Ais Wallenstein Broken Doll
Soft…
"Hmph." I tried to turn to hug the soft thing in my arms only to miss it and touch onto the cold ground.
I hissed as my eyes opened slightly seeing my arm on the floor mat of a tent creeping out of a sleeping bag that wasn't mine. There were bandages covering my arm and my left arm felt like it was strapped tight I could've moved it if forced to but the slight jolts of pain I felt from it warned me not to.
I groaned slightly.
"You're finally awake." I heard a calm voice speak from the entrance of the tent and almost flew to my feet but as I tried to a jolt of pain vent through my arm, and I forced myself to lay down.
"Ow…"
It was Khepera, with both her weapons sheathed and her hair done up into a ponytail. She was holding a plate of something in her hand. Seeing my pained face she walked until she was next to me and sat down.
I felt my stomach growl in anticipation once I saw the spread of grilled meat and seared vegetables on the plate.
"We're in the 18th floor, you had a lot of broken bones, lacerations and bruises along with some injuries to your ribs, so I found a doctor here and got you some potions. Your arm isn't fully healed yet, so take it easy. We'll administer another potion once you're properly fed."
Khepera began explaining with a soft voice as she gently helped me sit and unpacked a fork and knife from her backpack.
I nodded.
"Khepera…" I began but stopped once I saw the uncomfortable look on her face.
"That's not my name, kid. I think you've mistaken me for someone else." She said gently.
I shook my head vigorously. No, I hadn't mistaken her, this was Khepera I was sure. Did she not recognize me? I was different from the… innocent girl I was back before she disappeared and had grown up a lot over the years.
"You don't remember me? I'm Ais!" I tried a bit desperately.
Khepera tilted her head slightly to the side. She looked a bit concerned even worried for a second before shaking her head slightly.
"Sorry, I'm sure I haven't met you before." She admitted a bit sadly.
Something was wrong! That confused and worried look in her eyes definitely wasn't normal. I'm sure of it!
"You don't even remember my mother? Aria? She looks just like me." I was almost begging. She had to be Khepera. She looked and acted exactly the same, what other explanation could there be?
A haze descended over her eyes, and she shut them almost painfully. See! See! That's not normal, especially with all that blood that was pouring out of her mouth back then.
She's sick. A curse maybe? Something from the Dungeon.
She opened her eyes again and breathed out slightly.
"My name is Taylor, Ais. Taylor Anne Hebert. I don't know who Khepera is, but she certainly isn't me." She replied calmly, chidingly.
She stabbed a cut of meat with the fork in her hand a bit too forcefully and brought the fork to my mouth. I chomped down pulling the sweet and savoury cut off the fork.
I chewed on the familiar but distant taste of the meat. Honey clouds. She'd used honey clouds as glaze for the meat. Which seemed to be lamb meat the sort most commonly available around Orario.
It reminded me of dad. Mom wasn't exactly the best of cooks, but he had been. He'd been especially fond of going into the Dungeon to get these sorts of weird ingredients.
…I felt myself tearing up.
Khepera stopped seeing my tears.
"Is it bad?" She asked worriedly.
"I had to make do with what I could get but it shouldn't be that bad, spit it out if it is." She began fussing over me.
I shook my head mutely and kept chewing.
"It's good. It's really good. Khe-… Miss Taylor." I changed the name mid-sentence when I saw Khepera's flinch at the name.
I didn't know what was wrong with Khepera but until I found a way to heal her, I didn't want her to become uncomfortable and leave…
I didn't want her to leave regardless. If it was her… If it was her, we could definitely rescue mom! It might be a while yet, but if I could just get strong enough to slaughter that Dragon. I knew we could do it with her help!
She wasn't known as the "Teacher of Heroes" for nothing! If it was her… with her I could become strong enough to save mom!
…
Even if that wasn't the case. Just one more reminder of mom and dad… I just wanted it.
Khepera had a soft and relieved smile as she pierced a bunch of grilled vegetables and continued to feed me.
Though that relieved smile turned into a serious frown a few moments later.
"Say…Ais, who let you fight that dragon by yourself? Did you not have anyone with you?" Khepera asked with a grave tone, almost wrathful.
I froze in the middle of my chewing. I diverted my eyes and gulped down the food in my mouth. The next bite of food didn't come.
"Ais?" Khepera's voice was a bit strained when she repeated my name.
I tried to whistle innocently as Loki showed me, it never worked on Riveria, but Khepera wasn't her… so it might work.
… Judging by her incredulous and slightly menacing smile it didn't work. She gently set down the fork and plate to the side.
"Whistling like that just makes me think you did something you shouldn't have." Khepera advised.
Loki tricked me again!
"…I ran away." I admitted with a small voice.
Khepera didn't react audibly, but I felt a hand softly land on my head and begin rubbing softly.
"Could you repeat that, Ais? I think I heard you wrong." Her tone was exactly the same as Riveria before a lecture! How do I manoeuvre out of this?
The rubbing slowly began to speed up. My time was running out!
"I took initiative and worked to improve myself away from the group." I said imitating the way Loki excused herself whenever she bought Soma wine and Finn had a tired look in his eyes.
"Wrong answer, this isn't a job interview." Khepera's voice cut of any hope of escape from a lecture.
The rubbing became rustling as she messed up my hair.
"Why the hell did you think that, Ais? You ran away? For what? Fighting against an opponent much stronger than you without any kind of safety net?" Khepera wasn't exactly mad, but shocked and concerned.
I knew that. And it squashed any kind of comeback I could make. I squirmed under her vision. Her glares weren't the same as Riveria's though. It was rawer, like she knew exactly why someone might do something like that personally.
"Did you want to prove something to yourself?" She asked as if dreading my answer.
I shook my head vigorously sending my messed-up hair flying everywhere.
"…I need to get strong." I admitted and it was like adding kindling to the Black Flame. I felt it roaring inside me, ready to go out once again despite my injuries.
My accursed obsession, the foundation of my Self.
"To save your mother… I remember you saying that." Khepera finished for me.
I nodded my head silently. I heard her let out a deep, tired sigh in response.
"I'm not you guardian, Ais. I'm not your conscious either. Nor am I some sort of icon of morality. Long things short, I'm not an idol to be looked up to." Khepera began as she picked the plate and fork back up.
I turned to face her to stare into her eyes. They were filled with regret. Was she remembering things? But she didn't recognize me, maybe she was remembering what happened after she disappeared into the Dungeon?
