Times passed in Orario. the Kaisers have made their very move against Evilus' remnants while also making sure that the one person who carries the blood of Zagreus is safe. Even if the way they did it was to brainwash him into falling in love with Shakti who they chosen to do the task.
Currently, the Kaisers have gathered at the Elysium Garden. The members were present because of Zagreus who was already there to begin with.
The Bloody Kaiser watering the flowers surrounding Meteria's grave as he was silent in doing so.
Melinoe and the other Kaisers were silent as they just stand or sat around while waiting for Zagreus to finish watering the flowers. Them knowing that he always does it to ensure that the garden is kept beautiful and healthy for the woman he loved.
After a minute of watering, Zagreus placed the watering pot aside and then stood in front of Meteria's grave which he caresses with his right hand.
"How is he doing?" Zagreus spoke as he stood up straight and slightly turns his head to the side.
"Doing well. If you are considering that we brainwashed him into being in love with Shakti." Melinoe replied, the Blade Kaiser sitting on a stone bench with Makaria. The red haired elf has her arms and legs crossed along with her back leaning against the seat, she shrugs her shoulders. "but all in all, he's doing well."
"and what of Airmid Teasanare?" Zagreus spoke as he glanced at Thalia who is just standing near a batch of white roses. "how is the progress of her training?"
"She's a fast learner." Thalia replied. 'She already grasped all the basic healing techniques and is ready for the advanced ones.' She shrugs her shoulders. "I guess you were right in believing her to have the potential to be my successor."
"What about Tsubaki?" Zagreus said as he turns to Ploutos who is standing around with Polemos by his side. "Has she accepted our offer?"
"She said that she wants to accept the offer, but she's temporarily declining." Ploutos replied while having his arms crossed on his chest and then shrugging his shoulders. "The reason being she thinks that she can surpass me one day and she wants to do it by advancing her skills on her own."
"She replied like that because of your stupid bet with her those years ago." Melinoe retorted and Ploutos just shrugs his shoulders in response.
"Approach her again on a later time and if she still declines our offer, find someone else who has the capability to be your successor." Zagreus stated while turning around to look at Ploutos. "We need someone to stand in your presence and take on your duties once we are no longer present on Orario."
"you say that like it's easy." Ploutos replied while scratching his chin. 'out of any blacksmith present in Orario, Tsubaki is on the top of the list to be my successor.' He then closes his eyes and begin to think. "if there's someone else who got the capabilities…" he then made a thoughtful face while pointing out a finger. "there's that Crozzo Kid in Bell's Familia."
"hey, you want to make a war between Orario, Rakia, and every elves on this world?" Melinoe said as she looks at Ploutos with a rather annoyed face. "it's bad enough that the Crozzos are hated by all elves, but if they find out that we Kaisers trained one to have greater capabilities than any other known Crozzo in history. There'll be a full scale war that we'll have so much trouble trying to stop!"
"Then you try finding a blacksmith who can master all my techniques." Ploutos replied annoyed. 'unlike your future possible successor, mine has to be a blacksmith through and through. That's a very high criteria that no one can fill unlike your position.' He sighs and waves a hand to the side. "and if we really want someone to take my place, it should be my…"
"Enough." Zagreus spoke out as he ended the little debate between the two Kaisers. The Bloody Kaiser turns and looks back at Meteria's grave marker which he stares upon. "if you cannot persuade Tsubaki to join our cause, then I will do it. just make sure that you've checked out all possible candidates before suggesting that we have the Crozzo to be your successor."
"Fine." Ploutos said after sighing. The Iron God Kaiser then crosses his arms and raise an eyebrow "but remember, Tsubaki has a Blacksmith's pride like I do and it's going to take more than just some talk to persuade her."
"I'll worry about that on a later time." Zagreus said as he watches a butterfly come flying and then perching on his lover's gravemarker, the Bloody Kaiser gently leans a finger to the insect and let it gets on before he guides it to a white rose nearby for it to perch on. "for now, see through it that you have things prepared for Airmid Teasanare when Thalia deemed her ready to take on her role as the new Saint Kaiser."
Ploutos nods in reply and then went silent as he had no more comments to give.
"there's still the matter of the clown's Familia going with their mission." Makaria spoke as Zagreus glanced at her. the Mage Kaiser snapping her fingers and creates a magic mirror that shows the image of the Loki Familia's Home that it is being surveyed by numerous Hell Knights. "it's time for their Dive into the Dungeon, right?"
"it's about time." Polemos said as he went near to have a better look at the sight. 'once those lot seemed ready, we directly transport them to the 50th floor.' He then cracked his knuckles. "afterward, we'll watch and see who dare run away."
"You think you can get to them when the monsters would get them first?" Melinoe asks with a raised eyebrow.
