"I pity your poor bleeding heart; and I love you the more because it does so bleed."

Chapter 8 – Fog

"…A break and vacation?" Nier briefly looked up at Ragna. Morning had already arrived but they were staying here a while longer. This of course meant more time for others to interact with them, foremost being the Kaka kittens who approached with curiosity before eventually demanding some kind of playtime.

Death had reverted back to the form of her card, which meant no worries of accidentally scaring anyone in the area, least of all these kittens. They were… cute, and Nier found herself drawn to them and just how friendly they are.

At the moment, she was on her knees, petting three of them as they leaned back to enjoy the touch of her fingers. Gruff as he was, Ragna was pretty gentle when it came to his turn taking care of these kittens. And it's not like they can just say no when they're not going anywhere just yet. Not until night arrived at least which meant they could just relax and be at peace. No bounty hunters, no soldiers, and no puppets of indeterminate origin.

"…Yeah, a vacation. Once I've finished my business here in this city, I think taking a long break would be good. Not just for me, you understand? But for you as well." He nodded.

"What brought this on?" she wondered.

He shrugged. "Having a girlfriend for one. It's not just myself that I have to worry about, and having you everywhere with me would be dangerous. So I just want to go somewhere where we don't have to worry about anything."

"You really shouldn't worry about me," Nier smiled, "But that would be nice, regardless."

Ragna chuckled, waiting until the kittens left before he sat down beside her. Nier was quick to move closer and hold his arm. Neither said anything and she simply relaxed and enjoyed his presence with her. All good things do end but after everything that has happened so far, getting extended moments like this was nice. And that's before even said vacation that he wanted.

The day passed without much incident and when night fell, they were mentally prepared enough to venture up towards the Librarium branch. Past the city proper, there was a surprising lack of any guards leading up to the area. And even when they finally reached the building… nothing.

Ragna was cautious, hesitating before even daring to enter.

"Something wrong?" asked Nier.

"You sense it too, don't you? Something ain't right…" Ragna answered as he stepped out towards the front entrance. "Hello? Pizza Delivery!" he called out. No response.

"…Maybe it's a Holiday today…?" she wondered, stepping out as well.

"Could be, yeah. Haven't exactly been keeping up with the dates after all. Still… stay close, alright?" he replied.

Past the main gate and through the massive, empty hallway, both she and Ragna trudged on quietly. Just the sounds of their footsteps echoed about as they made their way further inside. It was eerie, the emptiness of it all. No life other than themselves and inwardly, even Death found this place strange.

It was when they heard voices just ahead that they paused. If there were people here, then their trip on the way was too convenient. An ambush maybe?

"Ready?" he asked her. Nier nodded her head and watched him open the doorway.

What greeted them was a confrontation. A young man in blues and whites with a thin sword drawn and raised against two other people. A girl in a similar uniform and a man clad in black. Nier didn't know them personally, but she had glimpsed them in Death's memories during her brief foray a short while ago. Ragna's eyes were fixated on the swordsman though and the opening of the door meant all three turned their heads towards them now.

A soft chuckle… and then came gleeful laughter from the swordsman. "What the hell is this? I didn't know Ragna the Bloodedge worked with others." The man said, turning his body to face Ragna. "It seems there may be some use for you, Lieutenant. I needn't kill you for getting in my way…"

"Bastard…" Ragna frowned and raised his weapon in a defensive stance. Nier followed suite, her hands clasped together as Death materialized behind her.

The girl ahead of them seemed hesitant for a moment up until Death's appearance. That was when she materialized her firearms into her hands and got into her own stance. Whatever conflict she had with the swordsman, they both seemed to recognize a greater threat.

"Major Kisaragi, I've seen that thing in action. But I thought Colonel Relius managed to contain it…"

"It doesn't matter. If you've seen it before, then you can deal with it. Leave Ragna the Bloodedge to me."

"There's three of them and three of us. We can…" the girl glanced back, only to realize that their third companion disappeared. "Captain Hazama?"

"Ignore him. Remember what you trained for." The swordsman said, his murderous gaze now on Ragna.

Nier frowned as she looked at the pair. She was mentally prepared for a fight this time, and Death would not be so easily bested.

"Why is he here…?" Ragna muttered, the grip on his blade tense with no one willing to make the first move.

Nier waited with baited breaths before a shot rang out. The girl fired her weapon directly at Nier, which was quickly deflected by Death spinning right in front of her. Battle had begun and Death took the opportunity to retaliate with a half-moon slash at the two Librarium Officers.

