Chapter 44.
And hell, what a Chapter to write it was.
It's not easy to write genres that do not count among your strengths, and that is all that is happening in this Chapter.
I tried my best tho, so I hope that counts for something.
Now, for the Chapter...it's a lot of talking. But not all of it is boring, so don't go in thinking that.
And also, we finally get around to learn more about Fuzen, his background and his inner turmoil.
So if you have been interested in him as a character (who am I joking right? OC's are crap – pretty much all of Danmachi fandom), this would be the Chapter for you.
With that out of the way, I hope you have a good read and as always, I'll see you down below afterwards.
Kay bye.
XXX
Casually walking through the Upper Floors was something Fuzen had not done in a rather long time.
It was only logical after all: these Floors were no challenge to him so at most he rushed through to save time, leaving the weak Monsters to those who actually needed them to grow stronger. Most Adventurers did the same: a sort of unspoken rule, for a lack of better words.
Still, he couldn't say he was completely calm despite the lack of danger to him present on the Floor without lying.
Because he wasn't alone.
"Sorry, am I walking too slowly?" Asked the silver haired girl walking a couple of steps behind him.
"Ahh...No. I think I am walking too fast. Apologies." He replied less than ideally and tried his best to adjust his pace to that of the girl.
How it had come to this was quite simple in fact.
Today was Amid's day off. She didn't get a lot of those, being such an excellent Doctor as she was. And still, despite all that, she usually chose to spend her off days in the Dungeon, seeking out any who might be in need of healing.
It also wasn't the first time he accompanied her during her Dungeon dive: a couple of months ago he spotted her while coming back from training on the Middle Floors. Once he asked what she was doing and hearing she was alone, he more or less forced her to accept him accompanying her.
In all honestly, even had she refused Fuzen would have followed her, nonetheless.
Still, it had been one of the moments where she showed him why she was special, at least in his eyes.
If Fuzen was to compare it to anything, he'd say that Amid didn't choose to be a Doctor: she was born to be one.
A kind and selfless person, down to her very core.
Beautiful, too.
…
…
…
With all that aside, she had reached out to him and asked if he could accompany her to the Dungeon. Fuzen obviously agreed, not just because he had no tasks to perform for the Familia but also because he would feel much better looking after her safety by himself than leave it up to others.
And so they were in the Dungeon.
Together.
Which felt really awkward for the boy, all past events considered.
Granted, she had told him that after he got some rest she would reach out to him for help with gathering Materials, but...it was a bit too soon.
Way too soon.
Though the silence remained for a short while after they entered the Dungeon, Amid decided to break it first. "How is your recovery going?"
"...Ahh. Good. Mhm. Yes…" He shook his head, realizing that he was just muttering single words in response. "I heal faster than others, so I'm back to full strength. Almost. Mhm."
"That is good to hear. Even so, I'd like to perform another check-up on you when we return, if that's ok."
"...Mhm. I'll be in your care. Yes."
If there was a word to describe what he was feeling at the moment, then that word would have been excruciating.
'Someone just kill me. Right now, preferably.'
He didn't know exactly if it was shame, or guilt, or something else but walking side by side with the girl was the highest tier of uncomfortable imaginable.
How could he not be?
He tried to kill her with only half-baked justification to back him up on it.
No...even if he had a solid reason, that was still messed up beyond reason. Even more so because just now, that feeling persisted.
As it did with everyone else.
Reaching the 5th Floor he made sure to communicate with Amid, despite the girl's familiarity with the Floor. "War Shadows start to appear from here on out. Please make sure to follow my instructions on the spot."
"Of course. I'll be in your care from now on."
"M-Mhm…"
The two continued on for a couple of minutes in silence, no Monsters or Adventurers crossing their way. 'Guess another party passed through a short while ago…' Fuzen thought to himself.
Which in truth was worse for them, as it was certainly more desirable to see your opponents from afar and have a couple of moments to take in their numbers and prepare than to have a horde of them spawn all around you...but it was, of course, nothing he could not handle.
Hundreds of the Monsters on the 5th Floor could come swarming at once and he'd still be able to protect Amid.
"...Move to the centre." He voiced as a hand stopped her in place, walking forward as he reached for his sword.
His instincts did not betray him: the walls began to crack.
Monsters would spawn nearby within moments. "...[Lightning Drive.]" As soon as the body of the first Monster was visible he drew his sword and dashed forward, too fast for the girl behind him to notice. The War Shadow dispersed into ash before it's body could even touch the Floor.
Killer Ants were being born too, in no small number for that matter, but they were all dealt with quickly and with ease. Sixteen of them turned into ash within a couple of seconds, as did the other two War Shadows which spawned nearby.
Nineteen Monsters dead within four seconds.
Granted, they were not strong Monsters by any means, but…
Fuzen had yet to go on a Dungeon dive ever since his fight with Sakda, the order to rest by Amid and his own thoughts having kept him from doing so. Yet he could immediately feel the difference.
...That was fast, even for me. I'm...stronger?'
As shown both after his fight Amphisbaena as well as Udaeus together with the Second Group, his growth was incredibly slow thanks to both his Skill's downside as well as the rituals that were performed on him as soon as he became a Disciple of the Lightning Sword Style. Rituals which tapped into his Falna and Excelia.
Sakda had been the strongest he had faced to date...but even so, even after winning he should not see too much of a difference in strength.
'Is this what it means...to defeat someone stronger than you?'
"That was...fast." Amid voiced as she came closer to him, the threat now gone.
Fuzen nodded. "...Yes. I believe I have gotten stronger. Maybe." Sheathing his sword once more he went about collecting the Magic Stones and placing them in the satchel at his belt, Amid also helping with the task.
"After all you've went through, that is to be expected, isn't it?"
"...No. It shouldn't be."
"Hmm?"
"...Pay it no mind." He voiced before the two continued on their way, down the main route towards the 6th Floor.
Then came a question he did not expect. "Your last swords were shattered, right?" The Doctor asked as she looked at the swords fastened at his hip. "Are those your new ones?"
"Hm? Yes, they are. Collbrande-sama forged them for me. I helped a little bit."
"Oh? You know how to forge?"
"Hardly. Though I can't say I'm completely unfamiliar with the process, either."
