Chapter 40:
After Horra walked off, the Hestia Familia members and Ais reconvened before making their slow way back to the surface. The mood was low. They had saved most of the citizens of Rivira, but the death of Bors and the fact that all their Xenos friends were held hostage was like a dark cloud hanging over the party. Welf and Otohime took the lead, making sure that everyone kept walking forward. The worst was Wiene, who blamed herself, and Ryuu, who cursed her weakness. There were going to be lots of decisions made when they got home. But they also had to report to Finn and the Guild on their mission. The pallum had overall control of this war, and he would most likely not enjoy this loss.
Lili fell into step besides Bell. She saw that the boy was too deep in thought to notice her approach, so she stood by silently, ready to support him if he needed it. Bell finally saw her when they passed the tenth floor but only looked at her from the side. The pallum was just about ready to tear her hair out in frustration but held back for the moment. What was more important was making sure that Bell felt safe and had someone to talk to. Maybe Ais, Ryuu, Welf, or Otohime would be better now, but they were busy thinking about other problems.
"No matter how you cut it, we lost in a big way today," said Lili. She would start talking, and if Bell wanted to listen, then he would. "Just like in our expedition, we're on the back foot, Master Bell. But there's still a chance that we can make this right by the end." Lili kept her eyes forward. "I can make the report to Mister Finn while you make sure Wiene is comfortable."
Bell looked over, a frown on his face.
"Whoever Finn sees, he's going to be pretty upset too, he doesn't like failure, and I am the Captain of this Familia," replied Bell.
Lili nodded. "Maybe so, but I'm the one that this Familia trusts with their command. I am the one that made the mistake today and brought us failure." Lili felt the sadness creep up on her. "And the reason that Mister Boris died so horribly…."
Once upon a time, if Lili had said that, she would have seen Bell scramble to find an answer. He would have stuttered out a response about how it wasn't her fault. Now, though, he was quiet and contemplative. Bell didn't say anything for a minute, and the two walked in silence.
Finally, he opened his mouth. "I think…that this is all of our faults. We didn't even stop to consider that the Xenos could be in danger. We just jumped in headfirst without a thought for the rest of the world." Lili saw Bell's frown deepen. "Except, we didn't even jump in. We threw a party. We knew that things weren't going well, and we still wasted time to throw a party." Bell shook his head. "This isn't just my fault or your fault, Lili. The blame lies with all of us, including Finn."
Lili snorted. "Well, Lili will still be the one to speak to Mister Finn, and Lili doubts she'll say it like that." She adjusted her supporter pack. "But, Hestia Familia will not be sharing the blame alone. And Lili WILL make it clear that if Mister Finn attacks while the Xenos are in danger, Hestia Familia will be staying out of this conflict."
Bell blinked, and Lili rolled her eyes.
"Would Master Bell want to say anything else anyway?" Bell shook his head. "Mister Lyd and the other Xenos have to be protected. They cannot be thrust aside so that we may fend for ourselves. Someone else has to be there to stand up for them." Lili shrugged. "As Goddess Athena would have said, 'We must give a voice to the voiceless, so that we may stand together and in doing so be stronger than any army.' So, Lili will present the terms to Mister Finn." She looked back over her shoulder. "And Lady Otohime will be coming with me...she will have some useful insight."
Bell blinked. "What makes you think that?" He also looked back at the kind warrior. "I know that she had a rough upbringing and that she helps you with your strategy. I didn't realize she could help with…I guess this is a hostage situation?"
Lili sighed. "It's fair that you don't know, seeing as how she doesn't tell people, but you should ask, Master Bell. It might give you some insight." Lili looked at the ground. "There are a lot of people that want to talk to you right now…."
Bell blinked, and slowly, he put together what his supporter was trying to say. He felt the heat rise up his neck and nodded.
"What would those people like to say?"
Lili kept walking, but her hands tightened around the straps of her pack. Gaze focused on the ground, she put one foot in front of the other.
"They would say that they were sorry…and that their goal had never been to hurt you. They kept secrets because they thought it would keep you safe. That you were the last person they ever wanted to hurt…and that they understand if you don't trust them right now…."
Bell nodded. He put his thoughts in order and considered everything that Lili had done for the past year and a half. How she was his first real friend and ally in the Dungeon.
"I would tell them," began Bell. "That while I didn't trust them for now, I would still want them by my side for all of my adventures in the Dungeon." Bell blushed. "I'd want them around for the rest of my life."
