in his side and kicked off a cliff, which led to his capture by the very organization he was supposed to fight.

She still remembers his last words to her. For her not to worry and that he'll be back within a few days. It had been nearly two months since he said that.

With still no sign of Bell other than a letter saying not to look for him, Haruhime felt like her hero was slipping away from her.

Alicia, seeing this, spoke. "He'll be alright, you know."

Haruhime turned and faced her. "How do you know?"

Alicia gave Haruhime a comforting smile. "Because it's Bell, he probably already has a plan to get out of there. We just need to wait for him."

"But what if he doesn't come back?"

"He will."

Whether or not Alicia believed her own words, Haruhime didn't know. But those small words of comfort made her feel a little bit better.

Only a little bit, however.

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Mikoto's back hit the ground, and her katana slid beside her. She groaned in pain as Bache stood above her.

"You're doing better, but don't lose your weapon. If you do, you'll die, now get up, and let's go again." Bache said.

Mikoto took a deep breath and grabbed her katana before pushing herself back up. Beatrix sat on the porch of Mikoto's home, watching the training.

"Hey, Bache, maybe take it a little easier on her?" Beatrix said.

Bache shook her head. "If she wants to get ready for war, she needs to be tossed around. In war, she won't have any second chances. Once she makes a mistake, she's dead."

"I mean, yeah, but give her a break. You've been training since before the sun came up, and it's noon. Stop for lunch or something."

Bache looked to the panting Mikoto, who looked like she would keel over at any second. Yet she still stood ready to continue fighting.

"Hmm, very well. Eat, then we pick up where we left off."

Mikoto let out a breath as she fell to her knees. She took deep lungfuls of air, trying to catch her breath.

Bache training was hard, but that's what she wanted. The reason why Mikoto had gone to Bache for such training was because Bache was used to fighting in death matches, and if war was coming, she needed to be ready for it.

"Here, drink this," Beatrix said, offering her a water skin.

Mikoto quickly took it and greedily drank the water. After taking a few massive sips, she took the water skin away from her mouth and let out a breath.

"Thank you."

"No problem, now come on. Let's get something to eat."

Beatrix helped Mikoto to her feet, and the two walked inside the Take familia home. Bache remained outside and looked to the sky.

"I hope you come back to us soon, Bell. We all miss you."

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Alfia stood in her room with a map of Orario laid out on a table. She was pondering over every strategy and battle plan she could think of. Running all types of scenarios in her head of when and where things can go wrong.

She did stop, however, when she heard her door open. A small part of her hoped it was Bell coming back to her after breaking out of Evilus' custody.

But she knew that was unlikely. So she wasn't disappointed when she turned her head and saw Delta there instead.

Said wolf girl seemed nervous and still very sad. That much Alfia could tell.

"Hi, Alfia." Delta greeted.

Alfia gave the wolf girl a small smile. "Hello Delta, it's good to see you again."

Delta frowned and looked away. "Are you mad at me?"

"Why would I be mad at you?" Alfia asked, walking to the wolf girl.

"Because it's my fault Bell is gone," Delta whispered.

Alfia stopped in front of Delta, who flinched. But was surprised when she was pulled into a hug.

"It's ok, Delta, I know what happened. It's not your fault Bell went after you. If Bell could go back in time, he'd do everything the same way. You're important to him, and as such, there's nothing he wouldn't do for you to make sure you come back safe."

"But I told him to run! He should've stayed away. That way, he would still be here!" Delta cried.

"And you would be dead. Bell wouldn't be able to live himself if he let you die, and we know you would've done the same for him if your situations were reversed."

Delta couldn't say anything more before the tears started freely flowing. Alfia remained there holding Delta and letting her release all her anguish.

Even if Alfia herself felt like breaking down, she had to remain strong. She could let it all out once Bell was back.

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Bell and Revis walked the 17th floor. The two were exploring the dungeon at night with no one on the floor or in the dungeon.

Except for the inhabitants on floor 18.

The two were looking for a rumored hidden hot spring. Evilus wanted to use it as another hideout closer to the surface. A place where they could store more weapons and bombs.

But since neither of them knew how to find it, they just kept walking up and down the floor, looking for anything out of place. The two had been searching for a few days now and still hadn't found a sign of it.

"You alright? You look tired." Revis said.

Bell nodded. "Not really, keep seeing that guy in my head. That look of fear plastered on his face. I just keep seeing it every time I close my eyes."

"Was that your first time killing someone?" Revis asked.

Bell shook his head. "No, but he was the only one who was innocent. His family is probably worried about him."

Revis put her hand on Bell's shoulder. "Hey, I'm here if you need me. We're in this together, you and me."

Bell allowed a small smile to tug at the corners of his lips. He had a feeling if Revis wasn't here with him, he might've broken. He wouldn't want to admit this out loud. It would make him feel weak if he did.

But he was glad Revis was by his side. She at least provided him some peace of mind since he was stuck down here.

But he wasn't now. He and Revis were alone and away from everyone else on the 17th floor. They could make a beeline to the surface and escape this nightmare.

