CHAPTER 27: WHY CAN'T WE BE FRIENDS?

TOWER 1

At once, Jill and the Pomefiores began to climb down the stairs. The four couldn't help but glance down the Underworld and be amazed at the sheer size of it. Jill's fearful sensation that she was being swallowed up only got worse.

"Steady, mademoiselle." Rook placed a hand on Jill's shoulder. Was her panic that obvious?

"Sorry… just a lot of thoughts on my mind," Jill excused. She focused on her feet, trying not to trip over the stairs.

"I know, but focus on the positives. Like getting to kick Idia and Ortho's butts!" Epel encouraged.

"And you'll get to find Grim," Vil reminded her. "Pray tell, what kind of punishment will you bestow on him for running off?"

"Honestly, I have no idea," Jill laughed shakily. "Maybe when we get back home, I'll give him some chores. But when I see him, I'll give him a big hug… and hopefully not pop any of his bones. I gotta watch out for my boss and all."

"Do you really see Grim as your boss?" Epel asked. "Sorry for bringing this up, but… you called the whole boss thing a 'silly game'."

"Yeah, when I overblotted…" Jill muttered, her eyes still down.

"Don't take it entirely to heart," Vil cautioned. "When you overblot, all your negativity is increased beyond your control. You may have just been frustrated with him, and the blot took it too far at the time."

"That's right," Jill said with a shrug. "But I was telling the truth. I don't really see myself as below Grim, and I never did. I just went along with the charade to make him happy; the whole 'hench-human' thing was his idea."

"True, you never held yourself like a minion," Rook said. "You always scolded Monsieur Bette when he acted up, and you weren't afraid to show force. Why, I remember Beanfest earlier this year—you chased him through the battlefield, screaming and swinging your net with such ferocity…"

"I remember…" Jill blushed. She had let out more than a bit of steam that day.

"So why still call Grim your boss if you don't see him that way?" Epel demanded.

"Because…" Jill had to think about it for a second. "Because to Grim and me, 'boss' and 'minion' have a different meaning. In the beginning, he just wanted to order me around, though I never put up with it. But we learned to look out for each other—I take care of him, and he keeps me in check. So…" She started to use air quotes. "He's not my boss, but he's my boss."

"I think I get it," Epel said. "Though you guys act more like siblings to me."

"What a deep bond you two share," Rook praised. "I can't wait to see your touching reunion!"

"I understand what you mean, though you phrased that in such an awkward way," Vil admitted. "To be called such a demeaning title for so long, and turn it into a term of endearment… you are a strange one, Jill Bones."

Jill gave a genuine snort of laughter, which bewildered the Pomefiore housewarden. "Dude!" Jill chuckled. "You've known me for like six months, and you're realizing this just now? Of course I'm strange! I'm a goth from another world, remember? Keep up, man!"

Rook and Epel couldn't help but chuckle as well, and even Vil cracked a small smile. "Of course I knew that," Vil said quietly.

The levity was erased, however, when the four were faced with an elevator. What's more, unlike the dead one above, this one had its doors open.

"This is the only way down, and it seems operational… so this is Monsieur Wonder's doing," Rook deduced.

"If that's true, then Ortho won't give us an easy ride," Vil said. "Keep on your toes, everyone."

He slowly stepped into the elevator, followed by the other three. As soon as everyone was inside, the doors closed in on them, reminding Jill somewhat of an iron maiden.

The screen in front of them showed a holographic Idia. He grinned with a sharklike set of teeth, and his golden eyes seemed somewhat… foggy. There were bags under his eyes, too—maybe those were always there and Jill just didn't notice until now. His fiery hair was a bit more erratic than usual, flickering around his head rather than slowly drifting.

"Hey, welcome, guys… and girl," he greeted. "Most people don't even get to see the Underworld! You should feel honored."

"Cut the polite act! If you want to fight us, just take this elevator down to your level already!" Epel ordered.

"Patience, Epel," Rook said soothingly. "We should let our host speak."

"Boy, you're the kind of guy who just skips cutscenes and side-missions, aren't you?" Idia asked irritably. "No respect for the story and characters! Well, hate to break it to you, but we're doing this my way!"

"Yes, we know. You're the boss," Vil said tiredly. "I assume you're going to give us challenges along the way, with you as the final hurdle?"

"Yep, and this is just the first challenge!" Idia said. "You're gonna play Star Rogue: A Hero's Dawn!"

