The escape of the middle floors has been achieved, WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

I stir awake, my eyes still closed. I feel something on my hair, probably the source for me waking up. The sensation continues, slowly kicking my mind back into gear. Last I remember, I had fallen asleep in that alleyway. After the short wave of nostalgia had passed, sleep took hold of me quickly. But something feels... off.

Where a brick wall should've been, or the cobbled floor, it's soft and spongy. My head felt light as it sunk into something warm and cosy. I also felt warm and comfortable, something I was not used to when waking up. Yeah, something was definitely wrong. I last felt this way when I woke up in Stardust Gardens.

I shoot up, my eyes fully open. Like last time, I see white but this time it's different. It's a blinding white, unlike Alise's room which was dimmer and calming, this is just white. There are bright lights on the ceiling. I start glancing around the room. To my left is a slightly cracked open window allowing fresh, crisp morning air in. Straight ahead of me was a set of metal double doors that must've led into some sort of corridor.

I keep turning my head, seeing the constant white persist. I start to believe that I'm alone, wherever I am until I turn my head fully left.

Sat next to me on a wooden stool, sits a young girl. She has silky silver hair, partly covered by a small white hat. She is adorned with a small white dress that must be a uniform of some kind. But what my eyes met was amethyst. Two deep purple eyes were looking at me.

I was too busy looking at Airmid's eyes that I didn't see the slight blush fade from her cheeks as she had quickly retraced her hand to her chest.

"..."

"..."

We both look at each other for a few seconds neither one of us knowing what to say. During the silence, I give another sweep of the room, still trying to determine where I am.

"You're in the hospital."

My head quickly swivels back around to face the girl before tilting my head in confusion.

'Hospital?' I think, having never heard that word before. In response, Airmid sits up a bit straighter before speaking again.

"You're currently at Dian Cecht's hospital, in the adventurer's clinic," She said in a mature tone as she expressed my location in a very rehearsed manner.

"...uh-huh," I mumble as I just look at her, still very confused. All she did was add more words but I still didn't understand. All I knew I was in a foreign location, my mind not liking waking up in a different place from where I fell asleep.

"You were brought here by a woman. She said she found you in an alleyway near the plaza covered in injuries. Luckily, Miss Ferne was nearby and when she saw you, she rushed you here and then she started healing your injuries... and I helped."

With Airmid's little monologue over, the pieces start falling into place. Someone must have found me, seen my extensive injuries and brought me to where Airmid and that older doctor work.

"You were in really bad shape when we started working on you. Your left leg and your right foot seemed the worst but we also found out 14 of your ribs were at least fractured, with most of them broken... how do you feel?" She asked.

My brow furrowed as I started to feel my body. Tensing muscles, slightly shifting around, wiggling my fingers and toes. I was surprised.

"...fine." Airmid pouted at that answer, clearly wanting a more detailed answer but that was all I could say. I felt fine and that surprised me. I had gone through so much, from my fall to the monster parade to the minotaur horde and finally that hellish climb. After that, I had fallen asleep and woken up feeling like I did on any other morning, better even.

"How?" I ask as I quickly turn to Airmid, startling her a bit.

"What do you mean?" She asked, seemingly confused.

"How do I feel fine? I was..."

"Yes, you were badly injured, that was why Miss Ferne had me use my healing magic on you straight away," The young nurse said as she slightly puffed out her chest in pride.

"Your magic?"

"Y-yeah," Airmid stuttered.

"...thank you," I muttered, not able to look at her. She stayed silent for a second before whispering out a small 'you're welcome.' The atmosphere became awkward but it was a comfortable awkward if that makes sense.

"Can I ask, what happened?" Airmid asked. I should've expected this and knowing that I was probably in a situation like last time, I didn't try to hide it. Besides, she already knows about me and I don't want her withholding food from me and I especially don't want her feeding me again. Just the memory makes my cheeks hot.

"...well, I started off on floor 13 and-"

"You were in the middle floors!" I wince at Airmid's loud interruption. "But level 1s aren't allowed there. Does that mean...?" Her question lingered for a second before I answered.

"Y-yeah, I'm level 2. Remember when you helped me last time... that," I mumble, implying the answer that she seems to quickly grasp with a small oh. She made a really cute face as she did so.

"A-anyway, I was on floor 13 and-"

From there, I continue my story. How I encountered the three hellhounds and sent them into the giant hole. How I saw that giant room with running water and some weird crystals the monsters were eating. Then I got onto the first incident.

"You fell three floors!" She shouted. I'm not sure if it would count as a shout to normal adults but for her, and my ears, it was louder than normal. I give a quick nod as she apologises for raising her voice as she sees me cover my ears.

"-how did you survive?"

"One of the monsters that fell with me. I used that to soften the fall. It worked, sort of..." I say, trailing off at the end.

"What do you mean sort of?"

I gesture to my ribs, then to my left leg. Airmid is clearly smart for our age as a look of shock appears on her face as she realises why I was injured.

"So that's why you were so injured."

"Sort of."

I quickly realise that was the wrong to see as she shouts once more. She then drills me for more answers and I'm forced to oblige.

"You fought a Minotaur after that!"

"How did you survive the 16th floor alone for over an hour?"

"A monster party combined with a pass parade... how awful."

"What jerks, leaving you like that... wait, FORTY!"

"You climbed up a giant hole that you didn't know where it ended with your body that injured... Miss Ferne's right, adventurers are stupid."

Every time I told her about a major event that happened, she couldn't help herself but ask further. She never shouted again, something I was grateful for, and for the rest of it, she just sat quietly and listened, humming now and then showing she was still interested.