While the Kaisers conversed, Zagreus remains silent as he looks at the mirror and sees Riveria. The high elf is making preparations with Alicia and Lefiya helping her but at a closer look, one can tell that the Nine Hells seems a bit troubled by something.
"Zagreus." Thalia called out to the Kaiser who glanced at her. "What do you want us to do now? With me still teaching Airmid, Bell's safety which is handed over to Shakti temporarily and Brother Ploutos' task which he already received…"
The Bloody Kaiser looks at the Saint Kaiser before he looks at the mirror which suddenly cracks and shatters into pieces when his eyes made a glowing flash.
"Polemos." Zagreus called out to the Arc Kaiser who made a noise in reply. 'you along with Melinoe will go straight to the borders of Orario and ward off Rakia's forces that are now advancing as we speak.' His eyes glows and his sight is showing him the sight of Rakia soldiers marching their way straight for Orario. "Make them learn of who protects the city and ensure that the fool of a war god is taught to never come and try such foolish things again."
"Teaching them by not killing them or what?" Melinoe asks.
"do what you wish to ward them off." Zagreus said as he turns around while his helmet reforms on his head and his eyes glows underneath the visor. "I could care less of fools like them."
"if you say so." Polemos shrugs his shoulders.
"and what about me?" Makaria asks, the Mage Kaiser adjusting her hold on her Kaiser Blade. "do I need to be with these two and ensure that they don't go overboard?"
"You'll watch over Bell for now." Zagreus replied while he slowly walk away from the garden and to a nearby doorway. 'I don't care what you do, but ensure that no one messes with our plan to keep him safe.' He then stops and turns to glance at Makaria. "use violence if you wish, understand?"
"Loud and clear." Makaria replied and Zagreus turns then walks right through the opened doorways which closed once he entered the Underworld Castle's inner domains.
After Zagreus left the garden, the other Kaisers got ready for their daily tasks.
"You guys think he's going to stay around just to make sure that the clown's Familia don't die?" Ploutos spoke to the other Kaisers while crossing his arms.
"He better not." Thalia said while gripping the handle of her Saint Cross. "He should know better that those bastards deserve to die after what they did to Meteria and my Familia."
"You and me both." Polemos add in while punching a fist to an open palm which creates electrical discharges. "if he saves them, it's on. I don't care about the rules anymore. I'll challenge him for the rights to be the leader."
"do it after I'm done with him." Melinoe stated while gripping her right hand's fingers several times which made bone popping noises. "he says that he will do anything to protect Bell and Orario, but if he does it by keeping the rats who dare betray us; alive…" she grips her fingers once very hard and then spread her fingers to create crimson red flames that burns in her palm. "he's got another thing coming from all of us."
"Then do this stuff once we see how things will go." Makaria spoke out after sighing as she looks at the group. "For now, let's do our given tasks and be done with it so that we can keep an eye on Zagreus."
"You say that even though your job is just to watch over Bell." Ploutos said as he begins walking away. "Your job is by far the easiest out of all of us!"
"Is he still annoyed by the fact that he has to work on all of our gears?" Melinoe asked and Polemos shrugs his shoulders before the two suddenly disappears in a flash of lightning and fire.
"These guys…." Makaria sighs before she turns to look at Thalia who came near her. "What is it?"
"if Zagreus really cared about Meteria and Bell, we should do our best to ensure that he doesn't have any old feelings for that high elf brat." Thalia stated while forming a very serious looking face under her mask. "Once and for all."
"And what are you implying we should do?" Makaria asks.
"I'm implying that we ensure that those clowns really die in the Dungeon." Thalia said while slamming the bottom of her staff to the floor. "I've already made plans for it and…"
"it'll end up in a failure." Makaria cuts in as she looks at Thalia. 'have you forgotten that Zagreus always knows what we are going to do before we do it?' she then turns to look at Meteria's grave. "Meteria and Alfia along with the members of Hera Familia, they were all my friends too, Thalia. i want nothing more to avenge their banishment against the likes of them." She turns to look back at the Saint Kaiser. "but right now, our focus is to Orario and upon Bell's safety. We can think of the clowns later, for now let's focus on what we really need to do."
Thalia looks at Makaria for a moment before she clicks her tongue and turns to walk away.
Makaria watches her sister leave the garden as she sighs and then turns around to look at Meteria's grave.
"if you were honest back then, Meteria. I'm sure things would've turn out better for all of us." Makaria said as she gently caresses the grave marker before turning around and then disappears in a flash.
In the inner domain of the Underworld Castle, Zagreus is found walking in the hallway as he is just silent as he walks before he stops near a painting of him and Meteria in the past. The two seeming happy as the Kaiser was being hugged by the woman at a park.
Zagreus stares at the painting before his helmet detaches and he tilts his head down then slightly turns to glance at his side.
"You cannot stop me now, Meteria." Zagreus spoke as his eyes glows and Meteria's spirit appears floating beside him. the Kaiser looks at her as his right arm was held by the woman who is in tears for some reason. "I've already made my move and I cannot stop now. You should know that."