Amid hummed in response. "Can I see them?"
"...I didn't take you for a sword enthusiast."
"I'm not, really. But I'd like to see them."
"...Sure." Fuzen nodded, drawing his katana out and holding it for her to grab.
She took it and spent a long moment glaring at the mirror-like edge of the sword. "I knew I didn't see wrong. The blade, it has a red hue to it."
"Yes." He nodded. "Let's just say a special technique was used on it while still in the forging process."
"Hmmm…" Amid acknowledged the statement as she continued to stare at the pristine blade. "...It's heavier than I expected."
"Yes. At first it's hard on the wrists. However eventually, after using it day by day, you get used to it. I'd say I personally grew so used to it's weight I feel a little strange whenever I don't have it equipped."
"Is that common among swordsmen?"
"I haven't checked, but I'd presume so. What is a swordsman without his sword, after all?"
For whatever reason she chuckled at his reply, sword still in hand as stopped in place for her to look at it. Fuzen's eyebrow rose as he noticed her grabbing it with both hands, bringing the blade over her right shoulder and trying to perform a downward slash.
For what reason, Fuzen did not know. However he didn't like what he was looking at, and with his left palm he stooped the motion before it could be completed by placing it below her hands. Then he gently took the sword away from her grip, placing it within it's scabbard again.
"...Ah, sorry." She apologized. "I just wanted to see what it feels like. I may possess a Falna, but I never really wielded a weapon before."
"It's alright. Let go."
Obviously enough however, the Doctor did not drop the subject that easily, seeing how he had acted. "Was my swing that bad?"
"...No."
"Then why did you take it out of my hands?"
"...It's selfish."
"Well, I want to hear it now."
"No."
He could see her pouting at him from the corner of his eye before she tried to get the answer out of him a couple more times. But it didn't work. At the very least he was thankful to Tiona for helping him build up resistance against pestering women.
Yes, it didn't work.
Stare…
Not at all.
Stare…
It most certainly did not work.
Stare…
"...Haaa...I didn't like it, alright?" He finally acknowledged the defeat.
"What exactly?"
"...I did not like seeing you wield a weapon. That was...wrong."
"...Oh."
"...Mhm. It's selfish. Pay me no mind."
A while later they had reached the 6th Floor in silence, not really talking that much following the conversation, however after a couple of minutes of walking down the main route Fuzen felt the first one. "Follow me." He voiced as he began to run, Amid shortly behind him after a moment of confusion.
He could have gone faster, of course. But he didn't want to let her fall too much behind. Because between her and what he felt, she was far more important.
"W-Where are we going?!" Amid inquired as she was already starting to have trouble keeping up with him.
"To do what we came here to do. Keep up."
After a couple of seconds they reached the hallway leading to the left and took it, running down the path and taking the second left again. It was then that Amid saw what Fuzen had led her to: a fallen Adventurer by the looks of it.
A couple Magic stones were scattered around on the Floor: proof that he had been fighting. As she grew closer she noticed life threatening lacerations on his back. One of the Monsters must have sneaked up behind him and got a good hit in. Luckily he managed to defeat them all, but now he was bleeding out.
"Instructions?" The boy besides her asked.
"Keep us safe."
He drew his sword and turned his back to her, watching for any signs of further Monsters about to be spawned. "Understood."
Their synergy was good, even Amid agreed to that. They had only been to the Dungeon together once before yet the trust was there. She trusted him completely, and he...trusted her.
At least, she hoped so.
'That's a bad wound. Deep, too. A War Shadow must have gotten him.' The Doctor thought as she began using her Magic on the young Chienthrope before her.
Potions would have worked, too. She had a couple of them on her. However, seeing how they have gotten to the young Adventurer in time she decided on her Magic. Amid was not an Adventurer after all: her Status would not grow the same as that of those who challenged the Dungeon everyday.
That is why whenever she had a day off and could afford the time for a trip into the Dungeon, she would use her Magic to heal those in need. Because the more her Magic grew stronger, the more people she could help in the future, as well.
'It's still a bit selfish, however…'
As she continued her treatment of the wounded Adventurer she heard the footsteps of approaching Monsters from her side. She did not look however.
She knew he had it covered.
A gust of wind.
The faint crackling of electricity.
Numerous groans of pain.
Then silence.
Once he was back by her side he did not speak nor question her. The importance of focus was known to Fuzen, and so he simply waited silently until her treatment was done. "...How is it?"
"Good. He's stable now."
"As expected."
Amid didn't voice it, but the compliment was appreciated. "We can move him now."
"I'll summon Raiju and have him deliver this one to the surface. The guards there can take it over."
"You'd do that?"
"Well...It's the most sensible thing to do, no? There's others you could save in the time I'd take us to bring this one back."
"...Thank you."
"Mhm."
And that is the plan they went with, Fuzen summoning the dragon in his mid-sized form and loading the unconscious Adventurer on his back before sending him away. It was always a peculiar thing to see for Amid, him summoning just a powerful being with just a single sentence out of his whole Chant.
It made her realize how flexible his Magic was, and how varied Magic could be in general.
Not wasting much more time the two were on their way again, towards the next Floor. The main route of the 7th Floor had been uneventful with the exception of some groups of Monsters Fuzen quickly took care of.
Next up they stepped into the 8th Floor and then further into the 9th Floor.
That is when Fuzen heard the one sound which gave him an automatic headache in the distance, coming from another hallway.
"Hahahahahahahahaha!"
"...Oh no…"
Though she was not quite as familiar with him as Fuzen, even Amid recognized the rather peculiar laugh. "Is that…?"
"Just an idiot. Don't worry about it, let's go."
"But...he could be in trouble."
"Ahahahahaha! That's more like it!"
"He's fine, see? Let's just go."
"W-Well, I guess if he is laughing that hard...he should be ok?"
"Ahahaha! They're biting into my ass! Ahahahaha! It hurts!"
"…"
"…"
They exchanged a look before the boy sighed, nodding a couple of times in defeat before taking off running at a pace Amid could keep up with him. Finding Seiji was not a hard task as he just couldn't stop himself from laughing. Not more than forty seconds later they arrived at the hallway he was on.