It was actually quite nice talking about it. I didn't seem nervous or worried about spilling my secrets as she already knew the most important ones, minus Penia. I barely even stuttered or looked at my feet in shame. I just kept retelling it and she just listened.

"...how are you alive?" she asked, fidgeting in her seat as she struggled to hold eye contact.

I couldn't help but chuckle at that. I too wondered how I managed to survive all that. Going back through what I dealt with put into perspective how bad it really was.

"I meant in a nice way, like you must be really strong, even for a level 2." Airmid quickly blurted out, thinking she needed to correct the misunderstanding she thought she had made.

"I don't think so," I mutter, gaining her attention. "A strong person wouldn't have had to run from that room of monsters. They would've been able to help that party out and would've got them all back to the surface, safely. I think I'm just lucky to be honest," I say with a dejected look as I clench my hands in front of me, frustrated with my weakness.

"No."

I look at the young doctor with confusion. What did she mean no? I make my confusion clear with a surprised "huh?"

"I mean no. You did everything you could and more. It's not your fault they died so don't blame yourself. You killed forty Minotaurs on your own and then you climbed a massive hole and still managed to survive. You have to be strong to do that. Really, really, really strong."

Airmid finished her quick statement with a stare down, her purple meeting my green. I couldn't stop the flush of my cheeks from the embarrassment that came with the compliments.

"When I saw you before, you were upset about not saving everyone that time as well. But like last time, more people survived than what should have because of you.

"But I..." I tried to question her but she clearly wasn't having any of it.

"I don't care what you think. I think you are strong and good and cool."

Airmid's statement of me hung in the air for a few seconds before both of us immediately broke out into a quick blush.

"A-anyway... that's why you lived. D-don't put yourself down like that... ok?" She managed to stutter out as she avoided eye contact with me.

"...o-ok" I mumble back.

We sit in silence for a bit longer before we make eye contact again before we start giggling. I don't know why but it helped ease the mood. Airmid then began asking me questions again about my adventure. I answered as best as I could. They were simple questions, like how long I climbed for or what the other adventurers were like.

"What's it like being level 2?" She asked.

"I can't really explain it. It's like everything became sort of better. Not just my strength and speed but my eyesight and hearing as well. I like being able to go longer without food or sleep because-"

"Because you can stay longer in the dungeon," Airmid finished my sentence with an eye-roll. "Is that all you adventurers care about, the dungeon?"

I simply shrug at the question. I don't know what other adventures think about but I don't see what else there is. It's our job.

Before Airmid could answer another question, the two metal doors in front of us opened with a bang.

"Amid, have you finished checking on him? How is... he."

Standing in the doorway was the older female doctor, Miss Ferne. She glared at me, then back to Airmid, then back to me. She seemed to have frozen for a second before she shook her head, her tied-up brown hair swaying slightly.

"How long has he been awake?" She quickly asked.

"Errm, about 5 minutes," Airmid answered back after a moment of thinking.

"And you didn't come and get me!" The older woman said with a small scowl.

"S-sorry. He woke up suddenly and I was asking him how he felt and what happened."

"What happened is not as important as what needs to happen young lady!" Miss Ferne said.

"I'm sorry, I kept talking and-" I try to take some of the blame.

"Quiet you!" She said as she aimed a glare at me.

"Yes ma'am" I meekly say as I shut up. If looks could kill, well I'm glad I have a doctor with me.

The senior doctor quickly admonished Airmid for being unprofessional, the girl not having much to say in return. We had talked for a bit and she should've gone to get her superior like she did last time when I woke up in the Astrea Familia's house.

After a few moments, Miss Ferne let out a sigh as she rubbed her temple.

"It doesn't matter now. How is he?"

"I'm-" I go to explain my condition but I'm met with a scowl that sends shivers down my spine.

"Not a word from you. I don't like that I have had to see you twice in critical condition in the span of less than 2 weeks. I've sent word to the Astrea Familia; they should be here any minute. Until then, you will zip it, understood?"

I quickly nod my head as I feel my blood run cold. She sent for Astrea.

'Oh no. She isn't going to be happy,' I think with a gulp.

Airmid then relays my condition to her vice-captain, answering the necessary question as I just lie there, quietly observing. I get an odd glare now and then but I recognise something weird. She hasn't seemed to ask me once about how I got injured. She probably doesn't care now that I think about it.

"Boy, be lucky that woman found ya when she did or else ya would've bled out in that alleyway. Ya can also thank Amid here for healing you. She's the reason ya are feeling as good as you do," She sternly said as she bobbed her head towards her assistant.

I briefly look over to the young girl and mutter another thank you for healing me, repeating the process of what happened last time. It seemed the older doctor enjoyed our reactions as a crude smile appeared on her face.

"Well, until the Astrea Familia get here, you are not to move from that bed."

"But-" I go to complain, wanting to escape from the wrath that the Goddess Justice is surely to bring to my bedside. However, it seemed backchatting the doctor was a bad idea.

A fierce glare was sent my way, shutting me up immediately.

"Were you about to question me?"

"-n-no," I squeak out.

"If you don't wish to spend another week here, you'd better hope you weren't. You do not move until told to. I'll have someone bring ya some food soon enough. Until then, sleep!"

With that, Miss Ferne called Airmid to her as she began walking out of the room. Airmid mumbled an apology. "I'll see you later," she said as she hopped off the stool and scurried over to the woman, her small black work shoes tapping on the clean marble floor.

Amanda Ferne heard the boy grumble as he rested his head on the pillow as she walked out of the room. She had not been happy to see him again so soon and in an even worse condition than before. She had expected him to not wake up for at least another full day but to his credit, that boy clearly ain't normal.

