And back with Chapter 10.
To be fair back when I first wrote Kenshi I pondered long on whatever I should implement "comic-relief" moments in this fic which is meant to be M-rated, but reading over this Chapter again...maybe it wasn't such a bad idea, after all?
It's not my forte, but it looks somehow ok, I guess?
Anyway, that's about it.
Kay bye.
XXX
The girl gasped for air, just somehow managing to stand up again. She tightened the grip on her rapier and faced her opponent. "...Huff...Huff...A-Again."
"...Sigh...Very well, then." Her opponent nodded and took his stance again, a good five meters between them.
Each stared at the other, watching for diminutive movements that could allow them insight into their opponent's next move. A moment turned to two, and two to four.
First to take the initiative and attack had been Fuzen and he came at Ais with a low, upwards slash. She side-stepped and aimed her rapier at his neck with a thrust. Fuzen leaned back, avoiding the sharp tip of his opponent's weapon, and turning his grip into a reverse grip, slashed once again, this time downwards. From her unstable form which was born out of her thrusting position, Ais could not completely avoid the attack, and it cut her skin just above the elbow.
It was not a deep cut by any means, just her skin being nicked, however Ais felt dissatisfied at being wounded first during this round.
And all rounds before, as well.
From her new position, facing Fuzen's left unarmed side, Ais dashed forward and threw a roundhouse kick. It had been Fuzen's own suggestion that Ais should try and integrate kicks into her fighting style, as she was nimble and fast and it could give her an edge when it most mattered.
Fuzen however dodged the kick by ducking low and twisting his body from that low position, kicked Ais's supporting leg himself, throwing the girl back on her butt. In a split second, he was above her, his sword stuck into the ground just near her neck.
"...I win." He said, for the twelfth time on that day.
"...Again." Ais stated, her determination not shaken. It was painful for someone as driven as her to lose this much, to a boy three Level her junior, but she could not allow herself to be shaken.
"...Very well."
As so the two went at it again, for the thirteenth time within the span of under thirty minutes. In the distance, a group of people observed them as their blades clashed against one another.
Firstly, there was Finn, the one who actually asked for the two to spar.
It had been three days since Fuzen completed his so called ritual and Finn wanted to see the fruit of his power-up, as the boy called it. As for why he asked for Ais, well, he was very aware the golden Princess desired to spar with the boy and only held herself back because Finn asked of her, to allow Fuzen his space.
Thus, it was only logical that he ask the two to spar.
To his right was Gareth, standing cross-armed and observing the fight with great interest. One could say the dwarf and the boy were complete opposites: one valued pure strength in battle, while the other speed and technique. However, it went without saying that the two held great respect for the other's skills, even if said respect was never put into words.
To Finn's left was Loki, also silently observing the fight in front of her. So far she had few opportunities to actually see the real, serious Fuzen, as he mostly only trained by himself while at the Manor, and for what went inside the Dungeon, the Goddess could only try to imagine from Finn's reports. At the moment, however, she was grinning like a madwoman, no longer caring about hiding her true colours.
Neither of the two Executives besides her had the courage to ask her why she was so excited, though the answer was simple: Loki was simply overjoyed to see the boy she accepted back then into her Familia on a whim was not a simple hidden gem, but rather, a diamond of the highest value.
Besides the three leading figures of the Familia stood Lefiya, Raul and Aki as well as some other, newer members of the Familia.
Somehow, word spread around that Finn called for this spar between the two swordsmen, and a little audience had gathered even before the two began. Finn suspected Loki had something to do with it, but there was little point in trying to figure that out now.
"What do you think, Gareth?" Finn asked his old-time friend. As luck had it, the few times Fuzen was actually part of any group from their Familia, the dwarf had not been present and so Elgarm could only imagine the boy's skills from the words of others.
In response to Finn's question, the dwarf smiled as he stroked his beard. "He's good. Very good. Makes an old-timer like me get all excited just from watching."
"Well, you're not wrong." Finn shrugged. He would lie if he was to say he didn't feel the same. They were Adventurers at heart, after all.
"Hehehe~" Loki in contrast simply laughed, her grin not letting up at all. Oh, her Familia was filled with such talented Children, she couldn't be more proud.
Found my other one, now Ais won't be alone anymore~ I ain't gonna go back on my word, but Fuzen-kun, I won't let you stay in the shadows like this anymore~ Hehe, got a good idea, too.
In the distance, the thirteenth battle had also ended, once again in Fuzen's favour and the next one began at Ais's insistence.
Despite what others who simply watched would believe, winning was never an easy task to achieve for Fuzen.
Ais was not weak by any means.
Sure, she was Level 5 and already had a big advantage on Fuzen regarding physical power, speed and stamina, which was her normal strength while Fuzen needed to imbue his body with Ki to match her.
But it wasn't just her normal strength which made it hard for him to win, but also her two strongest attributes: talent and adaptability.
The girl was very adaptable. Naturally, they had engaged in many spars since he joined the Familia, but nonetheless, she began to...see, or maybe feel was a better word, a little bit through the Lightning Sword Style. Granted, the immeasurable explosive speed of Fuzen's strikes were still too far away for her to counter, evade or parry efficiently, however the boy noticed it: her eyes, following the patterns of his attacks.
Learning.
Memorizing.
It was slow, yes, but it was there. And secondly...
Talent.
Ais was very talented in sword fighting. Extremely so, Fuzen thought. She lacked the discipline he had acquired over many years, and she also lacked a centralized style at her core. However, Fuzen didn't really think that was something bad in itself.