"Despite all that I can tell you one thing, under no circumstances would your mother want you to die trying to save her." Khepera gently chided.
I diverted my eyes from hers and onto the soft blanket laid over my legs. I was gritting my teeth and barely holding back a retort.
She can't say anything about that. Now that dad's not with us and she's trapped by the Black Dragon she can't say anything to me.
"Come on, eat up." Khepera spoke again and I raised my gaze only to find another bite on the end of the fork.
I looked at her questioningly.
"Eat up, and we'll use that last potion. Then we'll head up and find your group." She repeated.
I nodded hesitantly and chomped down on the familiar flavours.
"We'll deal with the rest of this mess once we're up. Until then recover your strength, girl."
With those last few words from Khepera I continued the rest of my meal in silence. For once, the silence wasn't filled with the crackling of my Black Flame and instead suppressed by the thrumming of a distant star.
I had no doubt that it came from Khepera.
When I was taking care of Ais as she laid unconscious, I hadn't exactly realised all the issues the kid had.
Besides the "Khepera" thing which sent me reeling whenever she accidentally said it and the person the voice in my head apparently searching for her mother, Aria. There was also that she was a nutjob obsessed with getting strong at all costs even if that cost was her life.
I knew obsession, I'd seen it in a lot of Parahumans but Ais was on a different level from the vast majority of them only really surpassed by those screwed over by their powers. Her eyes switched between a blank look like an abyss and the eyes of a normal girl her age constantly as if the distinction between the two states was paper thin.
Maybe it was.
Her personality, her identity itself seemed to be very much so centred on Heroes and Strength. Apparently to save her mother.
Aria… Aria's daughter?
I kicked a goblin in the chest sending it flying away to a nearby wall cratering once it slammed into the hard but brittle walls of the first floor of the Dungeon.
I ignored the gazes of the other returning adventurers that were watching me and Ais from a distance and continued walking with Ais right on my heels lugging around her small and overfilled backpack along.
On her request I'd filled it to the brim with the gems and ores from the dragon's hoard. Apparently, she needed the money for a better weapon as her familia had been running out of weapons to give her.
Seems breaking weapons wasn't something unusual for her. Makes sense, people who use themselves as weapons don't tend to have equipment last long. I'd know with how many times I had to patch over my costume back in the day.
Well back to the topic on hand. Ais. The girl was strong, probably stronger than most Evilus members I'd dealt with over my time on the surface and with how I knew adventurers to work that didn't tell me anything good about her or her familia's mentality.
Adventurers only "Level up" when they overcome a life-or-death battle with such odds that it seemed impossible.
Ais's strength suggested a level of at least three. Meaning she did something like this two times already.
…Obsession is the greatest motivator
I agreed with the voice but that wasn't exactly a good thing. I watched silently as Ais pierced another goblin with my sword in her right hand. I'd kept her left arm bound to her chest as it was still somewhat tender.
…It wasn't my job to watch over Ais, she had an entire Familia desperately trying to look after her.
…
But I was worried they wouldn't be able to. They apparently didn't understand just quite how deep her obsession was. Or maybe they did but didn't know how to direct her away from it.
…
Maybe she lacked companionship? Even then I couldn't be that for her no matter how desperately she looked at me for it. I was the worst sort of person to look up to.
Stay near…
There was the voice as well. Even if it was slightly confused about Ais right now it was still certain that Ais was Aria in some form. My very presence was a danger to the kid.
"Taylor?" Ais's voice broke me out of my thoughts.
Seeing her worried look I shook my head and followed after her as we headed towards the exit of the Dungeon.
I should just deliver Ais to her Familia, warn them to keep a firmer eye on her and then leave.
Aria is there…
I was too dangerous.
As we climbed the last steps out and entered the bottom floor of the Babel tower I felt more than saw the eyes locking onto us. Though there were few people out and about right now there
I guess we were a sorry pair. A woman with terribly torn clothes with a single arm carrying a huge backpack along with a doll like girl hurt badly also carrying a backpack filled to the brim with ores peaking out over the top.
I dismissed their stares and motioned Ais to follow me as I got out of the large gates and into the crisp night air. Immediately I felt something was off.
I stopped my steps a mere five meders away from the gates. I felt like something was swimming through the air around me like it was water. A shiver went down the back of my neck and I felt my hairs stick up.
Something's eyes were on me. It felt dangerous but not hostile, as if it could crush me in a moment of carelessness. But it was also eager. Like an excited but cautious pup.
I noticed Ais's worried gaze sticking onto my pale face. I felt drops of sweat forming on my forehead as my gaze began to be drawn by instinct towards the night sky.
The sky was clear but there were almost no stars visible because of the lights of Orario. Almost. Only the brightest stars shone and among them was one I knew for a fact was no Star. It stared at me, and I stared at it.
My Passenger shone in the night sky its excitement clearly palpable. There you are.
The shining star split into a million dots and began swirling in a pattern unrecognizable to anyone but me. I knew that pattern, it was the instinctual pattern I used when moving my swarm around.
Then it came.
For a second I felt like everything was distant, my own body outside my reach. And then everything was too near. I felt every insect in a six-block range for but a millisecond. I felt my stump bubbling as if trying to regenerate back to fullness.
But the connection failed, the momentary sense of wholeness building up inside me faded. My stump became silent once more. I gasped out and continued to breath in and out heavily.
Damn it!
My Passenger dimmed as if it too was frustrated.
-that
The voice in my head uttered. I breathed in once again.
"Khepera! Khepera!?" The increasingly worried voice of Ais and her tugging at the cloth of my pants brought me back to the real world.
I breathed out.
"Sorry, Ais. I'm alright just got lost in my thoughts." I tried to reassure myself but judging by her even more concerned face it didn't work.
I saw other people looking at the stars above around us even Ais was glancing at them, maybe she was just trying to see why that new "star" had captivated me so.
I patted her on the back.
"Come on, chop chop. We need to get you back home before your familia goes insane." I directed her. I still didn't know which familia she belonged to and therefore had no idea where she lived.
She reluctantly nodded with a mumbled "Okay."
I followed her little steps as she though she stopped to glance at me every couple of steps.
Hey Passenger… Can you hear me?
…
No response. Our connection didn't form. Of course it didn't, there was no trigger event to facilitate it.
Damn. I couldn't even engineer a trigger for myself, it just didn't work that way. That would mess up the emotional circumstances my Passenger no doubt needed.
Fuck!
So close to being whole again and missed it by a hair!