Amanda led Amid through the hospital, ready to have the girl update the boy's file, wanting her to get experience in the desk work of the job as well as the practical side.

'That brat...' Amanda thought as she recounted what she had overheard.

She must've arrived sometime after the boy had just woken up but before she went into the room, she heard Amid start talking. The girl had been... reclusive to put it nicely. She either struggled or didn't want to talk to people and in a job where she needed to be dealing with people 24/7, that wouldn't do.

Amanda had hoped getting her out of the hospital would help but the loud bustle of the city only seemed to make the girl nervous. That was until they visited that boy, Percy. For some reason, Amid talked to the boy as if she were a normal child. She was still straightforward and gave simple answers but so did the boy, so it worked out.

And it showed, as when Amanda stopped herself from interrupting the pair, they talked seamlessly for over 10 minutes. Amid had said it was only 5 minutes since Percy had been awake but Amanda knew better. The funny thing is, she knew Amid thought she was telling the truth. It was kind of cute but all Amanda Ferne cared about was that Amid was actually talking. Not to mention she saw the boy's hair. That wasn't simple bed hair. It had been cleaned extensively when he arrived as it, along with the rest of his body, was smeared in monster blood.

Amanda didn't care that the boy had levelled up; she had figured that out as soon as she saw him last night. She hadn't forgotten the smell of Minotaur blood and no level 1, not even ones as stupid as him, were fighting them.

All she cared about was the boy's life. The list of injuries was haunting, especially for a 5-year-old. Multiple cracked ribs, his body littered with scratches, cuts and discoloured with so many bruises she barely saw any normal-coloured skin. His hands were disfigured and his right foot was completely mutilated. Then there was his left leg.

Amanda had seen the worst injuries there had ever been. Her stomach was made of iron and she never even faltered when she dealt with patients nowadays. That boy's leg... it made her stomach tighten. The discolouring, the lop-sided way the bone slanted under his skin, the leaking of puss and blood.

She had overheard everything the boy had gone through when she was eavesdropping. He hadn't mentioned having to push his shin bone back into place, sort of. He hadn't done a good job but to be fair, he was being chased by a minotaur. Then all the pressure and fighting and impacts it had gone through. It made her doctor-oriented mind spin. If it was a normal person or even a level 1, then it would have been amputated the moment he was brought through the hospital doors. But she, along with Amid's magic, had managed to save it.

And after all the work they had done, all the shit he had gone through, he has the audacity to wake up and say he is fine. It would've made Amanda's blood boil if she wasn't still recovering from shock.

They got to her desk and she whipped out the clipboard with a sheet of paper and handed it off to Amid, who climbed up on her chair. Amanda rolled her eyes as she watched the young girl struggle to reach her quill and ink before the woman pushed it closer to her apprentice.

Just as the girl began adding to the boy's file, Amanda's level 3 hearing heard something. The loud clang of the hospital doors open. Either a wounded person had rushed here in critical condition, or...

"Where is he!"

It was the second option. And Amanda recognised that voice and she felt a sly grin appear.

"Amid, stay here and continue filling out the file. I'll only be a moment."

"O-ok, Miss Ferne."

Perseus nestles his head back into the soft pillow. He doesn't get to sleep in beds this comfy and if he's been ordered to get some rest, he would make the most out of it.

He hoped he could get to sleep before the Astrea Familia arrive, maybe they would show some mercy if they saw him sleeping. Alise said he was cute; he could use that to his advantage.

Just then, the boy's ear that was exposed to air twitched slightly. He heard footsteps coming closer to his room. They seemed in a rush. Percy sighed as he scrunched his eyes shut. Maybe he could fall asleep within the next 5 seconds.

The metal doors open as the Goddess Astrea walks in, followed by her daughters. Alise, Neze and Lyra all stuck close to their Goddess while Lyon and Kaguya took up the rear.

Astrea marched up to the boy's bedside. She gave the boy a stern glare that represented her annoyance at the boy's actions. She didn't know what they were but if he had ended up in hospital, then they weren't smart ones.

Percy pretended to be asleep, trying his best to imitate snoring. He'd heard Jacob and Carla snore when he used to live with them, he could mimic it.

Astrea folded her arms crossly, her white dress making a small noise as her sleeves slide across each other.

"I'm not easily fooled young man," Astrea said with a very judgemental tone. Perseus would forgive her for that; she was the Goddess of Justice after all and he hadn't been the best behaved. However, the black-haired boy continued to, poorly, act asleep and made small movements as if he was dreaming. This did not impress the Goddess.

Astrea gave a glance at Neze, motioning towards the boy in bed. Neze understood the assignment given to her without a word. She trotted up to the other side of the hospital bed and in a swift motion, snagged Percy's hospital top and lifted him out of bed.

Much to the frustration of Astrea, and to the amusement of the girls, the boy still played dumb, keeping his eyes firmly shut as he let out small puffs of air. Neze, even though she was enjoying the act, dropped Percy on the bed and then gave him a flick to the forehead.

"That outta wake you up," The lycanthrope said as she let out a small snigger. Percy grumbled as he slowly opened his eyes. He remained looking at Neze, not wanting to face the Goddess. The tanned-skin girl gave him a smile before nodding her head to the other side. Perseus grumbled some more, scanning his location.

"Don't even think about it," Alise said with a mischievous grin as she noticed the boy looking for an escape. At that moment, Percy relented, sinking back into the comfy pillow, slowly turning his head to face the Goddess.