And he was not lying with his previous statement: while keeping a Goblin up by the throat and using it as a shield with his left hand Seiji was also using the sword in his right to keep away a medium-sized group of Monsters at bay, killing everyone who got too close...all the while a Killer Ant was dangling from his butt, having stuck it's pincers into his ass-cheek.
'...How? Just...how?'
Though surprised at the situation his acquaintance found himself in Fuzen wasted little time in dashing forward and helping him take care of the large group of Monsters. "Hey bro! What's up?"
"...You got an Ant dangling from your rear."
"Hahahahaha! I know, right?"
"Haaa…."
With both of them present the Monsters stood no chance, despite being a varied group of Monsters found on the Floors before this one but stronger.
The older boy let out a loud laugh as he slashed once through the air, to get the blood off his blade. "Thanks for the save, bro!"
"...There's still the Ant."
"Oh, you're right. Totally forgot about this one."
"How do you forget about something that's literally biting you?"
"Well, you know...I got used to it. Hahahahaha!"
"The fact that you got used to it should worry you the most."
"Anyway, can you get it off me?" Before Seiji could react Fuzen's sword already pierced the body of the Killer Ant and it's Stone, the Monster turning to ash a single moment later. "Much better. Thanks, bro!"
"...You're bleeding rivers."
"Hahahaha, I know right?! Damn buggers keep biting me every single time I'm Dungeon diving." He informed as he turned around with his back to Fuzen. "Anyway, can you check how bad it is? I actually ran out of potions-" Seiji asked as he began to take his pants down, only to be sent to the ground as Fuzen kicked him in the rear and kept him pinned to the ground with the same leg.
"I'll use my boot to plug any new holes you have, don't worry."
"Hahahaha! You're a real bro, despite that face of yours!"
A tired grunt escaped Fuzen's lips as he turned to look at the Doctor. "Can you patch him up?"
"Of course." Amid replied and kneeled down besides Seiji, placing her hand on his back. "Hello, Seiji."
"Nice to see you, Amid-san. Is everything going well?"
"Yes. How are Lord Miach and Naaza?"
"Hahahaha, they are the same as always! Boss keeps handing out free Potions to everyone and Cap is as beautiful as always!"
They both laughed at that. It was nothing new, after all: Amid knew of Miach's kindness already and also of the boy's feelings for his Captain. In truth, she doubted too many people who knew the boy wasn't aware of them.
"Oh wow, your Magic is amazing Amid-san! I'm already all good to go!" He exclaimed as he jumped back up to his feet, all of his wounds gone. "Thanks a bunch! How much do I owe?"
"Nothing, don't mention it." The girl answered, raising back to her feet.
"What are you doing here, anyway?" Fuzen inquired. "The 9th Floor isn't something you should tackle by yourself."
In response the older boy crossed his arms as a smug chuckle escaped his throat, smug enough that it managed to piss Fuzen off. "Hehehe...You are looking at someone who already has Rank E Attributes, my stone-faced pint-sized bro."
"Call me that one more time and see what happens, bro." To Amid, the threat sounded both as a joke as well as not a joke, all at the same time. "In all honestly, however...That is rather quick progression on your part."
"Hahahahaha!...Well...It's not like all my Attributes are Rank E…" Seiji informed as he looked to his side. "But, I got bitten and beaten black, blue and red so many times by Monsters my Vitality is already at 403! Hahahahahaha! What do you say about that?!"
"That you're a complete moron." Came the lightning fast reply. "The Guild recommends certain Attributes for Floors based on information gathered over many years, from many Adventurers. If they say Rank E Attributes are recommended, they mean across the board, or that your Attributes which are not yet at Rank E should be very close to that threshold. What about your Status as a whole?"
Seiji maintained his smile, however a couple drops of sweat were visible on his face. "Well...you know... One Rank F...A couple G's, here and there…"
"…I will report you to your Guild Advisor, let her chew you up for me."
"Oh come on! Money's a little bit tight, you know…?"
"And you getting killed in here is not going to help anyone, yourself included."
"I'm not dying, bro! That swarm of Monsters just now? I can take care of them on my own!"
"I know." Amid was surprised to hear the positive reply from Fuzen. "You're still a moron, however." The negative one, however, didn't surprise her as much.
"Geez, you sure enjoy sounding like a geezer, don't you?"
"No, I don't. But I am forced to. One reason being right in front of me, right now."
"Hehe…" Seiji quickly went about gathering the Magic Stones of the Monsters he and Fuzen just took care of, trying to avoid having to give an answer.
"...I'm accompanying Teasanare-sama through all the Upper and Middle Floors, following the main route. What are your plans? If you want, you can tag along. At least I wouldn't have to worry about you dying, then…"
"Hahahahaha! Thanks for the offer, bro, but I should slowly head back up. Need to help with the pharmacy and the sales too! I'll just get the Stones of whatever Monsters I come across on the way out for a bit of extra money."
"I see. I already cleared the main route back up, so be careful. By now the Dungeon probably spawned new groups to replace the ones I dealt with."
Seiji nodded. "All clear! By the way…" He looked over to Amid with a faint smile. "Could I perhaps borrow him for a minute?"
The Doctor nodded and Fuzen followed Seiji a distance away, out of Amid's reach. "...What is it?"
"Bro. I heard about your victory over that man." He whispered silently as he crossed his arms, his goofy expression now nowhere to be found. "You were out cold when I visited, but...How are you?"
Contrary to what most would believe at first glance, Fuzen was not completely closed off. There were people he opened up to, at least somewhat that is, and Seiji was by far the one who knew the most about him and his inner conflict.
"I survived." Came the reply. "And I won. But…"
"Did it come out again?"
"Yes."
"...And?"
"And I'll manage...is what I'd like to say."
"...That bad?"
"Worse than before. Seiji…" Their eyes met and Seiji could see it then, the restraint in Fuzen's eyes. A forced restraint, keeping himself in check and not acting upon his impulse. "My head's a bigger mess than ever."
Seiji nodded slowly, acknowledging the words and their meaning. A sigh escaped him, but not one directed at his friend and his struggle: but at himself. "Sorry. Just as before...I can't help you with this."