This was seriously throwing me off, I knew for a damn fact I should not be this affected. But it did. My current emotional turmoil was definitely a side effect from… what I'd been against the warrior.
Would I return to that state if I reconnected with my Passenger?
No…
That had been momentary, a flawed mixture. The checks would be back in place if I ever did reconnect…
I was surer of it than I thought conceivable. Seems My Passenger was not the only one that had taken some bits. That thought was somewhat unsettling but also not really any worse than the… state my body was in.
Lost in those sorts of thoughts I did not realise I'd followed after Ais until we reached the gates of a manor. I roamed my gaze over the gigantic building. Seems Ais was a part of a fairly big familia, if the sheer amount of towers built into the chaotic mess of a mansion were any indication at least.
Though seeing as I saw another smaller tower being constructed around the building, I was fairly sure of my hypothesis.
There was someone at the gates in the process of locking them from the inside. A man or more accurately someone you'd call young man. Around sixteen or maybe a bit younger than that, not necessarily tall but exactly at the average for his age and with black hair he seemed like a nice if ordinary boy.
"Raul!" Ais called out waving her hand up high.
The boy was spooked for a second and bolted upright almost dropping the keys in his hands and just barely managing to catch it.
"Miss Ais!?" He shouted.
Miss? He was at least five years older than Ais.
"Then Lady Riveria should…" He was trailed off as he turned his gaze at me.
"That's not Lady Riveria!" He shouted again whilst pointing at me.
I heard and saw the door to the manor open from afar. A red-haired god or goddess along with a short blonde-haired boy and a dwarf with a brown beard walked out.
…Even though I hadn't been around much in this world even I could recognise the visage of the blonde boy, or rather the blonde pallum man.
Finn Deimne the Braver. That would make this familia the Loki Familia, arguably the strongest familia in the city.
I sighed tiredly.
Loki The Divine Trickster
"That's not Lady Riveria!" Raul's shocked shout echoed all the way inside to the entrance hall.
I couldn't help the smile at his outcry. A lot of gods weren't all that interested in Raul, but his mediocrity along with his constant reactions set him as the perfect straight man. A familia needed one or two of those to function properly.
"Seems Ais brought along a stray instead of Momma." I told Finn as he opened the door for us snickering all the way.
I stopped snickering when I saw his concerned face. I was about to ask him what he felt when Gareth acted faster.
"You getting a bad feeling, Finn?" He rumbled from behind me as we stepped out one by one into our home's garden.
Rather than watching Finn's expressions I turned my gaze to Ais and her companion.
"Just slightly, something feels off. And I doubt it's just Riveria not having come back yet." Finn spoke with the slightest worry in his tone. He was letting a bit of it show since almost everyone was asleep.
"The lass probably just dodged her and came ba-" I rose my hand to make Gareth stop.
"Ais is injured and that woman with her doesn't look all that good either." I spoke and sped up my steps. I wasn't going to be running at Ais to hug her and pamper my sweet little girl.
She was injured after all. I was scum and a pervert, not an asshat.
Though the gaze of that woman certainly wanted me to pull Ais away from her. It felt analytic in the same way you'd analyse a cut of meat.
I took a proper look at her. Relatively tall with a wide mouth and curly hair exactly the sort of woman Zeus used to go after back before I'd kicked his ass out. Not really my type especially with how flat she was but I had to admit with those corded muscles sticking out from under her torn clothes she looked hot.
You know what when I called you a "Lech with no inhibitions or taste" I might've been wrong, Zeus. I could certainly see what you liked about the type.
Anyways more important things. Despite the torn clothes she didn't have any wounds, either she had access to good healing magic -unlikely it seems Ais was healed by potions and couldn't get the arm properly healed- or she had some kind of rare regeneration skill.
Interesting…
Besides that there was her missing arm, it must've been severed long ago from the way she held herself, so she had been going into the Dungeon with a single arm. Judging by Ais's state at least down to floor 20 or so.
More and more interesting.
My eyes wandered over to the sword Ais was holding, it sure as shit wasn't the one I gave her. She must've broken the last one and gotten the ominous black sword from that woman over there.
The sword itself was definitely a first-class weapon and with the other first-class weapon strapped to the woman's thigh she was either loaded or came from a relatively large familia.
But the issue with that was I didn't recognize her! If she had those kinds of weapons, she was definitely at least level 4, yet I still didn't recognize her despite knowing every notable adventurer in the city!
So, who was this gal?
I stepped behind the shocked Raul in the middle of uttering something then laid my elbow on his shoulder and leaned onto him.
"Loki!?" He shouted again. If he kept that up, he'd start waking the others. Our little kitty would definitely get on his ass about that…
Well I'd rather she did actually. Those two were cute and I wanted another generation in the familia soon! I want grandchildren to pamper damn it!
Hmm?
Now that I was so close…
"Hey hey! Aisu you're a bit late and I see you managed to dodge momma somehow." I spoke energetically as I mused.
This feeling I was getting from the woman was odd. I'd thought she was a human, but she felt slightly off. She certainly seemed like a human and I had no doubt most gods would think nothing of it but to me it just screamed of a trick.
She had a feeling that almost slid towards what Ais felt like.
Hmmm….
"I'm home." Ais replied simply.
I nodded my head.
"Welcome back!" I spoke as I knelt and opened my arms.
Ais looked unsure for a second before sighing and coming for the hug. Careful of her bound arms I cradled her in my arms and raised her up before hugging her tight. Feeling her heart beat I let out a hidden sigh of relief.
Even then, I felt the woman with Ais see it. Her gaze seemed to pierce straight through me.
"Thank you for bringing Ais back, we were very worried when we found her bed stuffed with pillows and her window open this morning." Finn began to do the more formal part of this exchange. Let's see what this woman wants.
The tall woman shook her head lightly.
"It's fine, I couldn't just stand around and let a young girl get herself killed against a dragon." She waved us off, but I saw her judgemental gaze bore into us.
Ugh… She's mad we let Ais get away from us, not that she's wrong we really messed up this time.
"Even then I need to thank you. Ais has… her quirks and keeping up with her is impossible for most people." Finn kept trading niceties, but it seems the woman had no intention playing along.
"If you're trying to probe what I want I don't want anything. Just keep the girl away from trouble." A bit blunt but she seemed tired so I could understand where she was coming from.
Finn laughed politely.
"Yes, of course. Even then could I have you name Miss?" I side eyed the woman as Ais got tired of the hug and began squirming in my arms.
"Taylor, Taylor Hebert." The now named Taylor answered with a tired voice.