Lili hated herself for the way her heartbeat sped up. She hated that even if she knew Bell would never love her back THAT way, she would always be drawn back to him. It drove her nuts. Sometimes, she considered if the love thing was worth it and where her love came from.
She had spent a lot of time talking with Goddess Athena about this very topic. Some people fell in love because they were saved. And Lili had to ask honest questions about that. She loved Bell; she understood that much, but how long would she wait around? When would she choose to finally start living for herself? All of these were questions that Athena had posed to her relentlessly throughout her year of study. All so that Lili could find some kind of understanding for herself.
"Know yourself better than your enemy, for then you'll know your limitations and avoid being tricked and exploited," said Goddess Athena, dispensing another pearl of wisdom.
Personally, Lili found them a little too generic and that Athena was working too hard to sound wise instead of just…being wise. Still, such as the way of the deities in the end.
So, the supporter and the adventurer walked back to the surface in silence. There was still a rift between the two of them, but it was slowly healing. It would only be a matter of time. When they got to the surface, Ais, Lili, and Otohime left to report their findings to Finn. And to have a long discussion about what was going to happen next. Ryuu and Urashima went to go check on the citizens of Rivira and to make sure that they made it to the surface safely. The rest started to walk home and to put Wiene to bed. The little vouivre had fallen asleep on the way up, and Mikoto was now carrying her piggy-back style. Bell had offered to do it, but Mikoto had insisted, just in case Bell was called off somewhere by the Guild. As they were walking to the Hearth Manor, the jostling of the steps woke Wiene up.
The dragon girl slowly blinked the sleep away from her eyes. While she took in her surroundings, her nostrils flared, and she sniffed a couple times into Mikoto's shoulders.
"Mikoto, why do you smell like Haruhime?" asked Wiene.
The samurai stuttered in her steps, and her cheeks turned a rosy shade of pink. She resumed walking and hitched Wiene up further on her back. Slowly, she explained her new relationship while Wiene listened attentively. Next to them, Welf and Elwin were snickering.
Haruhime watched on fondly, padding next to Bell. Eventually, she looked at her one-time crush and smiled.
"I'm happy that Lady Wiene is safe. You did well to rescue her," said the renard. "How are you doing?"
Bell didn't look the renard in the eyes.
Haruhime nodded, "Ahh, true enough, you are still reeling from the truths we kept from you. Maybe I can be of some assistance?"
"What do you mean?" asked Bell.
Haruhime gave him a small tired smile. "I do, in fact, have some experience about the topic of keeping secrets." Her ears twitched. "Or rather, how secrets can be kept from you."
And at that moment, almost all of Bell's anger towards Haruhime vanished. It was only when they finally returned to Haruhime's original home in the Far East that they told her the truth of her circumstances. Bell had watched Haruhime fall to her knees and weep. The renard had needed a whole day to grapple with the knowledge. She had locked herself away and had not spoken to anyone. Finally, she emerged as if she was a different person.
With controlled and forceful anger, the way she had confronted her father had stunned Hestia and Bell into total silence. Haruhime had been like a hurricane and took their lies in stride. She had been open and honest about how it had made her feel and then declared that she was done in the East. Her next goal was to find Mikoto.
Looking back on it, the crush was undeniable. Unfortunately, Bell was very oblivious. Still, if anyone would understand what it would mean to have the people you trust lie to you, it was the Enchantenko.
"So…what would you say?" Asked Bell.
Haruhime looked to the sky.
"You have to ask yourself, what does the secret really change?"
Bell tilted his head.
"What it really changes?"
Haruhime nodded. "In the end, having my virginity intact didn't erase the fact that my father got rid of me. It didn't change the fact that I had become a prostitute and was sold into slavery. And whether or not I was a virgin had no impact on who I would one day fall in love with." Haruhime's eyes focused on Mikoto, and her lips gave way to the softest of smiles. Bell heard her tail swish with a content motion. "She cried when she heard that I knew the truth. She had just defeated fifty opponents in single combat to secure her freedom, was covered in blood, and all she could do was apologize and bawl her eyes out. She had wanted to be there herself. To tell me."
She looked back to Bell. "It was then that I understood, how could such people have ever meant to do me wrong? And how I could be so angry?"
