Airmid sighed as she glanced out the window. Seeing the moon shining high in the sky and knowing she needed to go to sleep soon.
Dick was behind her, laying on the couch with his hands over his stomach. Eyes closed with steady breathing. Despite how laxed he looked she knew he could jump up at a moment's notice.
But her mind wasn't occupied with him. Or with the fact she had an early shift tomorrow. Her attention was drawn to the blank sheet of paper in front of her. A pen resting in between her fingers haphazardly.
She had decided to take Dick's advice about writing down the things she wanted to do with Bell. And things had come to mind, yet her nerves stopped her from writing.
'What if I write these things and he dies? Then it will just be a list full of regrets.' She thought.
Her pen hovered over the paper yet the tip didn't touch. The house creaked as it settled, and the pen still didn't move.
"Just write something already." Dick yawned.
Airmid jumped in surprise before whirling her head around. "You're awake?!"
"Resting my eyes. Now hurry up and write something. You have work in the morning."
Dick yawned again before shuffling. Airmid grimaced as she turned back around. Looking at her paper before taking a deep breath. She hesitated a second longer and began writing.
The first one was simple. A small errand the two of them could run at any time. It didn't have to be right after he got back.
Buy more paint
She stopped and thought about what else they could do. Before remembering what he had asked her about at the casino.
Teach him manners
The third was something she knew she needed. It was something she wanted as well. It was a desire born after her night at the Casino.
Ask Bell to teach me how to fight and help me practice concurrent chanting.
Airmid thought that would be a good idea. It could make her more useful should a situation require it. That way she would be just a helpless damsel.
More and more things came flowing out of her pen. There were all these things she wanted to do with him. All these things she wanted to show him. He was her friend and the two barely knew anything about each other.
Buy more paint
Teach him manners
Ask Bell to teach me how to fight and help me practice concurrent chanting
Ask him his favorite color
Ask him more about his home
Ask his favorite food
Ask what type of flowers he likes
Ask more about his master
Ask about his Grandfather
Show him my favorite places in the city
Show him the best restaurant around
Ask when his birthday is
Ask him to pose for a portrait
Airmid blushed at that last one. But she loved painting things. Rather it be the sky or a flower or some random windowsill. She loved it, and Bell would make a good model.
She blushed at that thought as well. It would just be a simple face portrait. None of those lewd paintings others liked to do. No, that would be way too far.
But maybe, just maybe. She could get him to sit still for a few hours. Just just sit there and let her paint a portrait of his face. So she could still have him around when he had to go.
Yes, that would be nice.
Airmid yawned as she slid off her stool. Clicking her pen shut and picking up her paper. She spared another look at Dick who rested on her couch.
Whether he was sleeping or not she wasn't sure. But she was glad he and Bell seemed to become fast friends. Bell didn't seem to have many besides her.
She took another look at her list. A little pleased with herself at how much she was able to write down. And wondered if maybe she could write more before Bell came back.
The ground beneath her then violently shook. Causing her house to shake and break her chain of thought. Pots and pans clattered and Airmid had to grab the counter to stop herself from falling over.
The earthquake ended soon after. Lasting less than a minute. Dick was already up on his feet. His hand came to rest on Airmid's shoulder to make sure she was ok.
"You alright?" He asked.
Airmid nodded though her heart was racing. "Yeah...that was a big one though." She breathed out.
Both looked at the ground in concern. The dungeon normally sent tremors and small earthquakes throughout the city. But none had been that big since the Dark Age.
Not since the King did battle with Gluttony on the 18th floor.
"One that big must have caused damage. The hospital will be flooded." Airmid said.
Dick just sighed and shook his head. "I had a feeling tonight was going to be a long night." He then stepped back and gestured to the bow with a mock bow. "Off to the clinic, we go once more, your saintness."
Airmid rolled her eyes but made her way to the door. Having not changed out of her uniform. Being too busy with the list to do so.