It was simply a reminder of why the Lighting Sword Style was created by the Founder. Ais was strong while he was weak. And that is why he could not allow himself to lose.
"...I win." He stated again, his sword just an inch away from piercing through the girl's throat.
"...Tsk. Again."
"No." He refused for the first time since they began.
"…!"
"I don't have your monstrous stamina, in case you forgot, Wallenstein-sama." Well, with his latest awakening, his stamina was no longer such a big problem, but Ais didn't need to know that now. "Our fourteen spars took over twenty minutes combined. You are also stubborn, not unlike me." Fuzen said, sheathing his sword. "For this whole ordeal to reach a satisfactory conclusion for you, we would need to spar another fifteen times, and you would need to win them all."
"…" Ais said nothing, for she knew Fuzen was not wrong. If she won once, she would ask to go again, and again, and again, until she had won more times than him. With a sigh, the golden-haired girl nodded and sheathed her own rapier.
The sounds of hands clapping in applause drew both their attention to the side, their Goddess and Captain approaching them. "Nice display of skills, both of you~" The Goddess cheered as she skipped her way to them, obviously happy for some reason or another. "Ais, you must feel bad for losing, lemme give you a hug~"
Ais skilfully avoided the Goddess which flew straight at her, and nodding to Fuzen for his time, made her way back to the Manor. What she felt exactly, the boy could not tell, but she probably needed time to process. To think.
About what? He didn't know.
Other people's thoughts were way above his ability to understand.
"I got to say, though…" Fuzen looked over to the Captain, on whose lips a smile was forming. "I don't know what exactly you did in your ritual, but your movement has changed drastically if compared to the you from before and during the expedition."
"Yes, Captain. I have been able to reach new heights." The boy simply nodded.
It was not pride that backed his words, however, as Finn noticed. Everyone would be proud of such achievements, but Fuzen was not. More probably, he was just stating a fact, like how one would state the obvious, for example, that the sky was blue.
"Quite true indeed. Thank you for agreeing to show us these new heights. It will help me better prepare our formation for the next expedition."
"I am glad to have been of help, Captain. Is there anything else I can do to help you, or may I return to my training?" The boy asked. Sure enough it was morning, and many other members were still just getting up or were eating their breakfast. Still, having been informed of the Captain's desire for him to spar first thing in the morning, Fuzen had skipped over the first few hours of his usual training, desiring to be in an appropriate shape for sparring against someone naturally stronger than him.
"No, that would be all. Thank you again-"
"Not so fast!" The red-haired Goddess jumped back to her feet, in-between Finn and Fuzen. "Sorry for this, lil' Fuzen, but I'm in need of you today."
"...Why?"
"Well, there's some things I want to take care of, and I want you to accompany me." She grinned, it was a small grin, but one which Fuzen noticed nonetheless.
"...I take it you are making use of our agreement? That you can call upon me whenever you desire?" His question was met by a nod and he sighed. Troublesome as it was, he did agree to it, so there was nothing he could do to prevent it.
Most probably, it would not be something too troublesome. His Goddess was a good woman, despite her drinking habits, and despite the fact that she used the Familia money to purchase expensive alcohol even when they were in the red.
She was a good woman, even though she was a pervert, and loud, and lazy, and a drunk, and…
…
…
…
"...Huh." Fuzen stared at the Goddess, who quickly realized what the look in his eyes was: disappointment.
"Hey, what's that look you're giving me for?!"
"...Nothing, Loki-sama. Just...a moment of enlightenment, is all."
"...Somehow, I think you were making fun of me in your mind."
"I, making fun of you?" Fuzen asked, his eyes darting to the side. "I would never."
"…"
"…"
"Anyway, your disappointing look aside, let's go."
"Right now?"
"Yes! We gotta hurry!"
Fuzen looked over to the Captain who simply shrugged. That was his way of saying Loki was beyond his authority, and thus he could not intervene.
With yet another sigh, he noticed he began to sigh a lot lately, Fuzen followed after his high-spirited Goddess.
XXX
"Wait, you want to request another expedition for our group?" The human man, sitting at the table behind a mountain of papers and log books, asked with raised eyebrows. It was a sudden request, to say the least.
"Well, duh." The black-haired Cat girl nodded in return. "So do us all a favour, as leader of the second Group, and ask Captain Finn about it."
"Aki…" Raul sighed, and leaned back in his seat. Great, this just meant more work. "And you all, too...Was this a group decision?"
Behind Aki were other members of their Familia: Alicia, Cruz, Narvi, Rakta and Line. Together with him and Aki, they made up the second Group of the Loki Familia.
Because of the size of their Familia, being one of the largest Expedition-type Familia in Orario, their members were carefully put together into groups.
Finn was the overall Commander, and Riveria and Gareth just below him as the two Top Executives. Next were the other Executives: Ais, the twins and Bete. They made up the first group of Loki Familia, along with Lefiya who, despite her lower Level, was nonetheless part of their group thanks to her incredible magical talents and potential.
Overall, there was not one soul in Orario, Adventurer or civilian, who didn't knew the elite first group of Loki Familia. If they didn't know their faces, then at the very least, they would know of their accomplishments.
And then, below the elite first group, were they, the second Group. They were by no means weak: their second group consisted of only Second Class Adventurers, meaning Level 3 and 4, with the exception of their mage, healer and support, Line.
And still, despite their overall power and nigh-flawless Quest and expedition history, few people knew of them. Besides the Guild employers and allied Familias, they were rarely talked about.