I saw Ais make a face at that. Oh? Ais knew something and that name the woman mentioned got a reaction from her.
I set Ais down gently.
"Well, then Tay-tan. Even if you don't want anything from us, feel free to ask. Our little princess is a though one to handle. From the looks of things you saved her life, so don't ya dare blow that off. My familia always pays their debts back."
Ais went around me and jumped out of Gareth's grasp as he tried to hold her still. She presented Tay-tan her sword.
"Tay-tan?" I heard the woman mutter as she lightly took the sword and sheathed it.
She shook her head slightly and patted Ais on the head softly. Who surprisingly let it happen.
Oho?
"Anyways, I'll keep that in mind." Tay-tan… I should probably find another nickname for her I have too many of that sort already. Hmmm. Taytay? No a bit too juvenile for her. Zeusbait? A bit too mean hearted.
Hmm…. Something to think about later.
Right as it seemed like the woman was turning to leave a voice came from down the street.
"Ais…" I turned to glance around Taylor and what I saw confirmed my hypothesis. It was Riveria, dishevelled and with red eyes supposedly from crying. Uh oh.
"Momma's mad." I commented simply as Riveria disappeared from my vision and appeared next to Ais with a shockwave much to Taylor's shock.
I didn't know when, but she'd unsheathed the adamantite tonfa she carried on her thigh and was about to bring it down on Riveria's head when she barely stopped.
Oh? Twitchy too…
Riveria got her hands on Ais's cheeks and was stretching them much to the girl's soft complaints.
"Hells Riveria you look like a hurricane went straight over ye." Gareth commented with a good natured smile.
Riveria had a blush come over her face but then went red with anger.
"Ais lied to a bunch of adventurers to throw me off! I was searching the 30th floor for hours and thought she died somewhere!" She almost shouted, wow she was really flustered.
Wait Ais did what?
…
THAT'S MY GIRL! I inwardly cheered but masked that reaction behind a dumbfounded smile.
I turned around to check on Raul and his reactions but as expected he'd extracted himself from the situation. Good instincts.
"She did what! Com 'ere you little rascal!" Gareth with his eyes now wide open looked at Ais who averted her gaze. Looks like she's going to be in trouble.
As Gareth similarly angry now got his hands on Ais and began shaking her in the air like a doll Riveria managed to calm down a bit and turned towards Taylor.
Her breaths still a bit heavy she bowed her head.
"I can not express how thankful I am that you managed to find Ais and saved her life." She said as she bowed deeply towards Taylor. Good thing no elves were around to see that, it'd definitely be a big issue.
"As I've said, it's fine. It's what anyone with a functioning sense of morality would do." Taylor repeated with an even more tired voice.
Ah… one of those types.
Riveria looked about ready to continue her thanks, but Taylor stopped her with a waving hand.
"Look, it's late, I'm back from a weeklong delve and I want to head home then sleep. Just keep Ais under better watch and it'll all be fine."
Taylor said once more this time actually turning to leave. The moment Ais saw that she managed to break free from Gareth's grasp. Well this should be funny.
Ais slammed into Taylor's leg and wrapped her arms around one of them.
"Ais!" Chorused Finn and Riveria whilst the previously mad Gareth and I tried to keep our chuckles down.
"Khepera don't go!" Ais cried out with a pleading and… concerned look.
Taylor or Khepera as Ais called her looked blankly at Ais before raising her leg and Ais with it. Ais was determined to not let go.
"Ais, I need to go home, I'm tired." She gently explained.
"But if you go, you'll never come back!" Ais argued back with some tears in her eyes. Huh? Why was Ais so certain of that?
My chuckles died down and I focused back on Ais and Taylor. Did Ais know her from somewhere? Or was it merely her being weirdly attached to her?
Tay-tan made a face at Ais's pleas. Oh damn, caught. She really wasn't planning on showing back up.
Ais noticed it too. "See! See! You can't go Khepera." She pleaded again with teary eyes.
Taylor looked more and more strained as Ais said the name Khepera. Interesting…
To be frank I'd prefer if she were to stick around as well. She seemed strong and fun enough even if she didn't have that weird feeling.
"Ais I can't stay near you. I'm not someone you should try to stick to." Tay-tan seemed really sure of that too.
Finn began moving forward supposedly to separate Ais from Taylor, he definitely noticed the way Taylor was getting more and more uncomfortable.
Ais noticed that Riveria was also softly approaching with similar intentions. "Please don't leave me too…" Ais muttered as tears began flowing from her eyes.
Khepera's face had a pitying and understanding look. But Ais's words were really much more shocking. Did she mean that she knew of this woman from before her dad died? Seriously? This woman would have to be a spirit then, but she didn't really have that feeling.
A spirit that was trying to look like a human…
I had no idea how she was doing it but if it was something janky like that then that'd explain the odd feeling around her.
…But for some reason it didn't fit exactly. I was missing a vital part of the puzzle.
Taylor or perhaps I should call her Khepera as well? No, if I did that any nickname I used would be too close to Khepri and I hated that bastard.
Well anyways, Taylor sighed deeply as if contemplating something before kneeling slightly down and gently flicking Ais on the forehead.
"Ow." Ais flinched back slightly.
"Fine, kid. I'll come visit you. Is that alright?" She finished the last part looking at Riveria as if she could feel the motherly aura my beloved high elf extruded.
Riveria nodded with an exasperated smile.
"…Do you promise?" Ais asked softly.
Taylor hummed in agreement. Ais still didn't let go.
"Ais, you need to let go and get more rest. I need to go home as well." Taylor chided after a few more seconds.
"Can't you stay with us." Ais pleaded with wide open eyes still red from her tears.
She directed the question at Finn and I as well. Thankfully Taylor answered first before we had to reject that idea.
"Absolutely not. I like my home." Ais deflated from Taylor's blunt response and Riveria pealed her off the woman's leg before picking her up like a baby.
With her tiny passenger off Taylor began walking away.
"Ais, say "I'll be waiting!"." I whispered to the silently watching girl.
"I'll be waiting! Taylor!" Ais shouted as she waved her hands from her position in Riveria's arms.
Taylor turned back for a moment and waved back with her singular arm and continued to walk all the while staring at that new element in the night sky.
"Alright, Ais…" Riveria spoke for a second before stopping seeing Ais's worried look.
"What's wrong lass?" Gareth asked first.
"Nn, Khepera… she… she was mom's friend." Ais spoke silently.
