Project UNKNOWN - Lost in the Dark

by levieux

Follow the story of Clarent, a young huntress hit by a strange amnesia phenomenon as she was traveling to Mezeporta in search of clues about a mysterious black flying wyvern. Story based on Monster Hunter Frontier, less focused on hunts and more on characters and the secret behind the birth of the most peculiar monster in the series: the UNKNOWN. Rated M for explicit content.

5. Chapter 4 - Nameless, and UNKNOWN

Clarent

"... And so that's how things work in Mezeporta," Effie explained in her soft and polite voice as they walked through the main plaza, where many citizens were bustling around. Her monologue kept going without end as the secretary led Clarent through the streets of Mezeporta, pointing at different places or objects and explaining the purpose they served, like the marketplaces or the various businesses located along the roadside.

Meanwhile, the redhead just listened carefully to the other woman's words while trying to memorize all the information she was given. She knew full well that this was useless; she would have forgotten everything after a few days, but she wanted to at least try to hold on to some of it, at least out of respect for Effie's efforts.

"Do you understand so far, Miss Clarent? Or would you like me to repeat some of it again?" Effie inquired, stopping suddenly and turning around to look at Clarent with an inquisitive gaze.

"N-No, thanks. I think I got it," Clarent replied hastily, scratching her cheek sheepishly with an embarrassed grin. "Just to make sure...let me summarize." She cleared her throat. "So, the main hub is not actually where the guild headquarters is but located in the southern part of town, called Mezeporta Square," the redhead began her explanation while gesturing with her hands as she talked, trying to remember as much as possible.

"The square has everything a hunter needs to prepare for their quests. Not too far from it is the airport, where they use a large balloon-like vehicle to travel around the continent. It's also the location of the... Exotic Species Research Academy, right?" Clarent asked while scratching her chin uncertainly, glancing towards the young woman for confirmation.

Effie simply nodded. "Yes, that's correct. But you can just refer to it as the caravan, as most people do," she confirmed with a warm smile. "They are called like that because they were originally a group of caravaneers that traveled around a lot and used to discover many new species along the way. So researchers have now established an academy here, near the airship docks, to come along on their trips and study those monsters." The secretary added, answering the question that the redhead was about to ask. "They also often recruit hunters to join them as escorts, so there is always plenty of work available for those interested."

Clarent hummed in acknowledgment, processing the information for a couple of moments before nodding slowly to herself. "I see, that's neat." She commented absentmindedly, earning a giggle from her companion.

"Anyway, moving on," Effie continued. "If you become a hunter, you'll learn to use this place frequently to gather information or purchase equipment, supplies, and materials." She gestured toward the large, busy plaza that they were currently in the middle of. "That is, of course, if you manage to pass the test," she added with a teasing grin, eliciting a nervous chuckle from Clarent, who averted her gaze awkwardly.

"I-I will definitely succeed!" She stammered, trying to convince herself as much as Effie. "Th-There's no way I can't, right...? I mean, it's just a test. It shouldn't be too hard, right...?"

Effie simply smiled sympathetically without saying anything in return, causing Clarent to feel even more anxious than before.

"... Right?" She asked again, timidly.

The secretary girl just turned around and resumed her walk, motioning for Clarent to follow her. The redhead reluctantly trailed behind her with slumped shoulders.

"... The test itself shouldn't be too difficult, if I can say so," Effie began, trying to ease Clarent's fears. "After all, it is supposed to be an exhibition match for the citizens to enjoy, not meant to actually challenge hunters. However, I am not one myself, so I cannot really tell you how hard it is. But I believe that with a little practice, you should be able to pull off the basics of a fight without any problems." She paused briefly to look at the girl over her shoulder. "The real issue will be...actually getting to participate."

"W-Why is that...?" Clarent asked warily as she furrowed her brow, clearly confused. "Miss Selena told me that I could join without any restrictions..."

"Ah, I see. She forgot to explain that detail..." Effie remarked while tapping her chin thoughtfully. "That is true; you can apply for the festival regardless of your status and experience. However, there's a catch. We can't simply accept every applicant, since there are thousands of them every year, so we need to narrow it down."

Clarent tilted her head curiously. "Narrow it down...?"

Effie nodded. "Indeed. In order to solve this issue, Master Selena decided to implement preliminary trials before the official tournament begins," she explained as she began walking again. "And...well, since it's her idea, she chose to handle those personally. So basically, in order to participate, you must get her formal approval. And let me tell you, it won't be easy."

The redhead blinked owlishly as she followed the woman's footsteps. "What do you mean...?" She wondered aloud.

"Well, you see, Master Selena is a former hunter herself. So naturally, she knows better than anybody else what hunters should be capable of doing and what is acceptable and not," the secretary elaborated further while she glanced over her shoulder, a small smile forming on her face. "She may have shown you kindness so far, but don't mistake her good will for leniency, Miss Clarent. She's unforgiving when it comes to a hunter's duty. If she believes you're not good enough to become a hunter, then... well, I don't need to spell it out for you, right?"

Clarent gulped audibly upon hearing those words, feeling her chest tighten with dread at the prospect of disappointing Selena. She still didn't quite understand why, but somehow she felt as though she owed something to the woman, even though they barely knew each other. And she desperately wanted to repay this debt in any way she could, if only to ease her guilt. But the idea of being rejected by Selena terrified her beyond belief. The possibility alone was enough to make her shiver in terror.

Effie stopped suddenly, forcing Clarent to halt as well, and turned around to look directly into her eyes. "Please don't misunderstand, Miss Clarent," the secretary girl continued as she gently placed a hand on the redhead's shoulder, offering an encouraging smile.

"Master Selena isn't being unreasonable in any way. She's simply trying to ensure the safety of everyone involved, including the hunters themselves. After all, the monsters around here are far stronger than usual, and many innocent lives depend on their ability to fight those threats. If we don't ensure their quality and reliability, we would be putting not only themselves but also our townspeople in grave danger," she stated firmly as her grip tightened around Clarent's arm, giving her an intense stare. "However, if she recommended you herself, then I believe she already considers you worthy of becoming a hunter."

This statement managed to soothe the redhead somewhat. The reassuring touch of Effie's hand and her confident words helped calm the panic within Clarent's mind, allowing her to regain some composure.

"R-Right... Thank you, Miss Effie." Clarent whispered while giving the woman a weak smile.

"Don't mention it," Effie replied cheerfully before releasing the girl's arm and resuming her march. "This is the reason why Master Selena chose me to be your guide in the first place: so I can help you to the best of my abilities to ensure that you can focus on your training," she added while continuing through the city's streets with Clarent in tow. "That, and so she can slack off at work, I guess...but I digress..." The secretary muttered under her breath with a roll of her eyes, making the redhead chuckle slightly.

"By the way, she spoke about some 'memory issues'... Do you suffer from a case of amnesia, Miss Clarent?" Effie inquired, glancing over her shoulder towards the girl.

"Oh, y-yeah, my memory is a real sieve... I don't remember my past, and I tend to forget things easily after just a few days," Clarent explained while scratching her cheek with an embarrassed smile. "I don't know what would happen if I were left on my own... I'd probably just wander aimlessly... getting lost or worse," she mused bitterly, causing Effie to stop and face her with a frown.

The secretary crossed her arms beneath her chest, looking concerned. "I understand your situation now, Miss Clarent," she declared with determination, a serious expression painted across her face. "Then...as long as you are staying here, please allow me to be your caretaker. I shall ensure your wellbeing and serve as your personal handler until you regain full control over your memories," she proposed, bowing deeply towards Clarent.

"Eh?! N-No, that's... I mean, you don't have to do that!" The redhead stammered frantically while waving her arms frantically in denial. "It's fine, you don't need to bother with someone like me..." She added in a low voice, avoiding eye contact with the secretary.

Suddenly, Effie raised herself up and gently took both of Clarent's hands into hers, causing the latter to gasp in surprise. The woman brought them closer to her chest and gazed intently into her eyes, her own full of sincerity and earnestness.

"Miss Clarent..." Effie began as she held Clarent's gaze firmly. "Do you think I would make this offer just to be polite? Do you believe that I would go through all this trouble merely out of a sense of duty or obligation? Do you assume I'm just obeying Master Selena's orders?" She asked seriously while maintaining her intense stare. "If I had known sooner that you suffered from this condition, I would have offered to support you myself earlier, regardless of Master Selena's intentions," the secretary explained firmly with a stern expression, which contrasted greatly with the kind tone of voice.

"I understand it might be difficult for you to trust others due to your circumstances, Miss Clarent, but please allow me to prove myself worthy of your confidence. I promise you: As long as you live in Mezeporta, I will always be there for you whenever you need me. I will make sure that you never lose yourself again and that you never feel lonely or helpless," she vowed as she held Clarent's hands tightly, her expression softening as she smiled reassuringly at the girl. "As long as I am by your side, you won't need to worry about forgetting anything, especially yourself."

The redhead remained silent for a few moments as she stared at the woman, her mind racing with doubts and worries, but she eventually gave in to the temptation of companionship that was being offered so readily to her, sighing softly as she relaxed her tense muscles. "... Thank you, Miss Effie." Clarent mumbled, averting her eyes and blushing fiercely.

The secretary smiled brightly and nodded. "Please call me simply Effie; there is no need for formalities. We are going to spend much time together, after all." She replied sweetly as she released the redhead's hands.

"R-Right... Thanks, Effie," the girl replied awkwardly, scratching the back of her neck. "H-Huh? Wait, what do you mean by that?" She asked with a raised eyebrow. "Are you...?"

Effie laughed quietly, covering her mouth with one hand, before clarifying, "Yes, I will be staying with you from now on," the young woman revealed, confirming the redhead's suspicions. "That's only natural if I want to fulfill my duty properly."

"E-Even in my bed...?" Clarent blurted out accidentally as her cheeks reddened even further. She immediately gasped and covered her mouth in embarrassment as soon as she realized what she just said. "W-Wait! No! That came out wrong! I-I-I mean... bedroom! Yes! The bedroom! N-Nothing weird or perverted!" She stuttered incoherently as she attempted to explain herself frantically. Unfortunately, her tongue was tied into a knot, and she ended up stumbling over her own words, failing miserably to form coherent sentences.

Ugh... How do I always end up making these situations more awkward...? Clarent thought in frustration as she struggled to compose herself. Moreover, the silence that ensued afterwards only served to make the atmosphere even more uncomfortable for her, and she was too flustered to look directly at the woman standing beside her, instead choosing to keep her gaze firmly planted on the ground.

Effie's face reddened as well at this unexpected development, though she maintained her composure much better than the other girl. "Oh my, Miss Clarent... I certainly didn't expect that kind of request from you. It seems I have misjudged your character," the secretary teased mischievously, her tone full of amusement. "But yes, I would be happy to join you in bed, if that is your desire," she stated with a coy smirk. "Although...you better be prepared for the consequences of such an invitation~"

Clarent's eyes widened at those words. She quickly shook her head and frantically waved her arms in front of her face, denying everything that was said, her entire face now merging with her crimson hair. "Gah! S-S-Stop! Please, stop!" The girl exclaimed loudly. "I-I-It was a m-mistake! I just phrased it badly!" She stuttered nervously as she continued to panic, causing Effie to laugh heartily at the sight.

Another soft laugh echoed alongside her own, causing the two girls to turn towards its source. To the redhead's surprise, it was Juno, sitting in a wheelchair and laughing happily. She was dressed in a plain blue gown, her blue hair tied loosely in a low ponytail resting over one of her shoulders, with some parts of her body were wrapped up in bandages. Despite being injured, the wyverian woman appeared cheerful, her purple eyes shimmering with mischief. She was accompanied by Selena, who stood right behind her, pushing the wheelchair forward with a content smile on her face.

"Oh my~ Jeune fille, how can you be so adorable yet so naughty at the same time?" Juno giggled while watching Clarent's mortified face contort in confusion and embarrassment.

"Ah... M-Miss Juno! Y-You're alright!" The redhead cried out in surprise upon seeing the injured woman. "I-I-I mean... umm..." She stumbled on her words once again, unsure what to say after being caught off-guard: "I-I heard you got hurt pretty badly, s-so I was worried..."

The blue-haired woman didn't say anything in response. Instead, she stared intensely at Clarent for a moment, her smile fading away gradually as she narrowed her eyes.

Upon seeing her change of demeanor, Clarent felt chills run down her spine as a cold shiver coursed through her whole body. She instinctively froze in place and gulped hard, her eyes locked with the other woman's, waiting anxiously for what would come next. It seemed like Juno was studying her, trying to determine something about her. But what was she looking for? The redhead wondered apprehensively.

Finally, Juno relaxed her features, breaking the tension between them and glancing over her shoulder at Selena, prompting her to lean down and listen to the wyverian woman whisper something in her ear. Clarent watched them silently with bated breath, wondering what they were discussing. However, the blonde responded with something that, even if the redhead couldn't hear it, clearly sounded like a negative answer to whatever Juno asked for. The injured woman simply sighed and turned her attention back to the redhead, smiling warmly and shaking her head apologetically.

"Mes excuses, jeune fille," Juno said, still wearing a gentle expression yet with a hint of seriousness in her tone. "Yes, I'm fine... But please do not worry about me too much. It's far less severe than what it appears; I just need more rest, and I'll be good as new, I promise."