Fuzen tilted his head in return, the one action that actually managed to piss Seiji off. The damn action which showed him that the old Fuzen he knew was still in there. "...Yes. That was not what I meant. I meant to warn you. I'd be best if you warn your Familia, as well."
That was when he grabbed Fuzen's shoulder. "Hey. You decided to become Fuzen Katsumi, right?"
"...Yes."
"And what are we?"
"...Warriors."
"And what do warriors do?"
"We fight."
"Yes." Seiji nodded. "So fight. Fight, so that you don't have to warn me, or anyone else." Though no reply came Seiji could see it in his friend's eyes, the agreement to his words. "And while warriors fight on their own most of the time...that's not always the case." He voiced as his eyes trailed over to Amid. "She can help you fight more than I can. The same as when you helped me fight."
"…"
"Ok?"
"...She knows." The words surprised Seiji as he did not expected his friend to ever reveal it on his own. "Not everything. But...she knows. I told her...some things."
"When?" The hope was starting to rise within Seiji, hearing of the first person after him to know of his friend's peculiarity yet still not push him away.
"A while ago. Before my loss. Before my moment of...being lost."
"So talk to her. She didn't push you away despite knowing: talk to her."
"I...tried to kill her."
"...And still she came down here, with only you by her side. She won't push you away, and neither will I. So talk to her."
"...Talking is hard…"
"And that's why it's worth doing, right?"
Unfortunately for Fuzen, Seiji's words rang true. If something was hard, it was worth doing: that was something Hachiman had taught them both. Despite giving no verbal reply Seiji could see the answer on his friend's face. He patted his shoulder once, then took a step back. "I'm going now, ok?"
"Mhm."
"Amid-san, thanks for the heal again! See you back on the surface!" He shouted to the Doctor, Amid waving back at him before he turned and walked towards the stairs. "Hahahaha, Seiji Okita: back to full strength and ready to fight! Hahahaha!"
"...Sorry for the hold-up."
"Don't mention it. He's a very lively person, isn't he?"
"...Obnoxious, too."
Amid couldn't help but chuckle at that. It seemed almost like watching siblings talking about each other with Seiji and Fuzen. "Still...Is it not a bit too risky what he is doing?"
"Hm? That guy can easily reach the 11th Floor and come back alive even with Attributes as low as his."
"...Oh? Is that your opinion as a swordsman?"
"It's not an opinion. It is a fact." He rectified as the two continued on along their way. "He's stronger than you think. But…"
"Reckless?"
"Scattered, more like. You've heard it from his own mouth: he had no more potions left. Any normal person would start to head back once their supplies run low, yet he was still on the 9th Floor. Anyway, today he will make it back."
"I see...It's strange, hearing you talk highly about someone."
"...I give compliments and criticism as they are due, you know?"
"Ahh...I wasn't trying to say that. It's just...rare."
"...Think nothing of it. Let us go. I can summon Raiju to our location to head back up at any time, but...we are on a schedule, right? As you are needed back tomorrow."
"Yes. It will be some time before I get another day off."
"Sounds rough."
"It is." She smiled ever so lightly as she replied. "But it's worth it."
"Mhm…"
'Talk to her...was it? I can talk to her like this, but...Talk to her, huh?'
XXX
If one was to ask her how life was now compared to eighty years ago, she would have answered that it was great.
Truly great, in fact.
Being promoted directed of one of the finest art galleries in Orario, working with different artists of varied talents and strengths, having the resources to buy and sell art according to her decision, the connections to reach out to other influential people of the art world…
Yes, life was very good for Cellica Brightgrove, the director of the art gallery La Muse.
Of course, there was the paperwork and the finances to manage, but...nothing was without it's downsides in the end.
Finished with writing the last letter to another, smaller art gallery across the town regarding the payment of art they have bought from them, Cellica stood up and walked up to the window of her office.
Located on the first floor, she could overlook most of the gallery from her very window. The various sections where art was on display, the visitors, the tea house in the middle of the building where people were having drinks…
O, how beautiful it was to see so many people interested in art!
Long gone were her days of simply being a no-name art dealer and enthusiast running across cities just to find some decent artists. Because right now, the artists who created most of the art displayed on the ground floor?
She had met most of them, and she could reach out to them whenever she so desired.
Yes, all her dreams were now fulfilled.
However, if there was one aspect of her new life she did not agree with...then that would have been none other than the owner of the gallery himself: Fuzen Katsumi.
While he was a good owner and regularly checked to see if anything was needed or if there problems of any sorts, he lacked in many things as an artist himself. He did his job and he painted his art while solely thinking of them as duties, as a job.
There was no real passion nor desire in his execution.
And yet even so, despite the lack of passion, his works were still spectacular. Following the opening of the art gallery even his works became more acknowledged. From the six to eight hundred thousand Cellica originally estimated them at they rose to seven digits in worth.
People were starting to hear about him, Deities interested in art more so than any others.
In an era of overflowing Romanticism she could almost drown into he was winning people over with his bold Naturalism and Realism inspired works.
He had potential.
If given ten or so years to gain some more experience which he sorely lacked, he could become much more famous, bring a revolution to the stagnant and downright tragic state the world of art was in.
But he choose to be an Adventurer of all things.
To go on adventurers, all the while speaking of nonsense like duty and honour. It was truly perplexing to the Elf.
'Rubbish. So much talent, yet choosing to do...that instead…'
She had thought about breaking his legs to the point where recovery was no longer possible, however that course of action would probably get in the way of his inspiration, or take away the little desire he held towards painting new works for good.
'...Still haven't figured out how to make him give up on all that garbage and focus on art instead...Haaa…'
While she sighed at the sad state of things and her inability to figure out a way to make it work a knock echoed at the door. "Come in."
"Apologies for the interruption, Director. However we have a visitor who would like to talk to you." One of the gallery's staff informed her.
"A visitor? Surely you wouldn't inform me of just anyone?"
"Indeed, Director. It is Goddess Freya, of the Freya Familia."
A big name...is what most of Orario would think upon hearing that name. Cellica cared little for her or what Orario as a whole thought. Neither Freya nor the little game she had with Loki interested her much. Some would call them great Familia, the strongest of the strong…
Yet how much did they truly compare to those of the past, who came before them?
Strongest seemed like a bit of an overused word as of late in Orario, especially to describe those who were anything but.
