Author's note:

Slow again... Writing this chapter was easy though.

Hard to believe that I started this story before Lycoris released and now Last Recollection is here... Wild.

Thanks for reading!

Chapter 65: Night Raid

Heathcliff:

"Urgh…" Peeling himself out of the mud, Heathcliff staggered as he tried to raise his shield in front of him. The cheap armour was ruined again. Tomorrow he would have to join the field with none while it was repaired.

That would be a far shorter day.

Now, in the midst of the pouring rain, Heathcliff was one of the last two dozen adventurers. The melee had started almost six hours ago at this point. Heathcliff was nearing his breaking point.

His skill could only get him so far. With Divine Sword gone, Heathcliff could only stand and weather the onslaught of blows whenever the level four adventurers had time to look his way.

"Why did you get up?"

Whirling around, Heathcliff faced the frequent victor of their daily battle royale: Ulfric, the old captain. Even he had not gone unharmed through the long hours. Blood poured from a deep cut in his head and his right leg was starting to lock from a wound he had taken from the triplets.

"Why would I not?" Heathcliff responded, straightening his back in preparation for an attack he likely would barely be able to perceive.

"…You do not have the same devotion the rest of us do. You see yourself equal to our goddess, so why try to win her favour?"

Is that true? Heathcliff wondered if he could logically conclude that anymore. It had been made abundantly clear to him multiple times that the 'gods' of this world were indeed beings of power. He had yet to find the culprit, but there was little doubt that one of the gods were responsible for the corruption of his game and idea.

The result should had made him exuberant, he had always dreamed of the world, wanted to know who lived here and had gotten that answer… But it wasn't quite right. Heathcliff did not know why. For not the first time, he got the feeling that everything was wrong.

Lifting his shield, Heathcliff squared up to the former leader. "Perhaps I just want my position back."

"Not if I take it first."

With that the conversation ended and the battle began.

It ended shortly with Heathcliff back in the mud, his consciousness fading.

Kirito:

Quill flowing naturally along the page, Kirito felt like he had hit his stride. With the new home set up and most of everything dealt with, work was decreasing, and he would have time in a couple hours for a quick dungeon run.

With the extra space, Kirito had been gifted a 'Familia Leader's Office'. The grand room was decorated with an expensive solid wooden desk, custom-built for the room and a large, painted version of their familia logo hanging on a banner at the back. There were two assistant desks off to the side, and even a magic stoene fridge for cooling drinks. It was as luxurious as Kirito could imagine with the current technologies of the world.

Reclining back in his padded chair, Kirito stretched and rose. Going over to the fridge, he poured himself another cup of cold water. Looking out the window, his view was unobstructed to North Main and beyond. To say that their familia home was out of place in this neighborhood was an understatement.

As he stared out the window, lost in memory of the past year, a sharp knock at the door interrupted him. "Come in."

Entering was a figure that Kirito would have as soon forgotten. Frowning, Kirito returned to his desk, sitting down.

"What can I do for you Morte?" Following behind the man was Strea. She was practically growling at the man. Her usually bubbly personality had fallen by the wayside to give rise to the edge that had given Strea her berserker title.

"I was hoping that we could go for a stroll. I would fill you in on a well…" With one look back at Strea it was clear that he would not be saying anymore while she remained breathing down his neck.

Pursing his lips, Kirito had a strong desire to send him away. Unfortunately, that would end badly for his reputation. I need to be careful with this one. Standing up, Kirito nodded. "Then come."

"Kirito!"

Walking over, he placed a hand on her shoulder. "I'll be fine. Besides, I owe Morte a favour."

"…You saved his life, you owe him nothing," Strea hissed having been brought up to speed on the man's identity.

Going on tiptoes, Kirito kissed her forehead. "I promised."

Leaving no room for disagreement, Kirito left the room, waving at Morte who caught up with a quick jog. Barely a few meters away from the door and still well within earshot of Strea, Morte leaned in and whispered to him. "Very impressive. You'll need to teach me how you got such a handle on these ladies. Just complete dominance in bed or…?"

Kirito did get a little enjoyment from the squeal Morte emitted as Strea hissed. Controlling his emotions, he did not address his guest until they were outside.

"Please do not talk about my girlfriends that way. Now, what do you want?"

"Not here, not here…" Morte gave an appraising glance back at the familia home.

With his level four senses, Kirito could sense Yui hiding on the other side of the front side, listening in. Nodding in agreement, he picked a random direction. "I don't have forever. Pretty much every minute of my day is planned."