The wyverian woman's words soothed the redhead slightly as she breathed a small sigh of relief at hearing this news; however, she couldn't help but feel a strange sense of unease lingering within her gut, like she was forgetting something very important, but she had no clue what that something might be. The gaze Juno gave her earlier, as if trying to figure something out about her—what was it about? And why did she feel so uneasy when looking into her eyes? These questions troubled her greatly as she frowned unconsciously, unsure what to think anymore.

"Master, I didn't think we'd run into you so soon," Effie said, breaking the silence and bowing politely towards Selena, who returned the gesture with a casual nod of acknowledgment. "It's good to see you again, Miss Juno. I'm glad to see you're doing well. Hopefully Master hasn't been a burden to you, has she?" The secretary inquired teasingly with a sly smirk, earning a snort from the blue-haired woman.

"Oh, non-non-non," Juno chuckled amusedly, shaking her head in amusement. "Au contraire, I'm being spoiled rotten~ I'm afraid I may grow too attached to this treatment." The blue-haired woman joked, causing the blonde to chuckle quietly while shaking her own head in response.

"I can see that. You seem to be in very good spirits, Miss Juno. That's excellent," the secretary stated with a warm smile before turning her attention back to her master, raising an eyebrow inquisitively. "I thought you said that you had work to do, Master..." She added with narrowed eyes, causing her superior to freeze and sweat nervously.

"W-Well, I'm working right now, believe it or not," Selena explained, trying to appear casual while rubbing the back of her neck. "I needed to check on Juno's condition, and I figured I'd take her for a little stroll as well... Since she's been stuck in bed for long enough already, you know..." she added, earning a skeptical look from Effie. "Don't give me that look! I'm not slacking off!" She yelled defensively, which made Effie sigh loudly.

Juno chuckled at the sight, amused by the scene unfolding before her eyes, before shifting her gaze back toward the redhead with a wide smile. "En tout cas, it's good to see you doing well too, jeune fille," she greeted cheerfully as she leaned back on the wheelchair, crossing her arms over her chest. "You don't even look like you were injured at all... I'm glad. But, please...remember to be careful from now on," she warned the girl, her eyes filled with genuine concern.

Selena scoffed and crossed her arms over her chest, glaring down at Juno. "I should be the one saying that, you know... Seriously, you need to tone down that territorial instinct of yours. There was no point in trying to fight them on your own..." She chastised her friend with an annoyed look while placing a hand on the wyverian woman's shoulder. "You're not alone anymore... You need to understand that."

Juno glanced upwards at her friend; she was about to say something but decided against it, choosing instead to remain silent for now, her eyes softening and her expression growing solemn. She simply smiled and nodded slightly towards Selena, who returned the gesture.

"Anyway... good timing," Selena suddenly addressed the redhead, her gaze focused solely on the girl. "Clarent, I forgot to tell you earlier... I'm not gonna throw you into the festival's competition completely blind. In your current state, you won't even qualify for it," she revealed bluntly.

Clarent's expression turned serious at those words. She didn't expect to get rejected that soon. "... W-Well... yeah, I guess that's true..." The girl murmured sadly while looking down towards her feet.

"Hey, cheer up. I'm not done yet," Selena continued with a smirk on her face. "I'll have someone train you personally. And since we don't have much time, I chose the best person available," she stated, earning curious looks from Clarent and Effie. "So, starting tomorrow... I expect you to work hard, Clarent," the guild master declared with determination. "Effie, I'm counting on you to guide her, ok? You can go right now to meet him, although I asked for him to start the next day. He should be at the Howling Cat Tavern tonight if you wish to go."

The secretary girl stared blankly at her boss for a few seconds, processing the information that was just dropped on her. "Master, is this who I think it is?" She asked with a suspicious expression on her face, which the blonde simply shrugged at. "... So he's back to Mezeporta again... Huh, I see..." Effie murmured quietly with a thoughtful look before nodding firmly to her superior. "Very well, then. I'll make sure to escort Miss Clarent safely to meet her new mentor," she declared, earning a cheerful nod from Selena.

"Thank you, Effie," Selena replied with a grateful smile, which the girl returned, before turning her attention towards the redhead, who appeared very confused about what was going on. "Clarent, do you have any questions?"

"U-Um... Well, not really..." The girl stammered hesitantly as she scratched her cheek awkwardly, unsure whether she should bother with asking anything or simply accept whatever was being decided for her. "I-I mean, you went through all this trouble to find someone to teach me, so... I won't complain about it," she added sheepishly, earning an amused snort from the blonde. "Thank you so much, Mis—I-I mean, S-Selena..." Clarent mumbled with a blush while bowing deeply towards her savior.

The guild master chuckled and waved her hand dismissively towards the redhead. "Heh, glad to see you didn't forget my request... Anyway, as for who he is... I don't think whatever I say will do him justice, so... you'll just have to see for yourself. And don't worry; he's trustworthy. I know I say that about everyone I introduce to you, but what can I say? That's just how much faith I have in my friends." Selena explained with a confident grin.

"... Trustworthy, huh... But I wouldn't let Clarent anywhere near him without supervision, Master." Effie stated matter-of-factly, earning a confused look from Selena. "He's a drunkard and a notorious pervert, despite his age," the secretary added bluntly, causing Clarent's eyes to widen in surprise and Selena to burst out laughing.

"Ahaha, really? I guess I don't know everything about him," she admitted with a smile as she rubbed the back of her neck sheepishly. "But he never really acted perverted around me, so I don't know where you got that from..."

"Well, Master... that's because you don't have what he's attracted to... Miss Clarent, on the other hand..." Effie mumbled under her breath with a deadpan expression as she briefly glanced sideways at the redhead before quickly averting her gaze again, hoping her master wouldn't catch on to what she was implying.

Selena narrowed her eye toward the young woman, crossing her arms over her chest. She was about to ask what she meant, oblivious as she was to her own sex appeal, but then realization dawned upon her, and her expression darkened considerably. "... I'll fucking kill this guy the next time I see him..." She mumbled menacingly through clenched teeth while cracking her knuckles threateningly, causing Clarent and Juno to sweat nervously at the sudden mood shift, while Effie simply shook her head slowly with a weary sigh.

"And I won't be the one to stop you this time, Master... But for now, we should focus on Miss Clarent," the secretary girl pointed out, which snapped Selena out of her thoughts, causing her to nod and smile again, though with a hint of annoyance lingering within her eye.

"Right..." She agreed while glancing back towards the redhead. "Clarent, you should be fine since Effie will be with you, but if anything happens, come to me directly... Don't be afraid to ask for help."

Clarent nodded in understanding, although she looked rather worried. "Okay, I will. Thanks again, Miss—err, Selena..."

"Alright, then. Now that we have settled this... it's time for us to take our leave," Selena announced while pushing the wheelchair of Juno, who waved her hand lazily towards the two girls with a cheerful smile on her face, as if she were satisfied with how things turned out. "We still have our dat—U-Umm... Work! Yes, very important work to do!" She added hastily while coughing nervously into her fist, earning another suspicious glance from Effie and an amused grin from Juno.

"Hum! Pardonne-moi, Effie, but I must steal your master for today," the wyverian woman declared boldly with a cheeky smile at the secretary girl, who simply sighed heavily and nodded in resignation, clearly having expected this turn of events. "Have a nice day, ladies! Au revoir~ and Clarent, please take care of yourself," Juno called out cheerfully to the pair as Selena pushed the wheelchair forward, waving her hand over her shoulder in farewell as she departed alongside her friend.

"See you later, ladies~" Selena said with a wink towards Effie before walking away with Juno, leaving the two girls alone in the middle of the main plaza.

"Well then, Miss Clarent... Shall we proceed to meet your new teacher?" Effie proposed politely as she turned towards the redhead with a smile.

"R-Right, let's do that," Clarent replied, nodding towards the secretary with determination. "But before we go, I'd like to ask you something."

"Of course, how can I help you?" Effie inquired, and her curiosity piqued as she waited for the girl to speak.

Clarent hesitated for a moment before finally speaking up. "You said you would help me…remember things, right?" She asked tentatively, her voice filled with hope and uncertainty. "If so, th-then…"

As she trailed off, the redhead searched into her bag and pulled out a small, worn-out notebook—her diary. "Here… I would like for you to hold onto this for me… and remind me of what's inside when I need it," she requested, handing the diary over to Effie. "I know I can't really trust myself with it."

The secretary took the book from Clarent, a warm smile spreading across her face. "Naturally, Miss Clarent. I promise to keep it safe and memorize its contents for you. You can count on me to help you remember everything you need."

The redhead nodded gratefully, feeling a weight lift off her shoulders. "T-Thank you, Effie," she stammered, her voice filled with solace. "And… while we're at it, I'm going to tell you something I absolutely need to remember as well..."

Effie nodded encouragingly, ready to listen and assist Clarent with whatever she needed.

"… 'Don't forget about Strife'… He's my friend, I suppose… and we were supposed to meet here, in this city, at my arrival," Clarent confessed, feeling a sense of urgency to remember this important detail. "Or so that's what was suggested in my diary. But I haven't seen him in a while, and I started to… lose track of him."

While she spoke, the redhead's voice trembled with a mix of fear and guilt, unsure of what had happened to her friend or afraid to lose the last connection to her past life. The secretary reached out and gently squeezed Clarent's hand, offering a reassuring smile. "Understood, I shall help you to the best of my abilities to find your friend. If he is in, or did come to, Mezeporta, I promise you that you will be reunited, no matter what."

Effie's words brought a glimmer of hope to the redhead's eyes, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. She nodded gratefully, feeling a sense of relief wash over her as she realized she wasn't alone anymore, even with her long-time friend missing.

And so, they both left towards the meeting point where Clarent would meet her mentor—the same tavern where Clarent had spent a part of the morning with Circa.

---

Selena and Juno

"I don't know what to think of her..." Juno confessed quietly as she looked ahead of her, thinking back on the events of earlier in the day. "I thought she was nothing more than a lost kitten, cute and innocent. Mais..."

"Hmm? Are you talking about Clarent?" Selena inquired while keeping her attention focused on steering the wheelchair through the crowded streets.

The blue-haired woman was silent for a few moments, carefully pondering her answer. "Oui," she replied simply as she shifted slightly in her seat.

"I swear, I didn't imagine it..." Juno began slowly, still sounding unsure whether she should speak further or not. "She was completely different during that incident, like she became someone else entirely... Yet, here she is, acting like nothing ever happened..." She explained in a worried tone, frowning deeply while looking downward. "... I know you humans have a tendency to hide your true selves in front of others, but this doesn't feel like normal human behavior... To change this much so abruptly and return to your old self without being aware of it..." Juno paused briefly to shake her head before continuing with a serious expression. "It sounds ridiculous, but... it felt almost like she was possessed..."

Selena sighed softly and glanced towards her companion, her only eye filled with understanding and compassion. "No, no, I believe you." She assured the wyverian woman. "To be honest, everything about this girl feels fishy. She appears out of nowhere alone, with a sword that shouldn't even exist, and with absolutely no memory of herself," Selena pointed out before exhaling loudly while rubbing her forehead. "She also managed to get herself into trouble twice already since her arrival... Thankfully, you were here to protect her, but still... I'm not gonna pretend it's normal at all..." The blonde explained, her voice full of concern and confusion. "Plus the fact that she is wanted in other cities... I know the Guild isn't the most righteous organization out there, but...they wouldn't go after her for nothing..."

The guild master shook her head and sighed in frustration. "I'm not a fool, I've dealt with enough bullshit throughout my life to know that appearances can be deceiving. She's hiding something for sure." She stated with conviction. "Don't get me wrong, Juno. I don't think she's a bad person. She most likely went through some shit herself, and her mind is probably messed up because of it," Selena asserted while narrowing her eye and frowning slightly. "But...who knows how much of that personality is real, and how much is an act?" She wondered aloud while tapping her chin thoughtfully with a finger.

The wyverian woman hummed quietly in acknowledgment, nodding slowly to herself as she listened attentively. "Do you know what she has done to warrant that kind of attention?" She inquired curiously.

Selena shook her head. "Not yet. I'm going to have some visitors from Dundorma soon, in preparation for the festival... So I'll investigate it during their visit," she explained while turning the corner and heading down towards the port.

"Hmm... I don't know... Her amnesia seems genuine enough to me, and she has no malicious intent whatsoever—that much I can tell," the wyverian woman remarked as she leaned back on her seat, looking up towards the sky above them. "Something must have triggered her outburst back then..." Juno muttered as her eyebrows furrowed with deep thought.

"As I told you, I kept an eye on her since she woke up," the blonde chimed in. "I watched her behavior, her expressions, her reactions... I even showed her the weapon she supposedly carried and used, hoping to get some kind of response," she began with a somber expression. "She didn't show any hint of anything remotely resembling what you described to me... She just seemed confused and lost," Selena stated with a sigh, scratching her forehead with a frustrated expression. "Although she did ask me about the incident..." she added as her expression darkened considerably. "I decided to avoid giving her any details at the moment, but... I'll have to eventually; I have no reason to keep her in the dark," Selena concluded while pursing her lips together in an annoyed scowl.

Juno's gaze shifted back towards Selena, and she observed her for a moment. "... So she doesn't remember it, but she knows something happened?" She asked, which earned her a curt nod from the blonde. "Hmm... Curieux..." Juno murmured as she closed her eyes, deep in thought.

"I asked her new mentor to keep an eye on her as well," the guild master revealed, drawing a curious hum from the woman beside her. "And to 'push' her a bit, just to see if the real her shows up again," she added as they reached the pier, walking slowly towards the end of it. "If she's just playing a role, maybe having her feel threatened could trigger a change in attitude..."