The swordsman dodged and leaped straight at Ragna. Their weapons clashed and echoed throughout the chamber. Shots were fired at Death as well, the girl keeping her range as she weaved and rolled with incredible agility. Death sliced at her with her scythed hair, cutting into the stone structures while Nier herself followed close behind.

From the corner, the girl appeared and leaped to outflank Nier. She closed the distance and Nier used a defensive magic to create a barrier that formed at the end of her hands. This close, all she had to worry about was where the firearms themselves were. She didn't need to defend for long either even as the shots rang out so close to her. Three swipes with her hands, deflecting the explosive bursts from the girl before her opponent leaped away in time to avoid a downward swing from Death.

She can't have been that much older than herself, Nier observed. But the girl had enough formal training to claim an advantage in close combat which meant she had to navigate this battle carefully. More power was needed and she was perfectly fine with giving death more of her life energy for said power.

That surge caused Death to attack with greater strength and more rapidly than before. A sudden burst that threatened to overwhelm the NOL officer as she struggled to block the scythes slashing everywhere around her. The railing was cut down and the girl fell backwards off the edge, Nier peering over… a mistake.

Shots rang out, striking the balcony that Nier had just been standing on and caused it to give way with Nier still on it. But Nier was less than concerned with herself than with the fact that Ragna was left alone against the man above. Death rushed forward to catch her, shielding her body as they fell even as their opponent made shot after shot against Death from behind, dealing minimal damage.

The descent was long and despite all that, the girl landed with surprising grace before leaping backwards away from Death's falling form. Death didn't even touch the floor, simply paused and hovered in mid-air with just the bottom of her dress grazing the cold steel before gently setting Nier down.

"Why are you doing this?! Why did you attack those people from before?" the girl spoke up, her weapons pointed at Nier.

"Why?" she replied, "You mean those people who were trying to hunt us down? Why indeed?"

The girl shot at her again, and then closed the distance. Death made a spinning slash, before the girl leaped right over her. An acrobatic manoeuvre that landed her in between Nier and Death.

"Tch!" Nier frowned as the girl attacked her directly, forcing Nier to raise another barrier to stop the assault. A few hits were blocked… and then the girl slid right past her. Nier briefly lost track before the girl's shoulder collided with her, sending her staggering.

But the girl's offense stopped, just enough for Death to reach forward and then swing her scythes upward. The girl leaped and spun in mid-air, vaulting over Death yet again. She would have landed too, but Death changed the momentum of her attack midway and twirled about, catching the girl before she landed, forcing her to block the scythed tips in mid-air. The impact sent her flying away, her back crashing against the metal wall.

Nier approached in a slow walk, Death hovering right behind her as she stared at their downed opponent. The Primal raised one of the scythes to finish her off and then paused. The girl stood back up unsteadily, staring at her with an almost pleading look.

It would be so easy now. Kill her and be done with it. Yet still… would this be trouble for Ragna and add on to the list of things that just made things more difficult when travelling? Then again, what difference would it make at this point?

"Is there a way back up?" asked Nier, holding one hand to the side to stop Death's attack.

The girl blinked, taking a moment to process what was happening. She wasn't dead yet, and all because of this question.

"Y-yes. There's always a way back… I think." The girl replied.

"You think? Don't you work here?" Nier frowned.

"Well officially, yes. But not at this branch. I haven't been here before!"

"Huh, you don't sound like you're lying," she lowered her hand and Death paused for a little bit. "Maybe I can use you to get a bit more information here. You agree that you lost to me, yes?"

"I mean the major was being a jerk so I wasn't as focused…." The girl mumbled.

Death raised her scythe-like appendages.

"Eek! I mean, yes. I don't like fighting anyway so the win is yours." The girl nodded her head rapidly. "But… could I ask you something?"

Nier looked on and mouthed of a 'yes.'

"I know we started off on the wrong foot and all, and she's really scary…" she looked at Death, "But why are you and the Grim Reaper destroying NOL branches?"

"She's not a Rea- oh…. Wait. You meant Ragna." Nier replied and then shook her head. "Honestly, I don't know. It is his goal so I'm helping him out as much as I can. It's my duty after all."

"Your duty? Wait, are you two a couple? The Wanted Posters never mentioned him working with someone else."

"So I'm told." Nier frowned, watching as the girl looked around before locating a button. A door opened up and she gestured for Nier to enter.

"You first." Nier told her.

"Ah, right." The girl leading the way inside. The hall led somewhere… though the place felt like a maze of corridors. "I think… if you want to go up, there's an elevator somewhere. Stairs too that spiral all the way up if we can find the start of it all…"

"Wait, maybe I don't want to go up. Ragna would be heading further down after all, and I'd rather not be apart from him for too long."

"Heh…" the girl chuckled.