She placed a gentle hand on Bell's shoulder. "Your emotions are valid, and if you choose to be angry, that's ok. But for me, to know that you all loved me enough to lie straight to my face…I have never felt so warm in all my life." The renard shrugged. "But again, my secret changes nothing about who I am. That night after…." The renard finally stumbled on her words, her tail curling upwards. "After me and Mikoto made love…when I awoke, I felt no different. I had committed this fabled act of sex, and nothing had really changed." She shrugged. "So, I want you to think, now that you know, is what has changed? Who are you now that the secret is out?"
Bell nodded along. The advice was sound, as far as he understood it. The problem was, he knew so little of who he was. The more he peeled back and thought about what had come before, the more he realized that he was just a product of what other people wanted him to be. He thought back to the message from his parents, who mentioned Hermes and Zeus. How the two deities apparently had some part in his upbringing and what path his life would take. What in the world was he supposed to do with that knowledge? And then there was everything that Freya could have done. When Bell learned the truth of Syr, he quickly put the bits of information together.
Freya had given him the grimoire that gave him his magic, and the silverback that attacked him and Hestia was probably from her. So many instances of action where these supposedly kind and benevolent deities were deciding his life for him. And what did Hestia do in response? She only ever asked for one thing, that he come back home to her. And when Bell thought about why she hid the secret of Liaris Freese from him, he could see her kindness. Hestia hadn't told him because she never wanted to choose his path for him. Now that Bell knew about this dangerous skill, he was almost sure that his adventure up to now would have changed with earlier awareness.
Bell was acutely aware of his numerous faults, and he could only dimly guess how he would have acted. In his quest to be stronger, what would he have thrown away to get to that goal? To be like the Sword Princess, Ais Wallenstein. The thought scared him a little. So, Bell wasn't really angry at anyone. But he was a long way from trusting them again.
All this time, Haruhime watched on. Bell Cranel was still her hero in many ways. He had saved her from certain death. So, she was happy that he was starting to put the pieces together once again. The renard then looked forward to find Mikoto and Wiene glancing back.
"What are you talking about?" She asked.
Mikoto's blush deepened while Wiene smiled.
"Mikoto told me about how you two are together now! You're in love, right?"
Haruhime nodded. "Yes, I love Mikoto very much. She is my most treasured person." The renard walked up to press a kiss to both their foreheads. "And you are a close second, Wiene."
"YAY! I'm still number two!" Cheered the voiuvre, waving her hands from Mikoto's back. "And Haruhime is happy!" Wiene stopped before looking down at Mikoto. "Wait…you have to say it back!"
Mikoto startled, almost dropping Wiene. "What do you mean I have to say it back?"
Wiene pointed at Haruhime.
"You have to say that you love her."
Mikoto looked over, and her blushing and confusion morphed into a deep pool of affection.
"I love you."
And now Haruhime was blushing.
Off to the side, Elwin was shaking his head.
"I swear, these people and their declarations of love. It's all quite sappy, don't you think?" He asked Filvis.
The ghost elf shrugged.
"I don't know; I believe it to be rather sweet." She narrowed her now pale red eyes. "You could do with telling Lefiya how you feel more. She deserves to be loved, openly and fully."
"I tell her all the time!" Responded Elwin loudly.
At his sudden declaration, he got quite the number of stares from his Familia. He grumbled.
Meanwhile, ghost Filvis giggled at his misfortune. Elwin knew that she hadn't been happy in the beginning at this sudden change in living, but he was glad to see that she was finding some way to live with it. Well, as much living as she could do.
Suddenly, she had stopped laughing. The thought of Elwin's mortality had apparently sparked something in her. She took the time to try and poke his chest with a ghostly finger. Unfortunately, it passed right through him.
"By the way, you need to get better at keeping an eye out. You almost got yourself killed when that monster attacked," said Filvis.
Elwin looked away, some kind of far-off look in his eyes.
"It's hard, now. Since I can't feel fear, my instincts are dulled. That fight or flight thing that other adventurers have." He looked down at his fists. "I don't have that anymore. It's not a part of who I am."
Filvis frowned. "What do you mean?"
"Those instincts are born of fear, and I don't have that anymore," replied Elwin. "I can't be afraid, so I can't feel…anything. And instead, I'm stuck like this. Some freak of nature…."
Filvis snorted. "Take it from someone who was actually a freak; you're fine. And even if you were, you have a lot of people out there who love you and will watch your back." She paused to consider a thought. "That said… we're going to need to find some sort of new way for you to be aware of your surroundings. Me and everyone else in the Familia can only be around you so much. And I shiver at the thought of what Riveria would do if something happened to you." She stopped when Elwin grinning at her. "What?"