As they arrived at the end of the pier, surrounded by water on all sides, Selena stopped pushing the wheelchair and walked around it to stand next to the blue-haired woman, leaning over the wooden railing with her back facing the sea. Juno tilted her head slightly to glance at Selena, observing her expression as she gazed out into the distance, the sun reflecting off her golden hair as a gentle breeze blew past them.

The wyverian hummed thoughtfully, turning her attention forward and narrowing her eyes as she stared at the ocean below. "... The Absolute Zero... c'est lui, right?" She asked with a knowing expression. "Are you sure it's wise to leave that girl with him?"

"Maybe not," Selena replied with a shrug. "I mean, sure... I could have chosen a safer option. Leila, Uwelle, Edward, Keith, Natasha... Hell, even Circa or Taizo would've been fine, although I wouldn't rely on those two idiots to train anyone seriously," she admitted while crossing her arms over her chest, looking sideways towards her companion. "But I think she needs someone different—someone who can challenge her, push her limits...and maybe handle her if our suspicions turn out to be true."

"Ma Lionne, if you truly wanted to give her the best of the best, why didn't you take care of her training yourself?" Juno asked innocently, a soft smile appearing on her lips as she gazed at the guild master with curiosity and admiration.

Selena scoffed awkwardly as she ran a hand through her hair, avoiding Juno's gaze. "No way," she replied with a chuckle. "I already have enough work on my plate as it is. I can make some room in my schedule for you, but you're a special case. If I start doing the same for everyone, I'll never get through it… Not to mention that Effie will lock me into my office all day long."

"Besides, the best way to gain the trust of others is to trust them first," the guild master added as she glanced back at the city, the sun shining brightly in her field of view, casting a golden glow over everything around her. "I've sent him away for too long, giving him nothing but recon and slay missions... It's about time I entrust him with a job that requires something he isn't used to," she mused while closing her eye, basking in the warmth of the sun's rays.

"Putting him in charge of Clarent's training is a good way to show him that I have faith in him," Selena explained, turning back around and leaning over the railing, supporting herself against it with both hands on top of it, staring off into the horizon. "It'll teach him what it means to be...human, and not some killing machine," she added quietly, her voice trailing off towards the end of her sentence as a melancholic expression formed on her face. "Do you agree?" She finished softly, glancing sideways at Juno with a faint smile on her lips.

The blue-haired woman remained quiet for a moment, gazing into the distance with a pensive expression, contemplating the blonde's words before nodding slowly and closing her eyes. "Hm," Juno hummed in agreement, her lips curling up into a serene smile. "Je vois... Your explanation sounds reasonable enough to me."

She opened her eyes and turned towards the woman next to her, her purple irises meeting with the other woman's single emerald one. "I am not feeling comfortable around him myself, so I guess I'm biased," Juno confessed with an apologetic smile. "But still... I appreciate your efforts, ma Lionne... for him, for me, or even for those two ignorant children who dared to play with fire..." She added quietly, her eyes shining with gratitude yet with hints of sadness as well. "Things could have gone so much worse... Yet, you were willing to give us another chance... My debt to you continues to grow every day..." Juno mused solemnly while averting her gaze downward, staring into the waves crashing below them.

The blonde laughed slightly at that statement before approaching the woman and gently placing a hand on her shoulder. "You don't owe me anything, Juno... It was hard for me too, you know?" Selena stated sincerely, smiling reassuringly towards the wyverian as she met her gaze. "When I saw you in that state, it was really fucking difficult to remain calm and hold myself from ripping apart those fuckers..." The blonde explained with clenched teeth, her eye glinting dangerously as her grip tightened on her friend's shoulder. "Guan Romulus... I swear he will pay for what he did to you," she swore with conviction, glaring angrily into the distance, her voice low and threatening as she spoke.

"Ma Lionne... Don't lose sight of yourself...and what you did to become who you are today," Juno pleaded as she stared at the blonde, her purple irises full of sorrow and worry, causing the other woman to sigh loudly, relaxing her body slightly as her shoulders slumped. "Remember that behind every action, there's always a reason... A good or bad one, but a reason nonetheless."

Selena gave a soft laugh at that and shook her head in amusement. "... Heh... To have you lecture me like this... Even after what happened to you... you're too good, Juno. I don't deserve you..." the guild master muttered with a bitter smile, looking downward in shame. "I'm sorry... Even though I'm the one who taught you about kindness, compassion, and empathy... it seems I lost sight of those qualities myself along the way... Talk about irony," she whispered with a humorless chuckle, closing her eyes tightly in an attempt to fight off her emotions.

As the guild master stood there silently, looking away from the blue-haired woman, Juno tried to move closer to her, only to groan quietly when she found her lower half refusing to cooperate. She certainly wasn't used to being confined in this state, and her pride was suffering because of it. With great effort, however, she managed to turn the wheelchair a little and grab onto the blonde's sleeve, causing the latter to look down at her.

"Viens, ma Lionne..." Juno called out with a warm smile, tugging gently at her companion's arm, urging her to come closer.

The blonde complied and approached, kneeling down beside Juno. The wyverian woman reached for Selena's head and pulled it gently against her chest in an attempt to place it over her heart, which caused the guild master to involuntarily grope her left breast, making Juno blush slightly in embarrassment.

Selena's face flushed red as she attempted to remove her hand, but Juno just chuckled again and held her hand against the bosom, preventing her from doing so. "Here, can you feel it?" She asked, holding Selena's hand firmly against her chest while staring intently into the emerald eye, flashing the guild master a warm smile as her face reddened with each passing second. "Our hearts are beating as one right now..."

Upon hearing that remark, Selena's eye widened in surprise before bursting into laughter, shaking her head with amusement at the wyverian woman's boldness. "Oh man, I can't believe you're using my own flirting lines against me like this," the blonde commented while rolling her eyes in mock annoyance, although her lips curled upwards into a genuine grin. "It makes me realize how cringe-worthy and embarrassing it must have been for others to listen to my lame pick-up attempts..." She admitted, laughing quietly and shaking her head in amusement.

Juno giggled along with her, her purple irises sparkling playfully as she smirked teasingly at Selena. "Well, it made you smile and lighten up, so I'm satisfied with the results~" She commented with a cheeky grin. "Besides, it worked on me, so it can't be that bad, right?"

Selena chuckled softly in response and closed her eyes, humming softly in response, enjoying the warmth of the blue-haired woman's body. "So... are you gonna release my hand now?" She mumbled in a quiet voice, blushing slightly at the awkward position she found herself in. "Not that I'm complaining or anything, but..."

"Nope," the wyverian woman responded simply with a grin, her face now completely flushed red as she pressed Selena's hand more firmly against her breast, eliciting a muffled giggle from the other woman. "I want to show you how much you mean to me, ma Lionne," she purred softly as she gently caressed the guild master's golden locks with her free hand, her purple eyes shining brightly with affection.

"... No need to be that bold, you know..." Selena muttered as she blushed slightly deeper, unable to look away from the woman's beautiful amethyst-like eyes, which glimmered brightly in the light of the sun above. "I know how you feel already... We've been together for so long now..."

"I mean it, ma Lionne," Juno repeated while staring intensely into the guild master's emerald eye. "You once told me that it's better to express your feelings through actions instead of words, so..." She paused for a second before smiling warmly towards Selena, pulling her even closer and pressing her cheek against hers as she hugged her tightly against herself. "Let's enjoy this moment together," she whispered huskily into the blonde's ear, sending shivers down her spine.

A soft sigh escaped the blonde's lips as she returned the hug, wrapping her arms around the other woman and resting her chin atop the blue-haired woman's shoulder. "Fine..." She breathed out as she nuzzled against Juno's neck, closing her eye as she relaxed herself, enjoying the comfort of their embrace.

Juno inhaled deeply the sweet aroma of Selena's hair as she held onto her, closing her eyes as well as they embraced each other. "Hm...? You smell... Circa," she mumbled absentmindedly, her eyebrows furrowing slightly in displeasure, making Selena chuckle nervously in response.

"Ahah, yeah... Well... She gave me a hug earlier," the guild master explained sheepishly as she rubbed the back of her neck with one hand, a light blush appearing on her cheeks. "You know how she is..." she added with a shrug.

"Hm...that girl, I swear..." Juno grumbled as she pulled back a little and pouted, glaring at the blonde with a pout, making the latter laugh again at her expression. But the wyverian woman's smile returned immediately, and she giggled as well. "Then...it should be fine to do this. It's only fair, right?" She cooed as she eventually released Selena's hand from her bosom and instead placed her own on the guild master's belly, rubbing it gently before grabbing onto the belt of her pants, causing Selena to jump slightly in surprise.

"A-Ahem..." Selena cleared her throat as her face flushed red once again, while she awkwardly tried to pry Juno's hand away, unsuccessfully. "Le-Let's not get ahead of ourselves here," Selena stammered, trying to regain her composure, feeling flustered by Juno's bold actions. "This isn't the place for this kind of activity, you know..."

Juno giggled mischievously as she gripped onto the guild master's collar and pulled her closer, pressing their foreheads together and staring intently into her emerald eye. "I don't know what you are talking about, ma Lionne," she whispered seductively, her lips mere millimeters away from touching the blonde's. "I simply wished to have a peaceful moment away from the noisy streets... Alone with my beloved... Just the two of us... with nothing but the gentle ocean waves to keep us company," she purred softly, her hot breath tickling the guild master's skin. "Is that too much to ask for...?"

It didn't take much more convincing for Selena to give in, sighing deeply as she allowed Juno to pull her in, closing her eye as their lips met, locking them in a tender kiss, which soon turned heated as Juno wrapped her arms around Selena's neck, pulling her closer, pressing her body against the guild master's as their tongues entwined passionately, dancing and battling for dominance.

Their kiss lasted several minutes, neither wanting to break apart until they eventually needed air to breathe, pulling back reluctantly and panting heavily as they stared into each other's eyes with lust-filled gazes, their cheeks burning with desire and excitement.

"Je t'aime, ma Lionne..." Juno breathed out as she caressed Selena's cheek tenderly with one hand, smiling warmly at her beloved before leaning forward and capturing her lips once more, moaning softly as their lips collided once more.

Selena responded eagerly to the kiss, returning it just as fervently, her tongue invading Juno's mouth, exploring its every crevice, savoring every inch of her warm, soft lips, and drawing sweet moans out of the blue-haired woman as they kissed. Eventually, they separated once again, breathing heavily as their foreheads remained pressed against one another.

"... Je t'aime aussi, Juno..." Selena muttered breathlessly, staring into Juno's eyes lovingly, her emerald iris shimmering with pure adoration, causing the wyverian to blush even harder.

The blue-haired woman grinned mischievously as she let her hand slide down the guild master's body, stopping when she reached her waistline, her fingers fumbling with the belt buckle with the evident intention of stripping the blonde.

However, Juno suddenly stopped her ministrations, her face changing from mischievous to surprised as her eyebrows furrowed with a thoughtful expression. "... Wait, I feel...someone approaching," she stated abruptly as she glanced over her shoulder towards the city, her senses tingling dangerously and her body going tense at the sudden presence approaching them, which she didn't recognize.

"Hm?" Selena's head perked up at the wyverian's words, and she followed Juno's line of sight towards the city.

Soon enough, she was able to spot someone heading towards them, walking along the pier, obviously coming straight for them.

The person approaching them appeared to be a short, young-looking wyverian girl with long white hair streaked red and wide yellow eyes, dressed in a long, sleeveless, flowing plain white dress. She didn't wear anything else beside that dress—no shoes or any sort of accessory whatsoever. Despite her small stature, the girl had an impressive bust, one that could easily rival Juno's, far beyond what any other girl of her age should have. At least that's what Selena assumed, but it was obvious she wasn't an ordinary person.

As she approached the couple, Selena could take note of her gaze fixed on her, completely ignoring everything around her. Her stare was... intense. Unusually so.

The guild master narrowed her eye as the wyverian girl drew nearer and finally, after what seemed like ages, stopped several feet away from them, her bright yellow eyes never leaving the blonde.

The silence stretched between them for a moment, with only the sound of the waves crashing against the stone beneath their feet audible around them.

Eventually, Selena cleared her throat and decided to speak up, breaking the silence. "Hum... Hi? Want something, Missy?" She greeted politely, although sounding a little cautious, narrowing her eye slightly at the girl and trying to read her expression. "I can't help but notice you are looking at me rather...intensely," she stated calmly, maintaining eye contact with the girl in front of her. "I assume you are not here by chance..."

Juno tried to turn her wheelchair to face the white-haired girl, but it proved to be quite a challenging task without the help of Selena. Eventually, she gave up and reached for the guild master's sleeve, tugging at it weakly in order to gain her attention. "Ma Lionne..." Juno called out quietly, a worried frown forming on her face. "Something's not right here... Her presence feels...off," she warned the guild master, who nodded briefly and helped her turn the wheelchair properly towards the mysterious girl, who didn't budge a single muscle at this.

Eventually, the stranger finally did something, raising her hand and pointing her index finger towards the blonde accusingly. "... You... you are the one they call 'The One-Eyed Lioness'... right?" She inquired in a neutral tone of voice, although she clearly knew the answer to that question already, judging from the look in her eyes.

Selena frowned at the accusatory tone and the choice of words. "... The only ones that use that nickname are... my enemies," the blonde responded slowly, glaring coldly at the stranger, her expression turning menacing. "A certain kind of enemy... who caused and continues to cause way too much trouble for everyone around the world," she added through gritted teeth, narrowing her eye dangerously as she took a step forward.