A group of powerful individual, forever living in the shadow of even more incredible individuals.
"It was indeed a group decision." Alicia, the graceful Elf, nodded. "We all desire to grow. To become stronger."
"...Why the sudden flaming determination?" Raul asked. As leader of the second group, he knew his comrades well, yet they rarely showed such burning desires.
"Why…?" They looked at each other, and mentally nodded together. There was only one reason why. "Isn't it obvious? You were there, too. Earlier today, I mean."
"...Ahh…" Raul finally understood what they were all so fired up about. Just a while earlier, in the morning, the Captain had Ais spar with their youngest member, Fuzen. Ever since the day he joined by defeating the same golden-haired girl he also defeated today, his mysterious strength was a hot topic around the Manor.
Many members had frequent discussions about him, yet because of the boy's withdrawn personality and his iron-like determination to simply train and not interact with anyone, few had the courage to approach him. "So it's Fuzen again."
"Well...yes. I mean...isn't he too strong?" Aki asked. "He's a Level 2, yet he manages to defeat the Ais. If a Level 2 can do that, then where does it leave us? We're mostly Level 4's here, yet none of us has a chance at defeating Ais. If we don't get stronger, then…"
...So it's a matter of pride, after all...Sigh...I wonder if that boy even understand how his feats affect the rest of us…
With yet another sigh, Raul nodded and got up from his seat. "Very well, then. I'll go talk to the Captain."
"Thanks a lot, Raul! So you can be helpful sometimes, too!"
"Hey, that was uncalled for!" He shouted back, slightly annoyed at the remark. Still…
If that boy's feats have this sort of effect on even our Second Class members, I wonder how those with his same Level feel...Maybe I should bring this to the Captain's attention…
Raul wasn't sure, but it seemed like the boy's feats and achievements somehow resonated with a lot of members. It made them strive for greater heights, as well. Both Ais, as far as he had observed, as well as the Second Class Adventurers. If somehow they also resonated with the lower Level members, then those who dealt with the paperwork in the Familia, meaning the Captain and him, needed to be prepared for requests of going into the Dungeon. After all, despite what others believed, it was a lot of work especially since the Guild had to be informed of expeditions like the ones Aki and the others wanted undergo.
Sigh...If I bring this matter to the Captain, then he will probably push all that work onto me, as well…
Letting his shoulders drop, Raul decided to do it anyway.
Ohh, what he didn't do for the Familia…
XXX
"So...why do I need to do this, again?" Fuzen asked, still looking into the mirror before him. After leaving the Twilight Manor, he had followed the Goddess as she walked around town, at first giving the impression of having no set destination in mind.
They had stop at a few stands, as Loki wanted to try some of the food, then walked some more and then his Goddess entered a shop dealing with alcohol, apparently making an order for a shipment back to their home.
After that was taken care of, Loki had Fuzen follow her all the way to the sixth District, where the market place was located, as well as countless other shops. Once there, they entered a clothing shop and she had him dress up in different suits and other formal clothing.
"Oh, come now, you look adorable~!" Loki laughed as she sat down on a chair nearby, the chop clerk also by her side. "What do you think?"
"It suits him really well, Lady Loki. The light grey colour makes his long dark hair stand out even more." The shop clerk nodded. She was probably just saying that because she desired both of them to buy something and leave.
After all, Fuzen had been trying out clothes at Loki's request for the better part of an hour.
"Hmm...Yeah, I like the colour, but not the tuxedo…" Loki got up, and looked around the shop some more. For once, she showed intense focus on her face compared to her otherwise carefree one. Then, she stopped, and pulled out another suit. "This one looks nice! Fuzen, put it on!"
"...Sigh...You have not answered my question…" He nonetheless grabbed the new suit and went back to the changing room.
The new suit was also light-grey, like the tuxedo before it, however it was slightly less extravagant. Besides the simple light-grey trousers, it was made up of a black shirt, a dark grey vest and a light-grey, six buttoned breasted tailcoat.
Not one second after leaving the changing room and stepping forward, Loki shot up from her seat, a wide smile on her face. "That's the one! You look great, lil' Fuzen! How do you feel?"
"...How?" The question was strange, if nothing else. He was unfamiliar with the western clothing, so he could not compare them to other such clothing. However..."It's sticking to my body and it's limiting my mobility. I can't fight at full efficiency in these clothes. It feels gross."
"Buhahaha! I heard many things, but never has anyone said clothes feel gross! Nice one, Fuzen! Anyway, we're buying them, nonetheless!"
Fuzen simply sighed and nodded. There was not a lot he could do in this situation, after all, except go along with his Goddess's will. Honour demanded it. "If Loki-sama says so…"
"Indeed I do! Now change back and let's be on our way!" Loki said as she proceeded to the cash desk to pay for the clothes.
Once the payment had been done, an Fuzen changed back into his normal clothes which he had never before missed so much, the two left the shop and were once again walking down on the main road of the district. "I'm hungry, so let's go eat something." Loki suggested all of a sudden.
"...Did you not eat back at the stands, Loki-sama?"
"Hey now, don't question your Goddess. What'cha wanna eat?"
"...I am not hungry. Loki-sama can choose whatever she wishes."
"Come on, it's a date! Show a bit more enthusiasm! You're here, all alone with your cute Goddess."
"...A date? What's that?" The boy asked, looking up at his taller Goddess. As far as she could tell from his expression, he had actually asked that question thanks to a lack of knowledge of such things.