He saw the Goddess, her hazel-nut eyes furrowed from her brow, her arms still folded. But then he noticed the slight worry in her eyes and the small bits of dishevelled hair intertwined within the straight brown hair.

'She's just worried,' He concluded and accepted whatever came next.

"Do you have something to say," Astrea started, her foot slightly tapping on the ground.

"...sorry."

"Sorry for what?"

"-for going to the middle floors own my own."

Percy waited for another response but after a second, none came. He looked at Astrea and her face had lost her annoyed expression and was now just frozen. He looked at the other girls and they too wore similar expressions.

"""YOU DID WHAT?""" All of the adventurers shouted in unison, forcing the boy to cover his ears from the discomfort.

'Wait... did they not know. Oh yeah, I'd only told Airmid... oops."

Percy quickly accepted his fate once more, as this time her truly sealed it as he let slip of something that would've been better kept secret.

It didn't take long for the girls, including Astrea, to start asking questions. After a minute of bombardment, it was Ryu that had to step up and quieten everyone down.

"Percy?" The young elf said as the room became quiet.

"Y-yeah?" Percy responded hesitantly.

"Could you tell us what happened?"

So Percy, for the second time that day, began his story. Throughout the story, the same questions Airmid had asked were brought up but they were phrased from the perspective of an adventurer.

"Where was that room with all those monsters?" Lyra asked, curious about what is known as feeder rooms. Places in the dungeon where monsters go if they haven't gotten enough meat from adventurers and need to replenish energy.

"I-I'm not sure."

"Do you think you could take us there, after you're better that is?" Lyra got a quick nod, something she appreciated. Important locations in the dungeon are always valuable information for the Guild.

"Smart to use the hellhound as a shock absorber," Neze mentioned as Perseus explained his descent.

"Yeah but that was where most of my injuries came from."

"Injuries, what kind?" Astrea asked. Airmid had done such a good job that most of his serious injuries had been healed. In response, Percy started listing off the injuries he got from the fall. Cracked ribs, the punctures in the right leg from the bites and then the left leg, which got a few winces.

"Then a minotaur showed up and-"

"Wait, you telling me you beat a Minotaur after that?" Kaguya said, her eyebrows raised. The boy went on to explain what happened. His near death experience made Astrea go pale, who sat down afterwards and asked no more questions, leaving her daughters to continue the interrogation.

They had similar reactions to Airmid about the pass parade but they were shocked that Percy survived an hour on floor 16 with no experience on his own. The questions after that seemed to slow down as he was allowed to tell his adventure.

Even as Percy went through the fight with 40 Minotaurs, they had all gotten silent, allowing him to talk. There were a few questions about his magic and how it worked, Percy recalled the feeling of his third chant. He didn't explain it too much, only saying it gave him a boost in strength when he got hit.

However, the most fascinating part for Astrea Familia was Perseus' climb from floor 16 to floor 13.

"I'd always wondered where they went to," Alise murmured as I explained what had happened. For Astrea's sake, I glossed over the injuries I sustained to my right foot and my hands. I also didn't mention Kreg or Terra, saying I pulled myself up and started making my way back to the surface.

After I was finished, the room once again went silent. The Astrea Familia shared glances with each other, ones of worry and concern. Astrea was still sitting down, nursing her head as she allowed the information of a 5-year-old taking on the middle floors for the first time in such a nightmarish way to sink in.

"Percy?"

"Yes, Alise?"

"Why didn't you wait for us? We said that we'd take you down there."

The look Alise gave to Percy was one the boy had never seen from the Astrea captain. It was a stern look but it was also mixed with the feeling of being betrayed. It made Percy squirm as he realised what it meant.

"I...I..." Percy tried to explain himself but how could he. How could he say that 9 months wasn't fast enough and that he had to prove something to his dead Family that would expose who he is. How could he truly say what the reasons were.

"Do you not like us?" Alise spoke with a sombre tone.

"Huh?" Percy's head jerked up. What kind of question was that, of course he liked them?

"I get it," Kaguya started to talk. "The little man doesn't want us holdin' him back, thinks he's better off being solo."

Kaguya's word stung, causing Perseus to visibly flinch.

"Oi Kaguya don't say that. And Alise, what are you saying?" Neze said, coming to the boy's defence.

"If not them reasons, why did he go on his own?" Lyra chimed in, siding with her captain and vice-captain. Neze couldn't retort as she looked down at the boy she had quickly grown fond of in the short time they spent together. As for Ryu, she hung back and stayed quiet. She was trying to process the story and was also thinking what made the young boy do such a stupid act on his own. The excuse of his age was not a good one. He had showed maturity in the dungeon when they delved together. Not like the ones of the Loki and Freya Elites but compared to when she started, he surpassed her.

Percy started to become upset as he felt backed into a corner. He looked over at Astrea for support but the Goddess shook her head and stood up.

"Sorry but this a discussion between adventurers. I can't help you here," She said as she stood behind Alise and Kaguya, who were still looking at him with shame.

Percy tried to think of answer, one that would satisfy them and not be a lie. He ransacked his mind trying to find one, he thought so hard he started getting a headache. But he couldn't.

Could he just say he wanted to stay solo but was grateful for their help. But that would make him seem selfish.

Couldn't he just apologise again and say it wouldn't happen again? But both he and Astrea would know that was a lie and that would only break Alise's trust even more.

The more the boy thought, the more he struggled to find an answer. He was starting to panic internally.

'What am I supposed to do?' Percy thought frantically as he no longer could hold the girl's gaze, his eyes dropping to his lap.

This earned a sigh from Alise who turned her head in disappointment.