Meteria just cries in tears to Zagreus who slightly frowns to hear her voice while his glowing eyes dimmed. The Kaiser tried to wipe away her tears but the moment his left hand came near the white spirit; she moved away and let go of his right hand.
Zagreus watches Meteria as she continues to cry in tears while floating away before she turns to face him. The Bloody Kaiser listens to her as she speaks out to him in her voice that echoes and whispers to him.
Hearing her every word and cries, Zagreus merely turns and looks away.
"Are you saying that you want our son to be in danger?" Zagreus asks as he looks up to the painting one more time. 'I choose Shakti because I can see the future where Bell is kept safe with her help, if you allowed that blonde brat to be the one….' He turns and showed Meteria his glowing menacing eyes. "he'll die."
Meteria speaks out to Zagreus once again and she sounded rather distressed and against something which made the Kaiser squint his eyes then looks to the side.
"I gave you my word when I promised you that I would keep him safe no matter what." Zagreus stated as he began walking away. "What I am doing now is merely to uphold my vow to you."
As Zagreus walked, Meteria suddenly came floating in front of him and spread out her hands in trying to stop him from going away.
Meteria speaks out to him once again, and sounded even more distressed to the point she cries even more tears that drip endlessly. She then came close and started to hit her hand against Zagreus' chest even though the impact of her actions only made small sparkles each time she made contact with the Kaiser's armor.
Zagreus watches as Meteria gave a crying tantrum on him, the Kaiser merely stands in his place and watches the white spirit's actions.
Almost 5 minutes came by and passes as Meteria is now crying to Zagreus who had been silent the whole time.
Meteria's tears drips down his armor as the white spirit hasn't stopped crying to him.
As time passes, Zagreus' right hand gently lifted itself up and then held Meteria's back which he caresses.
"Why must you do this to me?" Zagreus asks in a gentle voice as his left hand holds Meteria's waist while his right hand caresses her head and combs through her flowing snow white hair. 'It's not fair that you are doing this to me, Meteria. It's not fair.' He let out a soft sigh and then closed his eyes. "what do you want me to do? What do you want me to do in order to appease your guilt?"
Meteria whispers to him as she softly cries her tears. Zagreus listens to her cries while slowly opening his eyes and his face forms a frown.
"Do you… really wish to see our son in danger?" Zagreus asks in a whisper. "that one… she's not of this world…..or rather of this time….if we allow her to do as she wants…" his eyes slowly glows. "Why do you support her of all people? Don't you want the best for our son?"
Meteria stayed silent for a moment before she whispers a few words that made Zagreus's eyes glow even more to the point he closed his eyes and let out another soft sigh.
"because of that, is it?" Zagreus whispers as he open his eyes and then looks at Meteria. The white spirit stares back at the Kaiser who begins to wipe away her tears gently. "is this really what you wish for, Meteria? Is this really what you desire for our son?"
The White spirit merely nodded before she reaches her hands to her mask like face which she holds and was about to take off, but Zagreus stops her.
"You don't have to do that to make me understand your decision." Zagreus stated as he gently pulls down Meteria's hands. 'I will do it. so just promise me that you won't take it off.' He reaches up and gently caresses the white spirit mask like face. "Keep that promise and I will do my best to ensure that what you desire is made a reality. So…"
Meteria shakes her head while slowly floating away from Zagreus, the White Spirit making sad noises as she turns around while continuing to cry once again.
Zagreus looks at Meteria as he listens to her cries before he sighs and looks away.
"I would do anything for you." Zagreus spoke as he looked at the painting of him and her. "Whether it is to collect a fortune that will last for a thousand years, or a fruit that would give you immortality. I would do anything for you and yet…" he turns and looks at the white spirit. "Why do you believe I shouldn't do this for you? Why?"
Meteria turns and looks at Zagreus with the tears running down her eyes, the White spirit speaks to him before looking away while grasping her hands to her chest.
Zagreus stares at Meteria for a moment before he reaches to his face and gently traces the scar around his right eye.
"You know that I lost everything the day Helios was gone from the Kaiser Familia." Zagreus spoke as he sighs and then looks at Meteria who he gently approaches. 'I am only a substitute leader, and I will never be the real leader of the Kaiser Familia.' he held Meteria's back and gently turns her around so that she can face him. "I always do what is best for Orario in the name of my Familia and now I will do my best for our son and for you. So just tell me what you wish for me to do and I will…."
Meteria let out one whispering scream as she pushed Zagreus away and then just held herself. The white spirit speaks out to the half elf as she sounded distant, sad, and so very guilty.
Zagreus hears her words, and he softened his gaze while looking away.