"Today won't be long, and tomorrow will be lucrative."

"Lucrative?" Kirito questioned.

Morte waited to answer, taking one last look back at the disappearing familia home. None of the Hestia members at home had followed and Morte seemed to know this.

"Ahh, I found a group that needs some muscle. Looking for another man to help them procure some… cargo."

"Cargo?" Kirito asked suspiciously.

"Ahh, from the twenty-seventh floor of the dungeon. Only place it can be found."

"Are you talking about… monsters?" Kirito asked incredulously.

"Quick on the pick-up. That can be helpful, but in this case… you probably don't want to delve too deeply into this."

"Just tell me the drops that you need, and I can get them with a few of my familia members."

"Ah, not as perceptive as I thought."

Feeling frustrated, Kirito almost reached out to stop him. Trailing half a step behind, he snapped. "Explain it clearly, what do you want?"

"Not what I want," Morte smirked, whirling to face Kirito. Close enough that their breaths were mixing together, he whispered bone-chilling words. "Our client… Well, they want the monsters alive. You come from the real world; you should know the appeal of a busty monster girl."

"Y-You can't mean… But the monsters are feral! They'll try to eat you!"

"I imagine that's half the fun," Morte chuckled. "If we find a particularly pretty one, I half want to try it out for myself."

Disgusted, Kirito shoved him away. "I want no part in this. Request something else, I refuse."

"Why?"

Stuttering, Kirito could not believe the refutation. "Why? Well, I mean, that's disgusting! How could you do that to a monster!?"

"So? Why do you care what happens to a monster? You just volunteered to go to their home and slaughter numerous numbers of them just to get specific parts. Yet I ask you to help capture one or two and you reject?"

"W-Well…" Unsure how to rebuke that, Kirito changed the angle of his attack. "I eat meat, I don't condone the torture of animals."

Morte giggled at that. "You've never had to reflect on your morals, have you? You say things are wrong because you have been told they are. Come tomorrow, it will be good for you."

Is he… right? "Answer my question, Morte."

"No. Your point is irrelevant. These are not livestock animals; they are dangerous monsters that kill indiscriminately. One is useful, one is not. Let me ask you this: Do you sometimes maim monsters to disrupt a hoard?"

"…You know the answer," Kirito growled.

"Then how is what you are doing, leaving a monster to writhe in pain, mutilated, better? Because you needed an easier getaway?"

Closing his eyes, Kirito took a deep breath. As the explosive motions began to sink back down, Kirito made a snap decision.

"I will come tomorrow. I'll meet you in Rivera at noon." Whirling on his heels, Kirito stalked back to his home, pursued by the sound of Morte's amused laughter.

Lyu:

"Hrggg…" Moaning again, Lyu struggled to get the image of Bell's face from her mind. His lips slowly approaching hers…

No, not Bell! Mr. Cranell!

Failing to monitor her thoughts yet again, Lyu needed a solid month among the branches of the holy tree in peaceful meditation.

"Will you shut up?" The harsh question was delivered by Kaguya with a whip-like scorn. "If you are that heads-over-heels for the boy, go run to the surface and pledge your love to him or something."

"…" Lowering her head, Lyu accepted the criticism much as she had for the past two days. She knew that her current bearing was incompatible with the dungeon and traversing the halls within. Her familia members had every right to condone her.

The corridors of the twenty-seventh floor were beautiful as always with outcroppings of azure crystal reflecting the same colour of the rivers that crisscross the floor.

Getting no response, Kaguya threw her hands up and stalked off. Knowing what was coming, Lyu waited patiently for Alise to come back. A changing of the guard as they maintained a careful watch on the passageways to guard against Revis.

"Still moaning about not kissing the boy?" Alise said by way of greeting.

Glaring at their leader, Lyu regretted yet again telling her familia the events that had occurred between them. She was so startled the first night that she had been unable to repress the flood of words.

"Don't give me that look," Alise smirked. Then, oddly, her bubbly expression faded as she sighed and sat close to Lyu. Without asking she rested her head upon Lyu's shoulders.

"A-Alise!?" Lyu cried out but did not move a muscle.

"I miss them still."

Breath catching, Lyu suddenly felt a heat behind her eyes. Blinking rapidly, she turned her face from Alise. "Why are you saying this now?"

"I just… I really do want you to be happy Lyu. We could have—no, we should have died in that fight against Balor. Not to mention somehow surviving the fight against the black dragon. We may not have long left."