Elwin shrugged. "Nothing, just glad that you're considering yourself a member of this Familia.
If a ghost could blush, then Filvis. At the moment, though, she was still flustered.
"And you're cute too. I can see why Lefiya was so in love with you," continued Elwin.
"I'm going back inside your head!"
With that final scream, Filvis disappeared with a little poof sound. Elwin chuckled and kept on walking back home.
When Hestia Familia finally got there, Hestia was sitting on the front steps. In her dainty little hands were an opened envelope and a piece of paper. With their enhanced eyesight, everyone saw that it bore the stamp of the Guild.
"Is everything ok, Goddess Hestia?" Asked Mikoto.
At first, the Goddess did not answer. Instead, she continued to study the letter, a frown slowly developing on her face. Her bare feet tapped an irregular rhythm on the ground. Eventually, she sighed and folded the letter back up. It was only then that she looked up. Apparently, she had not noticed the rest of her Familia. She startled and hopped up onto the top step.
"When did you all get here?" Asked Hestia.
"About a minute ago," replied Welf, who started making his way inside.
Mikoto followed, intent on putting Wiene in a proper bed. Haruhime walked beside her to also make sure that the vouivre got some rest.
When Elwin made to step inside, Hestia stopped him. Bell also stood outside, obviously intrigued about what was in the letter.
"Come on, you two," said Hestia standing up. "Special request from Ouranos. Apparently, he wants a meeting with the two of you and Fels."
Elwin frowned. "What in the world could they want with me?" He nodded at Bell. "Him, I get; he's the hero guy. Probably some Sun Seeker stuff. But where do I fit into it?"
Hestia shrugged. "No clue, all I know for sure is that they want the three of ASAP."
"What else did the letter say, Goddess?" Asked Bell.
Hestia sighed. "Some stuff about Freya. Fels has some ideas apparently to combat her charm." She handed the letter over. "You can try reading it yourself, but it's the language of the Gods."
Bell did, in fact, want to read it over. His mistrust meant that he wanted to make sure that he wasn't in trouble. Or that Hestia was hiding something else. Unfortunately, she had been telling the truth when she said it was written in the language of the Deities. The boy could not read a single word.
"Let's hurry up, boys," called back Hestia. "The sun is starting to set."
Bell blinked in evident confusion. It was then that he looked up at the sky. It had really only been one day so far since he had the initial meeting and then learned the secret of his status. And then sprinting to the 18th floor and coming back. The whole thing was kind of crazy when he thought back on it.
The three made their way down the main boulevard on their way to the Guild headquarters. When they got there, Eina was thankfully waiting for them outside. She smiled at Bell, and he returned it readily. Eina had never wanted anything else from him and didn't know about Liaris Freese, thankfully. So, his smile was earnest.
She began escorting them into the Guild Hall interior. They turned downside passages until they came to the area of Ouranus's throne room. Inside was Ouranus, and Fels was there too. The ghost man was holding what looked like one of the purple collars of the Sun Seekers. At the sight of it, Bell and Elwin had to stop and stare. Hestia and Eina kept walking in, unbothered. The six gathered close, and the adventurers in the room felt the overwhelming presence of the God. Ouranos indeed held the feeling of the old myths of deities. Something was overwhelming about him.
"Good, you have arrived," said the God with his booming voice. "I require your help, Hestia. Matters with Freya have suddenly become clearer."
Bell tilted his head. "They have? How it's not like we accomplished anything…."
Fels held up the collar.
"On the contrary, due to the attack on Rivira, one of the fleeing residents got their hands on this particular magic item." He held it towards Elwin. "While inspecting it, we found the logo of Hecate branded onto its inner lining as well as the name of its creator."
Elwin reached forward to take it but held the item lightly as if it would burst into flames. Slowly, he turned it over in his hands to check for other tell-tale markings and signs. Finally, he read the inside inscription. When he saw the name, he scowled. His eyes narrowed behind the frames of his glasses, and his lips were bitten into by his teeth.
"What the hell is Archi doing making magic control collars?" He asked to no one.
Bell took a step back, flinching from the malice in the half elf's voice. He had never seen Elwin so angry and incensed. The partial royal's hands trembled from how hard they were squeezing on the cold metal of the ring in front of him.