Tch, just as I guessed. But she certainly didn't act like someone who'd seen their… taken friends child.
"There is something wrong with her, she's sick." Ais continued.
Oh boy, this was something really fun, wasn't it?
"You'll tell us come morning, Ais." Finn interrupted.
Ughhhh! My first child and his sensible decisions!
Riveria nodded her head.
"It can wait until morning, you need rest." She agreed.
Ais looked pouty but didn't argue against it.
I saw two pairs of eyes peeking out of the windows near Ais's rooms. Seems our newest members have been staying up late waiting for her as well.
I sighed wistfully but let Ais be carried away by my familia's founders.
Man things are getting interesting again huh? So soon after the Great Feud too. Well this is why I came down here in the first place. You never know what to expect with the mortal world.
Astrea familia's fall, this Khepera and of course…
My gaze drifted to the new "Star" in the sky.
You.
Man… what the hell are those idiots doing up there letting something like you come this close? Not that I should complain much, I wasn't exactly the most dutiful god up there either.
But seriously there is no way that thing fits with the rules of this world. But well… I'm sure it will show me something interesting, so it's probably fine.
I knew there was a wide grin on my face, but I didn't hide it no matter how hideous it might've seemed to the children.
Regardless of what comes I'm sure my Heroes will be able to deal with it. After all I had absolute faith in my children.
Morning eventually came with the first rays of the sun peeking through my curtains and glaring into my eyes.
Though I wasn't all that rested I had to wake up and freshen up if I wanted to keep to my daily schedule.
With shaky steps I padded over to the bathroom and began my morning rituals.
The empty backpack to the side of my shower apparently left over from last night caught my eye. What had I done with the drops? Dropped them onto Fel's lap in the middle of the night. Right.
They'd said something about having the arm ready in a few days, but I was a bit out of it by that point, so I might've just hallucinated it.
After a few minutes staring into the mirror and finishing up my routines I finally managed to get myself dressed. Right as I was about to step outside and go to the tea shop, I frequented I saw the ruined remains of my battle clothes lying on the floor.
I picked them up to inspect if they could be fixed and saw just how terrible their state had gotten. If I tried wearing them anymore, I'd just look like a wannabee exhibitionist. Guess I'll throw them out. Though now I need to go shopping for another set once again.
Hope this doesn't become a theme, I hate having to spend hours picking out properly durable ones.
Shaking my head I stepped out my house and locked the door behind me. So began my slow morning. I threw the clothes out into a nearby dumpster as I passed by and kept walking through the early morning streets. It was already quite crowded, so I wasn't exactly alone but…
Well I did kind of feel lonely.
Being in the Dungeon for a week straight with no company but the monsters trying to kill me then finding Ais and getting used to her presence had probably caused that.
Hmmm…
I sighed out and turned my gaze skywards.
You hear me Passenger?
…
No response. That just made me feel worse.
"Miss Hebert?" A familiar, reassuring voice called out from ahead of me. I turned towards it and saw Leon with a sword strapped to her side and her face hidden behind a neck mask. I remember her having that mask back when too. Seemed odd to just wander around the streets in it.
Though considering her already interesting fashion taste it wasn't out of the question…
Seriously booty shorts and thigh high leather boots? Weren't elves supposed to be a bit more prudish than average? Maybe it's because she wants to set herself apart from other elves?
Anyways. I waved at her.
"Good morning, out on patrol?" I asked as I greeted.
She raised a bag full of groceries that I hadn't seen before.
"No, just some errands. Things have been hectic lately, so we forgot to stock up. More importantly, you're back from your delve. Welcome back." She answered kindly.
I smiled at the warm welcome, but my thoughts got stuck on something she said though. Hectic? Because of their expedition perhaps?
"Thank you, has the goal of your expedition been revealed?" I asked her.
The question caused the elf to flinch and avert her eyes. Was she not supposed to tell me the goal? No, guild missions are always announced at the main guild building. It's public knowledge, Fel's told me they do it to increase the city's morale.
That meant it was something bad.
"I'm assuming it has." I commented.
Leon softly nodded her head.
"It's… a difficult mission to say the least." She said with a quiet tone before shaking her head.
"Please don't worry yourself about that." She added afterwards.
I was worrying about it.
"If there is-" I began to offer my help before I got cut off.
"Ah! Miss Hebert, I just remembered. Lady Astrea wanted to meet you before you went down but couldn't. If you haven't had breakfast yet, would you like to join us?" She invited with a bit more gusto than necessary.
I see, she's trying to deflect me at her familia since she's unsure what to say. Or she might also just be trying to change the topic. Either way, it was to my advantage.
"Sounds good, I have nothing to do today anyways." I accepted casually.
Leon nodded her head with a satisfied huff.
"Please follow me then. I'm sure the others will be glad to see you as well, especially Alise."
With those words she began leading me towards her home.
Sorry Leon I'm getting mixed up in this whether you like it or not.
Somehow after tagging along with Leon, I'd found myself at an empty table sitting across the Lady Astrea I'd heard so much about and sipping at tea that was way too sweet.
She was odd… Not in an irritating manner but especially compared to Ais's goddess Loki she seemed way more… like how I would imagine a kind goddess to be. The feeling of divinity I got from the two was comparable only in that it was an instinctual feeling that identified the source as a god.
Other than that her kindly and understanding demeanour her very divinity seemed to extrude the impression of a kindly older sister. Though there was a slight undertone of a razor passing harmlessly by my neck. I supposed that was fitting for the goddess of Justice.
"Sorry, I'm the one entertaining you instead of my children. My girls usually let me help them prepare but they take any excuse they can to get me out of the kitchen and doing nothing."
She softly spoke with the same tone a proud mother might take.
"It's fine, I'm the one imposing here." I assured her as I drank down a bit more of the disgustingly sweet tea.
She shook her head.
"You saved my children's lives. You are never imposing in this house." She said with a tone that brooked no argument.
I feel a bit too welcome here actually. Especially with the way she was giving me sad glances. Regardless of that I sighed a bit into my teacup and put it down.
"As I've said before, Lady Astrea. I did what I thought was right. There is no debt to pay back." I tried once more. This had more or less been our entire conversation until now.
The goddess smiled indulgingly.
"That doesn't mean you aren't a friend of our familia, Taylor." Her kind motherly tone was comforting, at least for most people. It just made me feel like I needed to get away from her. I knew the feeling was… irrational to say the least.
This god seemed to be fairly tame and generally good natured, even then I wanted to inch away from her.