"Ahhh...I guess you are too young for those things, at the moment...Anyway, briefly explained, it's when two people spend time together doing things."
"...It doesn't sound very productive. Why not train, instead?" Fuzen asked again.
"Well, because a date is fun while training is not!" Loki answered.
"...Fun?"
"Yeah! Aren't you having fun?" She asked cheerfully.
"Not at all."
Loki had almost felt the blunt response as a fist in her gut. "Gah?!"
"Is Loki-sama having...fun?"
"Well, yes! I get to spend time with my adorable child, so of course I am having fun!"
"Then, that is enough. Please continue focusing on having fun."
"...Sigh...Anyway, I know a good place with the best ribs Orario has to offer! Follow me, my adorable if somehow withdrawn and completely clueless child!" Loki pointed ahead, her speed increasing along with her fervour.
Following his Goddess the two soon arrived at a restaurant, the smell of cooked meat impossible to miss from half a street away. Once inside they sat down at a booth-like table, cut off from the other tables by high wooden panels, and Loki ordered the ribs she mentioned before along with booze for her and water for Fuzen, per his request.
"So, Fuzen." She took a gulp of her beer, then focused her gaze on her currently youngest Familia member. "How do you find my Familia so far? You've been part of it for like, what, eleven months now?"
"That is correct, Loki-sama. Eleven months is correct. As for your question…" He paused, and thought about it. Besides being one of the two strongest Familia within the Dungeon City, there were many good sides to the Loki Familia and not one truly bad side he could think of. "I can positively say I cannot think of a single wrong thing about your Familia, Loki-sama. The Executives are reliable, if only somehow eccentric, and the others are all motivated and eager to grow. The way things are running is also very smooth, and despite the freedom you allow us, the others are well-disciplined and follow Captain Finn's orders to the letter while in the Dungeon. You have also allowed me the freedom I asked for, and for that, I am eternally grateful to you, Loki-sama."
"Hmhm...I see, I see. I'm glad to hear you are feeling well in my Familia." She nodded a couple of times, taking another sip of her alcohol. "Still, I feel like I somehow went back on my agreement with you. Finn did manage to convince me to have you be part of regular expeditions, after all...What's your take on that?"
He was aware of what she spoke. He was also aware that it did not keep up with their agreement, made eleven months ago. However…
You have not done anything for the Familia.
"...I...do not mind…" Fuzen felt the words he uttered choking him. He looked up, at his Goddess and noticed her piercing stare directed at him. He could not do it. "...It seems I cannot lie to you. Is it because you are a Goddess?"
"Well, that too. But I think it has more to do with you than with me being a Deity."
"...I do feel slightly betrayed. Our agreement was that I could spend all my time training, unless you yourself called upon me and the strength of the Lighting Sword Style. Captain Finn's desires and wishes were not part of the agreement. Even if he is the Captain."
"Mhm."
"My training is much more important for me than others would believe. It's not just about polishing my skills, it's...deeper than that. Slaying Monsters is also helpful for my growth as a Disciple of my Sword Style, but not so much as the daily training I do, and the techniques I use during said training to become stronger. However…"
"Hm?"
"...I felt ashamed. When Captain Finn told me I have not done anything for the Familia before our expedition, the words cut through me like the sharpest of blades. Grasping the heavens is the one goal I have, and for which I will do anything to reach. But...I don't want to be that kind of person, either. One who doesn't contribute to his own Familia. One who only ever gains something for himself. So...I do not mind it. Even if it goes against our agreement."
Their eyes locked, and Loki simply stared at him for a couple of moments. Fuzen felt like she was reading him not unlike an open book. Was it because she was a Deity, or was it simply because she was that kind of person? He did not know, but he did not feel...uncomfortable at all, even though he usually did when mortals tried to do the same. After a few more moments, she smiled. "I see. Thank you."
"There is no reason for Loki-sama to thank me. It is simply what I wish to do. Honour demands it."
"Hehe, if you say so." Just then the food Loki ordered arrived, and she immediately grabbed the cooked ribs. "Mhm, those things are truly delish~! Try some!"
"I am not hungry, Loki-sama."
"Come on, at least one! Do it for me?" Loki proceeded to strike some sort of cute pose following her question. For what reason, Fuzen did not know. He simply stared blankly at his Goddess for a moment, before proceeding to try some of the food himself. "How is it?"
"...Highly flavoured, unlike the food I usually eat."
"Change is not bad once in a while, dont'cha think?"
"...If Loki-sama says so."
One more order of ribs and three beers later the pair of two left the restaurant and were on their way back to the Twilight Manor. They had left roughly two hours before noon, and after roughly one hour at the clothing shop and another hour or so at the restaurant, it was now noon. Orario was the city which never slept, and thus the streets were always bustling with life, however compared to before it was now even more lively.
Though he had declined multiple times, Fuzen's now somehow tipsy Goddess insisted they hold hands as to not get separated. He countered her words with the fact that if he was to hold hands, he could not draw his sword fast enough in case something were to happen.
Still, it was hard to make Loki agree to something entirely different from what she decided, and even more so when she was under the effect of alcohol, and so Fuzen had yielded in the end.
...For some reason, this is...highly embarrassing…
"Hehehe, don't be so embarrassed now. Nothing wrong with a Goddess and her Child holding hands on a highly crowded street, now is there?"
"...We both know the way back home, Loki-sama…"
"Don't sweat the small stuff!" She shot back within a fraction of a second.