"…That video game we played earlier?" Jill finally spoke. "No offense, but we already beat this one."

"Since when were you guys playing videogames?" Epel asked enviously.

"That was a side-mission," Idia excused. "And you'll find this a little harder than last time. Now you use your finger to guide your starship around the screen. Shoot for glory amongst the stars and soar like a comet!"

The screen changed to the familiar astral logo, and Vil stepped up to play, since he had beaten the previous level. As his ship moved through the cosmos, Jill found herself huddled behind him with Rook and Epel, glancing over the celebrity's shoulder to watch. Just as Vil seemed to have it in the bag, however… multicolored lasers shot at him from all sides, instantly destroying his vessel and all three lives.

"What?!" Vil cried in alarm.

"How devious! There was no way to avoid that attack," Rook noted with frustration.

"Yeah, that wasn't fair!" Epel complained.

"Idia," Jill said. "There's no way that's the next level of the game. You hacked it, didn't you?"

Idia reappeared, looking smug. "Who said I hacked it?" he asked innocently. "Maybe Vil just picked up your bad luck."

"Idia, you owe us a fair challenge!" Vil reminded him. "It wouldn't be a fun quest if we were stopped so soon, don't you think?"

"Alright, fine, I was just trolling you," Idia admitted. "I'll reset it and make it fair, but! You have to let either Rook or Epel play this time. Let a newb take the wheel."

"Rook or me, huh…?" Epel thought. "Could I play?"

"I would rather let Rook take this one, since he's more experienced with games…" Vil said.

"Oh, please let Monsieur Pommette play," Rook urged. "I want to watch his hero's journey."

"I couldn't beat this game without Grim's help," Jill admitted. "But I bet you can. You got this!"

Epel stepped up to the monitor as the game restarted. The other three spectated, giving him instructions on what to do, until Epel got the hang of it for himself. And he wasn't bad at all for his first try—he was able to defeat the titanic enemy and pass the level with one life remaining.

"I did it!" Epel cheered. "Take that, Idia! In your face!"

"Well done, Epel!" Rook said. He clapped Epel's shoulder, Jill gave Epel a fist-bump, and Vil patted his student on the head.

"Yeah, yeah, you win this one," Idia said. "Just be ready for the enemies below."

"Enemies…" Jill could guess that they were Phantoms, or maybe even Titans. "Wait!" she cried. "Idia, please tell me… is Grim down there too? Is he okay?"

"Who knows?" Idia asked.

"Idia, please," Jill said. "I know you like to keep to yourself, but… you and Ortho are my friends, too. Whatever you're going through, destroying the world with the Titans isn't going to solve anything! Just talk to me and I can—"

"Jill." Idia cut across her. "Remember what you used to say when you would drag me over to you instead of just messaging me like a decent person?"

"…Huh?" Jill was taken aback.

"Important things are best done in person," Idia quoted. "Or something like that. So whatever protag friendship speech you have, save it for when we face off, okay? It's most dramatic that way." His smug smile finally slipped off his face. "Not that it matters," he said coldly, "because we were never friends in the first place. Maybe Ortho had a soft spot for you, but I always hated the 'headstrong heroine who's friends with everyone' archetype. You're like an annoying little kid hyped up on sugar, you cause problems for everyone… oh, and you're barely goth."

Jill stared at him, hurt and confused. The other three glared at the hologram until he disappeared, and the elevator started to move.

"Idia…" Jill muttered. "That's how you feel, huh…?"

"Don't take it personally. Idia isn't friendly with anyone except his brother," Vil told her. "There's a reason why he doesn't show up in-person to housewarden meetings."

"Roi de sa Chambre is a mysterious one," Rook said. "Nevertheless, we'll confront his ideals and save our beautiful world. Maybe then we could become true friends."

"…Maybe Idia is just mad at you for the wedding incident," Epel said. "You know, that time when you tried to help that ghost princess only for her to take your words the wrong way and kidnap Idia—"

"I said I was sorry for that like a million times!" Jill suddenly cried. "Whatever! We're stopping Idia whether he likes us or not!"

As the Pomefiores agreed and started to discuss possible strategies for the lower levels, Jill glanced at her reflection in the metallic elevator wall. Every flicker of light seemed like a flame, and every passing shadow seemed like a running direbeast…

Idia's rejection was only the most recent pain Jill was feeling right now.