Cellica sighed as she took a moment to ponder on the matter. She had little desire to ruin her rather good day by dealing with arrogant buffoons, but then again it was part of her job as Director. "...Haaa...Very well. Send her to me."
Her staff member bowed before leaving the room. She took the moment she had to rub her nape, sighing once more before she'd have to deal with the woman. Before long another knock came from the door and she turned around from the window, giving the permission to enter. "Director, Lady Freya is here."
"Thank you. You may leave." She nodded once as she approached the silver-haired woman dressed in only a simple purple dress. Her eyes glanced over at the blonde-haired Elf accompanying the Goddess.
'Oh, how cute. She brought a puppy with her.'
"Lady Freya." Cellica flashed a soft smile as she extended her hand to the Goddess. "Thank you for choosing to grace us with your presence. It is a pleasure to meet you."
"The pleasure is mine, Director." The Goddess returned the smiled and the hand shake.
"Please, have a seat." She extended her arm towards the desk opposite of the door, walking by Freya's side and matching her pace before walking past the table and to her own seat. The Goddess's Child pulled Freya's chair for her and that is when Cellica took a seat of her own. "Now, what may I do for you, my Lady?"
"I have been fascinated by the art you have on display in your prestigious gallery, and decided to come with a request of my own. I was told at the reception that you can act as an intermediary between artists and those interested in their art."
"That is correct, and one of the duties I am entrusted with as the Director." Cellica nodded as she took out a form from from the side of her desk. "Firstly, please tell me which of the many artists associated with our gallery you wish to contact regarding your request."
"That would be the owner, Director Brightgrove."
Her smile did not break, however Cellica took a moment to glance over at the Goddess. She had not lived a life as long as hers for nothing, and the brown-haired Elf knew that no Deity ever actively decided on a course of action without a reason. The fact that the owner of her art gallery somehow drew the attention of divine buffoons outside of his own Goddess...it was an uncomfortable thought to say the least.
"Ah...Apologies, Lady Freya. If your request is directed at an artist associated with any one Familia, we are obliged to send your request directly to their Familia and get their approval, as well. This is done in order to avoid any sort of conflict between the two Familia, which in this case would be your Familia and Loki Familia. I am not saying your request will be outright denied: only that it will most likely take more time until we can contact you and put everything in motion."
"I understand." The Goddess nodded once, her smile never wavering on her cherry-pink lips. "And it is alright, I can wait."
Cellica nodded in response, however she did not like the look in Freya's eyes one bit. "Very well. Then, let us discuss the details of your request. What you would like to commission and in what style."
XXX
"How many are left?" She asked as a sigh escaped her lips, her hand already hurting thanks to the many instructions she had to write.
"Three groups are still on their Quests." The plain-looking Adventurer replied from across the room. "Twelve people total."
"How many Level 1's?"
"Seven."
"So that would make up the numbers we need for the ground and first floor…And five Level 2's?"
"Yes."
"Haa...Where do I put those five…?"
Loki tried to figure out how to spread the members to all the tasks at hand but after a couple of seconds of no progress she decided to put the pen down and lean back in her chair. "...How does Finn do this…?"
It wasn't exactly something hard, but it was one time of the year which required an 'all hands on deck ' approach.
Indeed, for the next seven days starting tomorrow the Loki Familia would no longer take Quests and instead focus on internal matters.
Cleaning the Twilight Manor, accounting, recounting their debts, recruitment of new members, restocking the spare equipment...the next week would be all work and no fun and everyone was needed for it.
Of course it wasn't like they didn't do any of that throughout the year, however this one week was meant to focus only on those matters so that their Familia could run smoothly for the foreseeable future.
The task of managing the personnel fell to Loki as Finn was across town making sure the vacancy which would be left behind by their one week of inactivity did not affect Orario as a whole. And Loki had known this task would fall on her for days now.
She could have prepared beforehand, of course.
But a drink led to another, and then that drink to yet another…Which in the end led to her having to finish the teams now with her deadline being tomorrow.
"I need a drink…"
Raul looked up from his own desk, as did Gareth. Neither looked amused by her words. "I don't think that is a good idea right now…" The plain-looking Adventurer voiced.
"I know, I know alright? Just lemme vent a 'lil!"
"...Yikes…"
Having let out her frustration for a bit Loki had another look at the list she was writing and noticed that she had totally forgotten about the Punishment Team.
Despite the name it was not like those assigned to the team were whipped or anything of that sort. Instead, it was a team of members who messed up in one way or another and were assigned more arduous tasks to complete either solo or at most in teams of two. Bete, for example, was a member of that team every year because of his hostile personality which extended outside of the Familia as well, leading to many complaints sent to Loki and Finn.
"...Hey, ya two. The Punishment Team. Any candidates this year besides our lovely tsundere?"
Raul and Gareth looked up from their own piles of paperwork, the Dwarf letting out a hum as he stroked his beard. "...Sharon messed up two months ago when she led her party deeper than she should have. No casualties, but a couple of her teammates got roughed up good."
"Ok, I'll add her to the team...Anyone else?"
Raul spoke next. "Lefiya is a hard worker, but she still has trouble keeping calm under pressure. Riveria is always there to pick up where she fails, but…"
"Yeah, the lass needs to understand that whatever she succeeds or fails could determine the outcome of any expedition where she is assigned the role of lead Mage. It's not exactly a mistake by itself, but…"
"I agree, Gareth." The Goddess nodded. "Well, I'll add her to the team and we'll give her something if there is no need of her elsewhere….Ok. So that's three down, Bete included of course. Which leaves us with the most recent one…"
"The lad?" The Dwarf inquired, knowing well who Loki meant. Her nod confirmed his thoughts. "...Yeah, can't go two ways 'bout it. What he managed to pull off is nothing short of amazing...but the lad nonetheless put a stop to the Dungeon for a couple hours with that stunt."
"Yeah...I'll add him to the team, then."
Despite the decision Loki doubted all that much would even be considered punishment for the boy in question, the Goddess already able to picture him simply agreeing to any task he was given and taking care of it with nigh-perfection.
He was a hard worker after all, no matter what he was tasked with. Cutting corners or leaving things half-finished was simply not something he was familiar with at all.