However, before she could continue any further, Juno grabbed her wrist firmly, stopping her from advancing further. She didn't say a word, simply glancing at the blonde with a pleading look in her purple irises.

The guild master stared into Juno's eyes, their gazes locking together, and then she sighed heavily, reluctantly relaxing her posture slightly. "... What is it you want from me, Missy?" She asked again, her tone of voice considerably softer now, although she was still sounding wary towards the stranger. "Hm? Wait... I remember now, you are... the girl we found in that carriage accident a few days ago," the blonde realized as she stared at the white-haired girl, a curious look appearing on her face. "It's good to see you recovering quickly."

The wyverian girl didn't respond to her remark, but her face showed surprise at the recognition. However, that expression quickly changed back to seriousness, as she took a step forward and glared at the guild master with a deadly serious expression. "I don't care about that..." She stated bluntly. "One-Eyed Lioness! I'm here to take your head!" The girl exclaimed loudly, pointing an accusatory finger towards the guild master.

Selena blinked, caught off guard by that abrupt change in attitude. "What the fuck...?" She blurted out, raising an eyebrow at the girl as she stared at her incredulously. "... Is that how you thank people for taking care of you after getting yourself hurt?" The blonde scoffed, shaking her head in disapproval. "Clearly you lack some sleep, Missy... You need to get back in your bed, or you are gonna hurt yourself more than necessary," she declared, waving her hand dismissively towards the girl before turning away and walking over to the wheelchair, intending on leaving the scene.

The girl growled at Selena's response, clenching her fists tightly as she glared angrily at the blonde. "Don't you dare to turn away from me!" She roared as she stomped her feet on the ground. "Don't you dare to belittle me, coward! Or are you afraid to fight me?" She taunted, gritting her teeth as she stared at the guild master with a furious glare.

"... Coward, you say?" Selena muttered lowly, her voice sounding oddly calm as she kept her back towards the girl, standing motionless as she faced the blue-haired woman beside her.

"That's enough..." Juno murmured while giving the girl a serious look, placing her hands on the wheelchair's handlebars to straighten herself up and push the chair back a bit. "Don't provoke her, ma fille... Or you will regret it." She warned with a firm tone, staring directly into the girl's yellow eyes. "Don't push your luck any further..."

The little wyverian girl didn't flinch at all, despite Juno's threatening words and intimidating aura. Instead, she started giggling quietly before letting out a loud snort, her expression shifting back into a scowl. "So it's you… Aether, the traitor," she said in a low voice, her tone sounding strangely respectful and reverent. "I didn't expect to run into you as well… Both of you, isolated and unprepared… I must be quite lucky!"

At those words, Juno gasped audibly, her purple irises widening with shock and disbelief, while the girl simply smirked widely, her lips stretching up in an evil grin and her teeth sharpening into fangs, making her look like a wild animal ready to devour its prey. The ambient temperature suddenly dropped, as if the warmth of the sun were suddenly gone, replaced by an unnatural chill that sent a shiver down the spines of the two women.

"Don't you dare touch a single hair on her head, Missy," the blonde warned in a deep, ominous voice as she clenched her fists tightly, looking over her shoulder and giving the girl a piercing glare. "And her name is Juno, not Aether..." She added coldly, taking a step forward and turning around slowly towards the white-haired girl, who involuntarily flinched back at the dangerous look in Selena's single emerald eye.

The guild master then relaxed her stance, her shoulders sagging slightly as she sighed loudly. "Look, Missy... I—" She started, but before she could say anything more, the girl interrupted her by pointing an accusing finger towards her and yelling out her next words:

"I'm not afraid of you, One-Eyed Lioness!" The girl exclaimed loudly with a determined expression on her face while pointing an accusing finger at the blonde. "You are nothing but a shadow of the person you used to be!" The wyverian girl claimed while narrowing her eyes at the guild master, who blinked in confusion at the unexpected statement. "Everyone says you're some kind of legend who retired to become the leader of this place, but that's just a lie to cover up your weakness!" She declared, her voice rising in pitch with each sentence she spoke.

"I know better... You retired because you couldn't fight anymore, not because you chose to! Slaying the dark lord has taken its toll on your body and mind, hasn't it...?" The white-haired girl pointed out with a cocky smile. "Although I highly doubt you were able to defeat him by yourself... You must have used some sort of cunning strategy or trickery to emerge victorious, as I should be expecting from you, human scums," she taunted with a smug smile.

Hearing those words made the guild master's eye widen with surprise. The Dark Lord... That was a name she hadn't heard in a very long time, and especially not from any human or wyverian—save for Juno, but she was a special case. Nobody used that name since no one worships that creature as their lord... Well, aside from a specific cult of lunatics, that is. It was better known simply as 'The Black Dragon', thanks to an old legend that spread around the Old World...

It was enough to trigger some unpleasant memories to resurface in Selena's mind. She visibly shuddered upon hearing those words, closing her eye tightly as she lowered her head slightly, clenching her teeth together with a strained expression.

Juno noticed this, frowning slightly with concern as she watched her companion's reaction closely, placing her hand over the guild master's fist and gently stroking her knuckles comfortingly.

"Enough already!" The wyverian woman yelled angrily at the white-haired girl, who simply shrugged nonchalantly in response.

"You're barely able to stand, let alone fight... You're weak and pathetic... Just like the rest of your race..." The wyverian girl continued with a sneer, ignoring Juno's attempt to intervene. "And the fact that people keep praising and worshiping you as some kind of hero, unaware of the truth... That must be hard for you to take in, right? You have to keep acting like nothing's wrong, pretending to be a strong leader...but deep down inside, you know you're not worthy of any of this," she added bluntly as she gestured at everything around her, a cruel smile adorning her features.

Those words stung the blonde deeply. She knew the wyverian girl was just saying those things to provoke her, but the truth behind them was painful nonetheless. Selena's hands trembled slightly as she clenched her fists tighter, a painful expression forming on her face as she struggled to remain composed, while Juno continued to rub the back of her hand in concern, her eyes never leaving Selena's face.

The white-haired girl chuckled as she noticed Selena's reaction and took another step forward, continuing to antagonize the guild master. "But don't worry, Lioness. I will offer you the end you deserve... A glorious death worthy of a hero," the girl stated confidently as she looked straight ahead, flashing the blonde a wide, confident smile, her expression turning menacing.

"I said...that's enough!" Juno exclaimed as she raised her voice angrily, glaring angrily at the wyverian girl. "Stop... Stop harassing her..." She warned in a shaky voice, her purple eyes brimming with tears and trembling with anger and despair as she watched the situation escalate out of her control. "Don't..." She pleaded as her lower lip trembled violently, unable to say anything more.

The white-haired girl simply scoffed at Juno, sneering mockingly at the wyverian woman. "I don't care about you, old hag. Stay out of this, and I'll consider sparing your life..." She stated coldly as she glanced over at Juno, smirking smugly at the blue-haired woman, causing Juno to flinch at those words. "Although... seeing your sorry state makes me want to end you too... Out of mercy," she added with a vicious grin, her eyes gleaming with malice as she took a step closer to Juno, who felt a shiver run down her spine.

"You..." The blue-haired woman started in a shaky voice, gritting her teeth tightly while glaring at the girl, her body shaking violently with anger. "How dare you..."

Eventually, Selena sighed heavily and opened her eye after calming down, looking up at the sky with a melancholic expression before glancing back at the girl. "You're right," she agreed quietly, making both the girl and Juno freeze with shock. "I won't deny it... I'm no hero... And I definitely don't deserve people looking up to me," she continued calmly while raising her hand towards Juno, stopping her from intervening in the discussion any further. "But... I'm not a coward either," Selena added firmly, looking directly at the white-haired girl, whose eyes narrowed with suspicion.

"I never... ever ran away from anything. I've faced everything life has thrown at me head on," the guild master declared with conviction. "Even when it got too hard, even when I wanted to give up... I never backed down... I didn't let the pain and fear overwhelm me..." Selena stated as she closed her eye tightly, taking a deep breath as she tried to compose herself. "This… this is what got me there. This is what made me who I am today," she concluded, her voice steady and unwavering.

"… Bullshit, I don't believe a single word coming from a human scum's mouth," the wyverian girl retorted, her eyes filled with disdain. "I don't even know why I'm wasting my time listening to your pathetic excuses."

"You're free to believe whatever you want, Missy. I don't care. However..." The blonde's tone turned dangerously low as she opened her eye slowly, meeting the girl's gaze. Her expression darkened considerably, causing the white-haired girl to gulp nervously. "... If you continue to disrespect Juno in front of me, there won't be another tomorrow for you to regret your actions," she continued as she narrowed her eye menacingly at the girl, glaring at her intensely.

The white-haired girl flinched visibly, looking shocked and terrified, taking a step back instinctively, clearly intimidated by Selena's words. "H-Hmph! Nice try... You really think that scare tactics will work against me?!" The girl scoffed, crossing her arms across her chest and looking smugly at Selena, trying to hide her uneasiness from the blonde's intense stare.

"Selena...please... ma Lionne..." Juno pleaded softly, her purple irises glistening with unshed tears as she gazed at her beloved. "Let's just leave... Let it go... She's not worth it..." She begged as she attempted to reach out towards the guild master.

However, before she could grab the guild master's hand, the white-haired girl raised her voice, interrupting the moment. "You... shut up already!" She snarled loudly as she suddenly threw something sharp towards the blue-haired woman. But it never hit its target; Selena moved instantly and blocked it with her body, taking the hit in Juno's place. The projectile, a small ice shard, simply crashed against her body, breaking harmlessly into fragments and melting quickly afterward. It was followed by a strange sound effect of glass shattering and a blue flickering light around her body, which dissipated quickly.

"What the..." The wyverian girl gasped in disbelief, her jaw dropping open in surprise at what had happened. She expected the woman to take damage from her attack, not just shrug it off without suffering a single scratch. "H-How...?"

"Good grief," the blonde grumbled with an exasperated tone as she pinched the bridge of her nose, shaking her head slightly as she sighed tiredly. "And here I was, trying my best to stay polite and avoid violence," she muttered to herself as she glanced at the wyverian girl, narrowing her eye dangerously as she cracked her knuckles.

"I guess that's it... Sorry for this, Juno... I tried... but I guess she really wants to have her ass handed to her," she apologized with a heavy sigh as she turned towards the wyverian woman, giving her an apologetic look, which made the blue-haired woman smile faintly despite the situation.

"You're turning your back on me again?" The girl growled as she scowled angrily at the guild master, who glanced at her over her shoulder. "Fine! Don't say I didn't warn you!" She snapped angrily as she took a step towards Selena, who simply stood motionless, her gaze fixed on Juno. "DIE!" The white-haired girl screamed loudly, releasing a wave of icy wind and covering the whole area around her with thick mist that prevented everyone from seeing anything.

The wind swept across the pier, freezing everything in its path and turning the surrounding air into pure ice as it approached its target. The blizzard was so intense and violent that it even managed to freeze the water around the pier, creating a thin layer of ice on the surface of the sea. Then, suddenly, a large ice pillar erupted from beneath the two women's original location, destroying the wooden floor and sending debris everywhere, creating a huge hole in the process.

Once the attack had died down, the white-haired girl stood still, her eyes wide as saucers and her chest heaving, staring in horror at what she had done. She gulped audibly, feeling a shiver run down her spine as she watched, frozen, waiting anxiously for the smoke to dissipate, revealing what had become of her targets.

When the dust and fog cleared, there was nothing in sight. Nothing but broken pieces of wood and the large chunk of ice that had formed in the middle of the pier. The only clue left that suggested the two women were ever there were the remains of Juno's wheelchair, which was lying on its side, completely frozen and shattered into pieces.

"D-Did I... did I do it?" She gasped breathlessly, her hands shaking uncontrollably as she stared in shock at the spot where the two women had been moments ago. "Is she...?"

"Nope."

The girl flinched at the sudden response, and she spun around in surprise, finding the guild master standing a few feet away, with Juno in her arms, safe and sound, and apparently unharmed by her attack.

"W-Wha..." The wyverian girl stuttered as she stared incredulously at the guild master and her companion, her eyes wide open with surprise. "How are you...?! You had nowhere to run...no space to dodge... Unless you jumped into the ocean, but then... I would have seen you..." She rambled frantically, shaking her head vigorously, unable to comprehend how this was possible.

"There's no point in explaining this to you..." The blonde stated, while Juno clung onto her neck, holding tightly onto her as she stared at the white-haired girl with a mixture of sadness and anger. "... Because of you, now I have to carry my woman in my arms... Not that I'm complaining, but... I would've rather if it hadn't come to this," Selena commented with a shrug. "Anyway... since you insist..." She started calmly before getting interrupted by the wyverian woman in her arms.

"Ma Lionne, please allow me..." Juno muttered with a determined look in her eyes as she gazed at Selena, who looked at her curiously. "This one... Elle est à moi..." she added as she stared intently at the white-haired girl, who froze on the spot, her heart skipping a beat.

"Hm? Are you sure...? May I remind you that you aren't exactly in... peak condition?" Selena inquired gently, looking doubtfully at her beloved as she held her securely in her arms.