"I never got over the fact that you lied to me that one time, Meteria." Zagreus spoke as he took a few steps to the side and then looks at the painting of him and the woman before turning to the side to see another painting showing the two at a garden and sitting together on a bench and just enjoying the view. 'You believed that it was better to keep your pregnancy a secret, but what it did was just tore us apart and lead me to a life of guilt when I first found out that you were having our child.' He softly sighs as he looks down and reaches a hand to his armor's chest area which opens to reveal the half elf's chest which had a necklace with a white silver ring with a glowing sky blue sapphire gem that radiates beautifully alongside a golden ring with an emerald gem. "Not only that, it led my heart astray not only to you but also to Riveria." He turns and looks rather sad to Meteria who turns to look back at him, the white spirit still in tears. "I'm trying my best to keep my heart still. I'm trying my best to keep my love only to you and yet…." He closed his eyes and turned around to face the other direction. "You wish to break it once again."
Meteria made a small gasping noise before she shook her head rapidly and then cried out to him.
Zagreus hears her cries and opens his eyes just a sliver before closing them once again.
"Riveria taught me how to have love once again but meeting you that day…" Zagreus spoke as he raised a hand to his face and in an instant, his long blackish white hair is burned and is now shortened with just a few locks left long. 'you taught me the meaning of love.' He turns and opens his glowing eyes to look at Meteria. "and the meaning of hate as well."
Seeing his glowing eyes, Meteria made a scared voice as she floats back but stops when Zagreus suddenly appears behind her.
"Meteria, there's limits to my patience and to my perseverance." Zagreus spoke as he stared Meteria down. His eyes glowing very menacingly. 'I will only give you this one warning.' He squinted his eyes. "Do not ever try to stop me again. I do not dare harm you because I still love you, but once you cross the line…."
Meteria looks at Zagreus for a moment before she looks down and continues to cry her tears while nodding her head. She speaks to him while grasping her hands together to her chest.
Zagreus listens to her, and his eyes slowly dimmed their glow. The Bloody Kaiser let out a soft sigh as he closed his eyes and then slowly opens them when he reaches his hand and gently cups Meteria's face.
"I'm sorry that I frightened you." Zagreus whispers as he leans close to the white spirit and gently leans their foreheads together. "My heart… isn't the same as it was in the past and.."
Meteria speaks to Zagreus while dripping her tears, the White Spirit sounded so guilty before she was gently shushed by the half elf.
"don't say that. Don't you ever say that." Zagreus whispers. 'what happened in the past stays in the past. So don't you ever blame yourself for what had happened back then.' he closed his eyes and let out a soft yet long sigh. "Just remember that my love is for you and only for you. What I had with Riveria is nothing more than a fling of the past.." he gently held Meteria close in a hug. "please understand that and please remember to never tell me otherwise. You helped me regain the things I lost when Helios died, I owe my love to you more than to Riveria… can you do that for me?"
Meteria speaks a single word and nodded while being in Zagreus' embrace.
"Thank you." Zagreus whispers as he gently caresses Meteria's flowing white hair. "I promise that I will make some changes, but for now I must stay on the path that I have chosen. Can you understand that?"
A nod came as his reply from the white spirit who speaks to him in a whisper which made him nod.
"I know and I will try my best to change it." Zagreus said as he slowly lets go of Meteria but he went and gently placed a kiss on her forehead. 'now… go and rest. You've been here for too long and it's not good for you.' He held her hands up and slowly lets them go when the white spirit is starting to float away. "I might need your help at a coming time, but it shall only be for a moment and only for a single moment."
Meteria nods as she floats away and soon fades into thin air.
Zagreus looks at where Meteria disappeared before he turns and looks at the paintings of him and her together. The half elf stares at them all before he tilts his head down and his helmet reforms upon his head and his eyes glowed in a flash under the visor.
"Changes are always needed, is it?" Zagreus spoke before he turned around while waving his cape to the side, the Kaiser walking to a corner in the hallway while slowly disappearing into black sparkles.
At the Loki Familia's Base, the members of the Jester Goddess are going around, working in managing supplies and weapons that they procured for the mission that the Kaisers have assigned to them.
Currently, they are making their last checks before going on the mission as today is their last day getting preparations.
"hey! That goes here!" 'hurry it up!' "the Potions are supposed to be there! Not here!" "get it together!" many conversed with one another as everyone was going around the area doing what they need to do.
At one area there is Tione, Tiona, and Lefiya who have been tasked with brandishing and polishing a crate filled with swords, spears, and shields needed for the mission.
"Today is the day, huh?" Tiona said while wiping a piece of white cloth to a broadsword. "Two weeks passes so fast."
"yes." Lefiya nodded, the elf placing away a shield which she finished cleaning. 'We have no idea what we will be getting into and..' she shivers in fear when she remembered how terrifying Zagreus and the other Kaisers when they first came to their Home. "Running away isn't an option too."