But then their cover would be blown, and the plan could change without them knowing. So the leg up they had in information would be gone.

"What are you thinking about?" Revis asked.

"I was thinking about is running away together. Back to the surface where we could escape together. But then I realized we'd lose all the information we've gathered because they would simply change the plan."

"Aw, how sweet, you wanted to run away with me. I didn't know you were such a romantic Bell." Revis teased.

Bell rolled his eyes. "Yes, yes, laugh it up. Excuse me for wanting us to be safe."

Revis giggled. "Oh, Bell, you're so sweet. Wanting to whisk me away and take me to safety. My own knight in shining armor."

Bell just shook his head. "You're annoying sometimes."

"Aw, are you grumpy?"

Bell didn't respond and just kept walking. However, as he passed a wall, a hole opened up.

"Well, I think I found the hot spring," Bell commented.

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Ais laid in her hospital bed. Poison still tore her body apart from the inside, causing an indescribable amount of pain.

Tossing and turning and puking up blood, Ais was miserable. No thoughts ran through her mind as she couldn't think of anything.

So entombed in her pain that she didn't notice her door opening and a figure walking in.

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Bell and Revis entered the hole in the wall and saw that it was, in fact, a hot spring. Revis turned her attention to their left and narrowed her gaze.

"What's wrong?" Bell asked, reaching for Longclaw.

"There's a monster about 50 yards that way. Doesn't seem hostile since I'm here." Revis explained.

"Is it another one of Evilus's creations?"

Revis shook her head. "No seems like a new monster species."

"So we're good here then?"

"Yes, as long as I'm here, it'll think we're just some other monster that wandered in."

Bell nodded and walked over to one of the pools of water. "I think we should stay here for the day. The night's almost over, and it'll be harder to maneuver. That sound good to you?"

"Yes, that sounds wonderful," Revis answered.

Bell stuck his hand in the water. "Well, it's pretty warm. Maybe we could find a way to sabotage this somehow."

Bell stood up and wiped his hand on his pants. He turned around to fast Revis and was caught off guard seeing her naked.

"Where yo clothes at?" Bell asked.

"Discarded." "Revis answered, stepping closer to Bell.

"Oh, are you gonna use the hot spring? Water's not too bad."

Revis traced her fingers up his chest. "Among other things, why don't we get you out of these clothes."

"Uh, ok?" Bell said, confused.

He took his shirt off and felt Revis's finger trace his muscles. He had a thought to what she was doing. But he didn't know why.

"So much tension in these muscles. When was the last time you relaxed?" Revis cooed.

Her finger fiddled with Bell's belt and took it off. She gently set it down next to him with his shirt. Her fingers then grabbed the hem of his pants.

"Do you want me to stop?" Revis asked.

Bell was silent for a minute before answering. "No."

"Ok, but if you want me to, let me know."

Revis then took his pants off and his underwear allowing Bell's cock to spring out. She wrapped her fingers around the shaft and moved her hands up and down.

Bell let out a groan of pleasure as Revis placed his pants and underwear with his other clothes. She then led him over to the hot spring and made him sit on the edge as she jumped in.

Revis then kneeled in front of him. "Relax, you've been working really hard. Let me make you feel good."

Revis licked up the underside of Bell's cock. He let out a moan as her tongue swirled around the head. Her hand was still moving up and down the shaft.

Bell leaned back as his hands held him up. Revis opened her mouth and wrapped her lips around his cock. She slowly moved down until her nose was buried in his crotch. Revis moved her head up and down in a steady rhythm.

The warmth and softness of her mouth were sending waves of pleasure through Bell, and he started to forget his situation.

"Damn, that feels good," Bell muttered.

Revis didn't stop sucking and bobbing her head as she moved faster. Her free hand moved under the water and rubbed her clit. She moaned around his cock, which sent vibrations through his body.

She could feel him throbbing in her mouth, and she could tell he was getting close. With a groan, Bell came into Revis's mouth. She kept her head down and swallowed everything.

Once Bell was done, Revis pulled back and licked her lips. "Now, why don't you come join me in the water."

Bell gulped before doing what she said. "Why are you doing this, Revis?"

"Don't ask questions like that, just enjoy it while it lasts. We both need a break from everything. So why not get our minds off things for a bit? It can be a nice stress reliever."

Bell then approached Revis, who gestured for him to come closer. "So, like what ya see?"

"Uh yeah."

Revis giggled before bending over the edge. "Well, come and take it."

Bell approached her and pressed his body against hers. He kissed her neck before lining himself up with her entrance. He slid inside of her, and the two let out a sigh of pleasure.

Bell started to move slowly. Revis arched her back slightly in pleasure.

"You don't need to be gentle with me, ya know?" Revis said.

"I don't want to hurt you," Bell replied.

"How sweet." She moaned as Bell picked up his pace.

Bell continued his steady pace as Revis moaned in pleasure. Bell's mind was starting to cloud with lust, and he felt something awaken inside him.

His blood felt fiery, and Revis's moans were starting to sound like music to his ears.