Juno smiled reassuringly at the blonde and nodded, turning back towards the wyverian girl with a fierce gaze, making the white-haired girl take a step back, sweating nervously under the blue-haired woman's intimidating stare. "I don't need my legs to teach this girl a lesson, ma Lionne... At least, as long as I have you to support me," she assured confidently, looking up at Selena, giving her a soft, shy smile that made the guild master's heart melt, causing her to grin back at the wyverian woman. "En plus, after the bitter defeat I suffered yesterday, I need to regain some of my pride... So, this is perfect," she added as she glanced at the white-haired girl, a vicious glint in her purple irises that made the latter flinch in response.

Selena laughed out loud at those words, shaking her head amusedly before loosening her grip on Juno, allowing the blue-haired woman to slide down from her arms. However, before she landed on the floor, a gust of wind came out of nowhere, lifting the woman a few inches from the ground, making it appear like she was floating, hovering mid-air like a leviathan swimming in water.

"Very well... She is all yours, dear..." The guild master said with a wink towards Juno, who simply smirked mischievously, glancing briefly at the white-haired girl who had watched the whole interaction between them, looking increasingly angry and confused by the moment.

Bewildered by what had just happened, the small wyverian girl gritted her teeth together, growling under her breath as she glared at the two women in front of her. "Grr... Stop mocking me, you bitch!" She yelled out furiously as she clenched her fists tightly, her body trembling with rage as she struggled to maintain her composure.

Juno simply stared at her calmly, a serene smile forming on her lips as she gazed at the white-haired girl, her purple irises glimmering softly with affection and understanding, making the wyverian girl's anger falter slightly as she noticed it, confusion filling her face as she met Juno's gaze, which was strangely soothing to her.

"Dis-moi, ma fille… Why do you want to kill Selena? Did she do anything to you?" Juno inquired softly, her voice gentle and soothing, making the girl hesitate, looking at her with a confused expression on her face.

"... Huh? W-Why should I explain anything to you...?" She retorted defiantly, albeit still sounding somewhat uncertain. "I have my reasons, and those are none of your business..." she muttered bitterly under her breath, clenching her fists tightly and looking visibly upset as she glared at Juno. "Now shut up... and get out of my way!" She added in a loud, frustrated voice, her whole body trembling with rage.

"Could it be related to your current appearance...?" Juno asked calmly, ignoring the girl's angry outburst. "Do you sincerely believe that by killing her... your body will be restored to what it once was...?" The wyverian woman added, her voice sounding sympathetic towards the small wyverian. "Or perhaps…someone else made you believe that?"

"O-of course not...! I-I mean... It-it's none of your business!" The wyverian girl blurted out as she looked away, avoiding the blue-haired woman's gaze as her face flushed red with embarrassment. "What do you even know?! You turned your back on your own nature! You chose to live as a pitiful human instead of fighting to reclaim your former glory... And for what? For...a mate...?" The white-haired girl asked incredulously, pointing accusingly towards Selena and glaring hatefully at the blonde, who simply shrugged indifferently, as if she were merely watching a play, not caring much about it.

Juno sighed tiredly as she listened to her opponent's words, her expression turning serious as she stared intensely at the white-haired girl, who flinched visibly at the intensity of Juno's purple irises. "... I made my choice, and I stand by it," the blue-haired woman stated calmly as she crossed her arms across her chest, a faint smile appearing on her face. "I gave up on the past... My old self no longer exists," she declared solemnly, a faint hint of sadness in her voice. "And I don't regret it at all... After experiencing the wonders of love and the other human emotions, I wouldn't trade it for anything..." She admitted with a fond smile, looking briefly at Selena, who simply flashed her a toothy grin, which caused Juno's heart to flutter with joy.

"Strength, pride, glory... None of those things can save you from loneliness, ma fille," the blue-haired woman declared while looking at the smaller girl, her eyes shimmering warmly as she spoke, making her flinch involuntarily at those words. "This is something you can no longer ignore nor run away from, because you are now... human," Juno explained firmly, her gaze unwavering as she stared at her opponent. "Think about it, ma fille... You have a golden opportunity right now. You can change your life... and your future for the better," she suggested gently, tilting her head slightly to one side. "You, too, can experience something more than mere power... Something truly wonderful..."

The wyverian girl stared at Juno with a bewildered expression, her eyes wide with surprise, completely shocked by what she had heard from the older woman. She gritted her teeth together and clenched her fists tightly as she listened to Juno's words, a mixture of anger and frustration showing on her face. "Shut up... SHUT UP!" The girl screamed furiously as she stomped her feet on the ground, causing the wooden floor to squeak under her feet, glaring heatedly at Juno. "I'm tired of all of you assholes treating me like a fucking child!" She growled furiously, her body shaking with anger. "I don't care about love... Or whatever shit you keep talking about... I'm strong! I want to watch this stupid world burn to the ground, and that will start with YOU!" She exclaimed as she pointed at Selena, her hand trembling slightly from how tight she was squeezing her own fist.

The blonde simply shrugged again, unfazed by the girl's threats. Juno, on the other hand, frowned at her words. She no longer seemed sympathetic toward her. Instead, she stared at the white-haired girl with a serious, stern look, as if scolding her. "Très bien... Then, allow me to remind you..." The blue-haired woman started as her expression hardened, her gaze darkening slightly. "This is my domain, my territory. My home. You are a trespasser, trying to take my most precious treasure away from me," Juno declared as she narrowed her eyes dangerously, her purple irises shimmering threateningly as she glared intensely at the girl in front of her, who gulped nervously, shrinking back slightly at the ferocious look the woman was giving her.

The surrounding atmosphere suddenly turned...thunderous. Even though the sky was perfectly clear and the sun was still shining brightly, dark clouds started forming out of nowhere above the port, the wind began howling, and the ocean began to stir in response to the drastic change in the air pressure, with waves forming all over the sea and splashing loudly against the shore.

"And I shall protect my home... and my love..." Juno continued, her voice growing lower and lower as she began floating around in circles, accompanying the ever-increasing wind speed, her clothes flowing wildly in the air behind her. "... To the very end... even if I have to sacrifice my own existence," she added with a determined expression, her eyes never leaving her opponent's face as she stared coldly at her.

Suddenly, the clouds above them darkened even further as thunder began rumbling loudly, followed by flashes of light appearing intermittently throughout the entire sky. It was a spectacular sight, as if the heavens themselves were opening up to unleash hell upon those who dared threaten this land.

The guild master whistled in admiration, clapping slowly as she looked up at the sky while laughing heartily. Despite being in the middle of such a threatening and dangerous situation, on a narrow wooden pier battered by strong gusts of wind, she appeared completely unaffected by the weather conditions.

"Alright, nice show, babe. But you're not gonna sacrifice anything today, so you can chill down a bit, okay?" Selena called out to Juno as she glanced at the blue-haired woman with a reassuring smile. "Besides, we're still in Mezeporta, you know. There are people working here on the docks, ships sailing out there...not to mention the rest of the city, too," the blonde added, pointing towards the city with her thumb over her shoulder.

"I understand that you want to show off in front of me, dear... And I won't stop you," Selena jested lightly, smirking widely at the blue-haired woman, whose face flushed a bright red color as she looked away. "But maybe you can control yourself just a little... In order to avoid unnecessary damage... Can you do that for me?" She requested in a gentle, soothing voice, causing Juno's cheeks to darken even further.

"... Pardonne-moi, ma Lionne," the wyverian woman mumbled sheepishly, looking embarrassed as she slowly lowered herself near the guild master, her body swaying gracefully in the air but with her legs remaining limp and visibly less coordinated. "I got a little carried away, didn't I...?" She murmured as she smiled bashfully at Selena, who simply nodded in response.

Soon after that, the weather conditions gradually returned to normal, the sky becoming clear once again as the clouds slowly dissipated into thin air, the winds died down, and the waves subsided, becoming calm once more. However, there was a distinct feeling of unease in the air as the two women faced the white-haired intruder, whose expression was distorted with anger and hatred as she watched the scene unfold in front of her.

"... Grr! Damn you! Damn you, damn you damn you... DAMN YOU!" The white-haired girl cried out in a fit of rage, glaring at the two women hatefully, clenching her teeth together, her entire body shaking as she seethed in frustration. "I'm so sick of this bullshit...! If you're not going to fight seriously...then just give me your heads and DIE ALREADY!" She roared in outrage as she raised her hands above her head, and the temperature immediately dropped dramatically around her, her white dress fluttering wildly with the rising cold breeze, creating a whirlwind around her.

"I... I will not lose to you, scums!" She declared loudly while spreading her arms wide open, releasing a powerful, ice-cold hurricane filled with shards of sharp icicles that swept through the surrounding area like a shockwave, turning the place into a frozen hell in a matter of seconds. Everything within a large radius, including the sea, became completely frozen.

As the blizzard raged around them, Selena reacted quickly and grabbed hold of Juno, shielding her body with her own, her arms wrapped around the blue-haired woman securely, holding her close to her chest as she endured the icy storm. When the blast subsided, the guild master's coat and trousers were frozen, and her hair and skin were covered in a thin layer of ice. But she did not flinch, nor did she let out any sounds of discomfort; instead, she simply stood there calmly, holding Juno firmly, her eye closed tightly as she waited patiently for the assault to cease.

"Haa...haa... It's... It's not over!" The girl shouted in a raspy voice as she took a few steps forward, her hands trembling violently as she tried to catch her breath. Some parts of her body were visibly affected by her own attack; her dress was frozen solid and partially ripped, her hair was stiffened by frost, and her legs had even started to freeze at some point. However, the small wyverian girl showed no signs of pain or distress as she continued to show off her impressive powers.

This time, the wyverian girl closed her eyes and concentrated deeply, taking deep breaths in order to stabilize herself, as the surrounding temperature began to shift once more, causing the air to become warmer again, melting the frozen ground around them, and the ice that had covered their bodies slowly started to disappear. As she slowly regained her composure, steam started coming off her body, and her hot breath turned into actual flames, rising from her mouth and nostrils.

With a few blows from her nose, the girl released a stream of fire at her feet, which turned into a whirlwind that surrounded her in a circle, causing the air temperature to rise rapidly once again. Soon after, she opened her eyes and stared at the blonde and the blue-haired woman with a determined expression on her face as the flames rose around her, creating a huge inferno that engulfed everything nearby.

"S-Selena...! Quick, hold me still!" Juno ordered as she struggled to get up from Selena's embrace, who quickly complied and lifted her from the floor, holding the woman in her arms firmly while facing away from their opponent, using her back and shoulder as a shield for her.

The blue-haired woman crawled over to the blonde's shoulder and clung onto her, looking straight ahead at the small wyverian girl in the center of the whirlwind. Her purple irises glowed with power, and she took a deep breath before blowing out a high-pressure stream of water directly at the girl. The two elements collided midway, creating a thick mist that clouded the whole area, preventing them from seeing what was happening inside the whirlwind.

"BURN! BURN IN HELL!" The girl yelled at the top of her lungs as she unleashed her rage, creating another icy tornado that accompanied her fire attack. The combination of fire and ice created an immense storm of steam that enveloped the entire area, ruining everything around it and stirring the sea waters with the force of the raging winds.

Juno frowned deeply as she kept on releasing her water breath at the wyverian girl, but she was losing control fast. She began trembling, knowing that she wouldn't be able to keep this up for too long without having to go all-out, risking causing serious collateral damage to the city.

Suddenly, Selena brought one hand to her shoulder and gripped her tightly. "I'm here, Juno. Don't panic... You can do it, I believe in you," the guild master whispered reassuringly to the woman in her arms. The blonde's voice sounded surprisingly calm despite the current situation, and it managed to calm Juno down a bit. "Don't be afraid to hurt me... Don't hold back for my sake, I can take it," she added while squeezing the blue-haired woman's shoulder encouragingly.

At those words, Juno smiled gratefully and tightened her embrace around the guild master before closing her eyes and letting loose. Subsequently, an electrical current began to circulate throughout her body, causing a flurry of lightning-like flashes to erupt across her skin, and the surrounding air became tense with static. Of course, Selena's body was also affected since she was holding onto Juno at the moment, but the guild master showed little to no reaction at all.

All of a sudden, before Juno had even begun her counterattack, the intensity of the storm of conflicting elements around them drastically increased, and the girl inside let out a loud shriek of rage, the flames and icy winds around her shrouding her completely in a vortex of fire and ice.

Then, without warning, the scream stopped, followed by silence as the storm died down. The flames and the ice evaporated completely in an instant, the wind subsided, and the mist slowly dissipated, revealing a curious sight in front of the two women: there was a big block of solid, red ice in the place where the wyverian girl used to stand.

Juno relaxed and stopped her attack, panting heavily from exertion as she collapsed in Selena's arms, unable to keep herself upright.

"Hm? What's happening now...? Did you beat her?" The blonde asked with a frown while holding Juno gently in her arms, turning towards the block of ice that used to be their opponent and staring curiously at the strange spectacle in front of them.

"No..." The blue-haired woman wheezed, breathing heavily as she leaned heavily on Selena's body, her chest heaving from exhaustion. "I don't know what happened, either..."

Selena stood up carefully, cradling Juno in her arms, and approached the ice block warily. As she got closer, a figure became visible inside, trapped within the block of ice—the small wyverian girl, still alive but apparently unconscious. She was frozen solid, and her pose appeared pretty serene despite the situation, sleeping peacefully as if she weren't stuck in a prison made of solid ice.

"Well, shit... That's a new one..." The blonde commented as she placed a hand against the icy surface while staring at the girl inside, who had apparently been completely trapped in ice by her own attack, rendering her helpless and harmless.