"I've had it!" Tione suddenly shouted as she threw down a spear which she was cleaning to the ground. The Jormugand looks very angry. "I've had it with everything!"
"what's wrong, Tione?" Tiona asks her sister with a rather tired face because it's now the usual thing for her to see her sister being angry nowadays. "are you had it with everything that the Kaisers making us do?"
"don't say it like you don't care about it!" Tione shouted. 'every day! We work for the mission like their slaves! We're adventurers and we're working like those Kaiser's servants! Why do we have to work like this!?' she swings her right hand to the side. "we're supposed to be Orario's real heroes! Just like what the Captain would've wanted!"
"we understand, Tione-san. but please keep your voice down." Lefiya told her senior while taking quick glances at the nearby Hell Knights that are surveying the area. "if you make a fuss, the Kaiser's Hell Knights will!"
"screw those things! And screw the Kaisers and every member of their Familia!" Tione shouted angrily. "if they never came back! we could've been living like we used to! It's all their fault! It's all those Kaisers' fault! Every member of their damn Familia is the worse!"
"even Argonaut-kun?" Tiona asks with a frown as Tione and Lefiya looks at the Amazon. "you said that every member is bad, are you saying Argonaut-kun is bad too?"
"t-that's…" Tione thought about it for a moment while looking down. "he's not a Kaiser at all, so he's not bad at all and…"
"and what?" Tiona said while standing up. "what do you mean he's not a Kaiser, he's the Bloody Kaiser's own son. Are you saying that we should hate them all even Argonaut-kun who is our friend?"
"n-no! what I mean is!" Tione exclaimed before she frowns a bit. "I know that he's our friend and all, but after that duel…"
Tiona and Lefiya frowns as well, both remembering how broken hearted Bell look after Aiz revealed that she was just using him like a tool for her selfish desire.
"if Aiz never did such a thing…" Tiona muttered out. "none of this might've happened and.."
"wait a minute, Tiona-san! are you saying that Aiz-san is at fault here!?" Lefiya cried out, not wanting to hear a bad word on her idol. "it's all that Rabbit's fault! If he never demanded training from Aiz-san! we would'— agh!?"
"Lefiya?" Tiona and Tione looks at the Thousand Elf in confusion as Lefiya is looking to be in pain for some reason. "what's wrong?"
"agh… aahh!" Lefiya gasps in pain as she pulled her body back when a metallic black arm came piercing out of her chest.
"L-Lefiya!" the two amazons gasps in shock as Lefiya is raised off her feet by Zagreus who appears behind the Thousand Elf and is holding her up while his eyes glows menacing under his visor. "Z-Zagreus Kaiser?!"
"and you would've what, brat?" Zagreus spoke as he glares menacingly at Lefiya who is gasping in pain but she was strangely still alive and that was due to the fact that even though the Kaiser's hand had pierced through her chest, no blood came out. the area around where the blood should be coming is just glowing with purple light. "What would've you done if my son never made any demands to your blonde trash?"
Zagreus clenches his hand, and this instantly caused Lefiya to scream in pain, getting the other Loki Familia's members' attention.
"what's going on?!" Loki along with Finn, Riveria, and Gareth came to the scene before they looked in shock when they saw Zagreus who lifts Lefiya up before proceeding to throw her to the side. "Z-Zagreus!?"
"Your underlings dare make mockeries of my Familia and my son." Zagreus spoke out as his eyes glow and burns out vapors. "is that what you teach them to do, trash?"
"n-no! we.." Loki cried out but was shut silent when Zagreus clenches his right hand into a fist which made the goddess's lips snapped shut.
"Did I allow you to speak, clown?" Zagreus said as he raised his clenched fist and just grasped it really tight to the point Loki fell to her knees and seeming to be in pain because her lips were getting sucked into her mouth to the point that the skin was stretched too much. "Did I allow it?"
"Loki!" Finn cried out as everyone looks at their goddess who is now crying in pain because the skin around her lips is slowly being torn and is bleeding badly.
"Zagreus stop! If you keep doing this!" Gareth cried out but tensed up in fear when Zagreus' glowing eyes flashes and a dread of fear sent shivers down his spine.
"Loki!" Raul cried out as Loki's blood keeps on dripping uncontrollably to the point that she looks like she is going to die.
"please stop!" Riveria cried out to Zagreus, the high elf pleading to the Kaiser while getting down on her knees. "Please forgive us for acting so rudely to you! Please! Please stop!"
Zagreus keeps on grasping his fist before he spread out his fingers and stopped his action in shutting Loki's lips who soon breathes raggedly in relief, but her mouth continues to blood. The goddess quicky getting tended by Annakitty who brought a potion bottle for her.
"Mind your words, clown." Zagreus said as he slightly turns his head to stare down Lefiya who is being tended by Tione and Tiona. The Thousand Elf unconscious but she is showing pained expressions on her face. 'And that of your trashes too.' He then looks at Finn. "There will be no more mercy."