So with her back straight and eyes burning with determination and the will to help people. Airmid threw open her door and marched back to the clinic.
A gnawing worry in the back of her mind for Bell. But she pushed on as the screams of people filled her ears. The panic and hysteria of this being an attack.
Was the Dark Age about to happen again?
All of this was pushed out of Airmid's mind. She was a healer, and she wouldn't rest until everyone else was healed.
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The 24th floor was a thing of nightmares to a few adventurers. In front of them was a dead man. Someone who was supposed to have died six years ago at the tail end of the Dark Age.
The man who organized the nightmare on the 27th floor. An incident where a mass amount of monsters were sent towards adventurers that were down there to stamp out the last of Evilus.
Olivas Act.
He was supposed to be dead. Many saw him devoured by monsters. Leaving only his legs to remain.
"What is a dead man doing here?!" Lefiya shuddered.
"So you survived." Asfi mused. Still clenching her side as she was held up by Narvi.
"No, I died. But she brought me back from the brink." He threw his hands in the air as if worshipping a god. "SHE GAVE ME A SECOND LIFE!"
He opened his chest to reveal a bright yellow-colored monster stone. Smirking in delight as the group's eyes minus Bete widened with fear.
"W-what." Bell choked out. Swallowing a dry lump that was hanging in his throat. "What the hell are you?"
Olivas raised his hand toward Bell. "Man." Then moved to the corpse of a Viola. "And monster. A combination that now exists combining both."
Bell felt cold sweat drip down his spine. A man and monster hybrid. Such a thing didn't exist, shouldn't exist.
Yet it did, and it was staring Bell right in the face. With arrogant eyes that soaked up the shock and surprise washed over the group.
"This is crazy!" Lulune cut it. "Enough messing around. You mean to tell us you're a leftover guy from Evilus who was turned into some half-human-monster tamer hybrid? Do you have any idea how many people have died because of you? Even Keaks-
"Their lives do not matter to me." Olivas cut her off. "You are all insignificant creatures that follow the whims of gods. Dancing as they pull your little puppet strings for their amusement. You are nothing more than ants to be crushed. Grains of sand to be washed away by a flowing tide. Do not compare someone like me to the likes of you. Or worse, dismiss my superior abilities to that of a simple monster tamer. You insult her by insinuating as such."
Olivas reached over and picked up the head of a Viola and raised it to the sky. "Me, the Violas, all of us are one entity under her! We are one and the same! As her representative, the monsters obey my will! This is the plant. Like a parasite, the Viskum infects a pantry and forces it to bear Violas. Providing a vessel to produce higher-level monsters closer to the surface!!"
The ceiling of the pantry turned a violent shade of green and pink as hundreds of Violas showed themselves.
Monsters giving birth to monsters. Such a thing wasn't unheard of. The ones on the surface did so. Yet the drawback was that the monster stone inside the child got smaller each time.
But this was nowhere close to that. These monsters had their own magic stones. Full and pure thrumming with the intent to kill.
The dungeon, the true mother of monsters, the entity that caused humanity so much harm. Was subverted by a single man, doing something that even the gods had thought of as possible.
"Why?" Asfi growled. "What would you do such a thing!?"
The air hung with tense silence for the briefest of moments. A second passed, and then another. Goosebumps were starting to litter Bell's skin. When the third second arrived Olivas answered. A cruel smirk painted on his lips.
"To destroy Orario."
Looks of horror painted the faces of everyone there. Even Bete had a slight look of unsettlement on his face. Bell's mind was racing at the implications but Asfi had beaten him to it.
"Do you even know what you're saying!? What it would mean if Orario was destroyed!? Orario is the lid! If you destroy it, monsters would reach the surface once more and kill everyone!"
A thousand years of peace would end in an instant. Monsters would once more wreak havoc amongst the surface, killing indiscriminately in their wake.