"I suppose so…" I indulged her a bit. Or more like gave a bit of ground.
The goddess clapped her hands happily.
"Wonderful! Oh and I've heard from Alise that you were going to be receiving some sort of lessons from her, but things kept coming up… If you desire, I could help you out as well?" The goddess energetically offered.
I would've been alright with her teaching me how to read, but as I fully intended on finding out what the hell was going on that set Leon on edge I couldn't accept.
"I've actually come to discuss a bit about those complications." I explained.
The goddesses' eyes darkened a bit.
"Ah, yes. The mission from the guild." She muttered.
"Something dangerous?" I asked further causing the goddess to sigh deeply.
"A floor boss, specifically Udaeus…" The goddess softly admitted, apparently sharing none of Leon's hesitation.
A floor boss? Udaeus the floor boss of that hellish 37th floor. I… I could see how that would be nearly impossible. Wasn't that thing supposed to be rated as level six?
Could the girls take that?
"If… if we hadn't lost so many we could have taken it on. It would've been difficult, but the girls could do it." A mourning look came over her eyes and she grasped the small necklace around her neck. It was one of the familia symbols.
A wave of regret and disappointment in myself threatened to wash over me but as always it was forced down into the depths of my mind. I'd saved who I could, crying over those I hadn't arrived fast enough to save would just be impudent.
I wasn't infallible, I wasn't omnipresent…
Trying to be would just make me unable to save anyone at all.
"Now with so few of them left it's nearly impossible, merely descending that far could be dangerous." I spoke affirming Astrea's thoughts.
She nodded hesitantly.
"We have a few allies we could call upon but anyone major might make gods that aren't fond of me pressure the Guild into adjusting the difficulty." The goddess of justice explained with a shaky voice, describing the potential doom of her familia.
…Could I have Fels and Ouranos interfere? I should be able to. I don't know if they can rescind the mission or not, but at the very least they could make it so that those allies Lady Astrea can call upon won't be noted.
"I have a few connections at the Guild. I might be able to make them turn a blind eye towards it." I mentioned.
The goddess's eyes opened wide in surprise.
"You would?" She murmured silently.
I nodded my head. "But even then, it'll be dangerous. So I must ask you if it's possible to reject the mission." I added afterwards.
The goddess went silent for a few seconds before eying the door to the room we were in. Seems her followers weren't done preparing breakfast.
"Personally I would much rather the girls rejected the mission and I've been trying to convince them of it. But with the amount of enemies we still have and the situation our familia is in if we do reject the mandatory mission we'll be fined and punished until we are forced to leave the city by the other gods."
She explained.
"And the Guild can do nothing to prevent that? I had the impression that you worked closely with them." I asked.
A sad look passed by her eyes.
"So did Zeus and Hera, it didn't help when they failed. The Guild's greatest and possibly only goal is the management of the Dungeon and ensuring ever stronger familia crop up to make sure that is viable. If a strong familia like mine suddenly falls…" She trailed off with a hint of disgust colouring her tone.
"It's sink or swim because others want to take your place at the top." I finished her thought for her. The hell? What was the Guild doing letting the gods run each other into the ground like this?
They couldn't have been that powerless right? They're the damned bureaucrats, they control everything about the city. Even the fucking water supply passes by their hands.
Ouranos certainly hadn't seemed like the sort of god to let this happen willy nilly, were the assortment of other gods really so powerful that he had to contend with letting something like this go on constantly?
…
The more likely reason was that most other gods were okay with it since it would eventually be to their advantage. Even the current two greatest famillias Freya and Loki had made use of it to push Zeus and Hera out.
So if Ouranos tried to change things up even the familia on Astrea's side would stop him.
I see. It was the norm that this world had grown used to.
"Would being kicked out be unacceptable?" I asked, I already knew the answer but better to hear their reason.
The goddess grimaced.
"The girls… they don't want to be forced to give up after they lost all their friends down in the Dungeon. Especially Kaguya and Ryuu are not willing to go, they are too dedicated to their ideals."
I understood them. I understood why they didn't want to be banished and forced out of the city. In their place I probably would've done the same if not something worse.
…
I remember that time back when I was still running with my old group when a… woman in a black costume had tricked me by showing me their fake corpses. I could have given up and surrendered, let her get what she wants to let up. To not put my friends into danger.
I had murdered her instead. She'd not taken me seriously and thought she could browbeat me into submission. So I'd killed her and the man with her then stepped over their corpses.
Even if I had been forced to abandon my friends because of it, I'd done it, nonetheless. And I'd never truly regretted it. Only the consequences had bothered me.
A sigh forced itself out of my mouth.
"If you will have me, I want to join your girls on their expedition." I spoke to the goddess.
She didn't look surprised but merely… hesitant.
"Neither I nor the girls want you to die for them, Taylor. No matter how strong you are the odds you are going against… won't be favourable." She spoke softly.
I shook my head.
"Then our only option will be to win." I replied simply if a bit bluntly.
The goddess closed her eyes. "I will tell the girls your offer after our breakfast." Seems I got her hesitant approval.
I smiled softly.
Shortly after a knock at the door came and Alise poked her head in.
"Breakfast's ready!"
She shouted excitedly.
Better enjoy ourselves while we can. After that we need to prepare for the coming expedition.
…
Like hell am I letting those four die because of the stupid power dynamics of this world.
The breakfast had been enjoyable, prepared in a weirdly Mediterranean manner given Orario's own climate and culture but I learned it was done because Astrea enjoyed it.
Fitting.
Plates came down and we ate with some halted conversation mixed in the middle of it. From what I'd heard the girls had been busy amassing funds and preparing equipment whilst I was gone, and they still had some time to prepare.
With some plans slowly formulating in the back of my mind I enjoyed myself until the plates were taken away with my help and the table was wiped clean. Leon departed quickly to prepare more tea leaving Lady Astrea, Kaguya, Lyra, Alise and I to discuss.
Something was different about Lyra… Oh she just had glasses on. Glasses… didn't I use to wear glasses? I think I did.
Speaking of Lyra she broke the silence much to my thanks saving me from those thoughts.
"No point beating around the bush anymore." Lyra commented before anyone else could speak.
She pointed at me. "You guessed we were in trouble and came immediately to help us barely asking a question meanwhile, right?" She light-heartedly accused.
"I'm not so recklessly good-hearted." I countered.
To a slightly surprised look in her eyes, which vanished the moment I finished my reply.
"I asked questions and teased out answers out of Leon. I know the gist of things and decided to help you out anyways." I finished.