"...Sigh...Gods truly are fickle beings, aren't th-?"
*Stare*
In a single moment, he grabbed the scabbard of his sword, and jumped in front of Loki, the hand holding hers now on the hilt of his sword. His instincts flared up and he looked through back towards the location where he felt someone's eyes gazing upon him like a predator staring at a herbivore from the safety and assurance of stealth.
"What's wrong?" His Goddess asked as her eyes shot wide open. Besides her, a few other people nearby stopped to look at the battle-ready swordsman.
"...Danger. From up there." Loki traced with her eyes the place Fuzen was starring at.
The Tower of Babel.
It's upper Floors, to be precise.
"...Fuzen. What did you feel?"
"I felt a stare. Like that of a predator." He said without relaxing his stance, ready to draw his sword at a moment's notice. His soul be damned if he let anything happen to his Goddess.
"Hmmm…"
If it's the Babel and it's upper floors, it can only be one person…
"...Don't worry about it, Fuzen. Forget it." Loki stated with a wave of her hand, her tipsiness already gone as if by some miracle.
"No." He shot down her words immediately, not taking his hand off the handle of his sword, even as the onlookers began to grow in number.
"Hm?"
"I cannot be certain if this predator had me or you in sight. I will escort you back to our home, then go and deal with whoever is up there, even if it means blood must be drawn. I won't let any sort of danger exist as long as it could have you in it's sight, Loki-sama."
A couple of moments later, Fuzen felt a pair of arms gently wrap around his torso, his Goddess's body pressing against his back. "Ow, my hero~ But I really meant it, Fuzen, don't worry about it. It's not a danger."
"...Do you know something regarding this predator, Loki-sama?"
"Sort of? Anyway, that person won't be a problem, so don't worry."
"So it's a person, after all?"
"Well, more like a pervert, to be precise." Loki replied and then pulled herself back. Fuzen, too nodded and took his hand off the handle. "Anyway, let's go back home. We need to prepare you for tonight."
"...Whatever could you mean by that, Loki-sama?" He asked as they continued walking, though he focuses his senses, just in case someone would decide to attack them, or otherwise.
"There's a banquet held by Dian Cecht tonight, and I decided to attend at the last moment. Oh, and you're accompanying me, thus the new clothes."
"Wait what?"
XXX
It has grown. Morphed, even.
The woman thought as she looked down below, from her seat which was closest to Heaven in the lower world. Her eyes followed the speck of brilliance in the distance, ever so easy to notice despite the crowds of souls in the Dungeon City.
Most intriguing. To think duality could be found inside a soul...Hmhm, I'd never have guessed a soul so stained would be so interesting…
A smirk took shape on her cherry-pink lips..
Truly, the lower world was such a beautiful realm, alongside it's Children who had such an abundance of disparity among each other. Gods were never-changing beings, one of the reasons the woman got bored of Heaven and decided to come here, where the ever-changing Children lived.
For now, I'll simply observe in which direction his soul will grow more..
XXX
It had been a day which lacked in productivity, and he was not happy about it.
He could not train, thanks to multiple factors, the biggest of which had been his very own Goddess. Shortly after coming home, Loki had been instructing Fuzen on how the banquet would go, when to be polite and when to take a stand, how to dance and so on. Riveria, too, had been called by Loki to help with the preparations.
By the time they were done, the sun had begun to set and their time to leave came, the carriage Loki called for already waiting for them outside their Manor.
Fuzen was already prepared, dressed in the suit the Goddess has purchased for him and was now waiting outside said Goddess's room. As for Loki, she was still inside, roughly four female members helping her with getting dressed, make-up and so on.
"Lady Loki, please stay still!"
"That tickles, damn it!"
"Well, I can't put on your make-up if you don't stand still!"
"Gah-! Lady Loki, don't touch my chest!"
"Hehe~ You're also touching me, so it's only fair, no?"
His enhanced hearing allowing him to hear everything that was happening behind the closed door, only one thought crossed Fuzen's mind as he stood perfectly still outside the room.
...Women are weird.
Roughly fifteen minutes later, his Goddess was finally ready and stepped out of the room. The dress she choose for this banquet was a pale-pink chiffon dress, with a V-neck cleavage. Her shoulders and back were likewise exposed.
"Are you finished, Loki-sama?"
"Yeah, let's go! Uhh...by the way, you have to leave that behind." Loki said as she pointed at Raiju no Yoki, fastened at Fuzen's belt.
"The sword stays on."
"Uhh, it's a banquet."
"The sword stays on."
"Look, there's no danger there-"
"The sword. Stays. On."
"…"
"…"
"...Sigh...Very well...We will deal with it when the time comes. So yeah, let's go-go-go!"
"Very well, then." Fuzen nodded and focused on what Riveria had thought him a few hours earlier.
His behaviour and etiquette at the banquet could and would reflect the Familia at large, so he needed to remain focused throughout the whole night. Like Riveria told him, the banquet would be, despite the lack of combat, a battlefield where weaknesses and shortcomings were sought after. And it began from the moment they left home, until the time they came back.
As such, Fuzen straightened his back and extended his hand forward. He would simply follow everything the High Elf told him to the letter. "Then, let us be off, my Lady."
"Heee~ Look who learned well today…" The Goddess smiled and took his hand, allowing him to escort her down the tower where her room was located.
Fuzen as an Adventurer had a rather fast paced walk usually, and he found it rather difficult to match the slower speed of his Goddess. Nonetheless, he simply saw it as part of training and did his best to follow the etiquette Riveria spoke about.