Olivas just snorted. "Course I do, do you think I care if all the ants died? All the peons that serve the will of the gods? I'd destroy the city of my own volition to make my lady's dream a reality."
He placed his hand to his ears and smiled. "Can't you hear her, her delectable song as she wishes to see the sky. Oh, how she yearns for it."
Everyone looked around confused. Not being able to hear anything. But Bell whirled around, looking behind him as if someone whispered in his ear.
Olivas only smirked. "Did you hear her child of Caduceus? Did you hear her melody?"
Bell inhaled a shaky breath as his eyes darted around the pantry. Eyes wide and throat dry, he looked around for the voice.
"Bell?" Asfi said.
Bete regarded him wearily, as did Lefiya and everyone else. Bell swallowed the lump in his throat as he turned back to Olivas.
"Ah, it seems you did Caduceus spawn. You really are quite lucky."
"Caduceus," Bell said. "You keep calling me that. Why?"
Olivas merely tilted his head. "Oh, do you not know?"
The look on Bell's face told Olivas all he needed to know. "No one bothered explaining your powers to you? No one told you of their origins?"
Bell again didn't answer.
"In ancient times, during the age of heroes. There was a great spirit of healing, one named Caduceus. He traveled all over the world, healing anyone he came across. Whether it be with magic, or his blood."
Olivas trailed off and Bell started to paint the picture. But seeing as he had Bell's attention Olivas continued.
"I think you see where I'm going with this. So I will cut to the chase. You, child of Caduceus, are quite lucky. In recorded history alone, there have only been 24 people who have awakened their latent healing abilities. Families could go generations, centuries even before they saw an awakening. An ability so strong, so potent. That awakening it, is like the heavens and Caduceus himself smiling down upon you. And now you hear my lady's lovely song, how lucky you are indeed."
Bell felt like he had been hit by the Tower of Babel itself. He had spirit's blood. His family had spirit's blood. Which parent did the spirit's blood come from? His Mother? His Father? Did his Grandfather know? Did Rose?
So many questions flooded Bell's mind. So many that he began to feel overwhelmed. His Mother had lived with a fatal illness all her life. It killed her in the end along with his birth. The sickness should've passed to him. But it didn't, and he awoke healing magic.
The cruel irony was not lost on Bell.
A laugh escaped his lips. More akin to a sob mixed in with breathless laughter. Tears streamed down his face and he moved to wipe them.
More spilled anyway.
His broken laughter made more than a few hearts clench as Olivas's words seemed to break Bell. All it took was a few words. Though the others knew not what was going on in his mind.
"Heh, it all makes sense now." He laughed.
Bete tore his eyes away from the boy and clicked his tongue glaring daggers at Olivas. "Shut up!" He snarled. "Hurry up and die already. You keep blabbering on like you're waiting for a little more time to patch yourself up. Admit it, you can't move. Can you?"
Olivas just closed his eyes and sighed. "My strategy seen through by humans. How troubling. Oh well, this body is only but a shell. And I don't need to move to still kill you."
Olivas raised his hand high and the Viskum raised with it. Falgar noted it was the same monster that hung onto the quartz pillar. Its massive shadow covering the entire party.
"VISKUM KILL THE INTRUDERS!!"
The massive monster towered over the group. Its shadow reaching all the way to the entrance of the pantry.
Bete's hair stood on end as he shouted. "SCATTER!"
Everyone immediately started running to the side. Asfi grabbed Bell's arm and dragged him off the cliff with her. The Viskum slammed hard into the stones. Sending rocks, dust, and falling debris everywhere.
All the while Olivas laughed a delighted cackle. "Yes, Viskum! Kill them all! Kill them all!"
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Asfi watched in horror as the Viskum slithered towards her and Bell. The boy still had that broken look on his face. His laughter now grew silent as he stared at nothing.
She couldn't dodge in time. Not in her state and not with Bell. But she refused to leave him. He wasn't going to die on her watch. But what was she going to do?