"Don't say that!" Jerking away from Alise, Lyu whirled on her familia leader, grabbing the front of her chest plate. "What is wrong with you!?"

"…My family is mostly dead," Alise whispered kindly. "I think that's a big one. Lyu, if you need or want to—"

"STOP! Just stop forcing this on me! I barely know him!"

"…Sorry," Alise sighed. Then, with that strange charismatic ability of hers, Alise's cheery energy returned with a wide smile. "Do try to contain your outbursts of lovey dovey emotion though, okay? I think it's making Kaguya jealous."

"J-Jealous?" Lyu asked in disbelief, releasing Alise.

She only giggled. "Maybe I'm reading too much into it. Anyhoo, we should get some—'

"AHHHH!" A piercing scream of pain and rage rang through the halls of the twenty-seventh floor.

"Lyra!" Lyu and Alise said at the same time. Jumping to their feet, they darted through the hallways at full speed, clearing the river.

"Watch out," Alise spoke, her voice growing more serious. "Revis has the speed and strength of a level six."

"Got it." Lyu nodded, drawing her blade. In their sprint of ten seconds they covered nearly a quarter of a kilomel, slowing to a halt at the point where Lyra was keeping watch.

"What's wrong?" Alise called out as they approached.

Lyra was sitting next to a river with hunched shoulders. Lyu could hear the stream of swears that were being emitted from under her breath.

Taking up position on the far side, she watched out for threats.

"I was focused on the main passages when a Lizardman approached."

"A lizardman?"

"Ah, scared each other shitless. I was so confused I didn't retreat in time as it breathed fire at me."

"It breathed fire!?"

"Aye, it got my hand good. Damn, I really screwed up, didn't I? Do we have to leave before Loki familia investigates?"

The conversation intrigued Lyu, but there was a disturbance from ahead. The slight breeze of air, the soft footsteps. "That won't necessary," she called back. "Ais is here."

At the same time, the golden-haired swordswoman appeared, blade out, and eyes filled with determination.

"It was not Revis," Lyu said before she could ask.

The intensity fled instantly. Sword banging home back into its sheath, she did give Lyra a curious look. "Are you… okay?"

"Yeah, just an idiot."

"That is… good."

"Thanks for checking on us, Ais," Alise gave her a bright smile. "Can you tell your familia that it was just a random adventurer party?"

"Un," Ais nodded. Already she was back in doll mode. It was odd how this Revis character somehow transformed her into a different person.

"Don't do that." A new voice spoke.

Whirling, Lyu faced the person that she had not hear enter. Kaguya approached, face like a thunderhead and her left-hand dripping blood from the tips of her fingers.

"Kaguya!" Alise shouted. "What are you doing here? The other entrance…"

"Revis already got through," Kaguya snapped. "Also, someone should have warned me about how much those bullets hurt."

"Impossible," Lyu countered, "We would have heard the shots."

"Oh, then what is this, bright girl?" Kaguya snapped holding up flattened bits of metal. "A little bauble I brought into the dungeon with me? I sometimes wonder if elves aren't reserved just to hide—Hold on!"

"Ais!" Alise shouted out as well. Together, the two managed to successfully block the sword Princess' path.

"I have to get back! I have to find her!"

And the loud version is back… Lyu thought somewhat bemusedly. It was the only humorous thing about the situation. A gun without the loud bang, and Revis entering the deep floors ahead of them. She could easily set a trap for the raid group that could result in casualties.

Far more than their own, this Loki expedition was an important achievement in calming the populace, to show them that things were returning to the peaceful ways of the past.

"Everyone ignores the actually injured person," Lyra mumbled, but the words had no bite to them. Going over to her, Lyu started chanting Noah heal while focusing on the people stopping Ais.

"Let's just stop and think about this," Alise said soothingly. "Kaguya will give you all the details."

"And I'm telling you there is nothing you can do right now. She barely glanced at me, there is something deeper in the dungeon that she wants."

"And whatever she wants we have to stop her from getting!" Ais insisted. "That woman knows more than she should!"

"She's right," Lyra agreed, jumping in. "Much as I dislike her normal airheaded stupidity, this is our chance."

"…A chance huh?" Looking down at the floors below them, Alise looked torn with indecision. "We barely escaped last time, are you all sure that we want to descend once more in pursuit?"

"The floors are too big," Kaguya countered. "We know that she is after Ais. The raid is the perfect trap already."