"I thought we promised that as captains, we'd help each other?"

This made Percy looked up again, his mouth open but no words came out, his hands scrunching his duvet.

"If you can't tell us why then I guess you don't trust us?" Kaguya muttered. Alise and the far-eastern girl turned around, walking towards the door. "And how can we trust someone who doesn't trust us."

Percy stared at each of the girls, pleading for them to come back. It was a sight he hated the most, people turning away and leaving him. He hated it.

His heart started beating rapidly as he reached out in desperation at Neze as she too joined the group that headed towards the two metal doors. He wanted to shout out; to apologise but no words came as his throat stammered.

His breathing became erratic, his body begging for air as the pounding of his heart could be heard in his ears and felt in his mind. As he continued to stare at the girls leaving him, his vision became hazy. His darted left and right, hoping to see one of their faces. But all he saw was their backs.

As his vision began to blur, another person's back came into view. It was Maria, his mother. At that moment, time seemed to slow down and speed up at the same time. He lost all concept of what was going on around him as his eyes bounced back and forth. His ears had gone numb, the only thing he heard was a buzzing white noise.

"...p-please," He managed out as he begged in his mind for them not to abandon him. He saw Maria, pleading for her to turn around. He had already been abandoned by his first family; he didn't want to lose his real one.

He brought his left hand to his chest, scrunching the hospital top that lay above his heart as the beating increased. Perseus began to feel dizzy as he started to cry. At that point, his breathing had come so erratic that he was gulping in air but it did little to help.

'Why! Why again? Why do they all leave me? I don't mean it; I don't want them to. What's wrong with me, why am I always like this?'

Thoughts swirled in the boy's mind as he scrunched his chest tighter, his mind spinning so fast he was struggling to stay awake. His other hand had clutched the steel rail that outlined his hospital bed and in without realising it, the boy had crushed the steel, thinning it down to a centimetre thick.

He felt his conscious slipping as the Astrea Familia and the figure of his mother made it to the door. As soon as Alise's hand touched the door, he let out one feeble cry.

"...d-don't go, p-please."

He couldn't hold his position, his head falling to the pillow as he stared up at the ceiling. His mind couldn't hold on and a haze overlapped his vision. Just as he succumbed to, he felt something warm take his hand.

Alise had quickly turned, not wanting to show her sadness to the boy. The looks she gave her sisters was an order. So they all followed suit, turning around and following their captain out of the room.

Astrea saw what was happening. It upset her deeply as the clear hurt on the boy's face was devasting for the Goddess but it wasn't her place to say. Her captain was trying to teach the child a lesson, a harsh one. So she followed her daughters as they slowly left the room, disappointment and sadness on all their faces.

Neze gritted her teeth as she stopped herself from crying out, her captain having to give her a stern look to stop the brawler from shouting out in disagreement. Neze knew it hurt Alise just as much as it hurt her but she knew it hurt Percy the most and that was the point. So she walked away from the boy's bedside as well. She didn't trust herself to look at the young boy, not wanting to see the look on the boy's face.

But just as she reached the door, she heard heavy breathing. She turned around and her eyes widened in fright.

"PERCY!" She cried as she saw the small boy squirm in his bed. One hand tightly clutching his chest while the other one had bent the rail next to him. Without even thinking, the girl rushed over to the boy's side. The others heard their sister shout and had also turned to see the issue and they gave the same reaction as Neze.

They all sprinted over to the boy's side, Astrea touching the boy's hand that had a firm grip on the metal guard.

"PERCY WHAT'S WRONG!" Alise shouted; fear etched in her voice. She got no response, the boy still breathing fiercely as he stared at the ceiling.

"What's happening?" Ryu asked as she worried about the boy's health.

"He's having a panic attack," Astrea stated, her voice shaky. "Someone go get a doctor, quick!" Ryu wasted no time and rushed out of the door, racing down the hospital corridors. The others didn't even watch her leave as they continued to worry about the boy.

"Percy, look at me!" Lyra said as she got up on the stool and looked at the boy. The boy didn't turn his head, not having even registered her.

"Everyone calm down and give him some space," Astrea commanded. She wasn't sure what had caused this but she guessed it was to do with them. Looking at the pain expression that her daughters wore, especially Alise, she knew they had thought the same.

"p-please..." the boy muttered out through his breathing. "please don't... go."

The desperation in the boy's voice broke their hearts. Alise cursed herself. "It's my fault, all my fault," she muttered as she struggled to hold back tears. At that moment, it seemed the red-headed girl might be having a panic attack on her own. Quickly spotting this, Kaguya slowly moved Alise away, having her take a seat. The far-eastern girl began consoling her friend as she too blamed herself. They had been harsh on the boy, maybe a bit too harsh.

Astrea looked down at the boy. She had to stay calm, both for him and her girls. So she slowly started rubbing the back of the boy's hand and began gently speaking to him.

"Don't worry, we aren't going anywhere," she softly said as she smiled down at him. As she gently rubbed the boy's small hands, his breathing began to slow down. His hand that was scrunching the metal rail lessened its grip. This allowed Astrea to gently clasp it in her hand, still rubbing the back of it with her thumb.

She didn't flinch as she saw the extensive damage Percy had done to the rail, her sole focus on calming the boy down. As his breathing calmed down further, his eyes moved to face her. She gave him a smile, hoping that he saw it.

The sound of Percy calming down had an effect on the Astrea Familia, mainly Alise. As she looked on, seeing the boy slowly regain his composure, she thanked the heavens and began apologising over and over again. Kaguya just knelt beside her, not uttering a word.