Finn looks to be in fear for a moment before he nodded and bowed his head.
"For what reason have you come to our Home, Zagreus Kaiser?" Finn asks in a polite tone.
"your two weeks' time for preparations of the mission are over." Zagreus stated as he raised his right hand and an hourglass appeared in his grasp. The object showing that the last drop of sand fell to the bottom and then made it disappear into sparkles when grasped. "It is time for your mission to begin."
"Is the objective of the mission still the same?" Gareth asks, wanting to be sure on what the mission's main current goal is.
"You will venture into the Dungeon and lure out Evilus as I have explained before." Zagreus said as he waves his right hand to the side and creates a Divine Mirror which shows the Dungeon's 50th safe zone floor. "my Familia has collected information and we believe that the remnants of Evilus are lurking in the deeper floors beneath the 50th floor. You shall venture there and lure them out."
"w-what should we do if they come out?" Finn asks, his thumb aching terribly.
"Eliminate them all or die trying." Zagreus replied as his glowing eyes flash. "Whichever comes as the result is satisfactory for my Familia."
Hearing this made many other Loki Familia's lower members look afraid as Zagreus just told them to kill their enemies or just die miserably.
"every single one of your members will be participating in this mission." Zagreus said before pointing a finger at Loki. "even your pathetic excuse of a goddess."
"b-but gods and goddesses are forbidden from entering the Dungeon! if Loki comes with us! Agh!" Alicia cries out before she got suddenly knocked unconscious by Zagreus who suddenly appears and delivers a heavy blow of a punch to her gut which caused her to puke out some blood. "agh!"
"A-Alicia-san!" Elfy cries out as Alicia soon falls to her knees and on the ground, unconscious.
"Are there anymore of you fools who dare talk back against me?" Zagreus spoke out as he stared down at everyone in sight with a glowing glare. "Are there?"
No one spoke a single word as everyone is frozen in fear after seeing how fast and brutal did Zagreus knock Alicia unconscious.
Zagreus stares down at everyone before he looks at Riveria who had quickly come to Alicia's aid, the high elf holding a potion bottle that she opened and gently poured into her companion's mouth.
"Alicia… Alicia!" Riveria called out to the elf as she coughs terribly but remains weakly unconscious at the moment.
"get all your worthless trash members to be prepared for the mission." Zagreus spoke as Riveria turns towards him. 'none of your members are allowed to be left behind on Orario.' his eyes flashes. "not even that blonde brat of yours."
Riveria looks a bit scared for a moment as she looks down and frowns while nodding her head.
"Yes, I understand." Riveria spoke and Zagreus turn while waving his cape to the side.
"Assemble your members at the Dungeon's main entrance in 3 hours." Zagreus spoke as he began walking away. 'Those who are late shall be executed on the spot.' He turns his head and showed his glowing left red eye that burns like fire. "Understand, trash?"
No one made any comment or a sound as they were frozen in fear by the sight of Zagreus' burning red left eye.
Afterwards Zagreus turns forward and soon disappears into black ashes that blows away.
The Kaiser left and the Loki Familia members breathed in relief as they were glad that he was gone.
"We only have three hours left to prepare." Gareth spoke as he sighed. "that's not much time left."
"Yeah." Finn nodded before he looked at Loki who is still being tended by Annakitty and then at Riveria who is still tending Alicia. 'We all must be prepared for whatever we might find down there.' He then looks at Raul. "have we finished making preparations, Raul?"
"w-we're almost finished, Captain." Raul replied. "most of our supplies and weapons have all been prepared and…"
As Raul was explaining to Finn their preparations, Tione and Tiona came to Riveria while carrying Lefiya.
"Riveria, can you help Lefiya?" Tiona asks the high elf while gently putting down Lefiya beside Riveria. "I don't know what happened to her, but there's no wound and she won't wake up."
"Zagreus didn't kill her or hurt her. he merely phased his hand through her with his magic." Riveria said as she uses her healing magic on Lefiya, the high elf frowns at the sight of her two elven comrades' state. 'his magic harms only her soul and mind which is far more damaging than direct physical damage.' She sighs a bit as she takes out a Mana potion. "we might have to use an elixir to help her recover."
"but we only got a few of those in hand." Tione said as she looks frustrated. "if those Kaisers…"
"don't say another word, Tione!" Tiona exclaimed to her sister. "if you say another bad word about the Kaisers, the Bloody Kaiser will come back and do more harm!"
"even so!" Tione exclaimed all angry.
As the twin sisters bicker, Riveria focuses on healing Lefiya and Alicia but soon frowns as she looks very sad.
'is this is our life now? To be worked as slaves to the Kaisers?' Riveria thought as she felt so guilty when she thought about her Familia's current state being caused of their past actions against Zeus and Hera Familia. 'if we had only thought better and was more considerate of their relations with the Kaisers…'
As Riveria was thinking about the past, she thought about something that made her look around the area.