Bete made the decision for her as his strong foot kicked the Viskum's head up into the air. Letting the creature roar in pain and agony.
'The thing's hide is too thick.'
He looked behind him. Seeing the exhausted and injured members of the Hermes familia along with a catatonic Bell.
"Damnit." He growled. 'That kid needs to get his head back in the game before he gets killed. What the hell set him off?'
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Asfi turned her attention away from Bete and back to Bell. Grabbing his face and forcing her to look at him.
"Bell, we need to move! You need to get up and run! Whatever you're thinking of, whatever you're thinking is your fault. It isn't, you're a child. You are blameless for whatever it is that is eating you up. But you need to get up, Bell! You need to get up right now!"
The boy blinked but didn't respond. Asfi looked back and watched as Bete kept fighting. Keeping the Viskum back but causing debris to rain down.
Asfi grit her teeth. It was clear her words weren't getting through to Bell. So she did the next best thing that came to mind.
She slapped him. Hard across the cheek causing his head to jerk to the side. Bell blinked and turned his head to look at her.
"GET UP!" She yelled. "NOW IS NOT THE TIME FOR THIS! WORK THIS OUT ON YOUR OWN TIME OR YOU'RE GONNA GET US ALL KILLED!"
Bell shook his head and blinked again. Eyes widening upon seeing the Viskum. His head shot around as he looked at everyone.
"Is anyone hurt?" He asked. Light coming back to his eyes as his senses returned to him.
"We're fine for now. But we need to move!"
Asfi pulled Bell up and the two dodged rocky debris as it fell all around them. Bursting against the ground and exploding into smaller pieces.
All around the two people were running. Familia members were asking Asfi what to do. Olivas cackled as he watched the little rats run and dodge. Filvis protected Lefiya with her shield spell.
The situation felt hopeless.
Until one of the upper walls burst open and Revis came flying through. She landed harshly on the stone ground next to Olivas who stared in shock.
"Tsk, all talk no show, Revis." Olivas sneered.
All attention turned to the hole in the wall. The battle seemed to pause as everyone there took in the presence of Ais.
However, she was not in the best of shape. Her wind was activated and blowing harshly. Her left shoulder was missing its guard and was bleeding along with her cheek.
Sweat poured down her face and stung the cut. But she still stood ready to fight. Ready to defeat Revis and defend those she traveled with.
'Never thought I would feel happy to see her.' Bell thought to himself. Some modicum of relief filling him as he met Ais's gaze.
She looked away from him and to the Viskum. Olivas growled in annoyance as Revis stood once more.
"This girl you claim to be Aria is hardly believable. Though no matter if she wants that then we will get her."
Olivas raised his hand and Revis yelled "STOP!"
But Olivas didn't listen as he pointed toward Ais. "Viskum, take her down and then kill the rest."
The monster responded to the command and shot toward the Sword Princess. But Ais made no move to avoid the attack. Lefiya grew worried and shouted her name. Asking, begging her to dodge.
Ais ignored her and raised her sword. Channeling her wind magic and shooting forward like a speeding bullet.
She flew through the Viskum and cut the top part of its head clean off. Exposing its magic stone to one with a keen eye as the Viskum collapsed to the ground.
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Olivas fell back in shock while Revis had a look of annoyance on her face. Everyone else stared in shock and relief. Knowing that they wouldn't be crushed to death by the massive monster.
The nightmare would soon end.
"RAH!!! DOESN'T MATTER, VIOLAS STALL HER! VISKUM CRUSH THE REST!" Olivas ordered.
Dozens of Violas ignored the party and rushed to Ais while the Viskum raised its body once more and slammed onto the ground.
Everyone scattered and dodged or blocked debris raining down on them. Getting ready for yet another taxing fight.
"Everyone!" Lulune called out. Using part of the Viskum's body as cover which was held up by Dodon and Jose. "The magic stone is in its head! Aim for the flower!"