Once outside and at the carriage, he opened the door for Loki before stepping inside as well. The driver took off at a slow speed and the two made their way towards the home of the Dian Cecht Familia.
"By the way, Fuzen, what do you know of Dian Cecht?" His Goddess asked. Truth be told, he knew little of that specific God. Actually, he knew little of any Deities in Orario.
"He is greedy?" As always, Fuzen answered bluntly and with no hesitation followed by a small shrug of his shoulders.
"Buhahaha! Indeed, he is! It's a wonder he even decided to hold a banquet, taking in consideration how much it costs. Still, our two Familia have a good relationship, so be on your best behaviour, will ya?"
"As Loki-sama orders." He nodded. "I have a question, as well."
"What is it?"
"I find it difficult myself to understand Gods. Is there a specific reason why Dian Cecht-sama decided to hold this festivity?"
"Oh, you didn't know? I thought you would, taking in consideration your hand in it."
"What do you mean?"
"You see, Gods usually don't reveal the Abilities of their Children to the public. You know why that is so?"
"...To avoid having ill-meaning people make use of the information and gain the upper hand in case they are targeting said Familia?"
"Quite so, quiet so. Skills and Abilities are factors which can influence the outcome of a battle, meaning they can determine whatever you live or die." Loki explained and he nodded. That was indeed true for most Adventurers. "However, there is one exception to this unsaid rule."
"There is?"
"Yeah. Medicinal-type Familia usually make sure the Abilities and Skills of their Doctors are known far and wide. After all, if people know their children have Abilities which can improve potions and elixirs, then that's a big reason to buy said items from them."
"...I see. That is indeed true…"
"So you see, one of Dian Cecht's children just so happened to get a new Ability a short while ago, and that is the reason why that greedy old man decided to spend money for this banquet. He hopes that by spreading news of this to most Gods, his Familia will earn more money."
"Oh, that makes sense."
"Yep!"
"But what did you mean when you said I had a hand in this whole ordeal?"
"Hm? Ah, it seems that cute little Dea Saint is the one who got a new Ability. After working with the Monster Rex Drop Item you gave her."
"...Oh...Ohhh….I see."
So that was the reason...Huh. I did not think my gift to her would have this big of an outcome…
"Yeah, it's really something. That old geezer is greedy, all right, but he's not without his own peculiar kind of honour. He'll probably deny any sort of questions as to your involvement in the matter, but he won't forget it. You could say your action that time forever improved the relation between our two Familia."
"...I see. I am glad to have been helpful to the Familia."
"Indeed you were. So no more talk about being ashamed, okay~?"
Her words were more helpful that Loki probably even knew herself.
Fuzen was an individual who simply focused on one matter and ignored everything else which wasn't linked to said matter. He had been that way for as long as he could remember.
However, that was no longer an option. He was now part of a large, active Familia, and thus he needed to pull his own weight while also pulling the weight of the Falna on his back. Something he forgot until the Captain made his aware of it.
"...Thank you."
"Hm?"
"We have arrived." The carriage driver informed as their carriage come to a halt. Fuzen opened the door first and stepped outside, immediately being greeted by the palatial manor of the Dian Cecht Familia. It was, although not on par with the Twilight Manor, quite large and made of white marble.
One could say that while the Twilight Manor had been built in order to house their many many members, and thus prioritized living space above luxury, the Dian Cecht was quite the opposite: it prioritized luxury and showing off their status above anything else.
"Quite the show-off, isn't he?" Loki asked mockingly as she exited the carriage next, Fuzen quickly extending his hand for her to grab on. They were at the moment in front of the Dian Manor and around them were many other carriages, some having arrived at the same time, others a while earlier, going by the carriage drivers waiting patiently until the banquet would be over to bring the Deities and their Children back home.
"Gods are generally quite...strange." Fuzen replied.
"Buhaha, indeed we are, no denying that! Now let's go!"
With his right hand holding Loki's , and his left hand pushing on the hilt of his sword, in order to lift on it and avoid the scabbard's end dragging along the ground, Fuzen walked on towards the entrance of the Manor.
Two members of Dian Cecht stood at the door, both older males Fuzen had never seen before at the shop.
"Good evening, Lady Loki." Both greeted with a polite bow, then looked over to Fuzen, and the sword fastened at his hip. After a couple of moments of staring at the beautiful design of said sword, both cleared their throat. "We apologize, but weapons are not allowed during this banquet."
"The sword stays on." Fuzen replied, his expression blank.
"Uhh...again, we apologize-"
"The sword stays on."
"…"
"…"
"I'm really sorry, but you see, my adorable little child over here cannot let go of his sword." Loki intervened, more amused at the turn of events than anything else. "It's like a curse, you see. He'll die if he ever lets go."
"...Uhh…"
"Look, let me talk with Dian Cecht, alright? We're allied Familia, so I'm sure we will come to some agreement."
"Just so you know, Loki-sama, I am not entrusting this sword to anyone. It will stay on me. If someone tries to touch it, hands will fly off this night."
Now slightly shaken by the young boy's statement, one of the two bouncers had the two follow him through the Dian Manor straight into the garden on the other side of their property, where the banquet was taking place.
Many tables were spread symmetrically across the flawless garden, and it was bustling with Gods and the member they choose to have accompany them on this festivity. Their guide spotted his God in the distance, and walked with the two to him. Upon seeing Loki, Dian Cecht, dressed in expensive white clothes, broke off from the group of Gods he was conversing with, and approach Loki.