"Cette fille... She has such a huge power, but... it looked like she couldn't control it very well..." Juno murmured with a frown, sounding concerned as she studied the girl's expression through the ice. "... She just released everything all at once and ended up freezing herself in the process..." The blue-haired woman concluded with a heavy sigh. "I know this kind of reckless behavior all too well..." she added bitterly.

After pondering for a brief moment, Selena sighed and shook her head in exasperation. "... At least now, we've solved one of the mysteries surrounding the carriage accident where we found her and Clarent," she said quietly as she continued to look at the frozen girl in front of them. "Does that mean she was the one who attacked Clarent...? That would make sense...but..." She reasoned aloud, appearing lost in thought as she stared at the ice block.

"You noticed that too, didn't you?" Juno asked in a low voice while looking up at the blonde with a sad expression. "She didn't seem to even know what she was doing...or why...like someone following orders blindly..." The blue-haired woman muttered as she gazed at the wyverian girl with sympathy in her eyes. "Which could mean..."

The guild master simply nodded slowly in response, her expression growing dark as she narrowed her eye at the ice block in front of them. "It's clear now... That bastard did it again," she hissed angrily under her breath, gritting her teeth together as she clenched her fists tightly. "I swear... I'm gonna find them one day, and then..." She trailed off with a furious growl as she slammed her forehead against the ice hard enough to scratch it.

Juno winced at the display and grabbed the guild master by the cheek, gently pulling her face towards hers while stroking it soothingly. "I know, ma Lionne... I know," the blue-haired woman murmured softly, wrapping her arms around Selena's shoulders and embracing the blonde tenderly. "We'll get him one day...but today, let's just focus on solving this problem, d'accord...?"

Selena closed her eye and took a deep breath, exhaling slowly through her nose as she tried to calm down, relaxing slowly under Juno's soothing touch. Then she opened her eye and gave the woman a weak smile. "Yeah... I know... Sorry..." She mumbled apologetically as she stood straight again, adjusting her hold on Juno. "... What am I supposed to do with her now? Should I put the whole ice block in prison and wait for it to melt on its own?" She mused aloud, frowning at the frozen girl in front of her.

"Hmm... We can't leave her like this... She'll definitely die if left frozen for too long, regardless of her powers..." Juno stated calmly as she looked up at the guild master, who nodded silently in agreement. "... I'll take care of it." She offered quietly with a reassuring smile. "So, please, bear with me just for a little longer, okay?" She pleaded, flashing her beloved a bright, cheerful grin.

"You say that like you're a bother, dear..." The blonde muttered bashfully as she smiled affectionately at her woman. "But you know I want nothing more than to spend my time with you... So I'm fine with it." She added gently, causing Juno's smile to widen and her eyes to shine brightly with joy and happiness.

"H-Hey, Master! Are you alright?! Oh my gosh...what happened here?!" A loud, feminine voice called out suddenly, causing the two women to flinch, looking over to see the speaker; it was a familiar figure, running towards them at full speed from the distance. Chloe, as always, wore her ceremonial—and rather revealing—knight armor and her large Switch Axe folded and strapped to her back.

The young woman was not alone, though; following behind her was a blond guy in full golden plate armor that covered him completely except for his head. He was armed with an equally golden lance with blue parts here and there on his back, coupled with a large shield strapped to his right arm. He was quite handsome and tall, with his semi-long light blond hair neatly combed to one side, making him appear more elegant and refined than your typical hunter.

"Oh? Chloe and Edward... What a curious duo," Selena commented with a grin while looking over to her approaching comrades. "What happy occasion brings the both of you together today?" She inquired casually as she glanced back at the two.

Chloe skidded to a halt beside the ice block, gasping for breath. She glanced quickly at it before turning towards Selena and Juno with a frown, a mix of concern and annoyance showing on her face. "… 'Happy occasion?' Master... Why are you ALWAYS acting as if nothing has happened?! And why are you carrying Miss Juno like that?! You...you're not doing anything weird to her, are you?!" She demanded loudly, sounding suspicious as she eyed the couple warily.

"I wish..." Juno joked quietly as she chuckled to herself.

"Is there something wrong with me carrying my woman like this, Chloe?" Selena inquired innocently, glancing briefly at the blue-haired woman in her arms with a teasing smirk.

The young knight huffed loudly in response, averting her gaze as she pouted slightly, folding her arms across her chest indignantly. "... Whatever. That's none of my business..." She mumbled quietly, avoiding the guild master's gaze, although she sounded rather embarrassed for some reason.

"A-Anyway... We aren't fooled by your carefree act, Master!" Chloe shouted in frustration while pointing accusingly at the guild master, who simply shrugged indifferently in response. "Nobody could have missed that big commotion just now, and you were clearly at the center of it all...! How come every time something happens, you're ALWAYS involved somehow, you cheeky old hag?!" She questioned angrily, looking positively furious as she glared daggers at Selena. "What did you do this time?! What happened here?! You better answer me, dammit!"

Selena simply laughed heartily at Chloe's angry outburst and shrugged her shoulders, shaking her head slightly as she sighed tiredly. "I can't help it if the world wants to throw a challenge at me every day, can I?" The blonde replied cheerfully as she smiled mischievously at the young huntress, who groaned in response.

"Grr... You're lucky that Miss Juno is here...! Otherwise..." Chloe trailed off angrily as she glared at Selena with murderous intent, clenching her fists tightly while growling lowly, her body trembling slightly. However, that only made Selena laugh even harder at the young woman's futile attempt to intimidate her, causing the huntress to grit her teeth in frustration, her face flushing red with rage.

"S-Stop laughing, dammit! I'm trying to be serious here!" The young woman snapped indignantly as she clenched her teeth tightly together, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment at the guild master's teasing. "How the hell are you going to explain this?! You're supposed to be the guild master, for heaven's sake! And yet you...you..."

"Lady Selena is always very reliable and dependable," Edward interjected calmly as he walked up to the two women. He placed his hand on Chloe's shoulder and gave it a light squeeze as he looked at the ice block in front of them, causing her to jump in surprise. "If something has happened, I'm sure she must've dealt with it skillfully... just as we should have expected from her."

"Sh-shut up, you ass-kisser...! Which side are you even on?!" Chloe snapped irritably as she shoved Edward's arm away from her shoulder, looking extremely dissatisfied with his comment. "Don't try to cover for her, dammit! You know well enough how much of a reckless, irresponsible pain in the ass she can be! Is that really the kind of leader you want to support?!" She asked angrily while pointing accusingly at Selena.

The young man simply sighed tiredly, scratching the back of his neck as he turned his gaze towards Selena, who was watching the whole exchange with amusement. "Yes, yes. She can be quite troublesome, indeed. I already know that," he agreed with a casual shrug. "But isn't that what makes her so unique and interesting? Isn't that one of the reasons why we chose her as our leader instead of yet another boring old man?" He inquired with a wry smile as he glanced back at Chloe, who stared at him silently with an irritated expression.

"... I guess so..." The young huntress admitted reluctantly, crossing her arms across her chest with a huff as she turned away from Edward, grumbling under her breath while looking down at her feet. "Well, we wouldn't have to run around chasing her if she just behaved a bit more like a proper Guild Master," she complained loudly, scowling in annoyance as she glared daggers at Selena. "But you never change, do you?" She added with a sigh, shaking her head sadly.

Edward simply chuckled quietly and patted her head reassuringly. "Just admit you love that side of her," he teased as he ruffled her hair roughly. "It would be pretty boring if Lady Selena were a typical Guild Master, right?"

Chloe blushed furiously, stuttering incoherently, her face showing a mixture of anger and embarrassment as she stared at the man, unable to form a coherent sentence. The knight simply smiled warmly at her before turning towards Selena, flashing her a charming, dazzling smile, which made the guild master grin back at him. "Anyway, back to the matter at hand... Lady Selena, may I ask what exactly is the situation here?" He inquired politely with a serious tone while gesturing towards the ice block behind him.

"Oh, it's nothing much, really," Selena answered casually, glancing briefly at Juno with a knowing look before turning her attention back to the knight. "A wyvern appeared out of nowhere, attacked us, and froze the area with its breath, but Juno managed to drive it off." She explained calmly, shrugging indifferently at the knight.

"Unfortunately, this wyverian girl got caught in its attack and ended up like this," the blonde added as she gestured towards the ice block behind them, a hint of concern showing on her face as she gazed at the sleeping wyverian. "So now, we're gonna deal with it."

Both Chloe and Edward stared blankly at the guild master, their mouths agape in astonishment, looking utterly confused by what they had just heard.

"... What?!" The huntress cried out incredulously, her eyes wide with shock as she stared at Selena in disbelief. "N-Nothing much? Nothing much?! A wyvern with this much power, and all you can say is that?! How the hell did Miss Juno manage to drive it away if it could do THAT?!" She shouted in a high-pitched voice, looking positively panicked and horrified at the thought. "You've gotta be kidding me! I refuse to believe a paraplegic woman could possibly take on a monster that powerful!" She exclaimed loudly as she pointed frantically at Juno. "You... you're obviously lying! You must have done SOMETHING to scare it off...even though you aren't supposed to, right?!" She asked desperately while shaking her head frantically in denial.

Edward simply stood quietly by the side, listening to Chloe's frantic outburst with a thoughtful expression, looking deeply troubled by her words. "I have to agree with Chloe on this matter, Lady Selena," he admitted reluctantly as he looked up at the blonde with a serious expression on his face. "Please excuse my boldness, but... As far as I know, Miss Juno isn't even registered as a hunter. Not to mention her recent condition," he added calmly while gesturing towards the blue-haired woman. "So... To me, it sounds like you're making up some kind of ridiculous story to hide your involvement in this whole incident," he stated bluntly, his tone sounding somewhat accusatory, which earned him a disapproving glare from Selena. "Uh... excuse me," he apologized quietly after seeing the look in her eye.

"And that thing is still out there?! It's going to come back eventually and attack the city, right?! What are we even doing?! We need to go hunt it down! Now!" Chloe suggested frantically while jumping up and down nervously, looking completely panicked by the idea of leaving a rampaging wyvern on the loose.

"We're talking about a monster capable of freezing the sea... This is not a normal wyvern by any means... I can't think of any known monster that could possibly compare..." Edward mused aloud as he placed his hand on his chin, deep in thought, trying to come up with some sort of solution to their predicament while his gaze was fixed on the girl in front of them, who had been frozen completely solid by her own powers, but he didn't know about that fact.

The guild master frowned, annoyed by this outcome. She didn't expect her made-up excuse to cause this much of a fuss. It seemed that they really believed her story, but maybe they took it a bit too seriously, because that meant dealing with more questions than necessary and having to lie even more. She felt somewhat guilty about misleading them, but she couldn't think of any other way to prevent them from meddling in this issue.

After all, they didn't know the secret behind Juno's true nature or the circumstances behind this incident. Very few people were aware of these things—even among her closest friends. She couldn't anticipate how the knights or even the guild itself might react to such information, so it was better to avoid revealing the truth for as long as possible. Therefore, the only logical option available to her right now was to tell a convincing lie. However, Selena hated lying, and even worse, she hated doing it to her friends and allies, but she didn't have much of a choice in this case.

The blonde exchanged a brief look with Juno, who nodded silently in agreement with her decision, smiling reassuringly at her, giving her courage to continue with the deception. So the guild master sighed tiredly as she turned to look at the two knights.

"... As I said, nothing much, no need to overreact," Selena repeated sternly while staring directly at them. "I don't appreciate you guys belittling Juno like that when she was the only one here to avoid me having to take care of it myself, and it's not even her responsibility in the first place," she stated firmly as she glared daggers at the two.

"You tell me if doing your job bothers you guys so much, huh? If that's the case, I can just give you some easy tasks instead, away from any sort of danger, and let me take care of my own safety myself. It's not like I need any sort of protection anyway," she said, crossing her arms defiantly. "Just tell me whenever you feel like it."

At her words, Edward immediately apologized sincerely and lowered his head, while Chloe pouted indignantly in response. The young huntress was clearly displeased with the guild master's scolding, but she did not protest further, merely huffing loudly while averting her gaze from the blonde woman.

"However, there is some truth in Chloe's statement, Master..." Edward started quietly as he looked up at Selena with an apologetic expression on his face. "As a matter of fact...we are in no way ready to face this kind of threat," he confessed while scratching the back of his head, looking sheepish as he admitted it. "I think it is imperative that we attempt to locate—"

"The wyvern is gone, and it won't be coming back anytime soon," Selena interrupted sternly before the knight had a chance to finish his sentence. "But if you want to run around, wasting your time and energy trying to hunt it down anyway, then be my guest," she suggested indifferently. "Our priority right now is taking care of this girl here and nothing else," she explained as she nodded towards the frozen wyverian, whose form was barely visible within the block of ice.

"... Right, of course," Edward murmured with a sigh of relief while scratching the back of his head again. "Forgive my recklessness, Lady Selena, but... You must understand that we had good reason for being concerned," he apologized, looking embarrassed as he averted his gaze, his cheeks flushing slightly with shame. "Such a threat cannot be ignored."

Selena nodded in acknowledgement and gave him a sympathetic smile. "Of course, I know that, and I'm glad to see that you guys are taking it seriously," she commented reassuringly as she turned back to the knight. "But I also know how to judge a situation, and that's not an emergency anymore." She added calmly, earning another nod from Edward in return. "If it ever turns out that I made a mistake in my judgment... I'll deal with it personally, because it would indeed be too much for anyone else to handle," she finished, turning her gaze back to Juno in her arms, who was still smiling softly at her. "I'm not going to take any more risks."