"But she isn't right now," Alise mused. "You said yourself that she was on her way to the deep floors. If she was truly after Ais, she would have tried to kill you while you were by yourself."

"But Kaguya's point still stands," Lyu broke in, "how do we find her?"

As sudden silence reigned it seemed as if the hunt for Revis was over before it began. Getting ready to return to their impromptu camp, Lyu was halted by Ais' quiet yet carrying voice. "My magic can find her."

"What?"

"From our short encounter I could tell. She leaves a trail that my magic can interact with."

Confused, Lyu did not understand what she was talking about. It very well could be a lie to convince them to go.

"Not that you need more convincing, but the raid will be safer with Ais not there."

The girl in question nodded in agreement. "I will tell Finn and meet you by the twenty-eighth floor."

"And she's gone," Kaguya sighed. Stretching, she shook off the flakes of drying with a shake of her arm. "Ah, well. I'm looking forward to paying that bitch back."

"Umu," Alise nodded, eyes growing serious again. "This Revis will explain everything."

Leafa:

"Oniiiii-chan!" Bounding into her brother's room, Leafa smiled broadly, ready for their day. "Markets should be opening soon, you ready to… go?"

Wearing his adventuring gear, Kirito was packing a small bag and threw it on his back. "Oh Leafa… I thought someone had told you… Sorry, I guess I should have done it myself."

"Going into the dungeon?" She asked, trying not the let her mood fall. She had finally gotten a chance to wear this beautiful white and green dress that she thought actually made her look pretty. "J-Just give me a moment to change and—"

"I'm going by myself."

And there it was. Fears realized; Leafa's smile slipped all the way off. It was childish, but her eyes began to heat as tears formed. Sniffling, she wiped them away. "I-I see… Umm, stay safe."

"It will only be a few days," Kirito smiled at her, "I'll be back soon, and we can hang out then."

"Can we?" Leafa spoke softly. "When you get back, the other girls will want attention. Neh, Onii-chan… Do you remember the last time that just the two of us had a date?"

It was cruel of her to ask. She knew and hated how powerless she felt when Kirito would work for almost twenty hours a day, every day. No one gave more for their familia then he did.

"I… I am not sure."

"It was over a month ago," Leafa choked out the words before she bit down on her hand, turning around to hide her tears.

Stop being so emotional! Despite her internal logic, the tears wouldn't stop flowing. She had been looking forward to this day for weeks. Staying silent through the issues with Silica and Rain, making sure that she had not created more issues for Kirito while doing her best to procure money for the familia.

"This day meant that much to you, huh?" Kirito sighed heavily, "I'm such an idiot."

Softly, Leafa found her head being taken in Kirito's hands. Moving with his contact, her head was tilted up so she was looking up at him through tear-stained eyes.

"Can you please wait for me? I swear, the day I get back I'll take you anywhere you want. Tell Rain and Lili to make sure my schedule is clear."

"I hate this…"

Sucking in a breath, Kirito waited with wide eyes.

"This is all my own fault." Leafa explained. "You sacrifice and sacrifice and I—I'm taking more from you! I hate that!"

Leafa's words were sealed by a slow passionate kiss. Just as her frozen, hateful heart was starting to relax, Kirito pulled back just enough so that he could whisper.

"Not this time. This time I am abandoning you. Hate me, not yourself. I am letting you down today, but I have to go. I have to learn about myself…"

"What are you talking about?"

Kirito's eyes lowered in shame. "I'm repaying a favour. I can't tell you the details right now. Not until I know if what I'm doing is right or wrong."

"…That date when you get back," Leafa said suddenly, pulling his face back up so that she could properly convey her emotions. "We're going to properly reconnect, okay?"

Kissing him again, Leafa held on for as long as possible until he eased her away. "I'd like that."

With one more kiss planted on her forehead, Kirito was gone with only a small wind to denote his passing.

Staring after him, Leafa wiped away her final tears and felt her smile return. "Stay safe, Onii-chan."

Kirito:

Growling, Kirito's mood had summoned a storm cloud that circled around him. Sitting in the dingy bar in Rivera, Kirito waited angrily for Morte and his 'clients'.

I wish I was at the market with Leafa… It was an idle thought and a lie. If he had gone and ditched this, his guilt and confusion would have racked him the entire time and completely ruined at least the next week for him.

Creak!

The sharp sound of the door opening that cut through the conversations and ambient noises of a bar drew Kirito's eye.

Finally.