She brought her hands to her face adjusting her glasses slightly upwards and rubbing her eyes.
"Just another flavour to the bunch, no wonder you and Leon get along." I felt like I had to be offended by her complaint, but really it was a good thing. The person she was complaining about was who I wanted to be.
"It's too our benefit… so whatever. We've got five suicidally dedicated women now instead of four." Lyra spoke again.
Alise smirked but it was a bit of a brittle one.
"Come on, don't be like that! We were going to ask Miss Taylor for help anyways." Alise commented.
They were? I actually felt a little touched by that.
"I see you didn't counter the suicidally dedicated bit, Alise. Should our Captain really be so pessimistic towards our chances?" Kaguya asked from the side, she had her eyes closed as if in deep thought.
"Well, even I have to be realistic sometimes. If we go ahead as we are right now our chances aren't very good. The five of us could head down there or take on Udaeus on our own but doing both without support might be a bit too much." Alise's usually cheerful tone had once again switched to that serious and resolute voice I'd first heard from her.
Her comment drew Lady Astrea's attention.
"About the numbers issue, Taylor has informed me that her connections in the Guild might be able to let us get away with calling for some help." She explained to the rest.
Alise perked up.
"Seriously? We could call Ninkarrak familia as supporters again then!" She exclaimed with her hands slammed onto the desk.
"We'd have to give them most of the drop items but that's fine, with their healers and supporters making it down to the 37th should be fairly easy. But that still leaves taking on Udaeus to us five, we can't exactly call on Ganesha familia either. Their expedition is right after ours to the 43rd floor."
Lyra's words seemed to dampen Alise's mood a bit.
In that moment Leon came through the door.
"That's just what we'll have to do then, no?" Her tone wasn't sharp, nor was it steely. But it was determined, there had been an undertone of despair in her when I'd first met her this morning but somewhere along the way she'd picked up some steel.
Besides the tea she had left to get she'd brought along the pieces of the baton I'd broken as well.
Astrea familia's gazes immediately went to the broken wooden baton.
"Couldn't have said it better. Rare to see you like this Leon, did you finally make up your mind?" Kaguya commented from the side with her eyes lightly cracked open eyeing the broken pieces.
Leon sat the tea down onto the table and took her seat on the opposite side to mine.
"I'd been having trouble… deciding what to do. I didn't want the rest of us to die in the Dungeon without being able to carry on our friends' dreams, nor did I want us to just give up. But those impossible odds aren't so impossible with Miss Hebert by us. If we have the chance at succeeding, we have to try and give it our all."
Leon spoke and no one interrupted her. Something was different about her, maybe it was the halves of the baton she held in her hand. They had been gifted to her by a friend as well…
"We do have a shot at it… if we can get Ninkarrak familia to support us we'll be set to challenge Udaeus…" Alise muttered to herself before clenching her fists tight and thrusting them to the air.
"Yep! The five of us, if we can get allies to help us get there without getting too exhausted, we can do it!" Alise declared.
Kaguya looked around for a second.
"Udaeus is a level 6 monster, it's not guaranteed we'll win even with three level fours, a level three and whatever level Miss Hebert is." She commented.
"I can fight on the level of a high level five." I answered in a roundabout way, best not lie with the goddess around.
Lyra looked over to me with a curious look in her eyes, she'd noted the odd words I used. "It's decided then? We're seriously fighting Udaeus, the five of us?" She asked the others.
Kaguya huffed. "Looks like we are. The others who passed before us would be disappointed if we didn't go on at least one last adventure, no?" Her snarky tone was for once not grating to my ears.
She got slapped on the back by Alise.
"That's my vice-captain! I'd almost forgotten! We're adventurers, aren't we? If we don't do the impossible, we're just not living up to the legend." She boasted.
I leaned back on my chair.
"Don't worry girls, I'll pull you kicking and screaming into the future if it takes be." I said causing Alise to laugh.
Their goddess was still silently watching, I wonder did she think she shouldn't interfere in her children's choices unless necessary? I could see a deity like her having that sort of outlook.
I looked over the anxious bunch. They were laughing and boasting but I saw the worry underneath.
Leon had roused them into action the moment she saw a path to victory.
…
They needed weapons, arms, tools.
"We're getting too excited; we need weapons and armour. That's not even mentioning all the other preparations that need to be done." Lyra mentioned from the side as she poured herself some of the tea Leon had brought.
Kaguya pointed at Leon with her silver arm accusingly. "That idiot still hasn't gotten a proper weapon and Alise's sword is chipped; she needs it repaired too."
The two accused women diverted their gazes away from the rest of the table.
Meanwhile Lady Astrea stood up and began distributing cups of tea around the table. I noticed she didn't set one aside for herself.
"I'll leave you girls alone to discuss, feel free to use anything you need." She said as she turned to leave.
"Going out to talk with Lady Ninkarrak?" Alise asked her from her seat as she stretched her arms.
Astrea stopped by the door and turned only her head before winking and leaving.
…
She's certainly a beautiful woman, but did she do that pose on purpose or…
Judging by Alise's ashamed and flustered face… it could be both.
"I'll foot the bill for your weapons and armour, money doesn't matter much to me." I added as I realised Lyra was trying to figure out how they were going to pay for all that.
She looked at me in a confused manner. "You will? No- wait, the better question is you can?"
"So long as it doesn't cost more than two hundred million valis yes." I answered.
Alise began choaking on her tea.
Lyra was frozen solid.
Was it that much money? I'd only gotten that from the quests Ouranos sent my way.
"Do your quests from the guild pay that much?" Leon asked me with a shaky voice.
"I have a decent bit saved up as well." I answered.
It seems I made quite a lot of money; I'd just assumed that it was normal for first class adventurers to make this much. Was I wrong? Now that I think about it, I did always get the feeling of a kid on Christmas receiving money from their grandparents every time I visited Ouranos…
Well it's being put to good use, so I don't much care.
Suddenly I remembered something.
"The shopping will have to wait though; I have to go and talk to the person making my new arm. I'll talk with my contacts in the guild to find out what the hell is going on over there as well."
I purposefully didn't mention they were the same person.
Kaguya's eyebrow quirked. "Oh you're getting a new arm. From Airmid or someone else?" She asked.
I didn't know who Airmid was, so I shook my head.
"A colleague, who also crafts all the magic items I use."
Lyra perked up at that. Her eyes darted over to me and a relieved smile replaced her usual slightly smug one.