"I can't cast magic like this!" Lefiya yelled. Diving out of the way from an incoming rock.
"Leave it to me!" Filvis shouted. She ran forward and cocked her head to Bete. "Werewolf, give me an opening!"
"Don't tell me what to do!" Bete snarled following after her. Yet he ran forward all the same. Jumping up and reeling his foot back before delivering a hard kick to the Viskum's chin.
Its head jerked up exposing its chin to Filvis as she had just finished chanting.
"Dio Thyrsos!"
A beam of light shot up through the bottom of its chin. Burrowing its way through its mouth and the roof of its mouth before impacting the ceiling above.
The monster didn't let out so much as a whimper as it crumbled and turned to ash. Olivas just fell to his knees in shock. Blinking rapidly as if his eyes couldn't believe what he was seeing.
Ais landed next to him. A few feet away with dozens of Viola corpses behind her. His gaze turned to her, sweat running down his face as more disbelief filled his eyes.
"I-impossible, I'm her chosen. I'm her chosen and I lost. How is this possible?"
"This is over," Asfi said as the dust cleared. Revealing the Hermes familia plus Bell who was providing quick heals.
Olvias's face turned into a sneer as he went to retort. But was cut off from speaking by Revis landing in front of him.
Her gaze focused on Ais before turning to Bell. Olivas smiled as hope began to fill his chest.
"He heard her Revis." He said standing up. "The Caduceus boy heard her voice. Buy me time and we can take both of them to her together!"
"Don't be foolish." Revis coldly replied. "She doesn't want to see him." Olivas's brow furrowed in confusion before Revis spun on her heel and plunged her hand into his chest.
Olivas grunted as blood trickled down his lip. His face scrunching up in pain as he looked down at Revis.
"W-what are you doing?" He asked, grabbing her wrist.
"I need power. That's all." Revis answered. "No amount of Violas could satisfy my hunger."
Olivas's grip tightened. "You can't be serious!" He growled. "I am the same as you! We're her chosen!"
"You treat that thing like it's a goddess. We're pawns, nothing more. Don't put the thing on a pedestal."
"You would kill your only associate? If I am gone, who will protect her!?"
Revis delayed her answer as she tore the stone from his chest. "Make no mistake, I've been protecting her all along." Olivas crumpled to the ground and Revis stomped his head into tiny pieces. "That will not change."
She stuck the magic stone into her mouth and bit down. Swallowing the tiny yellow shards and feeling a rush of power in her veins.
She leaned forward slightly, eyes locked onto Bell before shooting off. The boy wondered where she went before he was pulled back harshly by Bete.
Revis's sword scraped against his chest leaving a clear mark as Bete got him away. His eyes were widened in fear as Revis had been aiming directly for his head.
'I barely saw her move.' Bell thought.
He stumbled behind Bete as Ais shot forward sword drawn. She slashed down but Revis was quick to spin on her heel and kick Ais away.
Bete growled as Revis once again targeted Bell. His boot kicked her sword away as he elbowed her in the nose.
"I won't let you kill him you craven bitch!" He declared.
Revis punched Bete in the side before tossing him away. She shot forward to Bell once more and this time he had no one to protect him. She thrusted her sword towards Bell's neck.
Again his body moved more on instinct than anything else. His years of training with Rose saved his life once more as he stepped to the side and watched as her blade nearly sliced his nose off.
Revis didn't seem to mind as she spun on her heel and sent him flying to an outcropping of rocks. She jumped after him quickly followed by Bete and Ais. Lefiya and Filvis trailed closely behind them.
It was clear to everyone there that Revis wanted to take out their healer first. And it seemed she would stop at nothing to do so.
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"Shit, Bell!" Lulune yelled, making to run after him.
"Don't!" Asfi quickly ordered. "We'd only slow those two down. They'll protect him, but right now we need to secure that orb. It's clearly the cause of this incident."