"What's so funny?"

"No, it's not that. It's just… I didn't take you for a romantic. A little clingy too."

Nier tilted her head and stared on.

"I know you're the enemy and all," the girl said, "But you have so much confidence in what you do. I'm a bit jealous, honestly. Look at me, so quick to give up just to avoid a fight. Aha…." She said nervously.

This girl's weird, Nier thought. Compared to others though, so much easier to deal with. And Nier herself felt a bit flattered, even if her own show of confidence was an act.

"I just want to be loved and accepted. Is that so much to ask?" Nier replied, looking up at Death as she floated beside her. "It's difficult to receive that when you're not from around here."

"I know that feeling." the girl replied, her shoulders slumping before reaching up to adjust her cap. "Ummm, I know it's a bit improper… but, I'm Noel. Noel Vermillion. I hope you don't hold all of what's going on against me. The strangest things have been going on in this city." She said, extending her hand to her.

"…Nier." She replied and cautiously shook her hand.

Navigating the halls wasn't exhausting per se, but this place deeper underground was much larger than either of them had expected. Actually, were they underground? This place was built atop a mountain wasn't it? Wouldn't that mean they were just descending into the heart of it?

"What is even hidden in this place?" Noel wondered, pausing to catch her breath. "How have we not found an elevator yet?"

"I'm worried." Nier replied. Ragna wouldn't just abandon her to pursue his own goal right? He agreed to take her with him. She clenched her fists and then calmed herself as Death draped her hands over her.

"Fear not. I sense his thoughts even far apart. He worries about yoo…." The Primal whispered.

"That puts me at ease. Thank you, Death."

"Oh! There it is!" Noel pointed and ran towards a button on the wall. The gate opened up and the hum of machinery filled the air. "Just need to wait for the elevator to get here."

Nier acted instinctively, pulling on Noel's hand before a sharp claw nearly struck her. A mechanical claw belonging to a crimson puppet that had flown up from below. As the elevator ascended, the familiar image of a masked man stood at its center.

"Colonel Relius?" Noel stammered.

"My apologies, Lieutenant. I thought you were fraternizing with the enemy." Came the response as he looked the pair over. "Or am I mistaken?"

Nier responded almost immediately in kind, suddenly drawing a knife she had kept hidden and moved behind Noel, the bladed tip at her neck. "Make any sudden moves and your subordinate dies." Nier replied with venom in her words.

Relius didn't seem to care and continued to approach, the audacity of which caused Nier to step backwards away with Noel.

"Have a care, girl. I'm not here to fight. Though it would be fascinating to do so after your friend's last escape." He smiled.

Death moved in front of Nier, poised to strike in a defensive stance. No love lost in between her and Relius' puppet.

"No, my purpose is here is observation for now. And I believe… The Imperator requests your presence." He nodded and stared straight at Nier.

"…Why?" she asked.

"That's a question you would need to ask her. Accept, and you would be granted a single boon. If you are willing to take it."

"A boon. Like… a wish?" Noel wondered.

"And if I don't accept?" asked Nier.

"Then you waste more time. You've nothing to lose do you not? And time is ticking."

She wasn't satisfied with the answer. Still, a potential boon could be useful… even if she expected things aren't at all what the man claimed.

"Very well, but if I see something I don't like, then you know what Death would do." She replied, letting go of Noel.

Relius smiled. "Of course. I wouldn't dream of betraying someone as gifted as you."

Nier frowned. She still didn't trust this man.

'Be careful.' Noel mouthed off to her and then a bright light flashed in a pattern around Nier. No restraining field, she didn't detect anything of the sort but…. Teleportation?

The elevator and the surrounding area disappeared and she found herself in a spacious chamber. Almost immediately, Death rematerialized beside her. Teleportation or not, the link between she and the Primal was much too strong to keep them apart if that was the man's intent.

"So we finally meet. Thy presence has been most vexing…" a voice called out.

Nier turned, looking at the only other major object in the chamber. It looked to be some kind of coffin, and there was someone laying within it. Various tubes connected to the small body within and then with a hiss, suddenly fell away.

A chill coursed through Nier as the other girl stepped out of the coffin, an elaborate robe materializing to cover her pale features. This was the Imperator?

"Though this vessel is not quite ready yet, it should be enough for this purpose." The Imperator continued, hovering just slightly above the ground.

"Who are you…?" Nier wondered, mentally slapping herself. She aready knew of course from what that puppeteer mentioned.

"You were told already, yes? But perhaps a different title suits me better." She smiled. An instant later, without even making any kind of movement, the Imperator was standing too close to Nier for comfort, her eyes gazing up as she smiled at her. "I am… Death."