"Can we commission them too? Our normal item maker from Hermes familia is a bit busy at the moment so we're getting only the most necessary things from her."
Did Fels accept commissions? I knew they created the magic items the Guild uses but never heard of them selling their wares.
"I'll ask them about it today, you girls try to take care of the armour parts by yourselves. Tomorrow, I'll take you to the blacksmiths that made my weapons." I mentioned.
The girls nodded and with that the initial part of the meeting was done. We still had a lot to hash out though.
This'll be a long few weeks…
So, essentially what I'm used to.
"The Astrea Familia had what assigned as their mission?" Fels's hands stopped moving the moment I told them of the situation.
They stepped away from the carved frame of what I assumed was supposed to be my new arms inner skeleton.
"Udaeus, the level six monster rex you'd warned me about." I deadpanned.
Seems Fels wasn't aware of the mission.
"No…There were talks of assigning them that mission but that was over two months ago, before they encountered the Juggernaut." They muttered.
"Seems the mission got sent through regardless of that." I commented with an unpleased tone.
"…It can't be Royman messing with things, he would do all in his power to keep Astrea familia around. Could he have sent the mission ahead of time and it just got done processing?" Fels continued muttering as they began pacing.
"Could it be someone with a grudge against their familia embedded into the Guild?" I proposed my hypothesis.
Fels waved it off. "The risk is always there. Astrea familia has been enforcing justice in Orario for a long time and they've only ever made more enemies. But I doubt that is the case here, it is more likely that the mission was sent ahead of time and managed to make it through the bureaucracy just now." They explained but I merely raised an eyebrow.
"That seems absurd, Astrea familia was a big deal, weren't they? Their decimation would've been known by every employee in the guild through office gossip alone. Someone would've stepped in."
Fels was silent at my response for a solid five seconds.
"Perhaps my dismissing of the grudge was a bit hasty… But nevertheless It is more likely that certain positions in the Guild have been bought out or that there is some sort of…personal reason for it. Those have been issues neither I, nor Lord Ouranos have been able to beat out of the Guild for the last hundred years." Fels admitted as they continued pacing.
Hundred years? Was Fels an elf? No that doesn't matter right now.
"Corruption then?" I asked further.
Fels clicked their tongue.
"Most likely corruption and bureaucratic mistakes. The Guild is structured in such a way that no individual barring the Guild Head could deviate from Lord Ouranos's divine will. Or that is at least in the main Guild branch." They explained.
That sounded smart but something had clearly gone wrong.
"Work me through it." I asked for clarity.
Fels stopped pacing for a moment.
"The assigned mission envelope was most likely sent ahead of time and got lost in the bureaucracy. Meanwhile the bought out or outright malicious agent got their hands on it and replaced the actual mission with it at some point instead of the newly drafted mission that was to be assigned to Astrea familia."
Fels continued to hypothesize.
"With the old mission having all the correct signatures and markings, this compromised Guild employee was able to sneak it through the process with all the other employees unknowingly pushing it through." I guessed.
The alchemist nodded with their hand on their chin.
"The compromised person would have to be fairly high up in the chain, the missions are sealed after a certain point in the approval process so that their contents aren't leaked and used by the gods in their games."
That was good and all but finding the compromised person wasn't what I was after right now. Fels could handle that themselves.
"I assume rescinding the order isn't on the table." I cut into their thoughts.
Fels shook their head immediately
"If we tried the other gods would pounce on it, Astrea familia would be run out of the city by the next morning."
I swore softly.
"Can you at least make the Guild turn a blind eye to Astrea familia calling in a few of their allies for help?" I asked again.
After thinking for a moment Fels answered.
"Yes, that will fairly easy especially with how much Royman must be panicking about the mission." They answered with an affirmative.
"Good… good. I most likely won't be able to take many quests from you or Lord Ouranos until I get back from that expedition but can Astrea familia and I commission you for some magic items to help with the descent?" I asked my next question, more of a request.
Fels chuckled lightly.
"Please, Miss Hebert. I won't be able to do much but with all the materials you've brought me and the extra's I've gathered I'll prepare all that I can to help in the expedition. After all I hate it when something I've worked hard to preserve gets destroyed needlessly."
The bit tacked on to the end of their words seemed more spiteful than anything I'd ever heard from them before. Some sort of trauma?
Fels moved back towards the workstation with the beginnings of my new arm on it.
"Bring me whatever the Astrea familia orders, and I'll have it ready once I am done with your new arm. I'll add a couple of more of my own inventions into the bunch as well. By the time I'm done your group will be armed fittingly to the name I was once given."
Fels spoke with some pride, not out of the ordinary. They were the one thing I'd ever heard Fels take pride in. Though something bothered me.
The name they were once given, I suppose it meant Fels didn't think it was fitting anymore. Though they refused to say the name. Was it something recognizable?
"You seem eager to help." I commented instead of bringing attention to it.
It was an important question regardless. I had to beg and bother them until I managed to get Fels to fork over some magic items. Usually they were not so fort coming with them citing their tight schedule and other people's needs for their creations.
Fels began humming to themselves as they worked.
"Astrea familia is a shining beacon of what all familia should aspire to be and their goddess is one of the few Deus Dea that I approve of walking this world. I might have grown callous with my age, but I prefer to place some of my hope onto them. So them perishing or being banished due to a mistake on my part is unacceptable."
They spoke with frustration embedded into their tone.
I nodded my head silently.
I see.
"Don't worry, I'm making sure they all get through that mission intact. Even if I have to drag them by their feet for it." I assured Fels.
Astrea familia had decided I was a friend to them.
Well, I'm not letting them slip from this world until I could say the same.
An: Better late than never.
Welcome back folks to the Taylor gets curveballs sent her way by every which direction.
Anyways, as you can see this chapter is setting up some major things the one that's most important for the short-term is the Expedition. Sorry Taylor, you're going right back into the Dungeon.
Besides that Ais clings onto Taylor like the overly attached little puppy she is and the upper echelons of Loki familia think Taylor is a spirit with dementia. Which… hey isn't the worst thing they can think.
As if that all wasn't enough Taylor drops of another major workload on Fels, who is definitely about to die from overwork. With all their other work stacked on top now they have to search for whatever Guild worker is up to some weird shit.
The Astrea Familia's newest death march is curtesy of two very troublesome things. Bureaucratic Mistakes and a Malicious agent, Bought out employee or a person motivated by something else. You'll see that later on though for now Taylor and Astrea's children arm themselves.
With all that said. Thank you for reading and please do review if something caught your eye.