Without warning, Bell slammed into her. Revis threw her head back and moaned loudly. Bell had an animalistic grin on his face as he thrusted into her with wild abandon.

Bell grabbed her hair and pulled it, making her moan louder. Her nails scratched the ground as Bell used his other hand and roughly grabbed her breast.

"Oh fuck yes, harder, Bell!" Revis throatily moaned.

Bell leaned in and started biting her neck, not enough to break the skin but enough to leave bruises. Revis could feel the knot in her stomach grow tighter as Bell pounded her.

She came with a shout of his name, but he didn't stop. Something inside of him was screaming to keep going. Like an animalistic instinct.

Revis was moaning uncontrollably as Bell pulled her hair harder. "Ah, Ah, Ah! B-Bell! I'm going to cum again!"

Bell felt Revis's walls clamp around his cock, and her fluids gush onto him. Her legs felt like jelly, and her vision was going hazy.

However, Bell didn't slow down. In fact, he got even rougher and was practically slamming her into the rocks. Revis could barely form a coherent sentence, let alone a thought.

She felt herself cum again as she was losing consciousness. Bell could feel himself getting close and leaned over Revis. He was biting her neck and shoulder with more force. After a few more thrusts, Bell finally came.

He pulled out and shot his load onto her back. Revis collapsed into the hot spring, but Bell grabbed her hair and pulled her up. Bell looked at her face and saw her eyes were closed, and her tongue was hanging out.

That seemed to snap him out of his haze as his eyes widened in fear. "Oh shit, Revis, I am so sorry."

Bell was quick to set her in the water and start cleaning her. The gentle touch from Bell stirred Revis as she woke up feeling him cleaning her.

"B-Bell."

Bell quickly got in front of Revis. "Are you ok?! I'm so sorry. I don't know what came over me."

Revis smiled. "I'm ok, Bell, better than ok. I like it rough."

"I-I-I don't know what happened to me. One second, I was taking it slow because I didn't want to hurt you, and the next, I felt like a beast."

Revis chuckled as she propped herself against the wall. "That's called sex, Bell, looks like you just had a carnal awakening."

Bell nervously looked away and scratched the back of his head. "Uh, well, you were my first time."

"Aw, how cute! I popped your cherry. I've turned you into a little beast." Revis teased.

Bell didn't respond, instead, he looked at his wrist. But not like he was examining it. But trying to look through it.

"Everything alright?" Revis asked, slightly concerned.

"Loki told me of a myth that Targaryen's either bred with dragons or did a blood ritual with them to get their blood. I'm starting to wonder if that's true."

"What, so you think you have dragon blood inside you?" Revis asked.

Bell shook his head. "I don't know, but I didn't feel like myself when we were having sex."

Revis gestured for Bell to come over to her. He did so and sat next to her.

"Who cares if you do or you don't? All I know is you fuck like a wild animal with reckless abandon, and it feels amazing. But make sure to take it down a notch with other girls."

"What do you mean other girls?" Bell asked.

"Bell, I'm a spy. Gathering information is what I do. I know all about your little posse of women waiting for you back home."

"You were stalking me?" Bell nervously chuckled.

"No, you were just a person of interest."

"A person of your interest?" Bell asked.

Revis remained silent and turned away. Bell chuckled before grabbing her hand under the water.

"So what do you want to do with, this?" Bell asked, gesturing to the two of them.

"Well, the way I see it is we can just be two people that bump uglies from time to time. That way, if I die, you won't be too sad."

Bell furrowed his brow. "But that doesn't seem fair. Besides, I'd be sad if you died. I mean, you're the reason I'm probably still sane."

Revis allowed a smile. "That's sweet, Bell, but you don't mean that."

Bell grabbed her hand tighter and looked at her. "But I do, if it weren't for you, there's a good chance I would've broken. You're a ray of sunshine to me down here."

Revis felt something she didn't expect. Her heart skipped a beat at those words. But before she could respond, Bell kept talking.

"You've been a light in the darkness, and now so many people are about to die. So when this war kicks off and, the city begins to litter with dead bodies. Stick close to me, I don't want to lose you."

Revis was silent for a minute, trying to calm her beating heart. After calming down, she spoke.

"If we didn't just have sex, I'd make a joke of you trying to get into my pants."

Bell chuckled as Revis continued.

"But your words have struck a chord with me. I don't know what the future will hold. But when this was finally kicks off, I'll stay by your side."

Bell smiled and squeezed her hand. "That's all I ask."

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Loki's eyes were wide in abject horror at what she was seeing. Her brain still not having processed it.

Raul quickly hobbled over to her and forced her to look away.

"Raul they- Loki began, her voice broken.

"I know, just look at me," Raul answered.

Rivieria fell to her knees in anguish as Gareth grit his teeth in anger. Aki was horrified, and Alicia kept Haruhime's eyes away.

"Those fucking bastards!" Gareth growled.

Lefiya just stood there. Her mind was blank, her thoughts turning to Ais's head, which was currently on a spike planted in their front yard.