Loki was proud of him. There was no need to deny that. Strong, smart, determined and most of all, able to bring results to the table. He was both bark and bite, not just one of the two. What Deity was not proud of any of their Children being like that?
Even more so…
I refuse.
Loki was sure that Fuzen would not understand anytime soon just how nigh-impossible those words he had uttered were to pull given the circumstances. Granted, she had pushed him and his desire that far exactly because she wanted to test his resolve.
Letting him train the girl from Takemikazuchi's Familia was never something hard to agree with. However just before the meeting she had told Finn to keep denying his request with reason, so that she could bring him to that point where she could test him.
Resisting something like Divine Will was supposed to be impossible for mortals. Maybe, just maybe, it would be possible for an individual to resist the Will of a Deity other than his Patron Deity. However, she and Fuzen shared a bond, like she did with all of her Children.
The Falna she put on his back was a contract and union, alike. It was the intermediary which connected him to her in ways mortals would not be able to comprehend.
And it started with her: if she so desired, she could even remotely seal his Falna and take away the progress he had made so far.
Every Deity was able to do that to any who accepted their Falna.
Then again...given recent events, she wasn't sure if the same logic applied to him. He had already refused her order, so maybe he could also resist any attempt at sealing his Falna.
Not like she actually wanted to test that one out, anyway.
In truth Loki had always thought Fuzen was a bit bonkers in his goals. He could bring results to back up his claim, however a small part of her always doubted him in some shape or form.
But now…
'...Who knows? Maybe he really can grasp the Heavens...At this point it wouldn't surprise me…' A smirk found it's way on her lips as her mind started to imagine possible outcomes in the future. '...Until then, however: what punishment should I give him~?'
Raul and Gareth exchanged a look as they both noticed their Goddess's mischievous smirk.
They realized she was up to something again.
XXX
"Are you able to return on your own now?" The Doctor asked as her treatment of the last member of a group of four was done.
"Yes...We are in your debt, Dea Saint." The leader of the group, a Human girl slightly older than Amid herself replied as she bowed her head in gratitude, as did the rest of her party.
They were all now on the 14th Floor and it was the second time the party of four had braved the Middle Floors. Their leader was a somewhat fresh Level 2 while the rest were high-tier Level 1's, waiting for their Level Up to happen any moment now.
Overall their party was balanced enough to dive this deep, however they had been in a difficult situation as two groups of Monsters, one of them made up of Minotaurs had creped up on them while they were resting after their fights on the 12th Floor.
Amid and Fuzen's quick intervention had been timely and something the party was grateful for. Things could have turned out ugly fast, after all.
"Please don't mention it. I'm just glad we arrived in time." Replied the silver-haired girl with a smile which managed to melt both the males and females of the party.
"...A-Ah, thank you again. We'll take a quick break for our healer and mage to regain some Mind, then we'll head back."
"I understand. Then, I wish you a safe return."
"And to you as well." The leader replied. "We will not forget this debt." She looked over to the young swordsman keeping away from the group. "To either of you, Kenshi."
"...You survived on your own. I did nothing worth mentioning." He shrugged in return and then matched his pace to that of Amid as they continued on, leaving the party behind them.
"…You could take some credit for yourself, you know? You did slay half of those Minotaurs on your own." Amid voiced after a minute of silence.
"I could say the same to you, you know?" And he wasn't wrong: she did not exactly take credit for her actions, either.
"Hmhm...I guess we are at an impasse, then."
"...Yes. I guess we are...Say."
"Yes?"
"That party back there, and the young boy before...How did you know where they were so precisely?" She asked. "I didn't hear neither. But you knew where they were, and which path to take to get to them."
Fuzen remained silent for a couple of moments, pondering on whatever to answer to push the question aside. In the end he lifted his index finger and made a rotating gesture with it. "I can feel them. On a roughly eighty meters radius."
"You...feel them?"
"Yes."
"Is it a Skill of sorts?"
"...No." He shook his head. "It was par of my training. I learned it."
"That's amazing...Is it related to-?"
"Yes. However, I cannot say more."
"I understand...Still, eighty meters, that is...a lot."
"Mhm. But, only when I focus. During fights, I can't go beyond twenty-five, maybe thirty meters. Fighting takes priority." He informed her as he kept looking straight ahead. "Also, I can't feel Monsters. Only living beings. Humans. Animals. Insects."
"Oh. So...Monsters aren't living beings?"
"Not...in the traditional sense. They exist. They bleed. But...they are unnatural."
"I see…"
His mind drifted back to his training days, when he and the others were blindfolded and thrown into a forest infested with Monsters and dangerous animals by their trainer, each one told to enter from another part of said forest.
Their task was to survive for a whole week while relying on their senses alone. Stretch your Ki and feel the world around you, their trainer told them.
To this date that had been one of the worst weeks in his life. He almost died every day. Got bitten by venomous snakes on day two. Then he had to survive while barely able to crawl, let alone walk.
But he managed.
One other didn't.
It didn't matter, however.
It was in the past.
What mattered, however...was that it hadn't been more than two hours since they met Seiji on the 9th Floor, and for those two whole hours he had been pondering on the older boy's words. Whatever he should talk to Amid, whatever he should burden her with his problems.
It didn't seem fair, in all honesty.
She was already as busy as she was, both being a Doctor and even extending her free services on her days off to those who actually needed her help and expertise.
So was it really fair for him to burden her with problems he knew were not curable?
"Should we take a quick break?" She asked pointing at a couple of rocks near the wall in the distance, just high and flat enough to be useable as temporary seats.
He could still go, however, this dive was not about him but about Amid. And Fuzen knew she did not have the same stamina as those who dived into the Dungeon every day. "Of course. You've more than deserved it."
With a nod they both stopped at the rocks, Amid letting out a small sigh as soon as she sat down. Fuzen on the other side stood a meter or so to her side, both hands behind his back. "Are you not going to sit?"
"It's better if I stand." He replied. "Allows me to react quicker if Monsters decide to spawn nearby."
"I think you're fast enough to react even if Monsters spawn from every wall at once…" Her trust in him was appreciated.