Neze and Lyra just watched their Goddess sooth the boy as he looked at Astrea first before turning his head to Neze.

As he saw the wolf-girl, the visible relief in his eyes crushed her heart. He had been so hurt because she had turned her back on him, something she silently vowed never to do again.

"Y-you... didn't leave... me?" the boy muttered, his voice clogging up.

"We'd never leave you, never again," Neze blurted out, not even allowing Astrea to speak first. The wolf, seeing the boy lose the tension in his shoulders and his eyes gently close, let out a long sigh as she fell to her knees, her hands clutching the rail for support. Her legs felt like jelly.

Just then, Ryu entered the room with Amanda Ferne following closely behind, the metal doors slamming open. Just before the doors closed, Airmid also raced in, having heard that Percy was in pain.

"What's going on?" Ferne asked quickly as she strode up to the bedside. She quickly put a hand on Percy's forehead, feeling his temperature.

"It's warm but it seems to have cooled down," She muttered out as she began looking at the boy's eyes. None of them questioned how she knew it had cooled down, she was the expert.

"It was a panic attack," Astrea explained quietly, still rubbing the boy's hand, her other gently brushing a strand of hair from the boy's forehead. The boy was now breathing somewhat normally as he snored peacefully. A far cry from what the girls had initially seen.

Both Airmid and Amanda were slightly confused but the worry on the Astrea Familia's faces was enough for them to know something serious had happened.

"What do you think caused it?" Ferne asked as she gave a quick examine of the boy's body. At this point, Airmid had gone up to the boy's bedside as well, hopping onto the stool that Lyra was on. She bit her bottom lip in worry as she too gave a quick examination of the boy's expression. It seemed calm but the sweat on his forehead was still fresh.

"I... we left him," Alise quietly said from behind, not able to raise her head. The two nurses gave a confused look as the other girls wore expressions of shame.

"Is that it?" Amanda questioned. A boy who has faced such perilous dangers got a panic attack from some people leaving him.

"He has abandonment issues."

All eyes turned to Astrea as she still held the boy's hand, her other being placed on Neze's shoulders as her daughter tried to calm down.

"Don't worry Alise, it's not all on us. I think the sight of us leaving triggered something. Remember what he said about his mother and also, he is an orphan. He was most likely abandoned by his parents and he hasn't seen his mother and siblings in almost a year. That isn't healthy for a 5-year-old."

Astrea had heard the boy mutter incoherent noise but she managed to make out 'Mother' and the name 'Maria' a few times. It upset her deeply that a child so young was going through such pain.

The women in the room went into a silence as they all looked at the boy. He now looked relatively peaceful but it was clear he was worn out. Alise struggled to maintain her demeanour, her fists clenching tightly in frustration at herself. She was the captain for the Goddess of Justice and she had just hurt a child of something so silly.

"Don't blame yourself Alise," Ryu quietly stated, seeing the state her friend was in hurt the elf.

"How can I not," the red-head retorted. "I was the one who told us to leave him, I said that I didn't trust him, I...I."

"Calm down, we don't want another panic attack," Amanda said, seeing Alise's breathing starting to become heavy.

"Alise, I'm not going to say you handled the situation perfectly," Astrea began. "But Percy had made a mistake, a bad one if you ask me. He needed a bit more than a telling off and a gentle slap on the wrist."

"But-" Alise tried to rebuttal her Goddess. "Yes I know, it didn't turn out well but how were you supposed to know." Astrea tried to calm down her daughter. Even though she was the captain, she was still just barely 13-years-old, a child to most. "When Percy gets better and wakes up, we will have proper discussion about it, one where we can both leave happy."

Astrea smiled at her daughter. She was proud of her, of all of her daughters. Even when they were upset and felt betrayed, when they saw the boy in distress they forgot everything and did anything that could to help him.

Astrea looked back at the boy. She knew now, no matter what happened or happens, the lives of her children and Percy were connected and nothing would break that now.

"It might be best for you to leave," Doctor Ferne suggested as she finished her examination. Just as Alise and the other girls went to argue, she lifted up her finger to silence any backchat.

"I will leave Airmid in here so she can keep watch over the boy's health. When he awakes again, she will come call for you."

With that, she slowly ushered the girls out. Astrea said one last goodbye to Percy before she followed her daughters out of the room. They all slowly made their way over to the waiting room; solemn looks were shared.

After they sat down, they began to have a serious discussion on their future relationship with the young adventurer. Astrea could only watch on with content at how all the girls wanted what was best for the boy. The answer they came to was enough for her and she hoped that Percy was ok with it to. She too wanted the boy to stay apart of her life.

I woke up, my head feeling dizzy. My eyes remained closed as my mind rebooted itself back to life as I began recalling what was happening. While I started to wake up, I once again felt something run through my hair. This time I was able to recognise it, a hand. It was a small hand but it was definitely a hand.

I groaned as I started opening up my eyes, the hand quickly going away as my eyes were met with white once more. I couldn't help but sigh as I struggled to remember what happened, a feeling that I wasn't familiar with.

I remembered the Astrea Familia coming in, I think we argued a bit and they started to leave. My memory gets hazy from there but I remember seeing someone smile at me as they held my hand.

As I sit up, I get a sense of déjà vu as I look to my left and spot Airmid sitting next to me. It was eerily the same from earlier but I didn't mind her company so I wouldn't complain.

"What happened?" I said with a groan as I stretched my arms.

"You..." Airmid paused, making me raise my eyebrow. She clearly felt uncomfortable telling me what happened, making me confused. "you fainted from a lack of water." She said as she passed me a glass of water.