"Hmph... You're still so pretentious..." Chloe muttered angrily, crossing her arms over her chest while staring stubbornly at Selena with an irritated expression, which only served to make her look childish as far as the guild master was concerned. "... But fine! You better take responsibility if you're wrong!"

Edward simply nodded silently in response, showing no signs of argument against the guild master. For him, who didn't really like hunting very much, it was the most sensible thing to do. He wasn't exactly comfortable with the situation, but he trusted the guild master enough to leave things in her hands and focus on something else, which was better for his nerves.

"Anyway... Sorry for disturbing your date, you two. I didn't know you were that close... Who'd have thought~" The blonde teased mischievously as she shot them both a playful grin, which made Chloe's face turn crimson with embarrassment, while Edward averted his gaze while blushing lightly.

"Wha-?! N-No, no, no! T-T-This is..." The young woman stuttered nervously as she attempted to deny the insinuation; her whole face flushed with shame as she struggled to come up with a response.

"Remember to use protection for the upcoming night battle~" The guild master teased further, unable to contain her laughter as she watched the two knights grow even redder than before, causing them both to fumble for words, completely mortified by the implications behind her remark.

"M-MASTER!" Chloe cried out indignantly, her eyes wide as saucers with shock and embarrassment, her cheeks burning red with anger and shame, while Edward simply smiled awkwardly in the background, scratching his cheek as he looked away from the pair, too ashamed to say anything. "T-This is NOT a date! A-And...and d-don't change the subject! We're talking about YOU right now, dammit!" The young huntress shouted while pointing accusingly at Selena with both hands, her face burning bright red from anger and her body trembling with embarrassment and rage. As expected, though, this only caused the blonde to burst out in laughter once again, much to her dismay.

Juno chuckled lightly at their banter, while Edward merely sighed in resignation, looking like he was giving up completely on the conversation, and started walking away while dragging a frustrated and angry Chloe away.

"Ma Lionne, let's focus back on our task," Juno urged quietly after the two knights were gone, tapping gently on the blonde's chest.

"Yeah, let's take care of it," Selena agreed with a sigh, turning her gaze to the block of ice.

---

Some time ago…

"So, you are the new recruit, huh? Hah, don't make me laugh, brat! Why would I, the great, mighty Mercurius, ever consider a nameless worm such as yourself worthy of joining our ranks?!"

A young wyverian girl with white hair streaked red stood there, gritting her teeth tightly as she listened to that Mercurius person's rant, who was looking down at her as if she were some sort of insect, smirking arrogantly while laughing at her expense.

He was a dark-skinned human male with silver spiky hair and red eyes, his face half covered by a silver mask with big eye slits over the upper part, leaving the mouth and jaw exposed. He was dressed in a tight-fitting dark bodysuit that looked like it had been painted directly onto his skin. His chest was exposed, revealing a red gemstone embedded directly into the middle of his torso as if it always belonged there. His suit was adorned with numerous pieces of silver armor attached to the fabric, giving it an overall sleek and stylish appearance. The most striking thing about this man, though, were the appendages connected to his back, which looked like several rows of blades made of the same silver material as the rest of his armor, which were arranged in such a way that they resembled wings.

They were in a ruined old room of an ancient tower, located on the Forlorn continent. The place was wild and desolate, with cracked stone walls covered in vines, dust, dirt, and cobwebs. There were even large holes here and there, allowing some light from outside to illuminate the interior. Nature had claimed this place a long time ago, and it showed. Even then, the tower still stood proudly among the wilderness, defying the passage of time, despite the wear and tear inflicted upon it.

The girl waited patiently for the masked man to finish his monologue about how weak and unworthy she was of his company, her expression blank as usual, but inside she was boiling with rage. This man, Mercurius, was a cocky asshole who didn't respect anyone else but himself, and the only reason he was even speaking to her right now was because he had been ordered to. But arguing with this man would just prove how weak she actually was, so she decided to swallow her pride and remain silent, ignoring his insults.

"Whatever... I'll just pretend you don't exist and do my own thing," Mercurius stated bluntly as he turned away and walked towards the exit of the room, leaving her standing alone in the middle of the hallway. "I don't care if you're this damned snake's new toy. Don't you dare get in my way, you worthless piece of shit," he threatened coldly before disappearing into the darkness of the corridor, not even glancing back at her.

She clenched her fists tightly and gritted her teeth, her yellow eyes flashing with anger as she glared at Mercurius' retreating back, glaring daggers at it. But she didn't chase after him, knowing well enough that it would just aggravate the situation. Instead, she just turned around and started heading in the opposite direction, leaving the ruined room behind.

After that, the wyverian girl walked aimlessly through the empty corridors of the abandoned tower, trying to distract herself from the frustration and anger she felt towards that man. The place was completely deserted, except for a few stray monsters roaming about here and there, and most of them quickly fled upon noticing her presence.

"... Why am I even here...?" The girl mused aloud as she continued wandering around aimlessly.

While exploring the place, the white-haired girl encountered another person, standing on the edge of a wide, open-air platform halfway up the side of the tower, overlooking the forest below. It was another tall man, but this one was clad from head to toe in bulky, gray plate armor, his helmet entirely concealing his face. He had two large metal-plated wings sticking out of the back of his outfit, and he was holding some sort of weapon: a large spear in his right hand and a tower shield in his left, both made of the same material as his armor. And there he stood, motionless, staring out at the horizon on the rim of the ledge as if he were about to dive into the woods below, looking as calm and serene as the morning sky.

The wyverian girl stared at the figure with curiosity as she approached slowly. She had seen this person before but had never interacted with him personally. He was one of the Elders who once served under the dark lord, now a mere pawn for their organization. Boreas, if she recalled correctly. She couldn't help but feel attracted to him, since he seemed like the least obnoxious person she'd met so far.

As soon as she stepped out of the corridor onto the terrace, he turned to face her. As expected, his face was hidden behind his helmet, so she couldn't tell what his expression was underneath, but his blue eyes could be seen glowing dimly through the slit in the visor.

"... Speak," he commanded in a low, rumbling voice that echoed throughout the platform. His tone sounded calm and composed; however, there was a slight hint of threat in it that made her shiver slightly.

"... Boreas, was it?" The young woman asked, not bothering to hide the nervousness in her voice, trying hard not to stutter as she spoke.

Boreas simply nodded in response, watching her carefully. "What brings you here, nameless one?" He asked quietly, not moving an inch, keeping his stance unchanged. "Are you here to claim a name and a territory for yourself?" He asked, sounding more curious than threatening.

The question took the wyverian girl aback for a second; it was the first time someone asked her what her purpose was instead of commanding her to do things for them, which caught her off guard. However, she quickly composed herself and shook her head.

"I have no idea why I'm here. I don't know what I'm supposed to do." The girl admitted quietly, sounding quite dejected as she spoke.

Boreas didn't answer immediately, remaining silent for a moment before replying. "Beyond this point is the domain of Jupiter, our leader," he announced with authority in his voice, pointing with his spear towards another corridor entrance across the platform from where she entered the place. "Should you wish to seek guidance, I suggest you visit him," he advised as he returned his spear to its original position, standing perfectly upright.

The girl looked to where he was indicating, wondering if she should really go meet this Jupiter. She didn't know anyone in this organization aside from Oneiros—since she woke up in his lab—and the latter seemed too eccentric to offer much useful advice, aside from telling her to go 'earn' herself a name, whatever that meant. Perhaps meeting this Jupiter would be helpful to her... At the very least, it wouldn't hurt to try.

So she bowed respectfully before the armored man, thanking him for the directions, before continuing on her way, heading towards the other side of the platform. However, she suddenly paused as she took her first steps forward, hesitating for a brief moment, glancing back at the stoic man standing still in front of her, her head still full of doubts.

"... What do you fight for, sir Boreas?" The girl asked suddenly, surprising herself a little by asking such an intrusive question. But she wanted to know; she wanted to understand why everyone here was acting the way they did. She needed answers. "Why do you follow orders? Why are you even here when you could just live your own life in peace with no one telling you what to do?" She inquired, feeling slightly uncomfortable but determined to get a reply.

The elder remained silent, unmoving, for several long seconds, apparently contemplating her questions. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Boreas replied in a soft but firm voice, "... I fight for justice, in honor of our ancestors, and to fulfill the will of our lord and savior," he declared solemnly, raising his head proudly as he spoke.

Justice... honor... and their lord. Those were concepts foreign to her; she couldn't understand them, even though she tried. "... I don't get it," the wyverian girl admitted with a sigh, shaking her head and feeling discouraged. "All of you... You all act like those human scums, talking about things like honor, justice, or even nobility... Why? You're not supposed to be like them," she murmured as she stared at the floor, her face showing confusion and frustration.

Boreas didn't respond immediately, seeming to consider her words carefully before replying. "In order for you to comprehend our motives, you need to learn more about our past," he stated calmly, turning back towards the edge of the platform and gazing at the view before him. "But it is not my place to enlighten you, nor is it my duty," he added, sounding slightly amused. "Seek out Jupiter at the top of this tower. He who knows all about this world and almost became a true deity. Seek the knowledge you desire, and you shall find your answer."

With these words said, he fell silent again, returning to his previous activity, seemingly ignoring her existence. The girl hesitated briefly before deciding to move on, proceeding to walk toward the doorway across the terrace where she was told she would find this Jupiter character.

"... Thank you, sir Boreas," she uttered softly as she passed by the elder. She heard no reply, but she wasn't expecting one either.

After exiting the platform, she proceeded to climb the large, half-ruined, winding stairs leading to the top of the tower. That place was seriously huge; it looked like those stairs were made for giants, with each step being larger than her entire body, forcing her to use her arms and legs to scale them. The center of the tower was hollow; it seemingly collapsed long ago, leaving a broad, vacant space from the ground all the way to the ceiling. Though one side of its walls was completely destroyed and wide open, revealing the breathtaking panoramic view of the area beyond, stretching endlessly in every direction.

By the time she reached the highest level of the tower, the girl was already panting heavily and exhausted. Fortunately, the final corridor leading to the top of the structure was relatively short and devoid of any monsters, allowing her to catch her breath before reaching her destination.

As she stepped into the last chamber, she immediately froze in place, shocked at an unexpected sight, before quickly backing away into the shadows, hiding in a corner of the wall. In this room was some kind of stone throne, half-destroyed like everything else in this building. On this seat were sitting two figures: a man wearing a red robe, with fiery red hair and blue eyes, looking stern and aloof, while on his lap sat a woman wearing a sheer blue dress, with long, equally fiery blue hair as her partner, facing him, showing her bare shoulders to their hidden spectator. They both had pale grayish skin, and the man even had large wings on his back, as red as the rest of his garments, resting against the stone throne.

The two of them were engaging in a rather...strange activity, which the wyverian girl didn't fully understand. The man was simply sitting still, his hands resting on the woman's hips, with his lower body exposed, while she was bouncing on his lap repeatedly, moaning and gasping as she moved. The sounds coming from their activities were quite loud, echoing throughout the whole chamber, filling the air with lustful noises that made her blush deeply, even though she had no idea what exactly was happening between them. The surrounding area was also radiating heat—some unusually hot air—as if they were in the middle of an active volcano.

The man had a completely bored, indifferent look on his face, his eyes glazed over and unfocused as he stared off into space. He did not seem interested in what was occurring in the slightest, even though the woman clearly was enjoying it. She made the man's small appendage that was sticking out of his groin disappear into her nether regions as she bounced up and down, her arms wrapped around his neck, holding on for dear life as she cried out loudly every time it went inside her.

It was confusing. The wyverian girl didn't really understand why she was doing this, but judging by her reactions, it seemed like she enjoyed the experience quite a lot.

Eventually, after a while, the woman stopped moving abruptly and cried out loudly, arching her back like a bowstring and throwing her head back, letting out a series of loud moans and grunts. At the same time, the man twitched a little as well, though not nearly as intensely as her, simply closing his eyes for a second and grunting under his breath.

Once they calmed down, the woman collapsed on top of the man, panting heavily, while the former remained totally motionless. His member slipped out of the woman's groin with a wet noise and came out limp, dripping with something white—some liquid that looked sticky and gross—which also spilled out of her lower body and stained the man's naked thighs and crotch.

The white-haired girl knew these two, who were often together, but like everyone else, she hadn't talked to them before: Mars, the Emperor of Flames, and his wife, Venus, the Empress of Heat. Well, 'wife' was a bit of a stretch, considering the human notion of union didn't quite apply to beings like them. They were more like mates, but even then, the wyverian girl couldn't understand it since that concept was still foreign to her.

After regaining her senses, the woman began kissing and licking the man's neck and collarbone, as if she were trying to apologize for not being able to satisfy him completely. "Ah... that was amazing as always, darling..." She murmured lovingly in the man's ear, her voice husky and breathless, full of raw pleasure.

Mars merely gave her a quick glance, showing no reaction whatsoever to her words, before returning his gaze to the side, apparently lost in thought. Venus frowned slightly as she noticed his lack of interest but chose not to comment on it, instead simply resting her head on his shoulder and closing her eyes. "... We have a guest," he remarked quietly without turning around, catching the wyverian girl completely off guard as he revealed that he was aware of her presence the whole time.