However, the Dungeon was still a territory which counted among his expertise and not hers. And he would not change the mindset he knew was the best in assuring the maximum amount of safety for both of them, especially her. As he looked over at her and their eyes met Amid also understood this and she raised both her hands in defeat. "As you say…"
He simply nodded before turning his head away from her and just staring at the wall opposite of him.
"Here." The girl voiced as she reached for her bag. "I made sandwiches before coming to get you." She extended a wrapped sandwich to him, which he reluctantly accepted. It wasn't that he questioned her food. However, eating in the Dungeon was an action which left one rather vulnerable.
Even so, he did not have it in him to refuse. "Thank you."
"Don't mention it."
Fuzen unwrapped the food and took a quick look at it: fresh bread, slices of cheese and salami, cabbage and some tomatoes. It looked good, yes. But...it also showed that Amid had little idea about the life of an Adventurer.
It wasn't exactly food that would last for days, and if she were to fall on her bag or get jumped by a Monster chances were it would get ruined very quickly. Besides that the juice from the fresh tomatoes reached the bread and made it a bit soggy.
Certainly not food you would expect any experienced Adventurer to have on them. Fuzen himself only carried a small bag of dried jerky as food, and maybe some crackers if he felt he'd stay long enough in the Dungeon for the jerky to not be enough.
"How is it?" Amid asked as she look to him. The nod he gave managed to get a small smile out of her.
"It's good. But...not exactly food meant for the Dungeon."
"I know, but we won't stay for a long time."
"Mhm…" As he continued to chew he picked up on the words she had uttered just moments ago. "You prepared this for me...before you came over to ask me to accompany you?"
"Yes. Why?"
"...Nothing. Just...how were you so sure I would not refuse?"
"Ahh…" She seemed to understand what he was asking now, a faint laugh escaping her. "I guess I didn't. You never turned my requests down so I guess I unconsciously counted on that."
"...Mmm. Thank you. For the trust."
"And I'm sorry. Did you have anything else planned?"
"...Nothing more important than this."
"I see…"
After that they continued to eat in silence until both were finished, taking a few more minutes rest to let the food digest. It was around then that Amid noticed the boy staring at her rather intensely. "Is something wrong?"
He didn't reply, instead just continued to stare for a few more moments. Then he turned to stare at the wall opposite of him once again. "...May I...talk to you?"
That question almost managed a chuckle out of her. "That is what we have been doing so far, no?"
"...Not like that. A private matter. Not as a...companion, but...as a patient?" he sounded unsure himself, but he nonetheless gained Amid's full attention.
Because it sounded like he wanted to open up to her.
"Of course."
"Mhm."
The next half a minute was pure silence, Fuzen being unsure how to start. But he noticed that Amid was patiently waiting, neither pushing nor questioning him herself.
Her calming presence gave him a small boost of confidence. He lowered his head until he was staring at the ground beneath him. "...I don't...enjoy hurting people."
"...Mhm."
"People, in the past and present, they...often think that. Perhaps it is my expression, or my actions. Or perhaps both. But...I don't enjoy it. Hurting people."
"Mhm."
He raised his index finger and tapped his temple. "In here. I don't enjoy it. Truly." Then he moved it down and tapped his chest. "But, I desire it. In here."
"...Mhm. Would you call it an urge or…?"
"...Urge...Yes. It's an urge, and also a disposition, I think." He nodded, both to Amid's words and to his own. "Usually, if I focus on the goal or task at hand hard enough, or if I think of the bigger picture as more important than myself, I can avoid it. But if I lose that focus, or if it wavers, then I...can't stop but think...how I want to just…" A moment of silence followed, then a faint shrug. "...to just butcher everyone nearby. For no particular reason. I just...desire it. To hurt everyone. To make them bleed. To kill them...eventually."
By now he expected something out of the girl. A grunt, a look of disgust, simple silence, anything really. He wouldn't have been surprised if she just up and left in that instant. Naturally he would have still followed her from a distance and made sure she returned to the surface safely, but an action like that would not have surprised him at that point.
Instead, she only replied with yet another 'Mhm'. Hearing that sound managed to make him flinch. Usually that sort of verbal response was given in acceptance to something, as far as his people skills told him.
So then, did that mean she she still accepted him?
Or his statement?
Both?
Half of both?
A quarter-?
"When did it start?"
"...A-Ah. When did it start…?" That was a hard and easy question to answer, both at the same time. "If there was a time I didn't feel this urge...I cannot remember it."
"It was there from the beginning?"
"...Yes. It was faint at first. But even as a child, whenever I watched the villagers get hurt, or when the soldiers wounded in the nearby conflicts passed through our village, I thought to myself without understanding why...how beautiful their blood was. And how I wanted to make their wounds worse. I never acted upon it. I never hurt anyone when I was that young. But, I felt it, even back then."
"Mhm...Fuzen."
"Yes?"
"Have you ever acted upon your urges?"
A question he did not enjoy being asked. However, he could not refuse to answer now after all the patience she had showed to him. That would be...beyond dishonourable. "Yes. Once."
"...You have had this affliction since birth...and you only acted upon it once?"
"...Mhm."
She tried her best to hide it, but the answer surprised her. She knew of people who suffered from far less, anger issues for example, who could not keep themselves from not giving in to their darker sides every day.
Yet he said he only acted upon his urges once. While being a child, no less.
"...What was the cause?"
"They tried to take everything away from me. So I took everything away from them, instead." He voiced and nodded slowly to himself, his eyes narrowing at the words he was about to say next. "And I...enjoyed every second of it."
"Have you told anyone else about it?"
He nodded. "...Seiji knows. Hachiman-sama knew from the start. And...well. You."
It was not what she expected to happen when they stepped foot into the Dungeon, however Amid had been able to keep to her professionalism throughout the conversation. She understood that what Fuzen was doing right now, opening up to her and revealing such personal thoughts was not easy.
It could not be easy at all.
But he decided to trust her anyway, and she would return it.
"...Your former God knew from the start?"
"...Mhm. He must have felt it from early on. That I was not normal."
"Did he ever talk to you about it?"
"No. He is many things, but...he's not a talker. We have talked very little beyond training. But I figured it out."
"How?"