"Loki. I thought you would not come." The older-looking God said, arms spread wide open.
"I managed to take care of business quickly, and found time to come, after all. How are you?"
"All is well." Dian Cecht nodded, and then looked over to Fuzen. By now, the bouncer approached him, whispering something in his ear, and the God nodded. "I see we are at an impasse. Still...bah, forget it. It's no trouble." He waved his hand and the bouncer nodded, going back to resume his duties.
"Thanks, Dian! My child over here is obsessed with swords, you see. Can't make him let go of one." Loki laughed, patting Fuzen on his head.
...Somehow, I don't like this treatment at all…
"So you are Fuzen, huh?" The older God stroked his beard, looking Fuzen once over. "My Amid talked about you."
"It is a pleasure meeting you in person, Dian Cecht-sama. I hope the fact I refused to let go of my sword has not inconvenienced you too much on this festive night."
"No, no, it's fine. You're one of Loki's Children, I doubt you would actually try anything foolish. Just enjoy yourselves." With another wave of his hand the God broke off from them, making his way to greet other Deities who had just arrived.
"...So...what are we to do next, Loki-sama?"
"Just have fun, listen to some gossip here and there, make fun of other Gods, those kinda sutff!"
"...Understood. I shall simply remain silent, then." Fuzen nodded, and simply followed his Goddess as she strolled around, first eating some of the food on display, then making full use of the opportunity to drink alcohol.
All the while she conversed with Deities who approached her, and spoke about trivial matters which only Gods could ever find interesting. He had politely greeted anyone who approached them, and then quickly returned to his statue-like position at his Goddess's side.
"Ah, here you are." Hearing the voice of his one acquaintance within the Dian Cecht Familia, Fuzen turned around, his eyes immediately being drawn towards the vibrant purple colour of his acquaintance's long, one piece dress.
"Teasanare-sama." He bowed, as did Amid in return. "It is a pleasure meeting you here."
"Likewise. And good evening to you too, Lady Loki."
"Whoa, Amid! You look gorgeous~!" Naturally, his Goddess was upon the doctor girl within a single moment, already drooling at her mouth.
"Not as much as Lady Loki. It is good to see you here, Lady Loki. I heard earlier from Dian Cecht that you would not attend?"
"Ah, well, I decided against it. Last second decision, you know?"
"I see. Still, somehow it is rather strange seeing you in such a formal attire, Fuzen. I suppose I got used to your usual easterner style."
"Is it…? I would also rather wear my usual clothes, but Loki-sama insisted."
"Course I did, it's a banquet after all! By the way, Amid! What's this new Skill you got?"
"It's the Augmented Alchemy Skill, Lady Loki." Amid replied, the faintest of smiles on her lips. Despite her usual, professional self, she must have been happy about this turn of events. "It allows me to enhance any and all of the items I craft, as well as use less materials for crafting without losing quality in the process."
"Whoa, such a Skill exists? Nice going, Amid~!"
"Thank you very much. I got this new Skill on my last Status Update." She looked over to Fuzen and smiled. It was a very warm and genuine smile, one which Fuzen concentrated on just a moment longer than he should have. "It's because I got to craft that Elixir with the Amphisbaena Liver you gave me. So thank you."
"...I see. I am glad to hear I somehow, though indirectly, was able to be of help to you, Teasanare-sama."
"You did more than just help. That reminds me, I have talked about it with Dian Cecht, and he also agreed." Amid said, looking back at Loki. "I'd like to discuss a contract with you and Fuzen, so if you could come by our shop in the next couple of days…"
A contract? Fuzen pondered on what she meant by that, and looked between his Goddess and Amid. Loki simply grinned at the girl's words and nodded. "Got'cha. We'll make sure to come by, you can count on that!"
"Thank you. Then, I should go and greet the other guests. Please, do enjoy yourselves." With another bow, Amid went on, greeting the Deities who had just arrived.
"...What was that about, Loki-sama?"
"Hehe, a new opportunity, that's what. Don't worry about it just now."
"Hmm…"
"Loki, is that you?"
Fuzen quickly began to understand that one could not have one single moment of respite during those things called banquets. Looking behind, Fuzen noticed a beautiful, golden haired Goddess with orange eyes, and a chest the exact opposite of his own Goddess. Behind her were another four Goddesses, all beautifully dressed.
"Demeter, long time no see! You too, Tiamat, Minerva. Haha, even Hel and Ma'at are here!"
"It has indeed been quite some time. I believe it's been a week already?" The Goddess Demeter said, and Fuzen stared at her, confused.
...Can a week really qualify as…."quite some time"…?
"Oh, and who is this young boy?" Noticing the attention shifting towards him, Fuzen nodded mentally. He simply had to follow what Riveria told him and then they would return to converse with Loki. All he had to do was continue being polite.
"I am Fuzen of the Loki Familia, here as my Goddess Loki's escort." He placed a hand on his chest, and bowed his head at the group of female Goddesses. "It is my pleasure to meet you, my Ladies."
Oh, how wrong he had been.
Before he even had time to lift his head, Fuzen had been assaulted, his means of escape or drawing his sword cut off. From every side the female Goddesses closed in on him, trapping him behind a wall of softness.
What the heck...is going on?! Wide-eyed he looked around, trying to make heads or tails of the situation. How did Deities with the same speed as normal, Falna-less humans even manage to close in on him?!
"Kya, he's so small!"
"And so cute!"