Lulune turned her eyes to a flat mesh of flesh sitting on the ground. Atop it is a similar orb to the one she had seen in Rivera.
She started running as fast as her legs would take her. Asfi just ahead of her but not slightly followed by the rest of the Hermes familia.
But Asfi seemed to move a little sluggish. Her wounds had not fully healed as Revis attacked Bell before he could finish.
She didn't notice the figure in the black cloak above her. Not until she was kneed in the head sending her falling down.
The figure dashed forward and grabbed the orb. Looking back at the Hermes familia to reveal a black and red mask.
"There's another one!?" Lulune yelled.
"Get it out of here!" Revis yelled, dodging a slash from Ais. "It's not mature enough but it's grown! Take it to Enyo!"
"Understood." The figure said. Then took off running in the other direction.
"Damnit!" Lulune yelled. "Get back here!"
"Don't let him escape!"
Revis clicked her tongue before looking at the second Viskum. "VISKUM, KEEP MAKING MONSTERS UNTIL YOUR STRENGTH IS SPENT!"
The ground shook as the Viskum tightened itself around the Quartz Pillar. Causing Lulune to stumble forward and nearly lose her balance.
The shaking stopped as the rest of the Hermes familia caught up with them.
Splat
The noise drew the group's attention to the floor. Where a tiny immature Viola had landed. Small in size and looking more akin to a fetus if anything else.
'A baby?' Asfi questioned. 'Could its strength not be fully mature as well?'
Splat
Splat
Spalt
Splat
Splat
Splat
Her eyes widened in horror as the sounds of hundreds started to hit the floor. A brutal rainfall of monsters ready to tear the adventurer's limb from limb and leave whatever remained to rot in the dungeon for eternity.
"No way." Asfi breathed out. "This is way too many."
"Oh my gods!"
"EVERYONE FORM UP! QUICKLY!" Falgar yelled.
"MOVE OR YOU'LL GET CRUSHED!"
More Violas rained down, sharp teeth bared as everyone huddled together. Back pressed against one another with shields raised.
"HERE THEY COME!!"
"NO! NO! NO! NO!"
A tidal wave of monsters slammed against shields. Battering and beating them like hail against a window. A sea of green, yellow, and pink was all they could see.
'Four hundred, no five hundred monsters!' Asfi counted. But she realized that wasn't her only problem. Getting to the pantry had taken time, equipment, potions, and stamina.
While Bell had brought back some of their stamina thanks to his magic. It wouldn't be enough against this tide of monsters.
There was nothing left. They had nothing left to use.
The shield wall crumbled and everyone was sent flying in opposite directions as the Viola's turned to attack again.
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"Viridis, where are you?!" Filvis yelled.
"Filvis! I'm over here!" The elf yelled back.
Dozens of Violas landed in front of her. Breaking the ground and causing her to lose her balance. Lefiya fell and landed on her side. Broken rock and debris in front of her cut off her escape.
The Violas drew closer as her eyes widened in fear. Death's sickle pressed against her neck as the monsters snarled and drooled.
'I can't do anything.' Lefiya thought. 'Even if I can get back to Filvis I'm far from being any help. I can't concurrent chat so my magic is useless. If only I could do it, if only I could be like Lady Riveria and Filvis.'
The Violas descended and Lefiya hugged her staff tightly as she closed her eyes. Bete's words of her always being bagge running through her mind.
'He's right, I am useless.'
The Violas blocked out the light from the Quartz Pillar and Lefiya closed her eyes tighter. At least it would all be over soon.
Someone jumped and a sharp gust of wind launched the Violas away. Lefiya opened her eyes to see Bete landing in front of her. Marching forward with a scowl on his face.
But wasn't he supposed to be with Ais and Bell?
He grabbed Lefiya roughly by her collar and yanked her up. Leaning closely to her face with his fangs bared. "Ais still needs my help! You figure out a way to take care of this!"