"As I grew older, I started to piece it together. The continuous training which went on for years, with not a day of rest in-between. His endless lessons on honour and duty. His order that I was not to talk to other people, or only do so when he was besides me, an order that he was very strict with as I grow older. But...if I had to say what exactly the actual moment of truth was...it would probably be when I met the other Initiates of the Lightning Sword Style for the first time, shortly before our training to become Disciples was to start."
"How so?"
"All my life until then I thought that the endless hours of training and lessons were something normal. That that procedure was something normal. But when I met the other Initiates I realized that was not the truth."
"What was different?"
"They had been trained and taught the same things as me. But, considerably less so. They still had a personality, character...their own dreams. For me, training and lessons had been my entire life up to that point. I knew little beyond it."
For a moment Amid was unsure what Fuzen was exactly trying to say. It was only when she remembered what her first impression of him had been that she realized what he was going at.
'He's blank.' That was the very first impression she had of Fuzen when they first met, no doubt the same as most other people. 'And that's because…'
"Your former God. He...took you apart, didn't he? Piece by piece."
"...Mhm. The others had been raised. I have been bred. Bred not to think, move or act outside of what was allowed. Of what was honourable."
"...He enslaved you."
He turned around, his eyes meeting hers. "Yes. But, it was either this form of enslavement or the choice to be a slave to my own urges and desires. And what he had done to me allowed me to come this far. To get to know people. To meet you. I am...thankful."
Amid did not doubt the honesty in his words, however that is also why she felt sad. Because his words told her that he knew only a life of slavery awaited him, and that he was simply thankful that the better of the two evils came to pass.
"...Fuzen, what about your parents? Your family?"
He simply shook his head. "I have never met my father. And my mother, I only met once."
"How was it?"
"...Same as usual. Her...rank, for a lack of better words, did not affect my thoughts about her." He voiced, however for the first time she noticed a change in his tone. "The only reason I did not cut her down was because it would have been dishonourable to kill a civilian, unarmed at that."
"You did not speak to her?"
"I did."
"What did you speak about?"
"...Nothing good, that much is clear...I apologize. I do not want to talk any more about her. I made...many mistakes that day."
"I understand." She nodded. It would not be smart to push on a topic he was uncomfortable with. Not now, when he just opened up. "However...you said you told Seiji, and that your former God also knows. They are both individuals from your earliest days, right?" His nod affirmed her words. "Then...what about your Mistress? Does she know?"
His reply came almost instantly. "No. No, she...does not. And she...should not find out, either. Ever."
For the first time since they began the conversation Amid could sense the panic in his voice, in his tone. Almost like that coming to pass would be the worst-case scenario for him. And that is why for now, she decided not to push him any further.
"I see. Is there anything else...you would like to tell me?"
The silence which followed next was perhaps the longest yet, not since he opened up but since they have stepped foot into the Dungeon. At least a couple of minutes passed with the boy simply staring at the ground, not saying anything in return to Amid's last question.
And so she waited, patiently, until he was sure of what he wanted to say.
"I...uhh…"
"Hmm?"
"...My mother, I...love her dearly."
She had never expected him to say something like that, Amid's mind until now simply incapable of putting Fuzen and the concept of love together in the same sentence. However, hearing how genuine his words were she understood just how little she actually knew about him despite their nigh two years of knowing each other.
"That is good, is it not?"
"...Unfortunately, no. Things are not...that easy with me." He shook his head, a heavy sigh escaping his lips. The talk was not a fight, however he felt far more tired now than after most of his fights until now. "I don't...have an easy time with emotions. They are...hard, for me. Both expressing and understanding them. They were not part of my training."
She almost winced at the words. It was hard not to, now realizing just how poorly raised he had been. Poorly enough to not understand his own emotions. "Why is it not simple, Fuzen?"
"I did not...understand it when we met. I was just...angry, so I paid little attention to everything else in that moment. Called her names. Blamed her for everything. I started off angry. And I left angry. However, I listened to her side of the story, as well. And after time passed, I slowly came to understand."
"What?"
"...That I didn't hate her. That I still loved her. That I still do." He took a break, inhaling and exhaling a couple of times. "It also helped me understand myself better. I thought that my...overflowing desire to hurt her was because of how much I hated her."
"...But it wasn't."
"No. No, it wasn't...Later, after meeting more people...People that were important to me, I realized that another...emotion was responsible for that. For my intoxicating desire to hurt them."
"...Love?"
"...Mhm. My mother, and my friends...All the people that I loved...I never desired to hurt anyone else as much as them. It's twisted. I know. But...it is the truth."
"…"
"...I told you, a while ago, that I cared about you. That time, when you were sick. Do you...remember?"
"I do."
"I recently realized that claim was probably a complete lie. I...am sorry. For lying."
"What do you mean?"
"I am sure that I am, in fact, in love with you instead."
XXX
Boi, they sure do grow up fast, don't they...?
(It's a confession, yes. But...there is no romance tag on the fic. Just a reminder.)
Jokes aside however, I also apologize. I hardly explained as much about my boy as I made it look in the other AN.
It wasn't a complete lie however: I did show a bit of a peek into his life and what he has to deal with on a daily basis, so yeh.
And the same time, I also want you to remember that he himself can't express himself that well. For example, he said that doesn't kill people because it would be dishonourable (his mother for example), yet at the same time both when Ais and Lili betrayed his trust, he killed neither of them.
In those instances, killing them would have been honourable according to his code. One tried to 'steal' his Sword Style, another led him into a trap which most other people would have lost their lives in.
So then, if finishing them off was the honourable thing...why didn't he?
If I personally had to give my opinion...it would probably be because Hachiman's conditioning did not take him apart completely.
"Maybe", I certain don't know.
I do think it's a shameful thing to say as a (hobby) writer, but Fuzen is a complicated character even for me. I don't understand him 100% either, and I'm learning more about him as I write.
Shameful, I know. Most people know their own damn OC's from head to toe.
Then again he as a character was just as spontaneous as my idea to start this fic…
Anyway, that's about it from me.
As you read the next Chapter will focus on Loki Fam and also on the offer Fuzen made to Mikoto.
After that...time to put the plans in motions which involve Freya.
Lot of work, to be sure.
With that said I hope you had a halfway enjoyable read, and as always, see you next time.
Kay bye.
PS: Where's my reviews -_-?