"Look at his hair, it's so long and silky!"
"He's so polite, unlike my own Children!"
Wait wait wait wait, what?!
"Uhh...Uhh...I would appreciate if my Ladies could...back away...Plea-Gah!" His sentence had been muffled as a voluptuous chest pressing itself into his face.
He tried to call for help, looking through the gaps in the wall of taller women for his Goddess. After a couple of moments of searching, he found her.
She was holding a glass of wine in her hand, sipping it slowly as she looked on at the show before her. Their eyes met, then she waved a hand before taking off, probably to talk to some other Deities nearby and leaving him to deal with the situation on his own.
That…
Damned…
Drunk...
Goddess!
Riveria had failed to inform him on how to deal with a group of female Goddesses assaulting him.
Should he push them away?
Cut them down?
Find some gaps in their formation and escape the banquet?
Play dead and hope they would go away?
No.
Unfortunately, he knew his actions at this banquet would reflect back on his Familia. All he could do was endure.
What did I get myself into…? As he was drowning in a literal sea of chests, Fuzen looked up at the sky above him, and he sighed mentally.
The night had only just begun…
XXX
Unknown to Fuzen, at around the same time he doubted his willingness to join his Goddess, another individual also found themselves in doubt. Truth be told, the girl's mind had been clouded by doubt for the duration of the whole day.
At the core of her doubt, was but one single question. A question he asked, just after her defeat on that day, a while ago.
What does being strong mean to you?
"...What does it mean?" Ais repeated the question as she laid on her bed, simply starring at the while ceiling above her. She had been starring at the same spot for a couple of hours, by now.
Being strong...for her, it meant cutting down all Monsters.
...No, that's not it…
Being strong...it meant raising through the Levels.
...No. His Level is lower than mine…
Being strong...it meant winning every battle.
But...is that really it? Is that his strength? Is that why he is strong? Because he never lost?
Being strong...meant avenging her parents.
...But…I need to be strong to avenge them…
Being strong…
"What does it mean to me?"
She had asked herself the same question, over and over again. It was not something she dwelled on often. Usually, if she had a free day, she would go into the Dungeon to kill Monsters. It's what she had done for as long as she had been an Adventurer. But...she felt like that was not going to help her today.
Ais herself knew she was not the sharpest tool in the box, something which was amplified by her air-headed nature. However, she had never found a question to be so difficult to answer.
"...Why is it so hard to come up with an answer? Shouldn't I know best...about my own motives?"
It was a good point she brought up. After all, a person should know best why they strived for something...right?
"...So why can't I answer it, then?"
She got up, sitting down on the edge of her bed, her eyes drilling holes into the floor beneath her.
"...Did he ask me...because he noticed my own lack of an answer? Is this what he meant?"
On that morning when Fuzen had defeated her, she asked how he could be so strong. Instead of an answer, he asked her a question of his own adding that maybe coming up with an answer might even reveal what she desired.
What does being strong mean to you?
"...What, indeed…"
Getting up from her bed, Ais grabbed her rapier and went outside, into the garden. She knew the boy was Loki's escort for a banquet held by their allies, Dian Cecht Familia. He would not return for a while yet.
Once at her usual training spot, opposite from Fuzen's own spot, and drew her sword.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Inhale.
Exhale.
A rhythmical breathing was key, as far as she noticed. She got into the position engraved in her mind and focused.
...Should I say the name, too…? Perhaps it will help.
"...Lighting Sword Style..."
XXX
His training regime had been compromised, and he was not happy about it. Thanks to Loki's desire to drink until Fuzen had to literally carry her back to the carriage, he had to stay at the banquet until well beyond midnight.
He still shuddered at the thought of those female Deities assault him for nigh one hour, touching his face and hair and dragging him around and shoving food in his mouth and-!
Sigh...What is wrong with the females in this city? It's as if someone is somehow guiding me into those situations...God damn it…
The banquet had drained him mentally a lot more than he imagined it would. Normally he would wake up at four in the morning to start his training, however, today he woke up three hours later than usual simply because of how mentally tired he had been.
...Don't think about it anymore. Just focus on training.
He had already meditated for one hour, and now it was time for sword practice. The feeling of the sword in his hand was a welcome one, Fuzen feeling otherwise empty without it. He struck the air, deciding to practice a few hundreds normal strikes first.
One leg forward, one downward slash, get back, repeat.
Yes, this feels good. Indeed, nothing beats training and the feeling of a sword in my hands. For today, I will simply train and put aside everything else. Yes, today is going to be a great, productive day-!
"Yo, Fuzen. How about joining our Second Group on an expedition today?" His Captain greeted with a smile as he appeared from around the corner, a smile which Fuzen did not return and instead simply stared back with a blank look in his eyes.
Oh, come on! Give me a break already!
"...Sigh...An explanation is required, if you would be so kind, Captain Finn?"
He put his sword back in it's scabbard.
Today was not going to be a productive day, he realized.
XXX
Summary of Fuzen and Loki Familia as a whole.
"Finally, I have contributed to my Familia and I can now train and become stronger for both my sake as well as that of the Familia-"
"Boi, I have need of you. Follow me, now."
"But-"
"Now, Boi."
"But...training…Grasping the Heavens..."
"Don't make me repeat myself, Boooooi, or those hands are gonna clap some cheeks."
"...Sigh…I hate my writer. Why did you even name the fic "Grasp the Heavens" if you are not gonna let me have a damnable chance to do it? Stupid ass moron."
...A man gets bored -_-