At hearing the news, Venus quickly opened her glistening golden eyes and lifted her head to look behind, causing the girl to instinctively duck deeper into the shadow to avoid being spotted. "Aaah, yes... The nameless rat," she stated with disdain, looking annoyed as she glanced around the room, trying to find her. "... I can smell your filthy scent, you worthless little wretch. Get out of your hole and show some manners to your elders," she commanded in a condescending tone.

Upon hearing her words, the wyverian girl gulped nervously before reluctantly stepping out of her hiding spot, entering the light coming through the fissures in the ceiling above them, and showing herself to the couple.

Venus got herself off the man's lap—after he shoved her away—and rose to her feet in front of the throne, straightening up and turning around to face the wyverian girl.

She was a stunning beauty, with long, silky blue hair whose ends were lighter—also greener, curiously—and gradually grew darker toward the roots, and two sharp, vibrant amber eyes that seemed to be filled with fire itself.

Her dress had a wide cleavage at the front, going down below her navel, which was currently open, exposing her bare breasts. She didn't bother to cover her top at all, letting everything out in the open for all to see without a shred of shame. It also showed some cracks in her skin, on her belly, that looked like old scars or something along those lines. The lower part of the dress was also open on the sides, revealing her toned legs and wide hips. It looked surreal, almost like a statue crafted by a master sculptor brought to life.

Despite her revealing attire, there was an air of confidence and power in her stance, as if she dared anyone to challenge her. Her expression, however, was quite sinister; she stared at the girl with a mixture of hatred, contempt, and amusement in her eyes; her thin blue eyebrows furrowed slightly in a scowl, giving her the appearance of someone who was constantly angry and annoyed about something.

"Enjoyed the show, little rat?" Venus inquired mockingly as she smirked maliciously at the young wyverian woman. "Or maybe you just wanted to join us...? I can't blame you. My husband is absolutely irresistible~" She teased while leaning forward and placing her hands on her hips, her bosom jiggling slightly with the movement.

Mars just sighed quietly and stood up from the throne, straightening his red regal robes to hide his exposed genitalia and adjusting them carefully before turning to face the girl as well, standing behind his wife. He was surprisingly shorter than her, but he still towered over the young wyverian nonetheless. Unlike Venus, who appeared to be rather relaxed despite her hostile attitude, his demeanor was completely rigid and stiff, giving off an aura of intimidation that made it clear he considered himself superior to the newcomer in every possible way.

He had a long, red goatee to match his hair, which had the same type of gradient as his wife: dark red at the roots fading into a lighter shade of orange towards the ends. His glowing, piercing blue eyes contrasted sharply with his fiery hair, adding to his overall imposing presence. Like his wife, his skin had some cracks in various places, most noticeably on his face, as it was the only part of his body that was relatively exposed.

Taken one at a time, the wyverian girl wouldn't be too worried, but both of them at once? It was overwhelming, especially with the strong sense of hostility in the air, and her body started to shake involuntarily, sweat pouring down her forehead.

"Speak," the redhead man commanded with a frown, glaring down at the wyverian girl. His voice was deep and authoritative, commanding respect and obedience from others, even from someone like her who lacked any self-respect or dignity.

"And quickly," Venus added impatiently as she folded her arms beneath her heavy bust. Her gaze was fixed on the girl, but not at her eyes—rather, on her large chest, staring at them with undisguised jealousy and envy, since her own were definitely smaller than hers.

"I-I'm sorry, but I'm just looking for... Jupiter... Sir Boreas told me to meet him up there..." She managed to stutter timidly, trying her best to maintain eye contact with the intimidating figures in front of her, struggling to keep her knees from buckling.

The two of them stared at her silently for a moment before turning to look at each other. After exchanging a quick glance, Mars sighed again and closed his eyes, while Venus simply scoffed in annoyance and rolled her eyes.

"... So it is time," Mars muttered quietly as he opened his eyes and stared at the wyverian.

"Time for another pointless trial, I suppose," Venus sneered sarcastically, rolling her eyes again and sighing with exasperation. "One of these days, I'm going to burn that imbecile's balls off for his stubborness," she mumbled under her breath as she glared at the young woman in front of them. "And I told him to stop sending useless worms to us, yet here you are..."

"What...do you mean...?" The girl questioned hesitantly, feeling confused by their words. "Trial? Is this related to... 'earning my own name?'"

"Ha! If you really think that a puny worm like you can earn a name for yourself in this world, you are sorely mistaken, hon." Venus scoffed mockingly as she scowled at her with contempt. "You are just a tool, a pawn. Your only worth is that of how much strength you can lend us in our glorious cause," she mocked with a haughty smile, glaring down at the small wyverian girl with disdain and derision.

The white-haired girl swallowed hard, starting to feel irritated by this obnoxious bitch. This was the same treatment she received from everybody else here, so it shouldn't be a surprise. But somehow, the way this woman spoke to her rubbed her the wrong way.

Mars merely huffed lightly, shaking his head at his wife's display of arrogance. "In order to earn the privilege of meeting our leader and naming yourself, you must prove your worth by defeating a strong opponent," he explained calmly, his tone void of emotion as usual, looking bored by the whole situation. "And fortunately for you, we just so happen to have such an... opportunity," he added while glancing briefly at Venus, whose grin widened.

"Indeed~" She agreed, her gaze becoming predatory as she licked her lips eagerly. "In fact, it's less of an opportunity... and more of a necessity," she chuckled as she cracked her knuckles loudly, showing off her sharp, razor-sharp nails that looked more like claws. "An annoying, filthy pest that has been causing us nothing but troubles for years," she sneered, her eyes narrowing with malice.

"A human," Mars continued, his voice filled with hatred and disdain. "I assume I don't have to describe to you what kind of creature they are," he stated, waving dismissively.

At this semblance of a question, the white-haired girl simply shook her head, her expression darkening. "No need," she replied coldly, her gaze hardening as she clenched her fists. "And I'm burning with the desire to wreck havoc among them," she declared, a fierce determination in her eyes.

"Excellent," the redhead man responded, a sinister grin spreading across his face. "Now, all humans are, of course, our natural foes, but this particular individual has proven to be a thorn in our side for far too long," he declared, his tone cold and unforgiving.

The wyverian girl tilted her head in confusion, her pointed ears twitching with interest. "If that's so, why didn't you get rid of them sooner?" She asked, her curiosity piqued. "Aren't you all much more powerful than a mere human?"

The girl's innocent question caused Venus to chuckle darkly, while Mars simply snorted in indignation.

"Why, yes, we ARE much more powerful than a mere human," Venus replied with a smirk. "That goes without saying."

"We aren't fools; we know that power alone does not guarantee success," Mars interjected, his eyes narrowing in determination. "Humans may be objectively far weaker, but they are cunning. They have a way of finding loopholes and exploiting weaknesses that can be quite dangerous," he continued, his tone dripping with grudging respect. "We have to be careful not to underestimate them."

"Not only that, but the pest we seek is holed up in a fortress full of other ants, ready to fight to the death," Venus added, her expression thoughtful. "We can't simply bruteforce our way in; our kind have tried for generations without much success," she concluded, her gaze meeting Mars' with a shared understanding of the challenge ahead.

"This is where you play your role, nameless one," Mars said, his eyes narrowing with determination. "You have one benefit that we lack: anonymity, and with the help of Oneiros' blessing, you can infiltrate the nest undetected."

"… Oneiros'…blessing? Don't tell me this is... " The girl trailed off, her eyes widening as she began to understand, before looking down at her hands.

"Indeed," Mars confirmed, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "Thanks to Oneiros' unique ability and his research in 'science'—whatever that word means—we have gained an immense advantage in this war of attrition against humanity."

The wyverian girl stared eye-wide at Mars, her mind racing with the implications of what he was suggesting. "So, you're saying… that what I thought was a curse… a divine punishment from Mother Nature…" she trailed off again, having a hard time processing the revelation.

"… Is actually our gift to wield against our enemies." Venus finished her sentence with pride and joy, giggling like a madwoman. "With this power, we can blend into their world undetected, infiltrate their ranks, and bring about their downfall from within. They will never know what hit them until it's too late!" She finished with a hysterical laugh that echoed through the empty room, causing the girl to feel a bit unsettled by her sudden shift in demeanor.

"Huh… Well, I still don't understand why you didn't get rid of that human sooner if it was causing so much trouble," the white-haired girl remarked, trying to make sense of all that had transpired. "I mean… You just told me you could go unnoticed among them and take them down easily. So why wait?"

Mars frowned at the girl's question, finding her reasoning sound but irritating. "As I explained before, you have the benefit of being unknown. To their eyes, you will be just a stranger; you can blend in easily."

"Unfortunately for us, we no longer possess that kind of advantage. We have fought them before; they know our faces, even under disguises," Venus continued, as if she could read her husband's mind. "We can't just go there and expect to surprise them like we used to."

"This is why we need... fresh new blood," Mars concluded in perfect sync with his wife's thoughts. "Someone they have never seen before, someone they won't be wary of," he added, his eyes narrowing as his gaze was fixed on the white-haired girl. "Someone…like you, nameless one."

Venus giggled softly, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "I envy you, hon. Being able to walk right into the lion's den without raising any suspicion… You'll have so many opportunities to kill those ignorant monkeys with cold blood… Making them scream in agony, choking on their own blood," she whispered, her voice full of malice and excitement. "Aaah, I'd love to join the fun, making a scorching bloodbath again!" The woman, turning lunatic, declared with a sinister grin, reaching out to pat the wyverian girl on the back. "But alas, it's your turn now."

The white-haired girl felt a chill run down her spine as she realized the insanity of that arrogant bitch and the fact that it was probably the same for a good number of the other members in their group. She looked back at Venus and Mars, considering her options carefully before making a move. She knew she had to stay vigilant and not let her guard down, especially with someone as unpredictable as the woman standing before her.

They probably had no interest in her well-being at all and were just sending her to her death with an impossible task. However, if even half of what they told her was true, that could only mean…

"… If Oneiros is the one behind that…blessing or curse, whatever it is, does that mean he can… reverse it as well?" The girl asked, her voice trembling slightly with a mixture of fear and hope.

Both Mars and Venus exchanged a glance, unsure of how to answer.

"Do you dislike your new form?" Mars finally asked, raising an eyebrow curiously. "You wouldn't be the first," he added, his tone indifferent. "After all, I know full well how much pride we take in our majestic primordial flesh."

"But think about the benefits," Venus chimed in, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Yes, you may look like one of those disgusting monkeys now, but you will also be able to experience much more than mere power," she continued, her words tinted with persuasion. "Not to mention that you didn't lose any of your abilities, of course."

"Darling, may you demonstrate to her that you are still as powerful as ever?" Venus asked, her voice filled with hope and admiration for her husband. "Show her why she should respect us, even in this altered form."

Mars simply snorted in response, a flicker of amusement in his eyes as he unexpectedly swung his arm behind him, releasing something that looked like…ashes and dust into the air, flying freely as it was carried by the soft draught passing through the cracks and opening in the structure. The small cloud of particles hovered for a short moment in the empty space behind them before Mars suddenly snapped his fingers, causing the dust to ignite and explode in a dazzling display of fiery sparks and fire, blowing away whatever was at that point.

The remaining flames trailed on the ground, slowly making their way toward Mars as he stood there, a bored expression on his face, clearly unimpressed by the chaos he had just caused. With another swing of his arm, he effortlessly extinguished the flames, leaving behind a faint smell of burned sulfur in the air.

Venus happily applauded his display of power, her admiration evident in her eyes as she gazed at him. "That was incredible, darling! Your control over your power truly is unmatched," she exclaimed, a wide smile spreading across her face. Mars simply shrugged, nonchalantly brushing off the praise as he turned his attention to the girl.

Meanwhile, the white-haired girl stood there, wondering what exactly made this demonstration of power so captivating to Venus. It was nothing much, honestly; just a weak and lazy firework show in comparison to what she had seen and experienced in the past. Especially coming from someone presumptuously nicknamed the 'Emperor of Flames'…

Then Mars turned to face her, as if he could read her thoughts, and added, "You may think this is unimpressive, but it requires a formidable amount of practice and mastery to control one's power with such precision, particularly in our current form."

"Nonsense, darling," Venus interjected with a smile. "It's precisely how moderate it was that made it all the more impressive. Anyone can be flashy and explosive; it's easy to let everything out in a burst of chaos, but true skill lies in subtlety and control. I know for myself that I can't do what you just did without blowing this whole room to smithereens," she joked, raising an eyebrow playfully.

"To answer your question, yes, Oneiros is capable of turning you back into your original form," Mars responded, his expression serious. "But he will only do so once you have proven your allegiance to our cause."

The redhead man turned around and walked towards the stone throne, taking his seat, followed by Venus, who sat on his lap, her gaze fixed on the wyverian girl while seductively massaging her own exposed breasts.

"Remember, trust is earned, not given freely," Mars added, his voice low and commanding. "Complete your task successfully, and the Elder Authority will grant your wish; you will earn a proper name, our respect, and the chance to return to your true self. And of course, you will get to meet Lord Jupiter as well."

With a smirk, Venus said, "But fail us, and you will remain a nameless servant forever. I will personally enjoy tormenting you for eternity… That is, if you manage to come back alive, hehe~" she whispered, her eyes gleaming with malice.

The white-haired girl pondered her options carefully, her gaze falling at her feet as she weighed the risks and rewards of the task ahead. She was by no means afraid of that arrogant bitch's threats, but she knew that she didn't have much choice if she wanted to reclaim her true self and meet Lord Jupiter. With a deep breath, she looked up and met the two elders' gaze, determination burning in her eyes.

"… Very well, who is my target?"