"Wait." Riveria spoke out as she looks to the side and then at Tione and Tiona who stopped bickering and look at the high elf. "Where is Aiz? Where is she now?"
"she'd gone to get her Desperate from Gobniu Familia." Tiona replied. "Gobinu-sama was able to repair it after all."
"someone needs to go and fetch her." Riveria said. "if she takes too long…"
"we know." Tione nodded. "me and Tiona will go and get her."
The two amazons then quickly left their Home as they went straight to the road that leads to the Gobinu Familia's workshop.
Riveria watches the two leave before she thought about what Aiz had been doing for the past few days.
"those bruises she got when she came back…." Riveria whispers as she thought about the time that Aiz got wounded badly but when she asked her how did she got hurt, she didn't make any reply. She begins to worry as she started to understand what could've caused the injuries in the first place. "what if…" she thought about the duel between the Sword Princess and the Brave Kaiser and her face looks very worried. "Aiz, do you really think an apology can mend that child's broken heart?"
Riveria looks incredibly worried to the point she got up and then quickly told Raul to tend to their unconscious comrades before she goes after Tione and Tiona.
Meanwhile at the Hearth Mansion, Bell is found in his Familia's Home and in the middle of cooking in the Kitchen.
Bell is humming a bit as he cuts a cabbage into strips with a knife before he sets them aside into a bowl then proceeds to cut a few hard boiled eggs that he had cooked earlier on. The young man sliced them in half vertically before he cuts them horizontally a few times.
"Aunt Makaria said that this should taste a bit salty and…" Bell asks himself as he took a slice of the egg and tasted it before smiling when it tasted great. 'a bit sweet as well.' He nods before he turns to a stove which has something cooking. "ah!" he quickly goes to the stove and pulled away a pan which is cooking up slices of battered meat which he saved from being burnt. "Thank goodness!"
Bell sets the crispy cooked meat to a tray with tissues which absorbs the excess oil. Afterwards, he takes the tray and set it to the table where he has slices of bread, the cut up cabbages and eggs, along with two bottles of red and white sauces set up.
"when arranging it, Aunt Makaria said that it's bread first and then the cabbages and egg before the meat and then the sauces before the bread again…" Bell started to arrange the prepared ingredients in making egg meat sandwiches which he firmed and flatten up by pressing a pan on top of it. "and then…" he sliced the prepared sandwich into triangles before he set them to a plate and then continued making more. "hope Shakti-san likes them."
As Bell continues to make the sandwiches, Hestia and the rest of the Familia watches him from the nearby doorway.
"Ever since Bell-sama came back home from that mission, he's been acting…." Lili spoke as she looks very suspicious. "Weirdly happy."
"Yeah, like when he came home training with you know who back then." Hestia added in, the goddess looking the same as the Pallum. "I don't like it. I don't like it at all."
"You two, I don't think it's a good idea to spy on Bell like this." Welf told the two. "The Kaisers' Hell Knights and Skeletal Servants are watching, remember?"
True to his words, the Kaiser's created servant Familiars are still within the domain of the Home and two of the Hell Knights are watching over Bell near the kitchen's other doorway.
"And we know what happens if you try to do anything that they deem to be… unwanted." Mikoto added in while having a careful eye to the Skeletal Servant that came passing by the group and into the kitchen where they presented a small glass jug filled with orange juice which has ice cubes and lemon slices in it. "they'll harm you like last time."
"we know!" Hestia and Lili quietly snapped at Mikoto before looking rather jealously curious to Bell who is smiling as he sorts the sandwiches into a straw basket with the small glass jug. "but we can't help but think on why is Bell-kun/-sama acting in such a way!"
"p-perhaps we can ask Bell-sama about it?" Haruhime asks. "in a safe distance, I mean."
"don't you think we could've done that already, Haruhime?" Welf asks the blonde renard who awkwardly smiles in reply.
"I'll be going out now!" Bell called out as everyone turns to see him walking pass them while carrying the straw basket. "I made a lot of sandwiches in the kitchen! Have some!"
"eh?! Wait! Bell-kun! Where are you going!?" Hestia cried out but Bell already went off.
"He instantly gone off." Haruhime said while in the background Welf went to the kitchen and finds a wooden plate that has stacks of sandwiches prepared. "just where is he going to?"
"Wherever he is going, Lili wants to find out." Lili said while looking rather anxious. "Lili's instincts are telling Lili that wherever Bell-sama is going, we might find out who the sandwiches are for!"
"they better not be for Wallenwhatisit!" Hestia growls angrily. "that girl is already hated by the Kaisers and therefore I have a valid reason to keep her away from him.
"But Bell-dono no longer has feelings for the Sword Princess after what happened during the Duel." Mikoto stated while Welf came back to the group with the plate of sandwiches in hand, the blacksmith already having a bite of one in hand. "I don't think that the sandwiches are for the Sword Princess."