Lefiya's face dropped into one of confusion. Take care of this? How the hell was she supposed to do that? Her mouth opened and closed with sounds of shock and surprise.
"Huh? What? Eh? That's what you sound like." Bete mocked. "You may be a bottom feeder but I know how crazy powerful your magic is. You bottom feeders always say you wanna catch up and not be a burden. But you always quit in the end! Now's your chance to show us what you're made of and prove me wrong!"
Bete tossed Lefiya aside as he snarled and turned around. "Show that old hag Riveria how it's done!"
Bete went to rejoin the fight. But Lefiya stopped him with a single question. "Where's Bell?"
Lefiya didn't miss how Bete's shoulders tensed. And could hear him grinding his teeth so hard she thought they might break.
"Gone." Was all he growled out before running forward.
Lefiya felt her heart drop at the word. A painful squeezing sensation she didn't know why she had.
It was Bete's words that made her feel this way. Berating him and saying all these terrible things to her. Why would he say something like that? He knew how she felt about herself.
Lefiya jumped aside from another Viola strike. Tripping and scraping her knees against the stone. But she pushed herself back up and kept running.
Lefiya hated how Bete could say those things. No one else said them to her. Not Tiona or her sister. Not Ais or Finn or Gareth. Not even Riveria said those things. Nor did any of them even agree with Bete.
'All I can do is lament my own weakness. That's why I need to step up.'
Lefiya caught a glimpse of coal-black hair and ran to it. Seeing Filvis a second later and calling out to her.
"Filvis!" Lefiya called out.
Filvis spun around, her red eyes filling with relief upon seeing Lefiya. "Are you alright?" She asked.
Lefiya fell to her knees and panted. Exhaustion crept up her spine. "Take me...take me to the Hermes familia."
Filvis nodded and helped Lefiya up. Catching a glimpse of the familia on the flat ground below. She pivoted and landed on a cliff above them. Using her Dio Thyrsos spell to clear the small area around them.
She deposited Lefiya on the cliff. Allowing her to tower over the Hermes familia. All eyes turned to her as she started to speak.
"...Please. Please protect me!" Lefiya cried.
"P-protect you and do what?" Lulune questioned. "I don't care how strong your magic is. Against this many-
"B-believe in me." Lefiya's voice trembled. Too nervous to keep her voice steady. Her knees were shaking and she couldn't stand still.
But no one else was coming. Rivera wasn't here, Ais and Bete were preoccupied elsewhere. Their healer was believed to be dead. There was no one else. No one but her.
The Thousand Elf. Lefiya Viridis.
"I'm a magic caster!" Lefiya said more confidently. "Protect me, and I will save you!"
She couldn't worry about what she could and couldn't do. She could only focus on the now and what she had to do.
Asfi and Lefiya's eyes met. The older woman smiled briefly before wiping it away and turning around.
"EVERYONE TO THOUSAND ELF'S SIDE! OUR FATE RESTS WITH HER!" She ordered. "FORM A PERIMETER!"
The Hermes familia quickly sprang into action. Forming a half-crescent around her and getting ready to fight. Lefiya took a deep breath and gave out her last request.
"Buy me five minutes- no three! Three minutes is all I need!"
The final battle had well and truly begun.
Jeez Bell, have an existential crisis on your own time. Anyway, the origins of Bell's magic have finally been revealed. The funny thing is I was debating whether to make it connected to spirits' blood or not. But the more I thought about it the more it made sense story wise.
Anyway, quick run down. Bell has spirits blood and had less than a one in a billion chance of getting his magic. He heard a faint whisper and then Olivas died. Now Bell is presumed dead as an army of Viola's circle the remaining heroes. Oh and there was a really big earthquake on the surface.
But other than that I hope you enjoyed. We still have a few more chapters down in the dungeon but it'll be over soon. I think we've been down here for like four or five now.