Rising, he was at the door before Morte could fully enter. Grabbing the man's cloak, Kirito dragged him out. "Come on."

"H-Hey, I haven't gotten a drink!"

"And you aren't getting one. Let's go."

"Woah, calm down there, hero! What's got your panties in a knot?"

Frustrated with himself and the man, Kirito pulled Morte's face close to his own. Glaring straight into those matching black eyes, Kirito hissed, "I am not leaving my familia for a second more than necessary. Get that through your head and we will get along."

Morte chuckled, raising his hands in defeat. "Then let's get started, the others will meet us at the entrance to the nineteenth. They're only level two though, do you mind working the vanguard?"

That got the first smile from Kirito since before the man had shown up to ruin his life yesterday. "Oh, I insist."

Bell:

"Amazing…" Transfixed by the flames, Bell could not rip his eyes from the forging process.

His praise got only a confused sigh from the man doing the actual forging. "I've never known someone as weird as you, Bell. You love the creation process but have no interest in being a smith."

"Ahaha… there's just something magical about it," Bell shrugged awkwardly. It was the only way to describe the creation of weapons and armour. The lumps of metal and random monster drops that were changed into beautiful, shiny, amazing equipment.

"That's what I said, weird," Welf laughed. The sound echoing in time with the beating of his hammer against the elongated piece that would become Bell's right greave eventually.

Leaning back, Bell wiped the accumulated sweat from his forehead and took a sip from the waterskin he had brought with him. "Do you need water, Welf?"

Putting the metal back into the forge to reheat it, Welf rolled his shoulder and walked over. "Ah, thank you."

"No, thank you!" Bell insisted. "I still can't believe that you're making my gear for me!"

"Hah, Liz is good. I feel bad that I've stolen you from her. Did you know that I've gotten some business cuz of you?" Welf looked proud as he talked. Chest stuck out; he stared out the window at the quickly darkening evening sky. "Adventurers seeking gear from me. Not magic swords, but plain old weapons! Not only that, but the ones that asked after magic swords took no for an answer! That never used to happen!"

The upbeat answer brought a nostalgic smile to Bell's lips. It was so different from the time they had met. Welf had been jaded and upset with adventurers only pursuing his magic swords.

"Ah, well, time to get back to the forging!" Stretching once more, Welf was back at work just like that.

As normal, Bell's thoughts and attention were drawn in. The room was nearly unbearably hot, yet that only added to the atmosphere and magic.

The timeless quality was shattered in a moment with a cold rush of winter air as the door to the forge was opened fully.

"Oi!" Welf protested, halting midswing and quickly hiding the metal in the forge to protect it from cooling too far.

"Bell Cranell, I have been looking for you."

Who is this elf? She was, as was common with elves, beautiful. The word did not to justice to the creatures closest to the gods in beauty. She shared his eye colour, but they were somehow brighter, seeming to glow with an internal light.

With pearly skin and straight black hair, she stuck out from the typically light hair colours of the others. "Can we talk outside?

"Uhh," Sharing a look with Welf, Bell nodded standing up, His tongue still felt tied up, but he had no reason to reject with elf.

"Leave the door cracked," Welf commanded. "And don't do too far."

"I mean this boy no harm, blacksmith."

"Tsk, whatever."

"Ahaha…" Chuckling, Bell followed her out, but did listen to Welf's paranoid instructions. "Umm, sorry miss, I don't know you…"

"I am aware. My name is Filvis Chalia, I am second-in-command of Dionysus familia."

"And you are talking to me because…?"

"Lefiya mentioned you."

With that one word, Bell's face turned the colour of the sun. AHH, what did Lefiya say!?

"Your expression is a confession of guilt."

"G-Guilt?" Bell whined. "It was her idea!"

"And now you confess with your words! Damnable human, to embarrass her so…"

"H-Hold on!" Bell held up his hands pleadingly. "C-Calm down Ms. Chalia, she was the one that knocked me out!"

"What nonsense are you blabbing about now? Filvis demanded angrily, taking another step towards him. "Knocked you out? I was wondering why you thought yourself important enough to impugn upon her honour! She is a powerful elf and successor to lady Riveria! Her friends should only be other elves!"

Growing somewhat frustrated at the tirade that Bell did not believe he deserved, he snapped back. "Lefiya asked me to train with her! Complain to her about who she wants as a friend."

That shut her up as she had the decency to look abashed. "I see now that I approached this poorly. If you consider Lefiya a friend, then have the decency to decline her kind invitations."