Hestia reached out to lay a hand on Elwin's wrist. He relaxed at her touch and looked over at her. Her face was gentle and carefully relaxed.
"Is it ok if we ask who Archi is?"
Elwin nodded, still holding onto the magical metal ring in front of him. He kept his eyes focused on Bell and Hestia. Having to stare at the skeleton or the overwhelming God would be too much for his little brain to handle. Still, though, his brain was clouded with rage. That is until a gentle breeze washed over it. He felt Filvis trying to comfort him. He relaxed a bit. She didn't say anything, but she didn't need to. Everything was alright with Elwin now. He took a deep breath of air.
"Archi was my best friend growing up. But he was a lot smarter and more talented than me," said Elwin, slowly turning the collar over in his hands. "When he got to level two, he got the Enigma Development Ability, just like he always wanted. He stopped adventuring after that and turned his mind to tinkering." He looked over his glasses at Bell. "Had a one-track mind, like a certain someone that I know." Bell blushed, and Elwin smirked. His eyes returned to the collar. "My man Archi was brilliant, and he was one of the few who never judged me for my heritage." Elwin snorted. "All he said was, 'ok, now hand me that wrench sitting over there.' He was a good friend." Elwin handed the collar back to Fels. "That's his alright. And if that means what I think it means, Archi was kidnapped. Possibly charmed into leaving and coming here." Elwin rubbed his chin. "Honestly, Freya's absolute charm would have been the only thing to work. Archi couldn't be bought, and he would have no desire for her beauty."
Hestia blinked. "He wouldn't?"
Elwin nodded along. "Archi wasn't into that stuff. Never was interested in guys or girls, just doing his tinkering and making magic tools to help society." The half-elf glared at the collar. "That's why I know he's being forced. My best friend would never make something this hurtful and disgusting."
"Are you sure it's him, though?" Asked Eina. "I mean, it could be another ploy by Freya to try and direct our attention elsewhere."
Elwin snorted. "Nah, using Archi would be the smart play." Elwin gave the rest of the occupants the side-eye. "She would be banking on the fact that none of you would suspect someone from outside Orario being able to make something like this."
Fels made a thoughtful humming sound.
Elwin continued. "No offence, but you lot don't really have the highest opinion of people outside your city. It would be hard for you to even conceive of someone like Archi, an enigma user, existing that was not part of Orario. This is what Freya wants; she wants you all focused inwards. That way, you don't get outside help."
There was silence after Elwin spoke. Everyone ruminated on the thoughts, and then Ouranus chuckled.
"Well, it seems Freya has underestimated some of the people of this city," said the sitting God. "Hermes is out in the world right now, gathering allies as we speak." His hands rested on the chair. "Many of you know that my focus is on the Dungeon." His lips seemed to twitch downward. "But even I am tired of Freya's games." His eyes looked out and gained an unfocused quality. "There is a catastrophe looming ever closer, and we cannot afford something as childish as Freya's whims distracting us." Ouranus's hands curled into a fist. "To be so irresponsible and still call herself a queen…nothing short of shameful."
Fels floated forward.
"Thank you for confirming this, Elwin Ljos Ruffrot. You are free to go." The skeleton turned his eyeless gaze to Hestia. "Working with the orders of Lord Ouranus, though, I would ask that you remain. I have some ideas and questions that I want to run past you." He turned to Bell. "You may leave as well. Miss Eina, if you please?"
Eina bowed to her superiors and then led Bell and Elwin out from the building. They gave a little wave to Hestia as they went.
"So, Bell," began Eina. "Have you had a chance to read the documents I left with you?"
Bell shook his head.
"I've only skimmed through them, if I'm being honest. As much as I want to say that I read them right away…" he paused. "I'm a little scared."
Elwin nodded.
"Makes sense; I was the same way when I first heard about Riveria. I swung back and forth from wanting to know everything about her to knowing absolutely nothing at all. In the end, though, I discovered that knowing about my family was better than not." He frowned. "Speaking of which, I think I see my darling sister now."
Eina and Bell gave him a quizzical look. So, Elwin pointed his finger, and their gazes tracked it up the street to where a tall jade green-haired high-elf was marching down the road.
Riveria nodded at Eina and Bell before focusing on her little brother. She patted him down to make sure he wasn't injured.
"Did you run into that creature?" She asked.
"Which creature?" Responded Elwin.