I gladly accepted it, knowing that it wasn't the truth but I was thirsty so I drank anyway. As I drank, Airmid looked at me for a few seconds. I stopped sipping my water and turned to her, tilting my head as if to say, what?

"Nothing. I'm going to go get something, I'll be back in a minute," The young girl said as she hopped off the stool and tapped over to the doors. I scrunch my eyebrows in puzzlement. She clearly seemed bugged by something. Had I said something I couldn't remember.

I continue sipping my water as I feel my stomach gurgle slightly. I should probably ask for something to eat when she gets back, maybe that's what she's gone to get.

It wasn't. Airmid returned, pushing the metal doors. She hadn't brought food or anything for that matter. No, she had brought someone.

As I saw the red hair and white battle dress, the memories rushed back. The argument, what was said. That feeling. I felt my heart began to beat faster. My eyes widened.

Alise Lovell looked at me, her scarlet eyes staring at me. As I recalled what happened, the image of her back walking away over-lapped with her now. But then I remembered it. It was Astrea that held my hand, that was smiling at me.

'They didn't leave me.'

As I thought about it, the image of Alise and the others walking away faded and what was left was the older girl looking nervous and worried. Was she worried about me? Why?

"H-hey..." she said, her voice was shaky.

"...hey," I mumble back, still confused about what was about to happen. Before I could even say anything, she rushed over to my bedside and grabbed my hand.

"I'm sorry! I'm so so so sososososososososososososososo," She took a quick breath," sorry!" Alise spurted her words so fast I barely understood what she had said. She looked at me with guilt in her eyes.

"I-it's... ok," I mutter but that seemed to be the wrong thing to say.

"IT'S not ok!" She shouted. "I made you feel alone and I hurt you and I..."

I was confused. Did she hurt me? Wasn't it my fault that they turned away? Speaking of...

"Where are the others?" I ask. Alise stopped her rant as she calmed down and sat down on the stool.

"The others were tired and they, along with Lady Astrea, went back home. They did want to stay, they really did, but we thought it was best that only one of us stayed and I made sure it was me," She explained.

'They were waiting... for me?' I couldn't help but smile at that. This seemed to calm down Alise even more.

"Amid," Alise said, looking at the young girl. Alise seemed to have taken Miss Ferne's approach when referring to the girl. "Do you mind leaving me and Percy here alone for a minute, please?"

For a second, Airmid thought about it, as did I. I started to grow a bit nervous, wondering if we were going to pick up where we had left off before I supposedly fainted from thirst. However, Airmid nodded and with a brief goodbye, left the room. After the double doors closed, it left me and the captain of the Astrea Familia alone together.

A nervous silence enveloped us but it didn't take long for Alise to break the silence.

"While we were waiting, me and the girls discussed something. You."

I slightly tensed, waiting for the usually loud girl to continue.

"I'm not going to lie; we still aren't happy with you going to the middle floors without telling us."

There it was, the issue that started it all. I could feel my heart begin to beat faster again.

"But we realised something. We aren't your Familia and that it is up to you what you decide."

I could see the distress on the girl's face, I couldn't bare it.

"No, I was stupid. I should've waited for you and because of me being cocky I got hurt and I upset you and Lady Astrea and the others. I was wrong."

I couldn't help but blurt out what I thought. This seemed to slightly shock Alise before she smiled. Then she giggled.

"I guess we are both idiots, aye?" She said with a grin. I couldn't help but grin at that as well, muttering an agreement.

"Percy, we know we can't control you really, so we've agreed to take a step back."

I quickly stopped smiling at that. I saw the struggle and sadness on Alise's face. I made sure to butt in before I made the same mistake as last time.

"I don't want that," I state, interrupting whatever Alise was going to say, surprising her. "I like having you helping me and being with me. I... I... I still want to be your friend."

My bold statement is met by silence as Alise just stares at me wide eyed. I start to regret what I said as she doesn't flinch but after a moment she breaks into laughter. The girl laughs for a good ten seconds before she talks again.

"Ya beat me to it, that was my line hahaha."

I look on in confusion as the girl continues to laugh before composing herself. "Percy, we all want to stay friends with you."

"-huh?" I mumble in surprise. "you do?"

"Of course, Sorry, Lil man, you don't have a choice in the matter. Ya are stuck with us," She said as she beat her chest with her fist, a cheeky grin on her face. I struggled to hold back tears as I nodded at her.

"Percy, do you mind telling me why you went into the dungeon. I know you remembered what we promised, why do it?" She asked me. If it was a couple hours ago, I would've seized up at the question but now I contemplated it.

"Don't worry, It's alright if you don't wanna say it."

"No, It's not fair for me to hide it even when you are being so nice."

I suck in a deep breath as I think about what I want to say. I'm grateful for Alise as she sat beside me patiently, not disturbing me or probing me for an answer I promised to give.

"You know how I'm an orphan?" The statement seems to make Alise flinch as she bites her lower lip again, giving a small nod.

"Well, I was left by an adventuring family."

Alise nods slowly. "Did your mother tell you that?"

I go to say yes, it would be simple enough of a lie but I stop myself. I realise something, I've held this for so long, not even Maria knows it. It's been burning inside my mind and I realise I've been desperate to tell someone.

"No... I remember it."

"You remember being left? How old were you when you were left?" She asks.

"Just after I was born," I respond quietly. I watch as the words sink into Alise's mind, I can see her mind processing what I just said.

"Wait, wait, wait. You remember that far back, really?" I nod in confirmation. "That's... really cool."

I look at her with surprise, not expecting that reaction.