"yeah, it must be for someone else." Welf said while chewing on a bite of the sandwiches he swallowed and then took another bite. 'and they must be someone lucky cause these sandwiches are amazing!' he took another bite. "They taste like they've been made by a pro chef!"
"don't talk about that when we're talking about this!" Hestia and Lili snapped at Welf.
"Just who is Bell-sama going to meet?" Haruhime asks very curious.
As the Hestia Familia members ponders, Bell is currently going around a corner of the street and then turns another corner before arriving to a main street area which he soon blends into the crowd.
Bell keeps on walking in the street, not knowing that he is being watched by Makaria who is on a nearby building's rooftop. The Mage Kaiser watching over her nephew as instructed by Zagreus.
"Seems that the love potion was more potent than I expected." Makaria said as she watches Bell turn another corner of the street before she went and jumped over to the next building's rooftop to get a better view of the young man. "but I guess this is what Zagreus would've wanted."
Makaria watches over Bell as she keeps on jumping from rooftop to rooftop in following him before she stops when she caught sight of something else.
"huh?" Makaria turns and looks down to see Aiz walking by, carrying her repaired Desperate out of the Gobniu workshop. 'The brat? She's alone?' She then watches the blonde keep on walking to another corner. "must've gone there to get her weapon."
Makaria keeps on watching Bell and Aiz as she was making sure that both wouldn't meet at all circumstances.
"better get closer and…." Makaria stood up straight and was about to jump to another rooftop, but she stopped when she sensed something behind her. 'huh?' she quickly turned and made a surprised noise when she sees Meteria's spirit floating behind her. "wait….Meteria? is that you?"
Meteria nodded before she speaks out to Makaria who looks at her with a confused expression forming under her mask.
"What do you mean let them meet?" Makaria spoke out. 'you're not making any sense, Meteria. Why are you here and why are you… "she made a surprised noise when Meteria just fades away and disappears." ah! wait!' she tried to stop the White Spirit from disappearing but she was too late. "just what in the world…."
As Makaria was preoccupied with thinking on what had happened in the unpredicted encounter, Bell had gone straight for the Ganesha Familia's colosseum where at the main gate there is Shakti who is in the middle of directing her comrades at their main task of the day.
"Remember that the Kaiser's Hell Knights are only subduing big threats, not minor threats!" Shakti called out while crossing her arms. "do not take for granted that they will help you with small troubles! The Kaisers have entrusted us the task to protect Orario! understand!?"
"yes!" the Ganesha Familia's guards saluted in response.
As Shakti continues to give them their tasks for the day, she hears someone calling out to her.
"Shakti-san!" Bell came as he went straight to Shakti who turned and looks in surprise to see the Little Rookie coming to her. "Shakti-san!"
"B-Bell?" Shakti looks in surprise as the young boy came to her. 'why a-are you here?' she took a quick glance at her subordinates who are looking at the two with confused and curious stares which made her look very seriously angry and stern. "you are all tasked with guarding the city! not watching me! hurry and get to your posts! NOW!"
"Y-Yes!" The Ganesha Familia's guards all quickly dispersed.
Shakti sighs before she turns and looks a bit awkward with Bell who is still smiling to her.
"um, Bell… why are you here?" Shakti asks the young man. "especially at this time and…"
"I'm here because I've made some sandwiches for you, Shakti-san!" Bell said with a happy smile as he held up the straw basket and then opens one of the lids to reveal the sandwiches and the jug filled with orange juice. "I thought you might be hungry after a hard day at work."
"Thank you for the concern, Bell." Shakti replied as she see the sandwiches and jug of orange juice before she sigh a bit. "I'm grateful but it's not lunch time and I appreciate it if you didn't do this so often and especially with my subordinates watching."
"eh… is it bad?" Bell asked with a frown as he looks down. "I just thought that… you would be hungry…"
"n-no! what I mean is that I don't want to waste your time and energy in constantly making me meals!" Shakti blurted out in a panic. "I also want to make you meals too!"
"Really?" Bell asked and Shakti nodded.
"I can't be the one to always have you make such meals." Shakti said as she takes a sandwich which she took a bite from. She chewed and smiles when she tasted the sandwich's flavor. 'they're very delicious.' She then patted Bell's head. "I'll make you something in return to the favor in the near future."
Bell soon smiles to hear her compliments as there is a nice and warm atmosphere gathered around the two.
"Bell?" another person soon came into the scene as both Bell and Shakti hears and then turns to whoever had spoke out but the moment they did, the Little Rookie's eyes widens before they look be in pain because the person who had come near is none other than Aiz Wallenstein herself.
The warm and nice atmosphere soon becomes cold as it was an encounter that Bell shouldn't really have.
That's a wrap!
Bye bye