"Don't play dumb. Your commander and the Dragon Princess already showed up and reported that the moss monster was likely on the floor somewhere. Did you run into it or not?" Asked Riveria.
Elwin rolled his eyes, so Riveria cuffed him over the head. Elwin rubbed the tender area.
"No, I did not run into him. Didn't run into anyone, and I stayed out of combat." He shrugged. "I'm in supporter mode right now anyway."
Riveria nodded. "And it should stay that way." Her eyes moved over to Bell Cranel. "I heard that you have come to some major revelation, Bell Cranel." She put a hand on his shoulder. "Just remember to take it easy."
Bell nodded. As that happened, Elwin looked between Riveria and Eina. He pursed his lips before focusing all his attention on the half-elf Guild advisor.
"With your ancestry… we're like relatives or something, right?" He smirked. "We're cousins, I think?" He put a hand out. "Put it there!"
Eina seemed a little flustered at the motion. She turned a shade of pink at Elwin's forwardness and then flinched away when another voice echoed down the street.
"What in the world are you doing?" Said Lefiya, marching close.
"What do you mean?" Asked Elwin, looking between Lefiya and Eina. "I'm talking to my cousin…what are you doing?"
"I'm here to check on you!" Replied Lefiya.
Elwin nodded. "Fair enough, I guess." Suddenly his eyes popped open. "Oh yeah! I meant to tell you, I love you, Lefiya!"
His loud proclamation was met with wide eyes from everyone there. Riveria slapped her palm to her face, cursing herself for her dumb, idiotic brother. Who said that out loud like that, anyway?
Lefiya, red in the face, then dragged her boyfriend away. The whole time, while she was berating him, the only thing Elwin heard was Filvis laughing at his misfortune.
Meanwhile, in the Twilight Manor, Lili and Otohime finished explaining the situation to a shocked Finn, Gareth and Loki.
The massive dwarf hid his large frown by stroking his beard.
"I don't like this. If these lasses speak true, we've just lost access to the Dungeon. That's bad for any number of reasons. Least of which is our own training being reduced to nothing," he said.
Loki was scowling and looked like she was about to pull her hair out.
"What does that haughty, bitchy, Goddess of Beauty think she's doing, helping these monsters?"
Finn just studied his thumb.
"A smart move if I've ever seen one." The pallum sighed. "One thing at a time, though." He looked Lili in the eye. "First, how do we save the hostage Xenos?"
Lili blinked, caught unawares by Finn's statement.
The Braver gave the Dauntless a sardonic grin. "I know that I'm a worthless wannabe hero, but even I would think it wrong not to secure their safety first."
Loki nodded, her trademark grin gone from her face.
"Not to mention, we'd be dishonouring Ray-ray if we let her family die like that," said the scarlet-haired Goddess.
"The rule problem will be selling the public on our inaction," added Gareth. "We're going to need to work with Ganesha on that one."
Loki dismissed him with a wave. "Leave all that busybody stuff to Ganesha and Royman. We'd be no good at it anyway." She looked Lili dead in the eye. "The real question is, where are the hostages? If they're being kept at the bottom of the Dungeon, this just got a lot harder."
Before Lili could answer, Otohime shook her head. She had been mostly silent the entire conversation, only chiming in occasionally.
"It would be stupid to keep them that deep." She stepped up to the desk. "If you're holding prisoners, then the most important thing you need to do is ensure that you are in total control of the prison." Her gaze fell to the maps and documents lying on Finn's desk. "The Dungeon is too…messy to be a proper place to hold anyone." She then studied a map of Orario. "Not to mention that if they want to make good on their threat, it would have to be somewhere close by. The communication necessary to know that we'd be on the first, send that down to the Deep Floors, and everything in between is too much."
Finn steepled his hands, sinking deep into thought.
"Oh, and do you have any ideas, lass?" Asked Gareth.
Otohime shrugged. "I'm still new here. My best guess would be somewhere like the safe floors, but if they mean to turn those into choke points, that also wouldn't be a good idea."
Lili nodded along. "So, somewhere the Sun Seekers could be in control while being both close enough to make good on their threat, but secure enough that we can't break in or they can't break out." The Dauntless stamped her foot and squeezed her head. "Gaahhh! Lili hates riddles! Does a place like that even exist?"
The room was quiet, and eventually, all eyes settled on the Braver. If anyone could figure this out, it would be him.
Unaware of the attention, Finn breathed out a single word.
"Knossos."
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