"Why should I?" Bell sulked.

Flushing as bright as he had ever gone, Filvis could not meet his eyes as she spoke. "Because I can care for her needs…"

"Then do that!" Bell snapped again. There was an unfamiliar emotion rising inside of him. Oddly, he thought that it may be mirrored within this elf.

"I-I will! So stop getting in my way!"

Glaring at each other, Bell thought he'd be able to cut the tension in the air between them. Just as sparks were starting to fly, Bell felt a presence in their surroundings.

Whirling, he grabbed and drew the Hestia knife, searching in the shadows for the enemy. As he started to relax, there was a grunt from inside the workshop. A thump of something hitting the ground and the tinkling of a windowpane being broken.

"Welf!" Yelling out the name of his blacksmith and friend, Bell charged into the forge and almost died instantly. Part luck and part instinct, the Hestia knife deflected a needle thrown right at his unprotected chest.

Inside the forge there were two figures draped in black robes that hid their features… at least mostly. Bell knew who they were from the stories that Leafa and Silica had told. That much was made clear by the left one's skull mask with glowing red eyes and a needle-like sword gave that away.

Who was absent was Welf. "Your leader took him?" Bell asked.

"O-Oh, we've been recognized, Xaxa!"

"It seems so. Another of the Hestia brats."

"Right, right, the second-rate boy! Do you think they'd even care if we killed him?"

"Probably not. That Kirito fellow has stolen all of the girls! Hahaha, how does it feel boy? To be second rate behind some poser that leaves no tail for you to chase?"

"S-Shut up and tell me where Welf is!" Bell exclaimed.

Filvis entered from behind him. "The blacksmith was taken down the street heading south. Do you need help here?"

"N—" Snapping his mouth closed, Bell hated his own weakness as he spoke. "Probably. Thank you."

"Oh, who is this? That elf is exactly my type."

"Hehehe, we have some time, Xaxa! Go get her!"

"…I think I will."

"Watch out!" Bell yelled as Xaxa lunged, Estoc splitting the air with a small boom. His fears were unfounded and Filvis was more than his match, parrying the blow and stepping into a counterattack with her own blade. It was a beautiful sword that seemed to glow silver. Thin and straight, it was somewhere between a rapier and a longsword.

"Tsk," Xaxa cursed, jumping back with a gash on his chest. "Help, fool."

"Aye, aye!"

Sinking into a defensive posture, Bell parried away first one and then a second thrown dagger glittering with poison. Sticking out his arm, he responded in kind. "Firebolt!"

"Sweep, holy staff of crushing evil, Dio Thyrsos!"

After a short chant, bolts of lightning rained from Filvis' staff, consuming the room and the two men.

"AHHH!"

"Monsters! Let's go!"

Bell was slow to untense from his position. "W-We won?"

"No. The blacksmith is gone. They got all that they came for."

Eyes widening, Bell could not believe that he had forgotten during the tension of the fight. Starting to run away, he was stopped by a hand on his shoulder.

"You did what you could. They have escaped."

"But!" Clenching the knife tight in his hand, Bell knew that she was right. "I was too weak to protect him… I was right here and he still-!"

"…I wish to apologize Bell Cranell. You are not as bad as I assumed."

"Huh?" Angry, Bell whirled on her. "I would have been here to protect him if you hadn't come to talk to me!"

"If I hadn't come, you would have died."

The straight forward response was like a punch to his gut. Filvis' red eyes conveyed the truth of her message with no malice.

Stalking away, Bell looked around the workshop that had been blasted to smithereens. The forge slowly starting to die as Filvis' lightning had fried its magic stone circuitry. Pieces of gear and metal were flung everywhere. Right in the center however, beside the anvil was a single greave. The lone armour piece glowed with a white pearlescence and ruby edges.

Falling to his knees, Bell stroked the beautiful piece of gear. He could already imagine how cool he would have looked dressed completely in a suit of Welf's gear.

"That is high quality armour," Filvis remarked, coming to stand behind him. "A custom order?"

"Yeah," Bell choked out, feeling tears threatening to begin their flood. "I…I have to save him."

"Ganesha familia should be here shortly. With the power that Hephaestus familia wields, I am sure that we will find him."

"We?" Bell questioned, looking up at her.

For the first time, a small smile touched her expressionless face, breaking the mask of ice. "You are not as bad as I expected, but I still need to figure out if you are worthy of being Lefiya's friend."

Chuckling, Bell wiped his tears and stood up. It was time to get to work.