"Hey, of course it's cool. No wonder you can remember the dungeon so well, you have amazing memory. Hey, what's your earliest memory?"

That was a question I struggled with, not knowing what to say. I know mentioning my first memory would make anyone uncomfortable.

"Hey, don't answer it if you don't wanna?" Alise quickly backtracked but I shake my head. I need to say.

"My first memory... was being born."

I mustered up the courage to say it, to finally say it. It's something that I couldn't even tell Maria or Penia or Brent. I've been conscious since my very first minute and it's been a painful secret I have to carry with me.

The feeling of relief I feel after saying it and as I look over at Alise, I know I chose the right person to tell first.

"Damn," was all she said as she rubbed the back of her head.

"A-anyway," I stutter, wanting to get back to the subject. "I want to get stronger, to show that family that they were wrong to abandon me, to show that I can stand on my own two feet."

Alise listens patiently as I continue to talk about how I feel. I didn't mention Zeus or Hera but I just talked about how I needed to show something to those that abandoned me.

"That doesn't mean I don't want your help but..." I trail off, not knowing how to finish what I was saying.

"You want to go solo to prove something."

Alise summed up what I was saying. I was waiting for a quick verbal shouting at how I could still have help and how I could still be safe and have people around but Alise just went to show that she understood me.

"I get it. You want to be an adventurer that goes on adventures."

I stare at her, mouth open slightly. She lets out a quick giggle at my expression.

"Course I get it, why'd you think I'm here? I want to go on adventurers too."

I was really glad I told Alise.

Alise then stood up from the stool and faced me with a smile.

"Ok, so here's the rundown of what's going to happen and be free to jump in or disagree." I nod at her, waiting for her final debrief.

"Me and the girls still want to help and we also want you to help us from time to time, is that fine?" I nod.

"But I now understand that you need to do things your way and that you have your own things to strive for. We all do, we all strive to make the city of Orario the safest place for people to live." I marvel at her noble goal, especially compared to my selfish one.

Alise then sticks out her hand. "Let's try this again. From one captain to another, let's do our best to help each other and do our best."

I manage to hold back the tears as I straighten up and shake her hand. This makes Alise smile wide and I can't help but do that same.

After that, Alise went home, an extra skip in her step. She went to explain to her sisters that it had been sorted and what the deal was. She didn't reveal Perseus' secret, that was completely up to him when he wanted to say that, something they all understood. They were all glad that the boy was alright and they would still get to see him again, especially Neze.

As for Perseus, he was quickly discharged after receiving a warm bowl of soup. He managed to persuade Airmid that he could feed himself, which made the girl pout cutely.

Just before he left, he remembered something. After asking for the day and time, he realised he had spent almost 40 hours in the dungeon, something he didn't share with Airmid and Miss Ferne around. By the time he left the Dian Cecht clinic, the sun was beginning to set.

He made his way back to Daedalus street, where he met up with Penia. Not much was said as Percy gave her a bag of money for an update, where Penia learnt most of what happened.

"Pretty busy day of work then," Was all she said but she saw it. The boy had grown and not just in terms of stats, which he had done by a lot... she thinks.

Perseus, after hearing his stats, dragged himself to the building he had been living in and fell into the bed. He remembered something just before he went to sleep.

'I've got to meet with Goddess Freya tomorrow.'

And then sleep took the boy once more.

Name: Perseus

Age: 5

Lvl: 2

Warrior - I

Str: I23 – H164

Def: I40 – G202

Dex: I18 – H150

Agi: I20 – H155

Mag: I10 – I75

Skill:

Stealth – Allows the user to go undetected when out of eye-line. Passive

Pain tolerance – Dulls pain. Activates after a threshold of pain is reached

Magic:

Chant:

- Bestow upon me the strength to beat my foes

- Gift me the power to withstand their attacks

- Absorb their strength and make it my own

dh How about that. Percy leaves the dungeon only to face another challenge in the hospital. I tried to make the conflict realistic as Percy had promised to go back with them and he broke it, they weren't just going to gloss over it. But Alise is 13, still young and she is bound to make mistakes. Also, yeah, our boy doesn't handle being left behind very well as you can tell.

I I know a lot of you wanted to know his stats after his massive adventurer and I hope they were what you wanted. I think I might've been a bit generous but our boy needs it and he did go through a lot.

Bt Btw, I wonder what Amid was doing to Percy while he was asleep, I hope it was professional and necessary to regain the his health.

A Anyway, onto the Reviews:

NateTC - No problem, hope you enjoyed

cloudman3011 - I know Aiz would be interesting as the love interest but I know I can still make her and Percy's relationship interesting, Aiz will constantly be struggling to keep up with him as he continues to grow.

Roland Tepes - Yeah, the stealth skill is op when used properly. Keep in mind, it worked against Ottar.

Jxgod - This review was made on chap 18 and hopefully you are happy with Percy overcoming this in the Minotaur fight but at the time, he is still a stubborn 5-year-old, not a developed adult.

Jose Blas - Question 1: No, I have very little plans for others to join Penia Familia right now or in the near future. Question 2: At the moment, the Gods and guild don't know of Percy even existing, let alone him levelling up so it's going ot be a while before he gets his first proper Alias

Jxgod - Thanks, writing from a different perspective that I don't have is always fun and interesting to do.

004 - Thanks for that, yeah I didn't realise how much I would actually write about the climb but I had always planned for whoever left him to be the ones who saved him, even before I knew who was leaving him. And if Percy did have Bell's exp boost, he would be level 6 before he even turned 6 so yeah, that's why he aint'getting one.

As always, thanks for reading my chapter and I'll see ya next time, Peace!